Remember how American voters so hated Project 2025, the playbook for a second Trump term written by the Heritage Foundation and other right-wing institutions, that Trump said he had nothing to do with it, and then one of its key architects, Russell Vought, told undercover filmmakers that Trump was only running away from the project as political cover?
If DJT is Putin's Puppet... Then Putin is succeeding Brilliantly in Damaging the U.S., and Europe... DJT will not always be with Us, but the Damage that DJT has done will persist...
I've seen allegations of Putin's techies having hacked pro-orange felon votes at the top of ballots which Musk provided to them -- with no down-ballot voting on them at all.
Have also seen allegations of some millions of Dem inner city (black) votes having been suppressed as illegitimate, set aside as provisional, then unceremoniously dumped.
That is entirely believable. Why the silence about the obvious potential for enormous election fraud from the Democrats ? The only reason that seems acceptable is that the Intelligence services reports argued that the potential loss of life and US state cohesion from a bloody uncontrollable insurgent civil war breaking out when Trump lost was though to be a greater threat than the slow burn loss of life and US state cohesion when he was returned. I am hoping that this is what is called a Golden Bridge event. Allowing your mortal enemies an acceptable retreat via a seeming gain. If not, than Kruschev and his loyalists have indeed played a blinder that will go down in history as one of the greatest and most successful Intelligence operations in modern history. The political capture of the USA without a shot being fired.
And I’m criticized for being angry because after all, it was our side that didn’t rise to the occasion and prevent this monster from destroy everything good in America. And when I suggest that the last chance to save America is to encourage or hope the good generals who still obey the constitution temporarily suspends it and declare a military coup in order to preserve the original concept of the constitution. And I’m criticized for being an asshole. Go ahead, call me an asshole. You are about to be put in your place.
(From "Donald's Vanity Tantrums")
Welcome to The New Snazzy Nazi States of America
(Introducing The Goose-Step, Two-Step March)
A new dance craze is sweeping the nation called, The Goose-Step, Two-step March. This invigorating new exercise is easy to learn! First, link arms on the dance floor. As you move backward in line, turn your head to the right and lift your left leg straight up as high as it will go. Then step forward as you turn your head to the left and lift your right leg straight up in the air.
It's very similar to square dancing or line dancing. Soon the dance floor will be filled with goose-steppers. Forward, backward, round and round. If you step out of line, you are tagged, the caller detains you, interrogates you, strip searches you, and sends you off to detainment camps for disloyalty.
This new dance craze is not to be confused with serious charges of criminal activity. By the time the youngins reach the age of reason, they will be quick to form into lines upon request for impromptu Goose-Step, Two-Step Marches and other forms of family entertainment
The unprofessional journalists and news agencies who allowed the Republicans to keep Project 2025 a secret for 12 months leading up to the Nov 5th election is to blame. Project 2025 is a regime change that crushes our democracy to bits, and allowed the GOP to camouflage this as a zealot Christian National program, plus allowed Trump to avoid being transparent with disclosure is a major backstab from MSM to all of America. The angry public should threaten civil protest and force Biden and Harris to support us.
I always felt that If Trump managed to get into office again, there would be general strikes all over the country. I don't see the appetite, sadly.
Joe Biden welcomed Trump into the Oval Office with a smile. (That was devastating to me, a lifelong Dem - I mean, I don't want Dems to obstruct the transfer of power, but did he HAVE to do it with a big smile? Knowing the contempt Trump has for him? )
I keep thinking of the Tolerance Paradox: the more one extends tolerance to the intolerant, the more the tolerant are treated poorly until they're eventually overcome.
You're talking about an American public, of which 40% cannot read and comprehend the instructions on a bottle of aspirin, and a total population of 60% reads at a 6th grade level or less, 80% of whom have no idea how the government works. Do you think any of these Gammas know what a "general strike" is?
Yes, the Tolerance Paradox sums it up perfectly. I completely agree. Of all the thing that have been so alarming since the election, Joe Biden smiling and welcoming 45 was absolutely crushing. I don't understand why we continue to pretend this is just another election.
Unfortunately the media (WaPo in particular) has bent over backwards to normalize Trump. Many of my friends, and I have canceled our subscriptions. Now I can ad Delta to my do not fly list.
However SS and Medicare do need attention. They are unsustainable as they are. Perhaps some of their inevitable shortfalls could be reversed if for every $150000 someone made in retirement, their SS payments would decline by 33% and their Medicare premiums would double. These numbers have no basis in facts. Just an idea.
Secondly the major welfare program, FEMA has to go. States should self insure for the natural disasters that they know are coming. Unfortunately that will mean state income taxes will be needed to fund these recovery plans.
Similarly , farm welfare has to end.
Instead these grifters want to cut food stamps and support for the bottom of our economy. They don’t seem to want to acknowledge that half our population is below average intellectually and/ or physically. Unfortunately many cannot follow basic instructions.
Is there abuse of our current welfare system? Of course. Medicare fraud is rampant too. Maybe big oil welfare can finally go away?
There are plenty of complicated opportunities for our “entrepreneurs “. Hopefully they won’t choose to pick on those who are already underserved.
People with too much accountable power tend to become bullies (corrupt). Any precedents in history (yup)? Democratic power attempts to make power accountable. That's what regulation is. There can be bad regulation, even malicious regulation (think of "Jim Crow" laws) but law keeps society civilized.
Those (in every society) who want to dominate and exploit people, to impose their own will if they can, fight boundaries and accountability tooth and nail. It the foreign films I like to watch are any guide, bullies emerge in childhood worldwide, and some people admire that. Successful liberators are often subject to attack and assassination. Some seem to live to subjugate others if they can. It's a reoccurring theme throughout history with a very ugly wake of victims.
"As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy. Whatever differs from this, to the extent of the difference, is not democracy."
Trump told us he would bring down our government—the “deep state.” America either didn’t believe him or didn’t care. His first step in the process is to appoint crackpots in charge of our institutions. His second step will be to destroy our safety net. There are already plans afoot to destroy Medicaid. Surely, Obama Care is next. If the government can survive for two more years, we may have a chance to begin reconstruction.
More than Fox. Fox + social media, or soc media +??? I think Fox got wise. Just watch what is trending on social and run the entertainment ‘news’ of what is trending highest, even if it’s mostly bots.
I don’t know that Fox Propaganda Network got wise so much as fined three quarters of a billion dollars for lying about Dominion voting machines. That sort of hit stings, and calls for more subtle subterfuge.
I agree, social media and Russian skulduggery have serious negative impacts on American democracy. Not to mention gerrymandering, voter suppression and so on.
And mot of them couldn't red and comprehend anything about it if you gave it to them. Just make sure the Stupor Bowl is played in January and they have March Madness in the spring, and they'll be happy.
"This was digital demotivation, something that I have seen and studied in other settings. I was supposed to be driven towards indifference, towards not doing anything, towards not voting. I was being nudged by a phantom....This time the oligarch was Elon Musk, and this time the demotivational messages were deceptive to an even higher degree: they were presented as Harris campaign ads."
So here we are. Watch Simon Rosenberg's excellent discussions with 3 other titans of American politics Rick Wilson, Joe Trippe and Stuart Stevens. They are discussing what happened, seem to be scratching their heads on what's next and are determined to do what they can to counteract this incoming Administration.
The number of core MAGA voters could not have won this election. Something else not seen before happened. There was massive propaganda.
