This morning, Ted Hesson and Kristina Cooke of Reuters reported that the Trump administration is preparing to deport the 240,000 Ukrainians who fled Russia’s attacks on Ukraine and have temporary legal status in the United States.
Unlike J.D. Vance, Elon Musk, and their convicted criminal mob boss, I served.
Bone spur Donald, as his actions show, in another way has also served – but only Vladimir Putin. This totally corrupted Donald respects no democracy. Respects no law.
Republicans: sycophant, spineless accomplices to the wholesale corruption.
While I was wearing the uniform, serving the U. S., Aug. 23, 1971, the Powell memo came out, and American schools began their death spiral.
I never imagined what we see now: a U.S. president as adjudicated rapist, multi-hundred-million-dollar court-found fraud, convicted felon, betrayer of democratic allies, agent to the world’s most murderous dictator.
P. Balla, U.S. Army Vietnamese translator/interpreter 2 Sept. ’69 – 4 Apr. ‘72
Phil, thank you for taking on the worst of the worst wars! I am the wife of a Vietnam Vet who served in the Army and landed in the Mekong Delta (‘68-‘69). He feels the same way you do. Apparently there is a March on the 14th at State Capitols. I want him to go but I know he won’t because of his PTSD. My best to you.
I heard. brief reference to the possible deporting of Ukrainians. It had to be on MSNBC because I had it on much of the day. Trump seems to be working his way down a checklist for Putin!
Here's a better question: Why didn't your Russian bosses teach you colloquial English before they sent you on a mission to annoy us with your disinformation?
1. There is no cash. The money allocated for UKraine aid has been spent, almost entirely, in the United States -- paying for American factories and workers to produce the weaponry that is either shipped to Ukraine or to replenish the U.S. weapon stocks the Pentagon has drawn on during the war. "One analysis by the American Enterprise Institute found that Ukraine aid is funding defense manufacturing in more than seventy U.S. cities."
2. The Ukrainians who are dying are defending their country. The Russians -- and North Koreans -- who are dying are invading a country. Can you see the difference? Probably not.
3. How many elections were held in the U.K. between 1939 and 1945? Was Winston Churchill a dictator?
4. Thanks to Putin, Russia is a corrupt, third-world hellhole. Putin has stolen hundreds of billions while he plundered Russia and its mostly peasant population for his (now) oligarch friends.
5. You must be ecstatic at not being burdened by even a scintilla of intelligence.
Maybe you should ask that question to Trump, why does he now want Putin as his best buddy and turns his nose up to the rest of the world, O by the way Zelenskyy was elected and NO country in their right mind would hold an election in the middle of a war, unless you call it a Rebelion ! Maybe that's what we should do !
Wow! Drug treatment will help, really. Check out something other than Faux…the Guardian is pretty cool…it takes a week or two but you’ll feel better soon! I promise!
Sending the Ukrainian refugees back to Ukraine is unconscionable!! But I wake up to find this situation over & over again, cruelty & following Putin’s preferences. It has to be asked what is Trump’s end game? Where are these actions going to lead us? At a minimum nowhere good. At a maximum a hostile society dictated by the worst instincts that will crush our country beyond recognition.
Send the COWARDS home if you believe in WAR ! I guess that is what Trump believes in , maybe he should send his whole family back to Russa , that's where they belong !
I spent my younger life in protest against the Vietnam war. As I reached draft age, I knew that had my number come up low enough to be called, (recalling Nixon’s lotto where the date of birth determined each year who was drafted and h who wasn’t) I was prepared to move to Sweden or Canada. And I have had mostly disagreements with government policy ever since. One thing I have lived with is never trust the US government nor the military.
Bill Katz, agreed never trust the government where going to war is concerned, especially undeclared wars, HOWEVER, what we find ourselves having to do right now is fight to preserve that very government from the ravages of a wannabe dictator and patrimonialist who has taken a wrecking ball to our government. I guarantee that no matter how untrustworthy our government proved to be, actually the specific leaders who led (lied) us into Viet Nam & then Iraq, it was minor compared to what tRump, Musk, and the MAGAts have in mind!
I can only say to you , who do not believe in the real USA, not Trump's, go and leave MY country to us , I spent years in Southeast Asia fighting so you and others like you can have the right to stand and openly say what you want to say without being executed for it, to vote your mind. Good luck you to as you go and don't let the door hit you in the ass !
You made a decision to be drafted and it was an erroneous one. That was founded on a lie; the Tonkin Gulf lie. And millions lost their lives for nothing. I marched in the streets to bring people like you home safely and this is the respect I get. Maybe you should return to Vietnam and start an insurrection.
The deportation of Ukrainians is a really low blow by Trump. I'm in a small rural town and we only have 2 Ukrainian families here but I feel fiercely protective towards them...and i've never personally met them.
I believe that they've already been through too much!
Calling refugees who have chosen to leave a war torn country deserters is very cowardly of you . Our neighbor fled Sierra Leone with her family to escape the second war she experienced by the age of ten. Was she a deserter? She is now 35. She and other members of her family still fear loud noises and have trust issues. She is black and fears every day for her family. She is college educated and her husband is a doctor serving rural America. They are both now American citizens. ( He is from Ghana). They both contribute to our country in many ways. Shame on you for calling people like them deserters. They came to America legally as did the Ukrainians who paid dearly to be in America. You should visit the Statue of Liberty in NYC. Her arms are wide, her message is “come to America, we will protect you”. She doesn’t say “ go away, we’re turning our back on you”.
As subscribers to this newsletter, we are part of a community with one right and two responsibilities. We have the right to express our opinions, the responsibility to be prepared to respond to a challenge with a reasoned explanation, and the responsibility put effort into understanding the opinions of those we disagree with.
In my opinion, defeating MAGA is easy. How? Although we can’t decide to change another person’s behavior—because that person decides on their own—we can change our own behavior.
If the anti-MAGA movement wants the MAGA movement to change its behavior, then the anti-MAGA movement will not get what it wants, but it can get what it needs to defeat MAGA because what it needs is to change its own behavior.
When two parties disagree, it doesn’t necessarily mean that one party is right, and the other is wrong, but what it can and should always mean is that both parties have an opportunity to learn from one another.
Unfortunately, I can’t give a reasoned explanation in support of this comment in this comment. Fortunately, you can find my (1,700-word – 10-minute read – published yesterday) explanation at this link: https://substack.com/home/post/p-158522918
Marlene, as a non-veteran, naturalized citizen, I am absolutely appalled, so I can only imagine how you and your husband must be feeling. What I do know is that all this sickens me. Sending you both the strength and courage to march. God bless.
I hope to attend that rally. And as a veteran, I am extremely grateful to my fellow veterans who faced harms way to protect this country. My gratitude is deep and sincere.
It is especially hurtful to see the direction our country has been plunged towards. This is what happens when a traitor and a cheat is allowed to run for the same office whose oath he has already violated in the past. Simply put, he belongs in prison for the rest of his miserable life. It is my hope to see that unfold, but for now, I will join the rest of the nation to stop his treason and support our elections to rid ourselves of the trash in our government.
I'm so sorry about your husband. I have been treated for PTSD (medical abuse as a child) fairly successfully, but it still sneaks up on me. If he hasn't had a qualified therapist help him with EMDR, perhaps it will help him too. It gives you a little reprieve from the instantaneous response your body wants to do.
Friday 3/7 Afternoon On Elon Musk💥 "Massive Starship Explosion"
Per ABC;s national World News Tonight, 9 minutes into its flight (NOT)
Musk's suffered a "mishap" "Raining Fiery Debris from [the] Sky". The sinking debris was sen see close up from a passenger-jets & causing air traffic
"Ground Stops". FAA investigation anyone?
Question: Has "DOGE" destroyed the FAA .. yet?
🔘 Note DEEP DIVE Research Needed on this Mafia Member Elon Musk:
It is way, way past time time to take a closer look into the "PayPal Mafia": Founder Peter Thiel, Elon Musk & David C. Stacks among others. Please annotate the PayPal Gang history if you have admissible facts.
I am aware the group's substantial investments in "government" contracts & massive conflicts of interests such as today's "fiery explosion" % "fallen debris"
Yes, I am also aware of the Fortune Magazine "Mafia Style" photo of the Gang with poker chips spilled out on a gaming Table. We are not at that Table but, we are being gamed such as Jet Passengers who got a close up look at Musk's latest "mishap".
Yes but that Vet and ones like them makes it possible for you to say what you want , so think for a moment what would you be doing now if they had not supported Stupid Endless Wars, like WWII , what language would you be speaking now or maybe they would have sent you back to where you came ?
Phil, thank you for your service. My husband served for the country I am living in now, and I have several cousins who have served in the US military as career military here in Germany and have wives and children here too. We honor your service. It is why my third and then fourth grade students always organized and held a Veterans Day assembly in which we wrote up and posted interviews of all vets in our school community, and invited them to the assembly and had snacks in their honor afterwards. We always introduced the vets who came by the child in their family going on stage with them, unless they worked in the school, whereas we would have a child from my class accompany them. We also organized making cards at our school for the Chicago VA Hospital soldiers, which we took to them when we went to perform by singing military and patriotic songs and then talk to the vets in the hospital. I am shocked as can be too. What is the civic education we are teaching now. That is how I know that a lot of Vets need food support after serving our country. That is a shock too.
I am hearing that Trump/Musk plans on shutting down many of the embassies, so clearly the important role that they play is not considered that important in countries Trump does not think he can get anything out of. So, mostly shutting them in Western Europe. That is effecting our intelligence gather capabilities. However, in Project 2025 the plan I recall was to spy on our European allies for two years without sharing any intel with them. The claim is like they spy on us. Western Europe is hated because it is too liberal. Same with Canada. Greenland is also a symbol of that. That staunchly Lutheran indigenous population is not going to become Christian Nationalist over night. They have had enough of being colonized.
Russia, whom Putin loves is not so nice to Protestants either, and abortion is legal, so really, what Trump and his CN backers are defending is a state that is anti what they stand for. The Russian Orthodox church is corrupted by Putin and that is what rules religiously there. As Trump loses all soft power to China, who is right now having a much better formula for getting allies, these countries will only vote with the US if China does, and he does not realize that. I assume he is thinking that he will rule the US until he dies, and pass it on to his sons, like a king, and that he will bleed every penny out of this country while he can.
I am also thinking that if anyone wants to leave the US now is the time to do it, before no one will be allowing Americans in.
Here is a piece I wrote on thinking about leaving the USA.
Linda, thank you for your post. Difficult to even consider leaving the US & esp our beloved Maine. Now we’re doing what we can- calling reps daily, writing letters & editorials, talking to friends in denial of what’s happening, going to protests, volunteering at community level- whatever we can do. We have children, grandchildren & 2 great grandchildren- my heart breaks for them thinking about what world we’re leaving for them. But, we do have a plan B- my husband’s father was born in Canada & he’s applied for citizenship. Never imagined in a million years at our age that we would consider leaving, but if we can, we’ll create a place for our family to which they can escape. I hope it doesn’t come to that!
Caroline, when you have a plan and really plan it out, then you won't feel so trapped and that gives you agency. One of my best friends, a proud Jewish Lesbian with children adopted from a Central American country has been thinking of plans as well. Her oldest daughter is married to a Canadian and they can move there. However, as with anything else, if you wait until things are bad enough that everyone else is leaving it gets harder to do because all jobs, housing will be hard to come by.
She knows that her grandfather comes from Poland so we have talked it through and she is going to apply for Polish citizenship through his papers that she has, and then while she may not stay there, she will have EU citizenship. We discussed that even though Hungary has an illiberal leader it is supposed to be the best place in Europe for Jews. My daughter has Jewish friends in the capitol of Germany, but there are not that many Jews in Europe. So, she is going to also have her escape plan. I would not choose Hungary with their anti-Lesbian, anti-brown-skinned people, but there are other countries to go to in the EU and the world.
Linda, you’re so right- put the plan together now! We have vacationed in Canada many times and love it there. My grandmother was born in PEI and grandfather in Quebec. We are going to go to Canada this summer to see where we’d might like to rent or buy a place. Since Maine borders Canada, easy to travel there. We don’t know if Canada will approve my husband’s application. I also have ancestry in Ireland and love it there. Will need plans B,C,D etc!
If you pick a place with a higher cost of living you are going to hope it has a higher safety index. That is not hard to do. There are at least 20 countries in Africa that are safer than the US, which is at place 132. Under Trump I expect this to drop even lower.
So Canada has a lower cost of living, higher safety, and better health care rating. Ireland has a lower cost of living, much higher safety rating, but much worse health care ranking. Then, I also consider climate in terms of global warming, air quality and access to clean water. If you are headed to an English speaking country then there are also New Zealand and Australia. But, I live in Germany and am just home from my monthly dinner with my local branch of Democrats Abroad. Most of them who are not binational leaned to speak German as an adult. And their level of German ranges, yet everyone manages. That is true for most countries, you can learn to speak a level of language where you can get along, and you can also find your American expats group to hang with.
It's the end of my day here in Japan, Linda. I'll go to your link tomorrow.
I never got to Nam. Of the ten groups of students (half officer, half enlisted, half with Nam tours already, half neophytes), twelve in each class for that full year of study with Viet native instructors -- no English in class ever, I finished with the highest proficiency of all. The army sent everyone to Nam but me. Me -- fluent in Vietnamese, French, and Russian -- got sent to Germany.
Office of Congressional Correspondence -- another saga of army corruption.
My first home in Germany, Goeppingen, in the s.w., Swabisch Alps, halfway between Stuttgart and Ulm. Boyhood home to Herman Hesse, as much as he ever had one. (Two of his novels set there.)
My son is going to Japan the end of the month to check out places to live. I do not want to leave my country but cannot stand what is happening here. I just hope we still have the time to plan the move and escape before the total collapse. I keep trying to live life as if things are normal - we are scheduled to take a family cruise in July - but a lot can happen in 4 months.
My daughter and I have a trip to France planned for July, one of my favorite places. I hope they let us in. Or maybe I hope they won’t let me out to come back here.
Go figure. It makes no sense that you ended up in Germany. Clearly if you had learned German you might have been sent somewhere else. Just listened to Medhi Hassan and Paul Krugmen talking about things economically and politically under Trump/Musk. Krugman makes a case for government bureaucrats and how departments lost so much during Reagan and that they are streamlined.
The reality is our bureaucracy is our democracy. It protects the working people from abuse of the powerful that seek exploitation. Convincing people that it is bad is necessary to allow for the changes happening now. Americans in large will not like the America of Project 2025.
Trump has nothing to do with Project 2025, which is nothing more than a conservative wish list that has been floated for decades. It is frustrating to see people on the left wallowing in conspiracy theories after taunting and accusing the Republicans for years about them.
There are many lovely embassies across the world, but with changing geo-politics, it becomes important to move embassies out of places we no longer need them and into places where the US requires a presence and information-gathering. It may sound like a big mistake to you, but do you know why it is being done? We cannot afford to keep embassies open if the ambassadors are under-employed or where we simply do not need a US presence there anymore.
Bonnie what changing geopolitics require us to close embassies in European countries where many Americans both live and travel?
All of the Americans I know here are already upset that their children have to miss a couple of days of school to renew their US passports, because they are required to go to an embassy in person to do this, and if they don't live in the only city in the country with an embassy that does this they have to travel an overnight trip at least. American children have to appear in person abroad to renew passports.
Also, if you are traveling and are in a country where there is one embassy left or none and you have a problem, you are going to be out of luck.
We are being told that we are firing government employees so that our tax dollars can go to privatize the services. That does not make them better or cheaper, but the people who get to make money off of these services will be sure to line the pockets of Trump and Musk. Is it better to line Elon Musk's pockets with our tax dollars instead of having embassies to help Americans in need?
I live abroad and I know the problems with the US already having reduced services and shut down.
Another problem that is being discussed is that it will be harder to gather intel with embassies shutting. Everything possible to make the US less safe is happening right now. They are destroying the military bit by bit, the Intelligence community, the civil service. If you want to ever leave the US do you have a passport? you may not be able to get one, because there won't be enough people working there to do this. And, no one to complain to either.
So, is money being saved? I wonder about this? There will be costs for these shut downs. Who will be paying them? Probably you and me.
Thanks to both of you, Phil and Marlene. In the fifty-five years since, I've had much time to think about my choices back then. And I still don't know if I made the right one. I'm not one to believe in miracles, but I survived and have six grandchildren, so maybe I'm wrong.
I got my draft notice while I was in Vietnam and after I extended my 4 year enlistment to finish a year in Vietnam.
I wasn't going to reenlist but they said they would give me orders to Westover AFB, MA, if I did choose to reenlist. I agreed but when they wanted me to reenlist at the end of my 4 years, I asked where the orders were. It took 18 days into the 3 month extension to get the orders in my hand.
I hadn't planned it that way but the timing turned out to let me get the reenlistment bonus based on higher (over 4 year) pay and tax free from being in a war zone (instead of being shipped back a couple weeks after my year in Vietnam ended but before the 3 moth extension ended). I ended up with a greater bonus than my friends who took a short (early reenlistment at 3 years), to get $75 per month Proficiency Pay which didn't add up to mine since it was paid on the lower pay at 3 years and $900 in Pro Pay.
I tried to be worthy of the good luck for the rest of my 20 years in the service, training others and giving them as much opportunity to fit college classes into some difficult schedules (I was on 24 hour standby for about a third of my first 10 years and filled in whenever called whether on the schedule or not). Two of the guys I supervised not only got degrees but became officers, too. It wasn't unusual to work 60 or 70 hours a week, even 100 one week, and once for 72 hours straight. It wasn't as tough as some jobs like fire fighters, medics, combat security, and airborne intel, but it was some long hours to make sure people had the best weather support we could provide.
