Thanks as usual for all your work Professor Richardson! One correction to the above: "Alex Pfeiffer told Will Steakin of ABC News that discussions of Gaetz’s payments 'are meant to undermine the mandate from the people to reform the Justice Department.'" I think what Mr. Pfeiffer meant was "meant to undermine the mandate from the people to corrupt the Justice Department." I'm sure Mr. Pfeiffer regrets the error . . . .
On a more serious note, Putin now has everything he wants. In addition to the likely implosion of the American system NATO may well become a dead letter, leaving Europe to deal with an emboldened Russia. It is check mate for the US. Not that we won’t come back from it, barring nuclear catastrophe, but coming back from it is off my clock.
As I have written before, it’s no longer what Trump but what the American people did to themselves. I will not excuse them for some lack of moral agency. They could see what this monster was and he told them over and over. The electorate decided consciously that it wants the US to fail at a time when, unlike the distressed Germans of Weimar, they have relative prosperity and stability.
This was a display of spectacularly irresponsible civic insouciance and malice. They saw. They applauded. They laughed. They clicked. They scrolled. They voted.
Well said! Not only is NATO dead, but most European countries are already looking for the exits. No one trusts America. After Trump betrayed the Kurds and The Afghani’s, no one expects Trump to adhere to any previous trade, or defense agreements in the future.
Some may blame Biden for the withdrawal, but Trump’s “Surrender Agreement, I mean DOHA Agreement left Afghanistan in disrepair. Eighty percent of the country was in Taliban hands before Biden was inaugurated. And Trump had closed all our military bases in Afghanistan except one; Bagram; reducing our military footprint and troop levels from 22,500, to 2,500 by December 2020; well before Biden was inaugurated.
Bottom line: America first, is America alone. Our allies are abandoning us, and with cause. Not to mention, Europe has their own right wing parties that have been gaining momentum over the years. Where America goes, Europe usually follows. This could mean a total realignment of western democracies and values over the next decade, and it may not be pretty for democracies around the globe.
Media focused constantly on President Biden's handling of the withdrawal from Afghanistan without including the information that is in your second paragraph.
Agree the MSM shares responsibility. Telling half truths have the same consequences as telling lies. For example, Gaetz has many enemies in DC (can you say Kevin McCarthy). Yet the media’s portrayal of Gaetz withdrawing his name from consideration fails to mention that. All the MSM are focused on is the sex scandals ~ again a half truth. I’m pondering if Gaetz’s withdrawal is a sign the infighting of the Republican Party is alive and well. I pray this infighting will somehow contain Trump and his administration Project 2025 path of destruction.
Biden was set up for failure from the beginning. One base to extract tens of thousands of people, and few resources to do the job. And with one base, the chances of a successful terror attack rises exponentially; it’s harder to defend.
Absolutely he lied. As you rightly point out, he lies about everything that would pointedly put the screws to him. And of course, Gaetz also lied when he denied any sexual misconduct or sleeping with two 17-year-olds. It stands to reason why Trump would want Gaetz on board in his administration: birds of a feather flock together. There is no better example of that saying than what is right before us in the Trump world of politics.
there's that group again MEDIA! The withdrawl from Afghanistan pales in comparison of Trump's corrupt incompetence in fighting the war on the silent killer Covid 19! 1,000,000 Americans died!!! was this incompetence ever hammered out from the Media outlets! a resounding NO!
Exactly. But it’s hindsight. We can’t change it now, can’t change the past. Therefore my question is what if anything can we do now? Commiserating of our pains of the past can help soothe our hearts but the future is what may save them.
Yes. Especially as that event has turned into a rallying point for the MAGAts. "13 soldiers died! Biden killed them!" Uh, no. That entire fiasco was set up by tfg and left Biden holding the short straw from under the manure.
just some plain bad luck, Jon, any idea how hard it is to stop a determined suicide bomber who looks just like all the others? American military intel missed the speed with which the existing gov imploded, though i can only wonder why. Since Trump's deal with the Taliban, what could you expect? Make deals with the Taliban!
Not only is the media to blame, but also the administration for not explaining the situation and defending itself! Typical Democratic incompetence at messaging.
Ann, I too was struck by those facts. That contradicts the account in the press. The fact that 13 troops died is tragic, but this is a direct result of 20 years of war in which many thousands died. And the country was left destroyed. The movie Charlie Wilson's War ends with the US Congress unwilling to make an effort to solve problems and preserve what gains had been made. I came of age with Vietnam. US foreign policy has never made sense to me.
Thank you Robert for summing up the outlook of our foreign affairs and reminding us that it was DJT who told the Taliban that Afghanistan is theirs. Biden was left with a collapsed country.
Thank you. Not to mention, he released close 5,800 hardcore Taliban and Al Qaeda with American blood on their hands for a commitment not to attack US personnel. So much for that!…:)
For sure, i also wonder if the Americans found it was out and out impossible to reform the warlord based regime they had backed for so long. Trump just cut the proverbial "gordian knot" maybe?
Afghanistan was a failed adventure from the start. Bush was a Moron just like Donnie. I see a recession and foreign wars on the near horizon. Like Putin’s playbook, when domestic support wains, … start a war to rile up the Nationalism.
I see a recession but I'm not sure about the wars. I see trump aligning with foreign dictators and pressuring other countries, none of which will have the strength to stand up to that alliance.
Actually I recommend a book, The Mortal Republic, on how the Roman Republic became the Roman Empire for starters. Laws intended to help the commons became a means to gain power and undermine their intent. Enter, Caesar.
Imperial rule, or its equivalent, was the name of the game in the ancient world when it came to large state building. "democracy" was mostly equated with "mob rule". The rise of modern democracies met the same aghast sentiments, elites should be in charge, whatever the stripe. And, once modern political parties realized how to manipulated huge masses of the population, both modern democracies and authoritarian regimes have thrived.
I am very cynical I am afraid. Always there was/is an elite ruling while most of the time ordinary people have suffered. Modern democracies are somewhat of a miracle, often hard won and gradually more democratic. I am thinking of both the US and the UK here. Progress is slow and often undermined because, for some, they want what they want, right now and so adapt views and policies that will certainly allow regressive forces to win and remove such policies.
Steve said it perfectly. We placed the ropes around our own necks and pulled the lever— the wrong voting lever. We have been an ignorant collection of misfits from the beginning. In 1978 when I lived for a time in Florence, Italy, I attended a party one evening and I heard two women talking nearby and one said to the other, “Those Americans are stupid.” They were likely referring to the recently ended Vietnam American War. I turned around and the speaker immediately apologized to me but my response was, “No, you are right we are stupid.” And guess what folks, we remain stupid. Any time I had reflected and critized the politics of those closest to me; you democrats (I’m an independent who most always votes for democratic candidates) beat up on me and in my mind, it’s too, symptomatic of narrow mindedness. Our tent was never so large. Our abilities to accept self criticism has lacked. We ridicule anyone who dares step outside the accepted thinking structures. We have placed the hanging ropes around our own gullets. Now we will sway in the wind.
Europe will fight for Ukraine without us if it comes to that. Allies are not abandoning us, the next admin is threatening to abandoning them. NATO even without the US has enough DM soldiers, weapons, tanks, air power, and missiles to easily defeat the depleted, drained, and demoralized Russian Army.
But, even if Trump doesn’t abandon Ukraine, the leadership he is considering for defense and intelligence is so unqualified that the result will be same or similar.
I agree! They aren’t abandoning us, as much as they are being pushed away. Either way, the result is the same.
And Europe will continue to fight with Ukraine, but Trump could make life difficult for Zelenskyy and will. He’ll push for a bad ceasefire agreement and if successful, it’s only a matter of time before the Russian disinformation campaigns do to Europe, what they have done to the US.
Bottom line: Putin will be emboldened and free to escalate its nefarious agenda.
Trump will make life difficult for everyone, this will also result in making life difficult for him too. Undisciplined inexperienced ignorant people consistently make mistakes. Big ones. I think we need to give Ukraine and European leaders more credit. It’s not going to be easy by any means, but we haven’t yet even come close to utilizing any of NATO’s real military power. If we had set clearer goals in Ukraine, and used just a tenth or so of NATO, the Russian Army would have been completely destroyed in Ukraine. I think that had been a strategic failure on Biden’s Administration. ( I still support him, voted for him). I’ve been a fan of General Ben Hodges. He lives in Germany, former NATO commander and other wars. Hodges has the experience and know how to defeat the Russians in Ukraine.
I think Trump was pushing for a territorial capitulation in Ukraine when he was in office, before the 2022 invasion. Whatever we make of things, the Russian effort to take over Ukraine is not far from really being a civil war, an attempt to claw back something of what had been the Russian Empire, but with heavy nationalist overtones. Russians kind of ruled much of the roost in Ukraine before the breakup in 91.
easy on the revisionist history regarding Eastern Europe!! ukraine existed centuries before the enity know as Moscow became Russia. Check with Tim Snyder's writings for the history of who controlled what!
Not yet. Are we really ready to declare game over? These people haven't even been sworn in. There are Democrats in the Federal Government. There are Democrats all throughout State Governments. Do we know for sure anything that is happening? One thing is for certain. There are a lot of fireworks, fear and uncertainty.
How about we sit tight, not freak out and do what we can.
I consistently remarked to anyone who would listen that Biden was essentially set up, by Trump, to have a rough withdrawal from Afghanistan. That families of service members who died were essentially filled with so much grief and ready to blame the current leadership or were ill advised and poorly read individuals who didn't have a clue as to what Trump had done to their families in the Doha negotiations and agreement, they all but lost all sense of reality in the wake of their grief. Never mind that Trump figuratively threw all the American allies and especially the Afghan government under the bus. That the Taliban agreed but *also betrayed that agreement* came as no surprise when I read the agreement. The Taliban could not be trusted. Unfortunately for the families of the fallen, they obviously did not have the wherewithal to understand how devious the Taliban were or how critically unqualified Trump and his negotiators were when the agreement was made.
For clarification, when I said that Biden was "set up", I did not mean that Trump automatically knew that Biden would be president at the time of the Doha agreement. The truth is whoever succeeded Trump would have had the same result as Biden had; ISIS in Afghanistan would have plotted the same vile act. The Taliban would not have relented their attacks on the American military, as they were withdrawing, regardless of who became president. Even Trump, had he won reelection, nothing would have changed. But of course, in the Trump world of doing things, Trump would have denied this result as being his own. The orange god (small "g" on purpose) would have always believed his results are perfect. This is who we are now dealing with. Sheesh....🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️
And much of it is based around liberal immigration and migration. No nation in human history wants massive migratory policies without an ugly pushback. Ask the Moors from 16th century Europe what happened to them.
True, which is why you change the law. We haven’t upgraded our immigration policies in close to forty years. Republicans use it as a wedge issue, never really wanting to solve the issue, and democrats uphold the law.
Most asylum seekers walk up to a legal US checkpoint and ask for asylum legally. Drugs and human trafficking mostly occur by US seaports or are trucked in at US border crossings.
Bill, the Moors had been in the Iberian Peninsula for a very long time and with a few different outcomes in key battles, could have overrun Europe. It was Ferdinand and Isabella who were finally able to defeat them in Spain and push them and the Jews out. I have trouble calling them immigrants.
Ah the Moors, a favorite 'bogeyman' for the writers in western europe!
Architecture, mosaic art, silk fabric and mathematics all thrived during the so called dark ages in the western world!
In Sicily, the Muslim conquerors let the local administration in tact, unlike little bush and Cheney who purged all the Bathists from Iraqi civil governments. Guess who formented the civil war in Syria but failed to out dictator Asad.....the bathists!
Moors as part of an immigration argument? Part of the back and forth from the original muslim expansion. The Spanish regime that arose was immediately anti-Jewish, hardly immigrants come lately, amping up the Inquisition against the Conversos as shadow Jews / Muslims, which was soon full time promoting a savage conquest of indigenous across the Americas, not to mention the slave trade. Come on!
Trump will blame Biden for everything Trump mishandled, and take credit for everything Biden did well. I second Heather’s advice to keep score cards in the next 4 years. If a lie, often repeated, will be entrenched, so will the truth.
Trying to take on the Taliban, backed by and part of Afghanistan's by far largest ethnic group, straddling both that and Pakistan, was an enormous mistake. The war lord governments the US (NATO, sure) cobbled together as another venue of "shock and awe" never could stand on their own two feet militarily, and likely societally, overall. Trump simply negotiated with the Taliban around the government the US supposedly supported. Implosion came next, the suicide debacle was the excuse a lot of Americans needed to dump on Biden, and from which he never recovered, mostly thanks to inflation and "the border"...
I agree in part, but Russian psy ops is responsible. 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.
Mueller convicted national security advisor Michael Flynn and the chair of the Trump presidential campaign, Paul Manafort. The investigation resulted in charges against 34 individuals and 3 companies, 8 guilty pleas, and a conviction at trial.
Mueller did not reach a conclusion about possible obstruction of justice by Trump, citing a Justice Department guideline that prohibits the federal indictment of a sitting president. That pisses me off. It's uo to a jury to determine whether there was complicity. I thought that Mueller was farblonget and Weissman, who MSNBC has elevated to expert, should, at least have preserved Trump's testimony,
In reality, Russia should nor be a major power. Trump has been elevating their status.
There is also some question whether the count was fixed. I think the circumstantial evidence is compelling. Lots of uncounted provisional ballots. Right to recount varies by state.
We should never forget Biden's welcoming of Trump to the White House, confirming the outcome of the election. The two of them sitting for their photo-op was one more betrayal by Biden.
Oh my goodness…. I rather think President Biden met with his adversary because that is what American Presidents do when their side loses. That civilized tradition signals to us that a peaceful transition is occurring and President Biden carried out his duty with distinction.
President Obama and other past Presidents have done the same thing with the famous exception of Trump himself. PBS reminded us how it went four years ago, “… it was a very different story: Trump filed scores of lawsuits falsely claiming widespread voter fraud, refused to actively participate in transition work, denied the election results and helped incite a mob that attacked the U.S. Capitol, trying to stop the certification of Biden's victory.”
A stark contrast, is it not? I admire Biden’s courage and self-control in carrying out what I’m sure he saw as his duty.
Biden also had a duty to fulfill his 2020 promise to be a transition president. He managed to ignore that duty. If he had lived up to that promise, he might have been welcoming a Democrat into the White House in 2024, instead of the Groper-in-Chief.
I also fumed seeing them together, because 45-47 internally wants to have the old man lined up against a wall and publicly shot by firing squad. Those of us in his crosshairs are terrified, and feel like America did not stand up for the rights of us all, just yielded to their privilege, racism and misogyny.
Sadly you are wrong about President Biden. He simply showed that he is the grown up in the room. You may remember that there was a very real concern about the possibility of civil war had Trump supporters thought the election was rigged. My belief is that Americans have come to believe that every desire should be met within the timeframe of a delivery from Amazon. Biden’s policies will take years to have their designed effects. As the saying goes: “Anything worthwhile is worth waiting for.”
And Trump is just salivating for the opportunity to wipe out as many of these policies - because well, he has to "get even" - a spoiled child's reaction, as always.
Biden was the best president for Americans since FDR and Ike. But his foreign policies were terrible.
Jake Sullivan might as well been on Putin's payroll as far asa Ukraine was concerned. Biden lied, blaming the Afghans for their defeat by the Taliban saying their American trained and equipoped 300,000 army just folded. There never were 300,000. Maybe 150,000 max, the rest were on papaer and the money stolen. The CIA and warlords were hated in rural Aghanistan as they were so corrupt, the Taliban provided better local governance. When Trump announced that American troops would be withdrawn and no longer supplying air cover, the Afghan army joined the Taliban as fast as they could for their own survival. America never really controlled anything outside of Kabul and maybe Herat.
Now we have the American Taliban hell bent on inflicting Christian Sharia Law on the world. Only Robert Hubble can be positive under these circumstances. My wife and I may never get to go home to our little town in Ukraine
I have been asking that question. Harris folded like a cheap card table. Did she know something we do not? Was her family credibly threatened? The ballot counting machines were "not connected to the internet". There was lots of time between 2020 and 2024 when they may well have been. As musk said there was only one line of code needed changing.
If anything about the Ukraian war has shown that the Russian army is less than second rate. They do not want a direct conflict with the West. So much of their "advanced" weaponry is stolen from the West. It is much like the cold war again when we were lead to believe by Reagan that we were dangerously behind the communists. He then proceeded to lead to the biggest military build up since WWII and used America's credit card to do so by relieving the wealthy from paying taxes. putin knows that a direct conflict with NATO would spell doom for his govt.
They had a brain drain. Their economy is not as big as California -- maybe the same size as Tejas.
But through chicanery, they control Trump. Whether he is an agent or just a willing idiot, they are the "other."
Dems are currently in circular firing squad formation -- blaming themselves for crimes committed by Russians and their allies and idiots - MSM and the so called Republican Party.
These are certainly head spinning moments; there is no adult supervision in his pending administration; no sober, decent, mature individual who will be in charge of major departments - I note a chilling fear among many of us.
Stephanie, we are living in a nightmare. Remember how grateful we are when we wake up and realize it was only a nightmare and not real?
I haven't been able to wake up yet.
We come out of a nightmare often sweating, sometimes crying or screaming, shaking, and as you say, with our heads spinning.
I am surrounded by those who made this nightmare possible. I quit my position as pianist at a Baptist Church because they were all Trump supporters. I couldn't reconcile the hypocrisy of hearing sermons and singing hymns of peace, love, goodness, kindness, and striving to be Christ- like. I'm alone in my nightmare, but what gives me hope of waking up to better times are the people like Heather, the Meidas Touch Network, Tim Miller, Tennessee Brando, and others who have seen the truth about Trump and are trying to keep us all afloat. I definitely would be drowning in my disbelieve and despair had it not been for those posts.
