We had best make good his hope by working tirelessly and intelligently to make sure we do survive as a democracy. Many of us are rightly enraged, but risk our anger being sidelined, re-channeled into familiar patterns of ineffectiveness. Some of us are old enough to have seen the circular firing squad many times before. It never ends well.
Right now, the DNC is engaging in a fight to squelch David Hogg because he's lost patience with those who don't recognize that change starts from within, not from without. But a Democratic Party that refuses to change is a Democratic Party that continues to lose. Why attack your own children because they see things you don't (or won't), and are willing to do the tough work to make it happen? I'm 70 and tired of seeing the same-old, same-old, take us nowhere.
There's a fierce urgency of now that Hogg, Pete Buttigieg, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Jasmine Crockett and others seem to get in ways the old Party stalwarts really don't. That almost all of these voices happen to be young, or speaking from outside the tent, rather than from within it, tells us something. So let's be brave and make good Springsteen's hope by empowering those voices who speak for our future more than the past, otherwise King John will just keep right on winning.
Phil Balla, I do not think Chuck Schumer is a “fool.” His assignment is a nightmare and he has kept democratic norms alive as well as anyone could have. I agree with his not turning the senate over to DT’s minions.
He could have called the enforcement vote on insurrection, Virginia.
When he was Senate Majority Leader -- just a few months ago -- a vote either clearing Trump of insurrection, or enforcing Article 14, Section Three, would have failed to get the 2/3 necessary to clear him of his Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection. He'd have been forbidden from any U.S. public office. Automatic. Per the Constitution, which not even the Supreme Court could touch.
I agree Virginia, Schumer is not a fool. But he is wrong. He has been a great strategist in the past. But he has allowed himself to be outflanked. Unfortunately, we cannot crawl into his head to see where he thinks this will go. It decidedly appears to be nowhere.
There are at least two monumental errors the Democratic Party has made and these clearly redound to Senator Schumer and the other senior leaders of the party.
First, they have, as all good stewards of leadership are obliged to do, failed to replace themselves by bringing along and positioning those who should now be the functioning leadership of the Party. Instead, the current leadership has diminished them, sidelined them, ignored them, and all but discredited them.
Second, they agreed to a Biden second term. How out of touch with the realities of a US Presidential election can a party be? Finally, and way too late it dawns on them. “What were we thinking?” Fact is, they weren’t. Kamala Harris would likely have won had she had a full campaign and the years of solid preparation that precede it. Didn’t happen.
Whether Schumer is a fool or not is moot. The bus has left the station and we’re all definitely on the wrong one.
If Schumer weren’t hanging on you would be talking to yourself. Must we all March in lockstep like Republicans and you yourself prefer ? So the government shuts down , the Democrats get blamed and what do you do for a second act?
I agree that David Hogg is a force for good, but to start an internecine war within the Democratic Party is a mistake. The Democratic Party needs to be expanding, not imploding.
I agree, we need a phoenix, so to speak. Below is the letter that I've sent today to Representatives Crockett and Ocasio-Cortez and Senators Sanders and Shiff:
I know this: I’m preaching to the choir. The Congressional Republicans, to continue the tax breaks passed in Trump's first term, want to effect at least $880 billion in tax cuts, largely to Medicaid, to help cover the cost of $4.5 trillion in tax cuts for the wealthy. The 2017 tax bill helped produce a $8.2 trillion increase in the national debt, a record. The national debt is now more than $37 trillion. Why does the size of the national debt matter? To the 900,000 people in the United States who have a net worth of more than $10 million and the 902 billionaires, it makes no difference. But, if you are 30, 40, 50 or 60, it is devastating. It will be your responsibility to pay the interest and on this debt. I have no idea how we can begin paying down the principal when massive tax cuts are passed to benefit the wealthy.
The U.S. population is now 340 million. So, what percentage of the population do these proposed tax cuts benefit? It is 1/4 of 1%, i.e., 0.24%. How many Americans are shafted by this tax bill? 339,000,000. In other words, the entire nation - except for those with net worths in excess of $10 million.
If the U.S. population were only 3.4 million people, there wouldn't be any billionaires and perhaps very few with a net worth of $10 million. But, we are a nation of 340 million people and because of us, we have almost one million very wealthy people. They owe us. They wouldn't be, couldn't be, wealthy without us. So, what to do? Vote the Republicans out of office. Reinstall the New Deal.
West best regards,
RICHARD R. SUTHERLAND, J.D., Ph.D.
Harvard ’73 (4 year U.S. Army veteran)
PS: I think that it is a point that can get us somewhere – the wealthy absolutely could not be wealthy without the general population. The greed is palpable. It's cruel and heartless. I think that the dependency of the wealthy on the great mass body politic has not been successfully or adequately promulgated. We aren't asking for a handout. We're demanding what we've earned.
Amen and thank you, Richard Sutherland. I find it difficult to believe that some percentage of these billionaires would not support the 95%!tax rate that built ships and planes and then supported the rebuilding of Europe (today’s Ukraine). If Bruce is right—and I think he is (at 91, remembering WWII, I am writing a minimum of 10 GOTV postcards a day, 7 days a week and shilling for the stamps to mail them and hoping for Social Security to continue so I can), the national debt will NOT be increased by this preposterous tax cut!
I simply cannot digest that this power-grab is made unapologetically in broad daylight! I blame Congress more than this stupid administration for refusing to stop it....
Kinda harsh alternatives though, the simple two options, lead or follow. I understand anger and overstatement. I routinely entertain both. If there are a hundred ways to lead, there must be thousands of ways to follow.
I want to see young people, but I also don't want to see the Democratic party succumb to the same infighting at the GOP.
Of late, Tennessee Brando has been preaching a line we should all take to heart. He keeps saying that we don't need to agree 100% with a particular candidate for them to win our vote. It's better to have a candidate that we agree 80% with, than end up with one we disagree 100% with.
Lends familiar credence to part of the problems plaguing politics, thank you, lauriemcf. There is indeed new ideas, putting guardrails is a process before riding those roads every ‘engineer’ OR ,in this case, President should know, destroying what’s working w/o back up is no plan at all ..but that is far too obviously an ongoing MO defying safety ,judges , and logic.
Yes, and "from outside the tent" are journalists who have left CNN and MSNBC, as well as lawyers and others who have left government positions and are now speaking freely, often with each other, on Substack. Staying informed is time-consuming and character-building. Life-changing is appropriate, this I know (even when I don't exactly know how to be part of solutions in significant ways).
Bryan, I paid for the first month of The Contrarian and they blew up my inbox with individual stories. I do not have the capacity to care about everything, all the time. I had to unsubscribe. They're now distributing "digests" which reduce the number of "dings" from one's inbox, but in my opinion, the linear-format of Substack is the wrong platform for their content. I wish Jen and Norm the best, but they need to move to an actual, dedicated website in a magazine format where readers can scan headlines across the page and read the stories that interest them.
Great idea, Dale. I want to support them, but when I go for 8 hours away from email and end up with 200+ unread, I have got to do something. Ain't gonna unsubscribe from Life is Good shirts, however...
My concern was being fed a steady stream of news that would overwhelm me and perhaps create a depressive state. After quiting WaPo I signed up for the Contrarian - but only the free copy - I am glad I can read it daily and feel bad about not joining but my sanity required discipline. You can read reports for 12 hours a day and not truly be totally informed. The natural world calls me too ..for as long as we have one.
Dale, I did the same - subscribed to The Contrarian when Jen & Norm announced but unsubscribed after a month of being bombarded. It was way too much info to digest.
I know where the delete button is and use it, as well as unsubscribe from some Substacks after initial infatuations. I've wavered with the Left Hook and keep on as a paid subscriber because I appreciate the networks I'm being fed from -- people I would otherwise know nothing about.
My Contrarian inbox has calmed down (a bit). The Contrarian afternoon summary allows a Reader a small headline then click if you wish to go DEEPER. I click on about 1 of six afternoon articles.
Virginia, Norm is already the publisher, and Jen is the editor in chief.
Part of my client services is building websites. However, to build a website of the required scale and functionality would require a staff of many. I don't want to hire a staff.
I suspect Norm and Jen move in moneyed circles, members of which would be glad to invest.
Currently, they have more than 10,000 paid subscribers and more than 564,000 free subscribers. If they could convert just a fifth of their free subscribers to paid, they would generate about $8 million in revenue. Even if they take generous salaries, a few million dollars should be enough to fund a proper website startup.
Hear, hear. Exactly my critique and experience, Dale. Jen, Norm et al are just flooding the zone no differently in effect (even while surely in veracity of content) than the MAGA machine.
A mistake campaigns can make is spending too much time talking to each other about what the opponent is doing. Yes, talk to make plan, but then get out there and talk to the public over and over!
Speak up! And then you are a part of this movement. If you have ever called a senator or congress person, sent an email or postcard to let your representatives know what you think of something they are doing or not doing, you are part of movement. If you go to local meetings for your city or school district, if you participate in anyway in your local government, you are part of the movement. Be patient and do what you can, when you can with whatever you have to work with. You are not alone. We are in this together. We are rising from the ground up!
I am so grateful for the voices mentioned in your comment, who are fighting for our freedoms but I also see older citizens marching or gathering and holding signs..."NO KINGS" ...for example....at each of the gatherings near my home which my husband and I attend and will continue to attend! I see families...I see persons of color gathering ...all of us together...talking, enjoying being together....standing up for this country we love....standing up for the future of our children and grandchildren.
Springsteens' voice....the voices of Hogg, Buttigieg, Ocasio-Cortez, Crockett, Raskin, and others....THANK YOU!!!! We are in this together!
Our neighbors who are no longer young went to their first protest earlier this year. They had lots of pics and I saw people of all ages protesting. I do love it when pols like Crockett hold death star's minions' feet to the fire. I even enjoyed and I can't remember who did this, the zing about the Gnome's costume parade.
A friend and I were at the Colorado State Capital in Denver on April 5th and April 19th! I'm 74, my friend is 78. We're going to the NO KINGS rally on June 14th. My husband will join us.
Exactly right. The future and the survival of Democracy here lies with those brave, young voices. As an elder who has been around long enough to witness many of the changes the country has gone through for the GOOD of it's citizens, as well as the decline in the urgency and seriousness of the government to block the oligarchical rise, I stand with those young, urgent voices and will support, protect and join them in their serious work to save this great Democracy. I will stay outspoken and encourage everyone I meet to plainly see what's happening now, and how to fight against it taking away the free future that belongs to them.
Now is the time to be fiercely urgent, get in the way of those who are comfortably ignoring the danger at hand, and replace those in government who will not act to bring us into a fair and thriving future.
John Lewis was 25 on “Bloody Sunday” when he got into “good trouble.” His skull was fractured by police as he was leading the march across the Edmund Pettis Bridge. I am 71. I say bring on the young people. I am tired of Chuck Schumer, et al. Schumer’s time is done. He should get out of the way.
JennSH, you and I are exactly the same age, and I am disgusted with Schumer and his ilk. "Strongly worded letters" are quaint, easily ignored and absolutely useless in this modern world.
We need more Pete Buttigieges with the courage to venture into "enemy territory" and make the case for democracy in a plainspoken, intelligent, non-confrontational manner.
We need more AOC's and David Hoggs, who've embraced the issues upon which our future depends and have the courage and relentless conviction to stand up against the tide of "we've always done it that way."
We need more Jasmine Crocketts who have the education and experience to know what they're talking about, but with the in-your-face chutzpah to speak the truth to fools who are in government for the wrong reasons.
The only kinds of elders we need are those like Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren who still have plenty of fight left in them and are willing to partner with the younger generation.
Who would replace him? As a Democratic Senator, who will get the votes? IF AOC can carry it off, more power to her. Jasmine Crockett would be my preference, but in racist America, how do we elect Jasmine AND Kamala? Let’s face it: only those who know the underside of America intimately can save US from ourselves. Are we ready to go to work for the Kamalas and the Jasmines to keep our democracy? I’m working on it through TonyTheDemocrat. Join me if you can. The only skill required is one from early childhood: printing legibly. (As many of you know, cursive has gone out with too many books.)
Example for the questioners: Gina Ortiz Jones, former Air Force General, running for mayor of San Antonio, TX. I lived there for six years when Texas was purple. My congressman was Henry B. Gonzales, affectionately known as “Henry B.” I hope Gina Ortiz Jones will be elected and equally popular in this formidable American city in a state gone blind. So I’m writing as many postcards daily for her as wrist, arm, and hand can manage, while staying in shape for the next batch.
talk to all the young (and old) people you know, encourage them to vote. Stress how important their vote/voice is, and use examples of the current mess to show them how important it is.
And encourage them to run for office if it's a good fit.
And while you are at it - listen to what they believe and why. I find my grandchildren are influenced by "others" who spew falsehoods. They did not vote for Trump, but they also believe Biden did nothing in office! It takes a few minutes to share the truth with actual facts.
Yes, the young people - Alexandria and Jasmine, for two. David Hogg needs to go after Republicans instead of Democrats. Pete is bright and sharp, but are enough voters ready for an elected national leader who is gay? I wish they were but this is no time to be taking chances. Who else? Gavin Newsom could be our next presidential candidate. Chuck Shumer was in a "Catch 22." He couldn't win for losing. I think that Shumer did the right thing. To not vote for the Continuing Resolution would have opened the door for Trump to run more amok.
I do agree with you about the budget. It was a dog's breakfast of a bill the likes of which we've not really seen before this. He did the right, but deeply unpopular thing. But as far as his "strongly worded letter" to Republicans goes, it's almost as useful as Susan Collins's "concern."
To your list of bright, young, vibrant Democrats I would add IL Gov JB Pritzker. Not exactly young, but with a real record of accomplishment, and he knows how to connect with main street folks and their issues.
We are in this together! My granddaughters are too young to understand what is going on now. When they are old enough to vote, I want them to know that Nana did all she could to protect our democracy for them and their generation.
Old disgusted white guy here. I feel your frustration. I do think there are Democratic "elders" who should step aside in SAFE districts. Time to pass the torch, for sure.
But we need a majority of Democrats. Not just Democrats that support our favorite topics. So what will the litmus test be? Who will administer the test?
Here's my qualifying exam:
1. Believes that humans are accelerating a Climate Catastrophe.
2. Believes in the rule of law and follows the Constitution.
3. Believes in ECONOMIC JUSTICE. Too many poor people. Two people working full time (often at more than one job each) shouldn't have to worry about housing, clean water, food security, healthcare or education. Too much money in the hands of just a few oligarchs.
Beyond that, we can have all manner of debate on hundreds of legitimate topics - after we have won. If David Hogg is threatening to primary for reasons of age only, he is being a self absorbed age bigot. The DNC is there to support Democrats for the win - to put us back in power! If Hogg wants to run an organization dedicated to a generational power shift, cool. But that is NOT his job as a DNC vice chair.
That being said, I am beyond angry at some of our Democratic leaders who voted for certain cabinet members or some funding bills. But if they are the right candidates in 2026 to assure us a win, we NEED them.
Senator Chris Murphy has been talking about a BIG DEMOCRATIC TENT for months. The center pole is Economic Justice. A populism that is really for every American who has been cheated of resources as billionaires accumulate more and more and more.
Ya don't get to play in the World Series unless you win in the playoffs.
All that being said, AOC, Buttigieg and Crockett are among my heroes. Add in Raskin, Booker, Warren, Sanders and Stansbury. There are others. Notice the age range.
Bill, from what I have read, Hogg doesn't want to primary incumbents based merely on age; he wants to primary those who are content with the status quo and have no fight left in them. Coincidentally, complacency often accompanies advanced age.
If that is the case, fine. But I would focus on an incumbent voting record. Not his style or lack of loudness.
That being said, I completely disagree that complacency often accompanies advanced age. Witness Heather's audience. Witness Bernie Sanders. Witness this 78 year old person in a constant state of outrage.
And witness all the young white men who didn't vote for Harris or didn't even vote.
IMHO, it isn't about age. It's about values and action.
Bill, I agree as an eighty-two year old. From the time I witnessed racial bias in Chicago at about age 7 to the present, I have never been complacent. I have been pragmatic and held my nose and voted for a few people because they were better than their R opponents, but not a preference. If you are in the minority, you have a different kind of fight. I spend a lot of time in 2016 talking bout the Supreme Court and here we are. I guess i should be glad that the Handmaiden seems to understand.
