President Joe Biden spoke at Arlington National Cemetery today to remember those who gave the “last full measure of devotion” to the United States, dying in our service. His speech was a full-throated defense of the cause for which those soldiers gave their lives: democracy.
In other news, Lt. Col Yevgeny Vindman tweeted that under the UCMJ, Retired General Flynn's remarks could be actionable. Flynn made a BIG mistake by publicly advocating the overthrow of the American Government. See: https://twitter.com/YVindman/status/1399347403724034055
Actually, if you listen, they're talking about a coup in "Minamar," wherever in hell that is. Not only can they not spell right, they can't talk right. #$%^$$@#$%#@#@!!! morons.
I think that the QAnon rally was every bit as dangerous as the precursor to January 6th. Is Flynn simply priming the pump for the next insurrection? I think we would be kidding ourselves to think that January 6th was a one and done action. If, the call to overthrow the Government by Flynn is not met with immediate recourse, then it would seem to me the net of deceit of this Administration is far wider than I initially thought.
I did not watch President Biden's speech yesterday, but did read the transcript. It was encouraging to see the words of a President that understood the meaning of the day and chose to properly intertwine the importance of what we may likely lose to what those men and women fought their lives for.
You nailed the message I needed at the end of this memorial day, although, it was not the one I had wanted. The one I wanted had to do with the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa race massacre, but the one I needed was a reinforcement of the ideals of democracy by our President.
President Biden accentuated the primary reason for our entry into the two world wars -- the sacral duty to defend our four freedoms against the tyrannies of totalitarian rule, the primary rationale for the sacrifices of our progeny and our kin, our democratic freedoms as highlighted by President F. D. Roosevelt: freedom of speech, freedom from want, freedom of fear, and freedom of worship. Our president brought these to bear on the precariousness of our present situation and you caught the beauty of his message on a memorial day like no other: one that spoke to our need to value the foundations of this republic. In Biden's words:
"Democracy thrives when the infrastructure of democracy is strong; when people have the right to vote freely and fairly and conveniently; when a free and independent press pursues the truth, founded on facts, not propaganda; when the rule of law applies equally and fairly to every citizen, regardless of where they come from or what they look like.”
“[T]he right to vote, the right to rise in a world as far as your talent can take you, unlimited by unfair barriers of privilege and power—such are the principles of democracy."
I wanted one historical grounding, but needed the other in order to recognize that without the one, my hopes for the other will never be realized. My deepest thanks go to you, dear HCR.
Earlier this morning, before Professor Richardson’s Letter had reached my mailbox, I saw this article on the front page of The Guardian with the headline: ”Rise of armed civilian groups in Myanmar fuels fears of full-scale civil war Dozens of grassroots people’s defence forces have emerged to take on brutal military”
I was reminded of our conversation here about the Second amendment, and Rep. Gaetz and others whipping up their supporters to believe they could legitimately take up arms against their country because of their Leader’s loss to President Biden in the 2020 election.
And now, former US Army General Flynn is advocating for armed insurrection and Louis Gohmert and other elected representatives are standing at his side to support this mortally dangerous and morally bankrupt rhetoric.
Included below is an excerpt from the Guardian article, and it stands as a damning rebuke to Flynn, Gaetz, Trump, Gohmert and all their fellow traitors who appear hell-bent on returning the most anti-democratic President in our history, to office.
The role they have chosen for themselves and are encouraging their followers to execute, is not that of the civilians of Myanmar who are assembling to save themselves – it is the polar opposite. The Trump-Flynn-Gaetz model is that of the Myanmar military that assumed power in a coup and is enforcing their rule through brutality, terror, and murder.
President Biden’s words are inspiring, but I believe we have entered a time when language should be used to name the thing for what it is: Those aligned with the former President and his actions to overturn the 2020 election are knowingly engaging in sedition.
“At least 833 people have been killed by the military since it seized power in February, according to estimates by the advocacy group Assistance Association for Political Prisoners Burma. Thousands have been detained, often in unknown locations where they are at risk of torture.