May we one day have pleasant dreams and not nightmares.
To my deep regret, I once was a Republican....I once supported The Heritage Foundation. I am a Christian who once attended worship but I will not worship Trump. As soon as he was placed on the Republican ticket to be President of the USA, ...I changed parties.....I no longer attend formal worship. My faith has not changed but I will not be a part of supporting a criminal, a man who looks at women as useful objects for him to use freely as he chooses with NO PUNISHMENT!!!! He is using any citizen of the USA who will bow to him in hopes of receiving power and money and control!!! Trump is a man who envies and wants to be like men such as Putin. He is no Putin!!!
Trump did not gain his position suddenly. He was chosen as a useful tool by such as members of The Heritage Foundation and many other groups who have been working and planning for years and years for this very time. Many of us have been "losers!" Too many of us believed the lies!!! It is NOT too late to wake up....but NOW is the time!!!!
Which political party has been serving ALL of the American people .... for the betterment of our nation and the world....for air to breath ...for the education of our children (not brainwashing!!! our population!)....for opportunity to have a home of their own. Which party has been working and will continue working to create jobs for Americans and fight to improve wages and benefits!!! It is the party of the Democrats!!! Which party has been working for a more peaceful world, for freedom for all people? My answer, at this time in our history is the Democratic Party. We have and I pray will continue being and BECOMING!! the UNITED States of America....NOT THE BRAINWASHED IMPLODING STATES OF AMERICA!!!
We would be blind if we were not aware of the increasing rise of dictators throughout the world. Netanyahu has played us as fools! Where are the October 7th hostages?
Why was this problem not taken care of before we sent troops?...before our bombs were allow to dismember and decapitate babies, women, young children...before OUR bombs were used to destroy homes and gardens and animals that were a part of everyday life for innocent people???? Do we love war and its weapons of destruction so much???
Now we have the build up of hatred and revenge. We have worked for this...we have given more to this than to the care of humanity!!!! We are going to pay a price for our chosen actions!!! Netanyahu and his minions are in control ...not us.....not even those making money off this war.....are in control now!!!
Bring home the hostages!!!!
Peace, cooperation, love for one another will bring success for everyone....of course NOT perfection!!! but a better, safer more productive world for everyone. Can we imagine the loss of education opportunities??? We are contributing to the poverty of our fellow human beings!!! Peace will build up families, gardens, kindness to our elderly and poor who are helpless.
Will the hostages be found alive? Will the hostages be released? Families have been waiting!!!!
Emily, that's a long statement to have no mention of the cowardly HAMAS using their civilians as shields. Both sides are murdering warmongers. Wishing President Biden didn't have to involve us/NATO at all in that shit show! The world would be better without their constant waring. I was hoping they would kill each other off and the world would breathe easier knowing there's one less war we have to side with. Ukraine on the other hand, deserves our helping hand as they understand and has been about the business of securing it's peoples rights and freedoms. We could learn from them on how to differentiate a dictator from a president; one that's about his peoples business, not oligarchs. At least the Ukrainians are trying to save their piece of the rock instead of selling it to the low and high bidders in the shark pool.
Ally, yes, I'm the "Talk of the Town" that I would dare question the beliefs of people who claim that the tenets of Christianity lead their behaviors and opinions. I have shocked people in the church for daring to question. and distance myself, from what should be the "way to live." I'm sorry to lose friends who can't understand my stance. It's not like we're disagreeing over the color of the church carpet. It comes down to the fundamentals of good versus bad, of right versus wrong, of decency versus indecency.
You are not alone! I left my church because they are so anti birthcontrol and anti abortion. But is anyone questioning the morality of Catholics owning guns that aren't used for hunting???
Steve, as an American, I would change “…their shame” to “…our shame.” But where does that get us? We still face an existential crisis (yes, an overused term, but appropriate here). With Hegseth at the helm, how could we respond if Taiwan were attacked? Imagine the U.S. without any capable leaders at the top. Great tools and staff are of little value without good decisions on if/when/how to use them. Once Trump is inaugurated, how long will it take before Biden’s team is gone? And how much longer before Trump’s team has fired key skilled subordinates? Could we respond to anything of international, national, or regional consequence?
Steve, in essence the Security of the Free World can no longer trust that the American voters value Democracy or will honor our commitments to address Authoritarian Governments every four years
Share critical security intelligence with Trump? That’s a big Eff You
Steve this is absolutely spot on. And we are now going to get the chance to witness what a completely emboldened Tsar Vlad is going to do to Eastern Europe. I predict that Ukraine will cease to exist by the summer, and that one by one, the former Soviet Republics from Estonia (maybe even Finland, which was beset and semi-controlled by the USSR) to the Black Sea will be invaded--including all the NATO countries to the east of Germany and Scandinavia. He already has Hungary, Moldova, and the southern flank of "allies" in his pocket as a buffer. I also predict that, come summer, the West Bank and Gaza will no longer be autonomous Palestinian regions and the Palestinian people will be forced into a diaspora that will, ironically, resemble that imposed on the Hebrews by the Babylonians back in the day. We are indeed going to be seeing a "new world order" that apparently more than half of Americans (because I include people who did not vote AND those who voted for Jill Stein as basically Trump supporters by default: they just want whining rights) would like to see. Moreover, the outright fascist and christofascist organizations in Europe will feel similarly emboldened, and within a couple of years we will probably see far-right takeovers of a lot of formerly centrist "liberal" democracies in the EU. But I also want to lay some blame on Biden's DoJ, which sat on their hands and slow-walked every damn investigation and, once the election "season" began, stopped pursuing anything at all. Biden did some wonderful things and his long-thought-about plans for making this country functional again were terrific, but he signally failed to deliver the kids of messaging--and the hard dope slaps--necessary to re-educate the yutzes and booby-hatches who ultimately rejected him while refusing to acknowledge that they are better off now than in 2019. To say I am completely disgusted with everyone is an understatement. I am thankful that I have a terminal illness and I am actually hoping I don't make it through the entire 4 years of hell I am anticipating.
Thank you, Linda. I agree with you and want to second all the missed opportunities the DEMS had--especially the Biden administration--to avert this tragedy. They did not do what needed to be done. It was one mishandling after another, from Garland's failure, to the disgustingly poor judgment Willis used, to not adding more Supreme Court judges earlier in the term, to inadequate messaging. The list goes on. Grassroots worked their tails off trying to get Harris elected, canvassing, phone banking, writing postcards, driving people places, etc. I wrote 300 postcards and received 5 in the mail from others writing postcards. It was not enough. Now we are being told not to give up, keep fighting, stay vigilant. What the hell are we supposed to do? March on Washington? Write letters to the editor? I just read something about how we should talk to Republicans. Reach out. Maybe we should reach out to Trump and his cabinet of clowns? Trump doesn't care what the voters who voted for him think, let alone the ones who didn't.
We did our part trying to get Harris elected, but our "leaders" did not do theirs. Now, it is up to Congress to do what they can to stop him, on both sides of the aisle. There is nothing citizens can do at this point but help our local communities to be safe, much like the resistance did all over Europe before and during WWII. If we get to midterms, maybe there will be an opportunity to gain control of one or both houses. A big if. Grassroots can lay some groundwork for that, but without the DEM party doing what it needs to, citizens can only do so much.
As Bill said, we are now going to sway in the wind. The way this world currently operates is not sustainable. We all know this. Major changes are needed (an understatement) for the world's resources and ecosystems to serve all 8 billion of us in a way that is socially just, kind, and comfortable for all people. Perhaps we are on the cusp of watching the walls come tumbling down, a change that must take place--but it will be an upheaval and one I am afraid of.
Antia, I'm thinking that Democrats "played by the rules" as the RepubliKKKans were operating on a completely different plane. My first thought was "brought a knife to a gunfight", but it is more complex than a simple choice of weaponry.
I think you are probably right. I always admired Michele's comment: "They go low, we go high." Perhaps we needed to put on different gloves--and it could have been done respectfully.
Right now, I am at a loss of what we are to do--but I have a close friend who is absolutely infuriated with me, because I have asked to not be on the receiving end of inflammatory texts and forwarded articles about the upcoming doom. I, too, wrote and donated and talked, and it wasn't enough to win. While this is going on, I am getting texts and emails from other friends; one just lost her brother to cancer after months of being his caregiver. I expect a text today announcing the death of a husband of another friend who entered hospice two days ago. Another friend is hospitalized battling a brain tumor and is horribly infected with C Dif. Those three people--the state of our country is not foremost in their minds. I'm not sure what my angry friend wants me to do, but without going into their content, they are the equivalent of a air raid signal, no joke.
I know there are others like me, people in which health and constant rage cannot coexist. I'm not giving up--I just can't sustain this constant battle. I did, however, meet with a very long time friend who voted for Trump. This is a very intelligent woman who is much more traditional GOP than MAGA. It was good to hear her talk about why she voted for him, even though she has some concerns. I have doubt that trying to convince the brainwashed will work, but if indeed the horrendous stuff that is predicted comes to pass, I think we'll have much more success in winning if we keep the lines of communication open with people like my friend who are open to reason from people who converse reasonably. (She did make reference to liberals who treat all Trump voters with distain as being stupid. Whether you might agree or not, don't forget Clinton's "deplorables" comment didn't go well, and I believe I read somewhere that in this election "coastal elitists banging on midwestern doors" didn't work very well either.)
The southern, western and midwestern doors don't seem to mind opening to accept their unearned and unforeseen block grants that represent multiples of their tax contributions. Those are the product of more successful blue states and cities, who receive substantially less of their own tax revenues in return, and must deal with gerrymandering, the Electoral College and clearing out of voting rolls as repayment.
So one aspect of rightwing gaslighting is reveling in acts of ridicule, fantasy violence, and threats but when it is done to them, they scream and whine and holler about how unfair it all is (see the person below who is trying to shame me for using a very common technique to settle down my rage). I think that the Dems ARE arrogant and stupidly so. I think that the Christofascists are ALSO arrogant in their complacency, sense of superiority, bigotry, and deliberate ignorance. I would also like to say that while I think it is wonderful you had a good conversation with your right-wing friend, it sounds like her criterion for voting for the Felon-in-Chief is her dislike of the "tone" of Dem messaging. If I were to take offense at every condescending, mansplaining, dismissive, arrogant thing that every person who disses me because I have a vagina and not a penis has said to me over the decades, I would be a sorry-ass maniac (or in jail for actually committing acts of violence). In my profession (academia), you have to suck up a whole lotta poison a whole lotta the time. So when someone sniffs at me that my attitude sucks, my response is usually Physician, heal thyself. As the kiddos say now, I have no more f**ks to give.
Linda, it was more than her dislike of the Democratic tone. She has a disabled sister a few years younger. When her brother in law died (of COVID, no less) she became the person who supports her. Both the sister and b.i.l. were on disability and never had much money. My friend is frustrated at navigating her sister's Medicaid and care services, and so she welcomes someone looking at Medicare/Medicaid and in general, cutting through the bureaucracy of the federal government (she suspects there are many paper pushers not accomplishing much among the civil service workers.) She's upset that nothing was done to fix these programs in the last four years. (her sentiments, not mine). She has gay friends, is not anti-abortion, and thinks Musk is an idiot, and she never married, is childless, and was a very successful businesswoman.
When I could, I countered her opinions with facts, but I can't argue with some of her frustration, as I am trying to figure out my own Medicare plans for the upcoming year. It should never be this complicated. I don't trust Oz as far as I could throw him, but I get where my friend is coming from.
I agree with you. Ridicule never helps and kindness needs to be how we treat others at all levels. If Republicans, Independents, etc. feel elitism and classism coming from Democrats and it influenced their vote (as many experts claim), that needs to be understood and somehow eradicated. Your friend referenced it, so it must be out there. To what extent I do not know. I have read so many articles and some books about how we got to this point--this division. But few of them offer a substantial way forward. This "divide" has been politically exploited by the right for decades, and now it has culminated in the MAGATS and Project 2025. We needed strong leadership to get out of this quagmire. I do not see it coming anytime soon.
LInda, I am hoping that the end of your journey here can be as peaceful as possible, even in these troubling times. I'd love it if a "parting gift" to you could be the overturn of the MAGAt movement. Holding you in my heart.
Thanks AH: my "parting gift" involves fantasies of pushing people down long staircases . . . I will go down fighting, as always (Greek gurl in full Medea mode).
Steve, I think you're giving those who voted for DonOLD far too much credit. We know the MAGATS don't think, that's a given but obviously no thinking was involved by the tiny margin of others that voted for him. He lost the popular vote for the third time. They keep using "mandate" but that won't last. I think he'll be inaugurated with an acting cabinet as nominee after nominee is rejected. I hear George Santos is available, possibly Secretary of Sexual Promiscuity.
You’re absolutely right. Trump’s voters, almost without exception, didn’t necessarily like him but supported him because of what he opposed. That opposition was fueled by a steady stream of right-wing propaganda targeting anything and everything—name an issue, and it was demonized. One overlooked factor is how the right-wing echo chamber amplified extreme liberal rhetoric and weaponized it, while also undermining trust in institutions, including mainstream media, by branding them as liberally biased. Trump supporters were united by what they were against but remain largely ignorant of the consequences of what they voted for. They will come to regret their support for someone they knew was unfit.
Funny, that first paragraph, Steve. Golly, I am not sure Barbie would fit in to the Cabinet. Timothy Snyder is right, just as President Lincoln was one hundred, eighty-seven years ago.
Steve, you have nailed the verdict on the American people regarding the election of a convicted felon to the office of the president. After reading this morning’s letter, I feel more urgency to either leave the country or, at the very least, move to a solidly blue state. I have little hope for our country’s survival during the upcoming administration. The felon-elect has plans to systematically dismantle these United States. There will be no overarching federal or congressional watchdog over the rights and liberties afforded by our constitution once al
l departments are dismantled and sent back to the states. We have a spineless Congress, of which most of the GOP members are trumpists. Each state will do as they please and if their state legislatures are extreme maggots (approximately 22+ states currently) then the citizens of those states will likely not have the same freedoms as their neighboring states.
I will not excuse them for some lack of moral agency.
Wasn’t the proposition of moral agency a basis for the Nuremberg Trials? One does not get a pass for just following orders or just stumbling into a voting booth and blindly casting a vote for one’s Fearless Leader.
Steve, I must disagree with you, to a certain point. Sadly. It seems that a lot of the people who voted for tffg simply were too lazy/busy/tied in knots by what life was already dealing them, to pay attention. Now, they (well, quite a few) are sorry. It reminds me of Brexit; buyer beware, and all that.
Steve, Excellent post. I would also add many did not vote for whatever reason. Yes they did it to all of us and once again I am glad to be as old as I am because younger people will bear the brunt of the suffering. One can only hope that the Senate decides to protect its prerogatives.
I agree, Steve, the results of this past election are owing principally to two phenomena: ignorance and stupidity. They (Trump voters) were stupid to remain ignorant.
I love your last paragraph. We are a “ reality “tv nation. I get so frustrated when people including the legacy media and politicians treat this as politics as usual and after four years we can vote in the Democrats to clean up the mess. We overlook that the Democrats have bought into this new normal. And will there be any legitimate elections in our future.
While most people if asked would say that “We just had an election,” the truth is we just lost a huge and possibly decisive battle in the War that Russia launched against America many years ago. (see Trump’s first visit to the USSR - arranged for by the Russian government - in 1987)
It is a tragedy of historic proportions that the American news industry has failed to report that we have been at war for all these years. 😢💔
DJT seems to be Putin's Puppet... Yes we had an Election of the Ignorant, and UnInformed... We now have Orange Nero that answers to a Russian Tyrant that wants to destroy this Country... I speculate that the Majority of DJT Voters get their News from the Right-Wing InfoSphere where Outrage is Manufactured... The biggest source of Information for most seems to be Entertainment, and Spectacle... Public Education has declined Severely since Reagan... It all seems that manufactured to bring about an American Decline... I Hope To See An American Renewal...
I'm disappointed to see some of our fellow commenters sticking only with the negative -- what fools Americans voters turned out to be, how badly informed, badly educated. All true enough, but I want to reserve more of my energy for your-also looking forward -- your "hope to see an American renewal."
Thus mine more specifically to that a bit below here in the comments.
And mine more regularly here as to getting rid of the crippling hold standardized testing has on American schools, and the need, contrary to that, to free teachers for more humanities, and for higher standards and more practice in essay writing so much better to see "others" as individuals in the mess we inhabit.
I’m with you on standardized testing! No Child Left Behind was really no child left untested! The high stakes tests have parents paying for classes to get their kid into all the “important” places. A child that studies all summer to get into the gifted program doesn’t belong in the gifted program. Just let the teachers teach and the students learn. Standardized testing reduces education to a training program. I love teaching but watching it devolve makes me glad I’m about to retire instead of just starting a career.
“There is no such thing as a neutral education process. Education either functions as an instrument which is used to facilitate the integration of generations into the logic of the present system and bring about conformity to it, or it becomes the ‘practice of freedom’, the means by which men and women deal critically with reality and discover how to participate in the transformation of their world”.
Phil, one of the things I love about this somewhat transient group of commenters is that we all believe that this Trump administration could be a disaster for the US.
Once in a while, a troll tries to join the group, but when 99.9% of the commenters reject their ideas, none of them stick around for long.
Even though our state is the oldest in the country, the people of ME pride themselves on education. Not all of them of course, but the majority do.
but I believe he was correct. We have tried to nationalize education by forcing a limited curriculum on all students when, with the vast amount of money we spend on education, should focus on the needs of each individual.
My grandparents graduated from a one room school house and I would argue had a better education that many of the kids do today. The schools had the freedom to set their calendar around the needs of the community by allowing students to help out at home during the harvest and when needed in the community. Older students helped younger students which benefited everyone.