Excellent comment, Michele! Sounds like we witnessed similar events as PRE-BOOMERS (known as the Silent Generation). Silent - HA!! I was marching in downtown Chicago at the 1968 Democratic National Convention. (No, I wasn’t one of the Chicago 7, but I was there - makin’ noise.) I’m still here makin’ noise (and pancakes for my grandkids) who are getting a glimpse of my views on life today. I will NOT be kicked to the curb or the sidelines or the bleachers. I VOTE! I communicate with my representatives! I might be part of the Silent Generation, but I ain’t gonna be silent, AND I don’t mind if some members of my generation are still active in the decision making of our government.
My school friend's porch in Melrose MA 1962 or 3, was firebombed because her Dad had hired a black man @ his construction company. I still feel the anger @ the stupid reasons for it happening. I, also, have never been complacent & have voted for 'the best' in an election.
Bill, that's why I carefully wrote "complacency OFTEN accompanies advanced age."
I think we in Heather's audience are energetic and still kicking (ass). But we are a minority. When I look around at those my age in my community, the overwhelming majority would rather rock on the porch or take a nap.
And yes, the young white men in my community would rather be fondling a rifle in the "deer woods."
I don’t know if you consider 80 to be “advanced age,” but I don’t rock on my porch and/or take naps. I am part of Heather’s audience and am enjoying kicking ass - no parentheses.
Actually we have little power. We need to do jujitsu and co-opt Republicans.
.
Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway
Don't block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
The battle outside ragin'
Will soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'
.
We have to be grateful that they are at each other's throats over budget reconciliation and take advantage of the situation. It oinly takes a few of them to get to the Jerry Weiss scenario. https://jerryweiss.substack.com/
Even the dominionist theocrat MAGAT Hawley R. Mo is warning;
“If Republicans want to be a working-class party — if we want to be a majority party — we must ignore calls to cut Medicaid and start delivering on America’s promise for America’s working people,” Hawley wrote.
Hawley is saying what a lot of MAGAs are thinking. Voting for a reduction in Medicaid and SNAP benefits is political suicide. There are a few insane ideologues like Chip Roy who are delusional enough to think his constituents want this.
Maybe there will be a bill from the Senate that hurts less. But sooner or later the MAGAs will feel the wrath of the people they hurt.
The congressman for that area is MAGAT Mario Diaz Balart, whose brother Jose is a talking head on NBC, MSNBC, and Telemundo. His late older brother, Lincoln, was also a member of Congress. The law school at Florida International Univerrsity is the Diaz Balart School of Law. Despite the "international" aspect, FIU has been the subject of controversy regarding its partnership with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), specifically under the 287(g) program. This program allows local law enforcement officers, including FIU police officers, to enforce immigration laws, leading to concerns about potential deportations and visa revocations, particularly for international students.
Mario has sold his soul.
Mario's district has the highest saturation of Venezuelans in the country. As a Cuban American, he votes to support elimination of Cuban Humanitarian visas and votes to bar the more than 100,000 Cubans at the border.
The district also has many Canadian Americans and Hatian Americans.
Maybe if they picket, sit in, he'll see the light.
For us LFAA "bookclub" readers, may I suggest "The Hospital: Life, Death and Dollars in a Small American Town" by Brian Alexander.
I worked 40+ years in urban major medical centers, and they had struggles enough. Reading this book was incredibly disheartening. When I call Congress, I have mentioned that Medicaid will shutter rural hospitals, as people WILL die because of it.
From my hospital lab experience, I have vowed to never live more than 30 minutes from a medical center that can quickly treat a stroke.
I agree on the Democratic Party focus must stay on the people issues and use the examples of the prices we pay for MAGA results to invite wide support.
Just the example of gynecologists absence in red states and counties should create repugnance by all ages.
In fact age must not become a focus. Bernie and AOC appearing together refute age as a factor. The careful wisdom of Schumer matched with the incredible insights of Crocket are what the future should be rather than the robotic MAGA March to serve chaos.
I think that is a critical distinction --- passing the torch in safe districts. I don't believe Hogg is just trying to be a jerk, but to get an organization frightened of change to move forward. If his election was illegitimate (as some others have said), it begs the question: why are we tripping over our own shoelaces rather than moving forward?
Which I disagree with! But he is also among our brightest and most eloquent.
I HATE that he made those votes. But my litmus test allows for disagreement. And Booker is on the correct side for climate, rule of law and the oligarchs.
As I posted above, I paraphrase Tennessee Brando who says we all need to unite around candidates we can support 80% of the time, or we end up with ones we disagree with 100%.
The discovery that Harvard is in possession of the original Magna Carta is fortuitous and timely. As I wrote on Heather's May 9 post, it has been said that Trump has brought us back 250 years to pre-revolutionary times. We now see that he has in fact brought us back 811 years, to before the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215. His next executive order may be that we all need to go back to living in caves.
King John went to war against the French after claims that his nephew should be king. John opposed the church, ordered his nephew's death, and turned the nobles against himself. In the end, John died from poison, the French retreated, and his son, Henry III, became king.
AI: Henry III (1 October 1207 — 16 November 1272), also known as Henry of Winchester and nicknamed the Pious, the Wise and later the Saint. was the King of England from 1216 until his death in 1272.
Henry III was assassinated because of a complex interplay of factors, primarily rooted in the French Wars of Religion and his own actions, including the assassination of the Duke of Guise. A Catholic fanatic, Jacques Clément, saw Henry III as a traitor to the Catholic cause and believed he was encouraging Protestantism. Clément's actions were also influenced by the Catholic League, who saw Henry as a threat to their power and the Catholic faith.
Whether Henry III was the worst king in British history is debatable, but he is certainly considered one of the most unsuccessful medieval monarchs. His long reign (1216-1272) was marked by political instability, financial mismanagement, and ultimately, a civil war, according to HistoryExtra.
Here's why Henry III's reign is often viewed negatively:
1. Financial Incompetence and Extravagance:
Henry was known for his extravagant spending and poor financial management, which led to a constantly depleted treasury.
His attempts to finance costly projects, such as the failed Sicilian venture, further burdened the kingdom and angered the barons.
2. Political Weakness and Loss of Control:
Henry's reign was characterized by a struggle for power between the king and the barons, who were increasingly frustrated by his autocratic style.
He alienated many powerful nobles through his favoritism and refusal to negotiate, notes HistoryExtra.
His poor judgment and inability to maintain control ultimately led to the Second Barons' War (1264-1267).
3. Military Failures:
Henry's foreign policy was largely unsuccessful, and his military campaigns often ended in defeat or embarrassment.
The disastrous Sicilian adventure, in particular, demonstrated his poor strategic thinking and wasted vast sums of money.
4. The Second Barons' War and its Aftermath:
The barons, led by Simon de Montfort, rose up against Henry, forcing him to relinquish power and accept a council to govern alongside him.
While Henry eventually regained his throne with the help of his son, the future Edward I, the war significantly weakened his authority and damaged his reputation.
In Conclusion:
While Henry III was not necessarily the most hated English monarch, his reign was certainly one of the least successful
Daniel. I do love English history. Thank you for the details on John and Henry III. Interesting that Lackland finally ends up as king and provokes the Magna Carta.
Thank YOU…. History lesson from Heather Cox Richardson again! And comments by “We the People”…. Bruce, Pete, David, Alexandria, Jasmine, ‘It’s come to this”…
Please stop blaming the Democratic Party for what is happening (or not happening)!
Put your energy into showing up at protests and standouts and doing whatever you can to demonstrate your frustration- be one of the voices speaking for our future - and put your care into action!!!
I understand what you're saying but I fear going to the extreme and getting rid of all the 'old' reps just because they're 'old'. It might cause us to lose some good reps who have experience and knowledge to pass on to the youngers. Just a thought.
The DNC is doing this because there was a procedural mistake on the ballot which made it difficult for women to have a chance to be elected as Vice Chairs. A woman who ran for VC challenged it. It has nothing to do with David wanting to replace incumbents. However David is lying and saying that the vote is retaliation. This procedural mistake happened before David announced his plan to replace incumbents.
These old dinosaurs need to retire or be voted out so young people with fresh ideas and energy can come in and remake the democrat party. The fact that they lost the last election and got us into this mess is proof that they are failures. Time to go Schumer, Pelosi and others...Bernie should have been allowed to run - perhaps we wouldn't be here now!
Yes, Prof. It’s Come to This, I also hope that Springsteen’s Hope succeeds, BUT My Hope is that we can succeed by building a Big Tent that INCLUDES your “old Party stalwarts” that you (and others) seem to want to kick to the curb. I am not in favor of a “kick ‘em to the curb” approach to overturning the MAGA regime. We are in this TOGETHER.
Papa, I don't think anyone is recommending a “kick ‘em to the curb” approach. The curb is out in the parking lot and nobody cares about that right now. What many of us are recommending is that if the team players are too tired, too enamored with an obsolete playbook, or too timid, then they should be sent to the sidelines with the other cheerleaders, or to the bleachers with other cheering parents. This would create openings for younger, stronger, fierce players who want to play the game hard, to win.
Papa, I submit that cheerleaders and cheering parents play a vital role in boosting team spirit, and in their capacities, they are still TOGETHER with the players, as part of the team effort. But if they don't have the energy, skill or strength to play on the field, they cannot be equal. It's a life-and-death competition, not a book club.
Your divisive and discriminatory comments about the abilities of the elderly play right into Trump’s playbook. Perhaps I am biased in favor of the elderly….?
We need all of us “on the field,” Dale. There are some tremendous skills in the possession of the older team members. Yes, we need to create openings and opportunities for the less experienced players.
Thank you for expressing so eloquently what I have been thinking and feeling since Reagan was elected president. I am 76 years old and am disgusted with the disorganized hand wringing and pontificating of our Democratic Party. When Donald Trump began planting doubts about President Obama’s being born in the USA and Obama finally released his birth certificate, that was the year in the curtain. The Democrats and honorable Republicans at that time should have moved swiftly and forcefully to hold Trump accountable. Any ten year old boy or girl could have dealt with him more effectively.
The new guard within the Democratic Party is broad enough to encompass views that are anathema to a majority of Americans, if only because the Republican messaging machine defines the Democrats for them. So, on the one hand, the new guard needs to be a greater part of the leadership of the Democratic Party. However, the old guard succeeded in leading and finally brought us President Biden. Their failure was not actively mentoring non-traditional leaders who speak well to Americans. The new guard will take over by simple persistence, but it would do well to learn from the Bidens, Pelosi, and Schumers of the old guard, lest the new Democratic Party keeps pissing off the average American.
Skepticism that is not cynicism questions everything, and questioning everything, for and against, requires an open mind; though not an empty one; evidence and logic makes some judgements far more reliable than others.
And evidence points to a genuine tyranny doing it's damnedest to undo the American republic and replace it with an autocrat, which is not a novel turn of events in history and around the world as a whole. Will that effort succeed? It very well may, and it also may not. It likely depends on the degree of solidarity that can be raised by the resistance.
A couple of days ago there was an opinion piece in the New York Times about three Yale professors who study totalitarianism are leaving for the University of Toronto. They believe that they will be better placed there to organise resistance to Trump. Marci Shore, one of the professors, says that the lesson from history is that the sooner you get out the better. I found this extremely depressing especially as one of the professors was Timothy Snyder. If they're afraid, everyone who want to resist Trump should be also.
I read this also and had the same reaction - if Snyder and Shore, and the other professor are going -- then we may be in an even hotter mess than I had grasped.
The intelligentsia is one of the first groups to be rounded up by the totalitarian regimes. Those professors are prominent in their field and research. Lectures, papers, published books that might even make them a target for the trump regime.
Timothy Snyder has even gone into Ukraine quite a few times, all the way to Zaporizhzhya on the front line a couple of months back. I think he knows that he has to be careful now. I don’t fault him for taking precautions. Canada seems like a very nice place to stay for a while, much better than some cecot detention center.
He will be able to communicate from Canada what he could not from within a US institution. He would draw more attacks not only to himself and family but to that institution. (Not sure what's going on with Yale...)
Not too sure about the ppl they graduate: C Thomas, Vance, Cruz, for example, who then turn against the institution that was their ticket to prosperity.
It's instead the billionaires who cowardly lead the top law firms, cowardly lead key legacy media, cowardly lead the banks that indebted students to the highest (deepest?) form of debt in history, cowardly lead the algorithm hatreds of social media, cowardly lead the standardized testing, cowardly lead the corporate predators that offshored the millions of jobs to China's cadres, cowardly lead the military contractors enabling Netanyahu's genocides and Mohammed bin Salman's wet dreams for killing more journalists.
Trump's diseases merely convenience the many larger poisons prevailing.
I agree. Your problems won't end with Trump. I suspect that those billionaires are finding that he's far less malleable than they might have expected or hoped.
The notion that one could use tariffs to address trade imbalances was included in Project 2025 and I doubt there were many billionaires who would have supported such a crazy idea. Charles Koch is now suing Trump over his tariffs policy and it was very forcefully criticised by others - Dimon, Fink, Ackman, Musk.
Narcissistic billionaires still fancy running (and owning) the whole show. They pump Trump for their own reasons (and Putin and the Saudis for others) but all must be a bit nervous about what a loose cannon he has become. He is SUPPOSED to be a demented bull in a china shop, but some of their vested interests are getting gored. They surely would have preferred a smoother criminal, but for now, he's their ticket to "Shock Doctrine" takeovers.
Prof. Snyder writes: "What is coming to the United States now is an attempt by the federal government to encourage conformism and denunciations for the purpose of spreading terror and idiocy."
Agreed! Conformity is the fruit of tyranny. Solidarity is our mutual dedication to protecting foundational individual and societal rights, and is the antidote to tyranny, is, was and always will be; bottom line union that enables and protects individual, the "D" word, diversity. Has not our own history illustrated that again and again?
I cannot admire the 3 professors, things get tough so they run for it. What does that teach their students? Isn't our country, our democracy worth fighting for?
I think they would say that they need to find a safe refuge from which to continue to resist this administration whose reach has become very disturbing, cowing the media, large law firms and colleges. Perhaps they fear that their continued defiance might create problems for Yale as it has for Harvard.
I bet those guys stuck UNLAWFULLY in the prison in El Salvador wish they had gone to Canada.
Many people would like to leave but cannot afford to do so. What about the children...what about the disabled?
Those who are able to go are free to go...those of us who remain have our work to do...not to approve tyranny..... but to care of one another in a situation we never thought could be.... in....."The Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave".
People who flee persecution usually don't give a lot of thought to what they can afford and not afford. I imagine that would apply to some to some of those people now incarcerated in El Salvador, like Kilmar Abrego Garcia who fled gang violence only to be falsely accused of being a gang member and to many others who are now being threatened with arbitrary expulsion.
Personally, I am glad that people like Einstein, Freud, Born, Chagall, Arendt and so many others were able to flee the nazis.
I accept that many will remain and suffer and that that is deplorable.
With Liberty and Justice for ALL (my emphasis, but isn't that the point?). Equal Justice under law, equal protection under law, due process of law, unalienable rights, more perfect union, etc, etc, etc. That's supposed to be the deal right? We have been letting our purchase on liberty and democracy slip for petty distractions. Small leaks sink great ships.
It has to have been a difficult decision for each of them. You don't just uproot your family without some doing some serious soul-searching. We've already seen cases of academics who have been detained by the administration.
I believe they are fighting and will continue to fight through their writing and teaching and speaking. I believe that our country, our democracy, is in real peril - in medical terms - critical condition. The detention centers/ prisons in Louisiana and El Salvador are real. Kidnapping is real. The elected President questions the legitimacy, the practicality, of due process. One of his subordinates broadly hints that habeas corpus could vanish at the whim of that same elected President. The call is coming from inside the house. We need to believe our own eyes and ears.
Few battles, if any, are won by infantrymen in the trenches. In addition to boots on the ground, the victor uses assets from a variety of locations, including artillery from offshore battleships and strikes from the air.
It's unwise to keep valuable assets in vulnerable positions when moving them to remote locations will make them more effective.
It is complicated, and yes it is a blow to society every time a competent and decent person resigns. That said, I am not in their shoes, and some people are more effective in exile than they would have been had they stayed. I think the Dalai Lama is one such example. That's only part of the story, though, and either way resistance is key.
Yup, I fully agree, Nancy, with your assessment of these runaway professors. To me, what is scarier, is that this is exactly what Trump wants - in a sense, this is self-deportation of Trump’s opposition. Yes, they can still Grump against Trump from Toronto, but they can feel all nice and comfy - a bit like Trump does every weekend at Mar a Lago. Trump wants his dissenters to get out of Dodge.