Why haven't the pundits addressed Russian interference? Trump spread the big lie. His Jan 6 message was "stop the steal" This time, he apparently, with Musk's and Russkie help, performed a steal. Musk said it would be easy.
If voters were wary of the "other" it was because Russia and a complying media and Republican proaganda targeted visceral voters. To me the "other" is Russia.
The FBI said in a statement it was aware of the threats, many of which originated from Russian email domains, but the agency also downplayed their risk. “None of the threats have been determined to be credible thus far,” the statement said.
Hartmann elsewhere cited and interviewed Stephen Spoonamore, who was CEO or CTO at seven high technology firms including two that specialized in hacking and counter-hacking operations. He wrote a memo alleging that to "a near certainty" the results have been changed at a scale which reversed the election. He recommends a hand recount to most likely require reversal. He cites to a letter from 7 experts in computer science who go into detail. https://freespeechforpeople.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/letter-to-vp-harris-111324.pdf
I don't think Spoonamore knows jack about law. Many of the acts alleged may be crimes -- either state and/or federal.
Every other state has similar provisions. AZ and NV apparently aberrant...that may be enough. But note that Greg Palast also says 2.7 million votes are missing.
The requirements for TROs are usually iminent and imediate threats..
We had Consitutional crises before...Bush v Gore. A civil war.
I read the piece that was linked to. Here's my problem. I need to see examples. It's all very well to talk about that there were videos produced that were negative about Harris but they were produced as though they were part of the Harris campaign. But I need to see an example. Or two. It's not that I don't believe it but I just Need to see an example. Or two.
Everything is too bad now. We have a president who is a pig and his piglets are hungry to transform our democracy into whatever the want without guardrails. They were I’ll destroy more guardrails as quickly as possible. The carnage is coming soon and I can hardly stand to watch.
I remember learning about Project 2025 in April. (the short Wikipedia article, now long gone. I sent the link to every left wing news person possible. Rachael, Heather, all my left wing friends to send to their left wing friends. Here a number of times. Finally it started to catch on. It really pays not to have a TV since I was 19. I read real news. In print that I can study. TV news is there and then gone. (I guess) Not stressed in time for the election. I made sure all knew that News Max was started by a cousin to see how gullible people were (the paper addition) He is long dead now.
Thank goodness for the odd tidbit of good news (e.g. Biden's judicial appointments getting through). No more Delta flights for me -- too scary considering they are so excited about being deregulated. And as someone with family that must be vetted periodically for security clearances - the skirting of such similar requirements for these wackos is mindbendingly insane.
Ditto on the arrogance of the Delta airlines executive. How many Boeing accidents did we need to see? All those close calls? There’s a reason for regulations. Safety anyone? The arrogance is appalling.
Malignant narcissism has always been a component of human nature and human societies from way back, and it often becomes institutionalized; racism, sexism, royalty, caste systems, etc. Has this excess in our nature not been a blight on the history and fulfillment of our species? Isn't harming others for personal gain exact what evil is all about? Might it not kill us all?
"the devil hath power To assume a pleasing shape;" - Hamlet
We can’t forget Victor’s influence on the administration. He is the right wing hero. But I am afraid that many Trump voters are fine with a Christian-Nationalist dictator.
I”m flying Delta twice in the coming weeks. I”ll be letting the staff know how I feel about their CEO. And it may be my last Delta flight until Bastien resigns.
Biden is still in office. Biden should take steps iIF anymore are needed to formally confirm the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) as the 28th Amendment to our Constitution.
I am an Active ABA member & last August our House of Delegates formally passed a resolution declaring the ERA is already the 28th Amendment. Long time since Seneca.
HCR is right about the fact that 2 Biden Judges were appointed to the Federal bench today. Ted Cruz & another R Senator were absent. No word on whether Cruz went to Cancun for a traditional Thanksgiving or why he was a No-Show at the Senate hearing.
"There's a crack in everything that's how the light gets in."
Well, of course, a CEO of a large airline is so happy that Biden regulations put in place will be, in fact, put to rest. Forget about their passengers safety. Their purse gets bigger and bigger. Speaking of bigger…the debacle surrounding Matt Gaetz and the release of the report is stalled until 12/5. Lawrence O’Donnell said tonight that he thinks one, maybe two Republicans will side with the Dems to release it. If the House won’t do it, Amy Klobuchar mentioned that the Senate will demand to see the report. Making Gaetz the AG should make every man, woman, and child shudder. The good news is that the Dems are going full-force in approving judicial nominations. We have over 200 approved and the Senate hopes to make it with 25 more.
That sounds hopeful, but in that regard, I believe the unqualified candidates to be appointed to the Cabinet are a smoke screen to run outthe clock before they take full control to dismantle the government itself. I wrote this comment to Ben Meiselas' interview of Congressman Raja Krishnamoorth a few hours ago :
We know all that, sir. The issue is the CLEAR and Present Danger that exists at this moment to dismantle our government and eliminate the Constitution that many thousands of us over the years have sworn to "PROTECT AGAINST ALL ENEMIES, FOREIGN and DOMESTIC WITH OUR LIVES"!
It is the responsibility of our dear POTUS, as Comander-in-Chief, to step in NOW and arrest all these traitorous thugs whose aim is to destroy our nation for the benefit of Vladimir Putin, our known enemy.
That is what they scream loudly is their intention. WHAT GIVES? SCOTUS gives him full permission to carry out an official act, legal or not. I believe saving our Nation from Domestic enemies is as legal as from a foriegn attack. Does a shooting war have to happen first? 1860 is not that long ago.
With the aid and encouragement of Hitler, the Republican Party attempted a coup to overthrow our government in 1939. Senate Majority Leader Robert Taft and several others were caught in action and indicted. It was only the mistrial that set them free to try again. They are still at it.Do we need any more than Jan. 6, 2021 to know that these people attempted a coup once again.
I am so disappointed in the Biden administration, willingly turning over our Democracy to thugs who are bankrolled by Putin.
When we learned (from the WALL STREET JOURNAL no less!!) a month before the election that Elon Musk has been in contact with Putin since 2022 (when Musk acquired Twitter) I thought that news would be "STOP THE PRESSES". But no one even reported on it. And Musk retains his security clearance with our government.
God help us.
We are losing the battle and there is no one coming to save us.
Donald Trump was elected. Joe Biden isn't "turning over" anything nor is he responsible for the perfidy of the media or the brainwashed cult of the "electorate". Biden did a magnificent job and he "owes" us nothing more. We have to take responsibility for our own actions and decisions regarding how we move forward from this.
You wrote “ Well, of course, a CEO of a large airline is so happy that Biden regulations put in place will be, in fact, put to rest. Forget about their passengers safety.”
Recall the holy writ of Saint Milton Friedman: Maximizing corporate shareholder value trumps everything else, period.
a confidant of St. Reagan. His thesis was that corporations have a duty to be as greedy and ruthless as possible; and somehow the public bought it. The rape of India by the East India Company would seem a fitting precedent. Yet despite a wave of public-serving regulations by and for the people in the early to mid 20th Century, American corporations were doing just fine.
What changed after Reagan was the notion that with few exceptions, activities related the making of profit should be uniquely exempt from the duties we otherwise share as citizens of a self-regulating nation , and that has given us a culture increasingly shaped by oligarchs. and resulting in increasingly threatening consequences, such as climate change, or inadequately vetted planes falling out of the sky.
I’m not sure it’s the safety regs Delta is as gleeful about. It’s the protections for customers around hidden fees and having to compensate fliers whose flights are disrupted, cancelled, etc.