Like you Phil, I am not a fan of standardized testing. We took the Iowa Basics Test and the the Stanford test every year but our advanced notice was no more than a day or two. I'm not sure what information it provided the school system to improve the schools and that was back in the 1960's and early 1970's.
David Brooks, you may know, Gary, has an Atlantic piece out now on U.S. ed.
It's all too heavily geared to producing more elites good at taking those tests.
I took them. Back in the early 1960s. They weren't too many. But even then I could sense how they wanted people much better at handling abstractions and logical categories, linearity causality and consistency. I remember once I took an important one by penciling-in all my answers by letter "B."
School counselors caught this and urged me please to re-take. They knew from other tests I'd taken diligently that my IQ was fairly high. Funny this is, I did re-take. And the results gave me tuition free university years.
One of the many things the standardized tests don't measure is what I call "MQ" or motivational quotient.
My elementary school class had about 30 students and around 20 of us were together from 1st through the 6th grade and most of the 20 even graduated from high school together. One of my classmates, had near perfect scores year after year and even got "free tuition" for college.
He ended up getting two masters degrees. Not to denigrate food service workers but he spent his entire career as a cook in various rest homes.
When we spoke with him when we were all in our late fifties he was shocked that almost all of us owned our own homes and didn't rent.
And I know many other people that were very good test takers that lacked the motivation to compete in the world for monetary compensation.
I'm not judging him-- just saying many people are not motivated by money or what our society accepts as being successful, which in my opinion would be a major component of MQ.
Great comments regarding the state of Iowa. My husbands mom and dad were from Iowa.
I have never encountered such hardworking, strongminded, determined, intelligent.....kind, generous people anywhere. Their families are strong and supportive of one another.
They do not sit and wait to be taken care of ...they form healthy family plans to work together, to train their sons and daughters as they work outside jobs while farming huge acres of land driving big tractors from early am to noon and beyond. They care for their animals working to implement better practices of care and production. They plan for the future generations TOGETHER.
If the citizenry of Iowa do not farm directly they teach, sell insurance, are involved in some form of healthcare, etc.
The Iowans I have met are giving, caring, hardworking, problem solving people who enjoy life and take care of one another.
I recall someone saying that Trump did not win, misinformation did. Yeah, it's more complicated, but somehow we have let the integrity of our politics slip a a lot in my lifetime, or so it seems to me. Nixon's abuses of power seem more tame by comparison. We should always be taking a very hard look at what seems to be the current "normal". Slavery was "normal" once upon a time, and 12 US presidents are said to have held slaves.
It seems to me we've let the integrity of our electorate slip. We've become so ignorant and distracted we are unable to defend ourselves, our families and our country. We've blinded ourselves with adulation of the almighty $$. Yes, we've become a nation of Apprentice viewers not able to distinguish between the real and the fake. Looks like we're in for one of life's hard lessons.
Since I like to Travel, and Talk to People that I meet, A Common Thread among the Immigrants that I meet from Farm-Workers to Techies is: Americans Cannot Take Care Of Themselves Anymore... In their opinion we need Immigrants to perform much of the Work in this Country... U.S. Education does indeed to be improved if 1/2 of High School Graduates cannot Read at 6th Grade Level... Curriculums should be improved to include the Humanities, including Civilizational Classics, Civics, Sports, and the Arts... All this was considered a Good Education... Not all People are suited for College... We should encourage Vocational Training with Apprenticeships... The End-Goal is to Build a Robust Society where EVERYBODY Contributes, and has an Ownership Stake... This Sense of Ownership would Alleviate the Sense of Despair that many feel, and contributed to DJT's Electoral Victory...
Expanding opportunities for all to prosper, to achieve at least a minimal level of comfort would eliminate a lot of despair. That's what "The Square Deal" and the "New Deal" tried to do and Project 2025 aims to eliminate in favor of neo-feudalism. Letting the Musks of the world shape our choices and is naturally frustrating, and frankly a lot of the richest want it all.
Education can take many forms, but as far as I can see it is more useful if it cultivates and acquisition of cognitive tools that increase one's overall skills for negotiating life, including the foundations of a marketable trade.
Also, enabling the minimal skills a responsible citizen needs to contribute to managing a DIY government. If it is really to be a functioning "government of the people, by the people, for the people", don't we need some basic training before getting behind the wheel?
Education empowers the educated. That should be the point.
JL, I think that the proper term is DISinformantion. It was not intended to "mislead," it was intended to (and successfully, I might add) "inform" people with outright lies and fabrications. It was done with malicious intent to create a false perception of facts.
This U.S. penchant for quantifying, commodifying everything has spread worldwide, J L.
Serves the oligarchs, billionaire classes, and market-mad corporations and their stockholders fairly well. Is all, as you say, fairly "normal."
But all these countries pushing the U.S.-style standardized testing are also dropping their humanities in school. More dutifully to abide our living dead elites.
Reality presents itself quantitatively and well as qualitatively, and both can be critical to accurately mapping/understanding reality. In the end quantity becomes a quality, from the number of protons in an atomic nucleus to the budget of the EPA. When Trump declared that more than 100% of current administration's new jobs were going to unregistered immigrants, that should have set off more national alarm bells than it apparently did. It just does not add up.
Yet there is the old saw that figures don't lie but liars figure. Inadequately educated people often seem to have an impression that a claim is more trustworthy or more useful if you slap a number on it without necessarily grasping what (if anything) the number reveals. Some things are counted up easily, like peas in a pod. Others resist quantification. I don't think that tests like the SAT are useless, but I am certain that they reveal far less than than what many people want to think. It's quick and easy. It gives the illusion of objectivity by imposing conformity upon genetically and behaviorally unique individuals. It finds only what it seeks and misses things that matter that are ignored in plain sight. A human being is a TERRIBLE thing to waste.
There is a lot of negative to be paying attention to and it is not about the voters per say, but the incoming administration. Here is concentration camp, fascism expert Andrea Pitzer talking about what to expect.
Beverly, I am also going to recommend Andra Watkins. She is writing also about some things one can do to protect oneself. She has a series on Purposeful disengagement. I first saw Andrea Pitzer on one of her links. https://andrawatkins.substack.com/
Andra is also writing about the Christian Nationalist elements of the government because she is an expert and after having read Project 2025, she is explaining the CN language because all of the people that wrote. it are CNs. My Project 2025 book club was very appreciative of what she has to teach about this world. The one that our incoming government is trying to make over as CN Theocracy. Thus the nominees.
Phil, the more I think about this election, I am coming to suspect that rather than how badly the voters performed in this election, and how badly the Democrats handled the election, that the Democrats played by one set of rules and the RepubliKKKans played by a different set. I think that the flood of disinformation fed to the RepubliKKKans was but one component. I am still concerned with the statements "Vote for me this time, you'll never have to vote again" and "I have all the votes I need" and I wonder what else may have been afoot. I don't want to sound like a conspiracy theorist, and I suspect that there is some chicanery involved that at least bears looking into.
Another is that the fact that a woman was running for President is another; there are people in this country not ready for a woman to be its leader. The Democratic primary in 2008 communicated that we were more ready for a Black man than a white woman. My guess is that contributed to some of the undervote of Democrats for Harris as compared to Biden.
I don't think that American voters are "fools", I think that in a variety of ways, they have been manipulated and disinformed. Something that cannot be overlooked is that about a third of the eligible population did not vote. That has got to be addresses.
Ally, your statement that you don't think American voters are fools really resonates with me and with the long post I put above. I admit that the MAGA dressed head to toe and following Trump from rally to rally is weird--but it took more than all those votes for him to win. I don't want to jump on the finger-pointing bandwagon that is all over the liberal internet pundits, but after meeting with a Trump voting friend this week, I believe that we didn't reach the voters in the fly-over states. I honestly don't think "vote to save democracy" reached these people, I think they considered that too abstract! And your point about the non-voters--absolutely! (I wrote many letters for "VoteForward" which does not endorse any candidate, just encourages people to vote). I have a sibling that didn't vote because she was "sick of all the politics" and said it's been too much/too long. I wish that campaigning was banned until about 6 months before an election. I'm simply worn out.
I have a sibling that didn't vote because she was "sick of all the politics"
I have friends and acquaintances that said the same; that politics is just so distasteful that they just want to distance themselves from it as much as possible. And most of these much better than average educated people. It seems to be self-protective isolation, but a very poor strategy. It appears to me that for a very long time our society has failed to adequately stress that government of, by and for the people absolutely requires public (and individual) engagement, at the very least to vote, as wisely as possible. How, after all, did the ugliness of American politics (or at least such an in-your-face ugly side of it) get to be that way? How much ugliness are we willing to tolerate?
I have a sister that did the same, and also felt torn between her husband (a racist, misogynist who'd never vote for Harris) and her son who is a never-Trumper.
Years ago, it may have been 2000, Garrison Keeler and a talking head were discussing the 2000 election, trying to figure out why the Democrat had lost.
Garrison Keeler commented that the polling had indicated the losing candidate was coming on strong the last few weeks.
Harris v Trump was a marathon and Trump had a 3 1/2 year head start. Kamala did almost every thing right as far as I can tell. But Trump told the same lies about the economy being a "mess" and the country being a "mess" since he left the White House. Of course, there never was any truth to it, quite the contrary, but these low information voters couldn't be bothered with checking out the facts for themselves.
I think we are all fools to some degree, but maybe wisdom begins with recognizing it and caring about doing better. A great quotation from incoming president Lincoln"
"If the politicians and leaders of parties were as true as the people, there would be little fear that the peace of the country would be disturbed. I have been selected to fill an important office for a brief period, and am now, in your eyes, invested with an influence which will soon pass away; but should my administration prove to be a very wicked one, or what is more probable, a very foolish one, if you, the people, are but true to yourselves and to the Constitution, there is but little harm I can do, thank God!"
Humility, not hubris. Is not acknowledgement of our own capacity for folly the foundation of wisdom? And sorting though what truly matters? There are plenty of (some degree of) predators out there, but in my experience most people are equipped with better angels that can get lost when life become too much of a game, when ego ceases to be self-examined. We have seen sociopathy and folly infect society after society around the globe at one time or another, yet somehow often miss the obvious point. We are running out pf space and time to play such games without seriously disastrous results but autocracy and oligarchy thrive on on and encourage it. Concerted good faith and empathy might reverse it, but that's gong to be harder since the election.
I have noticed that when I do a Google search (as I frequently do here when someone says "does anyone know <fill in the blank>" and I trundle off to look it up) that the first thing that pops up is an "AI Overview". DISGUSTING.
On 11/21 Politico's Anthony Adeagar & many folks have reported Biden's 220th lifetime appointment to the Federal bench for a total 220 as of 11/21.
Welcome with me the new federal Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylania -- GAIL A. WEILHEIMER.
Last night "after midnight" SHARAD DESAI was appointed the new Federal Judge for the U.S. District Court in Arizona.
Other prospective Federal Judges are in line to be voted on by the Senate before Thanksgiving likely with "unanimous consent" as Senator Cruz is off in Cancun or wherever.
I know what I am thankful 🙏 for this year & will say so at the Family dinner table.
Thanks to a deal Schumer made with Republicans that only allows District Court Judges to be appointed. NO Appellate Court Justices. Considering the numbers I don't think Schumer made such a great deal.
Understand. But, Federal Appellate Judges start at the U.S. District court level usually with a Magistrate 'sidekick' Judge to handle the daily urgent criminal matters like the arraignment of David Depape the Perp who attacked Paul Pelosi.
I have practiced before Presiding District Court Judges such as the Presiding Judge of the Northern District of California, Marilyn Patel.
Judge Patel overturned the infamous WWII racist, Fred Korematsu case. Korematsu's family was there to witness the rare historical correction of Fred's bogus case based on fraud.
****************************
BTW, the "State of California" (hey, that's me) also prosecuted David Depape. So let's recap per NPR on 10/29/24 (hey... less than 1 month ago).
First, a San Francisco jury (yup, we still have them) where the crime occurred found the hammering Perp guilty of aggravated kidnapping, first degree burglary & false imprisonment of an 82 year elder.
Sentence? Life imprisonment. Depape's oral argument before the sentencing Judge, "I am a psychic" did NOT work. Take note of the in pro per's legal error. The Perp should have argued: "I am psychotic".
Anyway, we will never see David on the streets of SF again.
JL, so true, but let's say that the rule of law is only for the bottom half, not for white collar folks, unless they are democrat. It is why they constantly go after the IRS.
That's the problem. We as a society have not been adequately defending equal justice under law. The nation was on board with it more or less) post Gilded Age and pre-Reagan, but have been since been letting it slip. "Citizens United" (legalized de facto bribery) should have triggered and organized anti-corruption movement but did not. Government is not "the problem"; corruption is.
I suspect most of Trump’s voters don’t get their news anywhere. They’ve been raised Republican and conservative and just vote R down the line because they think it will somehow save them. If they read real news how can they accept all the sexual assaults. Jim Jordan has never been held accountable for his part in hundreds of boys and young men being sexually assaulted. Why did Clooney’s story disappear. Trump has never been held accountable, Epstein was his fall guy. Kavanaugh investigation squashed, Hegseth bought off, Gaetz getting to go scott free and the list goes on. All those good religious people who just don’t care what happens to innocents. The morality of this country is so dismal but all they see is job, paycheck, bills and they live in that bubble.
Exactly. And in concert with present circumstances, and the great advantage of hindsight, we equip ourselves to advance the mission (should fortune smile) ever further.
I would change your Nero to Caligula but at this stage it’s almost a moot point to make. Add a touch of Pol Pot, Idi Amin to all the other dictators in the world and there have been some true horrors for trump and his henchmen to emulate.
I have said that Putin was given a gift by the American voting public that he has been working for his entire life. It is the destruction of the USA, which Trump, who I had originally told my family when he was running for office was a Russian asset, or Melania was, or both, and my family would tell me that that I read too much spy stuff, is handing to him by destroying the US. I am interested in Spycraft because I had a family divided in two by the Soviets running the DDR in Germany. By the time Germany reunited, our family members in the East were all shells of human beings.
it's hard feeling like we are Cassandras. But it is obvious what is coming - the dismantling of American democracy, headed by a malignant narcissist who only views things from how it will benefit him. He's still selling tchotchkes with his branding on them - all sales final, no promises of actual delivery.
Steve, is it really the American news industry? I guess you can call them that, but isn't corporate media a more apt description.
To your point, yes the corporate media has failed the American people just as the social networks have, by failing to highlight Trump's incompetence and lack of support from virtually everyone that has ever worked with him.
The oligarchs are winning. Even Bezos has totally gone to the dark side. There are several thousand people in the US that have the power to buy an election for their puppets and if they don't obey, poof, their power is gone.
Oligarchs won the Senate seats in MT, OH and FL. Ron DeSantis, who is very close to being as incompetent as Trump, has enriched himself and daily overreaches his power.
We owe all of this to the entirety of conservative leadership. They sat quietly while he ran rough shod over the norms, ethics, and Constitution the first time.
We not only lost against Russia, we lost the Civil War (finally the elitists and racists prevailed ). Unless it’s recognized as the insurrection against the laws and Constitution that it is, and protections are taken before the inauguration, there will be no legit midterms.
Heather does well to quote fellow Substack artist Timothy Snyder. On "decapitation" of government.
Trump, Musk, and Putin have all been most clear they are for their respective oligarchs, and contrarily not interested in government for ordinary people. Ordinary people need health, environmental, finance, and workplace safety regulations -- and such government detracts from billionaire greed.
They are assiduous, these demagogues who front for the rich, and work against everyone else. In Trump's case he needs the clown show, so the idiot press concentrates on the idiocy behind which he purposely smokescreens his real agenda. But he's a long-practiced showman.
Dems could be. Should be.
During the lead-up to the recent election, I often argued for teams of Dems to organize and appear together in public. I stress that again now. Dems should hire the best PR firms to coordinate, to fine-tune how they may support each other before the American public. They need to be good, very good.
Combinations to consider to get Dems recovered and competing with the nihilist billionaires:
Many of the group you list have already been vocal since the election.
But who is amplifying their voice.
Hundreds of thousands of people world wide are exiting "X" and moving to Blue Sky.
John Fugelseng of Progress Radio and several podcasts was asked by a caller, why he was still on X when he was also on Blue Sky. He responded, "Because it's a requirement of my job."
The Guardian had the kahunas to exit "X". The rest of the journalists need to boycott as well.
In Ohio, senate vacancies have a replacement appointed by the governor. If it was the house that had a vacancy, then there would be a special election.
This strikes me as a great idea, "teams of Dems to organize and appear together in public." "....Dems should hire the best PR firms to coordinate, to fine-tune how they may support each other before the American public." The venues? If 'holding a question' or 'living in a question' is a worthwhile process for developing strategies for tipping public's hunger for authentic people in government, I'd like to see 'us' hold this idea/question/example you've stated. Thank you for igniting my imagination, Phil!
Wow, Phil, an A-team list if there ever was one!!!! IMHO, the folks you name have that “fire in the belly” passion for public service…and I mean that as the highest compliment.
A reformed justice department would have had him in prison long ago. Alas our JD needs reform, but not like what he is offering, the polar opposite in fact. 🤬
I agree, Dick. Having Garland as AG at a time that the Capitol was being attacked should have gotten him significant reprimand by Biden or fired. Alas, it did not and so here we are.
''That so many of his appointees have histories of sexual misconduct is also striking, and underlines both that they share his determination to dominate others and that they do not think rules and laws apply to them.''
The above quote highlights the heart of fascism. Like a sexual predator, fascists want to 'rape the state' through threats and domination stealing whatever they have a mind to steal.
In a democracy, the counter to this lies in accountability, rule of law, and the power of civic engagement. Democratic institutions must hold individuals accountable for their actions, regardless of their position. This includes thorough vetting of appointees, legal consequences for misconduct, and transparency in government.