I agree. Yale history Professor Snyder is the person who had been cautioning all of us not to "surrender in advance". So, when I read that he & his wife & children were moving to Toronto, I was very disappointed.
Timothy Snyder has not capitulated, he continues to stand firmly against the regime. His wife, also a scholar, came out several weeks ago to say it was her discomfort that prompted their temporary move to Toronto. She was fearful for their family and likely, for her husband.
But then I decided it is not for us to judge. If Snyder were apprehended and silenced, would that help us? Would his being a silent martyr aid the cause? Considering how quickly this national police force of Neo-Nazis is moving, I wouldn't dismiss the idea.
I totally get how leaving seems to be a surrender. But on the other hand, Snyder is an intellectual guiding light to be read. He can teach from Toronto and the world can learn. Don't think for a minute that Miller, Noem and Homan couldn't disappear him.
So as disappointed as I am, I'm not going to judge. And has been explained here, his family's safety is at risk as well. I'm thinking now about his kids.
Yup, Trump LOVES deportation, especially the self-deportation of his critics. Stand and Fight! And, let’s be a Big Tent! We NEED the David Hogg’s and AOC and Pete AND Schumer and Biden and Harris - Everybody!
Oh Jeez. When I watch movies made in Europe in the 1930s, like Shop Around the Corner (Budapest), I want to scream at the tv, “Get out of there while you still can !” And now Tim Snyder has. I’m glad he’s gotten out, but more than a bit worried for the rest of us!
If you read professor Snyder's book 'Black Earth' you will see that he has a better understanding than most people of why it was so hard for people who became victims of the Holocaust to foresee their impending doom and try to escape it. Many of those who left Germany and occupied/satellite states in time to escape did not anticipate what followed but wanted to get away from the discrimination and poverty they were sure they would have been exposed to had they stayed.
You are absolutely right, Carol, and everyone needs to be reminded of this. I give copies of the Constitution to everyone who will take one, and encourage them to read and understand what gives them their freedom. And to teach their children.
It IS our duty as Americans to ensure the freedoms we possess are handed down to future generations, intact and thriving.
She needs to go to jail for the illegal, unconstitutional actions. And she is due to run out of money by July (probably for those expensive military jets parading the immigrants for her photo ops)
I think Noem must have trouble reading anything since her big fat fake eyelashes are in the way. She is just being so legally wrong. Maybe send her for another visit in another country & deny her re- entry to US?
Absolutely. To do this requires beginning at local levels, especially focused on with cunning success by the GOP. This resistance at a national level is good but late ‘in the game’ as established control is key planning. Working our way backwards is now what’s left..a smidgeon of irony, and far more time for needed ‘undoing’.
The autocratic nations have noted billionaires ruling class. Us pee-ons , the disenfranchised ‘s lack of education is intentional ..feudal, archaic, all terms of how long this has been ‘going on’. America fell into that same old trap, from money,greed, and control freaks. Those that make up that echelon are present in every population. Guardrails can be repaired too.
Unfortunately, 77 million pee-ons are magats who celebrate the the Roberts court’s granting to US presidents powers that the Magna Carta removed from English kings 800 years ago. This was accomplished on purpose and with malicious intent by the majority of white voters who made possible the election of every Republican who has held office since 1968.
Rex, I haven’t gone to the data, but I suspect they show that a plurality of white voters, often assisted by a sizable group of white non-voters, made those Republican wins possible. We won’t get into those that were outright stolen.
Check exit polls. You will find that a majority of white voters have voted R in every presidential election since 1968. That probably doesn’t hold for every partisan office at every level in every state, but I’ll bet it’s pretty close to correct even in that broader context.
I’m not sure that matters anymore. But he is high profile enough that arresting him for exercising free speech would be extremely stupid. (Yes, I believe they are that dimwitted)
Our artists are "right" -- correct, apt, on-target, fellow Phil -- as they've the human in focus.
Not to mention nature, landscapes, foods, menus, crops, weathers, seasons, aromas, sounds, and all the movements it takes artistry to detect, honor, chronicle.
Alito and other far-right justices agreed that women do not have the freedom to choose their own health care in the Dobb's decision. Alito, totally ignored the 14th amendment because, he is an originalist.
He cited several cases from British law dating back hundreds of years before the United States was a country. Curiously, he did not cite the Magna Carta. And his decision also didn't include a single reference made by a woman.
If Alito was truly an originalist he would have no truck with Trump's overweening ambition to assert complete power over the other two branches of the state, something that is plainly unconstitutional. He's really a fraud.
I think, Russell, Ricardo means the era that followed feudalism.
In feudalism serfs, the landless poor, and tenants all settled on master's domains and the landed gentry tolerated them, so long as they paid in crops further to enrich master, and paid in military service to keep other masters on their thrones.
When modern agricultural changes entered the scene, master threw the tenants off the land -- into new urban slums, then onto sailing ships bound for America and indentured apprenticeships there.
It's this latter era, I think, Ricardo recalls -- when forms of authoritarianism arose more splendid to Alito's tortured pre-MAGA MAGA.
He's an enabler. Trump is like Humpty-Dumpty. "When I use a word, it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less. The question is which is to be master - that's all." People like Alito, Thomas and the rest allow Trump to behave like this unchecked and they may come to regret it as so many others have done.
No Kings Day JUNE 14th. We are currently left with each other now, it is up to us to hammer congress to speak up or step down. Our voices are what we have left. indivisible.org is helping our community come together.
Bruce is not afraid to stand up for America. Glad he's not a skeptic doubti.ng real Americans can rise to the occasion. Stand up for America or get out of the way instead of seeding doubt.
"After the king had raised taxes, barons rebelled, insisting that he was violating established custom. There were rumors of a plot to murder the king, and the barons armed themselves." This is the beginning of establishing the rights of ordinary people under a ruling power. And there was the war against King by colonists in America. I am wondering what it would take this time to keep Springsteen and Lincoln's Gettysburg declaration true.
We will overcome this horrible period in our history! It won't be easy. Each of us must do something, call, write, email and text our representatives and demand that they uphold our Constitution and Democracy. We must be loud and whenever possible visible.
A friend and I joined over a thousand people at the Colorado State Capital in Denver on April 5th. We joined another friend on April 19th at the Colorado State Capital in Denver. We are going to be at the Colorado State Capital in Denver on June 14th! This is my country. I refuse to surrender to the billionaires and oligarchs. Putin can go straight to hell. My granddaughters' and the future of American children is at stake. This grandmother is standing up for the children of this country!
Bruce Springsteen is speaking up for truth...what are we doing??? What are YOU doing?
We need NOT put anyone down for standing up FOR our country...for its future...for our children!
Who is taking books out of our schools and libraries...NOT Bruce Springsteen!
Who is rewriting history and science....NOT Bruce Springsteen!
Let's acknowledge our true enemies who are taking our freedoms away daily!!!!
Anyone who is treated unfairly today will be anyone of us tomorrow!!!!
WAKE UP MAN!!!! We are responsible ....we each must call ourselves into some form of action/response NOT point fingers at the choice or opportunities of others!!!!
Emily, I was not criticisng him for speaking up. I was just saying that if you think that he's your last resort against Trump then you're in worse trouble than you think. I'm not American, I'm British, and your fellow citizens have now voted for this clown twice so your problems I would respectfully suggest are a little closer to home.
I left the Republican Party when Trump was placed on the ballot the first time. I thought our country and especially our Republican leaders had lost their marbles!!!
I was thankful for President Biden's win and his attempt to heal relationships and to strengthen our defense and to bring our world back together; to prepare for attacks on freedoms which had already begun by Trump's recent position as President. Everyone could see Biden's age but also his love for our country. Biden has stood for a better more humane world. He works at lifting people up.
Now to my dismay. Trump has returned and he is followed by political parasites. They will use him to gain power and position and money. They are using the American people. Trump gives them what they need...a pat on the head, a word of praise, confirmation and acceptance. He takes up for them when they break the rules and when they act irresponsibly. He is their "big daddy". All he requires is total worship and compliance....and so they follow him like little lost boys and girls.
We have big problems and even our best are struggling to find answers.
I appreciate your response. I did not vote for Trump on either occasion but here I am and here our once great nation has found itself. I am grateful for young and old who are finding ways to fight against what has come upon us.
Be thankful you are a Brit at this time and hold on to all that is good!
"These jobs are going, boys, and they ain’t coming back."
That, Russell, was "My Hometown."
Now, to whom would you look more reliably -- to an artist like Bruce, or to any average 1,000 economists who took all the standardized tests and emerged as meritocracy elites in the totally dehumanized, predatory councils of Corporate America (with connivance from more than a few in your Brexit-land)?
Now that's a rather invidious choice you've presented me with, Phil. There are some economic commentators who I admire - Mariana Mazzucato, Duncan Weldon, Jason Hickel, Adam Tooze, Rutger Bregman, George Monbiot, Thomas Piketty.
I don't believe that it would be wise to replace one celebrity president with another, even if it is The Boss.
I hope the balladare is right. What a marvelous screed on our fundamental protection under laws, nee men of power not awarded but presumed given by Heather today. Today's post reminds me that every history or disciple holds to a body of writing and concepts agreed upon, to some extent because of the similarity of the scholars training, but more so that the body, the concepts hold together, have an internal consistency and external validity, borne through debates, dissent, and, well, scholarship. The collective stands the test of time and rubbing of the stones by the many hands and minds of those who precede that makes them venerable. Without core knowledge and myths tested, the individual reader may discover unique (to only their peers, perhaps) ideas, but not the assurances that give their ideas have a foundation. I thought the dissertation requirement in professional studies was not so much the individual discovering something totally new, worthy that, but the honing of the inquiry and research skills that would serve them throughout their careers.
“…a superficial appearance of being right.” Does that nail the chump toadies, or what. The blather that emanates from the republican spokesmodels sure intend to appear righteous and in the best interests of all. When they are deliberately designed to deceive and give the appearance of being right. Deliberate deception needs to be countered by truth, which seems to be always in catch-up mode.
Truth often imposes grown up things such as effort, discomfort, responsibilities, and endurance. It can be a harder sell than cons and flattery. and con-men or con-women often draw an eager audience; sometimes a very devoted one, as history amply displays.
But alternative realities such as the comforts of heroin, or simplistic big lies put one on a collusion course with the realities they aim to ignore; and overall, that tends to end very badly.
You nailed that. Truth and duty have been difficult but necessary as I reached adulthood. I have watched some look for short cuts and distractions but they often suffered in the end. Now that seems strategy with no down side. Hopefully not for the majority or we are sunk
Yesterday, on the Dean Obeidallah show on Progress Radio one of the guests exclaimed that "Republican Senators and Congressmen are wholly owned subsidiaries of Donald J Trump."
And as many have said, they are ALL afraid of being "primaried".
Follow the money. This whole charade would not be possible without the generous and coordinated contributions of oligarchs. Who have been the primary beneficiary of Reaganomics, certainly not the increasingly economically insecure fools cheering at right wing rallies. How did the muckraking media become so timid about telling the un-inbedded truth? Why have so many journalists resigned in protest?
As the total ownership of our country has concentrated into fewer hands, so too has political power. As for our elected Congress critters, it would seem that never have so few had a damn to give for their country.
Reality is indifferent to what we think about it, but if we get to know it well, we get to surf a wave of spacetime with knowledge, skill, and resilience, and even then, what is real can wipe us out. Collaboratively we can create a an extended living environment that favors our agendas, so long as we are respectful. Early in the Republic, a single house fire could burn down a whole town. Now that risk is managed, though climate abuse and attendant risks of disaster show have not been responsible enough.
Our greatest asset as a species, the absence of which could condemn us to extinction, is our ability to care about things and beings beyond ourselves, be it polar bears, humans in remote parts of the planet, or generations to come. Our Ozymandian monuments are meaningless seen apart from the fate of life. The chain of events the resulted in each of us being here is unfathomably immense. As said by Mary Oliver "Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?", and what will be our legacy?
In Trump's case there's not even a superficial attempt at justifying his grifting. They seem to think that it's okay because it's happening in broad daylight - that's what they think 'transparency' means.
Exactly, chump likes to say he uses hyperbole, but when I learned that word, it meant “exaggeration not intended to deceive.” His every utterance is intended to deceive. Republicans have now mastered that tactic. Deception is strategy.
That was the plan, I watched repubs support Rupert’s efforts to become the dominate media voice. Bill Moyers warned early on. But people were enthralled. Sort of like they are now with “Naked and Afraid” and such tripe. The cultified fools want to rule us all with laws, justice and religions weighted to permanently skew the scales. We must find ways to balance, it’s happening but at a turtle’s pace.
JD, I have NEVER understood the thrall that some folks have with "reality" TV shows. I don't know if it was that I was a cop, and saw plenty of "reality" day in and day out, or if I see engineered strife as BS, but I just absolutely see nothing good out of that alleged "genre" of TV.
Not sure if you recall my sidebar "Apprentice" story, but my sister was so into that show that she left the nursing home when Mom was in agonal breathing (she died from COPD) at 7:55 to watch that show. I called her at 7:30 and told her she needed to come. She got there (she did leave the show before it finished) at 8:50. Mom was pronounced at 8:42. She is still haunted by that.
OMG, I never saw that show and was never even tempted. Has your sister recovered her sanity. Sure hope so. They reminded me of cult mentality and I have always felt sort of sorry for those sucked into that unfathomable vortex. Now so many are on that continuum. Another example of the complicity of the MSM in our collective ignorance.
She has recovered her sanity, and is a wonderful human being. She so deeply regrets her decisions that night. We've had long talks, and I understand her need to "get away".
Reactive vs Agentive; states of being: What Bruce & Heather do is be agents of change as protectors of rights and common good. Stanley Milgram’s 3 steps of connection / separation “theory”, now law, applies. As they reach out, so must we into our networks of connections to expose & subvert the contagion of engineered social pathology that is: 47, “maga”, Techbro dark enlightenment; all fascist mafia state oligopoly; a new form of elite collective of sovereign corporate state entities claiming dominion over humanity and earth. For ref. see 1) Dr. Bandy Lee & 2) William A. Finnegan - The Long Memo - The Election Didn’t Matter. + 3) My post dated May 12 (subtitle - Existential Esoterica) a summary of others work with suggestions / practical real world direct actions. <> The threats to humanity & earth are a complex & pervasive matrix but the communication system created by oligopolists are the pathways for antiviral healing; direct real world communication, partnering, and action for peace.
Much of USA’s perception of crime is shaped by movies & tv: distortion / glorification / commodification of myths spun off real world brutal degeneracy that is mafia. For those who’s daily lives are partially shaped by mob dominance the reality is visceral. https://stevevillano.medium.com/the-trumps-an-incestuous-intertwining-with-organized-crime-ab65316c2b48 <> Much of USA has been infantilized to make them easily manipulated consumers: Respond to continuous media messaging to support tribalized identity that enriches fascist mafia state oligopolists owners of mainstream & social medias & the petrochemical / war production economy. It now openly expresses it’s death cult core & motivation through bizarre, bullshit glorified medieval hegemonic philosophy. We’re supposed to bow down like serfs to Musk, Thiel, & Curtis Yarvin?
Springsteen also said: "I have hope, because I believe in the truth of what the great American author James Baldwin said." Baldwin said: "In this world, there isn't as much humanity as one would like, but there's enough." Here's hoping our collective humanity will see us through this living nightmare...
Heather, this has to be one of your best columns ever. It captures details even we history freaks by birth haven’t heard (or remembered), but brings everything up to date with Springsteen. It is moments like this that make me believe that we will survive.
In 2015 I was part of Canadian celebrations of the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta accompanied by a national tour of one of its original copies. The doctrine of habeas corpus is one of the oldest in our Anglo-American body of laws (I will include Canada in the Anglo part of that formulation). It is the Crown Jewel of democracy. The foundation of democracy is not elections- as important as they are-it is the rule of law. Nothing expresses that idea better than the doctrine of habeas corpus. I hope the discovery of this treasure- dating back 725 years to Edward I’s affirmation of Magna Carta will inspire Americans to understand that the principles it contains are not some “woke” invention of “the libs”, but a priceless inheritance that generations have fought and died to protect. Thank you for retelling this story! We forget it at our peril!