It is shocking. Once the process of grieving this loss of place, this obvious defeat, lessens, it will be time to look at the destruction with a newly informed eye, salvage what is not beyond repair and where the enemy has been devastating, learn from it.
This horrible action to deport Ukrainian refugees is similar to 45’s abandonment of Syrian Kurds in 2019, opening them up to attack by Turkish forces. 45 has NO loyalty to anyone or anything but himself. He has never been faithful any of his wives, never honored a contract for services rendered unless forced to do so, bankrupted casinos leaving any investors holding the bag. To him, deporting refugees is just reneging on a contract.
Phil. I turned 18 in 1972 and my draft lottery number came up as 49 in the 1973 lottery. The administration was proposing that numbers 1 - 95 be processed for 1973. As you are likely aware there were cowardly Congressmen and wealthy individuals (like Daddy Trump) that were able to keep their precious sons from serving. Can you imagine asking your parents to get you out of the draft? I would have been disowned on the spot. Of course, no one in Trump's family has ever served as far as I am aware and Musk is an illegal immigrant who bought his citizenship just like Melania. Congress ended the draft in 1973 so tens of thousands of us weren't forced to serve and we didn't have corrupt parents to get us out of military service.
But, my AP history teacher, in my junior year in high school was drafted even though he was 23. He had had education deferments, but unlike Trump he was forced to serve. He was an excellent teacher and his classes all had done well on the AP History test the previous year (before they caught him). His replacement was awful. They scrambled to find someone in October and he was one of the worst teachers in the school system.
Fast forward to the present. 1 out of 4, 17-23 year olds qualify for the military. They cannot pass the entrance exam which I'm guessing they have dumbed down quite a bit. So out of this 25% how many of them are people of color -- Hispanic, Black, Asian, Indian, Native American, etc.? So the pool is further reduced because who wants to serve under the white supremacist misogynistic assholes that are left?
I predict that in the next 12 months Republicans will start talking about bringing back the draft.
turned 18 in 1974. My lottery #39. Thank goodness the draft had ended. I, like most Americans, was supportive of the war, growing up watching the heroic WWII movies and TV series. Dad was a WWII Navy seaman, and then in the Air Force during the Korean conflict.
By the time I graduated, my feelings about the war had changed. IT was a no win situation for the soldiers. Had I been called, I would have gone, but not happily for sure.
The draft may bring the sons of billionaires into contact with everybody else. The problem with no draft has been that never the twain have met. I had three uncles in WWII. All three learned from the experience.
I did appreciate many of the well off that did accept being drafted, did their service honorably, no excuses, no shirking the call, and left with mutual respect for those who looked out for each other and the people of the countries were supposed to be fighting for. Some arrived in Vietnam bitter about the professional opportunities they thought they were missing but came to appreciate what they could do for the troops and civilians that could really needed and appreciated their help.
I wish they had tried such overseas adventures with nothing but volunteers, though. Some of the best we ran across would never have thought to volunteer to come but did some of the best of any once they got there.
It never sat right with me were drafting so many and making it so hard to get conscientious objector status. I would have much preferred the draft allowed other service in place of so many being placed in combat units. I do believe some of the best that were drafted would volunteer for combat service, even if they didn't have to.
That said, the most appreciated heroes I ran across included a conscientious objector that became a medic, would never carry a weapon, but went through fire the bravest of the others wouldn't dare, earning the highest respect, and favored treatment to any thing they could give him or do for him.
Phil, your service is much appreciated! My husband, bless his heart, served in Vietnam in 1967-1968 but never wanted to talk about his experiences. The older he gets, the more he remembers his feelings of fear and regret at what was happening. He now wears a "Vietnam Veteran" hat and always engages others who wear military caps. The funny and sad thing is that he "does not care" what's going on with Trump's and Musk's firing of veterans. When I try to enlighten him on the ramifications of what is being done to the democracy he fought for, he dismisses me with, " We can't do anything about it, and it's most likely not going to happen." He was a 24/7 FOX "news" watcher until he realized the unstableness of Trump. He still won't admit that what is going on is dangerous and will change the future for our grandchildren. I've said all I know to change his mind about what Trump and Musk are doing to turn the world as we know it upside down. I've heard him and so many people around here say that nothing that is being done will affect us. How selfish and misguided these people are, but talking to them has done nothng except get my blood pressure up. Should I just stop trying to change his and their minds? I might lose mine in the meantime.😏
In many ways, your husband is in the position of many road-blocking Americans. They personally feel insulated, therefore why expend the energy to activism for Others? Rudely ( and because I woke up in a frustrated mood about exactly this )
I sum this up to “old-white-guy-shit”. The worst of them gaslight their spouses into impotence. Others outsource activism to their spouse. Kind of a: “I won’t do it myself, but I really do want a clean house as long as I don’t actually have to lift a finger.” They really would like a functioning democracy, but not if it means getting off the couch, thank you very much. They are not the helpmates best needed when the world is going through an historic, chaotic upheaval. They are perfectly okay with trump/vance/musk crashing everything, because the pain and the clean-up will be borne and outsourced to women and minorities. These men may not be the gods-of-Mt.Olympus, like the billionaire buddies are, but they’re close enough hierarchically to not be moved to do anything constructive for us.
Pam, it sounds more like denial. Some folks are just like that; maybe that’s how they protect their sanity, such as any of us have any left. My husband, while not a veteran, leaves family activism to me, while I wish he’d do more, I can’t make him and I also see he can’t deal with it to the extent I do (and many, many days I’m not sure I can anymore). Your husband DID after all already serve his country.
Thanks for your reply, but that's why I'm astounded that he has no compassion for veterans who are being fired, or that disabled veterans will be denied insurance and needed health care. Yes, he served his country physically, but does that end his empathy for veterans who are suffering in so many other ways today? I'm a retired teacher. I “served" my country by trying to educate and prepare young children to be contributing citizens and to enable them to have decent lives, while spending so much of my own money to provide items for my classroom that the school wouldn't or couldn't provide. Does that mean I should not have sympathy for and express my support or those teachers who will now suffer because of Trump’s shutting down the Dept. Of Education? Not to mention the children who will now suffer.
You should grab your husband and sign up to volunteer at a veterans center, or homeless shelter, if you are able. Working with the veterans that have been abandoned after fighting in our endless wars and are now homeless and need mental health treatment is very eye opening.
I was a nurse in the Air Force. Many of my patients were Vietnam veterans as I worked on the cancer ward. In later years I spent one weekend a month at the homeless shelter where we saw the effects of the damage caused to our war heroes by our politicians.
Now, when the government has the opportunity, ability and knowledge to do something for the people who served our country they’re turning their back on them. I’m tired of the remarks about how they don’t actually work at their jobs, they don’t deserve their paychecks and they should be forced to come to an office that is not set up to deal with their disabilities. I’d like to smack every one of those assholes in the face. They’ve been handed everything all their lives and now they sit in judgement of others while destroying lives.
I tried to talk my sister into volunteering when she was always complaining about how bad her life was and how she’s always depressed. We live on opposite coasts so I couldn’t drag her into it and I couldn’t convince her to do it.
Phil, I served in the RVN too and I'm very impressed with your language skill. I tried learning a bit of Vietnamese over there, but just saying hello was complex. Now with you, I'm asking: Why are we surrendering to Russia?
The Powell memo set in motion low-grade criminality all those years ago, Stephen.
They also campaigned to kill humanities in schools (the then-new Heritage Foundation and ALEC, and an enlarged and mega-funded Hoover Institution) through the 1970s. In the 1980s narrowed, neutered sets of "thinking" on standardized tests guaranteed dutiful subservience to and no questions of corporate priorities.
The low-grade criminality grew. Infestations of high-paid lobbyists took over D.C. Money slicked the way for the most perverse forms of greed. When the Soviet Union fell, U.S. personnel were there instantly to invest in all the most corrupt of the former nomenklatura. U.S. high finance created the oligarch class out of which Putin came. Those oligarchs worked U.S. politicians and then infiltrated U.S. libertine, libertarian U.S. techies.
They have been organized a long time. To the same proportion, Dems either sided with high finance themselves, or just mouthed platitudes and slogans pleasing to all the college grad coastal elites with zero literacy in any humanities in touch with our working classes (whose jobs by the millions got outsourced, as their communities were abandoned).
It's been a long, collective suicide, easy for a criminal like Trump to finish off for Putin.
Nice to hear someone mention the LPM, ALEC in the same breath with the Heritage Foundation. Keep the John Birch Society in mind as well since the Koch's dad was a member and took his sons to meetings. Jane Mayer's Dark Money provides a lengthy list of people, Nancy MacLean's Democracy in Chains sets out the strategy formulated by James Buchanan, Naomi Klein also provides great documentation in her books as well.
For all of the accusations the LPM made about the liberal left, there was never the well planned and coordinated effort the radical right now possess. Never.
"Republicans are not going to “do” anything about Donald Trump, because the party is now only a delivery mechanism for the fantasies of radical right-wing libertarians, who are quite pleased by Trump’s dismantling of the American state and democratic values."
Yes, as an educator - teacher, school principal - that is exactly what happened. In an effort to counteract that, my school was one the first PUPLIC charter schools in California. We still taught problem solving, the arts, the humanities, literacy and even civics in the fifth grade. It is heartbreaking to see the results.
I was able to do all this at public schools until icky Republican Paul Vallas was in charge of the Public schools and then I went to teach in a private school that was my alma mater. However, lot of my younger colleagues were not teaching history, and that was a problem. I created curriculum for them, and talked them through teaching it. It was so frightening to them, and there was fear of teaching any subject that parents might find controversial. I was able to manage it, although teaching with no administrative support to stand up to difficult parents is always a drag.
To all those talking about public schools, I was lucky enough to be able to be in public education when our English department was still top flight and although I was the librarian, I had stints teaching government, history, and an expository writing class. I did teach critical thinking and that included the internet that was just getting started. Now it is teaching to the test and fending off groups like Moms for America in the culture wars. And I will get in big trouble for saying this, but part of the problem, especially in our social studies department was that was where the football coach (hired by the booster club) and often the boy's basketball coach resided. I am not against athletics per se, but they play much too big a role in academic institutions from middle school to universities. I left out grade school, but probably there too.
Michele, I also believe sports play too big a role in American school education. Not physical education but extra curricular sports. That is where the money went in my private school too. We had a union so I know the salaries. The sports coaches made the most, not the model UN teachers, not those who ran the plays, or the math team, or science team, or the concerts, or the debate team, but the sports coaches. It started in middle school and went on from there. One reason I would not send my daughter to a big 10 uni because not paying for football coaches salary in the tuition.
Interesting about the coaches, Michele. My HS (Medford Senior High School; so called because we were on the 6-2-2-2 system of elementary, junior high (grades 7-8), Mid High (grades 9-10) and Senior High (grades 11-12) was a boys sports powerhouse, and we should have split into two high schools, population wise, in the late 1960's. We didn't do that until the late 1980's, and in the 40+ since, both North and South Medford have won state titles in the major sports; in 2024 those two schools played for the OSAA Football championship...) When I was attending school, the head coaches were almost all PE teachers, except in baseball, where one of our math teachers was the head coach.
I wasn't happy when I got drafted upon graduation from college in 1970 and was very unimpressed by the quality of Army leadership at that time. But I was lucky and didn't get sent to Vietnam. I'm forever grateful and in awe of those who served in Vietnam. I was fortunate to have been physically capable of serving and believed it was and still is the duty of those in society who are physically capable to protect the weak and vulnerable. Trump was found to be too weak to serve but greatly benefitted from the society that was enabled and protected by those who served. Why isn't he grateful?
Phil, I served as well from 68 - 72, USN. It's time for us as veterans to take action. I'm not sure what that action is, but times a wasting. I'm had it up to my eyeballs with this shit and it's made me very mad. Thoughts? And thank you everyone here who has served out country with honor.
"Republicans: sycophant, spineless accomplices to the wholesale corruption". You probably should add centrist democrats to this. I'm 83 and grew up in Iowa at the time of cautiously, progressive Republicans and liberal Democrats. My parents "only" had high school educations, but they subscribed to the right leaning Omaha World Herald., and to the left leaning Des Moines Register; both sides, everyday, on the kitchen table. About 5 years ago I changed my affiliation to Independent.
My next door neighbor when I attended Iowa State was Congressman Tom Harkin in 1976-1977. Years later I was working with Senator Chuck Grassley's son and the Senator joined us for beers at "The Cornstalk" in Waverly, Iowa.
When I was in junior high, I would ride my bike to the local drug store on Sunday mornings to pick up the Omaha World Herald. I had to read about the Huskers and the comics of course.
As historic precedent we can look back to the 1600s when the Holland government created the STRATEGIC TULIP BULB RESERVE AND ASSET STOCKPILE. No. They didn't.
He’s funneling money to his personal accounts like he’s going to live forever. I will never understand how more wealth than you can ever spend becomes more important than being a good person. Of course in Trumps case, he’s never had anything but massive debt and he keeps trying to make that misery go away. He’s a small man, filled with hate, so selfish that he needs to keep telling his base how he gave up his life of luxury for our country. They believe it while he robs them blind.
"He’s funneling money to his personal accounts like he’s going to live forever. "
What is your evidence for that? I doubt this is nothing more than "I hate him so he is definitely every bad thing I can think of, imagine, or hear from other people who hate him."
Seriously - what is your evidence for this statement?
Is there any doubt that we have a dictator running this country. Everything he tells us is bullshit. He is shutting down our government, ignoring our courts, withdrawing from the western world and moving our government under Putin's wing. He and Musk are going to raid our gold reserves. There is nothing stopping him, each day is another outrageous act. What will it take to wake up our country?
Phil, thank you for your service. I am so heartbroken. Especially for all of our veterans, like you, who gave themselves to this country and all Democracy stands for, only to find us in this moment. All I can offer is my gratitude and my commitment to do anything in my power to fight this regime.
I finished college before I joined the army, Jenni. Plus, I'd hitch-hiked just about everywhere in the U.S. In love with the U.S. Prairies, mountains, just about everything Woody Guthrie saw.
I'd read a lot. Many movies. And, the music. So many types, genres.
At South Post, Ft. Myer, I studied nights and slept in a very small but private room in an old wooden barracks for a year -- 50 or 60 yards from where John F. and Robert F. Kennedy slept.
Used to wander about those graves all around and below that Custis Lee mansion. So many from the era when my great-great grandfather was out on the high plains with Custer (but not with him June 25, 1876).
So many Americans who gave their lives for something so radically different from what Putin and Trump now with spineless others conspire to get for themselves.
That did it! I was gonna write but put it off. I was in the Student Detachment at South Post Jan-Mar 1971. As an E1 learning Ukrainian at Defense Language Institute East Coast at Crystal City (only 4 buildings back then). As they were expanding Arlington Cemetery, they gave us an allowance to live off-post. I shared a house with three other students. Two Slovenian, one Ukrainian. My training was the best experience in the Army. I was getting paid to learn a foreign language! After that off to Ft. Huachuca (Interrogation) and then finishing at Ft. Meade. I never saw combat and never had to use my training for anything but what we called "mock interrogations". I am grateful to have had that experience and grateful to know how lucky I was. Out of 200 in my basic training company at Ft. Campbell, 196 went to AIT (advanced infantry training). My college adviser had suggested I talk with my recruiter and ask him to give me the language aptitude test and when I qualified the rest became history. Yes, I knew students studying Korean who were switched half way through to study German and the same in reverse only to go to their respective countries to serve as MP's. It was unreal! It didn't make sense. But I knew after all that I couldn't make a career out of it. Honorable discharge after 3 yrs. turning down reenlistment bonus of $10,000 for a 6 yr. term. Thanks for all your thoughtful comments. I enjoy reading you and most everyone else on this page. Keep the faith!
The MP I saw most often patrolling around the on base beer stands near the Hotel 3 never let on that he knew the language until the end of his tour when a young woman cussed him out for cuffing her GI boyfriend. When he chewed her out in flawless Vietnamese each word seemed to land like a punch, throwing her (and some other Vietnamese in the area back of their feet as they realized he knew everything they ad been saying for the last year.
Seems you were very close to where Teddy Roosevelt could have been the first fatality in an aircraft. He had been pressing to fly with Orville Wright at Ft Myer while still president in 1908 but before he could make stronger demands when he got back from Oyster Bay, Lt Selfridge became the first to die in a plane crash. Lt Thomas Selfridge was the US government representative to the Aerial Experiment Association (chaired by Alexander Graham Bell), and the logical Army officer to ride before the Army acquired the aircraft. The date, September 17, would become Constitution Day 44 years later.
TR did become the 1st former President to fly on Oct 11, 1910, though. His pilot died less than 3 months later on Dec31, 1910 crashing during an altitude record attempt
What a great privilege it is to have traveled across the country. I'm ABA (all but Alaska) and there's nowhere I've been in the US, Canada, Mexico and Europe that I didn't enjoy the people and even the scenery. What a beautiful world we live in.
Thank you, Phil Balla, for your service both in the past and now.
Now you serve as many here, as a steadfast and honorable citizen of this nation. In these increasingly difficult times we cannot forget why we remain proud of our nation, what it stands for and will continue to represent despite the attacks from within by a criminal regime.
We must continue to resist and defend the foundational principles of democracy and justice for all. We cannot be bowed or diverted in this purpose.
No, just my luck -- that over many years I've met so many beautiful, decent people -- hitch-hiking the U.S. (just about everywhere), at many schools where I've taught, and in many countries.
Donald Trump, "our first elected autocrat," speaks the ugly language of chaos, megalomania and jabberwocky. Eight years ago, he scent-marked his reign with the stench of "American Carnage." He is all distraction and intimidation, with no depth, no substance... and no friends. His vision, sowing discord and enriching himself while bathing in manufactured glory, is that of a mentally disturbed overweight frothing T-Rex backed by 77 million versions of the under-educated artless Mini-Me.
