Your 'limited' Letter, HCR, was exactly what was needed. You chose the point between two wars and the time when the government's budget should have been decided, the point at which America faltered. Let us not make too little of those wars. Israel has walked into a trap set up by the terrorist organization, Hamas, and Ukraine's survival from democracies' demon, Putin, needs our help.
Biden knows the score , we have only an inkling correctly assumed by MOST OF US HERE that a book full of goings on beneath any belief would complicate the average mind.
But it’s both the good guys and the bad doing. People are shocked so and so didn’t know what was ‘going on’.
Me thinks not.
But this is what I entrust to my President , his staff, our representatives.
I’m not surprise by the extremists within our own ranks , the glory seekers, liars or evil minded ...I’m old enough to know they’re in every faction. But I expect the majority of those whose are elected to stand well informed and solve the issues.
We have a war going on right here in river city, folks. The numbers shot, overdosed, trafficked , abused... let alone mislead by narrow minded controllers is shameful.
Then there’s the whole other LOTS.
If we don’t get out there
AND VOTE THEM OUT
then we are no more than sheep led by THEM .
I realize many are desperate
EVERYWHERE....
But I do believe we can , we have, and we will straighten up this mess.
Beautiful, Patricia Davis! Do you also remember Tom Lehrer? I’m somewhere between him (“National Brotherhood Week”) and December 1941. Maybe, just maybe if we made it since then, our amazing group in DC and sanity in ‘24 will allow US to continue. Get your Covid shot, everyone, don’t complain about egg prices (also climate change), and vote blue as your life truly depends on it!
Thanks so much. I really can’t lose hope. I’ve seen outside of America . I’ve seen us trial and traipse through knee deeps. And others too...far worse off ....pool what survives and grow strong.
There are the alarmists , those screamers , who keep fever pitch hyped, it’s effective to far too many . The rugs pulled out were old plots replotted -always just a few years from popping up again once subsided. It appears/some worry they get a little smarter each time, but I don’t think that.
The world has lifted itself out of heavy times, tremendous poverty, and discovered cures for most the scourges.
Most of what I hear -the ‘dooms and glooms’ are lies, or at least disinformation ,plantings of the...our contras. The proof is rolling out and has been for two + years ( I’d say 5+ but folks weren’t seeing it then) . That so few cause this much chaos is a curiosity ..behind the scenes is where I suspect the real players lie.
Living for 10 years on a boat traveling through the canals of France, begoinning in November 2002, meeting people every day, spending some time in French regional hospitals, I became convinced that we were the bad teenagers on the block. Five years after my return to the US, we got Trump and all his baggage, continued denial of climate change, and mishandled Covid. Now we have election deniers and one non-functional party, voters saying our most experienced leader is too old, and a senator holding up military promotions with two wars and China.
Being 80 myself I am biased, but I think ‘he’s too old ‘ is sold by the nay sayers, repetitively. They are continuously imprinting. It’s their famous tactic.
What he accomplishes says LOUDLY -experienced, clever, and surrounded by excellent advisors, hand picked. He’s got tremendous FAITH , the REAL kind ☺️. It in itself is a source of dependable energy.
You know what one can do at 80. I began Pilates classes at 78 and started learning Polish (not a Romance language, as I was warned), traveling through 2019 to Kraków to Polish school. Always thinking of Der Alte, Konrad Adenauer at 85.
Oh, I am. Will be doing another 100 GOTV postcards to VA as soon as they arrive. Then more to OH. Will not quit writing until end of 10/24 and will attend as many Indivisible meetings as I can. At 89, it’s day to day.
YESS, DEMS !! ,,,,,,,SAY " YES ! " !! ( ALL !,,,,FAITH !! ) . ( BUT !, when it Will BE A Fair ELECTION,,, the WINGNUTTS, Will be SCREAMMING !! rigged ! rigged ! ,,,,,RIGGED !! ) . THEN !,, Get INTO !, Your BODY- ARMOUR ! LORD !, Have MERCY !! .
Virginia, REMEMBER !, " A House , DIVIDED ! .....Cannot STAND !" . Problem IS : The WINGNUTS !,, Are HOLDING UP ! The WHOLE KITTENKABOODLE ! ( The COMPLETE !, cLOWN sHOWW !} . GO ! DEMS !! ,,,,,
Susan Gratz: I was Virginia Gratz (family joke: my parents were married as Gracnowskis, but my sister and I were born as Gratzes. Are we related, as I have no idea about all my dozens of cousins. Richmond, VA, then many moves. Now Chicago.