And yet the entire Republican party remains shackled to Trump's vision of pestilence, tyranny, corruption and brutality. Where are the voices willing to say that habeas corpus is more important than whether Kristri Noem gets a photo posing with her $25,000 Rolex in front of shackled prisoners at CECOT? Where's their outrage at all this? Why is it only Eric Swalwell willing to tell this cruel idiot that she doesn't pass his 3-year-old bullshit detector?
I'm sick to death of hearing how "concerned" Susan Collins is or watching 1 or 2 Republicans squirm in their seats as a dumb megalomaniac and Russian patsy destroy America from within. When will these wretched cowards and empty imbeciles defend the rule of law, rather than the rule of Trump?
Agree with your sentiments. Completely. The GOP is acting like the German legislators of the 1930s.
But Democrats ARE making a lot of noise. There is a royal battle right now about the "reconciliation bill" that would strip away healthcare and food from the poorest of us. Democrats are doing everything they can to halt this insanity.
As for Republicans, I long ago lowered my expectations that they would actually be "conservative" enough to believe in the rule of law. And Susan Collins, the formerly "reasonable Republican", lost me when she voted to confirm drunken rapist Kavanaugh.
And they don’t rig the vote. Sorry I know people don’t want to hear this from our side, but we democrats are the ones that need to investigate the voting machines.
“No free man shall be seized, imprisoned, dispossessed, outlawed, exiled or ruined in any way, nor in any way proceeded against, except by the lawful judgement of his peers and the law of the land.”
Good Lord. They had this figured out 810 years ago.
Tyranny would seem like the aberration, and yet generation after generation, it's a monster that never really dies. It must be something in human nature; both the emergence of tyrants, and of rapt public ,support for them. I think we need to look at that, a lot more closely and more often.
And yet, the "conservative" wing of a party has become as un-conservative as possible by tossing aside not only our founding documents but rights established as BASIC - hundreds of years ago. They have forgotten what the word "conserve" means. (Except for power)
There are not really any Republicans or Conservatives left in our government. There are only MAGA Nazis willing to dispense with and ignore established law for the purposes of domination and the imposition of their religio-fascist-oligarchal ideas on the population.
Our nation is not being run by Republican Conservatives. It is being run by crazy, brutal, cruel RADICALS.
How I hope that Bruce is right. He has been one of my heroes, and not just for his music. He knows that the land belongs to the people. Those who are raping the land are the Trojan Horse traitors. The country has been turned into a freak show and a caricature of the founders image of a just and fair society. Sadly, the road we are on and the road behind us is a road to ruin that must be recognized as such and redirected toward sanity. The propaganda has turned too many into hateful hypocrites. The barons of old wanted to restrict the kings power. Half of the barons of today (republican leaders) have signed on to the evil wannabe king who recognizes no law, obligation, tradition, promise or commandment. They think that he will share the power with them. Who will rebel and lead us out of this wilderness. All of us, all the time, everywhere - all at once.
I don't think, JD, they think "that he will share the power with them."
Sufficient for them, rather, just being in office, enjoying their sinecures, perks, free health insurance for life, staffs paid for by the people, and having hordes of reporters always rushing up to them to get their opinion. Ego trips only. Most do nada for the public. All MAGA is illiterate in humanities, history, geography, constitutional decency. Everything for the rancid, hate-filled culture wars to keep pleasing most corrupted, most demagogue cult leader.
A deep, deep poison we inhabit, JD -- all the world's dictators, oligarchs, and assorted sordid thugs gleeful at the Manchurian Candidate in service to them and to his own vulgarity.
The “Manchurian Candidate” he is indeed. When I saw that movie, it made my blood run cold. And now we are in the cast, as extras while the horror show plays out. Plot twist, please…
Yesterday’s argument did not get to the fundamental question of whether Trump’s EO on birthright citizenship violates the 14th Amendment. The case before them focused only on the nationwide injunction issue. Hard to say how the justices will rule on the injunctions, but several noted that judges appointed by Presidents across the ideological spectrum have repeatedly ruled against Trump on the birthright question itself.
Always good to be good cautious 🎶caution breaks from the wind🎶 but, I listened to the oral arguments on a LIVE chat at SCOTUSblog along with the founder, AMY HOWE.
It is not a dream and we will not have wait lot late July or early August for a majority opinion. A positive 5-4, 6-3 or even a 7-2 is possible
It should be 9-0; 7-0 with abstentions. If there are dissenting opinions, they better write them up. We need to know what the hell they are thinking and what garbage they are using for reasoning.
Woody was a man displaced by the Dust Bowl period and ended up in California getting a job singing at LA radio station. He was also a champion of the Labor movement. The sticker came off a lathe in a wartime machine shop and he put it on his guitar, an old Gibson acoustic gut string, I believe.
America is still losing the most basic rights inherited from long ago, as Heather cites today.
How did we lose so many tens of millions of Americans?
Why do we have triumphant now the tens of millions just full-on white supremacists eager to join the cult, the joy-to-be-hating immigrants, the scorn of any and all weak and in need of all those leaching-sucking-diversity-equity-inclusion-expensive-bureaucratic-excessive government programs?
Joan Didion raises this Q as she ends part three of “Where I Was From” (2003). There she cites herself, sees herself in her naïve younger days as also part of some callous thinking when, younger, she full-on accepted many myths of the California it pleased almost all then and there to take for granted.
Don’t slow down for the weak. Or, as she put it for another Californian, “’Don’t worry about it’” as Patricia Hearst “recalled having told herself during the time she was locked in a closet by her kidnappers. ‘Don’t examine your feelings. Never examine your feelings – they’re no help at all.’”
How did Americans so all near-totally fall for the same conceits? – as when the testers told all schools: Don’t write essays (unless machine gradable by test computers) – don’t touch any humanities. Just get the highest test numbers you can. And eff everyone and anyone not getting such numbers.
Cult nuts consign their feelings to others and follow like sheep to the slaughter. Maybe that was Hearst’s survival mechanism during a helpless period, but we are not helpless, just overwhelmed. Fox and clones have done this while our MSM has focused on profits. I can imagine WWWD (what would Walter have done). Told the truth. And he did. Truth tellers, time to have the guts of the barons of old.
Yesterday, MSNBC aired the oral arguments of the lower court's ability to put a national injunction based on the birthright citizen's cases multiple decisions. Any attempt I make to repeat any of the supreme courts comments would detract from the actual discussion so here is a link if you are interested- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzn0eQYeTSQ
It's over 4 hours, but almost every Justice asks some excellent questions or makes some valid points.
If lower court judges are not allowed to issue national injunctions, then a President can theoretically order all Americans to turn in all of their guns and no one can prevent it, not even SCOTUS.
Except, during the time I was tuned in, Thomas uttered nary a peep. Obvious he'll vote exactly as he's paid to vote. Kavanaugh was equally treasonous. In what should be a slam-dunk 9-0 vote, I wager a 6-3, or possibly 5-4. How far we've fallen.
100%! Just sad, how blatantly corrupt at least 3, and likely 4, truly are. Seems my grandson has a better grasp of our Constitution than they do. And he's 12!
Thanks, Gary. I listened to some of it. I was struck by how all pervasive the "national injunction" issue is. But it is hardly a new controversy.
The anti abortion Nazis shop for a judge to prevent basic healthcare for pregnant women. And while the absurd ruling from a Neanderthal judge in Texas is being appealed, women can die.
And yet, here we are hoping that a judge (anywhere) will block the kidnapping of people by our own government.
All that aside, I am wicked pissed that this court didn't dismiss the basic issue that was presented to the court. Birthright citizenship is established. There is no way to tweak it or twist it for exceptions. SCOTUS should have slapped down any challenge to it.
Agreed, Bill. Should have been 9-0 immediately. Should be 9-0 when the ruling is issued, which should be as soon as the gavel falls on the hearing (or however they end the arguments sections). The only writing need be the text of Amendments 5 and 14. The garbage of saying (paraphrased here) "Well, when we want something unpopular (i.e. banning abortion, abortion drugs, abortion access) one right-minded judge) it's nation wide, but when it is this pesky due process thing that is barely understood, then it should never be nation wide" is phenomenal.
It is in the bloody constitution, for pity's sake. <please note no profanity>
She was married to John Gregory Dunne, and they scripted many movies together. Is there one in particular by them or about them, or about her, you're thinking of?
This is a piece of great beauty and power and links us to our deep past when we established the Law of the People, our honor to that Law, and of its upholding through centuries of practice. The GOP/MAGA, 6 of the SCOTII, many of the chief Industrialists of this country, and the Trump Administration, and their voters/consumers, as the cruel and unrighteous Kings of old in the UK, are seeking to destroy that Law and replace it with the whims of a King. The People have said NO to this for centuries in the UK and here in what became the USA. We say no to it now. But, half of people living in this country say yes, get rid of the Law. Let the whims of Kings rule us, not the Law. Terrible history tells us why this does not work and what to expect of countries where one man rules over all others. Trump and crew want us to be Russia and China now. They want to destroy the work of centuries of our ancestors in the Uk and the USA. What are we to do about the half of us who want to return to The Terror and abandon the Law, as the men of the old South did with their Christian Nationalism, Slavery, and the rule of a few elite white men? This is our only real question now. Half of us refuse to return to The Terror and the abuses of such a group. Lincoln tried to save these men from themselves, and we see that he failed, not because of him, but because of the old ways in the old South that caused our Civil War, and that have caused the many cruelties of Jim Crow, the Ku Klux Klan, the fight to destroy Civil Rights in the USA, and now the Trump group's attempt to return us to the ways of the old South, the Terror, and the whims of a few elite white men. Our answer is still no, and we will proceed accordingly. We have the courage of the ages on our side, we have its example, and we must do whatever is necessary. Indeed, we are doing it every day!
Thank you for every well placed word...our honor and response regarding that Law...a law that keeps us from self destruction.
We are a wild and crazy and wonderful group of gifted and caring human beings. Are we going to allow a want-a-be king and his minions to take over OUR country???
"we have the courage of the ages on our side"...let's live it...let's prove it!!!! EVERY DAY...in some way!!!
All due respect, I'm wondering if describing this as a "white man" issue is a mistake. There are plenty of women and people of color in MAGA and Trump's administration. Is the left stuck in this post-modernist thinking? Is the Trump administration really the acting on the whims of a few white elites, or more a reaction to globalization? Where we may see globalization as a positive for a host of reasons, including a natural evolution of the cooperation of the human race, they see it as a threat?
Watch everything at the Archives and the Library of Congress very carefully. Those are official documents of our country and they are no longer in good hands.
The Boss sticks it to the tosser. With great deal of plutocratic help, Trump succeeds as a figurehead demagogue; but he is really a pretty pathetic individual.
I am near Manchester now for a heartbreaking loss. It cheers me to think of Bruce Springsteen’s words yesterday. Thank you, Heather, for the Magna Carta history! The first president of Harvard was born in a country house across the fields from where I am, interestingly.
Once again your knowledge and comprehension prove invaluable to defending the keys to our nation's promise - the keys to help guide us to a more just and open society.
We can only hope Springsteen is right - that we will survive as a true democracy. For now, skepticism reigns.
We had best make good his hope by working tirelessly and intelligently to make sure we do survive as a democracy. Many of us are rightly enraged, but risk our anger being sidelined, re-channeled into familiar patterns of ineffectiveness. Some of us are old enough to have seen the circular firing squad many times before. It never ends well.
Right now, the DNC is engaging in a fight to squelch David Hogg because he's lost patience with those who don't recognize that change starts from within, not from without. But a Democratic Party that refuses to change is a Democratic Party that continues to lose. Why attack your own children because they see things you don't (or won't), and are willing to do the tough work to make it happen? I'm 70 and tired of seeing the same-old, same-old, take us nowhere.
There's a fierce urgency of now that Hogg, Pete Buttigieg, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Jasmine Crockett and others seem to get in ways the old Party stalwarts really don't. That almost all of these voices happen to be young, or speaking from outside the tent, rather than from within it, tells us something. So let's be brave and make good Springsteen's hope by empowering those voices who speak for our future more than the past, otherwise King John will just keep right on winning.
I'm reminded of the line in Dylan's Ballad of a Thin Man - 'Cause something is happening, but you don't know what it is, do you Mr. Jones?'
We need Hogg, Buttigieg, AOC, Crockett and the other young ones. So another bit of Dylan from The Times They Are A-Changin':
Your old road is rapidly agin'
Please get out of the new one
If you can't lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin'
Dylan's intro to a performance at Carnegie Hall of "Hard Rain's Gonna Fall", he says, the title's words mean that **something's about to happen**.
Not with fool Chuck Schumer still hanging on.
Phil Balla, I do not think Chuck Schumer is a “fool.” His assignment is a nightmare and he has kept democratic norms alive as well as anyone could have. I agree with his not turning the senate over to DT’s minions.
He could have called the enforcement vote on insurrection, Virginia.
When he was Senate Majority Leader -- just a few months ago -- a vote either clearing Trump of insurrection, or enforcing Article 14, Section Three, would have failed to get the 2/3 necessary to clear him of his Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection. He'd have been forbidden from any U.S. public office. Automatic. Per the Constitution, which not even the Supreme Court could touch.
I agree Virginia, Schumer is not a fool. But he is wrong. He has been a great strategist in the past. But he has allowed himself to be outflanked. Unfortunately, we cannot crawl into his head to see where he thinks this will go. It decidedly appears to be nowhere.
There are at least two monumental errors the Democratic Party has made and these clearly redound to Senator Schumer and the other senior leaders of the party.
First, they have, as all good stewards of leadership are obliged to do, failed to replace themselves by bringing along and positioning those who should now be the functioning leadership of the Party. Instead, the current leadership has diminished them, sidelined them, ignored them, and all but discredited them.
Second, they agreed to a Biden second term. How out of touch with the realities of a US Presidential election can a party be? Finally, and way too late it dawns on them. “What were we thinking?” Fact is, they weren’t. Kamala Harris would likely have won had she had a full campaign and the years of solid preparation that precede it. Didn’t happen.
Whether Schumer is a fool or not is moot. The bus has left the station and we’re all definitely on the wrong one.
If Schumer weren’t hanging on you would be talking to yourself. Must we all March in lockstep like Republicans and you yourself prefer ? So the government shuts down , the Democrats get blamed and what do you do for a second act?
I agree that David Hogg is a force for good, but to start an internecine war within the Democratic Party is a mistake. The Democratic Party needs to be expanding, not imploding.
I devoutly hope that a phoenix will arise from the ashes.
Lead, follow, or get out of the way.
I agree, we need a phoenix, so to speak. Below is the letter that I've sent today to Representatives Crockett and Ocasio-Cortez and Senators Sanders and Shiff:
I know this: I’m preaching to the choir. The Congressional Republicans, to continue the tax breaks passed in Trump's first term, want to effect at least $880 billion in tax cuts, largely to Medicaid, to help cover the cost of $4.5 trillion in tax cuts for the wealthy. The 2017 tax bill helped produce a $8.2 trillion increase in the national debt, a record. The national debt is now more than $37 trillion. Why does the size of the national debt matter? To the 900,000 people in the United States who have a net worth of more than $10 million and the 902 billionaires, it makes no difference. But, if you are 30, 40, 50 or 60, it is devastating. It will be your responsibility to pay the interest and on this debt. I have no idea how we can begin paying down the principal when massive tax cuts are passed to benefit the wealthy.
The U.S. population is now 340 million. So, what percentage of the population do these proposed tax cuts benefit? It is 1/4 of 1%, i.e., 0.24%. How many Americans are shafted by this tax bill? 339,000,000. In other words, the entire nation - except for those with net worths in excess of $10 million.
If the U.S. population were only 3.4 million people, there wouldn't be any billionaires and perhaps very few with a net worth of $10 million. But, we are a nation of 340 million people and because of us, we have almost one million very wealthy people. They owe us. They wouldn't be, couldn't be, wealthy without us. So, what to do? Vote the Republicans out of office. Reinstall the New Deal.
West best regards,
RICHARD R. SUTHERLAND, J.D., Ph.D.
Harvard ’73 (4 year U.S. Army veteran)
PS: I think that it is a point that can get us somewhere – the wealthy absolutely could not be wealthy without the general population. The greed is palpable. It's cruel and heartless. I think that the dependency of the wealthy on the great mass body politic has not been successfully or adequately promulgated. We aren't asking for a handout. We're demanding what we've earned.