No conclusion to Heather's piece today. At the end, Biden makes a bit of lame duck progress.
But the MAGA convicted criminal makes much more "progress" pushing priorities for the U.S.'s most nihilist, dark money billionaires who aim to dismantle all federal limits to their predations.
Good of Heather today that she doesn't laugh at all at the obvious clown show the convicted criminal puts on as he names sexual deviants, obvious incompetents, and clueless TV stars to run his bureaucracy. Sure, it may deserve some laughs -- they'll all mutually only damage each other, our Keystone Cops of 100 years later.
But good of Heather not to laugh. The clown show is window dressing. The worst U.S. billionaires now really run the show -- they all in cahoots with all the world's worst oligarchs, murderers, dictators.
A wise old Italian lady, whose blog I read, has likened the Trump line-up to a bunch of second-rate actors from Casting Central - the goody, the baddy, and so on through the range.
Your first two sentences are spot on. I kept reading through Heather's essay looking for a ray of hope, or at least a punchy conclusion. 'Twas not to be.
See my comment above to Marlene, Phil. This clown show is the distraction to run out the clock before the treasonous traitors can be stopped right now by POTUS.
Sorry, Ransom, but unless we can verify Putin's hacking of votes, MAGA won.
The American people have had it with democracy. More than those who love the old republic, the ever-aspiring democracy, more have attended schools that taught them only to love vulgarity, hate, and the wildest of lies mixed in with plenty of "bing-bing-boing-bong" even more vulgar "entertainment."
Dems might have responded with reference to our humanities, to see, succor the working classes all abandoned by other elites who did tens of millions of offshoring of their jobs. Might have. But Dems went to similar schools, and never learned any humanities to get in touch with, stay in touch with any non-elites.
So it was all just forever-forever-forever fundraising for them. And lots of celebrities.
And I have friends that keep telling me don’t worry. It’s only for four years. I don’t know the longer. I live the more I’d like to move from this country.
The U.S. with its rule by law modeled democracy for a world with many countries following that example.
Gone soon. The Clarence court killed the main principle of no one above the law. Refused to honor let alone read the Constitution's Article 14, section three expressly forbidding any insurrectionist criminal from holding public office. Expressly ruled that a monarch newly trump the Constitution. The U.S. didn't just get a felon at the top, but a self-centered madman determined to destroy all the institutions that had held together the republic.
And then gone, too, anyone in the world to hold together the military alliances that protected democracies.
Totally triumphant soon the world's worst in totalitarian league with the U.S. billionaire worst.
The effect on the world is and will be horrific, Phil, but it does matter very much to me that I now can choose to live in a place where the children in our family don't have to endure active shooter drills. Where I as a woman feel safer on the street than I ever have in my life because men here don't have guns. Where women have bodily autonomy, protected by law and public support. Where everyone has public health care, where young people go to college for free and the level of higher education is the highest in Europe. Where religion isn't a cancer. Where everyone I meet understands the insanity of what the US has just done. It matters. It's keeping me sane. The whole world didn't make this atrocious choice. The US did.
I live in a country (Japan) which has all the qualities you seek.
Go figure. 90 years ago it was just entering its own fascist madness. All that reversed since the mass death trip of WWII, but a serious bit of the old patriarchy remains, a very new, un-Japanese wealth gap is growing, and the schools have just gone bonkers for everything so U.S. standardized test oriented that no humanities remain in any schools (like current black hole U.S. education).
But again, yours above most well-put, each sentence aptly stronger and stronger as you near your oh-so-fitting three-word conclusion.
I can travel to far off lands so I don’t have to watch a steady diet of the destruction that tRump will visit upon our country. It would be worth it to not have to be around to see this “show”.
Yes I have heard the same; "don't worry he'll be gone in 4 years", and even if it were true, 4 more years of trump is a very, very, long time. Voters have rewarded his bad behavior by giving him 4 more years to get rid of any opposition to him staying in power. I am so... not looking forward to witnessing that.
Trump may very well be gone in four years (or sooner) but this MAGA stuff is no longer just Trump's show. It is something that will be with us far after he has gone to his reward.
Naziism didn't die with Hitler in the bunker in Berlin. Racism didn't magically disappear at Appomattox.
We all know that saying it doesn't make it so. The problem is that many only listen to one source of information. How long will it take for them to realize that they, too, are affected by the reality of the mayhem Trump and his minions are intent on causing?
It’s not a simple thing to get a residency permit in another country. In Canada it takes several years to even know if you will be accepted. And you need to apply from your country of origin. Some folks think it would be better to reside in Mexico — well, Mexico’s government is even more corrupt than Trump’s will be. Plus there are the drug cartels that wield a huge amount of power. Not to mention crumbling infrastructure.
Everyone talks of leaving, but no one actualky ever does. You are correct most countries require you to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars, speak their language and have a degree in a field they are in need of. No free phones, free medical, free housing, free meals, and thousands in spending money when you illegally enter their countries.
"Trump has refused to sign the official documents required by the 2022 Presidential Transition Act. Those documents mandate ethics commitments and require the incoming president to disclose private donations. They also limit those donations. Without the paperwork, Trump appointees cannot start the process of getting security clearances through the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the team says it is planning to do its own vetting of its candidates instead."
Trump may have beaten Kamala Harris, but he did not "beat" the United States government.
If I were required by the organization I had been chosen to lead to follow an official rule (in this case the 2022 Presidential Transition Act) and refused to do so, the existing leadership of the organization would be within its rights to tear up my employment contract.
I am reminded of how disgustingly friendly Joe Biden was when Trump met with him at the White House recently. That fit the pattern of Democrats playing "nice" while Republicans "come prepared for a knife fight". We saw this behavior in how Al Gore and his team behaved during the 2000 Florida recount.
If I could wave a magic wand, I would have current President Joe Biden - since he is still in a fashion "running the country" - declare Trump has violated the terms of employment by the US government and deny him his "employment contract".
PS I think we can all acknowledge that if the roles had been reversed Trump WOULD do this. (ref: January 6th).
I know it's foolish to think of Joe Biden playing hardball, but one can always dream.
Well, but 'the existing leadership' in this case is not the employer/hirer, and has no such powers. They could refuse to do a peaceful transition of power, I suppose, but, you know, that's been tried... In any case, being truculant around Trump instead of pleasant would just be childish.
Heather, I am so glad I am at the ending years of my life rather than the beginning or middle years. We are facing a nightmare of unbelievable times. This was a hard letter to read but read them we must in order to learn the truth. What will this country be like as my young great grandsons grow into adulthood? Will my son, in remission from multiple myeloma, lose his insurance? And will I lose my Social Security benefits and Medicare? I can no longer sleep without taking a sleeping pill or I will worry all night long.
Yes. I understand. I worry for my granddaughter but am glad to be at the ending years rather than at the beginning. I marvel at the hopefulness of those who are still bearing children!
Two points on this scheiße show from Trump. 1st, Social Security was not funded by tax revenues but by savings collected from recipients and their employers. Second, there is no mandate, landslide, or, even, a decisive victory for Trump. Interesting vid. talking about possible problems with ballots.
Reality has no meaning for these creatures. Reality is whatever they say it is. Until real reality bites them in the butt. But when that happens, they're not the ones who will be hurt.