He seems to see himself as strong. He defies the law, which is designed to govern. If that doesn't show his strength, what does? So, if we all defy the law, logically that should make us stronger than he is, because his "landslide" was actually a 2% molehill. Less than 2% really. Taking those boxes back to Mar-a-Lago has its own side of comicity, but repatriating the Ukrainian refugees takes my breath away. I think this would have been beyond Joseph Heller's powers of satire.
It's almost as if someone should establish a business enterprise that assembles a group of people who write news articles and editorials and sell subscriptions to that service. ;-)
A Republican shill smugly raised the 'transgender mice' alarm ("oh the waste, fraud and abuse and get a load of this, blah, blah, blah" ) on Kasie Hunt's new show on CNN at 4pm yesterday -- and only one person on the panel knew it was the wrong term - but not what the correct term was. No one spoke up to say it was transgenic mice and use for research to help human diseases. Why I turn on tv news still is a mystery to me.
Perhaps the greatest danger lies in failing to sense, or even examine, the limitations of one's own knowledge. Fools rushing in without sufficient attention to what actual circumstances and indeterminables might be. That look before (and while) leaping is what I think real conservatism is, and works best when married to curiosity and a taste for adventure, a dialectical whole. Modern so-called "Conservatives" are nothing of the sort. Most appear to be committed to vainglorious fanaticism.
I grew up in a household that watched the "evening news" every day. I did too (and always watched Ted Koppel) until the run-up to W's Iraq war, when it all seemed like a cheering section and I noticed the Guardian reported stuff the turned out to be true. I am old enough to remember when news media was a check on government over-reach and deception; spilling the beans on the Vietnam War and Nixon. Reagan corrupted that. I probably would be wise to monitor TV news, at least somewhat, but it feels like a waste of time.
What kind of "journalism" fails to spot (or at least display some vigilance for) lies? Grotesque human error even? What use is "News" to the "general welfare" if it dispenses, or aids and abets the spread of lies? Real journalists should not impose their own opinions (without labeling them as such) but there is such a thing as coherent logic and evidence. It is required for the sciences, it is supposed to be required fro the courts, and it should be mandatory for journalism worthy of the name. You don't need to know the technical details of a lot of Republican talking points to smell a rat; to dig deeper, to "question everything", and ask for proof.
And we, as those ostensibly, in the end, as designated deciders of our own nation's agendas, and with that, outcomes, share that same responsibly. I think more needs to be said about that.
Anne As a 91 year old historian, I have experienced three ‘great’ presidential revolutions:
1) FDR’s New Deal
2) LBJ’s The Great Society
3) DJT’s “Save America” (Make America Great Again)
Two were highly positive for the American people. So far, Bone Spur Donnie is endeavoring to cancel much of the New Deal and Great Society. Also, Trump has been far more of a egotistical cult than the other two.
Worse. His goals are to steal the treasury and end democracy. Trump is set to host a Crypto Summit with industry leaders. The assembly comes one day after he signed an executive order establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and Digital Asset Stockpile, continuing his administration's embrace of the cryptocurrency industry. The bitcoin in the reserve will come from assets held by the U.S. Department of Treasury that were seized in court proceedings or paid in civil penalties to executive agencies.
As has been repeated, ad nauseam, "every accusation is a confession."
The Trump/Musk regime claims "Social Security is a ponzi scheme," then promptly plans to sink reliable U.S. taxpayer dollars into bitcoin, the worst, most financially destructive ponzi scheme every conceived.
An apples to "road apples" comparison. (Even though I know Johnson was not your favorite guy (nor mine) he still fought for social "underdogs" over overlords.
It seems that that is an understatement. I think the significance of the so-called "Reagan Revolution" is generally underappreciated, and marks the inception of today's biggest lies, namely that government of the people, by the people, for the people is a pathetic failure, something to be squelched, rather than built and protected. That, and the notion that the true benefactors and natural leaders of society are the very, very rich, and if we take from the poor to give to the rich, and cordon off the pursuit of money as an ethics free zone, the promised land would magically open.
Over forty years later, the formula hasn't changed, but the extremity of its application and erosive consequences is now unprecedented, at least in our society.
The cruelty is the point, all day every day, and of course, pleasing Putin. Who does not yet realize that he is the Manchurian Candidate, now President. It is the method by which we commit national suicide. Chump could not do this alone although his hatred is what gives energy to the fools and tools. Our federal work force has been the envy of the world (despite Ronnie’s snide comment about “I’m from the government…”. (and despite my complaints about voice mail hell.). The oligarchs provide the money (so far) for the bull in the China shop, and Rupert provides the “spin.” The Republican Party has tainted the words “republican” and “conservatives,” and neither will ever be serviceable again, unless they rule us fools. Then, there is Vlad waiting in the wings to collect on his investment.
From the numerous substacks and epistles that arrive in my mail, people are “woking” but will any stir. Dems are dead in the water it seems, but signs of life exist. Wish the plot so far held out more hope, but there is no foreshadowing of that. Our comfort zones are temporary.
"Dems are dead in the water." That's exactly what the corporate media keeps preaching. Heather, Robert Reich, Tom Hartmann, Paul Krugman, the Meidas Touch, Packman, John Fugelsang. Where are you going for your news?
I am hoping that they can go to places where other Ukranians have found safety in Europe. Other than if they go to British countries this will mean learning another language.
Andra Watkins is calling it the New Feudalism. That is what all of these "populist" autocrats are embracing is The New Feudalism. They want to go back to the Days of Empire as Kings and Emperors.
And dukes and counts. They all ruled their fiefs with a full hierarchy, drawn from the nobility, in charge of a complex system of laws, with punishments that ranged from flogging to imprisonment to death. Their main opposition came from the great religious orders, such as the Jesuits and Benedictines, who ran the universities.
Very few of them were royal in the modern sense. It depended on the bloodline. The dukes were related to the monarch, and the rest of the nobility were counts - unless they were of base birth and had paid their ruling lord to ennoble them, in which case they could call themselves "von" or "de", but didn't have castles and lands. Emperors were top politicians, self-declared, in imitation of the ancient Roman hierarchy, and they had to wipe out the competition first. That's why Beethoven removed the dedication of his 3rd symphony - his former hero, Napoleon, of base birth, had just betrayed his ideals and crowned himself Emperor. Don't start me - it's very complex. Shakespeare would have made a meal out of the Trump Musk Putin affair. "Yon (insert name) hath a lean and hungry look. He thinks too much. Such men are dangerous."
How many Trump oligarchs were born with a silver spoon? They never had to save their babysitting or lawn mowing money to buy something they wanted. They didn't have to listen to their parents argue about money and whether they had enough to buy school clothes. There were a few years, where my sisters sewed their clothes and I had to wear the clothes from the previous school year.
Trump and Musk have zero ability to empathize or sympathize with any of the people that have worked for Uncle Sam for years, and they are throwing out on the street.
Trump DEMANDS loyalty but is loyal to no one as everything he does is transactional. Look at all of the unintended consequences of his actions already. He is a buffoon and Musk is showing signs of serious cognitive decline.
Agree - and I think it's also his deep insecurity. He was not "accepted" into Manhattan high society (whatever that really is) and has never gotten over it. Just like he's never gotten over Obama's crack about him at the Press club dinner or the way Melania looked at Trudeau. His whole motivation seems to be "I'll show you -- "
Ha! that look at Trudeau! That carefully beautiful face is capable of expression, after all. Remember that month when she suddenly disappeared from public view, without explanation? And then she came back.
I recently wrote a longish post about this. The Trump family grudge against NYC aristocracy's rejection goes back generations. I believe it animates much of Donald's sociopathy. Additionally, the concept of human love is foreign to the Trump family. They have always substituted money and unidirectional loyalty for love. Finally, Donald never received therapy for his congenital learning disability; it was merely covered up. As a result, Donald is a walking repository of psychoses.
I dunno if Trump has a learning disability or not, but it would not surprise me (I have one too, and while I find research on the subject going back to the early 1920s,the public schools in my region seemed to have no awareness of it as a recognizable condition). I suspect Trump covered it up by cheating, and got away with it because his family was rich. It would help explain why he makes everything up as he goes, and attacks any counter-evidence. They let you do that when you're rich. (That said, there are other ways to work around a learning disability. )
As a fictional psychiatrist said of the fictional Basil Fawlty, "There is enough there for a whole conference". Indeed, for a whole supplement to the DSM.
Nothing new here. All of us know this and have known it for a very long time.
Pointing out the elephant in the living room over and over and over again does nothing toward removing the elephant. So… ya, ok, what do you propose we do to get rid of the elephant, to get rid of the “mentally disturbed overweight frothing T-Rex”?
Except for clarity. Discussion is a prerequisite for informed democratic agency, and the better informed the better the odds of desirable results. And a lot of resource information is exchanged here, including fruitful efforts to join and affect outcomes. The creation of the USA required a lot of exchange of ideas, as well as direct action, a selection, by forethought, of effective options.
I have been asking myself that for the last 6 weeks and, I'm afraid, I don't have any good answers either. I do have some ideas, but those could most accurately be called "fantasizing." Protesting, yes, and I have joined those. But I live in a deeply blue area, where all of my government reps are also Democrats and they seem to be just as paralyzed by this moment. I mean, I guess I could be calling their offices and demanding they do more. More of what, I don't know. (What they ARE doing so far has just been weak and almost pathetic, if not embarrassing.) Some of the most forceful and effective critics of this administration are (former?) Republicans -- thinking Adam Kinzinger, Steve Schmidt. It's almost as if THEY should become the new leaders of the Democratic Party.
The only other things I can think of doing are subversive in nature.... doing things individually that when done by enough people can really gum up the works. For instance, the Dept of Education's new website for reporting (snitching) on school districts for promoting "divisive ideologies and indoctrination" (https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-launches-end-dei-portal). It would be terrible if thousands of people submitted bogus reports on that website on a daily basis and rendered that tool completely ineffective for its intended purpose. Collective actions like the targeted boycotts, yes. But at the end of the day, we all still need to eat and we can't not shop forever.
I, too, would like to see more ideas shared in these comments. I used to read the comment section as thoroughly as HCR's articles, but lately I have been skimming because, like you say, it's "nothing new here." So much of it strays into side conversations among readers that are off-topic and, while great for community building, seems irrelevant to the moment.
So, I don't know. Democracy is almost too slow and lacks powerful mechanisms to address a problem like Trump. I wish I had more or better ideas.
Community building is never irrelevant. We survive as a species in community, and we advance and defend human rights as a community. Destruction of sense of community, or creation of exclusive, solipsistic cults, is a prime tool of despots. Focus empowers social movements, the effort to all pull in the same team, but too narrow a focus, or failure to to recognize sufficient context can lead one astray, if not into a trap, especially, as seems to be the case here, there are no easy, yet clearly effective answers; no choice without pros, cons, and potential pitfalls. Good strategy involves tactics and vice versa. Tyranny thrives on greed, hate, fear, and indifference.
“In this age, in this country, public sentiment is everything. With it, nothing can fail; against it, nothing can succeed. Whoever molds public sentiment goes deeper than he who enacts statutes, or pronounces judicial decisions.” - Lincoln
Because I retired to Route 66 in Oklahoma four years ago, I am now part of the community preparing to celebrate the centennial of Route 66 next year. At least part of this community will also celebrate that next year is America’s 250th birthday. In a message to some of the leaders of this celebration oriented community, I focused on the threat to a healthy tourism turnout from America’s new position in the world as an ally of Russia and an enemy of democracy. I have not yet had a full blown conversation with the other members of this celebration organizing group, but I am praying that when I do they will see my point that this celebration needs to have at its core the founding father’s vision and values and overtly declare that we of the Route 66 community (which stretches from Chicago to Los Angeles) stand for the historic American values now being threatened. I hope to have more to report on this initiative which I’ve just begun soon! And I invite you to join me in making next year’s celebrations as impactful as possible! 👊🇺🇸
One of the things I have noticed over many years of visiting high traffic visitor destinations in the US has been the variety of languages I have heard spoken around me; some I can place and others not. The presence of foreign visitors seemed to heighten the appeal of some of our national treasures. It sure seems to me that that welcome mat has been largely withdrawn, and that tourist industry dependent communities and the nation as a whole is likely to feel this.
I don't have to visit high traffic visitor destinations; a trip to my local grocery store will usually let me hear samples of languages I can't make out - and the variety seems to change every time. But there is a similarity in the way mothers talk to their children - the young ones riding in the grocery carts. No translator required.
Same here in Brooklyn -- and tons of tourists from other countries. Italy, France, Japan, China, Eastern Europe, the UK and, yesterday it was a big group of polite young Belgians.
My sister lives in Omaha and was telling me about all of the people that the various churches and other organizations have sponsored. Over 70 different languages are spoken in the schools in Omaha and Lincoln. And this is not unique to Omaha. Why even our First Lady can barely speak English.
So, whose next to be deported after Hispanics and Ukrainians? Maybe the Vietnamese or the Chinese? How ridiculous.
Steve, thanks for letting us know about that celebration. My bucket list has long had an item "travel Route 66 - the whole thing". I don't yet have the Corvette, but it's time to sell the motorcycles and get one. I hope that the situation in the country hasn't disintegrated by next year, and it will be possible to make the trip.
Total sidebar: What bikes do you ride? We had to give up the FJR and FZ2 5 years ago; I could no longer bend my knees enough to ride more than about 20 miles. Before those, we had cruisers; V Star 1100 and V Star 1300. Lots and lots of miles and smiles.
It is an amazing highway however have you or the other members considered the land used for this famous route was indigenous land? With any trauma what has been done cannot be undone so zI hope you allow for some truth telling about the history abd involve the indigenous folks that have the route in their lands . One can do both celebrate and also acknowledge and mourn. Also what are you all doing in terms of ecology of the highway? Ben Goldberg has a really great book on roadkill and making roads safer for all.
Thank you for raising these points. We are all very socially responsible people. We do not hide the truth. I would expect the full history to be acknowledged, but my focus is going to be as I described in my main comment. This must be a celebration leveraged to defeat fascism.
Thanks for this comment. Being a retired museum professional, I am still tangentially involved with organizations celebrating the 250th anniversary of the US. I just wonder if anyone will feel like celebrating the birth of our nation in a year or so, or if there will be anything left worth celebrating. Or will it just be empty gestures? Best of luck with your conversation with the others on your committee. Let us know how it goes.
Thank you for your comment. While imagine there will be MAGA people celebrating what America is now (because they want fascism), I will look for people celebrating what America imagined itself as 250 years ago and celebrating how we can recapture that spirit of commitment to Continuously getting better at achieving that dream.
Thank you, Heather, for including that very relevant song which featured Sinead and Willie. I will not obey in advance like some of the Dems have been doing. Their display of voting with Repubs on censuring Al Green is repugnant and I told the two from CA that when I called their offices. Why? Why did 10 DEMS do that? They are setting us up for failure. Well, SCREW THEM! We fight until we destroy their lil’ empire they are trying to build. Every Saturday, people should, if they’re able, go to either a Tesla showroom or factory and protest. From 12-1pm or later…that’s where I will be, with my great big sign about the Space Nazi!
I've just finished the letter to my representative, telling him the same thing I wrote to my Senators: how long before we see the Orange Menace perp-walked out of the White House? And, when Al Green was escorted out by the sergeant at arms, why did not the entire Democratic contingent leave with him? To each of them I wrote: "my fellow constituents tell me to wait until the elections to fix this. 46 months away. I give us four months, tops, before we are in a full-on civil war."
I agree! And, as Stephen Colbert rightly said, those little protest paddles they held up during Trump's speech looked more like they were bidding on a set of antique china at an auction somewhere.
My concern is those boxes of documents containing classified information Trump took back to Mar-a-Lago on February 28. Trump can now invite Putin for a nice visit and ask him if anything in there might interest him. Maybe let Putin take a look at the nuclear football, hold it for a while. Once Putin has all our nuclear secrets, Trump will still not realize that Putin played him for a fool to get exactly what he wanted and all he needs. Putin's good that way. He'll continue to let Trump think he's in charge, unless Trump steps out of line. Which he won't.
And for which, like any other government employee who removed classified documents from a 'skiff', he should have been arrested, prosecuted, tried, convicted, and jailed.
Trump once indicated he could declassify documents just by thinking about it. So what if he changed his mind? Could he reclassify them just by thinking about it? How would he keep those responsible apprised of the current status of documents he's classifying and declassifying with his mind? Could he just think the information over to them?
"Trump revived the matter the following morning and singled out the governor for criticism, asking her of his order: “Are you not going to comply with that?”
'I'm going to comply with state and federal law,' she answered.
'Well, I am – we are the federal law,' Trump responded testily."
" If Aristotle, Livy, and Harrington knew what a republic was, the British constitution is much more like a republic than an empire. They define a republic to be a government of laws, and not of men." - John Adams
Nicely summed up. I have noticed that Trump mistakes his person and his ambitions for the will of the American people. He's hoping the American people will go along with it.
The chief justice might be moved to reason aware as he must be that his colleague Amy Coney Barrett is getting death threats from Trump supporters for judging against Trump.
I’m reasonably sure, the former Soviet Union already is in full possession of whatever information is in that box and will shortly have possession of much more.
After all, they’re in touch with the “Great Negotiator” as seen last week with his goons on world television.
It's a very childish thing to do. I want MY boxes back 😩. We, as Americans who love this country, must do more to get this wreck removed from our house.
Petulent childishness is what Trump is all about. That and domination. His persona of acute malignant narcissism seems to afflict a large portion of the wealthiest, when social rule of law is weak or corrupted, and has for centuries. How many millions have died to placate a tyrant's insatiable ego?