I watched Senator Sanders' interview on Colbert last night. He definitely did not pull any punches. It's a shame he's not forty years younger.
Amen and thank you, Richard Sutherland. I find it difficult to believe that some percentage of these billionaires would not support the 95%!tax rate that built ships and planes and then supported the rebuilding of Europe (today’s Ukraine). If Bruce is right—and I think he is (at 91, remembering WWII, I am writing a minimum of 10 GOTV postcards a day, 7 days a week and shilling for the stamps to mail them and hoping for Social Security to continue so I can), the national debt will NOT be increased by this preposterous tax cut!
"86-47"
I simply cannot digest that this power-grab is made unapologetically in broad daylight! I blame Congress more than this stupid administration for refusing to stop it....
Kinda harsh alternatives though, the simple two options, lead or follow. I understand anger and overstatement. I routinely entertain both. If there are a hundred ways to lead, there must be thousands of ways to follow.
Pete
AOC
I want to see young people, but I also don't want to see the Democratic party succumb to the same infighting at the GOP.
Of late, Tennessee Brando has been preaching a line we should all take to heart. He keeps saying that we don't need to agree 100% with a particular candidate for them to win our vote. It's better to have a candidate that we agree 80% with, than end up with one we disagree 100% with.
I like, “don’t let the perfect get in the way of the better.” Or, perfect is the enemy of good.
Miselle, Very good point!
A very wise thought. By not expanding the tent in this crises we are in is very wrong.
Expanding first requires knowing who you are and what your mission is
Lends familiar credence to part of the problems plaguing politics, thank you, lauriemcf. There is indeed new ideas, putting guardrails is a process before riding those roads every ‘engineer’ OR ,in this case, President should know, destroying what’s working w/o back up is no plan at all ..but that is far too obviously an ongoing MO defying safety ,judges , and logic.
I just saw A Complete Unknown! And loved it .
“Like a Rolling Stone “
"86-47"
Yes, and "from outside the tent" are journalists who have left CNN and MSNBC, as well as lawyers and others who have left government positions and are now speaking freely, often with each other, on Substack. Staying informed is time-consuming and character-building. Life-changing is appropriate, this I know (even when I don't exactly know how to be part of solutions in significant ways).
And prominently with WAPO refugees creating a new robust Platform, The Contrarian.
Bryan, I paid for the first month of The Contrarian and they blew up my inbox with individual stories. I do not have the capacity to care about everything, all the time. I had to unsubscribe. They're now distributing "digests" which reduce the number of "dings" from one's inbox, but in my opinion, the linear-format of Substack is the wrong platform for their content. I wish Jen and Norm the best, but they need to move to an actual, dedicated website in a magazine format where readers can scan headlines across the page and read the stories that interest them.
Great idea, Dale. I want to support them, but when I go for 8 hours away from email and end up with 200+ unread, I have got to do something. Ain't gonna unsubscribe from Life is Good shirts, however...
My concern was being fed a steady stream of news that would overwhelm me and perhaps create a depressive state. After quiting WaPo I signed up for the Contrarian - but only the free copy - I am glad I can read it daily and feel bad about not joining but my sanity required discipline. You can read reports for 12 hours a day and not truly be totally informed. The natural world calls me too ..for as long as we have one.
Dale, I did the same - subscribed to The Contrarian when Jen & Norm announced but unsubscribed after a month of being bombarded. It was way too much info to digest.
I agree. I feel awful doing it, but I simply must limit my media consumption for my own sanity.
I know where the delete button is and use it, as well as unsubscribe from some Substacks after initial infatuations. I've wavered with the Left Hook and keep on as a paid subscriber because I appreciate the networks I'm being fed from -- people I would otherwise know nothing about.
My Contrarian inbox has calmed down (a bit). The Contrarian afternoon summary allows a Reader a small headline then click if you wish to go DEEPER. I click on about 1 of six afternoon articles.
PAYDIRT: I click on any NORM EISEN interviews.
Who will publish “The Contrarian”? Who will back it? Great idea. Dale Rowett, can you start the movement?
Virginia, Norm is already the publisher, and Jen is the editor in chief.
Part of my client services is building websites. However, to build a website of the required scale and functionality would require a staff of many. I don't want to hire a staff.
I suspect Norm and Jen move in moneyed circles, members of which would be glad to invest.
Currently, they have more than 10,000 paid subscribers and more than 564,000 free subscribers. If they could convert just a fifth of their free subscribers to paid, they would generate about $8 million in revenue. Even if they take generous salaries, a few million dollars should be enough to fund a proper website startup.
Hear, hear. Exactly my critique and experience, Dale. Jen, Norm et al are just flooding the zone no differently in effect (even while surely in veracity of content) than the MAGA machine.
Bryan, we are subscribed to that.
A mistake campaigns can make is spending too much time talking to each other about what the opponent is doing. Yes, talk to make plan, but then get out there and talk to the public over and over!
Indeed Joan, Indeed…. And thanks! To those who “stay” as well as to those who “left”…
Speak up! And then you are a part of this movement. If you have ever called a senator or congress person, sent an email or postcard to let your representatives know what you think of something they are doing or not doing, you are part of movement. If you go to local meetings for your city or school district, if you participate in anyway in your local government, you are part of the movement. Be patient and do what you can, when you can with whatever you have to work with. You are not alone. We are in this together. We are rising from the ground up!
"Staying informed is time-consuming and character-building."
I can attest to the time-consuming part. I can only hope there's truth to be realized in the character-building part.
It's Come to This,
I am so grateful for the voices mentioned in your comment, who are fighting for our freedoms but I also see older citizens marching or gathering and holding signs..."NO KINGS" ...for example....at each of the gatherings near my home which my husband and I attend and will continue to attend! I see families...I see persons of color gathering ...all of us together...talking, enjoying being together....standing up for this country we love....standing up for the future of our children and grandchildren.
Springsteens' voice....the voices of Hogg, Buttigieg, Ocasio-Cortez, Crockett, Raskin, and others....THANK YOU!!!! We are in this together!
Our neighbors who are no longer young went to their first protest earlier this year. They had lots of pics and I saw people of all ages protesting. I do love it when pols like Crockett hold death star's minions' feet to the fire. I even enjoyed and I can't remember who did this, the zing about the Gnome's costume parade.
A friend and I were at the Colorado State Capital in Denver on April 5th and April 19th! I'm 74, my friend is 78. We're going to the NO KINGS rally on June 14th. My husband will join us.
Exactly right. The future and the survival of Democracy here lies with those brave, young voices. As an elder who has been around long enough to witness many of the changes the country has gone through for the GOOD of it's citizens, as well as the decline in the urgency and seriousness of the government to block the oligarchical rise, I stand with those young, urgent voices and will support, protect and join them in their serious work to save this great Democracy. I will stay outspoken and encourage everyone I meet to plainly see what's happening now, and how to fight against it taking away the free future that belongs to them.
Now is the time to be fiercely urgent, get in the way of those who are comfortably ignoring the danger at hand, and replace those in government who will not act to bring us into a fair and thriving future.
John Lewis was 25 on “Bloody Sunday” when he got into “good trouble.” His skull was fractured by police as he was leading the march across the Edmund Pettis Bridge. I am 71. I say bring on the young people. I am tired of Chuck Schumer, et al. Schumer’s time is done. He should get out of the way.
JennSH, you and I are exactly the same age, and I am disgusted with Schumer and his ilk. "Strongly worded letters" are quaint, easily ignored and absolutely useless in this modern world.
We need more Pete Buttigieges with the courage to venture into "enemy territory" and make the case for democracy in a plainspoken, intelligent, non-confrontational manner.
We need more AOC's and David Hoggs, who've embraced the issues upon which our future depends and have the courage and relentless conviction to stand up against the tide of "we've always done it that way."
We need more Jasmine Crocketts who have the education and experience to know what they're talking about, but with the in-your-face chutzpah to speak the truth to fools who are in government for the wrong reasons.
The only kinds of elders we need are those like Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren who still have plenty of fight left in them and are willing to partner with the younger generation.
Chuckles needs to resign and go home.
Who would replace him? As a Democratic Senator, who will get the votes? IF AOC can carry it off, more power to her. Jasmine Crockett would be my preference, but in racist America, how do we elect Jasmine AND Kamala? Let’s face it: only those who know the underside of America intimately can save US from ourselves. Are we ready to go to work for the Kamalas and the Jasmines to keep our democracy? I’m working on it through TonyTheDemocrat. Join me if you can. The only skill required is one from early childhood: printing legibly. (As many of you know, cursive has gone out with too many books.)
Example for the questioners: Gina Ortiz Jones, former Air Force General, running for mayor of San Antonio, TX. I lived there for six years when Texas was purple. My congressman was Henry B. Gonzales, affectionately known as “Henry B.” I hope Gina Ortiz Jones will be elected and equally popular in this formidable American city in a state gone blind. So I’m writing as many postcards daily for her as wrist, arm, and hand can manage, while staying in shape for the next batch.
talk to all the young (and old) people you know, encourage them to vote. Stress how important their vote/voice is, and use examples of the current mess to show them how important it is.
And encourage them to run for office if it's a good fit.
And while you are at it - listen to what they believe and why. I find my grandchildren are influenced by "others" who spew falsehoods. They did not vote for Trump, but they also believe Biden did nothing in office! It takes a few minutes to share the truth with actual facts.
Yes, the young people - Alexandria and Jasmine, for two. David Hogg needs to go after Republicans instead of Democrats. Pete is bright and sharp, but are enough voters ready for an elected national leader who is gay? I wish they were but this is no time to be taking chances. Who else? Gavin Newsom could be our next presidential candidate. Chuck Shumer was in a "Catch 22." He couldn't win for losing. I think that Shumer did the right thing. To not vote for the Continuing Resolution would have opened the door for Trump to run more amok.
I do agree with you about the budget. It was a dog's breakfast of a bill the likes of which we've not really seen before this. He did the right, but deeply unpopular thing. But as far as his "strongly worded letter" to Republicans goes, it's almost as useful as Susan Collins's "concern."
To your list of bright, young, vibrant Democrats I would add IL Gov JB Pritzker. Not exactly young, but with a real record of accomplishment, and he knows how to connect with main street folks and their issues.
Yes, enough with the nesting.
Well said. I too stand with the young courageously holding truth to power.
We are in this together! My granddaughters are too young to understand what is going on now. When they are old enough to vote, I want them to know that Nana did all she could to protect our democracy for them and their generation.
Those whose stand is No Stand, are burying their heads in sand.
Old disgusted white guy here. I feel your frustration. I do think there are Democratic "elders" who should step aside in SAFE districts. Time to pass the torch, for sure.
But we need a majority of Democrats. Not just Democrats that support our favorite topics. So what will the litmus test be? Who will administer the test?
Here's my qualifying exam:
1. Believes that humans are accelerating a Climate Catastrophe.
2. Believes in the rule of law and follows the Constitution.
3. Believes in ECONOMIC JUSTICE. Too many poor people. Two people working full time (often at more than one job each) shouldn't have to worry about housing, clean water, food security, healthcare or education. Too much money in the hands of just a few oligarchs.
Beyond that, we can have all manner of debate on hundreds of legitimate topics - after we have won. If David Hogg is threatening to primary for reasons of age only, he is being a self absorbed age bigot. The DNC is there to support Democrats for the win - to put us back in power! If Hogg wants to run an organization dedicated to a generational power shift, cool. But that is NOT his job as a DNC vice chair.
That being said, I am beyond angry at some of our Democratic leaders who voted for certain cabinet members or some funding bills. But if they are the right candidates in 2026 to assure us a win, we NEED them.
Senator Chris Murphy has been talking about a BIG DEMOCRATIC TENT for months. The center pole is Economic Justice. A populism that is really for every American who has been cheated of resources as billionaires accumulate more and more and more.
Ya don't get to play in the World Series unless you win in the playoffs.
All that being said, AOC, Buttigieg and Crockett are among my heroes. Add in Raskin, Booker, Warren, Sanders and Stansbury. There are others. Notice the age range.
Bill, from what I have read, Hogg doesn't want to primary incumbents based merely on age; he wants to primary those who are content with the status quo and have no fight left in them. Coincidentally, complacency often accompanies advanced age.
If that is the case, fine. But I would focus on an incumbent voting record. Not his style or lack of loudness.
That being said, I completely disagree that complacency often accompanies advanced age. Witness Heather's audience. Witness Bernie Sanders. Witness this 78 year old person in a constant state of outrage.
And witness all the young white men who didn't vote for Harris or didn't even vote.
IMHO, it isn't about age. It's about values and action.
Peace and Good Trouble!
Bill, I agree as an eighty-two year old. From the time I witnessed racial bias in Chicago at about age 7 to the present, I have never been complacent. I have been pragmatic and held my nose and voted for a few people because they were better than their R opponents, but not a preference. If you are in the minority, you have a different kind of fight. I spend a lot of time in 2016 talking bout the Supreme Court and here we are. I guess i should be glad that the Handmaiden seems to understand.
Excellent comment, Michele! Sounds like we witnessed similar events as PRE-BOOMERS (known as the Silent Generation). Silent - HA!! I was marching in downtown Chicago at the 1968 Democratic National Convention. (No, I wasn’t one of the Chicago 7, but I was there - makin’ noise.) I’m still here makin’ noise (and pancakes for my grandkids) who are getting a glimpse of my views on life today. I will NOT be kicked to the curb or the sidelines or the bleachers. I VOTE! I communicate with my representatives! I might be part of the Silent Generation, but I ain’t gonna be silent, AND I don’t mind if some members of my generation are still active in the decision making of our government.
My school friend's porch in Melrose MA 1962 or 3, was firebombed because her Dad had hired a black man @ his construction company. I still feel the anger @ the stupid reasons for it happening. I, also, have never been complacent & have voted for 'the best' in an election.
Bill, that's why I carefully wrote "complacency OFTEN accompanies advanced age."
I think we in Heather's audience are energetic and still kicking (ass). But we are a minority. When I look around at those my age in my community, the overwhelming majority would rather rock on the porch or take a nap.
And yes, the young white men in my community would rather be fondling a rifle in the "deer woods."
I don’t know if you consider 80 to be “advanced age,” but I don’t rock on my porch and/or take naps. I am part of Heather’s audience and am enjoying kicking ass - no parentheses.
Actually we have little power. We need to do jujitsu and co-opt Republicans.
.
Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway
Don't block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
The battle outside ragin'
Will soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'
.
We have to be grateful that they are at each other's throats over budget reconciliation and take advantage of the situation. It oinly takes a few of them to get to the Jerry Weiss scenario. https://jerryweiss.substack.com/
Even the dominionist theocrat MAGAT Hawley R. Mo is warning;
“If Republicans want to be a working-class party — if we want to be a majority party — we must ignore calls to cut Medicaid and start delivering on America’s promise for America’s working people,” Hawley wrote.
Hawley is saying what a lot of MAGAs are thinking. Voting for a reduction in Medicaid and SNAP benefits is political suicide. There are a few insane ideologues like Chip Roy who are delusional enough to think his constituents want this.
Maybe there will be a bill from the Senate that hurts less. But sooner or later the MAGAs will feel the wrath of the people they hurt.
The Winds of Change are blowing hard....
All politics is local.
I live in a blue county in a red state that has rejected Medicaid expansion. As I said yesterday, must consider the ripple effect on medical providerrs and vendors. E.G. The highest rate of Obamacare use in the US of A. https://www.politico.com/story/2015/06/obamacare-hialeah-florida-enrollment-118578
The congressman for that area is MAGAT Mario Diaz Balart, whose brother Jose is a talking head on NBC, MSNBC, and Telemundo. His late older brother, Lincoln, was also a member of Congress. The law school at Florida International Univerrsity is the Diaz Balart School of Law. Despite the "international" aspect, FIU has been the subject of controversy regarding its partnership with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), specifically under the 287(g) program. This program allows local law enforcement officers, including FIU police officers, to enforce immigration laws, leading to concerns about potential deportations and visa revocations, particularly for international students.
Mario has sold his soul.
Mario's district has the highest saturation of Venezuelans in the country. As a Cuban American, he votes to support elimination of Cuban Humanitarian visas and votes to bar the more than 100,000 Cubans at the border.
The district also has many Canadian Americans and Hatian Americans.
Maybe if they picket, sit in, he'll see the light.
We have 2 more House members just like Mario.
For us LFAA "bookclub" readers, may I suggest "The Hospital: Life, Death and Dollars in a Small American Town" by Brian Alexander.