Well, once the Trust Fund runs out, and even before that, it really is more complicated regarding social security. The only honest position is that the current generation is being taxed to pay the retirement generation not to suffer in poverty. And then in turn they will get the same treatment! Funds extracted from workers go directly to retirees. That is the brilliance of the program. And that is exactly why it cannot be privatized as GW Bush wanted to do.
Well Ned, yes SS is a forced savings program. But for any of us that collect for more than a few years, we get back significantly more than we paid in. And we can’t simply raise the rate for our grandchildren. Certainly we can make contributions go all the way up like Medicare contributions. That might help a little and we can means test eligibility And we can raise Medicare premiums based on income.
While I despise Don, I think he did win decisively. Many Americans are fine with a dictatorship based on religion and nationalism. Even if it adversely effects their wallet.
What agency enforces the Presidential Transition Act? Without FBI vetting, signed documents, and security clearances, Trump's people shouldn't be installed. He shouldn't be getting daily security briefings now, either. Enforce the law!
Slipping through the hands of Justice repeatedly, Trump's victories have made me very, very weary. I can't get my head or heart around it all. Now, there are greedy puppets galore who dance on the Constitution and decency itself.
I go back to Maya Angelou, when they tell you who they are, listen. Project 2025 is here and the price of bacon was not enough reason to let “them” take over our government. And how long will it be before they admit they have screwed up and for the GOP members in Congress to stand up against them.
Over the course of the next four years, it’s likely that most of the 70+ million Trump voters will find out why the world would be better off without them.
Yeah.. they’re gonna find out.. but so fuckin’what? The rest of the world will have to suffer because of their ignorance.. I hate his supporters, god help me , but I do.
Yes. What they have unleashed will make it impossible to slow the climate-induced shrinking of livable space, which will lead to a collapse of civilization caused by competition for what’s left of it. This is what 70+ million Americans have voted for and have delivered to all of humanity (and, what is even more tragic, to all large mammals). Those 74 million American voters have, in my judgment, sacrificed their right to life. Unfortunately, we have no feasible way to rid ourselves of them, so we’re all stuck with the consequences of their malfeasance.
They are all going to heaven at the end of the day (so they think), so there is that ... I'm not sure if the marjorie taylor greene supporters (I think it is fitting that copy and paste didn't capitalize) believe in heaven or are just happy to pull others who do along for the ride.
Don't think for once despite the above paragraph I believe in eternal life. I've got no fracking clue, but probably consciousness does not live on after death. We need to prioritize the life that we have, in the universe that we have.
I feel the same way. And yes -- it is not only this country but the entire world that will suffer. And apparently all developed nations have turned to the right wing politicians who promise "they alone can fix it" (see: Argentina)
They are not in power to “prove” anything to people but to carry over the mandates of white supremacy evangelicals and oligarchs. This is what Project 2025 is all about. Check current life for Argentinians. When Musk said there would be “hardship” nobody translated those hardships into the everyday life of regular citizens.
I'm wondering what else President Biden can do now, since, after all, he has absolute immunity, to further protect us? Can he add 5 more Justices to the court, since the Senate is working with him? And/or does he need to scuttle some of the mechanisms (I have no idea what these would be) to prevent Trump/Russia from getting their hands on them? Why has no one invoked the 14th amendment? I have so many questions. I'm convinced the airlines are all pretty corrupt when it comes to ripping us off. But if they don't want safety regulations, maybe they don't want passengers. People talk about staging another march in January, but it seems like a general strike might be more effective. But back to the main point, what else should we ask Biden to do now, and what else CAN he do to safeguard the Constitution, the Republic, our citizens, and our allies?
Bloodshed? Hmm. He's itching to make us look like we're the ones inciting violence, which he could manipulate by having infiltrators join a peaceful march. A strike is passive resistance. But in terms of bloodshed and mayhem, over a million US citizens died of Covid during his last term in office. He put children in cages. Nancy Pelosi's husband was attacked with a hammer by one of his lunatics. Now women are dying because they can't get medical treatment after miscarriages. Now, already. And he promises mass deportation and the destruction of most of the departments of our government, firing government workers, releasing the J6 convicts, and taking vengeance on his enemies with the blessing of the Supreme Court. I don't think sitting back to watch will prevent people from being hurt, rounded up and incarcerated, deported or disappeared. Standing together is an act of courage. But I don't think a march will have the same impact as a general strike. And doing nothing or "playing it safe' is capitulation. It's what the Germans did.
The following is a developing plan. One way to throw monkey wrenches into the Unartful DOGErs plans might be civil suits in blue state courts seeking injunctions against the firing of Federal civil servants whose actions are essential to the health and safety of the citizens in their states. Underlying such suits is the fact that the Federal government is funded by citizens of their states, making such firing a violation of the principle of no taxation without representation. Under such circumstances, citizens could stop paying Federal taxes and give those taxes to their states so they can provide the no longer available services to their citizens. Red state citizens will be hurt, but that’s the way the cookie crumbles. And, with IRS staff cut, it will be impossible for the MAGAts running what’s left of the federal government to prosecute non-payers. There are lots of loose ends here, but I think there’s a kernel of possibility.
Donald, he badly damaged the rollercoaster by ignoring the Emoluments Clause of the Constitution—and no one called him on it. That was his first attack on the Constitution.
It's too bad American voters didn't dislike Project 2025 enough or care to protect their government services enough to vote for Harris/Walz.
Understatement, Angela.
They were lied to, Angela.
They were not informed. Rather disinformed.
"forgive them for they know not what they do".
This could turn out to be the greatest fifth column operation in history. They work from St Petersburg.
If DJT is Putin's Puppet... Then Putin is succeeding Brilliantly in Damaging the U.S., and Europe... DJT will not always be with Us, but the Damage that DJT has done will persist...
You said it well.
I've seen allegations of Putin's techies having hacked pro-orange felon votes at the top of ballots which Musk provided to them -- with no down-ballot voting on them at all.
Have also seen allegations of some millions of Dem inner city (black) votes having been suppressed as illegitimate, set aside as provisional, then unceremoniously dumped.
That is entirely believable. Why the silence about the obvious potential for enormous election fraud from the Democrats ? The only reason that seems acceptable is that the Intelligence services reports argued that the potential loss of life and US state cohesion from a bloody uncontrollable insurgent civil war breaking out when Trump lost was though to be a greater threat than the slow burn loss of life and US state cohesion when he was returned. I am hoping that this is what is called a Golden Bridge event. Allowing your mortal enemies an acceptable retreat via a seeming gain. If not, than Kruschev and his loyalists have indeed played a blinder that will go down in history as one of the greatest and most successful Intelligence operations in modern history. The political capture of the USA without a shot being fired.
And I’m criticized for being angry because after all, it was our side that didn’t rise to the occasion and prevent this monster from destroy everything good in America. And when I suggest that the last chance to save America is to encourage or hope the good generals who still obey the constitution temporarily suspends it and declare a military coup in order to preserve the original concept of the constitution. And I’m criticized for being an asshole. Go ahead, call me an asshole. You are about to be put in your place.
(From "Donald's Vanity Tantrums")
Welcome to The New Snazzy Nazi States of America
(Introducing The Goose-Step, Two-Step March)
A new dance craze is sweeping the nation called, The Goose-Step, Two-step March. This invigorating new exercise is easy to learn! First, link arms on the dance floor. As you move backward in line, turn your head to the right and lift your left leg straight up as high as it will go. Then step forward as you turn your head to the left and lift your right leg straight up in the air.