Moreover, an engaged and informed citizenry plays a vital role in resisting authoritarian tendencies. People can counteract these behaviors by demanding integrity from leaders, voting for ethical candidates, and organizing grassroots movements to uphold democratic values.
Fascism thrives on apathy and fear. Democracy counters it through justice, transparency, and collective action that reinforces the principles of equality and accountability.
Margaret Mead described evidence of a healed femur as the beginnings of society. IT is when we care for others - the vulnerable, sick or disabled - so they can survive, that humanity prospers.
That has been one of the devastating results of 45 recapturing the Presidency. Hundreds of thousands, even millions, are justifiably scared off being targeted.
Margaret Mead's studies on gender and stereotyping is also worth revisiting.
In a perfect world, each individual would be supported to make a contribution to the whole as their authentic self.
Excellent comment, Beverly! It led me to wonder: when in comparison (in time, that is) was the first musical instrument discovered. The Googles told me the bone was dated at 15,000 years and the Neanderthal flute was dated at 60,000.
None of Trump's picks can (control their own pants) and are uniquely unqualified for their jobs.
Literally thousands of people from both parties, came out against Trump. Dozens of people that actually knew him and had worked with him before said he was unfit to be President and 1/3 of the electorate still voted for him.
as far as I can tell, no other politician/figure has set even intimate family members against each other like 45 and his MAGA followers. If there is to be a second Civil War, or a third World War, the even greater tragedy is he is the leader of the "evil" side that destroys, rather than the movement that improves upon humanity. His supporters chose Barabbas.
So very sad, JD, to fully “see” people you care about and what their values are. After TFFFG won his first term (lost the popular vote!), my SIL discovered she had a “surprise” sister…a 23 & Me story discovered by my SIL’s adult daughter who’d studied the results. They established contact & my SIL & bro invited her to come visit for Christmas—this was pre-Covid. I too was traveling over there for the holidays. My SIL, bro, sis and I were sitting around the kitchen table with the new family member having a lively conversation & getting to know one another when she got really quiet and then said (paraphrasing here) “I am SO relieved…I was really worried that you all might be Trump supporters!”. At that we all burst out laughing!!!!
Now that was something to celebrate. My Repub sisters dumped repubs when chump became one. Three of my four bros, not so much. We were very close for decades, and I never expect to see them again. Have trouble talking to the one who calls me every week. I was close to his wife but she did what her kids and grands did. No black female for them. Puke on such racism and sexism.
It’s hard to be close to someone who holds views that disdain values & ideas I hold dear, not to mention the peril their support puts women of reproductive age in my extended family, as well as a number of my long-time chosen family who are LGBTQ+. My brother says he knows of some Richie-Riches in his affluent area (he is a working guy who has a popular family-run small eatery in a vacation destination where some folks have 2nd or 3rd vacation homes) who ignore the values/morals issues and are only in it for the tax cuts & deregulation hopes….you know, screw everyone else as long as I get mine! Wouldn’t want to hang out with such folks in any case!!!!
Gary iove your statement and you are 💯% right but we lost by very little and now they are claiming a mandate and a landslide with permission to do whatever they please..
Ricardo, I sure do hope that Tammy Duckworth—a true patriot that served our country as—gasp! a woman in combat!!!—kicks Hagseth in the ass with her magic legs (nod to Lieutenant Dan, friend of Forrest Gump).
Well then, here we are. Our enemies are poised to destroy our country and the billionaires are calling the shots. Benjamin Franklin was right—it just took a couple of centuries to destroy the Republic.
I am a monthly guest on The Many Shades of Green, and last night we spoke of the nominees thus far.
This was the outline I used for a brief (snarky) background on each:
The nominees thus far represent the bottom of the deplorable basket:
Chief of Staff: Lobbyist Susie Wiles
AG/Justice Department: Matt Gaetz IS OUT (likes to party with underage girls and drugs –watch for him to rehabilitate his reputation on an upcoming season of Dancing With the Stars).
Next up? Another deplorable from a deep bench of corrupt, incompetents. Aileen Cannon?
EPA: Lee Zeldin –election denier.
Health & Human Services: Mr. Brain Worm, Anti-vax RFK-Jr. (wants to make Measles and Polio great again!)
OMB: Russ Vought (one of Proj 2025 architects)
Defense: Fox & Friends Host and Accused Rapist Pete Hegseth (reportedly with a white supremacist/Christian extremist tattoo on bicep)
Director of National Intelligence: Tulsi Gabbard: member of house intelligence committee is deeply concerned about her possible sympathies and allegiance with Russia. A former CIA Case officer was “appalled”.
Education: Linda McMahon –lied to Connecticut Board of Educ about her degree, WWE Announcer abuse scandal, husband Vince under federal investigation for sex traffic.
Center for Medicaid and Medicare: Dr. “take these supplements” Oz. (in 2015 a group of doctors called for his removal from faculty because of his disdain for evidence-based medicine) OZ also promoted hydroxychloroquine as a COVID-19 treatment.
Homeland Security Adviser: Stephen “Nazi” Miller (Proponent of White Nationalism and objectification and othering of immigrants and refugees (n 2019, leaked emails revealed his promotion of white nationalist literature)
Where are Jared and Ivanka? Are they busy getting ready to sell Gaza beachfront real estate? Billions in loans from the Saudi’s.
And this late addition: Pam Bondi, readily bought for a "campaign donation" is the new AG nominee.
Thanks to HCR for pointing to Timothy Snyder's Substack posting on the deeply destructive strategy of authoritarian takeover behind T's egregious appointment proposals. Of course it is appropriate to point out the absurd lack of qualifications these people exhibit, but it is deeply mistaken to employ traditional standards alone here. T. and his people have already made lists of people they'll put up who will appear to be more "acceptable" if the first people crash and burn, as many will do. The real, and quite obvious, mission of these people - ALL of them - is NOT to run these agencies, but to undermine and ultimately destroy them. T., Musk and co. mean what they say when they say that they want to destroy the "deep state". THIS is where it's politically VERY correct to be "woke," in the original sense of the word. To take a slogan from T. himself, we need to fight - NO compromise!
Mitchell, Trump is upping his game from 2016 on Cabinet picks determined to sabotage the department they were appointed to head: Rick Perry ran on getting rid of the Energy Department and Betsy DeVos had a private school conflict of interest.
Something that no one ever seems to mention: Rex Tillerson, Trump’s 1st Secretary of State was awarded Russia’s Order of Friendship by Putin. So Tulsi Gabbard isn’t the first Cabinet official with ties to Russia.
Mary Hardt - exactly. He has always chosen individuals - generally rich and white - in opposition to the organization and mission, and puts them into position to dismantle, destroy, or privatize the organization. Add DeJoy, who owned a competing business to the USPS and purposely dismantled equipment and procedures that could affect voting access both during the pandemic and going forward.
His "drill, baby, drill" mantra means a burgeoning industry sector in clean energy will worsen health (who needs clean air or potable water, right?) and assists Elon Musk in countering China's head start on electric vehicles. Never mind that the USA is already at historical heights of energy production, and refineries are the choke point in production.
Another great tragedy is the Cabinet will resemble a Fox Network casting call, rather than the diversity of "real" America. Vice President Harris herself is a prime example of multicultural excellence and patriotism, the American "ideal success story."
Don't be surprised that as 45's mass deportation begins, many others "self deport" as well, in disgust and despair at the bigotry, intolerance and cruelty of his example and policies.
Carol, I believe that Ireland is one of the few democracies that will allow retired persons to emigrate there. Most want you to be employed or employable.
There was a fleeting moment, a glimmer of possibility of a different path for Russia with Gorbachev, but that unraveled fairly quickly. Another one of those “what if’s”….
You were right, professor. Tonight’s letter is darker, more sinister than usual. Snyder’s piece is brilliant. We are certainly in a pre-catastrophic moment in the country. Take a few minutes to read it.
This confederacy of dunces offers no solutions, no policies to make America greater. Their plan is simply to blow everything up. Their mission is to be the great unravelers of anything having to do with Obama and Biden. They too have pillars: Hate, fear, exclusion, power, and greed.
That does it. I’ve just met a wonderful Bonobo lady and have fallen in love and soon, we will be joined in holy matrimony and have a bunch of blended inter-species offspring so I can git the hell out of the human race. 😜😂😝😜😂😝😜😂😝😜😂😝😜😂😝😜😂😝😜😂😝😜😂😝😜😂😝😜😂😝
I share HCR's Letters to Facebook all the time, but I'm going to beg people to read this one. My husband and I are going to visit the Christmas Markets next month (we're 78 years old, and this is a bucket list trip). I suspect we will have conversations with Europeans who can hardly believe Americans have lost their mind to this extent. I'm taking advanced French lessons before the trip, and my tutor and I have had interesting conversations. He says that people he talks to in France are almost as frightened as I am. Trump will certainly withdraw from Paris Climate Accords, and without NATO, all of Europe will face a threat from Russia unlike anything they have seen since Hitler. I will stand at the Place de La Concorde and look down the long avenue that once saw Napoleon's troops march off to their doom in Russian winters. Followed by Hitler's army goose stepping down the Champs Elysees. And followed by American soldiers, handing out chocolate to French children. I wish that last image could sustain me, but the American people have either gone crazy or sacrificed their children's future for the price of eggs (and, by the way, the price of eggs is about bird flu, not about President Biden).
Barbara, just after the election I saw a YouTube vid by a fellow from the south (I think)…kinda looked like a “good ol’ boy”, but he was pissed! Said voters for TFFFG sold out their daughter, sisters, wives…women….all for the price of eggs. He kept repeating that…he was incredulous that folks could have voted thus.
It wouldn’t be a shocker for Trump to claim credit for Biden’s policies since he did it the first time, and because most of the republicans in Congress who voted against his bills, all did the same. And I agree, we need to keep records and constantly update our citizens.
Additionally, we should also be concerned with some of his “so called” conventional picks like Ratcliffe at CIA. He was one of the authors of Project 2025. Then there’s his ICE chief, Tom Homen, and more importantly, his nominee for Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Russell Vought; another Heritage Foundation—Project 2025 contributor, and competent destroyer of democracies. OMB is a powerful position that oversees all government functions, and would be key in an authoritarian takeover.
That said, our biggest challenge is reaching a large enough audience. Traditional news outlets are on the decline. And Right-wing media, or even MSM companies that support Trump, control almost 65% of US households when you include social media, while Google and Facebook remain impotent because of lawsuits about “free speech.” And it’s only getting worse!
True…folks just seem so out of touch, or maybe “in touch” only within their narrow silo of information or “in group”. We just seem to be becoming more distanced from each other and not paying attention. I have no answers.
NO WE ARE NOT!! Get out of that cave, JD! I realize it is hard to do but the fog is lifting and without any resistance from us, we will be living the life in Russia.
I hear the hope. I wish I could share in it. I try, but everyday it is worse. The felon is dismantling the U.S. and that is his goal. He wants to be the imperial leader. I believe there is resistance but it will fall on deaf ears since we have a corrupt Congress and extreme court. He does not have a mandate and those who voted him in will pay the price along with those of us who did not vote for him. And those 10 million citizens who couldn’t be bothered to vote…well…they will also pay the price.
How I wish I thought we could fight with a chance to make a difference. I will for my grands, but I know that Mitch worked for many years for a permanent Repub majority. It’s why he tolerated chump. Sadly, he destroyed the party in his effort to give it permanence. Cults don’t deprogram on their own. When is our Ike.
As I have written recently, we have no place to turn to have our voices heard. That would be to Congress and they have proven themselves to be extreme supporters of the convicted felon elect! No one is listening and don’t care.
I suspect it’s as much a loss to billionaires and the broligarchy as it is to Putin. I should know, NYC is the home of the most billionaires on the planet and, in the exurb where I live in the Hudson valley, where they also have been flocking, I can feel the impact of billionaire inflation daily….we need to do something about our tolerance for excessive accumulation of capital. There is still this zeitgeist that these folks are brilliant (e.g. Elon) and we should bow down to them. It’s the ultimate vindication of capitalism — see I told u so, when the USSR fell apart. It justified unfettered predatory capitalism or, as I like to call it, a culture of raping and pillaging. If we don’t get this under control, and honestly, and stop revering these people, and not imposing a progressive tax system, there is no chance we can move forward with the dynamic multicultural democracy that so many of us would like to see, not to mention a livable planet.
Yeah, Susan, so many folks seem to have forgotten the concept of “enough”. Sadly there are so many with more more more and so many more without enough. So out of balance.
Regarding the history of sexual misconduct on most of trump's nominees, I hope evangelicals ,at least start opening their eyes to whom they voted for .
Thanks as usual for all your work Professor Richardson! One correction to the above: "Alex Pfeiffer told Will Steakin of ABC News that discussions of Gaetz’s payments 'are meant to undermine the mandate from the people to reform the Justice Department.'" I think what Mr. Pfeiffer meant was "meant to undermine the mandate from the people to corrupt the Justice Department." I'm sure Mr. Pfeiffer regrets the error . . . .
On a more serious note, Putin now has everything he wants. In addition to the likely implosion of the American system NATO may well become a dead letter, leaving Europe to deal with an emboldened Russia. It is check mate for the US. Not that we won’t come back from it, barring nuclear catastrophe, but coming back from it is off my clock.
As I have written before, it’s no longer what Trump but what the American people did to themselves. I will not excuse them for some lack of moral agency. They could see what this monster was and he told them over and over. The electorate decided consciously that it wants the US to fail at a time when, unlike the distressed Germans of Weimar, they have relative prosperity and stability.
This was a display of spectacularly irresponsible civic insouciance and malice. They saw. They applauded. They laughed. They clicked. They scrolled. They voted.
To their shame.
Well said! Not only is NATO dead, but most European countries are already looking for the exits. No one trusts America. After Trump betrayed the Kurds and The Afghani’s, no one expects Trump to adhere to any previous trade, or defense agreements in the future.
Some may blame Biden for the withdrawal, but Trump’s “Surrender Agreement, I mean DOHA Agreement left Afghanistan in disrepair. Eighty percent of the country was in Taliban hands before Biden was inaugurated. And Trump had closed all our military bases in Afghanistan except one; Bagram; reducing our military footprint and troop levels from 22,500, to 2,500 by December 2020; well before Biden was inaugurated.
Bottom line: America first, is America alone. Our allies are abandoning us, and with cause. Not to mention, Europe has their own right wing parties that have been gaining momentum over the years. Where America goes, Europe usually follows. This could mean a total realignment of western democracies and values over the next decade, and it may not be pretty for democracies around the globe.
Media focused constantly on President Biden's handling of the withdrawal from Afghanistan without including the information that is in your second paragraph.
Agree the MSM shares responsibility. Telling half truths have the same consequences as telling lies. For example, Gaetz has many enemies in DC (can you say Kevin McCarthy). Yet the media’s portrayal of Gaetz withdrawing his name from consideration fails to mention that. All the MSM are focused on is the sex scandals ~ again a half truth. I’m pondering if Gaetz’s withdrawal is a sign the infighting of the Republican Party is alive and well. I pray this infighting will somehow contain Trump and his administration Project 2025 path of destruction.
From your keyboard to G*d’s screen, Maureen
I hope you are reading the signs accurately
Yes, Trump capitulated indeed! Let's see what follows with the remainder of the incoming decapitation nominees.
Biden was set up for failure from the beginning. One base to extract tens of thousands of people, and few resources to do the job. And with one base, the chances of a successful terror attack rises exponentially; it’s harder to defend.
Ann: just what I was going to say! And of course tffg lied about it, as he does about everything.
Absolutely he lied. As you rightly point out, he lies about everything that would pointedly put the screws to him. And of course, Gaetz also lied when he denied any sexual misconduct or sleeping with two 17-year-olds. It stands to reason why Trump would want Gaetz on board in his administration: birds of a feather flock together. There is no better example of that saying than what is right before us in the Trump world of politics.
there's that group again MEDIA! The withdrawl from Afghanistan pales in comparison of Trump's corrupt incompetence in fighting the war on the silent killer Covid 19! 1,000,000 Americans died!!! was this incompetence ever hammered out from the Media outlets! a resounding NO!
Exactly. But it’s hindsight. We can’t change it now, can’t change the past. Therefore my question is what if anything can we do now? Commiserating of our pains of the past can help soothe our hearts but the future is what may save them.
We need concrete plans of action and soon!
A more measured analysis wold conclude that the evacuation of Kabul was America’s Dunkirk, but with worse press.
Yes. Especially as that event has turned into a rallying point for the MAGAts. "13 soldiers died! Biden killed them!" Uh, no. That entire fiasco was set up by tfg and left Biden holding the short straw from under the manure.
Exactly!!
And the Kabul Government was not even at the DOHA 2 sided Talks Trump & the Long Black Birds only.
just some plain bad luck, Jon, any idea how hard it is to stop a determined suicide bomber who looks just like all the others? American military intel missed the speed with which the existing gov imploded, though i can only wonder why. Since Trump's deal with the Taliban, what could you expect? Make deals with the Taliban!
Not only is the media to blame, but also the administration for not explaining the situation and defending itself! Typical Democratic incompetence at messaging.
just saying The truth timeline would prevent this.
Ann, I too was struck by those facts. That contradicts the account in the press. The fact that 13 troops died is tragic, but this is a direct result of 20 years of war in which many thousands died. And the country was left destroyed. The movie Charlie Wilson's War ends with the US Congress unwilling to make an effort to solve problems and preserve what gains had been made. I came of age with Vietnam. US foreign policy has never made sense to me.
Thank you Robert for summing up the outlook of our foreign affairs and reminding us that it was DJT who told the Taliban that Afghanistan is theirs. Biden was left with a collapsed country.
Thank you. Not to mention, he released close 5,800 hardcore Taliban and Al Qaeda with American blood on their hands for a commitment not to attack US personnel. So much for that!…:)
For sure, i also wonder if the Americans found it was out and out impossible to reform the warlord based regime they had backed for so long. Trump just cut the proverbial "gordian knot" maybe?