I look at the states lowest in average income, health care, etc. Often if not usually they had the greatest resources ...we should all give a big ‘hmmmmmm’ there
Because they were taken advantage of that’s why. Because the people didn’t see the rape perpetrated ever so cleverly. Not THIER fault btw!
Thorough investigation would reveal who the enemy was ...most know anyhow , but feel hopeless to change that status quo.
There is a tremendous resilience in the common folk, those ‘hillbilly’s ‘strengths. And taking advantage of another’s weaknesses is the truest form of terrorism ...hello!
The angels that walk this earth are the quiet, the considerate, the hard workers, the honest, teachers of great standing.
It’s time we put the heros in the limelight.
It’s time we stop the ads/rankings/screaming of the real terrorist.
Thank you Fern, you articulated the comparisons I formed as I read Heather’s description of Jordan’s dis-qualifications for speak.
The House Republican antics are not much different than any terrorist organization, that is to obstruct and destroy rather than represent loyal opposition.
Their results are similar to the Hamas strikes and Putin’s tactics to challenge and harm legitimate Government.
The Republican Majority of the house has been a anti-Government function since January.
Were they moles then? Getting in to sink the ship? Seems they would have been suspected before trouble. 🤷♀️
I remember Heather writing about the McCarthy era ( not the current one) and the Treason Trials and then the Maddow tape she did . Seems like a repeat performance loosely phrased but not much different.
You and this constituency are aware, thanks for pointing this out , do it again and again. Making this format more accessible is the least we can do, I admire the footwork further done and acknowledged. Hopefully more people will hear. More people will read. We are consistent in a loving way to right practices. More are seeing this versus complaining about our lack of screaming 😉😌
Thank you Richard for your own eloquence, and the SO MANY OTHERS.
I just ordered HCR’s new book and will share it like her ‘Letters ‘ .
Heather is amazing and does an outstanding job of summarizing what has happened and why. Without a doubt, the oligarchs and their front pieces, The Federalist Society and the Heritage Foundation, to name only two, effectively propagandize ordinary Americans to vote against their own best social and economic interests, driving them further and further down the income/security pole. For many, their only sources of information (disinformation and misinformation) is Fox, OAN, Alex Jones and Newsmax, which are peddlers of conspiracy theories.
Yes, the current Republicans have found a way to shut down the government. McCarthy failed their previous attempts by passing compromise bills so they threw him out. They are finished with democracy because they know they are a minority. Their 4 vote majority is the result of gerrymandering. They are still working for Trump and Trump is working for Putin and Hezbollah.
I would not be surprised to find out that Trump is somehow involved in this attack. The Israeli military is one of the best in the world and they were caught off guard? Very unlikely unless there we’re outside influences.
Jo, I can't get the image of tfg and all those boxes of classified information he had out of my head. What was in them, who saw the documents? He would sell anything to anyone to make a $. Actually he's so stupid he would just give away intelligence not having any idea how valuable and dangerous it was. The attack was planned for 2 years and Israeli intelligence knew nothing? Many pieces to this puzzle are missing.
I think tfg's duplicity preceded his document theft. It started when the 2 Russians Lavrov and Kislyak were in the Oval Office in 2017, and the three goons were all laughing. It was reported soon after that tfg disclosed highly, stress HIGHLY classified info re: Israel to them, and they shared it with Iran, who then shared with Hamas.
TFG sets a new standard on many fronts - malignant narcissism, for one, that makes him completely unable to be empathetic or sympathetic. I have seen animals in the wild show more "humanity" than TFG. He is a hollow carcus.
There was an interesting article in the NY Times a few days ago analyzing the reasons for the failure of the Israelis to anticipate the attack by Hamas. Partly due to over-reliance on technology, partly due to Hamas's very clever use of low-tech means to defeat Israeli border protections. Trump is quoted as saying Hezbollah is smart. I assume he meant Hamas but doesn't know the difference. People all over the world are smart, including Hamas and Hezbollah, but not wise. Including us.
Oldandintheway, As despicable as I find him, I doubt tfg is working for Hezbollah. I absolutely agree with everything else you said. It's a tiny minority of a slim majority throwing sand in the gears of governance because they can't achieve their goals otherwise.
Trump never forgave Netanyahu for acknowledging that Biden won the election. He wants to hurt him back. That’s Trumps only form of diplomacy, unless someone is paying him
Fern, I went back and found the original statements of the origin of the modern Israel in 1948, sponsored by the US at the UN. The words of formation of Israel are fascinating. I never read them before. They are at the link.