It's very similar to square dancing or line dancing. Soon the dance floor will be filled with goose-steppers. Forward, backward, round and round. If you step out of line, you are tagged, the caller detains you, interrogates you, strip searches you, and sends you off to detainment camps for disloyalty.
This new dance craze is not to be confused with serious charges of criminal activity. By the time the youngins reach the age of reason, they will be quick to form into lines upon request for impromptu Goose-Step, Two-Step Marches and other forms of family entertainment
This is what I call serious humor.
Not criticizing.
The unprofessional journalists and news agencies who allowed the Republicans to keep Project 2025 a secret for 12 months leading up to the Nov 5th election is to blame. Project 2025 is a regime change that crushes our democracy to bits, and allowed the GOP to camouflage this as a zealot Christian National program, plus allowed Trump to avoid being transparent with disclosure is a major backstab from MSM to all of America. The angry public should threaten civil protest and force Biden and Harris to support us.
I always felt that If Trump managed to get into office again, there would be general strikes all over the country. I don't see the appetite, sadly.
Joe Biden welcomed Trump into the Oval Office with a smile. (That was devastating to me, a lifelong Dem - I mean, I don't want Dems to obstruct the transfer of power, but did he HAVE to do it with a big smile? Knowing the contempt Trump has for him? )
I keep thinking of the Tolerance Paradox: the more one extends tolerance to the intolerant, the more the tolerant are treated poorly until they're eventually overcome.
You're talking about an American public, of which 40% cannot read and comprehend the instructions on a bottle of aspirin, and a total population of 60% reads at a 6th grade level or less, 80% of whom have no idea how the government works. Do you think any of these Gammas know what a "general strike" is?
People who did vote for Harris are beyond stunned. And worried. We have been in this fight since 2016. People are just plain worn out.
And yet, Barbara, we somehow summon our resolve to resist and persist!🗽
Yes, the Tolerance Paradox sums it up perfectly. I completely agree. Of all the thing that have been so alarming since the election, Joe Biden smiling and welcoming 45 was absolutely crushing. I don't understand why we continue to pretend this is just another election.
Project 3025 was no secrete. Neither was Kevin Robert's ultimatum.
Unfortunately the media (WaPo in particular) has bent over backwards to normalize Trump. Many of my friends, and I have canceled our subscriptions. Now I can ad Delta to my do not fly list.
However SS and Medicare do need attention. They are unsustainable as they are. Perhaps some of their inevitable shortfalls could be reversed if for every $150000 someone made in retirement, their SS payments would decline by 33% and their Medicare premiums would double. These numbers have no basis in facts. Just an idea.
Secondly the major welfare program, FEMA has to go. States should self insure for the natural disasters that they know are coming. Unfortunately that will mean state income taxes will be needed to fund these recovery plans.
Similarly , farm welfare has to end.
Instead these grifters want to cut food stamps and support for the bottom of our economy. They don’t seem to want to acknowledge that half our population is below average intellectually and/ or physically. Unfortunately many cannot follow basic instructions.
Is there abuse of our current welfare system? Of course. Medicare fraud is rampant too. Maybe big oil welfare can finally go away?
There are plenty of complicated opportunities for our “entrepreneurs “. Hopefully they won’t choose to pick on those who are already underserved.
“Men, it has been well said, think in herds; it will be seen that they go mad in herds, while they only recover their senses slowly, one by one.”
― Charles MacKay, Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds
Hard to accomplish-persuade-say anything until suffering makes the blinders come off. -\o/-
People with too much accountable power tend to become bullies (corrupt). Any precedents in history (yup)? Democratic power attempts to make power accountable. That's what regulation is. There can be bad regulation, even malicious regulation (think of "Jim Crow" laws) but law keeps society civilized.
Those (in every society) who want to dominate and exploit people, to impose their own will if they can, fight boundaries and accountability tooth and nail. It the foreign films I like to watch are any guide, bullies emerge in childhood worldwide, and some people admire that. Successful liberators are often subject to attack and assassination. Some seem to live to subjugate others if they can. It's a reoccurring theme throughout history with a very ugly wake of victims.
"As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy. Whatever differs from this, to the extent of the difference, is not democracy."
J L, I absolutely agree with your comment, but I think there is a typo in the first line, which should read "...with too much unaccountable power..."
What was the margin again? 256,000 votes short in a few swing states. Erghhh
Trump told us he would bring down our government—the “deep state.” America either didn’t believe him or didn’t care. His first step in the process is to appoint crackpots in charge of our institutions. His second step will be to destroy our safety net. There are already plans afoot to destroy Medicaid. Surely, Obama Care is next. If the government can survive for two more years, we may have a chance to begin reconstruction.
We should not generalize because the average voter was not educated on this massive blueprint to dismantle our Constitution and Government structure.
Not educated, or actively misled by the Fox Propaganda Network and their fellow travelers on the right?
More than Fox. Fox + social media, or soc media +??? I think Fox got wise. Just watch what is trending on social and run the entertainment ‘news’ of what is trending highest, even if it’s mostly bots.
I don’t know that Fox Propaganda Network got wise so much as fined three quarters of a billion dollars for lying about Dominion voting machines. That sort of hit stings, and calls for more subtle subterfuge.
I agree, social media and Russian skulduggery have serious negative impacts on American democracy. Not to mention gerrymandering, voter suppression and so on.
Both. The misinformation and disinformation channels augmented an alternative narrative.
And mot of them couldn't red and comprehend anything about it if you gave it to them. Just make sure the Stupor Bowl is played in January and they have March Madness in the spring, and they'll be happy.
What is really too bad is that the American voters had no idea who or what they were voting for. The massive disinformation and rage media smothered the truth. Timothy Snyder writes of the "digital campaign in his Substack https://substack.com/home/post/p-151786690#:~:text=THINKING%20ABOUT...-,The%20Phantom%20Campaign,-Digital%20Oligarchy%20vs.
"This was digital demotivation, something that I have seen and studied in other settings. I was supposed to be driven towards indifference, towards not doing anything, towards not voting. I was being nudged by a phantom....This time the oligarch was Elon Musk, and this time the demotivational messages were deceptive to an even higher degree: they were presented as Harris campaign ads."
So here we are. Watch Simon Rosenberg's excellent discussions with 3 other titans of American politics Rick Wilson, Joe Trippe and Stuart Stevens. They are discussing what happened, seem to be scratching their heads on what's next and are determined to do what they can to counteract this incoming Administration.
The number of core MAGA voters could not have won this election. Something else not seen before happened. There was massive propaganda.
More likely it was the result of a Russian psyop operation. Yesterday Thom Hartmann outlined it. https://hartmannreport.com/p/are-trumps-appointees-the-trojan-b16?utm_campaign=email-half-post&r=zc69i&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
Why haven't the pundits addressed Russian interference? Trump spread the big lie. His Jan 6 message was "stop the steal" This time, he apparently, with Musk's and Russkie help, performed a steal. Musk said it would be easy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cV58O0USCaY
If voters were wary of the "other" it was because Russia and a complying media and Republican proaganda targeted visceral voters. To me the "other" is Russia.
The FBI said in a statement it was aware of the threats, many of which originated from Russian email domains, but the agency also downplayed their risk. “None of the threats have been determined to be credible thus far,” the statement said.
Hartmann elsewhere cited and interviewed Stephen Spoonamore, who was CEO or CTO at seven high technology firms including two that specialized in hacking and counter-hacking operations. He wrote a memo alleging that to "a near certainty" the results have been changed at a scale which reversed the election. He recommends a hand recount to most likely require reversal. He cites to a letter from 7 experts in computer science who go into detail. https://freespeechforpeople.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/letter-to-vp-harris-111324.pdf
I don't think Spoonamore knows jack about law. Many of the acts alleged may be crimes -- either state and/or federal.