Afghanistan was a failed adventure from the start. Bush was a Moron just like Donnie. I see a recession and foreign wars on the near horizon. Like Putin’s playbook, when domestic support wains, … start a war to rile up the Nationalism.
I see a recession but I'm not sure about the wars. I see trump aligning with foreign dictators and pressuring other countries, none of which will have the strength to stand up to that alliance.
Spot on assessment. Add the increase in Putin-dominated aggression with (at least)Korean cooperation and there will be WW lll scenarios happening …
I think I will read The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire again. 😉
Actually I recommend a book, The Mortal Republic, on how the Roman Republic became the Roman Empire for starters. Laws intended to help the commons became a means to gain power and undermine their intent. Enter, Caesar.
Imperial rule, or its equivalent, was the name of the game in the ancient world when it came to large state building. "democracy" was mostly equated with "mob rule". The rise of modern democracies met the same aghast sentiments, elites should be in charge, whatever the stripe. And, once modern political parties realized how to manipulated huge masses of the population, both modern democracies and authoritarian regimes have thrived.
Also i would never view any state in the ancient world as a democracy in the modern sense.
I am very cynical I am afraid. Always there was/is an elite ruling while most of the time ordinary people have suffered. Modern democracies are somewhat of a miracle, often hard won and gradually more democratic. I am thinking of both the US and the UK here. Progress is slow and often undermined because, for some, they want what they want, right now and so adapt views and policies that will certainly allow regressive forces to win and remove such policies.
Thanks,Michele🫶
Steve said it perfectly. We placed the ropes around our own necks and pulled the lever— the wrong voting lever. We have been an ignorant collection of misfits from the beginning. In 1978 when I lived for a time in Florence, Italy, I attended a party one evening and I heard two women talking nearby and one said to the other, “Those Americans are stupid.” They were likely referring to the recently ended Vietnam American War. I turned around and the speaker immediately apologized to me but my response was, “No, you are right we are stupid.” And guess what folks, we remain stupid. Any time I had reflected and critized the politics of those closest to me; you democrats (I’m an independent who most always votes for democratic candidates) beat up on me and in my mind, it’s too, symptomatic of narrow mindedness. Our tent was never so large. Our abilities to accept self criticism has lacked. We ridicule anyone who dares step outside the accepted thinking structures. We have placed the hanging ropes around our own gullets. Now we will sway in the wind.
Who is the "WE" you are talking about? It certainly is not ME or close to 50% of the voters.
Direct your ire at the "willfully ignorant" members of the Trump cult.
sounds like a bit of a soapbox rant there, Bill.
And a bummer for sure.
lol barbara
Truth hurts.
Truth hurts.
Well it's not looking too damn good at the moment. That's for sure.
Europe will fight for Ukraine without us if it comes to that. Allies are not abandoning us, the next admin is threatening to abandoning them. NATO even without the US has enough DM soldiers, weapons, tanks, air power, and missiles to easily defeat the depleted, drained, and demoralized Russian Army.
But, even if Trump doesn’t abandon Ukraine, the leadership he is considering for defense and intelligence is so unqualified that the result will be same or similar.
I agree! They aren’t abandoning us, as much as they are being pushed away. Either way, the result is the same.
And Europe will continue to fight with Ukraine, but Trump could make life difficult for Zelenskyy and will. He’ll push for a bad ceasefire agreement and if successful, it’s only a matter of time before the Russian disinformation campaigns do to Europe, what they have done to the US.
Bottom line: Putin will be emboldened and free to escalate its nefarious agenda.
Trump will make life difficult for everyone, this will also result in making life difficult for him too. Undisciplined inexperienced ignorant people consistently make mistakes. Big ones. I think we need to give Ukraine and European leaders more credit. It’s not going to be easy by any means, but we haven’t yet even come close to utilizing any of NATO’s real military power. If we had set clearer goals in Ukraine, and used just a tenth or so of NATO, the Russian Army would have been completely destroyed in Ukraine. I think that had been a strategic failure on Biden’s Administration. ( I still support him, voted for him). I’ve been a fan of General Ben Hodges. He lives in Germany, former NATO commander and other wars. Hodges has the experience and know how to defeat the Russians in Ukraine.
Agreed! I’m glad Europe is fighting back and not giving in. Let’s hope this lasts.
Ukraine is going to need some help in terms of fighters if this keeps on.
Thanks for the pointer on Ben Hodges, Ted. I believe i've watched a few of his before.
I think Trump was pushing for a territorial capitulation in Ukraine when he was in office, before the 2022 invasion. Whatever we make of things, the Russian effort to take over Ukraine is not far from really being a civil war, an attempt to claw back something of what had been the Russian Empire, but with heavy nationalist overtones. Russians kind of ruled much of the roost in Ukraine before the breakup in 91.
easy on the revisionist history regarding Eastern Europe!! ukraine existed centuries before the enity know as Moscow became Russia. Check with Tim Snyder's writings for the history of who controlled what!
tragic!
Not yet. Are we really ready to declare game over? These people haven't even been sworn in. There are Democrats in the Federal Government. There are Democrats all throughout State Governments. Do we know for sure anything that is happening? One thing is for certain. There are a lot of fireworks, fear and uncertainty.
How about we sit tight, not freak out and do what we can.
I consistently remarked to anyone who would listen that Biden was essentially set up, by Trump, to have a rough withdrawal from Afghanistan. That families of service members who died were essentially filled with so much grief and ready to blame the current leadership or were ill advised and poorly read individuals who didn't have a clue as to what Trump had done to their families in the Doha negotiations and agreement, they all but lost all sense of reality in the wake of their grief. Never mind that Trump figuratively threw all the American allies and especially the Afghan government under the bus. That the Taliban agreed but *also betrayed that agreement* came as no surprise when I read the agreement. The Taliban could not be trusted. Unfortunately for the families of the fallen, they obviously did not have the wherewithal to understand how devious the Taliban were or how critically unqualified Trump and his negotiators were when the agreement was made.
For clarification, when I said that Biden was "set up", I did not mean that Trump automatically knew that Biden would be president at the time of the Doha agreement. The truth is whoever succeeded Trump would have had the same result as Biden had; ISIS in Afghanistan would have plotted the same vile act. The Taliban would not have relented their attacks on the American military, as they were withdrawing, regardless of who became president. Even Trump, had he won reelection, nothing would have changed. But of course, in the Trump world of doing things, Trump would have denied this result as being his own. The orange god (small "g" on purpose) would have always believed his results are perfect. This is who we are now dealing with. Sheesh....🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️
Robert, it will not be pretty for ordinary people anywhere or the planet as we will continue to destroy its ability to support us and other species.
And much of it is based around liberal immigration and migration. No nation in human history wants massive migratory policies without an ugly pushback. Ask the Moors from 16th century Europe what happened to them.
True, which is why you change the law. We haven’t upgraded our immigration policies in close to forty years. Republicans use it as a wedge issue, never really wanting to solve the issue, and democrats uphold the law.
Most asylum seekers walk up to a legal US checkpoint and ask for asylum legally. Drugs and human trafficking mostly occur by US seaports or are trucked in at US border crossings.
I agree with you, but this is for more complex…:)
Bill, the Moors had been in the Iberian Peninsula for a very long time and with a few different outcomes in key battles, could have overrun Europe. It was Ferdinand and Isabella who were finally able to defeat them in Spain and push them and the Jews out. I have trouble calling them immigrants.
Ah the Moors, a favorite 'bogeyman' for the writers in western europe!
Architecture, mosaic art, silk fabric and mathematics all thrived during the so called dark ages in the western world!
In Sicily, the Muslim conquerors let the local administration in tact, unlike little bush and Cheney who purged all the Bathists from Iraqi civil governments. Guess who formented the civil war in Syria but failed to out dictator Asad.....the bathists!
Yeah, just wrote my note to Bill, Michele, lol.
Whateva… the border issue crushed us. That’s the only issue.
Bill, I have seen what you refer to on this forum and put in the world. Someone has a different view from others and gets verbally slaughtered.
I do not call correcting the facts of what happened in Spain under Ferdinand and Isabella verbal slaughter. Moors there were not "immigrants".
Moors as part of an immigration argument? Part of the back and forth from the original muslim expansion. The Spanish regime that arose was immediately anti-Jewish, hardly immigrants come lately, amping up the Inquisition against the Conversos as shadow Jews / Muslims, which was soon full time promoting a savage conquest of indigenous across the Americas, not to mention the slave trade. Come on!
When the so called civilized Spanish Aragon dynasty ruled Sicily not only the Jews but anyone who did not convert to Catholicism were also persecuted!
Frank, thanks for including the Inquisition, Converses, and the conquest in the Americas in the history of their "Most Christian Majesties".
Trump will blame Biden for everything Trump mishandled, and take credit for everything Biden did well. I second Heather’s advice to keep score cards in the next 4 years. If a lie, often repeated, will be entrenched, so will the truth.
tragic!
Trying to take on the Taliban, backed by and part of Afghanistan's by far largest ethnic group, straddling both that and Pakistan, was an enormous mistake. The war lord governments the US (NATO, sure) cobbled together as another venue of "shock and awe" never could stand on their own two feet militarily, and likely societally, overall. Trump simply negotiated with the Taliban around the government the US supposedly supported. Implosion came next, the suicide debacle was the excuse a lot of Americans needed to dump on Biden, and from which he never recovered, mostly thanks to inflation and "the border"...
I agree in part, but Russian psy ops is responsible. 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.
Mueller convicted national security advisor Michael Flynn and the chair of the Trump presidential campaign, Paul Manafort. The investigation resulted in charges against 34 individuals and 3 companies, 8 guilty pleas, and a conviction at trial.
Mueller did not reach a conclusion about possible obstruction of justice by Trump, citing a Justice Department guideline that prohibits the federal indictment of a sitting president. That pisses me off. It's uo to a jury to determine whether there was complicity. I thought that Mueller was farblonget and Weissman, who MSNBC has elevated to expert, should, at least have preserved Trump's testimony,
DOJ identified the Russians early on. On September 4, 2024, the United States publicly accused Russia of interfering in the 2024 election and announced several steps to combat Russian influence including sanctions, indictments, and seizing of Doppelganger-linked web domains used to spread propaganda and disinformation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_interference_in_the_2024_United_States_elections#:~:text=On%20September%204%2C%202024%2C%20the%20United%20States%20publicly%20accused%20Russia,to%20spread%20propaganda%20and%20disinformation.
In reality, Russia should nor be a major power. Trump has been elevating their status.
There is also some question whether the count was fixed. I think the circumstantial evidence is compelling. Lots of uncounted provisional ballots. Right to recount varies by state.
We need a recount now
We definitely do! But how can we make it happen when there is nothing but silence from Harris, the DNC, etc.?
We should never forget Biden's welcoming of Trump to the White House, confirming the outcome of the election. The two of them sitting for their photo-op was one more betrayal by Biden.
Oh my goodness…. I rather think President Biden met with his adversary because that is what American Presidents do when their side loses. That civilized tradition signals to us that a peaceful transition is occurring and President Biden carried out his duty with distinction.
President Obama and other past Presidents have done the same thing with the famous exception of Trump himself. PBS reminded us how it went four years ago, “… it was a very different story: Trump filed scores of lawsuits falsely claiming widespread voter fraud, refused to actively participate in transition work, denied the election results and helped incite a mob that attacked the U.S. Capitol, trying to stop the certification of Biden's victory.”
A stark contrast, is it not? I admire Biden’s courage and self-control in carrying out what I’m sure he saw as his duty.
"he saw as his duty"
Biden also had a duty to fulfill his 2020 promise to be a transition president. He managed to ignore that duty. If he had lived up to that promise, he might have been welcoming a Democrat into the White House in 2024, instead of the Groper-in-Chief.
I agree with your assessment.
I also fumed seeing them together, because 45-47 internally wants to have the old man lined up against a wall and publicly shot by firing squad. Those of us in his crosshairs are terrified, and feel like America did not stand up for the rights of us all, just yielded to their privilege, racism and misogyny.
We do need to do some specific recounts however, with good cause.
Sadly you are wrong about President Biden. He simply showed that he is the grown up in the room. You may remember that there was a very real concern about the possibility of civil war had Trump supporters thought the election was rigged. My belief is that Americans have come to believe that every desire should be met within the timeframe of a delivery from Amazon. Biden’s policies will take years to have their designed effects. As the saying goes: “Anything worthwhile is worth waiting for.”
And Trump is just salivating for the opportunity to wipe out as many of these policies - because well, he has to "get even" - a spoiled child's reaction, as always.
Biden was the best president for Americans since FDR and Ike. But his foreign policies were terrible.
Jake Sullivan might as well been on Putin's payroll as far asa Ukraine was concerned. Biden lied, blaming the Afghans for their defeat by the Taliban saying their American trained and equipoped 300,000 army just folded. There never were 300,000. Maybe 150,000 max, the rest were on papaer and the money stolen. The CIA and warlords were hated in rural Aghanistan as they were so corrupt, the Taliban provided better local governance. When Trump announced that American troops would be withdrawn and no longer supplying air cover, the Afghan army joined the Taliban as fast as they could for their own survival. America never really controlled anything outside of Kabul and maybe Herat.
Now we have the American Taliban hell bent on inflicting Christian Sharia Law on the world. Only Robert Hubble can be positive under these circumstances. My wife and I may never get to go home to our little town in Ukraine
That was shocking, the smiles disgusted me.
Me too. I was angry Biden normalized tfg. Yes, he had to sit with him. He did not have to play act.
I have been asking that question. Harris folded like a cheap card table. Did she know something we do not? Was her family credibly threatened? The ballot counting machines were "not connected to the internet". There was lots of time between 2020 and 2024 when they may well have been. As musk said there was only one line of code needed changing.
If anything about the Ukraian war has shown that the Russian army is less than second rate. They do not want a direct conflict with the West. So much of their "advanced" weaponry is stolen from the West. It is much like the cold war again when we were lead to believe by Reagan that we were dangerously behind the communists. He then proceeded to lead to the biggest military build up since WWII and used America's credit card to do so by relieving the wealthy from paying taxes. putin knows that a direct conflict with NATO would spell doom for his govt.
They had a brain drain. Their economy is not as big as California -- maybe the same size as Tejas.
But through chicanery, they control Trump. Whether he is an agent or just a willing idiot, they are the "other."
Dems are currently in circular firing squad formation -- blaming themselves for crimes committed by Russians and their allies and idiots - MSM and the so called Republican Party.
I assume you mean Main Stream Media by MSM. It has other meanings.
These are certainly head spinning moments; there is no adult supervision in his pending administration; no sober, decent, mature individual who will be in charge of major departments - I note a chilling fear among many of us.
Stephanie, we are living in a nightmare. Remember how grateful we are when we wake up and realize it was only a nightmare and not real?
I haven't been able to wake up yet.
We come out of a nightmare often sweating, sometimes crying or screaming, shaking, and as you say, with our heads spinning.
I am surrounded by those who made this nightmare possible. I quit my position as pianist at a Baptist Church because they were all Trump supporters. I couldn't reconcile the hypocrisy of hearing sermons and singing hymns of peace, love, goodness, kindness, and striving to be Christ- like. I'm alone in my nightmare, but what gives me hope of waking up to better times are the people like Heather, the Meidas Touch Network, Tim Miller, Tennessee Brando, and others who have seen the truth about Trump and are trying to keep us all afloat. I definitely would be drowning in my disbelieve and despair had it not been for those posts.
May we one day have pleasant dreams and not nightmares.
Pam Taylor, Stephanie Banks and others....
Your experience is similar to mine.
To my deep regret, I once was a Republican....I once supported The Heritage Foundation. I am a Christian who once attended worship but I will not worship Trump. As soon as he was placed on the Republican ticket to be President of the USA, ...I changed parties.....I no longer attend formal worship. My faith has not changed but I will not be a part of supporting a criminal, a man who looks at women as useful objects for him to use freely as he chooses with NO PUNISHMENT!!!! He is using any citizen of the USA who will bow to him in hopes of receiving power and money and control!!! Trump is a man who envies and wants to be like men such as Putin. He is no Putin!!!
Trump did not gain his position suddenly. He was chosen as a useful tool by such as members of The Heritage Foundation and many other groups who have been working and planning for years and years for this very time. Many of us have been "losers!" Too many of us believed the lies!!! It is NOT too late to wake up....but NOW is the time!!!!
Which political party has been serving ALL of the American people .... for the betterment of our nation and the world....for air to breath ...for the education of our children (not brainwashing!!! our population!)....for opportunity to have a home of their own. Which party has been working and will continue working to create jobs for Americans and fight to improve wages and benefits!!! It is the party of the Democrats!!! Which party has been working for a more peaceful world, for freedom for all people? My answer, at this time in our history is the Democratic Party. We have and I pray will continue being and BECOMING!! the UNITED States of America....NOT THE BRAINWASHED IMPLODING STATES OF AMERICA!!!
We would be blind if we were not aware of the increasing rise of dictators throughout the world. Netanyahu has played us as fools! Where are the October 7th hostages?
Why was this problem not taken care of before we sent troops?...before our bombs were allow to dismember and decapitate babies, women, young children...before OUR bombs were used to destroy homes and gardens and animals that were a part of everyday life for innocent people???? Do we love war and its weapons of destruction so much???
Now we have the build up of hatred and revenge. We have worked for this...we have given more to this than to the care of humanity!!!! We are going to pay a price for our chosen actions!!! Netanyahu and his minions are in control ...not us.....not even those making money off this war.....are in control now!!!
Bring home the hostages!!!!
Peace, cooperation, love for one another will bring success for everyone....of course NOT perfection!!! but a better, safer more productive world for everyone. Can we imagine the loss of education opportunities??? We are contributing to the poverty of our fellow human beings!!! Peace will build up families, gardens, kindness to our elderly and poor who are helpless.