I worked 40+ years in urban major medical centers, and they had struggles enough. Reading this book was incredibly disheartening. When I call Congress, I have mentioned that Medicaid will shutter rural hospitals, as people WILL die because of it.
From my hospital lab experience, I have vowed to never live more than 30 minutes from a medical center that can quickly treat a stroke.
I agree on the Democratic Party focus must stay on the people issues and use the examples of the prices we pay for MAGA results to invite wide support.
Just the example of gynecologists absence in red states and counties should create repugnance by all ages.
In fact age must not become a focus. Bernie and AOC appearing together refute age as a factor. The careful wisdom of Schumer matched with the incredible insights of Crocket are what the future should be rather than the robotic MAGA March to serve chaos.
I think that is a critical distinction --- passing the torch in safe districts. I don't believe Hogg is just trying to be a jerk, but to get an organization frightened of change to move forward. If his election was illegitimate (as some others have said), it begs the question: why are we tripping over our own shoelaces rather than moving forward?
BOOKER VOTED AYE 5 TIMES FOR TRUMP'S CABINET. 3 TIMES HE DID NOT BOTHER TO VOTE.
Which I disagree with! But he is also among our brightest and most eloquent.
I HATE that he made those votes. But my litmus test allows for disagreement. And Booker is on the correct side for climate, rule of law and the oligarchs.
As I posted above, I paraphrase Tennessee Brando who says we all need to unite around candidates we can support 80% of the time, or we end up with ones we disagree with 100%.
Bill, nicely put.
The discovery that Harvard is in possession of the original Magna Carta is fortuitous and timely. As I wrote on Heather's May 9 post, it has been said that Trump has brought us back 250 years to pre-revolutionary times. We now see that he has in fact brought us back 811 years, to before the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215. His next executive order may be that we all need to go back to living in caves.
Be careful for what you wish (for).
King John went to war against the French after claims that his nephew should be king. John opposed the church, ordered his nephew's death, and turned the nobles against himself. In the end, John died from poison, the French retreated, and his son, Henry III, became king.
AI: Henry III (1 October 1207 — 16 November 1272), also known as Henry of Winchester and nicknamed the Pious, the Wise and later the Saint. was the King of England from 1216 until his death in 1272.
Henry III was assassinated because of a complex interplay of factors, primarily rooted in the French Wars of Religion and his own actions, including the assassination of the Duke of Guise. A Catholic fanatic, Jacques Clément, saw Henry III as a traitor to the Catholic cause and believed he was encouraging Protestantism. Clément's actions were also influenced by the Catholic League, who saw Henry as a threat to their power and the Catholic faith.
Whether Henry III was the worst king in British history is debatable, but he is certainly considered one of the most unsuccessful medieval monarchs. His long reign (1216-1272) was marked by political instability, financial mismanagement, and ultimately, a civil war, according to HistoryExtra.
Here's why Henry III's reign is often viewed negatively:
1. Financial Incompetence and Extravagance:
Henry was known for his extravagant spending and poor financial management, which led to a constantly depleted treasury.
His attempts to finance costly projects, such as the failed Sicilian venture, further burdened the kingdom and angered the barons.
2. Political Weakness and Loss of Control:
Henry's reign was characterized by a struggle for power between the king and the barons, who were increasingly frustrated by his autocratic style.
He alienated many powerful nobles through his favoritism and refusal to negotiate, notes HistoryExtra.
His poor judgment and inability to maintain control ultimately led to the Second Barons' War (1264-1267).
3. Military Failures:
Henry's foreign policy was largely unsuccessful, and his military campaigns often ended in defeat or embarrassment.
The disastrous Sicilian adventure, in particular, demonstrated his poor strategic thinking and wasted vast sums of money.
4. The Second Barons' War and its Aftermath:
The barons, led by Simon de Montfort, rose up against Henry, forcing him to relinquish power and accept a council to govern alongside him.
While Henry eventually regained his throne with the help of his son, the future Edward I, the war significantly weakened his authority and damaged his reputation.
In Conclusion:
While Henry III was not necessarily the most hated English monarch, his reign was certainly one of the least successful
Daniel. I do love English history. Thank you for the details on John and Henry III. Interesting that Lackland finally ends up as king and provokes the Magna Carta.
Thank YOU…. History lesson from Heather Cox Richardson again! And comments by “We the People”…. Bruce, Pete, David, Alexandria, Jasmine, ‘It’s come to this”…
At 89…. YES, We Can, and YES, WE WILL!
Please stop blaming the Democratic Party for what is happening (or not happening)!
Put your energy into showing up at protests and standouts and doing whatever you can to demonstrate your frustration- be one of the voices speaking for our future - and put your care into action!!!
I understand what you're saying but I fear going to the extreme and getting rid of all the 'old' reps just because they're 'old'. It might cause us to lose some good reps who have experience and knowledge to pass on to the youngers. Just a thought.
The DNC is doing this because there was a procedural mistake on the ballot which made it difficult for women to have a chance to be elected as Vice Chairs. A woman who ran for VC challenged it. It has nothing to do with David wanting to replace incumbents. However David is lying and saying that the vote is retaliation. This procedural mistake happened before David announced his plan to replace incumbents.
And here are the Dems taking up precious time and resources feuding with each other while the ship lists.
These old dinosaurs need to retire or be voted out so young people with fresh ideas and energy can come in and remake the democrat party. The fact that they lost the last election and got us into this mess is proof that they are failures. Time to go Schumer, Pelosi and others...Bernie should have been allowed to run - perhaps we wouldn't be here now!
Yes, Prof. It’s Come to This, I also hope that Springsteen’s Hope succeeds, BUT My Hope is that we can succeed by building a Big Tent that INCLUDES your “old Party stalwarts” that you (and others) seem to want to kick to the curb. I am not in favor of a “kick ‘em to the curb” approach to overturning the MAGA regime. We are in this TOGETHER.
Papa, I don't think anyone is recommending a “kick ‘em to the curb” approach. The curb is out in the parking lot and nobody cares about that right now. What many of us are recommending is that if the team players are too tired, too enamored with an obsolete playbook, or too timid, then they should be sent to the sidelines with the other cheerleaders, or to the bleachers with other cheering parents. This would create openings for younger, stronger, fierce players who want to play the game hard, to win.
OK, not the “curb” just the “sidelines”…. Same difference. TOGETHER is my approach. EQUALITY is my desire.
Papa, I submit that cheerleaders and cheering parents play a vital role in boosting team spirit, and in their capacities, they are still TOGETHER with the players, as part of the team effort. But if they don't have the energy, skill or strength to play on the field, they cannot be equal. It's a life-and-death competition, not a book club.
Your divisive and discriminatory comments about the abilities of the elderly play right into Trump’s playbook. Perhaps I am biased in favor of the elderly….?
We need all of us “on the field,” Dale. There are some tremendous skills in the possession of the older team members. Yes, we need to create openings and opportunities for the less experienced players.
Thank you for expressing so eloquently what I have been thinking and feeling since Reagan was elected president. I am 76 years old and am disgusted with the disorganized hand wringing and pontificating of our Democratic Party. When Donald Trump began planting doubts about President Obama’s being born in the USA and Obama finally released his birth certificate, that was the year in the curtain. The Democrats and honorable Republicans at that time should have moved swiftly and forcefully to hold Trump accountable. Any ten year old boy or girl could have dealt with him more effectively.
Thank you for this comment. Courage is required as never before.
The new guard within the Democratic Party is broad enough to encompass views that are anathema to a majority of Americans, if only because the Republican messaging machine defines the Democrats for them. So, on the one hand, the new guard needs to be a greater part of the leadership of the Democratic Party. However, the old guard succeeded in leading and finally brought us President Biden. Their failure was not actively mentoring non-traditional leaders who speak well to Americans. The new guard will take over by simple persistence, but it would do well to learn from the Bidens, Pelosi, and Schumers of the old guard, lest the new Democratic Party keeps pissing off the average American.
Keep the fuck8ng center, I say.
Right on, It’s Come to this. I am your age exactly and we need the young, energetic, passionate folks.
Skepticism that is not cynicism questions everything, and questioning everything, for and against, requires an open mind; though not an empty one; evidence and logic makes some judgements far more reliable than others.
And evidence points to a genuine tyranny doing it's damnedest to undo the American republic and replace it with an autocrat, which is not a novel turn of events in history and around the world as a whole. Will that effort succeed? It very well may, and it also may not. It likely depends on the degree of solidarity that can be raised by the resistance.
A couple of days ago there was an opinion piece in the New York Times about three Yale professors who study totalitarianism are leaving for the University of Toronto. They believe that they will be better placed there to organise resistance to Trump. Marci Shore, one of the professors, says that the lesson from history is that the sooner you get out the better. I found this extremely depressing especially as one of the professors was Timothy Snyder. If they're afraid, everyone who want to resist Trump should be also.
I read this also and had the same reaction - if Snyder and Shore, and the other professor are going -- then we may be in an even hotter mess than I had grasped.
The intelligentsia is one of the first groups to be rounded up by the totalitarian regimes. Those professors are prominent in their field and research. Lectures, papers, published books that might even make them a target for the trump regime.
Timothy Snyder has even gone into Ukraine quite a few times, all the way to Zaporizhzhya on the front line a couple of months back. I think he knows that he has to be careful now. I don’t fault him for taking precautions. Canada seems like a very nice place to stay for a while, much better than some cecot detention center.
He will be able to communicate from Canada what he could not from within a US institution. He would draw more attacks not only to himself and family but to that institution. (Not sure what's going on with Yale...)
Not too sure about the ppl they graduate: C Thomas, Vance, Cruz, for example, who then turn against the institution that was their ticket to prosperity.
It's not just Trump, Russell.
It's instead the billionaires who cowardly lead the top law firms, cowardly lead key legacy media, cowardly lead the banks that indebted students to the highest (deepest?) form of debt in history, cowardly lead the algorithm hatreds of social media, cowardly lead the standardized testing, cowardly lead the corporate predators that offshored the millions of jobs to China's cadres, cowardly lead the military contractors enabling Netanyahu's genocides and Mohammed bin Salman's wet dreams for killing more journalists.
Trump's diseases merely convenience the many larger poisons prevailing.
Wow! Your last line is truly a written gem, perfectly encapsulating our political times. Thank you!
I agree. Your problems won't end with Trump. I suspect that those billionaires are finding that he's far less malleable than they might have expected or hoped.
The notion that one could use tariffs to address trade imbalances was included in Project 2025 and I doubt there were many billionaires who would have supported such a crazy idea. Charles Koch is now suing Trump over his tariffs policy and it was very forcefully criticised by others - Dimon, Fink, Ackman, Musk.
Narcissistic billionaires still fancy running (and owning) the whole show. They pump Trump for their own reasons (and Putin and the Saudis for others) but all must be a bit nervous about what a loose cannon he has become. He is SUPPOSED to be a demented bull in a china shop, but some of their vested interests are getting gored. They surely would have preferred a smoother criminal, but for now, he's their ticket to "Shock Doctrine" takeovers.
There may not be much to take over by the time he's finished.
Well, now I’m terrified. Timothy Snyder can read the writing on the wall!
Prof. Snyder writes: "What is coming to the United States now is an attempt by the federal government to encourage conformism and denunciations for the purpose of spreading terror and idiocy."
This is from https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2025/04/04/snyder-on-leaving-yale/. He lays out a plethora of reasons for moving to Toronto and insists it is not because of Trump. He will continue to resist especially by teaching and writing.
Knowing history matters.
Agreed! Conformity is the fruit of tyranny. Solidarity is our mutual dedication to protecting foundational individual and societal rights, and is the antidote to tyranny, is, was and always will be; bottom line union that enables and protects individual, the "D" word, diversity. Has not our own history illustrated that again and again?
Leading by example in a way that invites each of us to act boldly.
I cannot admire the 3 professors, things get tough so they run for it. What does that teach their students? Isn't our country, our democracy worth fighting for?
I think they would say that they need to find a safe refuge from which to continue to resist this administration whose reach has become very disturbing, cowing the media, large law firms and colleges. Perhaps they fear that their continued defiance might create problems for Yale as it has for Harvard.
Russell John Netto,
I bet those guys stuck UNLAWFULLY in the prison in El Salvador wish they had gone to Canada.
Many people would like to leave but cannot afford to do so. What about the children...what about the disabled?
Those who are able to go are free to go...those of us who remain have our work to do...not to approve tyranny..... but to care of one another in a situation we never thought could be.... in....."The Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave".
People who flee persecution usually don't give a lot of thought to what they can afford and not afford. I imagine that would apply to some to some of those people now incarcerated in El Salvador, like Kilmar Abrego Garcia who fled gang violence only to be falsely accused of being a gang member and to many others who are now being threatened with arbitrary expulsion.
Personally, I am glad that people like Einstein, Freud, Born, Chagall, Arendt and so many others were able to flee the nazis.
I accept that many will remain and suffer and that that is deplorable.
With Liberty and Justice for ALL (my emphasis, but isn't that the point?). Equal Justice under law, equal protection under law, due process of law, unalienable rights, more perfect union, etc, etc, etc. That's supposed to be the deal right? We have been letting our purchase on liberty and democracy slip for petty distractions. Small leaks sink great ships.
It may look cowardly to some, but I see it as getting out so they can safely help those of us in the US fight for our democracy.
It has to have been a difficult decision for each of them. You don't just uproot your family without some doing some serious soul-searching. We've already seen cases of academics who have been detained by the administration.
I believe they are fighting and will continue to fight through their writing and teaching and speaking. I believe that our country, our democracy, is in real peril - in medical terms - critical condition. The detention centers/ prisons in Louisiana and El Salvador are real. Kidnapping is real. The elected President questions the legitimacy, the practicality, of due process. One of his subordinates broadly hints that habeas corpus could vanish at the whim of that same elected President. The call is coming from inside the house. We need to believe our own eyes and ears.
Few battles, if any, are won by infantrymen in the trenches. In addition to boots on the ground, the victor uses assets from a variety of locations, including artillery from offshore battleships and strikes from the air.
It's unwise to keep valuable assets in vulnerable positions when moving them to remote locations will make them more effective.
Sometimes strategy looks like cowardice.
It is complicated, and yes it is a blow to society every time a competent and decent person resigns. That said, I am not in their shoes, and some people are more effective in exile than they would have been had they stayed. I think the Dalai Lama is one such example. That's only part of the story, though, and either way resistance is key.
Yup, I fully agree, Nancy, with your assessment of these runaway professors. To me, what is scarier, is that this is exactly what Trump wants - in a sense, this is self-deportation of Trump’s opposition. Yes, they can still Grump against Trump from Toronto, but they can feel all nice and comfy - a bit like Trump does every weekend at Mar a Lago. Trump wants his dissenters to get out of Dodge.
I agree. Yale history Professor Snyder is the person who had been cautioning all of us not to "surrender in advance". So, when I read that he & his wife & children were moving to Toronto, I was very disappointed.
Timothy Snyder has not capitulated, he continues to stand firmly against the regime. His wife, also a scholar, came out several weeks ago to say it was her discomfort that prompted their temporary move to Toronto. She was fearful for their family and likely, for her husband.
Disappointed, First reaction. Me too.
But then I decided it is not for us to judge. If Snyder were apprehended and silenced, would that help us? Would his being a silent martyr aid the cause? Considering how quickly this national police force of Neo-Nazis is moving, I wouldn't dismiss the idea.
I totally get how leaving seems to be a surrender. But on the other hand, Snyder is an intellectual guiding light to be read. He can teach from Toronto and the world can learn. Don't think for a minute that Miller, Noem and Homan couldn't disappear him.
So as disappointed as I am, I'm not going to judge. And has been explained here, his family's safety is at risk as well. I'm thinking now about his kids.
If I were Snyder, I don't know what I would do.
Toronto is a good base for Professor Snyder; it's a huge, sophisticated metropolitan region ... besides it will be easier to listen to 🎶 more of ...
K.D. Laing.
Ah, yes, the reincarnation of Patsy Cline! kd lang is amazing. Her rendition of "Halleluiah" is pure gold. That and "Crazy".
Yup, Trump LOVES deportation, especially the self-deportation of his critics. Stand and Fight! And, let’s be a Big Tent! We NEED the David Hogg’s and AOC and Pete AND Schumer and Biden and Harris - Everybody!
White privilege if ever I saw it...we who must stay and want to stay will fight - we have no choice...