Proof of crime might trigger it, depending on the facts and statute. Feds: https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/scams-and-safety/common-frauds-and-scams/election-crimes-and-security
Pa. https://govt.westlaw.com/pac/Document/NE9692E70343011DA8A989F4EECDB8638?originationContext=document&transitionType=StatuteNavigator&needToInjectTerms=False&viewType=FullText&ppcid=4373140374c44d6283d5fa30147210e8&contextData=%28sc.Default%29
https://whyy.org/articles/lancaster-county-voter-registration-fraud-investigation-elections-2024/
Every other state has similar provisions. AZ and NV apparently aberrant...that may be enough. But note that Greg Palast also says 2.7 million votes are missing.
The requirements for TROs are usually iminent and imediate threats..
We had Consitutional crises before...Bush v Gore. A civil war.
I read the piece that was linked to. Here's my problem. I need to see examples. It's all very well to talk about that there were videos produced that were negative about Harris but they were produced as though they were part of the Harris campaign. But I need to see an example. Or two. It's not that I don't believe it but I just Need to see an example. Or two.
And when you report fake ads, show some examples so we can recognize them and see who posts them.
I would ask Mr. Snyder. You are correct though. I would like to see what those ads looked like too.
Everything is too bad now. We have a president who is a pig and his piglets are hungry to transform our democracy into whatever the want without guardrails. They were I’ll destroy more guardrails as quickly as possible. The carnage is coming soon and I can hardly stand to watch.
Enough American voters.
I remember learning about Project 2025 in April. (the short Wikipedia article, now long gone. I sent the link to every left wing news person possible. Rachael, Heather, all my left wing friends to send to their left wing friends. Here a number of times. Finally it started to catch on. It really pays not to have a TV since I was 19. I read real news. In print that I can study. TV news is there and then gone. (I guess) Not stressed in time for the election. I made sure all knew that News Max was started by a cousin to see how gullible people were (the paper addition) He is long dead now.
Thank goodness for the odd tidbit of good news (e.g. Biden's judicial appointments getting through). No more Delta flights for me -- too scary considering they are so excited about being deregulated. And as someone with family that must be vetted periodically for security clearances - the skirting of such similar requirements for these wackos is mindbendingly insane.
Ditto on the arrogance of the Delta airlines executive. How many Boeing accidents did we need to see? All those close calls? There’s a reason for regulations. Safety anyone? The arrogance is appalling.
Malignant narcissism has always been a component of human nature and human societies from way back, and it often becomes institutionalized; racism, sexism, royalty, caste systems, etc. Has this excess in our nature not been a blight on the history and fulfillment of our species? Isn't harming others for personal gain exact what evil is all about? Might it not kill us all?
"the devil hath power To assume a pleasing shape;" - Hamlet
Milei is their role model. Poverty in Argentina has reached approx 53% and going up: no jobs no food no reliable power grid.
But my suspicion is that the wealthiest of Argentina are still plenty rich, and perhaps that's the point.
Exactly the point. I mean, Elon Musk TOLD US "there would be hardship". This is an oligarchy now. That, and white christian nationalism.
Agree. It is all about sustaining the oligarchs’ rule.
We can’t forget Victor’s influence on the administration. He is the right wing hero. But I am afraid that many Trump voters are fine with a Christian-Nationalist dictator.
I”m flying Delta twice in the coming weeks. I”ll be letting the staff know how I feel about their CEO. And it may be my last Delta flight until Bastien resigns.
Wow! I expected this, but maybe not so brazenly and quickly. I’m speechless. And scared.
Grab the bar and hold on tight the roller coaster has no breaks. Where it stops, if it stops, nobody knows.
It all sounds dreadfully ominous!
Biden is still in office. Biden should take steps iIF anymore are needed to formally confirm the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) as the 28th Amendment to our Constitution.
I am an Active ABA member & last August our House of Delegates formally passed a resolution declaring the ERA is already the 28th Amendment. Long time since Seneca.
HCR is right about the fact that 2 Biden Judges were appointed to the Federal bench today. Ted Cruz & another R Senator were absent. No word on whether Cruz went to Cancun for a traditional Thanksgiving or why he was a No-Show at the Senate hearing.
"There's a crack in everything that's how the light gets in."
Well, of course, a CEO of a large airline is so happy that Biden regulations put in place will be, in fact, put to rest. Forget about their passengers safety. Their purse gets bigger and bigger. Speaking of bigger…the debacle surrounding Matt Gaetz and the release of the report is stalled until 12/5. Lawrence O’Donnell said tonight that he thinks one, maybe two Republicans will side with the Dems to release it. If the House won’t do it, Amy Klobuchar mentioned that the Senate will demand to see the report. Making Gaetz the AG should make every man, woman, and child shudder. The good news is that the Dems are going full-force in approving judicial nominations. We have over 200 approved and the Senate hopes to make it with 25 more.
That sounds hopeful, but in that regard, I believe the unqualified candidates to be appointed to the Cabinet are a smoke screen to run outthe clock before they take full control to dismantle the government itself. I wrote this comment to Ben Meiselas' interview of Congressman Raja Krishnamoorth a few hours ago :
We know all that, sir. The issue is the CLEAR and Present Danger that exists at this moment to dismantle our government and eliminate the Constitution that many thousands of us over the years have sworn to "PROTECT AGAINST ALL ENEMIES, FOREIGN and DOMESTIC WITH OUR LIVES"!
It is the responsibility of our dear POTUS, as Comander-in-Chief, to step in NOW and arrest all these traitorous thugs whose aim is to destroy our nation for the benefit of Vladimir Putin, our known enemy.
That is what they scream loudly is their intention. WHAT GIVES? SCOTUS gives him full permission to carry out an official act, legal or not. I believe saving our Nation from Domestic enemies is as legal as from a foriegn attack. Does a shooting war have to happen first? 1860 is not that long ago.
With the aid and encouragement of Hitler, the Republican Party attempted a coup to overthrow our government in 1939. Senate Majority Leader Robert Taft and several others were caught in action and indicted. It was only the mistrial that set them free to try again. They are still at it.Do we need any more than Jan. 6, 2021 to know that these people attempted a coup once again.
What more do we need to know??
I am so disappointed in the Biden administration, willingly turning over our Democracy to thugs who are bankrolled by Putin.
When we learned (from the WALL STREET JOURNAL no less!!) a month before the election that Elon Musk has been in contact with Putin since 2022 (when Musk acquired Twitter) I thought that news would be "STOP THE PRESSES". But no one even reported on it. And Musk retains his security clearance with our government.
God help us.
We are losing the battle and there is no one coming to save us.
Donald Trump was elected. Joe Biden isn't "turning over" anything nor is he responsible for the perfidy of the media or the brainwashed cult of the "electorate". Biden did a magnificent job and he "owes" us nothing more. We have to take responsibility for our own actions and decisions regarding how we move forward from this.
Remember when Watergate was big news?
Follow the money.
You wrote “ Well, of course, a CEO of a large airline is so happy that Biden regulations put in place will be, in fact, put to rest. Forget about their passengers safety.”