I think our intelligence services, if remotely worthy of the name, know pretty much what Trump is about. Who among them more that Trump their country love? We need some deeper throats.
I doubt very much that the contents of those boxes will be offered to Vladimir – because he already has electronically transmitted copies of everything. The transfer of those boxes back to Maga-Lardo is just a childish act of defiance to show the world who's boss. (I guess I should have read further before replying, as others have covered it.)
Does anyone believe Trump hasn't already shared it with just about anyone who would pay him for the information? I'm sure that cat has long been out of the bag.
The criminal-elect is checking off all of his key objectives.
1. Remain out of prison.
2. Dominate the news cycle (in conjunction with his imbecile Billionaire).
3. Embrace authoritarians -because it's much easier to enrich himself with luxurious gifts from his fellow tyrants than it is to blackmail a democracy -as he previously tried with Ukraine and was caught.
The GOP is delighted to hide in the shadows while Heritage's Project 2025 is implemented as Musk (who relishes his role onstage with a chainsaw in the criminal elect's sociopathic circus) marches through Washington DC in order to burn it all down.
Now MAGA doesn't have to wait for the next big WWE event on pay per view. They can just watch it on the nightly "news".
Gil-Scott Heron is right on. They will show Hulk tearing his shirt at the RNC. They will show Swasticar’s Elonia dancing at CPAC with a chainsaw. But we will not see the protests growing in every major city on the nightly “news” or in the Washington Post. And we won’t see the National Guard when called upon by a growingly desperate criminal-elect when he declares martial law on the U.S.
Obviously, the billionaires and oligarchs of this world have not yet realised that a previously sane American system is the only reason they and their families have enjoyed healthy living, along with the rest of us. Whatever death, destruction or pestilence is brewing due to their maniacal short-sighted fund slashing will be coming to get them too. Sorry boys, but there’s no such thing as a free lunch at this restaurant.
Kazz, the fact that billionaires and oligarchs are on the wagon with the maga horde at all, from the president down breaking havoc 24/7 since January 20th, shows you that the " previously sane American system ..." was not that sane. In the future we have to adapt the democratic rules to the dangerous reality we are facing. We are making too easy to be destroyed and when that happens there's no way back.
Mandatory voting could be a good start on those new democratic rules Ricardo, maybe followed by an end to corporate and dark money in politics, and how about reforming the judicial appointment system to avoid installing justices who have sold their souls to the devil.
Will they have elections. I doubt it. But if they do, Rs are purging voter rolls as we speak. Trump wants the Post Office so he has control over the mail in ballots. In the last election, over 4 million voters were purged from the rolls. Rs army of “signature checkers” cast out over 3 million ballots for the slightest things, including their untrained determination that signatures didn’t “match.” Provisional ballots were ignored. It’s quite possible Harris would have won if this voter suppression and election fraud didn’t happen. Do you think the next election will be any better? Dems aren’t addressing this core problem, not that they could do anything about it now. Trump is playing with the market. Billionaires (his minions) are buying when he drives it down, and selling when he does/says something to drive itup. No one will want to live in the U.S. Property values will fall. Minions will buy land up. As long as Trump ignores the rule of law, and nobody is arrested, what can be done?
It makes sense the provisional ballots were ignored. Many people in our PA county did not receive their mail-in ballots and were forced to vote early at the courthouse by standing in lines for hours, or go to the polling place to vote provisionally. I was surprised they were able to say PA turned red almost before the polls closed at 8:00 pm.
I agree - this may well have been the last federal election. No need to elect congressmen when they're no longer needed. We don't even need them for show any longer when we have a King and His Ministers, so why bother? Apparently he has already designed his crown and put the design on the White House social media site.
In his column today, Lucian Truscott described the R's as on their knees to Skum, begging him for a little relief. Must be like the finest wine to a narcissistic sociopath like Skum.
Provide education on American government too, not one predicated on Fox’s lies. I don’t think we should mandate tests or prequalifications for voters, as that has been abused to prevent to prevent African American citizens from voting, but in school, educate young people about how government should work and problems like legalized campaign bribery and voter disenfranchisement.
Totally Kathy, though if there ever is another US election, I’m sure the entire population will know by then they’ve been shafted and be turning out in droves to wring the orange turkey’s neck. And of course vote.
Relative sanity and insanity accompany every society in every era, or so it seems. Certainly robust public health services, environmental protection, NATO, and on and on have averted many disasters and improved American life. The same old serpent slithers throughout, and seems to gaining the upper hand. Perhaps more will wake to the crisis and act to arrest it?
It would be better to act to arrest a situation without a crisis but we are in the mist of a severe one already . I suggesting to do some prevention modifications if we ever return to a "sane" situation without getting to fight back from another crisis
So Trump wants “to encourage business investment from abroad in to the USA? “. What “real” business person is going to invest in a has been, broken down (and broke) country with only Third World alliances?????
I can’t believe the GOP gives so few shits about the survival, let alone prosperity, of this country and its people! Even recognizing that the caliber of “public servants “ has obviously deteriorated greatly in recent years, it would seem there are lower levels to fall to.
It's the road rage mentality. The whole compass of the whole of the Universe psychologically collapses into soul-consuming fit of self-aggrandized ego. History shows that can go pandemic.
As I see it, the U.S. government – and by extension, the nation as a whole – is being torn to shreds by three "teams." In order of appearance, they are: the Democracy Patriots, the Theo Bros and the Tech Bros. The Democracy Patriots had control, but failed to remind Americans why democracy is good for everyone; they became weak and lost their grip.
The Theo Bros (aka evangelicals) have been plotting for decades to take over, systematically populating the courts with "rubber stamps" to legalize theocracy. With the made-over judiciary in place, all they needed was a roadmap to complete the transformation. The bros at Project 2025 provided that roadmap.
More recently, the Tech Bros have been quietly buying legislators, one by one, and paying them to enact legislation that transfers wealth from the "great unwashed" to the Tech Bros. Their plan is a brute-force takeover by theft of the treasury and control of the management systems.
Regardless of who wins this battle, no foreign investor would risk a dime in such an unstable economic environment. U.S. culture and economy will be reduced to something resembling those of Somalia.
The cumulative effect of the Trump regime’s actions - from layoffs, tariffs, service eliminations, contract cancellations, Musk-amok the government with his inexperienced know-it-alls - are not just deleterious to his own party. They’re a loud, clear message to the American people that we do not have someone running the Executive branch with his marbles fully intact. What is often overlooked by many is the intertwined nature of government in every layer of economic activity in the country. This is a design feature, not a bug.
When people “feel” the second- and third-order consequences of the change happening at the federal level, and are hit with a tax plan that will do nothing but enrich the top 1% instead of dramatically lower their taxes, it will be a moment of economic reckoning. I can’t figure out how Republican house reps/senators think they will politically survive cutting Medicaid and other big-ticket entitlement programs when the low-information voter connects the dots that they, in fact, are the ones getting screwed.
Yes. Told my congress critters that, if they think January 6 was a disaster, wait 'til the muskrat f***s up Social Security. March on Washington, anyone?
Senator Collin's Bangor office is down the hall from the SSA office. I am sure It is on the cutting block even though they help hundreds of people each year with all sorts of issues.
I hope she feels bad every time she walks by that office knowing that all of the people that will need help going forward, will get stuck on the phone for hours talking to someone in one of the 4 out of 10 major service centers they propose keeping open.
I'm sure Susan Collins is " concerned". She is my Senator, too, & such a profound disappointment. I wrote her a letter a few weeks ago, begging her not to confirm Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence, telling her that if Gabbard were to be confirmed, none of our allies would share information with us in the future.
Yesterday I heard on the news that many of our European allies are considering not sharing intelligence with us! Incidentally, I have yet to receive a response from Sen. Collins. And we Mainers don't have to worry about an unruly Town Hall. Sen. Collins hasn't held a Town Hall in any city or town in Maine since 2019.
KMD, I am a retired National Park Service employee and vote in Maine. Collins’ office replied to a friend’s call, “What more do you people want?” Truth. There is little “concern” from Collins’s office.
James, You got that right! March on Washington seems inevitable at this point. My concern is that both Trump and Musk seem mentally unstable and completely out of control while Republicans and Democrats seem unable to connect the dots.
Ohhhhh, I think it's coming! Once the weather gets warmer and the full impact of the disappearance of benefits for 72 million Americans hits, you're gonna see demonstrations in this country unlike anything we've ever seen in our history. Easily millions. I'm pretty sure of it. People are MAD, and getting madder. Taking away benefits will really be, in the words of your (probable) ancestors, "de klap op de vuurpijl" (similar to "straw that broke the camel's back"). I would just dare Trump to respond by calling out the National Guard, or some other police force, to start rounding up old people with walkers and canes. Republicans can then kiss their majorities goodbye because this PR nightmare will reflect on THEM. It could be an interesting spring and summer.....
Ostrich’s all. My MAGAt bro said I don’t watch that because I can’t do anything about it. I said, yes you can. You can speak up and say I made a mistake. It will be too late, the cult has no logic, no empathy, not even any self-preservation instincts. Typical cult only worse, some will seek retribution, on all of us.
That's why the DOJ has ceased all neutrality and the JAG eviscerated with various other of the highest senior military officers replaced. Not looking good for fair and free voting.
Here in Paris, there was a magazine cover at a newsstand, with Trump's face and the headline, "Moscow's Man." Germany's stock market has spiked (and bond market tanked) on news of accelerated rearmament to fill US withdrawals. If Trump successfully deposes Zelenskyy, and a Russian puppet replaces him, millions of Ukrainians might either rise up or flee into Poland, etc. If Ukraine falls, expect eventual Russian military display on the Polish border. That could trigger hostility or worse between Russia and Germany, with US abstaining. This is what the Republicans and CEOs brought us, along with the hollowing out of our democracy. Many many more people are going to be displaced or die because of Trump's Putin-driven shenanigans.
French and German publications have depicted Trump as he really is. During Trump’s first term, I believe that Der Spiegel depicted Trump sitting at his desk lighting matches and tossing them into a pile behind them. As an American, I don’t think we need to alienate our allies and side with Vlad the Defenestrator.
The US has a long history of overthrowing democratically elected leaders, unfortunately. I'm rooting for Zelenskyy to hold fast. Imagine the pressure on him, an Everyman.
It is congressional Republicans who are the criminals. It is their sworn constitutional duty to stop what is happening. Every Republican representative and senator is guilty of high treason.
When this crisis is over and we’re cleaning up the mess, I propose it be made a requirement for elected legislators to be present at regularly scheduled town hall style meetings with constituents.
The karma comes at Rubio every day! A youth called Big Balls imbedded in his state department domain and Trump still demeaning/threatening him in front of the nation. With these cuts to foreign consulates and general staffing and the craziness of the US intelligence psyche on full display— the Gabbard, Hegseth, Patal and Vance anti-‘intelligence’ horror show—why other democratic nations will even dare share the time of day with Rubio and what might remain of his staff?
Musk handing out his personal number to Congress like it’s a VIP hotline for government favors is the clearest sign yet that we’re living in a billionaire-run patronage system. Congress—who actually controls the budget—is left begging for scraps while unelected power brokers call the shots. My post, Government for Sale, forgottenfiles.substack.com/p/government-for-sale dives into the history of how corrupt political machines operated in the Gilded Age, when government jobs and contracts were handed out to the highest bidder. The difference now? The stakes are even higher, and the buyers are richer.
About this time of day I start watching for the day's Letter, like a long draft of clear water after a day in the desert. Heather is unique among the truth-telling analysts. As a reporter she is dispassionate and compassionate. Nothing seems to escape her.
Ten million. He's not paying attention to that piddling amount - when you sell dinner with der Fuhrer at Mar-a-Lardo for $5 mil a pop ($1 mil if you don't mind a crowd) the money spent on golf isn't even on the list. And the meme coin is just another sewer-pipe sized funnel into his pockets.
You are right! He does not pay attention to what he’s spending on himself. I think some of the people who voted for him might be appalled by how Trump is spending their tax dollars.
Someone posted a comment that when prices fall in the stock market wealthy people buy up stocks and then tRump drops the tariffs and the wealthy make a s@&#t load of money. What does one call that? Manipulating the market?
Unlike J.D. Vance, Elon Musk, and their convicted criminal mob boss, I served.
Bone spur Donald, as his actions show, in another way has also served – but only Vladimir Putin. This totally corrupted Donald respects no democracy. Respects no law.
Republicans: sycophant, spineless accomplices to the wholesale corruption.
While I was wearing the uniform, serving the U. S., Aug. 23, 1971, the Powell memo came out, and American schools began their death spiral.
I never imagined what we see now: a U.S. president as adjudicated rapist, multi-hundred-million-dollar court-found fraud, convicted felon, betrayer of democratic allies, agent to the world’s most murderous dictator.
P. Balla, U.S. Army Vietnamese translator/interpreter 2 Sept. ’69 – 4 Apr. ‘72
Phil, thank you for taking on the worst of the worst wars! I am the wife of a Vietnam Vet who served in the Army and landed in the Mekong Delta (‘68-‘69). He feels the same way you do. Apparently there is a March on the 14th at State Capitols. I want him to go but I know he won’t because of his PTSD. My best to you.
Please publicize the plan to deport 240,000 temporary protected status Ukrainians.
I heard. brief reference to the possible deporting of Ukrainians. It had to be on MSNBC because I had it on much of the day. Trump seems to be working his way down a checklist for Putin!
I like “checklist for Putin.” Everyone understands “checklist” even if they don’t understand the horror of this list.
Everyone: Don’t feed the troll! (Ie. James A)
Trolls crack me up…I have a few typos when I right, see a joj]ke, but Jimmy—this is really trashy!
I blocked and reported him
Are you on Zelenskyy checklist? A dictator (no elections)
from the most corrupt country in the world, stealing the money we send for a war that can't be won.
What kind of parrot mouthes Putin Putin Putin all day long.
You are sending young men to die SO that Zelenskyy and his friends can steal our cash. BTW the other winner is the military industrial complex.
BTW - Why don't you want to SEND THE DESERTERS home?
Here's a better question: Why didn't your Russian bosses teach you colloquial English before they sent you on a mission to annoy us with your disinformation?
Spoken like a true Putin troll.
Troll
1. There is no cash. The money allocated for UKraine aid has been spent, almost entirely, in the United States -- paying for American factories and workers to produce the weaponry that is either shipped to Ukraine or to replenish the U.S. weapon stocks the Pentagon has drawn on during the war. "One analysis by the American Enterprise Institute found that Ukraine aid is funding defense manufacturing in more than seventy U.S. cities."
2. The Ukrainians who are dying are defending their country. The Russians -- and North Koreans -- who are dying are invading a country. Can you see the difference? Probably not.
3. How many elections were held in the U.K. between 1939 and 1945? Was Winston Churchill a dictator?
4. Thanks to Putin, Russia is a corrupt, third-world hellhole. Putin has stolen hundreds of billions while he plundered Russia and its mostly peasant population for his (now) oligarch friends.
5. You must be ecstatic at not being burdened by even a scintilla of intelligence.
What is your deal?
Maybe you should ask that question to Trump, why does he now want Putin as his best buddy and turns his nose up to the rest of the world, O by the way Zelenskyy was elected and NO country in their right mind would hold an election in the middle of a war, unless you call it a Rebelion ! Maybe that's what we should do !
Computer analysis indicates with high certainty this”James” is a bot.
Wow! Drug treatment will help, really. Check out something other than Faux…the Guardian is pretty cool…it takes a week or two but you’ll feel better soon! I promise!
Sending the Ukrainian refugees back to Ukraine is unconscionable!! But I wake up to find this situation over & over again, cruelty & following Putin’s preferences. It has to be asked what is Trump’s end game? Where are these actions going to lead us? At a minimum nowhere good. At a maximum a hostile society dictated by the worst instincts that will crush our country beyond recognition.
YOU ARE LYING & PROMOTING DISINFORMATION.
You are helping Putin with these lies. Send the deserters and traitors home.
Ukraine needs soldiers and help in the WAR EFFORT.
Putin wants as many Ukrainians as possible to desert.
YOU ARE A PUTIN lover. Are you a RUSSIAN BOT
There is NO reason to deport the Ukrainian REFUGEES other than pure, old downhard MEANNESS!
Are you kidding? If you believed in the WAR you would send the COWARDS home to fight PUTIN.
You are helping PUTIN.
Ukraine needs more soldiers!
Why don’t you go to Ukraine and help them?
Send the COWARDS home if you believe in WAR ! I guess that is what Trump believes in , maybe he should send his whole family back to Russa , that's where they belong !
Why won’t you condemn HEATHER’s PRO PUTIN POST?
Paying for Ukrainian’s to flee IS PUTIN’s dream come true.
You are a PUTIN LOVER.
Are all 240,000 capable of fighting? You seem to think so.
Are you serious? PUTIN lover?
UKRAINE needs nurses, operational people, supply chain, communications.
Its ALL HAND ON DECK.
If you believed in the WAR, you would do anything to HELP. The last thing you would do is DESERT.
You are helping PUTIN.
Yes, THIS. Protecting the persecuted is crucial step to stopping this trainwreck.
I spent my younger life in protest against the Vietnam war. As I reached draft age, I knew that had my number come up low enough to be called, (recalling Nixon’s lotto where the date of birth determined each year who was drafted and h who wasn’t) I was prepared to move to Sweden or Canada. And I have had mostly disagreements with government policy ever since. One thing I have lived with is never trust the US government nor the military.
Suffice to say, I no longer identify as American.