It is interesting that the US, a country that was not founded on a specific religion, like the formation of Israel in 1948 was, but, rather, founded on representation by (some) of the people, regardless of religion.....well.......it is interesting that a religious state (Israel) origin was so fully supported by the US.
I can see better where today's push to form a Christian theocracy, in the US, originated. A little better anyway.
We have precedent for having substantial enthusiasm for theocracy.
Fern, I found this first hand account from inside Gaza on the NY Times. Gift link below
Mike S, am I correct in believing that you 'like' your comment and click that function before
posting? You may not be alone in that practice. My question is a matter of curiosity - has my observation been correct?
Your point about theocracy as connected to what you learned about the origin of Israel is critical. Zionism is connected to theocracy as it was the aspiration for a Jewish state. Your interest in learning may benefit from knowing a bit more about Zionism. Britannica via Google and or Wikipedia would be a start concerning the history of Zionism or sufficient.
PS The support of the formation of Israel was not exclusively by the US. The foremost support for the country has to do with Holocaust and the persecution of Jews for centuries.
I don't think it is possible to click "like" "before posting". At any rate, if it is possible, I am unaware of how and, hence, don't do it because of that lack of awareness.
Please be careful of your sources for the founding of Israel. There is so much bias , such as the idea that Israel is a theocracy. Judaism is a culture and nationality as much as it is a belief system. Your 43ference to US help is based on the fact that Truman was the first national leader to recognize the State of Israel. You have to go back to the turn of the century and the development of the idea of Zionism as a homeland for Jews as well as a very complex division of the Middle East after WW1 by the French and British that allowed the British to set up a mandate over what was known as Palestine since Roman times. Lord Balfour got the League of Nations to pass "The Balfour Declaration" that partitioned the land between Arabs and Jews with the Jordan River as boundary and East Jerusalem as the new country of Jordan. Britain left the mandate in 1947 giving all of their material and security buildings to the Arabs. Isreal declared statehood in 1948 as a democracy with political parties. Israel is not based on religion and there are many types of Jews such as the 700,000 Jews kicked out of Arab nations in 1950 and the Ultra-Orthodox who do not believe in Israel's right to exist and who have lived in Jerusalem for thousands of years. Arab nations declared warbon Israel three times. The 1967 war saw Israel regain the old city that Jordan held as well as the West Bank. The 1973 war won by Israel was similar to what just happened; with Egypt and Jordan attacking Israel without provocation.
Do not depend on Wikipedia for your information. There are non-biased sources about the founding of Israel and the development of the idea of Palestinians by Yasser Arafat in 1964. It's very complicated. And Israel is Not a theocracy and Zionism is not a religion but the aspirations of a people without a home whose origins was Israel.
Try Lucy Davidson, Thomas Friedman's From Beirut to Jerusalem or Jeffrey Goldberg. Do not trust reporting from either the New York Times or Washington Post.
Thank you Rita for the the prior 1948 history of Israel. It's often left out deliberately by people that know better, but choose to characterize Israel as a usurper of Palestinian land. Not only has Israel fought 3 or 4 major wars, add 14 major skirmishes between the Palestinians and Israelis. Mention should be made of the land purchases made by Jewish organizations and private individuals beginning in the 1850's and became a major effort during the Mandate period. By 1948, 1/10 of the country of Palestine was under under Jewish ownership. 70,000 hectares about 300,00.acres were purchased. The rest of the country belonged to the Arabs.
I am almost through reading a book I was introduced to on c-span.
"THE LAST MILLION
Europe’s Displaced Persons From World War to Cold War"
By David Nasaw
All the nationalities that had to go somewhere when the war was over....stuck in Germany in US and British run facilities....some did NOT want to go back to their less than desirable homeland, and: what to do with the Jews. Brilliant reading and for this current situation another piece of the puzzle. Listen to the author on c-span....
Of course, you are right about not being able to click 'like' before posting your comment; it would be clicking soon after you post. How's that? Any comment about how that practice is familiar to you?
I went away and read about Zionism. I think I understand better and better.
So, for example, I have now invented a new movement, let us call it, Mikeism.
Mikeism is a movement to move back to East Texas with all my friends who think like I do. If they don't think like I do, forget it, they cannot move back with me. If they do though, they are IN!
Now, once I arrive in East Texas, with all my like minded Mikeism folks, to settle there, I don't sweat the fact that other people are already living there as well. I just get some bulldozers and the US Army and move them off their land and give the land to my own friends and followers of Mikeism.