An activist who has met young people who are training to fight the military, and who asked to remain anonymous, said volunteers believed violence was the only language the military understood. “They want to scare the soldiers coming into their communities making arrests, beating and torturing,” she said. “Some people are hoteliers, some have their own restaurants, bars – and they have now left all their businesses.”
One young medical student had fled alone to train, the activist said. “She was so passionate because her friends got killed. Her place was terrorised under martial law. She saw people burning alive in front of her. That experience pushed her to pick up the gun.””
Professor, so often you go deep, down through the news and facts you share. Thank you so much. I was hoping we would hear that Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema were willing to forego the Filibuster and open the gates of America's democracy wide. As Americans toil on, it is time for a response from Washington. As you write today, "The approximately 60 Texas Democratic lawmakers were forced to walk away from bills they had hoped to pass, but they felt they had to send a message. State Representative Trey Martinez Fischer said, 'Breaking quorum is about the equivalent of crawling on our knees begging the president and the United States Congress to give us the For the People Act and give us the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.' " We must restore our Democracy.
Oh boy. The marine who asked Flynn about Minamar AKA Myanmar is a simpleton. The overly enthusiastic cheerleaders of a Myanmar style coup shown in the video clip seem to have ingested large amounts of amphetamines. A hefty number of US Americans have thrown out the baby, the bathwater and the tub...they've ditched all common sense. Heck yeah, they say, we want a coup!
We're watching a segment of our population succumb to a deep insanity...is it in the water? The air? Have they been poisoned by eating food contaminated with ergot*? What did these people obsess about before Trump and Q Anon? How can we draw them back into a reality based frame of mind and not belittle them in the process?
I admire Biden for reminding us again and again what Democracy is and what it means. I appreciate his consistently positive approach to addressing the needs physical, social and emotional needs of the the American people. I'm hopeful that one by one he will change the hearts and minds of those who've gone off the deep end.
*Ergot poisoning has long been my very favorite explanation for en masse insane behavior. I'm being sarcastic when I suggest it here, but geez, these people are crazy!
Now is the time to aim your podcaster and reel in the brand new podcast with Prof. Richardson and Prof. Joanne Freeman, “Now and Then.” The first episode dropped today, and each and every Tuesday. Topics today, from the description: On this first episode of Now & Then, “Entangling Alliances,” Heather Cox Richardson and Joanne Freeman discuss the emerging Biden Doctrine and the relationship between foreign and domestic policy throughout American history. Heather and Joanne focus on the French Revolution, Teddy Roosevelt’s progressive turn, and the cultural legacies of the Vietnam War as three moments from “then” that can particularly inform this transitional moment for America’s role in the world. See https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/now-then/id1567665859?i=1000523750443
I understand that there are many who find it difficult to maintain friendships with those with whom they radically disagree in this era of political polarization. As a lifelong progressive, now living in an area of Texas that is predominantly Republican locally, I am frequently appalled by the rhetoric and extreme views of Trumplicans. However, I remind myself that there are still many moderate and sane Republicans, Independents, and Progressives in my surrounding neighborhoods. Not even all Republicans are nuts. I refrain from engaging the complete wackos in controversies. However, I do not hesitate to advocate as an activist and supporter of progressive causes and policies simply because I may have neighbors who disagree with my positions.
My advice to my friends and other activists is not to seek out controversy, do not to abuse or abandon friendships over political disagreements. However, do not hesitate to let others know where you stand and why. There is a difference between remaining silent out of fear or timidity, and courteous, respectful defense of your beliefs and positions.
My friends and family know well where I stand on issues and on the preservation of our democracy. I do not apologize for those positions. Neither do I disrespect their views even though I may strongly disagree with some of them. I respect the views of others and expect them to respect mine. But, I do believe that timid silence is a form of complicity and I will not be complicit in their attempts to undermine or overthrow our democracy.
Readers of this substack may be interested in Greg Olear's substack post on PREVAIL today, titled "35 Poltroons" (https://gregolear.substack.com/p/35-poltroons - it is viewable without a paid subscription). He breaks down the 35 into Spineless Cowards, Fourth of July Traitors, Insurrection Enthusiasts and Owned Property. I appreciated the texture of the ascribed motivations...and Olear's sense of humor, biting and somewhat coarse though it may be.