Will the hostages be found alive? Will the hostages be released? Families have been waiting!!!!
Emily, your heart-felt comments are appreciated and certainly agreed with!
Emily, that's a long statement to have no mention of the cowardly HAMAS using their civilians as shields. Both sides are murdering warmongers. Wishing President Biden didn't have to involve us/NATO at all in that shit show! The world would be better without their constant waring. I was hoping they would kill each other off and the world would breathe easier knowing there's one less war we have to side with. Ukraine on the other hand, deserves our helping hand as they understand and has been about the business of securing it's peoples rights and freedoms. We could learn from them on how to differentiate a dictator from a president; one that's about his peoples business, not oligarchs. At least the Ukrainians are trying to save their piece of the rock instead of selling it to the low and high bidders in the shark pool.
I'm sorry you had to leave your church. The hypocrisy must have been horrible to experience.
Ally, yes, I'm the "Talk of the Town" that I would dare question the beliefs of people who claim that the tenets of Christianity lead their behaviors and opinions. I have shocked people in the church for daring to question. and distance myself, from what should be the "way to live." I'm sorry to lose friends who can't understand my stance. It's not like we're disagreeing over the color of the church carpet. It comes down to the fundamentals of good versus bad, of right versus wrong, of decency versus indecency.
I chose decency and truth over vileness and lies.
But that's just me.
You are not alone! I left my church because they are so anti birthcontrol and anti abortion. But is anyone questioning the morality of Catholics owning guns that aren't used for hunting???
You are not alone.
Steve, as an American, I would change “…their shame” to “…our shame.” But where does that get us? We still face an existential crisis (yes, an overused term, but appropriate here). With Hegseth at the helm, how could we respond if Taiwan were attacked? Imagine the U.S. without any capable leaders at the top. Great tools and staff are of little value without good decisions on if/when/how to use them. Once Trump is inaugurated, how long will it take before Biden’s team is gone? And how much longer before Trump’s team has fired key skilled subordinates? Could we respond to anything of international, national, or regional consequence?
Steve, in essence the Security of the Free World can no longer trust that the American voters value Democracy or will honor our commitments to address Authoritarian Governments every four years
Share critical security intelligence with Trump? That’s a big Eff You
Steve this is absolutely spot on. And we are now going to get the chance to witness what a completely emboldened Tsar Vlad is going to do to Eastern Europe. I predict that Ukraine will cease to exist by the summer, and that one by one, the former Soviet Republics from Estonia (maybe even Finland, which was beset and semi-controlled by the USSR) to the Black Sea will be invaded--including all the NATO countries to the east of Germany and Scandinavia. He already has Hungary, Moldova, and the southern flank of "allies" in his pocket as a buffer. I also predict that, come summer, the West Bank and Gaza will no longer be autonomous Palestinian regions and the Palestinian people will be forced into a diaspora that will, ironically, resemble that imposed on the Hebrews by the Babylonians back in the day. We are indeed going to be seeing a "new world order" that apparently more than half of Americans (because I include people who did not vote AND those who voted for Jill Stein as basically Trump supporters by default: they just want whining rights) would like to see. Moreover, the outright fascist and christofascist organizations in Europe will feel similarly emboldened, and within a couple of years we will probably see far-right takeovers of a lot of formerly centrist "liberal" democracies in the EU. But I also want to lay some blame on Biden's DoJ, which sat on their hands and slow-walked every damn investigation and, once the election "season" began, stopped pursuing anything at all. Biden did some wonderful things and his long-thought-about plans for making this country functional again were terrific, but he signally failed to deliver the kids of messaging--and the hard dope slaps--necessary to re-educate the yutzes and booby-hatches who ultimately rejected him while refusing to acknowledge that they are better off now than in 2019. To say I am completely disgusted with everyone is an understatement. I am thankful that I have a terminal illness and I am actually hoping I don't make it through the entire 4 years of hell I am anticipating.
I hate hearing of your illness and I hope by some miracle you get a better outcome than you anticipate. It does happen.
I completely agree with your view.
Thank you, Linda. I agree with you and want to second all the missed opportunities the DEMS had--especially the Biden administration--to avert this tragedy. They did not do what needed to be done. It was one mishandling after another, from Garland's failure, to the disgustingly poor judgment Willis used, to not adding more Supreme Court judges earlier in the term, to inadequate messaging. The list goes on. Grassroots worked their tails off trying to get Harris elected, canvassing, phone banking, writing postcards, driving people places, etc. I wrote 300 postcards and received 5 in the mail from others writing postcards. It was not enough. Now we are being told not to give up, keep fighting, stay vigilant. What the hell are we supposed to do? March on Washington? Write letters to the editor? I just read something about how we should talk to Republicans. Reach out. Maybe we should reach out to Trump and his cabinet of clowns? Trump doesn't care what the voters who voted for him think, let alone the ones who didn't.
We did our part trying to get Harris elected, but our "leaders" did not do theirs. Now, it is up to Congress to do what they can to stop him, on both sides of the aisle. There is nothing citizens can do at this point but help our local communities to be safe, much like the resistance did all over Europe before and during WWII. If we get to midterms, maybe there will be an opportunity to gain control of one or both houses. A big if. Grassroots can lay some groundwork for that, but without the DEM party doing what it needs to, citizens can only do so much.
As Bill said, we are now going to sway in the wind. The way this world currently operates is not sustainable. We all know this. Major changes are needed (an understatement) for the world's resources and ecosystems to serve all 8 billion of us in a way that is socially just, kind, and comfortable for all people. Perhaps we are on the cusp of watching the walls come tumbling down, a change that must take place--but it will be an upheaval and one I am afraid of.
Linda, take good care of you.
Antia, I'm thinking that Democrats "played by the rules" as the RepubliKKKans were operating on a completely different plane. My first thought was "brought a knife to a gunfight", but it is more complex than a simple choice of weaponry.
I think you are probably right. I always admired Michele's comment: "They go low, we go high." Perhaps we needed to put on different gloves--and it could have been done respectfully.
Right now, I am at a loss of what we are to do--but I have a close friend who is absolutely infuriated with me, because I have asked to not be on the receiving end of inflammatory texts and forwarded articles about the upcoming doom. I, too, wrote and donated and talked, and it wasn't enough to win. While this is going on, I am getting texts and emails from other friends; one just lost her brother to cancer after months of being his caregiver. I expect a text today announcing the death of a husband of another friend who entered hospice two days ago. Another friend is hospitalized battling a brain tumor and is horribly infected with C Dif. Those three people--the state of our country is not foremost in their minds. I'm not sure what my angry friend wants me to do, but without going into their content, they are the equivalent of a air raid signal, no joke.
I know there are others like me, people in which health and constant rage cannot coexist. I'm not giving up--I just can't sustain this constant battle. I did, however, meet with a very long time friend who voted for Trump. This is a very intelligent woman who is much more traditional GOP than MAGA. It was good to hear her talk about why she voted for him, even though she has some concerns. I have doubt that trying to convince the brainwashed will work, but if indeed the horrendous stuff that is predicted comes to pass, I think we'll have much more success in winning if we keep the lines of communication open with people like my friend who are open to reason from people who converse reasonably. (She did make reference to liberals who treat all Trump voters with distain as being stupid. Whether you might agree or not, don't forget Clinton's "deplorables" comment didn't go well, and I believe I read somewhere that in this election "coastal elitists banging on midwestern doors" didn't work very well either.)
The southern, western and midwestern doors don't seem to mind opening to accept their unearned and unforeseen block grants that represent multiples of their tax contributions. Those are the product of more successful blue states and cities, who receive substantially less of their own tax revenues in return, and must deal with gerrymandering, the Electoral College and clearing out of voting rolls as repayment.
So one aspect of rightwing gaslighting is reveling in acts of ridicule, fantasy violence, and threats but when it is done to them, they scream and whine and holler about how unfair it all is (see the person below who is trying to shame me for using a very common technique to settle down my rage). I think that the Dems ARE arrogant and stupidly so. I think that the Christofascists are ALSO arrogant in their complacency, sense of superiority, bigotry, and deliberate ignorance. I would also like to say that while I think it is wonderful you had a good conversation with your right-wing friend, it sounds like her criterion for voting for the Felon-in-Chief is her dislike of the "tone" of Dem messaging. If I were to take offense at every condescending, mansplaining, dismissive, arrogant thing that every person who disses me because I have a vagina and not a penis has said to me over the decades, I would be a sorry-ass maniac (or in jail for actually committing acts of violence). In my profession (academia), you have to suck up a whole lotta poison a whole lotta the time. So when someone sniffs at me that my attitude sucks, my response is usually Physician, heal thyself. As the kiddos say now, I have no more f**ks to give.
Linda, it was more than her dislike of the Democratic tone. She has a disabled sister a few years younger. When her brother in law died (of COVID, no less) she became the person who supports her. Both the sister and b.i.l. were on disability and never had much money. My friend is frustrated at navigating her sister's Medicaid and care services, and so she welcomes someone looking at Medicare/Medicaid and in general, cutting through the bureaucracy of the federal government (she suspects there are many paper pushers not accomplishing much among the civil service workers.) She's upset that nothing was done to fix these programs in the last four years. (her sentiments, not mine). She has gay friends, is not anti-abortion, and thinks Musk is an idiot, and she never married, is childless, and was a very successful businesswoman.
When I could, I countered her opinions with facts, but I can't argue with some of her frustration, as I am trying to figure out my own Medicare plans for the upcoming year. It should never be this complicated. I don't trust Oz as far as I could throw him, but I get where my friend is coming from.
I agree with you. Ridicule never helps and kindness needs to be how we treat others at all levels. If Republicans, Independents, etc. feel elitism and classism coming from Democrats and it influenced their vote (as many experts claim), that needs to be understood and somehow eradicated. Your friend referenced it, so it must be out there. To what extent I do not know. I have read so many articles and some books about how we got to this point--this division. But few of them offer a substantial way forward. This "divide" has been politically exploited by the right for decades, and now it has culminated in the MAGATS and Project 2025. We needed strong leadership to get out of this quagmire. I do not see it coming anytime soon.
LInda, I am hoping that the end of your journey here can be as peaceful as possible, even in these troubling times. I'd love it if a "parting gift" to you could be the overturn of the MAGAt movement. Holding you in my heart.
Thanks AH: my "parting gift" involves fantasies of pushing people down long staircases . . . I will go down fighting, as always (Greek gurl in full Medea mode).
You really need to seek professional help. Healthy people don’t have those types of fantasies.
Uh, she’s dying. Therefore not healthy. She’s reveling in the ability to act without consequences. There is a difference.
No, wishing harm upon anyone EVER is wrong, period, no excuses. Shame on both of you. Stop defending bad behavior.
Steve, I think you're giving those who voted for DonOLD far too much credit. We know the MAGATS don't think, that's a given but obviously no thinking was involved by the tiny margin of others that voted for him. He lost the popular vote for the third time. They keep using "mandate" but that won't last. I think he'll be inaugurated with an acting cabinet as nominee after nominee is rejected. I hear George Santos is available, possibly Secretary of Sexual Promiscuity.
I believe he won thanks to the gerrymandering of the Southern states. Do I hear history repeating itself? 🤔
I agree this is the only reason he won. That and some old fashioned cheating. Musk seems to have bought a lot of votes.
I agree, except, that whole "mandate" thing might last, because the maga-ots keep lying about it, which means people will believe.
You’re absolutely right. Trump’s voters, almost without exception, didn’t necessarily like him but supported him because of what he opposed. That opposition was fueled by a steady stream of right-wing propaganda targeting anything and everything—name an issue, and it was demonized. One overlooked factor is how the right-wing echo chamber amplified extreme liberal rhetoric and weaponized it, while also undermining trust in institutions, including mainstream media, by branding them as liberally biased. Trump supporters were united by what they were against but remain largely ignorant of the consequences of what they voted for. They will come to regret their support for someone they knew was unfit.
And they watched Fox, Newsmax, Breitbart, and "Truth Social" while the mainstream media mostly ignored Trump's constant lies and incoherence.
Funny, that first paragraph, Steve. Golly, I am not sure Barbie would fit in to the Cabinet. Timothy Snyder is right, just as President Lincoln was one hundred, eighty-seven years ago.
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7259852498906025984?commentUrn=urn%3Ali%3Acomment%3A%28activity%3A7259852498906025984%2C7259857671875391488%29&dashCommentUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afsd_comment%3A%287259857671875391488%2Curn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A7259852498906025984%29
Steve, you have nailed the verdict on the American people regarding the election of a convicted felon to the office of the president. After reading this morning’s letter, I feel more urgency to either leave the country or, at the very least, move to a solidly blue state. I have little hope for our country’s survival during the upcoming administration. The felon-elect has plans to systematically dismantle these United States. There will be no overarching federal or congressional watchdog over the rights and liberties afforded by our constitution once al
l departments are dismantled and sent back to the states. We have a spineless Congress, of which most of the GOP members are trumpists. Each state will do as they please and if their state legislatures are extreme maggots (approximately 22+ states currently) then the citizens of those states will likely not have the same freedoms as their neighboring states.
I will not excuse them for some lack of moral agency.
Wasn’t the proposition of moral agency a basis for the Nuremberg Trials? One does not get a pass for just following orders or just stumbling into a voting booth and blindly casting a vote for one’s Fearless Leader.
Steve, I must disagree with you, to a certain point. Sadly. It seems that a lot of the people who voted for tffg simply were too lazy/busy/tied in knots by what life was already dealing them, to pay attention. Now, they (well, quite a few) are sorry. It reminds me of Brexit; buyer beware, and all that.
Steve, Excellent post. I would also add many did not vote for whatever reason. Yes they did it to all of us and once again I am glad to be as old as I am because younger people will bear the brunt of the suffering. One can only hope that the Senate decides to protect its prerogatives.
I agree, Steve, the results of this past election are owing principally to two phenomena: ignorance and stupidity. They (Trump voters) were stupid to remain ignorant.
I love your last paragraph. We are a “ reality “tv nation. I get so frustrated when people including the legacy media and politicians treat this as politics as usual and after four years we can vote in the Democrats to clean up the mess. We overlook that the Democrats have bought into this new normal. And will there be any legitimate elections in our future.
While most people if asked would say that “We just had an election,” the truth is we just lost a huge and possibly decisive battle in the War that Russia launched against America many years ago. (see Trump’s first visit to the USSR - arranged for by the Russian government - in 1987)
It is a tragedy of historic proportions that the American news industry has failed to report that we have been at war for all these years. 😢💔
DJT seems to be Putin's Puppet... Yes we had an Election of the Ignorant, and UnInformed... We now have Orange Nero that answers to a Russian Tyrant that wants to destroy this Country... I speculate that the Majority of DJT Voters get their News from the Right-Wing InfoSphere where Outrage is Manufactured... The biggest source of Information for most seems to be Entertainment, and Spectacle... Public Education has declined Severely since Reagan... It all seems that manufactured to bring about an American Decline... I Hope To See An American Renewal...
I'm with you, Apache.
I'm disappointed to see some of our fellow commenters sticking only with the negative -- what fools Americans voters turned out to be, how badly informed, badly educated. All true enough, but I want to reserve more of my energy for your-also looking forward -- your "hope to see an American renewal."
Thus mine more specifically to that a bit below here in the comments.
And mine more regularly here as to getting rid of the crippling hold standardized testing has on American schools, and the need, contrary to that, to free teachers for more humanities, and for higher standards and more practice in essay writing so much better to see "others" as individuals in the mess we inhabit.
I’m with you on standardized testing! No Child Left Behind was really no child left untested! The high stakes tests have parents paying for classes to get their kid into all the “important” places. A child that studies all summer to get into the gifted program doesn’t belong in the gifted program. Just let the teachers teach and the students learn. Standardized testing reduces education to a training program. I love teaching but watching it devolve makes me glad I’m about to retire instead of just starting a career.
“There is no such thing as a neutral education process. Education either functions as an instrument which is used to facilitate the integration of generations into the logic of the present system and bring about conformity to it, or it becomes the ‘practice of freedom’, the means by which men and women deal critically with reality and discover how to participate in the transformation of their world”.
-Jane Thompson
Phil, one of the things I love about this somewhat transient group of commenters is that we all believe that this Trump administration could be a disaster for the US.
Once in a while, a troll tries to join the group, but when 99.9% of the commenters reject their ideas, none of them stick around for long.
Even though our state is the oldest in the country, the people of ME pride themselves on education. Not all of them of course, but the majority do.
I'm not sure if you recall the book, "Small is Beautiful; A Study of Economics as if People Mattered" by EF Schumaker https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_Is_Beautiful
but I believe he was correct. We have tried to nationalize education by forcing a limited curriculum on all students when, with the vast amount of money we spend on education, should focus on the needs of each individual.
My grandparents graduated from a one room school house and I would argue had a better education that many of the kids do today. The schools had the freedom to set their calendar around the needs of the community by allowing students to help out at home during the harvest and when needed in the community. Older students helped younger students which benefited everyone.
Like you Phil, I am not a fan of standardized testing. We took the Iowa Basics Test and the the Stanford test every year but our advanced notice was no more than a day or two. I'm not sure what information it provided the school system to improve the schools and that was back in the 1960's and early 1970's.
David Brooks, you may know, Gary, has an Atlantic piece out now on U.S. ed.
It's all too heavily geared to producing more elites good at taking those tests.
I took them. Back in the early 1960s. They weren't too many. But even then I could sense how they wanted people much better at handling abstractions and logical categories, linearity causality and consistency. I remember once I took an important one by penciling-in all my answers by letter "B."
School counselors caught this and urged me please to re-take. They knew from other tests I'd taken diligently that my IQ was fairly high. Funny this is, I did re-take. And the results gave me tuition free university years.