Bill Katz, agreed never trust the government where going to war is concerned, especially undeclared wars, HOWEVER, what we find ourselves having to do right now is fight to preserve that very government from the ravages of a wannabe dictator and patrimonialist who has taken a wrecking ball to our government. I guarantee that no matter how untrustworthy our government proved to be, actually the specific leaders who led (lied) us into Viet Nam & then Iraq, it was minor compared to what tRump, Musk, and the MAGAts have in mind!
I can only say to you , who do not believe in the real USA, not Trump's, go and leave MY country to us , I spent years in Southeast Asia fighting so you and others like you can have the right to stand and openly say what you want to say without being executed for it, to vote your mind. Good luck you to as you go and don't let the door hit you in the ass !
You made a decision to be drafted and it was an erroneous one. That was founded on a lie; the Tonkin Gulf lie. And millions lost their lives for nothing. I marched in the streets to bring people like you home safely and this is the respect I get. Maybe you should return to Vietnam and start an insurrection.
Yes! His cruelty and vengeance know no bounds.
The deportation of Ukrainians is a really low blow by Trump. I'm in a small rural town and we only have 2 Ukrainian families here but I feel fiercely protective towards them...and i've never personally met them.
I believe that they've already been through too much!
Thank you! Important to do
Yes, just read that this morning, ok, WTF! your choice of words.
Why aren;t back in Ukraine fighting for their country?
Why are we supporting deserters?
Go troll somewhere else.
Just block or mute him, Jon.
You are a phony and PUTIN LOVER
If you really believed in the war you would have NO respect for the DESERTERS. That's what they are. Time for them to GO HOME & FIGHT
KEEPING the DESERTERS here HELPS PUTIN!
Calling refugees who have chosen to leave a war torn country deserters is very cowardly of you . Our neighbor fled Sierra Leone with her family to escape the second war she experienced by the age of ten. Was she a deserter? She is now 35. She and other members of her family still fear loud noises and have trust issues. She is black and fears every day for her family. She is college educated and her husband is a doctor serving rural America. They are both now American citizens. ( He is from Ghana). They both contribute to our country in many ways. Shame on you for calling people like them deserters. They came to America legally as did the Ukrainians who paid dearly to be in America. You should visit the Statue of Liberty in NYC. Her arms are wide, her message is “come to America, we will protect you”. She doesn’t say “ go away, we’re turning our back on you”.
Still trolling. Oh, and by the way, how's the weather in St. Petersburg?
Yeah, why AREN'T you back in Ukraine?!
You are a PUTIN LOVER.
Instead of denoucing Heather’s PRO PUTIN POST
you are supporting Ukrainian deserters.
You are a COWARD and PUTIN loves your help!
As subscribers to this newsletter, we are part of a community with one right and two responsibilities. We have the right to express our opinions, the responsibility to be prepared to respond to a challenge with a reasoned explanation, and the responsibility put effort into understanding the opinions of those we disagree with.
In my opinion, defeating MAGA is easy. How? Although we can’t decide to change another person’s behavior—because that person decides on their own—we can change our own behavior.
If the anti-MAGA movement wants the MAGA movement to change its behavior, then the anti-MAGA movement will not get what it wants, but it can get what it needs to defeat MAGA because what it needs is to change its own behavior.
When two parties disagree, it doesn’t necessarily mean that one party is right, and the other is wrong, but what it can and should always mean is that both parties have an opportunity to learn from one another.
Unfortunately, I can’t give a reasoned explanation in support of this comment in this comment. Fortunately, you can find my (1,700-word – 10-minute read – published yesterday) explanation at this link: https://substack.com/home/post/p-158522918
I have no idea what I just read. 😵💫
I'll try again:
If you want to defeat MAGA by changing MAGA, you won't succeed. If you try to defeat MAGA by changing your behavior, then you will succeed.
You can’t get MAGAs to change. It’s impossible. They’re in a cult.
We agree on that. I'm saying defeating the MAGA involves the anti-MAGA movement changing itself. Is that possible?
Thank you for your service. I wrote a poem about the brave democracy defenders in Ukraine. We must continue fighting for freedom’s light! https://democracydefender2025.substack.com/p/zelensky-ukraine-freedoms-light
A beautiful and moving poem, Public Servant! Thank you.
Tomorrow, Public Servant -- it's late, night, here in Japan now.
Look forward to your poem tomorrow.
Early morning Saturday in Japan now, Public Servant.
I've awoken, and gone to your link to read your poem.
Thank you for the good rhyming quatrains, and the good wishes for the people of Ukraine.
Marlene, as a non-veteran, naturalized citizen, I am absolutely appalled, so I can only imagine how you and your husband must be feeling. What I do know is that all this sickens me. Sending you both the strength and courage to march. God bless.
Thank you for your service. You are the best of the best, a true American patriot.
I hope to attend that rally. And as a veteran, I am extremely grateful to my fellow veterans who faced harms way to protect this country. My gratitude is deep and sincere.
It is especially hurtful to see the direction our country has been plunged towards. This is what happens when a traitor and a cheat is allowed to run for the same office whose oath he has already violated in the past. Simply put, he belongs in prison for the rest of his miserable life. It is my hope to see that unfold, but for now, I will join the rest of the nation to stop his treason and support our elections to rid ourselves of the trash in our government.
I'm so sorry about your husband. I have been treated for PTSD (medical abuse as a child) fairly successfully, but it still sneaks up on me. If he hasn't had a qualified therapist help him with EMDR, perhaps it will help him too. It gives you a little reprieve from the instantaneous response your body wants to do.
Friday 3/7 Afternoon On Elon Musk💥 "Massive Starship Explosion"
Per ABC;s national World News Tonight, 9 minutes into its flight (NOT)
Musk's suffered a "mishap" "Raining Fiery Debris from [the] Sky". The sinking debris was sen see close up from a passenger-jets & causing air traffic
"Ground Stops". FAA investigation anyone?
Question: Has "DOGE" destroyed the FAA .. yet?
🔘 Note DEEP DIVE Research Needed on this Mafia Member Elon Musk:
It is way, way past time time to take a closer look into the "PayPal Mafia": Founder Peter Thiel, Elon Musk & David C. Stacks among others. Please annotate the PayPal Gang history if you have admissible facts.
I am aware the group's substantial investments in "government" contracts & massive conflicts of interests such as today's "fiery explosion" % "fallen debris"
Yes, I am also aware of the Fortune Magazine "Mafia Style" photo of the Gang with poker chips spilled out on a gaming Table. We are not at that Table but, we are being gamed such as Jet Passengers who got a close up look at Musk's latest "mishap".
Need more solid insights ... anyone?
Please thank your husband for his service 🇺🇸
Hey Marlene, thanks for sharing, your husband, is part of that ptsd fear of crowds? Wish him well from Canada!
A Vietnam VET that supports stupid endless wars?
Yes but that Vet and ones like them makes it possible for you to say what you want , so think for a moment what would you be doing now if they had not supported Stupid Endless Wars, like WWII , what language would you be speaking now or maybe they would have sent you back to where you came ?
Phil, thank you for your service. My husband served for the country I am living in now, and I have several cousins who have served in the US military as career military here in Germany and have wives and children here too. We honor your service. It is why my third and then fourth grade students always organized and held a Veterans Day assembly in which we wrote up and posted interviews of all vets in our school community, and invited them to the assembly and had snacks in their honor afterwards. We always introduced the vets who came by the child in their family going on stage with them, unless they worked in the school, whereas we would have a child from my class accompany them. We also organized making cards at our school for the Chicago VA Hospital soldiers, which we took to them when we went to perform by singing military and patriotic songs and then talk to the vets in the hospital. I am shocked as can be too. What is the civic education we are teaching now. That is how I know that a lot of Vets need food support after serving our country. That is a shock too.
I am hearing that Trump/Musk plans on shutting down many of the embassies, so clearly the important role that they play is not considered that important in countries Trump does not think he can get anything out of. So, mostly shutting them in Western Europe. That is effecting our intelligence gather capabilities. However, in Project 2025 the plan I recall was to spy on our European allies for two years without sharing any intel with them. The claim is like they spy on us. Western Europe is hated because it is too liberal. Same with Canada. Greenland is also a symbol of that. That staunchly Lutheran indigenous population is not going to become Christian Nationalist over night. They have had enough of being colonized.
Russia, whom Putin loves is not so nice to Protestants either, and abortion is legal, so really, what Trump and his CN backers are defending is a state that is anti what they stand for. The Russian Orthodox church is corrupted by Putin and that is what rules religiously there. As Trump loses all soft power to China, who is right now having a much better formula for getting allies, these countries will only vote with the US if China does, and he does not realize that. I assume he is thinking that he will rule the US until he dies, and pass it on to his sons, like a king, and that he will bleed every penny out of this country while he can.
I am also thinking that if anyone wants to leave the US now is the time to do it, before no one will be allowing Americans in.
Here is a piece I wrote on thinking about leaving the USA.
https://lindaweide.substack.com/p/a-plan-c-for-catastrophe?r=f0qfn
Linda, thank you for your post. Difficult to even consider leaving the US & esp our beloved Maine. Now we’re doing what we can- calling reps daily, writing letters & editorials, talking to friends in denial of what’s happening, going to protests, volunteering at community level- whatever we can do. We have children, grandchildren & 2 great grandchildren- my heart breaks for them thinking about what world we’re leaving for them. But, we do have a plan B- my husband’s father was born in Canada & he’s applied for citizenship. Never imagined in a million years at our age that we would consider leaving, but if we can, we’ll create a place for our family to which they can escape. I hope it doesn’t come to that!
Caroline, when you have a plan and really plan it out, then you won't feel so trapped and that gives you agency. One of my best friends, a proud Jewish Lesbian with children adopted from a Central American country has been thinking of plans as well. Her oldest daughter is married to a Canadian and they can move there. However, as with anything else, if you wait until things are bad enough that everyone else is leaving it gets harder to do because all jobs, housing will be hard to come by.
She knows that her grandfather comes from Poland so we have talked it through and she is going to apply for Polish citizenship through his papers that she has, and then while she may not stay there, she will have EU citizenship. We discussed that even though Hungary has an illiberal leader it is supposed to be the best place in Europe for Jews. My daughter has Jewish friends in the capitol of Germany, but there are not that many Jews in Europe. So, she is going to also have her escape plan. I would not choose Hungary with their anti-Lesbian, anti-brown-skinned people, but there are other countries to go to in the EU and the world.
Linda, you’re so right- put the plan together now! We have vacationed in Canada many times and love it there. My grandmother was born in PEI and grandfather in Quebec. We are going to go to Canada this summer to see where we’d might like to rent or buy a place. Since Maine borders Canada, easy to travel there. We don’t know if Canada will approve my husband’s application. I also have ancestry in Ireland and love it there. Will need plans B,C,D etc!
Yes. It is wise. People who can make plans should. Also, I would like to point out that most countries are cheaper than the USA.
Here is the cost of living index.
https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/rankings_by_country.jsp
Also, here is the safety ranking.
https://www.visionofhumanity.org/maps/#/
If you pick a place with a higher cost of living you are going to hope it has a higher safety index. That is not hard to do. There are at least 20 countries in Africa that are safer than the US, which is at place 132. Under Trump I expect this to drop even lower.
Then, I think health care index is also something to consider. Here is that index. https://www.numbeo.com/health-care/rankings_by_country.jsp
So Canada has a lower cost of living, higher safety, and better health care rating. Ireland has a lower cost of living, much higher safety rating, but much worse health care ranking. Then, I also consider climate in terms of global warming, air quality and access to clean water. If you are headed to an English speaking country then there are also New Zealand and Australia. But, I live in Germany and am just home from my monthly dinner with my local branch of Democrats Abroad. Most of them who are not binational leaned to speak German as an adult. And their level of German ranges, yet everyone manages. That is true for most countries, you can learn to speak a level of language where you can get along, and you can also find your American expats group to hang with.
It's the end of my day here in Japan, Linda. I'll go to your link tomorrow.
I never got to Nam. Of the ten groups of students (half officer, half enlisted, half with Nam tours already, half neophytes), twelve in each class for that full year of study with Viet native instructors -- no English in class ever, I finished with the highest proficiency of all. The army sent everyone to Nam but me. Me -- fluent in Vietnamese, French, and Russian -- got sent to Germany.
Office of Congressional Correspondence -- another saga of army corruption.
My first home in Germany, Goeppingen, in the s.w., Swabisch Alps, halfway between Stuttgart and Ulm. Boyhood home to Herman Hesse, as much as he ever had one. (Two of his novels set there.)
My son is going to Japan the end of the month to check out places to live. I do not want to leave my country but cannot stand what is happening here. I just hope we still have the time to plan the move and escape before the total collapse. I keep trying to live life as if things are normal - we are scheduled to take a family cruise in July - but a lot can happen in 4 months.
My daughter and I have a trip to France planned for July, one of my favorite places. I hope they let us in. Or maybe I hope they won’t let me out to come back here.
Go figure. It makes no sense that you ended up in Germany. Clearly if you had learned German you might have been sent somewhere else. Just listened to Medhi Hassan and Paul Krugmen talking about things economically and politically under Trump/Musk. Krugman makes a case for government bureaucrats and how departments lost so much during Reagan and that they are streamlined.
The reality is our bureaucracy is our democracy. It protects the working people from abuse of the powerful that seek exploitation. Convincing people that it is bad is necessary to allow for the changes happening now. Americans in large will not like the America of Project 2025.
Trump has nothing to do with Project 2025, which is nothing more than a conservative wish list that has been floated for decades. It is frustrating to see people on the left wallowing in conspiracy theories after taunting and accusing the Republicans for years about them.
Thank you, Linda -- it's Saturday, first light in Japan.
I've now read your link, seeing you affirm your urgency and concern. Thank you again for that.
There are many lovely embassies across the world, but with changing geo-politics, it becomes important to move embassies out of places we no longer need them and into places where the US requires a presence and information-gathering. It may sound like a big mistake to you, but do you know why it is being done? We cannot afford to keep embassies open if the ambassadors are under-employed or where we simply do not need a US presence there anymore.
Bonnie what changing geopolitics require us to close embassies in European countries where many Americans both live and travel?
All of the Americans I know here are already upset that their children have to miss a couple of days of school to renew their US passports, because they are required to go to an embassy in person to do this, and if they don't live in the only city in the country with an embassy that does this they have to travel an overnight trip at least. American children have to appear in person abroad to renew passports.
Also, if you are traveling and are in a country where there is one embassy left or none and you have a problem, you are going to be out of luck.
We are being told that we are firing government employees so that our tax dollars can go to privatize the services. That does not make them better or cheaper, but the people who get to make money off of these services will be sure to line the pockets of Trump and Musk. Is it better to line Elon Musk's pockets with our tax dollars instead of having embassies to help Americans in need?
I live abroad and I know the problems with the US already having reduced services and shut down.
Another problem that is being discussed is that it will be harder to gather intel with embassies shutting. Everything possible to make the US less safe is happening right now. They are destroying the military bit by bit, the Intelligence community, the civil service. If you want to ever leave the US do you have a passport? you may not be able to get one, because there won't be enough people working there to do this. And, no one to complain to either.
So, is money being saved? I wonder about this? There will be costs for these shut downs. Who will be paying them? Probably you and me.
Thanks to both of you, Phil and Marlene. In the fifty-five years since, I've had much time to think about my choices back then. And I still don't know if I made the right one. I'm not one to believe in miracles, but I survived and have six grandchildren, so maybe I'm wrong.
Uncle Sam made the "choice" for me. MAC-V '66-67. Tsoi oi. I ain't marchin' no more.
This is treason. Pressure Congressional Republicans. Impeach the bastards.
https://jerryweiss.substack.com/p/remove-impeach-impeach
Good to see you here, Daniel. I remember you from Robert Reich's blog. Always value your voice and comments.
Not marching either. DMZ. 68-70. USMC.
I watched the lottery on AFN in Phu Bai. #273, as I recall. Moot point, then. Thanks for the link. It's gonna be a long slog.
I got my draft notice while I was in Vietnam and after I extended my 4 year enlistment to finish a year in Vietnam.
I wasn't going to reenlist but they said they would give me orders to Westover AFB, MA, if I did choose to reenlist. I agreed but when they wanted me to reenlist at the end of my 4 years, I asked where the orders were. It took 18 days into the 3 month extension to get the orders in my hand.
I hadn't planned it that way but the timing turned out to let me get the reenlistment bonus based on higher (over 4 year) pay and tax free from being in a war zone (instead of being shipped back a couple weeks after my year in Vietnam ended but before the 3 moth extension ended). I ended up with a greater bonus than my friends who took a short (early reenlistment at 3 years), to get $75 per month Proficiency Pay which didn't add up to mine since it was paid on the lower pay at 3 years and $900 in Pro Pay.
I tried to be worthy of the good luck for the rest of my 20 years in the service, training others and giving them as much opportunity to fit college classes into some difficult schedules (I was on 24 hour standby for about a third of my first 10 years and filled in whenever called whether on the schedule or not). Two of the guys I supervised not only got degrees but became officers, too. It wasn't unusual to work 60 or 70 hours a week, even 100 one week, and once for 72 hours straight. It wasn't as tough as some jobs like fire fighters, medics, combat security, and airborne intel, but it was some long hours to make sure people had the best weather support we could provide.
It is shocking. Once the process of grieving this loss of place, this obvious defeat, lessens, it will be time to look at the destruction with a newly informed eye, salvage what is not beyond repair and where the enemy has been devastating, learn from it.
🐈⬛
The crime planned, to deport 240,000 temporary protected status Ukrainians, means we can never “go back” if we commit it.
This horrible action to deport Ukrainian refugees is similar to 45’s abandonment of Syrian Kurds in 2019, opening them up to attack by Turkish forces. 45 has NO loyalty to anyone or anything but himself. He has never been faithful any of his wives, never honored a contract for services rendered unless forced to do so, bankrupted casinos leaving any investors holding the bag. To him, deporting refugees is just reneging on a contract.