Thank you Dr. Richardson for your clear presentation of the good in President Biden’s Memorial Day speech. Thank you also for the news about the Qanon gathering with Cheetos loyalists. Sydney Powell seems like a science fiction character and Flynn is playing true to form. Both sides get similar amounts of air time for their messaging—democracy in real time.
From a Ezra Klein interview with Barack Obama as reported in the NYT.
Obama was discussing the change in media coverage from when he ran in 2008 until today.
“ If I went into those same places now — or if any Democratic who’s campaigning goes in those places now — almost all news is from either Fox News, Sinclair news stations, talk radio, or some Facebook page. And trying to penetrate that is really difficult.
It’s not that the people in these communities have changed. It’s that if that’s what you are being fed, day in and day out, then you’re going to come to every conversation with a certain set of predispositions that are really hard to break through. And that is one of the biggest challenges I think we face.
But some of it is a media infrastructure that persuaded a large portion of that base that they had something to fear. And fed on that politics of fear and resentment in a way that ironically ended up being a straitjacket for the Republican officials themselves. And some of them were gobbled up by the monster that had been created. And suddenly found themselves retiring because they weren’t angry or resentful enough for the base they had stoked.
Conflict sells.”
Buying the Big Lie? No surprise if you consume a steady diet of conservative media.
We must have consequences in our nation for activities like the Big Lie. We have morphed from letting every white collar crime become an entrepreneurial business strategy, to becoming a political ideology and party platform, to letting treason become a political ideology and party platform. There was a time when people like those who incited the Big Lie, who spread Q conspiracy theories and those who attacked our Capitol would have been tried and hung in short order. In those days, there weren't so many. Consequences are required. Trump should have be locked up the day he lied about his Republican opponents. Not doing so demonstrated that he could announce his ability to shoot someone and get away with it. After that there have been no limits.
In other news, Lt. Col Yevgeny Vindman tweeted that under the UCMJ, Retired General Flynn's remarks could be actionable. Flynn made a BIG mistake by publicly advocating the overthrow of the American Government. See: https://twitter.com/YVindman/status/1399347403724034055
This won't just go away quietly.
As always, thank you, Heather. As a Texan, these are difficult times.
Actually, if you listen, they're talking about a coup in "Minamar," wherever in hell that is. Not only can they not spell right, they can't talk right. #$%^$$@#$%#@#@!!! morons.
Thank you Heather.
I think that the QAnon rally was every bit as dangerous as the precursor to January 6th. Is Flynn simply priming the pump for the next insurrection? I think we would be kidding ourselves to think that January 6th was a one and done action. If, the call to overthrow the Government by Flynn is not met with immediate recourse, then it would seem to me the net of deceit of this Administration is far wider than I initially thought.
I did not watch President Biden's speech yesterday, but did read the transcript. It was encouraging to see the words of a President that understood the meaning of the day and chose to properly intertwine the importance of what we may likely lose to what those men and women fought their lives for.
Be safe, be well.
Dear Prof. HCR,
You nailed the message I needed at the end of this memorial day, although, it was not the one I had wanted. The one I wanted had to do with the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa race massacre, but the one I needed was a reinforcement of the ideals of democracy by our President.
President Biden accentuated the primary reason for our entry into the two world wars -- the sacral duty to defend our four freedoms against the tyrannies of totalitarian rule, the primary rationale for the sacrifices of our progeny and our kin, our democratic freedoms as highlighted by President F. D. Roosevelt: freedom of speech, freedom from want, freedom of fear, and freedom of worship. Our president brought these to bear on the precariousness of our present situation and you caught the beauty of his message on a memorial day like no other: one that spoke to our need to value the foundations of this republic. In Biden's words:
"Democracy thrives when the infrastructure of democracy is strong; when people have the right to vote freely and fairly and conveniently; when a free and independent press pursues the truth, founded on facts, not propaganda; when the rule of law applies equally and fairly to every citizen, regardless of where they come from or what they look like.”