Recall the holy writ of Saint Milton Friedman: Maximizing corporate shareholder value trumps everything else, period.
a confidant of St. Reagan. His thesis was that corporations have a duty to be as greedy and ruthless as possible; and somehow the public bought it. The rape of India by the East India Company would seem a fitting precedent. Yet despite a wave of public-serving regulations by and for the people in the early to mid 20th Century, American corporations were doing just fine.
What changed after Reagan was the notion that with few exceptions, activities related the making of profit should be uniquely exempt from the duties we otherwise share as citizens of a self-regulating nation , and that has given us a culture increasingly shaped by oligarchs. and resulting in increasingly threatening consequences, such as climate change, or inadequately vetted planes falling out of the sky.
Your second paragraph sums up the situation admirably well, tragically.
And there you have it…sigh.
I’m not sure it’s the safety regs Delta is as gleeful about. It’s the protections for customers around hidden fees and having to compensate fliers whose flights are disrupted, cancelled, etc.
No conclusion to Heather's piece today. At the end, Biden makes a bit of lame duck progress.
But the MAGA convicted criminal makes much more "progress" pushing priorities for the U.S.'s most nihilist, dark money billionaires who aim to dismantle all federal limits to their predations.
Good of Heather today that she doesn't laugh at all at the obvious clown show the convicted criminal puts on as he names sexual deviants, obvious incompetents, and clueless TV stars to run his bureaucracy. Sure, it may deserve some laughs -- they'll all mutually only damage each other, our Keystone Cops of 100 years later.
But good of Heather not to laugh. The clown show is window dressing. The worst U.S. billionaires now really run the show -- they all in cahoots with all the world's worst oligarchs, murderers, dictators.
When the clown moves into a palace, he doesn't become a king. The palace becomes a circus.
Turkish proverb.
A wise old Italian lady, whose blog I read, has likened the Trump line-up to a bunch of second-rate actors from Casting Central - the goody, the baddy, and so on through the range.
Your first two sentences are spot on. I kept reading through Heather's essay looking for a ray of hope, or at least a punchy conclusion. 'Twas not to be.
Heather has her back to the wall, unflinchingly describing the arrival of the tidal wave.
So are others. The people I have looked to for answers have none at this point. We are seemingly frozen and waiting.
Maybe paralysed rather than frozen. Which way to move. We just don't know. But this can't go on for very long. I'd be stocking up the fridge/pantry.
See my comment above to Marlene, Phil. This clown show is the distraction to run out the clock before the treasonous traitors can be stopped right now by POTUS.
Sorry, Ransom, but unless we can verify Putin's hacking of votes, MAGA won.
The American people have had it with democracy. More than those who love the old republic, the ever-aspiring democracy, more have attended schools that taught them only to love vulgarity, hate, and the wildest of lies mixed in with plenty of "bing-bing-boing-bong" even more vulgar "entertainment."
Dems might have responded with reference to our humanities, to see, succor the working classes all abandoned by other elites who did tens of millions of offshoring of their jobs. Might have. But Dems went to similar schools, and never learned any humanities to get in touch with, stay in touch with any non-elites.
So it was all just forever-forever-forever fundraising for them. And lots of celebrities.
And I have friends that keep telling me don’t worry. It’s only for four years. I don’t know the longer. I live the more I’d like to move from this country.
Doesn't matter where you go, Janis.
The U.S. with its rule by law modeled democracy for a world with many countries following that example.
Gone soon. The Clarence court killed the main principle of no one above the law. Refused to honor let alone read the Constitution's Article 14, section three expressly forbidding any insurrectionist criminal from holding public office. Expressly ruled that a monarch newly trump the Constitution. The U.S. didn't just get a felon at the top, but a self-centered madman determined to destroy all the institutions that had held together the republic.
And then gone, too, anyone in the world to hold together the military alliances that protected democracies.
Totally triumphant soon the world's worst in totalitarian league with the U.S. billionaire worst.
I don't "like", but am forced to agree.
The effect on the world is and will be horrific, Phil, but it does matter very much to me that I now can choose to live in a place where the children in our family don't have to endure active shooter drills. Where I as a woman feel safer on the street than I ever have in my life because men here don't have guns. Where women have bodily autonomy, protected by law and public support. Where everyone has public health care, where young people go to college for free and the level of higher education is the highest in Europe. Where religion isn't a cancer. Where everyone I meet understands the insanity of what the US has just done. It matters. It's keeping me sane. The whole world didn't make this atrocious choice. The US did.
Alexandra, where is this place?
Most well-put, Alexandra.
I live in a country (Japan) which has all the qualities you seek.
Go figure. 90 years ago it was just entering its own fascist madness. All that reversed since the mass death trip of WWII, but a serious bit of the old patriarchy remains, a very new, un-Japanese wealth gap is growing, and the schools have just gone bonkers for everything so U.S. standardized test oriented that no humanities remain in any schools (like current black hole U.S. education).
But again, yours above most well-put, each sentence aptly stronger and stronger as you near your oh-so-fitting three-word conclusion.
I can travel to far off lands so I don’t have to watch a steady diet of the destruction that tRump will visit upon our country. It would be worth it to not have to be around to see this “show”.
And Putin didn't have to fire a shot at the USA to conquer it, us.
Yes I have heard the same; "don't worry he'll be gone in 4 years", and even if it were true, 4 more years of trump is a very, very, long time. Voters have rewarded his bad behavior by giving him 4 more years to get rid of any opposition to him staying in power. I am so... not looking forward to witnessing that.
Trump may very well be gone in four years (or sooner) but this MAGA stuff is no longer just Trump's show. It is something that will be with us far after he has gone to his reward.
Naziism didn't die with Hitler in the bunker in Berlin. Racism didn't magically disappear at Appomattox.
Less than 50%. Sweeping mandate. They said so.
We all know that saying it doesn't make it so. The problem is that many only listen to one source of information. How long will it take for them to realize that they, too, are affected by the reality of the mayhem Trump and his minions are intent on causing?
Not long.
And then, what will they do about it?
Wish I had a crystal ball as well as a vivid imagination.
Blame Biden.
It’s not a simple thing to get a residency permit in another country. In Canada it takes several years to even know if you will be accepted. And you need to apply from your country of origin. Some folks think it would be better to reside in Mexico — well, Mexico’s government is even more corrupt than Trump’s will be. Plus there are the drug cartels that wield a huge amount of power. Not to mention crumbling infrastructure.
Everyone talks of leaving, but no one actualky ever does. You are correct most countries require you to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars, speak their language and have a degree in a field they are in need of. No free phones, free medical, free housing, free meals, and thousands in spending money when you illegally enter their countries.
I’m not looking to relocate. I said I will travel to distant lands.
I’m terrified… for families, for individuals, for our country.
You should be.
Heather writes:
"Trump has refused to sign the official documents required by the 2022 Presidential Transition Act. Those documents mandate ethics commitments and require the incoming president to disclose private donations. They also limit those donations. Without the paperwork, Trump appointees cannot start the process of getting security clearances through the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the team says it is planning to do its own vetting of its candidates instead."
Trump may have beaten Kamala Harris, but he did not "beat" the United States government.
If I were required by the organization I had been chosen to lead to follow an official rule (in this case the 2022 Presidential Transition Act) and refused to do so, the existing leadership of the organization would be within its rights to tear up my employment contract.
I am reminded of how disgustingly friendly Joe Biden was when Trump met with him at the White House recently. That fit the pattern of Democrats playing "nice" while Republicans "come prepared for a knife fight". We saw this behavior in how Al Gore and his team behaved during the 2000 Florida recount.