Phil. I turned 18 in 1972 and my draft lottery number came up as 49 in the 1973 lottery. The administration was proposing that numbers 1 - 95 be processed for 1973. As you are likely aware there were cowardly Congressmen and wealthy individuals (like Daddy Trump) that were able to keep their precious sons from serving. Can you imagine asking your parents to get you out of the draft? I would have been disowned on the spot. Of course, no one in Trump's family has ever served as far as I am aware and Musk is an illegal immigrant who bought his citizenship just like Melania. Congress ended the draft in 1973 so tens of thousands of us weren't forced to serve and we didn't have corrupt parents to get us out of military service.
But, my AP history teacher, in my junior year in high school was drafted even though he was 23. He had had education deferments, but unlike Trump he was forced to serve. He was an excellent teacher and his classes all had done well on the AP History test the previous year (before they caught him). His replacement was awful. They scrambled to find someone in October and he was one of the worst teachers in the school system.
Fast forward to the present. 1 out of 4, 17-23 year olds qualify for the military. They cannot pass the entrance exam which I'm guessing they have dumbed down quite a bit. So out of this 25% how many of them are people of color -- Hispanic, Black, Asian, Indian, Native American, etc.? So the pool is further reduced because who wants to serve under the white supremacist misogynistic assholes that are left?
I predict that in the next 12 months Republicans will start talking about bringing back the draft.
And thank you Phil, for your service.
turned 18 in 1974. My lottery #39. Thank goodness the draft had ended. I, like most Americans, was supportive of the war, growing up watching the heroic WWII movies and TV series. Dad was a WWII Navy seaman, and then in the Air Force during the Korean conflict.
By the time I graduated, my feelings about the war had changed. IT was a no win situation for the soldiers. Had I been called, I would have gone, but not happily for sure.
The draft may bring the sons of billionaires into contact with everybody else. The problem with no draft has been that never the twain have met. I had three uncles in WWII. All three learned from the experience.
I did appreciate many of the well off that did accept being drafted, did their service honorably, no excuses, no shirking the call, and left with mutual respect for those who looked out for each other and the people of the countries were supposed to be fighting for. Some arrived in Vietnam bitter about the professional opportunities they thought they were missing but came to appreciate what they could do for the troops and civilians that could really needed and appreciated their help.
I wish they had tried such overseas adventures with nothing but volunteers, though. Some of the best we ran across would never have thought to volunteer to come but did some of the best of any once they got there.
It never sat right with me were drafting so many and making it so hard to get conscientious objector status. I would have much preferred the draft allowed other service in place of so many being placed in combat units. I do believe some of the best that were drafted would volunteer for combat service, even if they didn't have to.
That said, the most appreciated heroes I ran across included a conscientious objector that became a medic, would never carry a weapon, but went through fire the bravest of the others wouldn't dare, earning the highest respect, and favored treatment to any thing they could give him or do for him.
Phil, your service is much appreciated! My husband, bless his heart, served in Vietnam in 1967-1968 but never wanted to talk about his experiences. The older he gets, the more he remembers his feelings of fear and regret at what was happening. He now wears a "Vietnam Veteran" hat and always engages others who wear military caps. The funny and sad thing is that he "does not care" what's going on with Trump's and Musk's firing of veterans. When I try to enlighten him on the ramifications of what is being done to the democracy he fought for, he dismisses me with, " We can't do anything about it, and it's most likely not going to happen." He was a 24/7 FOX "news" watcher until he realized the unstableness of Trump. He still won't admit that what is going on is dangerous and will change the future for our grandchildren. I've said all I know to change his mind about what Trump and Musk are doing to turn the world as we know it upside down. I've heard him and so many people around here say that nothing that is being done will affect us. How selfish and misguided these people are, but talking to them has done nothng except get my blood pressure up. Should I just stop trying to change his and their minds? I might lose mine in the meantime.😏
In many ways, your husband is in the position of many road-blocking Americans. They personally feel insulated, therefore why expend the energy to activism for Others? Rudely ( and because I woke up in a frustrated mood about exactly this )
I sum this up to “old-white-guy-shit”. The worst of them gaslight their spouses into impotence. Others outsource activism to their spouse. Kind of a: “I won’t do it myself, but I really do want a clean house as long as I don’t actually have to lift a finger.” They really would like a functioning democracy, but not if it means getting off the couch, thank you very much. They are not the helpmates best needed when the world is going through an historic, chaotic upheaval. They are perfectly okay with trump/vance/musk crashing everything, because the pain and the clean-up will be borne and outsourced to women and minorities. These men may not be the gods-of-Mt.Olympus, like the billionaire buddies are, but they’re close enough hierarchically to not be moved to do anything constructive for us.
Pam, it sounds more like denial. Some folks are just like that; maybe that’s how they protect their sanity, such as any of us have any left. My husband, while not a veteran, leaves family activism to me, while I wish he’d do more, I can’t make him and I also see he can’t deal with it to the extent I do (and many, many days I’m not sure I can anymore). Your husband DID after all already serve his country.
Thanks for your reply, but that's why I'm astounded that he has no compassion for veterans who are being fired, or that disabled veterans will be denied insurance and needed health care. Yes, he served his country physically, but does that end his empathy for veterans who are suffering in so many other ways today? I'm a retired teacher. I “served" my country by trying to educate and prepare young children to be contributing citizens and to enable them to have decent lives, while spending so much of my own money to provide items for my classroom that the school wouldn't or couldn't provide. Does that mean I should not have sympathy for and express my support or those teachers who will now suffer because of Trump’s shutting down the Dept. Of Education? Not to mention the children who will now suffer.
You should grab your husband and sign up to volunteer at a veterans center, or homeless shelter, if you are able. Working with the veterans that have been abandoned after fighting in our endless wars and are now homeless and need mental health treatment is very eye opening.
I was a nurse in the Air Force. Many of my patients were Vietnam veterans as I worked on the cancer ward. In later years I spent one weekend a month at the homeless shelter where we saw the effects of the damage caused to our war heroes by our politicians.
Now, when the government has the opportunity, ability and knowledge to do something for the people who served our country they’re turning their back on them. I’m tired of the remarks about how they don’t actually work at their jobs, they don’t deserve their paychecks and they should be forced to come to an office that is not set up to deal with their disabilities. I’d like to smack every one of those assholes in the face. They’ve been handed everything all their lives and now they sit in judgement of others while destroying lives.
That is a wonderful suggestion! If he won't go, I'll try to get involved. Sitting back fuming is not helping.
I tried to talk my sister into volunteering when she was always complaining about how bad her life was and how she’s always depressed. We live on opposite coasts so I couldn’t drag her into it and I couldn’t convince her to do it.
Phil, I served in the RVN too and I'm very impressed with your language skill. I tried learning a bit of Vietnamese over there, but just saying hello was complex. Now with you, I'm asking: Why are we surrendering to Russia?
The Powell memo set in motion low-grade criminality all those years ago, Stephen.
They also campaigned to kill humanities in schools (the then-new Heritage Foundation and ALEC, and an enlarged and mega-funded Hoover Institution) through the 1970s. In the 1980s narrowed, neutered sets of "thinking" on standardized tests guaranteed dutiful subservience to and no questions of corporate priorities.
The low-grade criminality grew. Infestations of high-paid lobbyists took over D.C. Money slicked the way for the most perverse forms of greed. When the Soviet Union fell, U.S. personnel were there instantly to invest in all the most corrupt of the former nomenklatura. U.S. high finance created the oligarch class out of which Putin came. Those oligarchs worked U.S. politicians and then infiltrated U.S. libertine, libertarian U.S. techies.
They have been organized a long time. To the same proportion, Dems either sided with high finance themselves, or just mouthed platitudes and slogans pleasing to all the college grad coastal elites with zero literacy in any humanities in touch with our working classes (whose jobs by the millions got outsourced, as their communities were abandoned).
It's been a long, collective suicide, easy for a criminal like Trump to finish off for Putin.
Nice to hear someone mention the LPM, ALEC in the same breath with the Heritage Foundation. Keep the John Birch Society in mind as well since the Koch's dad was a member and took his sons to meetings. Jane Mayer's Dark Money provides a lengthy list of people, Nancy MacLean's Democracy in Chains sets out the strategy formulated by James Buchanan, Naomi Klein also provides great documentation in her books as well.
For all of the accusations the LPM made about the liberal left, there was never the well planned and coordinated effort the radical right now possess. Never.
Wonderful references. Thank you!
In 2017 there was an excellent review of Democracy in Chains in the Los Angeles Review of Books that is still quite relevant.
This is the link: https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/the-intellectual-roots-of-the-radical-right
The author of the review states:
"Republicans are not going to “do” anything about Donald Trump, because the party is now only a delivery mechanism for the fantasies of radical right-wing libertarians, who are quite pleased by Trump’s dismantling of the American state and democratic values."
And this was in 2017!
Yes, as an educator - teacher, school principal - that is exactly what happened. In an effort to counteract that, my school was one the first PUPLIC charter schools in California. We still taught problem solving, the arts, the humanities, literacy and even civics in the fifth grade. It is heartbreaking to see the results.
I was able to do all this at public schools until icky Republican Paul Vallas was in charge of the Public schools and then I went to teach in a private school that was my alma mater. However, lot of my younger colleagues were not teaching history, and that was a problem. I created curriculum for them, and talked them through teaching it. It was so frightening to them, and there was fear of teaching any subject that parents might find controversial. I was able to manage it, although teaching with no administrative support to stand up to difficult parents is always a drag.
To all those talking about public schools, I was lucky enough to be able to be in public education when our English department was still top flight and although I was the librarian, I had stints teaching government, history, and an expository writing class. I did teach critical thinking and that included the internet that was just getting started. Now it is teaching to the test and fending off groups like Moms for America in the culture wars. And I will get in big trouble for saying this, but part of the problem, especially in our social studies department was that was where the football coach (hired by the booster club) and often the boy's basketball coach resided. I am not against athletics per se, but they play much too big a role in academic institutions from middle school to universities. I left out grade school, but probably there too.
Michele, I also believe sports play too big a role in American school education. Not physical education but extra curricular sports. That is where the money went in my private school too. We had a union so I know the salaries. The sports coaches made the most, not the model UN teachers, not those who ran the plays, or the math team, or science team, or the concerts, or the debate team, but the sports coaches. It started in middle school and went on from there. One reason I would not send my daughter to a big 10 uni because not paying for football coaches salary in the tuition.
Interesting about the coaches, Michele. My HS (Medford Senior High School; so called because we were on the 6-2-2-2 system of elementary, junior high (grades 7-8), Mid High (grades 9-10) and Senior High (grades 11-12) was a boys sports powerhouse, and we should have split into two high schools, population wise, in the late 1960's. We didn't do that until the late 1980's, and in the 40+ since, both North and South Medford have won state titles in the major sports; in 2024 those two schools played for the OSAA Football championship...) When I was attending school, the head coaches were almost all PE teachers, except in baseball, where one of our math teachers was the head coach.
No clue what it looks like now, however...
I wasn't happy when I got drafted upon graduation from college in 1970 and was very unimpressed by the quality of Army leadership at that time. But I was lucky and didn't get sent to Vietnam. I'm forever grateful and in awe of those who served in Vietnam. I was fortunate to have been physically capable of serving and believed it was and still is the duty of those in society who are physically capable to protect the weak and vulnerable. Trump was found to be too weak to serve but greatly benefitted from the society that was enabled and protected by those who served. Why isn't he grateful?
Hey, Patrick, he was ENTITLED, because he’s so special.
Hail King Donald and Reichmeister Musk. /S
I get daily requests from DEMs for money to support them. But I no longer respond to them until they develop a concrete plan to stop Trump - Musk.
Same here and same response to the dems, they need to get fucking serious now.
Phil, I served as well from 68 - 72, USN. It's time for us as veterans to take action. I'm not sure what that action is, but times a wasting. I'm had it up to my eyeballs with this shit and it's made me very mad. Thoughts? And thank you everyone here who has served out country with honor.
"Republicans: sycophant, spineless accomplices to the wholesale corruption". You probably should add centrist democrats to this. I'm 83 and grew up in Iowa at the time of cautiously, progressive Republicans and liberal Democrats. My parents "only" had high school educations, but they subscribed to the right leaning Omaha World Herald., and to the left leaning Des Moines Register; both sides, everyday, on the kitchen table. About 5 years ago I changed my affiliation to Independent.
My next door neighbor when I attended Iowa State was Congressman Tom Harkin in 1976-1977. Years later I was working with Senator Chuck Grassley's son and the Senator joined us for beers at "The Cornstalk" in Waverly, Iowa.
When I was in junior high, I would ride my bike to the local drug store on Sunday mornings to pick up the Omaha World Herald. I had to read about the Huskers and the comics of course.
Donnie's next Big Con. Big White House official announcement this morning. Legitimizing fake, phony, worthless crypto money.
If you were a president without scruples, imagine what you could do with this! "Wanna buy a TRUMP COIN?"
STRATEGIC BITCOIN RESERVE AND DIGITAL ASSET STOCKPILE
https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/03/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-establishes-the-strategic-bitcoin-reserve-and-u-s-digital-asset-stockpile/
https://www.reuters.com/technology/trump-signs-order-establish-strategic-bitcoin-reserve-white-house-crypto-czar-2025-03-07/
As historic precedent we can look back to the 1600s when the Holland government created the STRATEGIC TULIP BULB RESERVE AND ASSET STOCKPILE. No. They didn't.
He’s funneling money to his personal accounts like he’s going to live forever. I will never understand how more wealth than you can ever spend becomes more important than being a good person. Of course in Trumps case, he’s never had anything but massive debt and he keeps trying to make that misery go away. He’s a small man, filled with hate, so selfish that he needs to keep telling his base how he gave up his life of luxury for our country. They believe it while he robs them blind.
"He’s funneling money to his personal accounts like he’s going to live forever. "
What is your evidence for that? I doubt this is nothing more than "I hate him so he is definitely every bad thing I can think of, imagine, or hear from other people who hate him."
Seriously - what is your evidence for this statement?
Is there any doubt that we have a dictator running this country. Everything he tells us is bullshit. He is shutting down our government, ignoring our courts, withdrawing from the western world and moving our government under Putin's wing. He and Musk are going to raid our gold reserves. There is nothing stopping him, each day is another outrageous act. What will it take to wake up our country?
Keep drinking the Koolade. See how many other preposterous smears you can think up.
Phil, thank you for your service. I am so heartbroken. Especially for all of our veterans, like you, who gave themselves to this country and all Democracy stands for, only to find us in this moment. All I can offer is my gratitude and my commitment to do anything in my power to fight this regime.
". . . all of our veterans."
I finished college before I joined the army, Jenni. Plus, I'd hitch-hiked just about everywhere in the U.S. In love with the U.S. Prairies, mountains, just about everything Woody Guthrie saw.
I'd read a lot. Many movies. And, the music. So many types, genres.
At South Post, Ft. Myer, I studied nights and slept in a very small but private room in an old wooden barracks for a year -- 50 or 60 yards from where John F. and Robert F. Kennedy slept.
Used to wander about those graves all around and below that Custis Lee mansion. So many from the era when my great-great grandfather was out on the high plains with Custer (but not with him June 25, 1876).
So many Americans who gave their lives for something so radically different from what Putin and Trump now with spineless others conspire to get for themselves.
That did it! I was gonna write but put it off. I was in the Student Detachment at South Post Jan-Mar 1971. As an E1 learning Ukrainian at Defense Language Institute East Coast at Crystal City (only 4 buildings back then). As they were expanding Arlington Cemetery, they gave us an allowance to live off-post. I shared a house with three other students. Two Slovenian, one Ukrainian. My training was the best experience in the Army. I was getting paid to learn a foreign language! After that off to Ft. Huachuca (Interrogation) and then finishing at Ft. Meade. I never saw combat and never had to use my training for anything but what we called "mock interrogations". I am grateful to have had that experience and grateful to know how lucky I was. Out of 200 in my basic training company at Ft. Campbell, 196 went to AIT (advanced infantry training). My college adviser had suggested I talk with my recruiter and ask him to give me the language aptitude test and when I qualified the rest became history. Yes, I knew students studying Korean who were switched half way through to study German and the same in reverse only to go to their respective countries to serve as MP's. It was unreal! It didn't make sense. But I knew after all that I couldn't make a career out of it. Honorable discharge after 3 yrs. turning down reenlistment bonus of $10,000 for a 6 yr. term. Thanks for all your thoughtful comments. I enjoy reading you and most everyone else on this page. Keep the faith!
The MP I saw most often patrolling around the on base beer stands near the Hotel 3 never let on that he knew the language until the end of his tour when a young woman cussed him out for cuffing her GI boyfriend. When he chewed her out in flawless Vietnamese each word seemed to land like a punch, throwing her (and some other Vietnamese in the area back of their feet as they realized he knew everything they ad been saying for the last year.
Seems you were very close to where Teddy Roosevelt could have been the first fatality in an aircraft. He had been pressing to fly with Orville Wright at Ft Myer while still president in 1908 but before he could make stronger demands when he got back from Oyster Bay, Lt Selfridge became the first to die in a plane crash. Lt Thomas Selfridge was the US government representative to the Aerial Experiment Association (chaired by Alexander Graham Bell), and the logical Army officer to ride before the Army acquired the aircraft. The date, September 17, would become Constitution Day 44 years later.
See https://stuffnobodycaresabout.com/2014/02/02/the-worlds-first-fatal-plane-crash-could-have-killed-the-president-1908/
TR did become the 1st former President to fly on Oct 11, 1910, though. His pilot died less than 3 months later on Dec31, 1910 crashing during an altitude record attempt
What a great privilege it is to have traveled across the country. I'm ABA (all but Alaska) and there's nowhere I've been in the US, Canada, Mexico and Europe that I didn't enjoy the people and even the scenery. What a beautiful world we live in.