Now, this aggravates those that I forcibly removed and dang it, they don't like me now and once in a while those buggers come and try to get some of their land back.
However, I made an ally with one of the largest weapons manufacturers in the world, so, when people come to try to get the land back, well, it does not work out too well for them.
You are so off base historically that it is ridiculous. Jews bought the land from absentee landlords-- wealthy Arabs and Ottoman Empire grandees. They owned and improved that land and included those Arabs who wished citizenship when they declared statehood. Yes, during the resulting war of 1948, some villages were overrun but most Arabs were told to leave for what was promised to be a short time by the owners of their tenant farms-- Arabs. Subsequently, those Arabs who left were never absorbed into any surrounding Arab nations but still languish in camps. The terrorist movements have declared their purpose to kill all the Jews between the Mediterranean and the Jordan River. Sort of like Chivington's 1868 declaration that the only good Indian is a dead Indian.
It is good that you have begun to learn about the serious issues between the Palestinians and Israel. Personalizing such turmoil may be common; making yourself the dictator of East Texas was amusing and not surprising. Would you be worse than governor Abbott?
I thought about your plan to move to Greece when reading about the wildfires there and the indifference or worse of its government concerning the lives of migrants on ships seeking safety. 'Greece’s parliamentary democracy features vigorous competition between political parties and a strong if imperfect record of upholding civil liberties. Ongoing concerns include corruption, discrimination against immigrants and minority groups, and poor conditions for irregular migrants and asylum seekers.' (Freedom House) So, is it Greece or 'Mikeism' for you?
Israel was not founded as a theocracy, but as a democracy that is a homeland for Jews—the relevance of the latter being more apparent now than at any time since the nation’s creation. (If Israel was founded as a theocracy, then so is the UK.) There are now elements in Israel that would like to see a theocracy, and they have got much of their impetus from the extremists on the other side.
I have always seen guilt as the motivating force for the US and Europe supporting the creation of Israel. Guilt because the US and Europe not only stood by and allowed Hitler to kill Six Million people, they actively prevented their escape from Hitler's concentration camps. In fact, the US built our own concentration camps to remove anyone of Japanese ancestry from the west coast. No, they didn't gas people, but they certainly didn't provide a healthful environment in the camps.
So Mike, to be clear Israel was formed because no other country wanted to take in the Jews ( including the USA) This was not an "inclination toward theocracy"
It was offering a desert to people who were not wanted anywhere, from a world that was trying to make reparation for the callous disregard when the Jews knocked on their door and they slammed it shut. If you watch ken Burns documentary on the treatment by the US government of the Jews trying to escape during WWII you will see that Christian Theocracy has nothing in common with the founding of Israel. Nothing
May I also add a desert and a swamp. Arab Sheiks were only too happy to sell to the highest bidder. Jewish organizations that purchased this land, over 300,000 acres still hold the deeds.
And thank you Fran, for getting the ball rolling here. I am astounded, although I shouldn't be, at the mess that the Rs have created in the House. I read a long article in the Atlantic yesterday about how Israel is walking into a trap and Hamas and any entity who backs it, must be happy. Meanwhile, I have a friend here who has been at a loss of what to say to a Jewish friend. I have an ex-student who spent some time in Israel at a kibbutz and she wants to talk. She also was married to a Jewish man and her children were raised in that faith. I don't know if she has any sympathy for Palestinians although I do for the ordinary people in Gaza who are caught in this and being used as shields and pawns and also those in Israel who have been mistreated to put it mildly. I notice too that Egypt is not allowing any of them to come there. When I think about the history of that area, I just want to cry.
Agreed, Michele. And one of the reasons I cry is the hubris of the western world to think that they could assuage their guilt over the Holocaust by giving the Jewish people a nation in an area that was already occupied by another culture, and one which is antagonistic to Judaism.
Islam and Judaism have a lot in common. It's too bad that they became enemies along the way. I blame, among others, the British who had the Palestinian Mandate after WWI and showed both sides how to be totally violent and repressive. Gaza exists because Palestinians left on the creation of Israel. Notice that none of their Arab Muslim neighbors wanted to take them and that is still the case. Gaza has been a simmering mess from the get go. It is the perfect place for some entity like Hamas to fester. And hubris is an excellent word to describe the West's attitude toward so many other parts of the world. Hubris, of course, comes with a cost, as the gods punish it eventually. So, we can only helplessly watch for the most part. Here the R party of death only adds to the dangers.