I think we must agree to disagree.
They have been courted by the universe of Toronto for quite a few years .
Oh Jeez. When I watch movies made in Europe in the 1930s, like Shop Around the Corner (Budapest), I want to scream at the tv, “Get out of there while you still can !” And now Tim Snyder has. I’m glad he’s gotten out, but more than a bit worried for the rest of us!
If you read professor Snyder's book 'Black Earth' you will see that he has a better understanding than most people of why it was so hard for people who became victims of the Holocaust to foresee their impending doom and try to escape it. Many of those who left Germany and occupied/satellite states in time to escape did not anticipate what followed but wanted to get away from the discrimination and poverty they were sure they would have been exposed to had they stayed.
My personal question remains: how do you know when it’s time to go?
I cannot answer that question.
Timothy Snyder? Very surprised to hear.
It’s our Privilege and our Job to protect our traditional rights as written into the laws of Our United States!
We must do this work in every state, city, town, village~ to recommit to Our Constitution and to ourselves!
You are absolutely right, Carol, and everyone needs to be reminded of this. I give copies of the Constitution to everyone who will take one, and encourage them to read and understand what gives them their freedom. And to teach their children.
It IS our duty as Americans to ensure the freedoms we possess are handed down to future generations, intact and thriving.
This SUCH a great idea!!!
Kristi Noem needs a copy of the Magna Carta.
She needs to go to jail for the illegal, unconstitutional actions. And she is due to run out of money by July (probably for those expensive military jets parading the immigrants for her photo ops)
Does she read?
Brilliant question. Might I add “comprehend?”
I think Noem must have trouble reading anything since her big fat fake eyelashes are in the way. She is just being so legally wrong. Maybe send her for another visit in another country & deny her re- entry to US?
Absolutely. To do this requires beginning at local levels, especially focused on with cunning success by the GOP. This resistance at a national level is good but late ‘in the game’ as established control is key planning. Working our way backwards is now what’s left..a smidgeon of irony, and far more time for needed ‘undoing’.
The autocratic nations have noted billionaires ruling class. Us pee-ons , the disenfranchised ‘s lack of education is intentional ..feudal, archaic, all terms of how long this has been ‘going on’. America fell into that same old trap, from money,greed, and control freaks. Those that make up that echelon are present in every population. Guardrails can be repaired too.
Hmmm... "pee-ons". Nice.
😂
Unfortunately, 77 million pee-ons are magats who celebrate the the Roberts court’s granting to US presidents powers that the Magna Carta removed from English kings 800 years ago. This was accomplished on purpose and with malicious intent by the majority of white voters who made possible the election of every Republican who has held office since 1968.
Excellent comment , thank you. 🫶
Rex, I haven’t gone to the data, but I suspect they show that a plurality of white voters, often assisted by a sizable group of white non-voters, made those Republican wins possible. We won’t get into those that were outright stolen.
Check exit polls. You will find that a majority of white voters have voted R in every presidential election since 1968. That probably doesn’t hold for every partisan office at every level in every state, but I’ll bet it’s pretty close to correct even in that broader context.
I hope Bruce has his lawyers waiting for him at the airport when he gets back - they may not let him in!
Bruce is a "white" United States born citizen - they won't play that game with him...
I’m not sure that matters anymore. But he is high profile enough that arresting him for exercising free speech would be extremely stupid. (Yes, I believe they are that dimwitted)
What about the judge getting prosecuted? A woman but white and a person of high position...
True point.
And dont forget, rich and popular
Yet.
He’s bought a home in Canada
Our artists are "right" -- correct, apt, on-target, fellow Phil -- as they've the human in focus.
Not to mention nature, landscapes, foods, menus, crops, weathers, seasons, aromas, sounds, and all the movements it takes artistry to detect, honor, chronicle.
Alito and other far-right justices agreed that women do not have the freedom to choose their own health care in the Dobb's decision. Alito, totally ignored the 14th amendment because, he is an originalist.
He cited several cases from British law dating back hundreds of years before the United States was a country. Curiously, he did not cite the Magna Carta. And his decision also didn't include a single reference made by a woman.
If Alito was truly an originalist he would have no truck with Trump's overweening ambition to assert complete power over the other two branches of the state, something that is plainly unconstitutional. He's really a fraud.
Alito is not a truly originalist Russell but a feudal originalist.
I have no idea what that means, Ricardo.
I think, Russell, Ricardo means the era that followed feudalism.
In feudalism serfs, the landless poor, and tenants all settled on master's domains and the landed gentry tolerated them, so long as they paid in crops further to enrich master, and paid in military service to keep other masters on their thrones.
When modern agricultural changes entered the scene, master threw the tenants off the land -- into new urban slums, then onto sailing ships bound for America and indentured apprenticeships there.
It's this latter era, I think, Ricardo recalls -- when forms of authoritarianism arose more splendid to Alito's tortured pre-MAGA MAGA.
Sorry Russell, I meant Alito is NOT a truly originalist.....
It makes a little more sense now? ;-)
He's a criminal, a seditionist who obviously has no regard for the constitution. He is excited to strip women and brown people of their rights.
He's an enabler. Trump is like Humpty-Dumpty. "When I use a word, it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less. The question is which is to be master - that's all." People like Alito, Thomas and the rest allow Trump to behave like this unchecked and they may come to regret it as so many others have done.
He's an originalist in the cherry-picking sense of the word. He's an ideologue, and nasty with it.
Did you expect any better coming from Alito GJ ?
We can do much MORE than hope Springsteen is right. We can ACT to make sure of our survival as a democracy.
No Kings Day JUNE 14th. We are currently left with each other now, it is up to us to hammer congress to speak up or step down. Our voices are what we have left. indivisible.org is helping our community come together.
Bruce is not afraid to stand up for America. Glad he's not a skeptic doubti.ng real Americans can rise to the occasion. Stand up for America or get out of the way instead of seeding doubt.
Phil. It is my deepest wish/belief that we will survive this orange buffoon. I pray for a miracle🙏🏽
"After the king had raised taxes, barons rebelled, insisting that he was violating established custom. There were rumors of a plot to murder the king, and the barons armed themselves." This is the beginning of establishing the rights of ordinary people under a ruling power. And there was the war against King by colonists in America. I am wondering what it would take this time to keep Springsteen and Lincoln's Gettysburg declaration true.
We will overcome this horrible period in our history! It won't be easy. Each of us must do something, call, write, email and text our representatives and demand that they uphold our Constitution and Democracy. We must be loud and whenever possible visible.
A friend and I joined over a thousand people at the Colorado State Capital in Denver on April 5th. We joined another friend on April 19th at the Colorado State Capital in Denver. We are going to be at the Colorado State Capital in Denver on June 14th! This is my country. I refuse to surrender to the billionaires and oligarchs. Putin can go straight to hell. My granddaughters' and the future of American children is at stake. This grandmother is standing up for the children of this country!
Dammit! Whodathunk that Bruce Springsteen would make a lady cry...
Love The Boss!
https://youtu.be/6ZHWIYHlXOs?si=EpU2cjUCqCtvh1Ck
I agree, but I were you I wouldn't want to be relying on Bruce Springsteen.
Russell John Netto,
Bruce Springsteen is speaking up for truth...what are we doing??? What are YOU doing?
We need NOT put anyone down for standing up FOR our country...for its future...for our children!
Who is taking books out of our schools and libraries...NOT Bruce Springsteen!
Who is rewriting history and science....NOT Bruce Springsteen!
Let's acknowledge our true enemies who are taking our freedoms away daily!!!!
Anyone who is treated unfairly today will be anyone of us tomorrow!!!!
WAKE UP MAN!!!! We are responsible ....we each must call ourselves into some form of action/response NOT point fingers at the choice or opportunities of others!!!!
Emily, I was not criticisng him for speaking up. I was just saying that if you think that he's your last resort against Trump then you're in worse trouble than you think. I'm not American, I'm British, and your fellow citizens have now voted for this clown twice so your problems I would respectfully suggest are a little closer to home.
Russell John Netto.
I left the Republican Party when Trump was placed on the ballot the first time. I thought our country and especially our Republican leaders had lost their marbles!!!
I was thankful for President Biden's win and his attempt to heal relationships and to strengthen our defense and to bring our world back together; to prepare for attacks on freedoms which had already begun by Trump's recent position as President. Everyone could see Biden's age but also his love for our country. Biden has stood for a better more humane world. He works at lifting people up.
Now to my dismay. Trump has returned and he is followed by political parasites. They will use him to gain power and position and money. They are using the American people. Trump gives them what they need...a pat on the head, a word of praise, confirmation and acceptance. He takes up for them when they break the rules and when they act irresponsibly. He is their "big daddy". All he requires is total worship and compliance....and so they follow him like little lost boys and girls.
We have big problems and even our best are struggling to find answers.
I appreciate your response. I did not vote for Trump on either occasion but here I am and here our once great nation has found itself. I am grateful for young and old who are finding ways to fight against what has come upon us.
Be thankful you are a Brit at this time and hold on to all that is good!
"These jobs are going, boys, and they ain’t coming back."
That, Russell, was "My Hometown."
Now, to whom would you look more reliably -- to an artist like Bruce, or to any average 1,000 economists who took all the standardized tests and emerged as meritocracy elites in the totally dehumanized, predatory councils of Corporate America (with connivance from more than a few in your Brexit-land)?
Now that's a rather invidious choice you've presented me with, Phil. There are some economic commentators who I admire - Mariana Mazzucato, Duncan Weldon, Jason Hickel, Adam Tooze, Rutger Bregman, George Monbiot, Thomas Piketty.
I don't believe that it would be wise to replace one celebrity president with another, even if it is The Boss.
I hope the balladare is right. What a marvelous screed on our fundamental protection under laws, nee men of power not awarded but presumed given by Heather today. Today's post reminds me that every history or disciple holds to a body of writing and concepts agreed upon, to some extent because of the similarity of the scholars training, but more so that the body, the concepts hold together, have an internal consistency and external validity, borne through debates, dissent, and, well, scholarship. The collective stands the test of time and rubbing of the stones by the many hands and minds of those who precede that makes them venerable. Without core knowledge and myths tested, the individual reader may discover unique (to only their peers, perhaps) ideas, but not the assurances that give their ideas have a foundation. I thought the dissertation requirement in professional studies was not so much the individual discovering something totally new, worthy that, but the honing of the inquiry and research skills that would serve them throughout their careers.
NEVER NEVER NEVER give up!
A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong,
gives it a superficial appearance of being
right, and raises at first a formidable outcry
in defense of custom. But the tumult soon
subsides. Time makes more converts than
reason.
Thomas Paine, Common Sense
“…a superficial appearance of being right.” Does that nail the chump toadies, or what. The blather that emanates from the republican spokesmodels sure intend to appear righteous and in the best interests of all. When they are deliberately designed to deceive and give the appearance of being right. Deliberate deception needs to be countered by truth, which seems to be always in catch-up mode.
Truth often imposes grown up things such as effort, discomfort, responsibilities, and endurance. It can be a harder sell than cons and flattery. and con-men or con-women often draw an eager audience; sometimes a very devoted one, as history amply displays.
But alternative realities such as the comforts of heroin, or simplistic big lies put one on a collusion course with the realities they aim to ignore; and overall, that tends to end very badly.
You nailed that. Truth and duty have been difficult but necessary as I reached adulthood. I have watched some look for short cuts and distractions but they often suffered in the end. Now that seems strategy with no down side. Hopefully not for the majority or we are sunk
Yesterday, on the Dean Obeidallah show on Progress Radio one of the guests exclaimed that "Republican Senators and Congressmen are wholly owned subsidiaries of Donald J Trump."
And as many have said, they are ALL afraid of being "primaried".
Not ALL. Some have begun standing up for Right.
Which?
Follow the money. This whole charade would not be possible without the generous and coordinated contributions of oligarchs. Who have been the primary beneficiary of Reaganomics, certainly not the increasingly economically insecure fools cheering at right wing rallies. How did the muckraking media become so timid about telling the un-inbedded truth? Why have so many journalists resigned in protest?
As the total ownership of our country has concentrated into fewer hands, so too has political power. As for our elected Congress critters, it would seem that never have so few had a damn to give for their country.
Reality is indifferent to what we think about it, but if we get to know it well, we get to surf a wave of spacetime with knowledge, skill, and resilience, and even then, what is real can wipe us out. Collaboratively we can create a an extended living environment that favors our agendas, so long as we are respectful. Early in the Republic, a single house fire could burn down a whole town. Now that risk is managed, though climate abuse and attendant risks of disaster show have not been responsible enough.
Our greatest asset as a species, the absence of which could condemn us to extinction, is our ability to care about things and beings beyond ourselves, be it polar bears, humans in remote parts of the planet, or generations to come. Our Ozymandian monuments are meaningless seen apart from the fate of life. The chain of events the resulted in each of us being here is unfathomably immense. As said by Mary Oliver "Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?", and what will be our legacy?
Reality marches on, indifferent but we contribute to it more than we know or regret
In Trump's case there's not even a superficial attempt at justifying his grifting. They seem to think that it's okay because it's happening in broad daylight - that's what they think 'transparency' means.
Transparent corruption is corruption.
Precisely.
You can fool all of the MAGAs and white Christian Nationalists ALL of the time. A. Lincoln /S
“…a superficial appearance of being right.” In other words, pure sophistry, intended to mislead.
Exactly, chump likes to say he uses hyperbole, but when I learned that word, it meant “exaggeration not intended to deceive.” His every utterance is intended to deceive. Republicans have now mastered that tactic. Deception is strategy.
JDinTX,
You are a wise man. The only Bible I have seen Trump hold is a CLOSED ONE.
He knows his followers well.....big churches....big money...shallow lives.....
When we do not know the truth, we will become slaves to lies.
That was the plan, I watched repubs support Rupert’s efforts to become the dominate media voice. Bill Moyers warned early on. But people were enthralled. Sort of like they are now with “Naked and Afraid” and such tripe. The cultified fools want to rule us all with laws, justice and religions weighted to permanently skew the scales. We must find ways to balance, it’s happening but at a turtle’s pace.
JD, I have NEVER understood the thrall that some folks have with "reality" TV shows. I don't know if it was that I was a cop, and saw plenty of "reality" day in and day out, or if I see engineered strife as BS, but I just absolutely see nothing good out of that alleged "genre" of TV.
Not sure if you recall my sidebar "Apprentice" story, but my sister was so into that show that she left the nursing home when Mom was in agonal breathing (she died from COPD) at 7:55 to watch that show. I called her at 7:30 and told her she needed to come. She got there (she did leave the show before it finished) at 8:50. Mom was pronounced at 8:42. She is still haunted by that.
OMG, I never saw that show and was never even tempted. Has your sister recovered her sanity. Sure hope so. They reminded me of cult mentality and I have always felt sort of sorry for those sucked into that unfathomable vortex. Now so many are on that continuum. Another example of the complicity of the MSM in our collective ignorance.
She has recovered her sanity, and is a wonderful human being. She so deeply regrets her decisions that night. We've had long talks, and I understand her need to "get away".
Reactive vs Agentive; states of being: What Bruce & Heather do is be agents of change as protectors of rights and common good. Stanley Milgram’s 3 steps of connection / separation “theory”, now law, applies. As they reach out, so must we into our networks of connections to expose & subvert the contagion of engineered social pathology that is: 47, “maga”, Techbro dark enlightenment; all fascist mafia state oligopoly; a new form of elite collective of sovereign corporate state entities claiming dominion over humanity and earth. For ref. see 1) Dr. Bandy Lee & 2) William A. Finnegan - The Long Memo - The Election Didn’t Matter. + 3) My post dated May 12 (subtitle - Existential Esoterica) a summary of others work with suggestions / practical real world direct actions. <> The threats to humanity & earth are a complex & pervasive matrix but the communication system created by oligopolists are the pathways for antiviral healing; direct real world communication, partnering, and action for peace.
Much of USA’s perception of crime is shaped by movies & tv: distortion / glorification / commodification of myths spun off real world brutal degeneracy that is mafia. For those who’s daily lives are partially shaped by mob dominance the reality is visceral. https://stevevillano.medium.com/the-trumps-an-incestuous-intertwining-with-organized-crime-ab65316c2b48 <> Much of USA has been infantilized to make them easily manipulated consumers: Respond to continuous media messaging to support tribalized identity that enriches fascist mafia state oligopolists owners of mainstream & social medias & the petrochemical / war production economy. It now openly expresses it’s death cult core & motivation through bizarre, bullshit glorified medieval hegemonic philosophy. We’re supposed to bow down like serfs to Musk, Thiel, & Curtis Yarvin?