“[T]he right to vote, the right to rise in a world as far as your talent can take you, unlimited by unfair barriers of privilege and power—such are the principles of democracy."
I wanted one historical grounding, but needed the other in order to recognize that without the one, my hopes for the other will never be realized. My deepest thanks go to you, dear HCR.
Earlier this morning, before Professor Richardson’s Letter had reached my mailbox, I saw this article on the front page of The Guardian with the headline: ”Rise of armed civilian groups in Myanmar fuels fears of full-scale civil war Dozens of grassroots people’s defence forces have emerged to take on brutal military”
I was reminded of our conversation here about the Second amendment, and Rep. Gaetz and others whipping up their supporters to believe they could legitimately take up arms against their country because of their Leader’s loss to President Biden in the 2020 election.
And now, former US Army General Flynn is advocating for armed insurrection and Louis Gohmert and other elected representatives are standing at his side to support this mortally dangerous and morally bankrupt rhetoric.
Included below is an excerpt from the Guardian article, and it stands as a damning rebuke to Flynn, Gaetz, Trump, Gohmert and all their fellow traitors who appear hell-bent on returning the most anti-democratic President in our history, to office.
The role they have chosen for themselves and are encouraging their followers to execute, is not that of the civilians of Myanmar who are assembling to save themselves – it is the polar opposite. The Trump-Flynn-Gaetz model is that of the Myanmar military that assumed power in a coup and is enforcing their rule through brutality, terror, and murder.
President Biden’s words are inspiring, but I believe we have entered a time when language should be used to name the thing for what it is: Those aligned with the former President and his actions to overturn the 2020 election are knowingly engaging in sedition.
“At least 833 people have been killed by the military since it seized power in February, according to estimates by the advocacy group Assistance Association for Political Prisoners Burma. Thousands have been detained, often in unknown locations where they are at risk of torture.
An activist who has met young people who are training to fight the military, and who asked to remain anonymous, said volunteers believed violence was the only language the military understood. “They want to scare the soldiers coming into their communities making arrests, beating and torturing,” she said. “Some people are hoteliers, some have their own restaurants, bars – and they have now left all their businesses.”
One young medical student had fled alone to train, the activist said. “She was so passionate because her friends got killed. Her place was terrorised under martial law. She saw people burning alive in front of her. That experience pushed her to pick up the gun.””
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/01/rise-of-armed-civilian-groups-in-myanmar-fuels-fears-of-civil-war
Professor, so often you go deep, down through the news and facts you share. Thank you so much. I was hoping we would hear that Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema were willing to forego the Filibuster and open the gates of America's democracy wide. As Americans toil on, it is time for a response from Washington. As you write today, "The approximately 60 Texas Democratic lawmakers were forced to walk away from bills they had hoped to pass, but they felt they had to send a message. State Representative Trey Martinez Fischer said, 'Breaking quorum is about the equivalent of crawling on our knees begging the president and the United States Congress to give us the For the People Act and give us the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.' " We must restore our Democracy.
Oh boy. The marine who asked Flynn about Minamar AKA Myanmar is a simpleton. The overly enthusiastic cheerleaders of a Myanmar style coup shown in the video clip seem to have ingested large amounts of amphetamines. A hefty number of US Americans have thrown out the baby, the bathwater and the tub...they've ditched all common sense. Heck yeah, they say, we want a coup!
We're watching a segment of our population succumb to a deep insanity...is it in the water? The air? Have they been poisoned by eating food contaminated with ergot*? What did these people obsess about before Trump and Q Anon? How can we draw them back into a reality based frame of mind and not belittle them in the process?
I admire Biden for reminding us again and again what Democracy is and what it means. I appreciate his consistently positive approach to addressing the needs physical, social and emotional needs of the the American people. I'm hopeful that one by one he will change the hearts and minds of those who've gone off the deep end.
*Ergot poisoning has long been my very favorite explanation for en masse insane behavior. I'm being sarcastic when I suggest it here, but geez, these people are crazy!