I do not have the foresight to describe the upcoming invasion as a “trap”. I have found that to have become a popular word in the past couple of days and I’m always suspicious of quick takes in anything so mortally complicated as the Middle East.
Maybe it is. Maybe an incursion will deal a grave wound to Israel. It will certainly rip Gaza apart and leave a humanitarian crisis of severe dimensions.
But surely Israel’s leaders are considering every aspect of this before going in. It doesn’t take too much imagination to see them getting bogged down in a two or three front war with no easy exit. In that case they will have made a serious misjudgment as to how deep they penetrated into Gaza. That’s not a trap necessarily if both sides are aware of the possibility.
It feels to me like a quandary for Israel. At the bottom of the tragedy they suffered last weekend lies the humiliation of having been so completely taken by surprise. No nation could accept that and not react. The question, a fiendishly difficult one, is how to répond proportionately. Too little and Israel’s enemies will be emboldened as they have not been in decades. Too much and they will pay the price of becoming a pariah nation. On top of that it will become increasingly hard to get out.
But this is clearly not a great moment for Hamas. One expression I did think was sensible coming out of the millions of words spilled on this terrible situation was “catastrophic success”. Hamas had far more limited objectives I would guess. The magnitude of Israel’s security failure was immense and so Hamas took full advantage.
Now they are faced with an attack on whatever scale Israel chooses to respond. Their leaders have a death sentence. Perhaps they can hide. Perhaps some are out of Gaza. Their calculations include what to do with their hostages (a few of whom are undoubtedly dead already). They have to believe that their days of ruling Gaza are numbered and that number is not especially high. And it’s hard not to believe that some Palestinians, perhaps a majority, hate Hamas and Israel with equal passion.
Years of far right excesses by Israel, intifadas by Palestinians, and growing indifference in the big Middle East players have led the region to this point. The moral turpitude is impossible to calculate with any accuracy. Any grievance by one side can be one-upped by the other. The next few weeks will be a horror show. But years of hatred and hard men have brought this moment into being. And this moment will bring immeasurable grief.
For the United States to have a non-functioning government at this time is inexcusable. It has long since become an unserious country led by Republicans who count their clicks on social media as the only definition of success. The lack of a Speaker is not rock bottom for this sorry excuse of a party, but it is getting damn close. Bring it on.
Eric, you have written a great summary of the stakes both parties face. What I believe you have left out in your post is the elephant in the room. Hamas is not calling the shots. Hamas is just a proxy for Iran. Their goal is and has always been to drive Israel into the see. Their partner in this effort is Russia, although Russia's aim is to distract the US from the Ukraine war. Iran may have gone too far. Biden has already warned them to not get involved.
Israel walked into a trap? Only if you mean that it will do so if it allows itself to get bogged down in urban warfare. Remember who started this latest round, with multiple crimes against humanity.
Jon, here's a quote from Thomas Friedman's Oct 10 piece in the NYT: "I hope the president is asking Israel to ask itself this question as it considers what to do next in Gaza: What do my worst enemies want me to do — and how can I do just the opposite?" It is in that sense that Israel has walked into a trap set by Hamas.
My opinion of Hamas before, during and after their massacre in Israel is as negative as it can be. As to the latest round, we have not arrived together at the 'round' or its starting point. I do not accept the way you have framed the conflict between the Palestinians and Israel.
Jo, you read into my comment about 'negatively' the most dire of consequences. I do not practice such extremism nor read it into others' words. You do not know what I would want to happen to members of Hamas who took part in the attacks on Israelis, let alone others who did not but belong to Hamas.
I don’t assume anything that’s why I seek clarification. I’ve seen too many posts of people wanting Israel to “level”Gaza. This is a long and complicated conflict and Israel certainly has done its share of war crimes. I don’t condone the actions of Hama in any way but it’s very likely that many Palestinians do not either. There are many innocent lives on both sides and should be treated with equal dignity. Treat people like animals, they behave like animals.
“There are many innocent lives on both sides” reminded me of tfg saying “There are very fine people on both sides”. Both good and evil people are basically saying the same thing.
You did not ask to seek clarification, instead you absolutely did issue a charge/assumption. Then you went on to tell me about the nature of the conflicts between the Palestinians and Israel. Your communication was nasty, uninformed, and I wondered whether, in addition, the result of misplaced anger, a lack of self-awareness or a language deficit.