Thank you, Phil Balla, for your service both in the past and now.
Now you serve as many here, as a steadfast and honorable citizen of this nation. In these increasingly difficult times we cannot forget why we remain proud of our nation, what it stands for and will continue to represent despite the attacks from within by a criminal regime.
We must continue to resist and defend the foundational principles of democracy and justice for all. We cannot be bowed or diverted in this purpose.
And I thank you again for your courage.
Courage, Bill?
No, just my luck -- that over many years I've met so many beautiful, decent people -- hitch-hiking the U.S. (just about everywhere), at many schools where I've taught, and in many countries.
Thank you for your service. I wrote a poem about the brave democracy defenders in Ukraine. We must continue fighting for freedom’s light! https://democracydefender2025.substack.com/p/zelensky-ukraine-freedoms-light
Donald Trump, "our first elected autocrat," speaks the ugly language of chaos, megalomania and jabberwocky. Eight years ago, he scent-marked his reign with the stench of "American Carnage." He is all distraction and intimidation, with no depth, no substance... and no friends. His vision, sowing discord and enriching himself while bathing in manufactured glory, is that of a mentally disturbed overweight frothing T-Rex backed by 77 million versions of the under-educated artless Mini-Me.
He seems to see himself as strong. He defies the law, which is designed to govern. If that doesn't show his strength, what does? So, if we all defy the law, logically that should make us stronger than he is, because his "landslide" was actually a 2% molehill. Less than 2% really. Taking those boxes back to Mar-a-Lago has its own side of comicity, but repatriating the Ukrainian refugees takes my breath away. I think this would have been beyond Joseph Heller's powers of satire.
"I think this would have been beyond Joseph Heller's powers of satire."
Government researchers are creating "Transgender Mice"! Satire is obsolete.
Has Borowitz written about the 'Transgender Mice' yet? I can't wait.
There are so many great writers on Substack that I could spend over $1000 or more a year. But, it's hard not to.
I wish we could bundle a few subscriptions - I pay for 4 or 5 but would love to support the many other great writers if I could afford it.
It's almost as if someone should establish a business enterprise that assembles a group of people who write news articles and editorials and sell subscriptions to that service. ;-)
Here 'tis:
https://www.borowitzreport.com/p/trump-warns-of-increase-in-transgender
Somebody had to do it.
Thank you Bruce
He did, yesterday.
A Republican shill smugly raised the 'transgender mice' alarm ("oh the waste, fraud and abuse and get a load of this, blah, blah, blah" ) on Kasie Hunt's new show on CNN at 4pm yesterday -- and only one person on the panel knew it was the wrong term - but not what the correct term was. No one spoke up to say it was transgenic mice and use for research to help human diseases. Why I turn on tv news still is a mystery to me.
It should be "Little knowledge is a dangerous thing", not "A little knowledge etc."
Perhaps the greatest danger lies in failing to sense, or even examine, the limitations of one's own knowledge. Fools rushing in without sufficient attention to what actual circumstances and indeterminables might be. That look before (and while) leaping is what I think real conservatism is, and works best when married to curiosity and a taste for adventure, a dialectical whole. Modern so-called "Conservatives" are nothing of the sort. Most appear to be committed to vainglorious fanaticism.
So true, JLG. Worldwide.
I grew up in a household that watched the "evening news" every day. I did too (and always watched Ted Koppel) until the run-up to W's Iraq war, when it all seemed like a cheering section and I noticed the Guardian reported stuff the turned out to be true. I am old enough to remember when news media was a check on government over-reach and deception; spilling the beans on the Vietnam War and Nixon. Reagan corrupted that. I probably would be wise to monitor TV news, at least somewhat, but it feels like a waste of time.
What kind of "journalism" fails to spot (or at least display some vigilance for) lies? Grotesque human error even? What use is "News" to the "general welfare" if it dispenses, or aids and abets the spread of lies? Real journalists should not impose their own opinions (without labeling them as such) but there is such a thing as coherent logic and evidence. It is required for the sciences, it is supposed to be required fro the courts, and it should be mandatory for journalism worthy of the name. You don't need to know the technical details of a lot of Republican talking points to smell a rat; to dig deeper, to "question everything", and ask for proof.
And we, as those ostensibly, in the end, as designated deciders of our own nation's agendas, and with that, outcomes, share that same responsibly. I think more needs to be said about that.
Same chapter as the criminals from the Mexican asylums.
Anne As a 91 year old historian, I have experienced three ‘great’ presidential revolutions:
1) FDR’s New Deal
2) LBJ’s The Great Society
3) DJT’s “Save America” (Make America Great Again)
Two were highly positive for the American people. So far, Bone Spur Donnie is endeavoring to cancel much of the New Deal and Great Society. Also, Trump has been far more of a egotistical cult than the other two.
Worse. His goals are to steal the treasury and end democracy. Trump is set to host a Crypto Summit with industry leaders. The assembly comes one day after he signed an executive order establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and Digital Asset Stockpile, continuing his administration's embrace of the cryptocurrency industry. The bitcoin in the reserve will come from assets held by the U.S. Department of Treasury that were seized in court proceedings or paid in civil penalties to executive agencies.
Meanwhile https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/elon-musk-blockchain-us-treasury-spending-060010550.html
As has been repeated, ad nauseam, "every accusation is a confession."
The Trump/Musk regime claims "Social Security is a ponzi scheme," then promptly plans to sink reliable U.S. taxpayer dollars into bitcoin, the worst, most financially destructive ponzi scheme every conceived.
Possible title for my comment: TWO ‘GREATS’ AND A ‘SOUR GRAPE’
An apples to "road apples" comparison. (Even though I know Johnson was not your favorite guy (nor mine) he still fought for social "underdogs" over overlords.
It seems that that is an understatement. I think the significance of the so-called "Reagan Revolution" is generally underappreciated, and marks the inception of today's biggest lies, namely that government of the people, by the people, for the people is a pathetic failure, something to be squelched, rather than built and protected. That, and the notion that the true benefactors and natural leaders of society are the very, very rich, and if we take from the poor to give to the rich, and cordon off the pursuit of money as an ethics free zone, the promised land would magically open.
Over forty years later, the formula hasn't changed, but the extremity of its application and erosive consequences is now unprecedented, at least in our society.
The cruelty is the point, all day every day, and of course, pleasing Putin. Who does not yet realize that he is the Manchurian Candidate, now President. It is the method by which we commit national suicide. Chump could not do this alone although his hatred is what gives energy to the fools and tools. Our federal work force has been the envy of the world (despite Ronnie’s snide comment about “I’m from the government…”. (and despite my complaints about voice mail hell.). The oligarchs provide the money (so far) for the bull in the China shop, and Rupert provides the “spin.” The Republican Party has tainted the words “republican” and “conservatives,” and neither will ever be serviceable again, unless they rule us fools. Then, there is Vlad waiting in the wings to collect on his investment.
From the numerous substacks and epistles that arrive in my mail, people are “woking” but will any stir. Dems are dead in the water it seems, but signs of life exist. Wish the plot so far held out more hope, but there is no foreshadowing of that. Our comfort zones are temporary.
"Dems are dead in the water." That's exactly what the corporate media keeps preaching. Heather, Robert Reich, Tom Hartmann, Paul Krugman, the Meidas Touch, Packman, John Fugelsang. Where are you going for your news?
I am hoping that they can go to places where other Ukranians have found safety in Europe. Other than if they go to British countries this will mean learning another language.
Ukraine is in no position to take in refugees. In fact, where are they going to dump them? in Moscow, perhaps?
Good comment. Thank you. But “repatriating “? How about abandoning or betraying.
That too, absolutely. However,
"repatriate verb [ T ]
to send or bring someone, or sometimes money or other property, back to the country that he, she, or it came from"
I agree with you. I think I may have been a bit petty and rigid in my take on "repatriate" Thank you for your gracious clarification. Jay
Andra Watkins is calling it the New Feudalism. That is what all of these "populist" autocrats are embracing is The New Feudalism. They want to go back to the Days of Empire as Kings and Emperors.
And dukes and counts. They all ruled their fiefs with a full hierarchy, drawn from the nobility, in charge of a complex system of laws, with punishments that ranged from flogging to imprisonment to death. Their main opposition came from the great religious orders, such as the Jesuits and Benedictines, who ran the universities.
Seems to me "Supply Side Economics" was just a obfuscatory wrapper for Refeudalization. Royalty was (allegedly) the mainspring of society all along.
Very few of them were royal in the modern sense. It depended on the bloodline. The dukes were related to the monarch, and the rest of the nobility were counts - unless they were of base birth and had paid their ruling lord to ennoble them, in which case they could call themselves "von" or "de", but didn't have castles and lands. Emperors were top politicians, self-declared, in imitation of the ancient Roman hierarchy, and they had to wipe out the competition first. That's why Beethoven removed the dedication of his 3rd symphony - his former hero, Napoleon, of base birth, had just betrayed his ideals and crowned himself Emperor. Don't start me - it's very complex. Shakespeare would have made a meal out of the Trump Musk Putin affair. "Yon (insert name) hath a lean and hungry look. He thinks too much. Such men are dangerous."
Agreed, although I sense that Trump is the personification of the greed of a hyper-wealthy power-hungry aristocracy; the power behind the throne.
How many Trump oligarchs were born with a silver spoon? They never had to save their babysitting or lawn mowing money to buy something they wanted. They didn't have to listen to their parents argue about money and whether they had enough to buy school clothes. There were a few years, where my sisters sewed their clothes and I had to wear the clothes from the previous school year.
Trump and Musk have zero ability to empathize or sympathize with any of the people that have worked for Uncle Sam for years, and they are throwing out on the street.
Trump DEMANDS loyalty but is loyal to no one as everything he does is transactional. Look at all of the unintended consequences of his actions already. He is a buffoon and Musk is showing signs of serious cognitive decline.
Nailed it, Gary; 100%.
Musk’s decline is fueled by ketamine.
All of them, I believe.
Agree - and I think it's also his deep insecurity. He was not "accepted" into Manhattan high society (whatever that really is) and has never gotten over it. Just like he's never gotten over Obama's crack about him at the Press club dinner or the way Melania looked at Trudeau. His whole motivation seems to be "I'll show you -- "
Ha! that look at Trudeau! That carefully beautiful face is capable of expression, after all. Remember that month when she suddenly disappeared from public view, without explanation? And then she came back.
I recently wrote a longish post about this. The Trump family grudge against NYC aristocracy's rejection goes back generations. I believe it animates much of Donald's sociopathy. Additionally, the concept of human love is foreign to the Trump family. They have always substituted money and unidirectional loyalty for love. Finally, Donald never received therapy for his congenital learning disability; it was merely covered up. As a result, Donald is a walking repository of psychoses.
I dunno if Trump has a learning disability or not, but it would not surprise me (I have one too, and while I find research on the subject going back to the early 1920s,the public schools in my region seemed to have no awareness of it as a recognizable condition). I suspect Trump covered it up by cheating, and got away with it because his family was rich. It would help explain why he makes everything up as he goes, and attacks any counter-evidence. They let you do that when you're rich. (That said, there are other ways to work around a learning disability. )
As a fictional psychiatrist said of the fictional Basil Fawlty, "There is enough there for a whole conference". Indeed, for a whole supplement to the DSM.
Nothing new here. All of us know this and have known it for a very long time.
Pointing out the elephant in the living room over and over and over again does nothing toward removing the elephant. So… ya, ok, what do you propose we do to get rid of the elephant, to get rid of the “mentally disturbed overweight frothing T-Rex”?
Ask Luigi.
Except for clarity. Discussion is a prerequisite for informed democratic agency, and the better informed the better the odds of desirable results. And a lot of resource information is exchanged here, including fruitful efforts to join and affect outcomes. The creation of the USA required a lot of exchange of ideas, as well as direct action, a selection, by forethought, of effective options.
I have been asking myself that for the last 6 weeks and, I'm afraid, I don't have any good answers either. I do have some ideas, but those could most accurately be called "fantasizing." Protesting, yes, and I have joined those. But I live in a deeply blue area, where all of my government reps are also Democrats and they seem to be just as paralyzed by this moment. I mean, I guess I could be calling their offices and demanding they do more. More of what, I don't know. (What they ARE doing so far has just been weak and almost pathetic, if not embarrassing.) Some of the most forceful and effective critics of this administration are (former?) Republicans -- thinking Adam Kinzinger, Steve Schmidt. It's almost as if THEY should become the new leaders of the Democratic Party.
The only other things I can think of doing are subversive in nature.... doing things individually that when done by enough people can really gum up the works. For instance, the Dept of Education's new website for reporting (snitching) on school districts for promoting "divisive ideologies and indoctrination" (https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-launches-end-dei-portal). It would be terrible if thousands of people submitted bogus reports on that website on a daily basis and rendered that tool completely ineffective for its intended purpose. Collective actions like the targeted boycotts, yes. But at the end of the day, we all still need to eat and we can't not shop forever.
I, too, would like to see more ideas shared in these comments. I used to read the comment section as thoroughly as HCR's articles, but lately I have been skimming because, like you say, it's "nothing new here." So much of it strays into side conversations among readers that are off-topic and, while great for community building, seems irrelevant to the moment.
So, I don't know. Democracy is almost too slow and lacks powerful mechanisms to address a problem like Trump. I wish I had more or better ideas.
Community building is never irrelevant. We survive as a species in community, and we advance and defend human rights as a community. Destruction of sense of community, or creation of exclusive, solipsistic cults, is a prime tool of despots. Focus empowers social movements, the effort to all pull in the same team, but too narrow a focus, or failure to to recognize sufficient context can lead one astray, if not into a trap, especially, as seems to be the case here, there are no easy, yet clearly effective answers; no choice without pros, cons, and potential pitfalls. Good strategy involves tactics and vice versa. Tyranny thrives on greed, hate, fear, and indifference.
“In this age, in this country, public sentiment is everything. With it, nothing can fail; against it, nothing can succeed. Whoever molds public sentiment goes deeper than he who enacts statutes, or pronounces judicial decisions.” - Lincoln
Well said.
Because I retired to Route 66 in Oklahoma four years ago, I am now part of the community preparing to celebrate the centennial of Route 66 next year. At least part of this community will also celebrate that next year is America’s 250th birthday. In a message to some of the leaders of this celebration oriented community, I focused on the threat to a healthy tourism turnout from America’s new position in the world as an ally of Russia and an enemy of democracy. I have not yet had a full blown conversation with the other members of this celebration organizing group, but I am praying that when I do they will see my point that this celebration needs to have at its core the founding father’s vision and values and overtly declare that we of the Route 66 community (which stretches from Chicago to Los Angeles) stand for the historic American values now being threatened. I hope to have more to report on this initiative which I’ve just begun soon! And I invite you to join me in making next year’s celebrations as impactful as possible! 👊🇺🇸
One of the things I have noticed over many years of visiting high traffic visitor destinations in the US has been the variety of languages I have heard spoken around me; some I can place and others not. The presence of foreign visitors seemed to heighten the appeal of some of our national treasures. It sure seems to me that that welcome mat has been largely withdrawn, and that tourist industry dependent communities and the nation as a whole is likely to feel this.
And for what?
I don't have to visit high traffic visitor destinations; a trip to my local grocery store will usually let me hear samples of languages I can't make out - and the variety seems to change every time. But there is a similarity in the way mothers talk to their children - the young ones riding in the grocery carts. No translator required.
Same here in Brooklyn -- and tons of tourists from other countries. Italy, France, Japan, China, Eastern Europe, the UK and, yesterday it was a big group of polite young Belgians.
Funny how some things are just universal.
That seems a point on which the findings of science, Jesus, Buddha, and our founding documents converge. Why is it so hard to put it to use?
! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
I hope the Russians love their children too. AND we get our heads straight.
My sister lives in Omaha and was telling me about all of the people that the various churches and other organizations have sponsored. Over 70 different languages are spoken in the schools in Omaha and Lincoln. And this is not unique to Omaha. Why even our First Lady can barely speak English.
So, whose next to be deported after Hispanics and Ukrainians? Maybe the Vietnamese or the Chinese? How ridiculous.
And selfishly evil. Where do those among us cheering for cruelty think it will lead?
Steve, thanks for letting us know about that celebration. My bucket list has long had an item "travel Route 66 - the whole thing". I don't yet have the Corvette, but it's time to sell the motorcycles and get one. I hope that the situation in the country hasn't disintegrated by next year, and it will be possible to make the trip.
You’re welcome, James. This centennial party combined with America turning 250 feels like a counter offensive gift from God.
Also, if you’re serious about buying a Corvette, I saw a used one for sale at my local Ford dealer yesterday…
https://hudiburgford.com/inventory/Used-2016-Chevrolet-Corvette-Stingray_Z51-1G1YH2D78G5108984
Total sidebar: What bikes do you ride? We had to give up the FJR and FZ2 5 years ago; I could no longer bend my knees enough to ride more than about 20 miles. Before those, we had cruisers; V Star 1100 and V Star 1300. Lots and lots of miles and smiles.
It is an amazing highway however have you or the other members considered the land used for this famous route was indigenous land? With any trauma what has been done cannot be undone so zI hope you allow for some truth telling about the history abd involve the indigenous folks that have the route in their lands . One can do both celebrate and also acknowledge and mourn. Also what are you all doing in terms of ecology of the highway? Ben Goldberg has a really great book on roadkill and making roads safer for all.
Thank you for raising these points. We are all very socially responsible people. We do not hide the truth. I would expect the full history to be acknowledged, but my focus is going to be as I described in my main comment. This must be a celebration leveraged to defeat fascism.