Now is the time to aim your podcaster and reel in the brand new podcast with Prof. Richardson and Prof. Joanne Freeman, “Now and Then.” The first episode dropped today, and each and every Tuesday. Topics today, from the description: On this first episode of Now & Then, “Entangling Alliances,” Heather Cox Richardson and Joanne Freeman discuss the emerging Biden Doctrine and the relationship between foreign and domestic policy throughout American history. Heather and Joanne focus on the French Revolution, Teddy Roosevelt’s progressive turn, and the cultural legacies of the Vietnam War as three moments from “then” that can particularly inform this transitional moment for America’s role in the world. See https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/now-then/id1567665859?i=1000523750443
We can’t even honor our soldiers, past and present, without interruption from the Q crazies. I sure am glad Biden is our President.
I understand that there are many who find it difficult to maintain friendships with those with whom they radically disagree in this era of political polarization. As a lifelong progressive, now living in an area of Texas that is predominantly Republican locally, I am frequently appalled by the rhetoric and extreme views of Trumplicans. However, I remind myself that there are still many moderate and sane Republicans, Independents, and Progressives in my surrounding neighborhoods. Not even all Republicans are nuts. I refrain from engaging the complete wackos in controversies. However, I do not hesitate to advocate as an activist and supporter of progressive causes and policies simply because I may have neighbors who disagree with my positions.
My advice to my friends and other activists is not to seek out controversy, do not to abuse or abandon friendships over political disagreements. However, do not hesitate to let others know where you stand and why. There is a difference between remaining silent out of fear or timidity, and courteous, respectful defense of your beliefs and positions.
My friends and family know well where I stand on issues and on the preservation of our democracy. I do not apologize for those positions. Neither do I disrespect their views even though I may strongly disagree with some of them. I respect the views of others and expect them to respect mine. But, I do believe that timid silence is a form of complicity and I will not be complicit in their attempts to undermine or overthrow our democracy.
Readers of this substack may be interested in Greg Olear's substack post on PREVAIL today, titled "35 Poltroons" (https://gregolear.substack.com/p/35-poltroons - it is viewable without a paid subscription). He breaks down the 35 into Spineless Cowards, Fourth of July Traitors, Insurrection Enthusiasts and Owned Property. I appreciated the texture of the ascribed motivations...and Olear's sense of humor, biting and somewhat coarse though it may be.
Thank you Dr. Richardson for your clear presentation of the good in President Biden’s Memorial Day speech. Thank you also for the news about the Qanon gathering with Cheetos loyalists. Sydney Powell seems like a science fiction character and Flynn is playing true to form. Both sides get similar amounts of air time for their messaging—democracy in real time.
From a Ezra Klein interview with Barack Obama as reported in the NYT.
Obama was discussing the change in media coverage from when he ran in 2008 until today.
“ If I went into those same places now — or if any Democratic who’s campaigning goes in those places now — almost all news is from either Fox News, Sinclair news stations, talk radio, or some Facebook page. And trying to penetrate that is really difficult.
It’s not that the people in these communities have changed. It’s that if that’s what you are being fed, day in and day out, then you’re going to come to every conversation with a certain set of predispositions that are really hard to break through. And that is one of the biggest challenges I think we face.
But some of it is a media infrastructure that persuaded a large portion of that base that they had something to fear. And fed on that politics of fear and resentment in a way that ironically ended up being a straitjacket for the Republican officials themselves. And some of them were gobbled up by the monster that had been created. And suddenly found themselves retiring because they weren’t angry or resentful enough for the base they had stoked.
Conflict sells.”
Buying the Big Lie? No surprise if you consume a steady diet of conservative media.
We must have consequences in our nation for activities like the Big Lie. We have morphed from letting every white collar crime become an entrepreneurial business strategy, to becoming a political ideology and party platform, to letting treason become a political ideology and party platform. There was a time when people like those who incited the Big Lie, who spread Q conspiracy theories and those who attacked our Capitol would have been tried and hung in short order. In those days, there weren't so many. Consequences are required. Trump should have be locked up the day he lied about his Republican opponents. Not doing so demonstrated that he could announce his ability to shoot someone and get away with it. After that there have been no limits.
Some jail time would do them all good. No electronics, just books. Make them really suffer.