Shakes gead
Agreed, though time could use some help, such as Paine's campaigning.
Time and repetition.
Thank you for this further "Common Sense" "No Kings" rally on JUNE 14th indivisible.org is a best leader, simple to join a chapter.
Thank you for this reminder. Mr. Paine was brilliant.
Springsteen also said: "I have hope, because I believe in the truth of what the great American author James Baldwin said." Baldwin said: "In this world, there isn't as much humanity as one would like, but there's enough." Here's hoping our collective humanity will see us through this living nightmare...
“Close enough.”
Heather, this has to be one of your best columns ever. It captures details even we history freaks by birth haven’t heard (or remembered), but brings everything up to date with Springsteen. It is moments like this that make me believe that we will survive.
In 2015 I was part of Canadian celebrations of the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta accompanied by a national tour of one of its original copies. The doctrine of habeas corpus is one of the oldest in our Anglo-American body of laws (I will include Canada in the Anglo part of that formulation). It is the Crown Jewel of democracy. The foundation of democracy is not elections- as important as they are-it is the rule of law. Nothing expresses that idea better than the doctrine of habeas corpus. I hope the discovery of this treasure- dating back 725 years to Edward I’s affirmation of Magna Carta will inspire Americans to understand that the principles it contains are not some “woke” invention of “the libs”, but a priceless inheritance that generations have fought and died to protect. Thank you for retelling this story! We forget it at our peril!
And yet the entire Republican party remains shackled to Trump's vision of pestilence, tyranny, corruption and brutality. Where are the voices willing to say that habeas corpus is more important than whether Kristri Noem gets a photo posing with her $25,000 Rolex in front of shackled prisoners at CECOT? Where's their outrage at all this? Why is it only Eric Swalwell willing to tell this cruel idiot that she doesn't pass his 3-year-old bullshit detector?
I'm sick to death of hearing how "concerned" Susan Collins is or watching 1 or 2 Republicans squirm in their seats as a dumb megalomaniac and Russian patsy destroy America from within. When will these wretched cowards and empty imbeciles defend the rule of law, rather than the rule of Trump?
Agree with your sentiments. Completely. The GOP is acting like the German legislators of the 1930s.
But Democrats ARE making a lot of noise. There is a royal battle right now about the "reconciliation bill" that would strip away healthcare and food from the poorest of us. Democrats are doing everything they can to halt this insanity.
As for Republicans, I long ago lowered my expectations that they would actually be "conservative" enough to believe in the rule of law. And Susan Collins, the formerly "reasonable Republican", lost me when she voted to confirm drunken rapist Kavanaugh.
Only if they are voted out and we vote for courage and decency .
And they don’t rig the vote. Sorry I know people don’t want to hear this from our side, but we democrats are the ones that need to investigate the voting machines.
You mean mid-terms? If not now, when?
I hope Bruce is right. I hope our country can weather this typhoon of unbridled corruption fueled by cowardice.
Cowardice and sociopathic greed.
I hear you, MayMay…and Heather, there’s a name I wouldn’t of associated with a rare 1297 copy of the Magna Carta — Ross Perot ?!!!
from Julie Roginsky & Olga Lautman (5/16/25) “A Guide to How to Deal with the Media”
https://youtube.com/shorts/2alqHUB-wBQ?si=kGKI2ZwTu3ba60v_
Ross Perot bought it for himself, David Rubenstein bought it for us, as in we the people, to ensure that the Americans could continue to see it.......
“No free man shall be seized, imprisoned, dispossessed, outlawed, exiled or ruined in any way, nor in any way proceeded against, except by the lawful judgement of his peers and the law of the land.”
Good Lord. They had this figured out 810 years ago.
Tyranny would seem like the aberration, and yet generation after generation, it's a monster that never really dies. It must be something in human nature; both the emergence of tyrants, and of rapt public ,support for them. I think we need to look at that, a lot more closely and more often.
Good grief, yes.
And yet, the "conservative" wing of a party has become as un-conservative as possible by tossing aside not only our founding documents but rights established as BASIC - hundreds of years ago. They have forgotten what the word "conserve" means. (Except for power)
There are not really any Republicans or Conservatives left in our government. There are only MAGA Nazis willing to dispense with and ignore established law for the purposes of domination and the imposition of their religio-fascist-oligarchal ideas on the population.
Our nation is not being run by Republican Conservatives. It is being run by crazy, brutal, cruel RADICALS.
Thank you William.
Makes me wonder how they could forget this.
How I hope that Bruce is right. He has been one of my heroes, and not just for his music. He knows that the land belongs to the people. Those who are raping the land are the Trojan Horse traitors. The country has been turned into a freak show and a caricature of the founders image of a just and fair society. Sadly, the road we are on and the road behind us is a road to ruin that must be recognized as such and redirected toward sanity. The propaganda has turned too many into hateful hypocrites. The barons of old wanted to restrict the kings power. Half of the barons of today (republican leaders) have signed on to the evil wannabe king who recognizes no law, obligation, tradition, promise or commandment. They think that he will share the power with them. Who will rebel and lead us out of this wilderness. All of us, all the time, everywhere - all at once.
I don't think, JD, they think "that he will share the power with them."
Sufficient for them, rather, just being in office, enjoying their sinecures, perks, free health insurance for life, staffs paid for by the people, and having hordes of reporters always rushing up to them to get their opinion. Ego trips only. Most do nada for the public. All MAGA is illiterate in humanities, history, geography, constitutional decency. Everything for the rancid, hate-filled culture wars to keep pleasing most corrupted, most demagogue cult leader.
A deep, deep poison we inhabit, JD -- all the world's dictators, oligarchs, and assorted sordid thugs gleeful at the Manchurian Candidate in service to them and to his own vulgarity.
The “Manchurian Candidate” he is indeed. When I saw that movie, it made my blood run cold. And now we are in the cast, as extras while the horror show plays out. Plot twist, please…
We’re barreling down the road to perdition and I’m waiting for the courts to bring this train to a stop. If they don’t, look out.
Sotomayor, Kagan and a few other Justices came out swinging during oral arguments this week -- that gave me hope.
In the first 116 Days of Wreck 2.0 thirty-nine (39) national injunctions have halted many of the worst attacks on our democracy.
We just need 5 justices to land a knock-out in this fight.
Yesterday’s argument did not get to the fundamental question of whether Trump’s EO on birthright citizenship violates the 14th Amendment. The case before them focused only on the nationwide injunction issue. Hard to say how the justices will rule on the injunctions, but several noted that judges appointed by Presidents across the ideological spectrum have repeatedly ruled against Trump on the birthright question itself.
Jackson did also. And even Amy Coney Barrett.
I saw a clip of frat boy actually asking some hard questions.
That’s a dreamer’s wish. We’ll see what reality has to say…
Always good to be good cautious 🎶caution breaks from the wind🎶 but, I listened to the oral arguments on a LIVE chat at SCOTUSblog along with the founder, AMY HOWE.
It is not a dream and we will not have wait lot late July or early August for a majority opinion. A positive 5-4, 6-3 or even a 7-2 is possible
It should be 9-0; 7-0 with abstentions. If there are dissenting opinions, they better write them up. We need to know what the hell they are thinking and what garbage they are using for reasoning.
Sheriff, I concur. And, I should have given a H/t to Alanis Nadine Morissette for lyric reference. 'You Live, You Learn'.
*****
Wreck's "1 Big Beautiful Bill" is a Bust just a few minutes ago, 12:20 PM Eastern.
The Wreck Budget (NOT) failed to even get out of Committee;
Scoreboard: 21 No votes- Lemmings 16.
From Sprngsteen's mouth to all of our ears...
Music won't save us, but it helps.
https://yadontknow.blogspot.com/2025/05/no-balls.html
And, Bruce is in the process of releasing & distributing many of his songs not released & never heard before going back to 1983.
"This machine kills fascists" is a message that American musician Woody Guthrie placed on his guitars in the mid-1940s, starting in 1943. (Wikipedia)
I don't know how many people Woody Guthrie's message motivated, but songs have inspired people, ranging from soldiers to slaves, for generations.
Woody was a man displaced by the Dust Bowl period and ended up in California getting a job singing at LA radio station. He was also a champion of the Labor movement. The sticker came off a lathe in a wartime machine shop and he put it on his guitar, an old Gibson acoustic gut string, I believe.
For more about Woody Guthrie, read his autobiography, Bound for Glory.
There's a movie version too, right?
Bruce, Amen brother. Use your pulpit to spread the word.
Professor, thanks for keeping the flames of truth burning.
And may many others follow.
America is still losing the most basic rights inherited from long ago, as Heather cites today.
How did we lose so many tens of millions of Americans?
Why do we have triumphant now the tens of millions just full-on white supremacists eager to join the cult, the joy-to-be-hating immigrants, the scorn of any and all weak and in need of all those leaching-sucking-diversity-equity-inclusion-expensive-bureaucratic-excessive government programs?
Joan Didion raises this Q as she ends part three of “Where I Was From” (2003). There she cites herself, sees herself in her naïve younger days as also part of some callous thinking when, younger, she full-on accepted many myths of the California it pleased almost all then and there to take for granted.
Don’t slow down for the weak. Or, as she put it for another Californian, “’Don’t worry about it’” as Patricia Hearst “recalled having told herself during the time she was locked in a closet by her kidnappers. ‘Don’t examine your feelings. Never examine your feelings – they’re no help at all.’”
How did Americans so all near-totally fall for the same conceits? – as when the testers told all schools: Don’t write essays (unless machine gradable by test computers) – don’t touch any humanities. Just get the highest test numbers you can. And eff everyone and anyone not getting such numbers.
Cult nuts consign their feelings to others and follow like sheep to the slaughter. Maybe that was Hearst’s survival mechanism during a helpless period, but we are not helpless, just overwhelmed. Fox and clones have done this while our MSM has focused on profits. I can imagine WWWD (what would Walter have done). Told the truth. And he did. Truth tellers, time to have the guts of the barons of old.
Yesterday, MSNBC aired the oral arguments of the lower court's ability to put a national injunction based on the birthright citizen's cases multiple decisions. Any attempt I make to repeat any of the supreme courts comments would detract from the actual discussion so here is a link if you are interested- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzn0eQYeTSQ
It's over 4 hours, but almost every Justice asks some excellent questions or makes some valid points.
If lower court judges are not allowed to issue national injunctions, then a President can theoretically order all Americans to turn in all of their guns and no one can prevent it, not even SCOTUS.
Except, during the time I was tuned in, Thomas uttered nary a peep. Obvious he'll vote exactly as he's paid to vote. Kavanaugh was equally treasonous. In what should be a slam-dunk 9-0 vote, I wager a 6-3, or possibly 5-4. How far we've fallen.
I'll take the win. If they rule against nationwide injunctions, then there is no reason for Trump to actually bring the case to SCOTUS.
100%! Just sad, how blatantly corrupt at least 3, and likely 4, truly are. Seems my grandson has a better grasp of our Constitution than they do. And he's 12!
Thanks, Gary. I listened to some of it. I was struck by how all pervasive the "national injunction" issue is. But it is hardly a new controversy.
The anti abortion Nazis shop for a judge to prevent basic healthcare for pregnant women. And while the absurd ruling from a Neanderthal judge in Texas is being appealed, women can die.
And yet, here we are hoping that a judge (anywhere) will block the kidnapping of people by our own government.
All that aside, I am wicked pissed that this court didn't dismiss the basic issue that was presented to the court. Birthright citizenship is established. There is no way to tweak it or twist it for exceptions. SCOTUS should have slapped down any challenge to it.
Agreed, Bill. Should have been 9-0 immediately. Should be 9-0 when the ruling is issued, which should be as soon as the gavel falls on the hearing (or however they end the arguments sections). The only writing need be the text of Amendments 5 and 14. The garbage of saying (paraphrased here) "Well, when we want something unpopular (i.e. banning abortion, abortion drugs, abortion access) one right-minded judge) it's nation wide, but when it is this pesky due process thing that is barely understood, then it should never be nation wide" is phenomenal.
It is in the bloody constitution, for pity's sake. <please note no profanity>
Thanks for this Phil -- time for me to read some more Didion.
I have read a fair amount of Didion but really enjoyed the movie.
". . . the movie," GJ?
She was married to John Gregory Dunne, and they scripted many movies together. Is there one in particular by them or about them, or about her, you're thinking of?
"The Center will not Hold" is the movie. Sorry I just saw your comment.
Much more, Laurie.
This is a piece of great beauty and power and links us to our deep past when we established the Law of the People, our honor to that Law, and of its upholding through centuries of practice. The GOP/MAGA, 6 of the SCOTII, many of the chief Industrialists of this country, and the Trump Administration, and their voters/consumers, as the cruel and unrighteous Kings of old in the UK, are seeking to destroy that Law and replace it with the whims of a King. The People have said NO to this for centuries in the UK and here in what became the USA. We say no to it now. But, half of people living in this country say yes, get rid of the Law. Let the whims of Kings rule us, not the Law. Terrible history tells us why this does not work and what to expect of countries where one man rules over all others. Trump and crew want us to be Russia and China now. They want to destroy the work of centuries of our ancestors in the Uk and the USA. What are we to do about the half of us who want to return to The Terror and abandon the Law, as the men of the old South did with their Christian Nationalism, Slavery, and the rule of a few elite white men? This is our only real question now. Half of us refuse to return to The Terror and the abuses of such a group. Lincoln tried to save these men from themselves, and we see that he failed, not because of him, but because of the old ways in the old South that caused our Civil War, and that have caused the many cruelties of Jim Crow, the Ku Klux Klan, the fight to destroy Civil Rights in the USA, and now the Trump group's attempt to return us to the ways of the old South, the Terror, and the whims of a few elite white men. Our answer is still no, and we will proceed accordingly. We have the courage of the ages on our side, we have its example, and we must do whatever is necessary. Indeed, we are doing it every day!
Teresa D. Hawkes, Ph.D.
Thank you for every well placed word...our honor and response regarding that Law...a law that keeps us from self destruction.
We are a wild and crazy and wonderful group of gifted and caring human beings. Are we going to allow a want-a-be king and his minions to take over OUR country???
"we have the courage of the ages on our side"...let's live it...let's prove it!!!! EVERY DAY...in some way!!!
All due respect, I'm wondering if describing this as a "white man" issue is a mistake. There are plenty of women and people of color in MAGA and Trump's administration. Is the left stuck in this post-modernist thinking? Is the Trump administration really the acting on the whims of a few white elites, or more a reaction to globalization? Where we may see globalization as a positive for a host of reasons, including a natural evolution of the cooperation of the human race, they see it as a threat?
My meaning for 'white men' was for the antebellum and postbellum south. As for now, voters of all races voted for Mr. Trump. As for the racial profiles of people who voted for Trump: https://www.investigativepost.org/2024/11/10/the-numbers-behind-the-vote-for-president/ and https://www.brookings.edu/articles/trump-gained-some-minority-voters-but-the-gop-is-hardly-a-multiracial-coalition/. The key thing to draw from 2024 election results is that white people elected Mr. Trump and Republicans are overwhelmingly white.
A masterfully done essay dear Dr. Perhaps one of my favorites.
The Boss sticks it to the boss.
Has anyone checked? Is the Magna Carta still on display at the National Archives? There is a good chance it will go missing.
“Magna what? Carta? What’s a carta? Never heard of it. Whatever it is, we don’t have one of those here.”
Watch everything at the Archives and the Library of Congress very carefully. Those are official documents of our country and they are no longer in good hands.
Trump prefers the MAGA Carta
🤣&😢
The Boss sticks it to the tosser. With great deal of plutocratic help, Trump succeeds as a figurehead demagogue; but he is really a pretty pathetic individual.
Ask the president and he'll respond, "The Magma Carta, a beautiful thing, full of love and unity, just like the Declaration of Independence."
🤣🤣🤣
OK, that was funny.
I am near Manchester now for a heartbreaking loss. It cheers me to think of Bruce Springsteen’s words yesterday. Thank you, Heather, for the Magna Carta history! The first president of Harvard was born in a country house across the fields from where I am, interestingly.
Once again your knowledge and comprehension prove invaluable to defending the keys to our nation's promise - the keys to help guide us to a more just and open society.
We need to get real.