If I could wave a magic wand, I would have current President Joe Biden - since he is still in a fashion "running the country" - declare Trump has violated the terms of employment by the US government and deny him his "employment contract".
PS I think we can all acknowledge that if the roles had been reversed Trump WOULD do this. (ref: January 6th).
I know it's foolish to think of Joe Biden playing hardball, but one can always dream.
Good night.
I like this. Thank you.
Well, but 'the existing leadership' in this case is not the employer/hirer, and has no such powers. They could refuse to do a peaceful transition of power, I suppose, but, you know, that's been tried... In any case, being truculant around Trump instead of pleasant would just be childish.
Snap. I think i just typed almost the same post.
"Great minds …" I guess.
Heather, I am so glad I am at the ending years of my life rather than the beginning or middle years. We are facing a nightmare of unbelievable times. This was a hard letter to read but read them we must in order to learn the truth. What will this country be like as my young great grandsons grow into adulthood? Will my son, in remission from multiple myeloma, lose his insurance? And will I lose my Social Security benefits and Medicare? I can no longer sleep without taking a sleeping pill or I will worry all night long.
💔💔💔💔💔
Yes. I understand. I worry for my granddaughter but am glad to be at the ending years rather than at the beginning. I marvel at the hopefulness of those who are still bearing children!
Two points on this scheiße show from Trump. 1st, Social Security was not funded by tax revenues but by savings collected from recipients and their employers. Second, there is no mandate, landslide, or, even, a decisive victory for Trump. Interesting vid. talking about possible problems with ballots.
https://youtu.be/RJR5uQpweko
Reality has no meaning for these creatures. Reality is whatever they say it is. Until real reality bites them in the butt. But when that happens, they're not the ones who will be hurt.
Thank you for the YouTube link !
Well, once the Trust Fund runs out, and even before that, it really is more complicated regarding social security. The only honest position is that the current generation is being taxed to pay the retirement generation not to suffer in poverty. And then in turn they will get the same treatment! Funds extracted from workers go directly to retirees. That is the brilliance of the program. And that is exactly why it cannot be privatized as GW Bush wanted to do.
Well Ned, yes SS is a forced savings program. But for any of us that collect for more than a few years, we get back significantly more than we paid in. And we can’t simply raise the rate for our grandchildren. Certainly we can make contributions go all the way up like Medicare contributions. That might help a little and we can means test eligibility And we can raise Medicare premiums based on income.
While I despise Don, I think he did win decisively. Many Americans are fine with a dictatorship based on religion and nationalism. Even if it adversely effects their wallet.
What agency enforces the Presidential Transition Act? Without FBI vetting, signed documents, and security clearances, Trump's people shouldn't be installed. He shouldn't be getting daily security briefings now, either. Enforce the law!
Slipping through the hands of Justice repeatedly, Trump's victories have made me very, very weary. I can't get my head or heart around it all. Now, there are greedy puppets galore who dance on the Constitution and decency itself.
I go back to Maya Angelou, when they tell you who they are, listen. Project 2025 is here and the price of bacon was not enough reason to let “them” take over our government. And how long will it be before they admit they have screwed up and for the GOP members in Congress to stand up against them.
Over the course of the next four years, it’s likely that most of the 70+ million Trump voters will find out why the world would be better off without them.
Yeah.. they’re gonna find out.. but so fuckin’what? The rest of the world will have to suffer because of their ignorance.. I hate his supporters, god help me , but I do.
Yes. What they have unleashed will make it impossible to slow the climate-induced shrinking of livable space, which will lead to a collapse of civilization caused by competition for what’s left of it. This is what 70+ million Americans have voted for and have delivered to all of humanity (and, what is even more tragic, to all large mammals). Those 74 million American voters have, in my judgment, sacrificed their right to life. Unfortunately, we have no feasible way to rid ourselves of them, so we’re all stuck with the consequences of their malfeasance.
They are all going to heaven at the end of the day (so they think), so there is that ... I'm not sure if the marjorie taylor greene supporters (I think it is fitting that copy and paste didn't capitalize) believe in heaven or are just happy to pull others who do along for the ride.
Don't think for once despite the above paragraph I believe in eternal life. I've got no fracking clue, but probably consciousness does not live on after death. We need to prioritize the life that we have, in the universe that we have.
I feel the same way. And yes -- it is not only this country but the entire world that will suffer. And apparently all developed nations have turned to the right wing politicians who promise "they alone can fix it" (see: Argentina)
They are not in power to “prove” anything to people but to carry over the mandates of white supremacy evangelicals and oligarchs. This is what Project 2025 is all about. Check current life for Argentinians. When Musk said there would be “hardship” nobody translated those hardships into the everyday life of regular citizens.
Sadly, they seem to have only one mantra, "It's the Democrats' fault."
No, they'll say it's the "Libtards'" fault.
I'm wondering what else President Biden can do now, since, after all, he has absolute immunity, to further protect us? Can he add 5 more Justices to the court, since the Senate is working with him? And/or does he need to scuttle some of the mechanisms (I have no idea what these would be) to prevent Trump/Russia from getting their hands on them? Why has no one invoked the 14th amendment? I have so many questions. I'm convinced the airlines are all pretty corrupt when it comes to ripping us off. But if they don't want safety regulations, maybe they don't want passengers. People talk about staging another march in January, but it seems like a general strike might be more effective. But back to the main point, what else should we ask Biden to do now, and what else CAN he do to safeguard the Constitution, the Republic, our citizens, and our allies?
General strike. But here, there's a risk of bloodshed.
Bloodshed? Hmm. He's itching to make us look like we're the ones inciting violence, which he could manipulate by having infiltrators join a peaceful march. A strike is passive resistance. But in terms of bloodshed and mayhem, over a million US citizens died of Covid during his last term in office. He put children in cages. Nancy Pelosi's husband was attacked with a hammer by one of his lunatics. Now women are dying because they can't get medical treatment after miscarriages. Now, already. And he promises mass deportation and the destruction of most of the departments of our government, firing government workers, releasing the J6 convicts, and taking vengeance on his enemies with the blessing of the Supreme Court. I don't think sitting back to watch will prevent people from being hurt, rounded up and incarcerated, deported or disappeared. Standing together is an act of courage. But I don't think a march will have the same impact as a general strike. And doing nothing or "playing it safe' is capitulation. It's what the Germans did.
The following is a developing plan. One way to throw monkey wrenches into the Unartful DOGErs plans might be civil suits in blue state courts seeking injunctions against the firing of Federal civil servants whose actions are essential to the health and safety of the citizens in their states. Underlying such suits is the fact that the Federal government is funded by citizens of their states, making such firing a violation of the principle of no taxation without representation. Under such circumstances, citizens could stop paying Federal taxes and give those taxes to their states so they can provide the no longer available services to their citizens. Red state citizens will be hurt, but that’s the way the cookie crumbles. And, with IRS staff cut, it will be impossible for the MAGAts running what’s left of the federal government to prosecute non-payers. There are lots of loose ends here, but I think there’s a kernel of possibility.
Right on Barry Gerber, now you’re talkin’ 👍
Hang on! We are in for a rollercoaster ride for the next four years. Even if the rollercoaster breaks, it will take years to fix.
Donald, he badly damaged the rollercoaster by ignoring the Emoluments Clause of the Constitution—and no one called him on it. That was his first attack on the Constitution.
https://www.acslaw.org/expertforum/profiting-off-the-presidency-trumps-violations-of-the-emoluments-clauses/