"To B or not to B"? Why not A,C or D.
One of the many things the standardized tests don't measure is what I call "MQ" or motivational quotient.
My elementary school class had about 30 students and around 20 of us were together from 1st through the 6th grade and most of the 20 even graduated from high school together. One of my classmates, had near perfect scores year after year and even got "free tuition" for college.
He ended up getting two masters degrees. Not to denigrate food service workers but he spent his entire career as a cook in various rest homes.
When we spoke with him when we were all in our late fifties he was shocked that almost all of us owned our own homes and didn't rent.
And I know many other people that were very good test takers that lacked the motivation to compete in the world for monetary compensation.
I'm not judging him-- just saying many people are not motivated by money or what our society accepts as being successful, which in my opinion would be a major component of MQ.
Phil, it's not difficult to see your very intelligent. You don't have to have IQ evidence.
Gary Loft,
Great comments regarding the state of Iowa. My husbands mom and dad were from Iowa.
I have never encountered such hardworking, strongminded, determined, intelligent.....kind, generous people anywhere. Their families are strong and supportive of one another.
They do not sit and wait to be taken care of ...they form healthy family plans to work together, to train their sons and daughters as they work outside jobs while farming huge acres of land driving big tractors from early am to noon and beyond. They care for their animals working to implement better practices of care and production. They plan for the future generations TOGETHER.
If the citizenry of Iowa do not farm directly they teach, sell insurance, are involved in some form of healthcare, etc.
The Iowans I have met are giving, caring, hardworking, problem solving people who enjoy life and take care of one another.
Yes, my grandchildren spent all their time being trained to pass those tests. That’s it. No focus on real education.
I recall someone saying that Trump did not win, misinformation did. Yeah, it's more complicated, but somehow we have let the integrity of our politics slip a a lot in my lifetime, or so it seems to me. Nixon's abuses of power seem more tame by comparison. We should always be taking a very hard look at what seems to be the current "normal". Slavery was "normal" once upon a time, and 12 US presidents are said to have held slaves.
It seems to me we've let the integrity of our electorate slip. We've become so ignorant and distracted we are unable to defend ourselves, our families and our country. We've blinded ourselves with adulation of the almighty $$. Yes, we've become a nation of Apprentice viewers not able to distinguish between the real and the fake. Looks like we're in for one of life's hard lessons.
Since I like to Travel, and Talk to People that I meet, A Common Thread among the Immigrants that I meet from Farm-Workers to Techies is: Americans Cannot Take Care Of Themselves Anymore... In their opinion we need Immigrants to perform much of the Work in this Country... U.S. Education does indeed to be improved if 1/2 of High School Graduates cannot Read at 6th Grade Level... Curriculums should be improved to include the Humanities, including Civilizational Classics, Civics, Sports, and the Arts... All this was considered a Good Education... Not all People are suited for College... We should encourage Vocational Training with Apprenticeships... The End-Goal is to Build a Robust Society where EVERYBODY Contributes, and has an Ownership Stake... This Sense of Ownership would Alleviate the Sense of Despair that many feel, and contributed to DJT's Electoral Victory...
Expanding opportunities for all to prosper, to achieve at least a minimal level of comfort would eliminate a lot of despair. That's what "The Square Deal" and the "New Deal" tried to do and Project 2025 aims to eliminate in favor of neo-feudalism. Letting the Musks of the world shape our choices and is naturally frustrating, and frankly a lot of the richest want it all.
Education can take many forms, but as far as I can see it is more useful if it cultivates and acquisition of cognitive tools that increase one's overall skills for negotiating life, including the foundations of a marketable trade.
Also, enabling the minimal skills a responsible citizen needs to contribute to managing a DIY government. If it is really to be a functioning "government of the people, by the people, for the people", don't we need some basic training before getting behind the wheel?
Education empowers the educated. That should be the point.
JL, I think that the proper term is DISinformantion. It was not intended to "mislead," it was intended to (and successfully, I might add) "inform" people with outright lies and fabrications. It was done with malicious intent to create a false perception of facts.
Yup
This U.S. penchant for quantifying, commodifying everything has spread worldwide, J L.
Serves the oligarchs, billionaire classes, and market-mad corporations and their stockholders fairly well. Is all, as you say, fairly "normal."
But all these countries pushing the U.S.-style standardized testing are also dropping their humanities in school. More dutifully to abide our living dead elites.
Reality presents itself quantitatively and well as qualitatively, and both can be critical to accurately mapping/understanding reality. In the end quantity becomes a quality, from the number of protons in an atomic nucleus to the budget of the EPA. When Trump declared that more than 100% of current administration's new jobs were going to unregistered immigrants, that should have set off more national alarm bells than it apparently did. It just does not add up.
Yet there is the old saw that figures don't lie but liars figure. Inadequately educated people often seem to have an impression that a claim is more trustworthy or more useful if you slap a number on it without necessarily grasping what (if anything) the number reveals. Some things are counted up easily, like peas in a pod. Others resist quantification. I don't think that tests like the SAT are useless, but I am certain that they reveal far less than than what many people want to think. It's quick and easy. It gives the illusion of objectivity by imposing conformity upon genetically and behaviorally unique individuals. It finds only what it seeks and misses things that matter that are ignored in plain sight. A human being is a TERRIBLE thing to waste.
There is a lot of negative to be paying attention to and it is not about the voters per say, but the incoming administration. Here is concentration camp, fascism expert Andrea Pitzer talking about what to expect.
https://youtu.be/BwFZpROLvX4?si=vMCBnJVpzAcbSvHn
Here is Olga Lautman laying out the worst of what can happen.
https://open.substack.com/pub/olgalautman/p/now-that-america-elected-a-dictator?r=f0qfn&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
My advice is plan for the worst, hope for the best.
thanks, these links are extremely helpful
Beverly, I am also going to recommend Andra Watkins. She is writing also about some things one can do to protect oneself. She has a series on Purposeful disengagement. I first saw Andrea Pitzer on one of her links. https://andrawatkins.substack.com/
Andra is also writing about the Christian Nationalist elements of the government because she is an expert and after having read Project 2025, she is explaining the CN language because all of the people that wrote. it are CNs. My Project 2025 book club was very appreciative of what she has to teach about this world. The one that our incoming government is trying to make over as CN Theocracy. Thus the nominees.
May I encourage the support for Andra's work here? It is extremely important !
I see her in my timeline, will pay more attention.
Phil, the more I think about this election, I am coming to suspect that rather than how badly the voters performed in this election, and how badly the Democrats handled the election, that the Democrats played by one set of rules and the RepubliKKKans played by a different set. I think that the flood of disinformation fed to the RepubliKKKans was but one component. I am still concerned with the statements "Vote for me this time, you'll never have to vote again" and "I have all the votes I need" and I wonder what else may have been afoot. I don't want to sound like a conspiracy theorist, and I suspect that there is some chicanery involved that at least bears looking into.
Another is that the fact that a woman was running for President is another; there are people in this country not ready for a woman to be its leader. The Democratic primary in 2008 communicated that we were more ready for a Black man than a white woman. My guess is that contributed to some of the undervote of Democrats for Harris as compared to Biden.
I don't think that American voters are "fools", I think that in a variety of ways, they have been manipulated and disinformed. Something that cannot be overlooked is that about a third of the eligible population did not vote. That has got to be addresses.
Ally, your statement that you don't think American voters are fools really resonates with me and with the long post I put above. I admit that the MAGA dressed head to toe and following Trump from rally to rally is weird--but it took more than all those votes for him to win. I don't want to jump on the finger-pointing bandwagon that is all over the liberal internet pundits, but after meeting with a Trump voting friend this week, I believe that we didn't reach the voters in the fly-over states. I honestly don't think "vote to save democracy" reached these people, I think they considered that too abstract! And your point about the non-voters--absolutely! (I wrote many letters for "VoteForward" which does not endorse any candidate, just encourages people to vote). I have a sibling that didn't vote because she was "sick of all the politics" and said it's been too much/too long. I wish that campaigning was banned until about 6 months before an election. I'm simply worn out.
I have a sibling that didn't vote because she was "sick of all the politics"
I have friends and acquaintances that said the same; that politics is just so distasteful that they just want to distance themselves from it as much as possible. And most of these much better than average educated people. It seems to be self-protective isolation, but a very poor strategy. It appears to me that for a very long time our society has failed to adequately stress that government of, by and for the people absolutely requires public (and individual) engagement, at the very least to vote, as wisely as possible. How, after all, did the ugliness of American politics (or at least such an in-your-face ugly side of it) get to be that way? How much ugliness are we willing to tolerate?
I have a sister that did the same, and also felt torn between her husband (a racist, misogynist who'd never vote for Harris) and her son who is a never-Trumper.
Agreed!
Years ago, it may have been 2000, Garrison Keeler and a talking head were discussing the 2000 election, trying to figure out why the Democrat had lost.
Garrison Keeler commented that the polling had indicated the losing candidate was coming on strong the last few weeks.
Harris v Trump was a marathon and Trump had a 3 1/2 year head start. Kamala did almost every thing right as far as I can tell. But Trump told the same lies about the economy being a "mess" and the country being a "mess" since he left the White House. Of course, there never was any truth to it, quite the contrary, but these low information voters couldn't be bothered with checking out the facts for themselves.
I think we are all fools to some degree, but maybe wisdom begins with recognizing it and caring about doing better. A great quotation from incoming president Lincoln"
"If the politicians and leaders of parties were as true as the people, there would be little fear that the peace of the country would be disturbed. I have been selected to fill an important office for a brief period, and am now, in your eyes, invested with an influence which will soon pass away; but should my administration prove to be a very wicked one, or what is more probable, a very foolish one, if you, the people, are but true to yourselves and to the Constitution, there is but little harm I can do, thank God!"
Humility, not hubris. Is not acknowledgement of our own capacity for folly the foundation of wisdom? And sorting though what truly matters? There are plenty of (some degree of) predators out there, but in my experience most people are equipped with better angels that can get lost when life become too much of a game, when ego ceases to be self-examined. We have seen sociopathy and folly infect society after society around the globe at one time or another, yet somehow often miss the obvious point. We are running out pf space and time to play such games without seriously disastrous results but autocracy and oligarchy thrive on on and encourage it. Concerted good faith and empathy might reverse it, but that's gong to be harder since the election.
people aren't even thinking (for themselves) anymore. The young people let AI write for them.
It seems many of the old people are nostalgic for "olden days" without the clarity of the injustices of our historic past.
I have noticed that when I do a Google search (as I frequently do here when someone says "does anyone know <fill in the blank>" and I trundle off to look it up) that the first thing that pops up is an "AI Overview". DISGUSTING.
Read Dan Rather's STEADY. I put the link in the comments.
You mean "A big win for propaganda"? I was just looking for a good spot to put it. I'm afraid he's absolutely right. A very clear-eyed analysis.
Agree 100% with you, Apache. Education has been a prime target of the plotters.
Decline of rule of law and holding the powerful accountable in any case. Their egos displace room for any other loyalty or consideration.
On 11/21 Politico's Anthony Adeagar & many folks have reported Biden's 220th lifetime appointment to the Federal bench for a total 220 as of 11/21.
Welcome with me the new federal Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylania -- GAIL A. WEILHEIMER.
Last night "after midnight" SHARAD DESAI was appointed the new Federal Judge for the U.S. District Court in Arizona.
Other prospective Federal Judges are in line to be voted on by the Senate before Thanksgiving likely with "unanimous consent" as Senator Cruz is off in Cancun or wherever.
I know what I am thankful 🙏 for this year & will say so at the Family dinner table.
Thanks to a deal Schumer made with Republicans that only allows District Court Judges to be appointed. NO Appellate Court Justices. Considering the numbers I don't think Schumer made such a great deal.
Understand. But, Federal Appellate Judges start at the U.S. District court level usually with a Magistrate 'sidekick' Judge to handle the daily urgent criminal matters like the arraignment of David Depape the Perp who attacked Paul Pelosi.
I have practiced before Presiding District Court Judges such as the Presiding Judge of the Northern District of California, Marilyn Patel.
Judge Patel overturned the infamous WWII racist, Fred Korematsu case. Korematsu's family was there to witness the rare historical correction of Fred's bogus case based on fraud.
****************************
BTW, the "State of California" (hey, that's me) also prosecuted David Depape. So let's recap per NPR on 10/29/24 (hey... less than 1 month ago).
First, a San Francisco jury (yup, we still have them) where the crime occurred found the hammering Perp guilty of aggravated kidnapping, first degree burglary & false imprisonment of an 82 year elder.
Sentence? Life imprisonment. Depape's oral argument before the sentencing Judge, "I am a psychic" did NOT work. Take note of the in pro per's legal error. The Perp should have argued: "I am psychotic".
Anyway, we will never see David on the streets of SF again.
JL, so true, but let's say that the rule of law is only for the bottom half, not for white collar folks, unless they are democrat. It is why they constantly go after the IRS.
That's the problem. We as a society have not been adequately defending equal justice under law. The nation was on board with it more or less) post Gilded Age and pre-Reagan, but have been since been letting it slip. "Citizens United" (legalized de facto bribery) should have triggered and organized anti-corruption movement but did not. Government is not "the problem"; corruption is.
I suspect most of Trump’s voters don’t get their news anywhere. They’ve been raised Republican and conservative and just vote R down the line because they think it will somehow save them. If they read real news how can they accept all the sexual assaults. Jim Jordan has never been held accountable for his part in hundreds of boys and young men being sexually assaulted. Why did Clooney’s story disappear. Trump has never been held accountable, Epstein was his fall guy. Kavanaugh investigation squashed, Hegseth bought off, Gaetz getting to go scott free and the list goes on. All those good religious people who just don’t care what happens to innocents. The morality of this country is so dismal but all they see is job, paycheck, bills and they live in that bubble.
It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced.
Life Is For Living... We Honor Those In The Past That Have Made The World A Better Place...
Exactly. And in concert with present circumstances, and the great advantage of hindsight, we equip ourselves to advance the mission (should fortune smile) ever further.
I would change your Nero to Caligula but at this stage it’s almost a moot point to make. Add a touch of Pol Pot, Idi Amin to all the other dictators in the world and there have been some true horrors for trump and his henchmen to emulate.
I have said that Putin was given a gift by the American voting public that he has been working for his entire life. It is the destruction of the USA, which Trump, who I had originally told my family when he was running for office was a Russian asset, or Melania was, or both, and my family would tell me that that I read too much spy stuff, is handing to him by destroying the US. I am interested in Spycraft because I had a family divided in two by the Soviets running the DDR in Germany. By the time Germany reunited, our family members in the East were all shells of human beings.
it's hard feeling like we are Cassandras. But it is obvious what is coming - the dismantling of American democracy, headed by a malignant narcissist who only views things from how it will benefit him. He's still selling tchotchkes with his branding on them - all sales final, no promises of actual delivery.
Aren't democracies entitled to defend themselves? Or do they just have to roll over and take it because of one election?
Good question
Steve, is it really the American news industry? I guess you can call them that, but isn't corporate media a more apt description.
To your point, yes the corporate media has failed the American people just as the social networks have, by failing to highlight Trump's incompetence and lack of support from virtually everyone that has ever worked with him.
The oligarchs are winning. Even Bezos has totally gone to the dark side. There are several thousand people in the US that have the power to buy an election for their puppets and if they don't obey, poof, their power is gone.
Oligarchs won the Senate seats in MT, OH and FL. Ron DeSantis, who is very close to being as incompetent as Trump, has enriched himself and daily overreaches his power.
All media are owned by billionaires ...Eg. the 1%.
spot on
Corporate Media is the better term. What they are serving up is NOT news.
We owe all of this to the entirety of conservative leadership. They sat quietly while he ran rough shod over the norms, ethics, and Constitution the first time.
We not only lost against Russia, we lost the Civil War (finally the elitists and racists prevailed ). Unless it’s recognized as the insurrection against the laws and Constitution that it is, and protections are taken before the inauguration, there will be no legit midterms.
Putin won!! If we survive, it may take a miracle. But American will get exactly what they deserve for being ignorant dupes.
There are so many threads to follow. This is one good one.
You got that right, Rickey.
Heather does well to quote fellow Substack artist Timothy Snyder. On "decapitation" of government.
Trump, Musk, and Putin have all been most clear they are for their respective oligarchs, and contrarily not interested in government for ordinary people. Ordinary people need health, environmental, finance, and workplace safety regulations -- and such government detracts from billionaire greed.
They are assiduous, these demagogues who front for the rich, and work against everyone else. In Trump's case he needs the clown show, so the idiot press concentrates on the idiocy behind which he purposely smokescreens his real agenda. But he's a long-practiced showman.
Dems could be. Should be.
During the lead-up to the recent election, I often argued for teams of Dems to organize and appear together in public. I stress that again now. Dems should hire the best PR firms to coordinate, to fine-tune how they may support each other before the American public. They need to be good, very good.
Combinations to consider to get Dems recovered and competing with the nihilist billionaires:
Jamie Raskin, Mallory McMorrow, Katie Porter, Raphael Warnock;
Sheldon Whitehouse, Gretchen Whitmer, Ro Khanna, Gary Peters;
Pete Buttigieg, Eric Swalwell, Tammy Baldwin, Amy Klobuchar;
Bernie Sanders, Cory Booker, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Elissa Slotkin;
Liz Warren, Jared Moskowitz, Josh Shapiro, Kamala Harris;
Dan Goldman, Gavin Newsom, Adam Schiff, Michelle Obama;
Pramila Jayapal, Hakeem Jeffries, Chris Coons, Jasmine Crockett.
Many of the group you list have already been vocal since the election.
But who is amplifying their voice.
Hundreds of thousands of people world wide are exiting "X" and moving to Blue Sky.
John Fugelseng of Progress Radio and several podcasts was asked by a caller, why he was still on X when he was also on Blue Sky. He responded, "Because it's a requirement of my job."