Well that just hit all the points! Good luck.
Thanks for this comment. Being a retired museum professional, I am still tangentially involved with organizations celebrating the 250th anniversary of the US. I just wonder if anyone will feel like celebrating the birth of our nation in a year or so, or if there will be anything left worth celebrating. Or will it just be empty gestures? Best of luck with your conversation with the others on your committee. Let us know how it goes.
Thank you for your comment. While imagine there will be MAGA people celebrating what America is now (because they want fascism), I will look for people celebrating what America imagined itself as 250 years ago and celebrating how we can recapture that spirit of commitment to Continuously getting better at achieving that dream.
RIP - USA - 1776 to 2024
And from those ashes, let the American rebirth begin!
Thank you, Heather, for including that very relevant song which featured Sinead and Willie. I will not obey in advance like some of the Dems have been doing. Their display of voting with Repubs on censuring Al Green is repugnant and I told the two from CA that when I called their offices. Why? Why did 10 DEMS do that? They are setting us up for failure. Well, SCREW THEM! We fight until we destroy their lil’ empire they are trying to build. Every Saturday, people should, if they’re able, go to either a Tesla showroom or factory and protest. From 12-1pm or later…that’s where I will be, with my great big sign about the Space Nazi!
I've just finished the letter to my representative, telling him the same thing I wrote to my Senators: how long before we see the Orange Menace perp-walked out of the White House? And, when Al Green was escorted out by the sergeant at arms, why did not the entire Democratic contingent leave with him? To each of them I wrote: "my fellow constituents tell me to wait until the elections to fix this. 46 months away. I give us four months, tops, before we are in a full-on civil war."
I agree! And, as Stephen Colbert rightly said, those little protest paddles they held up during Trump's speech looked more like they were bidding on a set of antique china at an auction somewhere.
But you could see them from your home!!!
Substacker TC in LA called them the "10 Vichy Democrat traitors". Bingo.
My concern is those boxes of documents containing classified information Trump took back to Mar-a-Lago on February 28. Trump can now invite Putin for a nice visit and ask him if anything in there might interest him. Maybe let Putin take a look at the nuclear football, hold it for a while. Once Putin has all our nuclear secrets, Trump will still not realize that Putin played him for a fool to get exactly what he wanted and all he needs. Putin's good that way. He'll continue to let Trump think he's in charge, unless Trump steps out of line. Which he won't.
And for which, like any other government employee who removed classified documents from a 'skiff', he should have been arrested, prosecuted, tried, convicted, and jailed.
As some have been for relatively trivial negligence of security protocols.
Trump once indicated he could declassify documents just by thinking about it. So what if he changed his mind? Could he reclassify them just by thinking about it? How would he keep those responsible apprised of the current status of documents he's classifying and declassifying with his mind? Could he just think the information over to them?
"Trump revived the matter the following morning and singled out the governor for criticism, asking her of his order: “Are you not going to comply with that?”
'I'm going to comply with state and federal law,' she answered.
'Well, I am – we are the federal law,' Trump responded testily."
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/janet-mills-maine-governor-petition-trump-b2704422.html
" If Aristotle, Livy, and Harrington knew what a republic was, the British constitution is much more like a republic than an empire. They define a republic to be a government of laws, and not of men." - John Adams
Nicely summed up. I have noticed that Trump mistakes his person and his ambitions for the will of the American people. He's hoping the American people will go along with it.
And there are what once would have been shocking enablers who helped him: the chief Justice of the US and a federal judge.
The chief justice might be moved to reason aware as he must be that his colleague Amy Coney Barrett is getting death threats from Trump supporters for judging against Trump.
I’m reasonably sure, the former Soviet Union already is in full possession of whatever information is in that box and will shortly have possession of much more.
After all, they’re in touch with the “Great Negotiator” as seen last week with his goons on world television.
That may well have been a done deal, and Trump just wants to boxes back because he can.
Great way to say piss on you Jack Smith, and please Vlad
And say "L'etat c'est moi".
It's a very childish thing to do. I want MY boxes back 😩. We, as Americans who love this country, must do more to get this wreck removed from our house.
Petulent childishness is what Trump is all about. That and domination. His persona of acute malignant narcissism seems to afflict a large portion of the wealthiest, when social rule of law is weak or corrupted, and has for centuries. How many millions have died to placate a tyrant's insatiable ego?
Exactly, you can believe that old ex-KGB Vlad has put his requests in - in terms that the puppet understands
Surely, someone now knows what’s in those boxes and the harm FOTUS could do in sharing them?
I think our intelligence services, if remotely worthy of the name, know pretty much what Trump is about. Who among them more that Trump their country love? We need some deeper throats.
I doubt very much that the contents of those boxes will be offered to Vladimir – because he already has electronically transmitted copies of everything. The transfer of those boxes back to Maga-Lardo is just a childish act of defiance to show the world who's boss. (I guess I should have read further before replying, as others have covered it.)
Still, it's good to compare notes.
Does anyone believe Trump hasn't already shared it with just about anyone who would pay him for the information? I'm sure that cat has long been out of the bag.
They've likely been scanned and sent to the Kremlin.
Thank you Professor Richardson.
The criminal-elect is checking off all of his key objectives.
1. Remain out of prison.
2. Dominate the news cycle (in conjunction with his imbecile Billionaire).
3. Embrace authoritarians -because it's much easier to enrich himself with luxurious gifts from his fellow tyrants than it is to blackmail a democracy -as he previously tried with Ukraine and was caught.
The GOP is delighted to hide in the shadows while Heritage's Project 2025 is implemented as Musk (who relishes his role onstage with a chainsaw in the criminal elect's sociopathic circus) marches through Washington DC in order to burn it all down.
Now MAGA doesn't have to wait for the next big WWE event on pay per view. They can just watch it on the nightly "news".
The revolution WILL be televised. (apologies to Gil Scott-Heron).
Gil-Scott Heron is right on. They will show Hulk tearing his shirt at the RNC. They will show Swasticar’s Elonia dancing at CPAC with a chainsaw. But we will not see the protests growing in every major city on the nightly “news” or in the Washington Post. And we won’t see the National Guard when called upon by a growingly desperate criminal-elect when he declares martial law on the U.S.
Gil Scott-Heron was a prescient man, just as Octavia Butler was a prescient woman in her books “Parable of the Sower” and “Parable of the Talents.”
Obviously, the billionaires and oligarchs of this world have not yet realised that a previously sane American system is the only reason they and their families have enjoyed healthy living, along with the rest of us. Whatever death, destruction or pestilence is brewing due to their maniacal short-sighted fund slashing will be coming to get them too. Sorry boys, but there’s no such thing as a free lunch at this restaurant.
Kazz, the fact that billionaires and oligarchs are on the wagon with the maga horde at all, from the president down breaking havoc 24/7 since January 20th, shows you that the " previously sane American system ..." was not that sane. In the future we have to adapt the democratic rules to the dangerous reality we are facing. We are making too easy to be destroyed and when that happens there's no way back.
Mandatory voting could be a good start on those new democratic rules Ricardo, maybe followed by an end to corporate and dark money in politics, and how about reforming the judicial appointment system to avoid installing justices who have sold their souls to the devil.
Will they have elections. I doubt it. But if they do, Rs are purging voter rolls as we speak. Trump wants the Post Office so he has control over the mail in ballots. In the last election, over 4 million voters were purged from the rolls. Rs army of “signature checkers” cast out over 3 million ballots for the slightest things, including their untrained determination that signatures didn’t “match.” Provisional ballots were ignored. It’s quite possible Harris would have won if this voter suppression and election fraud didn’t happen. Do you think the next election will be any better? Dems aren’t addressing this core problem, not that they could do anything about it now. Trump is playing with the market. Billionaires (his minions) are buying when he drives it down, and selling when he does/says something to drive itup. No one will want to live in the U.S. Property values will fall. Minions will buy land up. As long as Trump ignores the rule of law, and nobody is arrested, what can be done?
It makes sense the provisional ballots were ignored. Many people in our PA county did not receive their mail-in ballots and were forced to vote early at the courthouse by standing in lines for hours, or go to the polling place to vote provisionally. I was surprised they were able to say PA turned red almost before the polls closed at 8:00 pm.
I agree - this may well have been the last federal election. No need to elect congressmen when they're no longer needed. We don't even need them for show any longer when we have a King and His Ministers, so why bother? Apparently he has already designed his crown and put the design on the White House social media site.
In his column today, Lucian Truscott described the R's as on their knees to Skum, begging him for a little relief. Must be like the finest wine to a narcissistic sociopath like Skum.
Provide education on American government too, not one predicated on Fox’s lies. I don’t think we should mandate tests or prequalifications for voters, as that has been abused to prevent to prevent African American citizens from voting, but in school, educate young people about how government should work and problems like legalized campaign bribery and voter disenfranchisement.
Totally Kathy, though if there ever is another US election, I’m sure the entire population will know by then they’ve been shafted and be turning out in droves to wring the orange turkey’s neck. And of course vote.
All wonderful ideas Kazz, that I support 👏 enthusiastically!!
Relative sanity and insanity accompany every society in every era, or so it seems. Certainly robust public health services, environmental protection, NATO, and on and on have averted many disasters and improved American life. The same old serpent slithers throughout, and seems to gaining the upper hand. Perhaps more will wake to the crisis and act to arrest it?
Ye think!
It would be better to act to arrest a situation without a crisis but we are in the mist of a severe one already . I suggesting to do some prevention modifications if we ever return to a "sane" situation without getting to fight back from another crisis
You are so right, so many have fought for every good thing, and the jackasses destroy with glee.
So Trump wants “to encourage business investment from abroad in to the USA? “. What “real” business person is going to invest in a has been, broken down (and broke) country with only Third World alliances?????
I can’t believe the GOP gives so few shits about the survival, let alone prosperity, of this country and its people! Even recognizing that the caliber of “public servants “ has obviously deteriorated greatly in recent years, it would seem there are lower levels to fall to.
It's the road rage mentality. The whole compass of the whole of the Universe psychologically collapses into soul-consuming fit of self-aggrandized ego. History shows that can go pandemic.
Yep, lower levels indeed. Our comfort zones are temporary…
As I see it, the U.S. government – and by extension, the nation as a whole – is being torn to shreds by three "teams." In order of appearance, they are: the Democracy Patriots, the Theo Bros and the Tech Bros. The Democracy Patriots had control, but failed to remind Americans why democracy is good for everyone; they became weak and lost their grip.
The Theo Bros (aka evangelicals) have been plotting for decades to take over, systematically populating the courts with "rubber stamps" to legalize theocracy. With the made-over judiciary in place, all they needed was a roadmap to complete the transformation. The bros at Project 2025 provided that roadmap.
More recently, the Tech Bros have been quietly buying legislators, one by one, and paying them to enact legislation that transfers wealth from the "great unwashed" to the Tech Bros. Their plan is a brute-force takeover by theft of the treasury and control of the management systems.
Regardless of who wins this battle, no foreign investor would risk a dime in such an unstable economic environment. U.S. culture and economy will be reduced to something resembling those of Somalia.
As we destabilize, businesses and investors are going to flee to safer countries.
Yep
The cumulative effect of the Trump regime’s actions - from layoffs, tariffs, service eliminations, contract cancellations, Musk-amok the government with his inexperienced know-it-alls - are not just deleterious to his own party. They’re a loud, clear message to the American people that we do not have someone running the Executive branch with his marbles fully intact. What is often overlooked by many is the intertwined nature of government in every layer of economic activity in the country. This is a design feature, not a bug.
When people “feel” the second- and third-order consequences of the change happening at the federal level, and are hit with a tax plan that will do nothing but enrich the top 1% instead of dramatically lower their taxes, it will be a moment of economic reckoning. I can’t figure out how Republican house reps/senators think they will politically survive cutting Medicaid and other big-ticket entitlement programs when the low-information voter connects the dots that they, in fact, are the ones getting screwed.
Yes. Told my congress critters that, if they think January 6 was a disaster, wait 'til the muskrat f***s up Social Security. March on Washington, anyone?
Senator Collin's Bangor office is down the hall from the SSA office. I am sure It is on the cutting block even though they help hundreds of people each year with all sorts of issues.
I hope she feels bad every time she walks by that office knowing that all of the people that will need help going forward, will get stuck on the phone for hours talking to someone in one of the 4 out of 10 major service centers they propose keeping open.
I'm sure Susan Collins is " concerned". She is my Senator, too, & such a profound disappointment. I wrote her a letter a few weeks ago, begging her not to confirm Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence, telling her that if Gabbard were to be confirmed, none of our allies would share information with us in the future.
Yesterday I heard on the news that many of our European allies are considering not sharing intelligence with us! Incidentally, I have yet to receive a response from Sen. Collins. And we Mainers don't have to worry about an unruly Town Hall. Sen. Collins hasn't held a Town Hall in any city or town in Maine since 2019.
KMD, I am a retired National Park Service employee and vote in Maine. Collins’ office replied to a friend’s call, “What more do you people want?” Truth. There is little “concern” from Collins’s office.
James, You got that right! March on Washington seems inevitable at this point. My concern is that both Trump and Musk seem mentally unstable and completely out of control while Republicans and Democrats seem unable to connect the dots.
Yep.
Ohhhhh, I think it's coming! Once the weather gets warmer and the full impact of the disappearance of benefits for 72 million Americans hits, you're gonna see demonstrations in this country unlike anything we've ever seen in our history. Easily millions. I'm pretty sure of it. People are MAD, and getting madder. Taking away benefits will really be, in the words of your (probable) ancestors, "de klap op de vuurpijl" (similar to "straw that broke the camel's back"). I would just dare Trump to respond by calling out the National Guard, or some other police force, to start rounding up old people with walkers and canes. Republicans can then kiss their majorities goodbye because this PR nightmare will reflect on THEM. It could be an interesting spring and summer.....
I may drive in from MO for that.
Ostrich’s all. My MAGAt bro said I don’t watch that because I can’t do anything about it. I said, yes you can. You can speak up and say I made a mistake. It will be too late, the cult has no logic, no empathy, not even any self-preservation instincts. Typical cult only worse, some will seek retribution, on all of us.
That's why the DOJ has ceased all neutrality and the JAG eviscerated with various other of the highest senior military officers replaced. Not looking good for fair and free voting.
Here in Paris, there was a magazine cover at a newsstand, with Trump's face and the headline, "Moscow's Man." Germany's stock market has spiked (and bond market tanked) on news of accelerated rearmament to fill US withdrawals. If Trump successfully deposes Zelenskyy, and a Russian puppet replaces him, millions of Ukrainians might either rise up or flee into Poland, etc. If Ukraine falls, expect eventual Russian military display on the Polish border. That could trigger hostility or worse between Russia and Germany, with US abstaining. This is what the Republicans and CEOs brought us, along with the hollowing out of our democracy. Many many more people are going to be displaced or die because of Trump's Putin-driven shenanigans.
French and German publications have depicted Trump as he really is. During Trump’s first term, I believe that Der Spiegel depicted Trump sitting at his desk lighting matches and tossing them into a pile behind them. As an American, I don’t think we need to alienate our allies and side with Vlad the Defenestrator.
Unfathomable. But Stalin said that a million deaths are just a statistic.
The US has a long history of overthrowing democratically elected leaders, unfortunately. I'm rooting for Zelenskyy to hold fast. Imagine the pressure on him, an Everyman.
It is congressional Republicans who are the criminals. It is their sworn constitutional duty to stop what is happening. Every Republican representative and senator is guilty of high treason.
When this crisis is over and we’re cleaning up the mess, I propose it be made a requirement for elected legislators to be present at regularly scheduled town hall style meetings with constituents.
The karma comes at Rubio every day! A youth called Big Balls imbedded in his state department domain and Trump still demeaning/threatening him in front of the nation. With these cuts to foreign consulates and general staffing and the craziness of the US intelligence psyche on full display— the Gabbard, Hegseth, Patal and Vance anti-‘intelligence’ horror show—why other democratic nations will even dare share the time of day with Rubio and what might remain of his staff?
Musk handing out his personal number to Congress like it’s a VIP hotline for government favors is the clearest sign yet that we’re living in a billionaire-run patronage system. Congress—who actually controls the budget—is left begging for scraps while unelected power brokers call the shots. My post, Government for Sale, forgottenfiles.substack.com/p/government-for-sale dives into the history of how corrupt political machines operated in the Gilded Age, when government jobs and contracts were handed out to the highest bidder. The difference now? The stakes are even higher, and the buyers are richer.
About this time of day I start watching for the day's Letter, like a long draft of clear water after a day in the desert. Heather is unique among the truth-telling analysts. As a reporter she is dispassionate and compassionate. Nothing seems to escape her.
Beautifully said!
Thank you for saying that. I so agree.
He’s watching the stock market. We should keep tracking the amount of taxpayer money he is spending on golf outings or other luxuries.
Ten million. He's not paying attention to that piddling amount - when you sell dinner with der Fuhrer at Mar-a-Lardo for $5 mil a pop ($1 mil if you don't mind a crowd) the money spent on golf isn't even on the list. And the meme coin is just another sewer-pipe sized funnel into his pockets.
You are right! He does not pay attention to what he’s spending on himself. I think some of the people who voted for him might be appalled by how Trump is spending their tax dollars.
Couldn't we just buy him one of those little contraptions that lets you practice putt on an office carpet? Now that would cut some real waste.
Someone posted a comment that when prices fall in the stock market wealthy people buy up stocks and then tRump drops the tariffs and the wealthy make a s@&#t load of money. What does one call that? Manipulating the market?
Just as he did throughout his first term.
For $5 mil I wonder if you get advance notice of stock market roiling pronouncements.
Yep, and the money rolls in. Chump is showing the mob bosses how it’s done.
Yes.