The Guardian had the kahunas to exit "X". The rest of the journalists need to boycott as well.
Signed on to Blue Sky.
I do hope Sherrod Brown runs for J.D. Vance's seat and can win it with a fraction of the record money spent to elect Moreno taking Sherrod's seat.
In Ohio, senate vacancies have a replacement appointed by the governor. If it was the house that had a vacancy, then there would be a special election.
This strikes me as a great idea, "teams of Dems to organize and appear together in public." "....Dems should hire the best PR firms to coordinate, to fine-tune how they may support each other before the American public." The venues? If 'holding a question' or 'living in a question' is a worthwhile process for developing strategies for tipping public's hunger for authentic people in government, I'd like to see 'us' hold this idea/question/example you've stated. Thank you for igniting my imagination, Phil!
Wow, Phil, an A-team list if there ever was one!!!! IMHO, the folks you name have that “fire in the belly” passion for public service…and I mean that as the highest compliment.
Don’t forget Pete Buttigieg! He has beaten the FAUX ‘news’ machine whenever he engages there.
He's there, Heather.
Agree that Democrats need better PR! They’ve been incompetent at messaging.
They need a swift kick in the ass to wake them up!! They ALWAYS bring a butter knife to the fight!
I remember reading The Impostors by p
It was not a mandate to reform the justice department, further , there's no mandate at all for anything. Period!!!
👍 agree, he did win, but at less than 50% as numbers are tallied to date, so it is NOT a mandate….it’s barely an “OK, you’re it”.
A reformed justice department would have had him in prison long ago. Alas our JD needs reform, but not like what he is offering, the polar opposite in fact. 🤬
I agree, Dick. Having Garland as AG at a time that the Capitol was being attacked should have gotten him significant reprimand by Biden or fired. Alas, it did not and so here we are.
- Pulled Quote -
''That so many of his appointees have histories of sexual misconduct is also striking, and underlines both that they share his determination to dominate others and that they do not think rules and laws apply to them.''
The above quote highlights the heart of fascism. Like a sexual predator, fascists want to 'rape the state' through threats and domination stealing whatever they have a mind to steal.
In a democracy, the counter to this lies in accountability, rule of law, and the power of civic engagement. Democratic institutions must hold individuals accountable for their actions, regardless of their position. This includes thorough vetting of appointees, legal consequences for misconduct, and transparency in government.
Moreover, an engaged and informed citizenry plays a vital role in resisting authoritarian tendencies. People can counteract these behaviors by demanding integrity from leaders, voting for ethical candidates, and organizing grassroots movements to uphold democratic values.
Fascism thrives on apathy and fear. Democracy counters it through justice, transparency, and collective action that reinforces the principles of equality and accountability.
Margaret Mead described evidence of a healed femur as the beginnings of society. IT is when we care for others - the vulnerable, sick or disabled - so they can survive, that humanity prospers.
That has been one of the devastating results of 45 recapturing the Presidency. Hundreds of thousands, even millions, are justifiably scared off being targeted.
Margaret Mead's studies on gender and stereotyping is also worth revisiting.
In a perfect world, each individual would be supported to make a contribution to the whole as their authentic self.
Bravo, Barbara! You nailed it. I love the Mead reference.
Excellent comment, Beverly! It led me to wonder: when in comparison (in time, that is) was the first musical instrument discovered. The Googles told me the bone was dated at 15,000 years and the Neanderthal flute was dated at 60,000.
Fascinating!!
Well said, Michael! We must resist and persist, turning our anger, disgust and despair into positive action…whatever that might be.
Peter Hagseth who couldn't control his pants is going to be responsable to manage 3 million military people and 800 billions budget? Give me a break 😪
“Sexual incontinence” may just be my new favorite phrase! Chuckled when I read that!
Um….it Depends! 🤪 sorry, couldn’t resist….
🤣
🤣
🤣🤣🤣
AWESOME!!!
Don't blame you. 👍
Priceless
I think it's weird. Let's call it what it is - RAPE.
Came here to say just that
Love that description...😁
None of Trump's picks can (control their own pants) and are uniquely unqualified for their jobs.
Literally thousands of people from both parties, came out against Trump. Dozens of people that actually knew him and had worked with him before said he was unfit to be President and 1/3 of the electorate still voted for him.
as far as I can tell, no other politician/figure has set even intimate family members against each other like 45 and his MAGA followers. If there is to be a second Civil War, or a third World War, the even greater tragedy is he is the leader of the "evil" side that destroys, rather than the movement that improves upon humanity. His supporters chose Barabbas.
Families split irrevocably, it seems
So very sad, JD, to fully “see” people you care about and what their values are. After TFFFG won his first term (lost the popular vote!), my SIL discovered she had a “surprise” sister…a 23 & Me story discovered by my SIL’s adult daughter who’d studied the results. They established contact & my SIL & bro invited her to come visit for Christmas—this was pre-Covid. I too was traveling over there for the holidays. My SIL, bro, sis and I were sitting around the kitchen table with the new family member having a lively conversation & getting to know one another when she got really quiet and then said (paraphrasing here) “I am SO relieved…I was really worried that you all might be Trump supporters!”. At that we all burst out laughing!!!!
Now that was something to celebrate. My Repub sisters dumped repubs when chump became one. Three of my four bros, not so much. We were very close for decades, and I never expect to see them again. Have trouble talking to the one who calls me every week. I was close to his wife but she did what her kids and grands did. No black female for them. Puke on such racism and sexism.
It’s hard to be close to someone who holds views that disdain values & ideas I hold dear, not to mention the peril their support puts women of reproductive age in my extended family, as well as a number of my long-time chosen family who are LGBTQ+. My brother says he knows of some Richie-Riches in his affluent area (he is a working guy who has a popular family-run small eatery in a vacation destination where some folks have 2nd or 3rd vacation homes) who ignore the values/morals issues and are only in it for the tax cuts & deregulation hopes….you know, screw everyone else as long as I get mine! Wouldn’t want to hang out with such folks in any case!!!!
Birds of a feather, Gary, just sad that it looks like we may be stuck with a whole flock of them. Pardon my language, but what a clusterfu*k!!
That tells you a lot about the mental status of the American voters...
They don’t think. They like being led by their collars attached to chains.
Gary iove your statement and you are 💯% right but we lost by very little and now they are claiming a mandate and a landslide with permission to do whatever they please..
Truth never got in their way
Ricardo, I sure do hope that Tammy Duckworth—a true patriot that served our country as—gasp! a woman in combat!!!—kicks Hagseth in the ass with her magic legs (nod to Lieutenant Dan, friend of Forrest Gump).
It ain't his pants he can't control...
I was trying to be nice...
😉
Well then, here we are. Our enemies are poised to destroy our country and the billionaires are calling the shots. Benjamin Franklin was right—it just took a couple of centuries to destroy the Republic.
Thank you Professor.
I am a monthly guest on The Many Shades of Green, and last night we spoke of the nominees thus far.
This was the outline I used for a brief (snarky) background on each:
The nominees thus far represent the bottom of the deplorable basket:
Chief of Staff: Lobbyist Susie Wiles
AG/Justice Department: Matt Gaetz IS OUT (likes to party with underage girls and drugs –watch for him to rehabilitate his reputation on an upcoming season of Dancing With the Stars).
Next up? Another deplorable from a deep bench of corrupt, incompetents. Aileen Cannon?
EPA: Lee Zeldin –election denier.
Health & Human Services: Mr. Brain Worm, Anti-vax RFK-Jr. (wants to make Measles and Polio great again!)
OMB: Russ Vought (one of Proj 2025 architects)
Defense: Fox & Friends Host and Accused Rapist Pete Hegseth (reportedly with a white supremacist/Christian extremist tattoo on bicep)
Director of National Intelligence: Tulsi Gabbard: member of house intelligence committee is deeply concerned about her possible sympathies and allegiance with Russia. A former CIA Case officer was “appalled”.
Education: Linda McMahon –lied to Connecticut Board of Educ about her degree, WWE Announcer abuse scandal, husband Vince under federal investigation for sex traffic.
Center for Medicaid and Medicare: Dr. “take these supplements” Oz. (in 2015 a group of doctors called for his removal from faculty because of his disdain for evidence-based medicine) OZ also promoted hydroxychloroquine as a COVID-19 treatment.
Homeland Security Adviser: Stephen “Nazi” Miller (Proponent of White Nationalism and objectification and othering of immigrants and refugees (n 2019, leaked emails revealed his promotion of white nationalist literature)
Where are Jared and Ivanka? Are they busy getting ready to sell Gaza beachfront real estate? Billions in loans from the Saudi’s.
And this late addition: Pam Bondi, readily bought for a "campaign donation" is the new AG nominee.
🤮🤬
Great summation!!!
Thanks to HCR for pointing to Timothy Snyder's Substack posting on the deeply destructive strategy of authoritarian takeover behind T's egregious appointment proposals. Of course it is appropriate to point out the absurd lack of qualifications these people exhibit, but it is deeply mistaken to employ traditional standards alone here. T. and his people have already made lists of people they'll put up who will appear to be more "acceptable" if the first people crash and burn, as many will do. The real, and quite obvious, mission of these people - ALL of them - is NOT to run these agencies, but to undermine and ultimately destroy them. T., Musk and co. mean what they say when they say that they want to destroy the "deep state". THIS is where it's politically VERY correct to be "woke," in the original sense of the word. To take a slogan from T. himself, we need to fight - NO compromise!
Mitchell, Trump is upping his game from 2016 on Cabinet picks determined to sabotage the department they were appointed to head: Rick Perry ran on getting rid of the Energy Department and Betsy DeVos had a private school conflict of interest.
Something that no one ever seems to mention: Rex Tillerson, Trump’s 1st Secretary of State was awarded Russia’s Order of Friendship by Putin. So Tulsi Gabbard isn’t the first Cabinet official with ties to Russia.
https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2016/12/13/13936210/rick-perry-energy-department-trump&sa=U&sqi=2&ved=2ahUKEwiQuqX-xO-JAxWi3skDHSJJDB0QFnoECBcQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3kt8hZ7w2XuxxkxbLgrck3
https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna76307&sa=U&sqi=2&ved=2ahUKEwivhoWTxe-JAxVuLdAFHVbGPQMQFnoECCAQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3KER6uj8xOJ7_IEOws1wuG
https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/12/rex-tillerson-exxon-putin-russia-ties-friend-214515/
Mary Hardt - exactly. He has always chosen individuals - generally rich and white - in opposition to the organization and mission, and puts them into position to dismantle, destroy, or privatize the organization. Add DeJoy, who owned a competing business to the USPS and purposely dismantled equipment and procedures that could affect voting access both during the pandemic and going forward.
His "drill, baby, drill" mantra means a burgeoning industry sector in clean energy will worsen health (who needs clean air or potable water, right?) and assists Elon Musk in countering China's head start on electric vehicles. Never mind that the USA is already at historical heights of energy production, and refineries are the choke point in production.
Another great tragedy is the Cabinet will resemble a Fox Network casting call, rather than the diversity of "real" America. Vice President Harris herself is a prime example of multicultural excellence and patriotism, the American "ideal success story."
Don't be surprised that as 45's mass deportation begins, many others "self deport" as well, in disgust and despair at the bigotry, intolerance and cruelty of his example and policies.
Beverly, an Irish friend just told me that, since our election, inquiries from U.S. citizens about buying property in Ireland has gone up 300%.
Carol, I believe that Ireland is one of the few democracies that will allow retired persons to emigrate there. Most want you to be employed or employable.
Chump shocks, capitulates, then gets what he wants
Hate to admit it, but it seems Mitt Romney was correct back in 2012 in identifying Russia as our greatest geopolitical foe.
Russia has been our biggest foe since the end of WWII.
That was pretty much a no-brainer.
There was a fleeting moment, a glimmer of possibility of a different path for Russia with Gorbachev, but that unraveled fairly quickly. Another one of those “what if’s”….
But pretty much laughed at in that political moment. Russia seemed to be going over a cliff.
You were right, professor. Tonight’s letter is darker, more sinister than usual. Snyder’s piece is brilliant. We are certainly in a pre-catastrophic moment in the country. Take a few minutes to read it.
This confederacy of dunces offers no solutions, no policies to make America greater. Their plan is simply to blow everything up. Their mission is to be the great unravelers of anything having to do with Obama and Biden. They too have pillars: Hate, fear, exclusion, power, and greed.
And all the while… where’s J. D.?
Setting the dynamite charges
Hmmmm, Herb, maybe the Deplorable Dunce’s Destruction Derby?????
That does it. I’ve just met a wonderful Bonobo lady and have fallen in love and soon, we will be joined in holy matrimony and have a bunch of blended inter-species offspring so I can git the hell out of the human race. 😜😂😝😜😂😝😜😂😝😜😂😝😜😂😝😜😂😝😜😂😝😜😂😝😜😂😝😜😂😝
It’s too bad nobody has found my stuff funny. You had better start laughing at something or y’all gonna have heart attacks and die real soon.
I share HCR's Letters to Facebook all the time, but I'm going to beg people to read this one. My husband and I are going to visit the Christmas Markets next month (we're 78 years old, and this is a bucket list trip). I suspect we will have conversations with Europeans who can hardly believe Americans have lost their mind to this extent. I'm taking advanced French lessons before the trip, and my tutor and I have had interesting conversations. He says that people he talks to in France are almost as frightened as I am. Trump will certainly withdraw from Paris Climate Accords, and without NATO, all of Europe will face a threat from Russia unlike anything they have seen since Hitler. I will stand at the Place de La Concorde and look down the long avenue that once saw Napoleon's troops march off to their doom in Russian winters. Followed by Hitler's army goose stepping down the Champs Elysees. And followed by American soldiers, handing out chocolate to French children. I wish that last image could sustain me, but the American people have either gone crazy or sacrificed their children's future for the price of eggs (and, by the way, the price of eggs is about bird flu, not about President Biden).
Barbara, just after the election I saw a YouTube vid by a fellow from the south (I think)…kinda looked like a “good ol’ boy”, but he was pissed! Said voters for TFFFG sold out their daughter, sisters, wives…women….all for the price of eggs. He kept repeating that…he was incredulous that folks could have voted thus.
I think you might have seen Tennessee Brando.
It wouldn’t be a shocker for Trump to claim credit for Biden’s policies since he did it the first time, and because most of the republicans in Congress who voted against his bills, all did the same. And I agree, we need to keep records and constantly update our citizens.
Additionally, we should also be concerned with some of his “so called” conventional picks like Ratcliffe at CIA. He was one of the authors of Project 2025. Then there’s his ICE chief, Tom Homen, and more importantly, his nominee for Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Russell Vought; another Heritage Foundation—Project 2025 contributor, and competent destroyer of democracies. OMB is a powerful position that oversees all government functions, and would be key in an authoritarian takeover.
That said, our biggest challenge is reaching a large enough audience. Traditional news outlets are on the decline. And Right-wing media, or even MSM companies that support Trump, control almost 65% of US households when you include social media, while Google and Facebook remain impotent because of lawsuits about “free speech.” And it’s only getting worse!
Good times!…:)
We have no voice, we are screaming into a void
If by void, you mean cellphones then I agree. Look up, people!!!
Afraid we need more than that, wish it weren’t so…
True…folks just seem so out of touch, or maybe “in touch” only within their narrow silo of information or “in group”. We just seem to be becoming more distanced from each other and not paying attention. I have no answers.
NO WE ARE NOT!! Get out of that cave, JD! I realize it is hard to do but the fog is lifting and without any resistance from us, we will be living the life in Russia.
I hear the hope. I wish I could share in it. I try, but everyday it is worse. The felon is dismantling the U.S. and that is his goal. He wants to be the imperial leader. I believe there is resistance but it will fall on deaf ears since we have a corrupt Congress and extreme court. He does not have a mandate and those who voted him in will pay the price along with those of us who did not vote for him. And those 10 million citizens who couldn’t be bothered to vote…well…they will also pay the price.
How I wish I thought we could fight with a chance to make a difference. I will for my grands, but I know that Mitch worked for many years for a permanent Repub majority. It’s why he tolerated chump. Sadly, he destroyed the party in his effort to give it permanence. Cults don’t deprogram on their own. When is our Ike.
As I have written recently, we have no place to turn to have our voices heard. That would be to Congress and they have proven themselves to be extreme supporters of the convicted felon elect! No one is listening and don’t care.
I have watched our voices fade away. Dan Rather and Substacks are screaming, but Rupert and the oligarchs drown out any opposition.
I suspect it’s as much a loss to billionaires and the broligarchy as it is to Putin. I should know, NYC is the home of the most billionaires on the planet and, in the exurb where I live in the Hudson valley, where they also have been flocking, I can feel the impact of billionaire inflation daily….we need to do something about our tolerance for excessive accumulation of capital. There is still this zeitgeist that these folks are brilliant (e.g. Elon) and we should bow down to them. It’s the ultimate vindication of capitalism — see I told u so, when the USSR fell apart. It justified unfettered predatory capitalism or, as I like to call it, a culture of raping and pillaging. If we don’t get this under control, and honestly, and stop revering these people, and not imposing a progressive tax system, there is no chance we can move forward with the dynamic multicultural democracy that so many of us would like to see, not to mention a livable planet.
Yeah, Susan, so many folks seem to have forgotten the concept of “enough”. Sadly there are so many with more more more and so many more without enough. So out of balance.
Regarding the history of sexual misconduct on most of trump's nominees, I hope evangelicals ,at least start opening their eyes to whom they voted for .
like they care? They only care about power. They only want control over others. And it is in NO WAY "Christian" nor loving.
Haha, eyes wide shut
It appears many evangelicals view "sexual misconduct" through the lens of patriarchy...so not a deal breaker.
No chance…many are Christian in name only. Religion is a magical myth that not everyone subscribes to.