I have come to admire how much history many of you know already, and I'm grateful for suggestions and opinions. Now I want to ask you what you think of this message from trauma expert Dr. Gabor Mate about the Israel/Palestine tragedy (see youtube link below). He is a Holocaust survivor, born in Budapest in 1944. His grandparents were killed in Auschwitz, his father was forced to do hard labor for the Nazi's and he lost other relatives. This is his take on the Israel/Palestine crisis and his understanding of the history behind what happened last week. I ask you this because it is deeply troubling from a humanitarian view, and therefore makes me question if the morally right stance for the US to take is more complex than what we are hearing.
This is a quote from an article about Dr. Mate in the Guardian (see link below), and it refers to his views on Israel and what they cost him in his family. "His maternal grandfather had been a Zionist leader and “to have actually looked at the reality that I was looking at would have meant a betrayal of her father who died in Auschwitz. So I understood that.” His father kicked him out of the house at first and then came to agree with him.
I hope some of you will have the time to respond. Thank you!
Chaplain, may I suggest in the future, if wish to reach subscribers, post as you normally do to comment in the early morning between 4:30 to 6:30 AM, so that you reach a good number of readers in an open way, not specifically addressed to one person. You may wish to that with this post in the very near future as the subject may come up again in the Letter.
Fern, thank you for the suggestion about timing. Ever since my heart surgery, I've had to take each day as I'm able, so I sometimes don't get to Heather's letter until later. I don't think I've ever commented between 4:30 and 6:30 AM, but I get why that would be a good idea! I think I'm finally understanding your first email. I think you're saying that it wasn't appropriate to put that broad of a request into a response to one person, and that it would be more appropriate as a separate comment. Thank you for your suggestion to repost. I will do that as a comment to the next letter from Heather that mentions the Israel/Hamas conflict. Thanks for your thoughtful comments.
I'm reading it. Many subscribers , as I do, read way down the line....one way to get it further up is to attach it to an appropriate comment at the top. If he comments separately it goes to the bottom. I attached my recommendation to the book The Last Million to the most liked comment.
Chaplain Terry Nicholetti, thank you for your post. I have received it twice. Have you sent it separately to many of LFAA's subscribers who participate in the forum? I asked this question as my name is the only one you used. These questions reflect my hesitancy to agree to your request. One more question, did you simply post this with the hope that those interested would stop and respond? In addition, you posted this late in the day, when the vast majority of subscribers had read HCR's letter, came to the forum and left hours ago. I believe your intentions were caring, but your methods raised questions. With that, I will say goodbye and wish you well.
Fern, I'm so sorry - I'm not sure what you mean by "received it twice," unless you mean an email notification? I had left something out and I couldn't find it when I went to edit it, so I did it over. When I posted the revised one, the first one appeared as well so I deleted it. If that's what you mean, I didn't know the notices went out so fast!
Also I addressed it to "Fern et al" because there were several others on the thread responding to your comment. I apologize for any discomfort that caused.
As to the time I posted, I had just finished watching Dr. Mate's video and I was deeply troubled. I really wanted to reach out to folks who I thought would have a reasoned and knowledgeable response. I hope this addresses your concerns, and again I apologize.
I don't think you should worry too much about your timing, as I'm just now reading this LFAA after having read the next one first (so yes, in reverse order).
Also Substack is weird in how hard it can be to find and edit one's own post, and especially after an edit, the edited post seems to temporarily disappear. Carry on.
Dear Fern M and others, i am wondering if among the classified documents trump mishandled, if perhaps he gave Putin secret information about Israel’s military weaknesses. Possible scenario: Putin shares it with Iran; Iran helps Hamas; USA has less bandwidth to assist Ukraine.
We need 5+ moderate GOP US Representatives to form a coalition with Minority Leader Jeffries to elect a Speaker of the House so that urgent legislation can be passed. These GOP US Representatives will need to have the moral clarity and backbone of Liz Cheney as they will quickly draw fire from Trump and his allies.
Liz Cheney is right, though the Republican Party has already and repeatedly abandoned the Constitution which their poster boy claims not to support. Making Jordan Speaker would only underline that abandonment in that respect, though it could potentially throw an even more disruptive monkey wrench into the functioning of US society.
Any elected official who, by their actions or statements, opposes the government, despite taking an oath to uphold the Constitution, should be swiftly removed from office and disqualified from holding such a position. The underlying principle is that individuals running for office should not be anti the government they have committed to serve and protect through their oath to the Constitution.
Then let’s roll up our sleeves and make it happen! There are about 15 of them aren’t there? Who can accomplish that? We cannot afford to sleep through this or when we wake up our Democracy will be gone and a fascist oligarch will be in power.
The people of Germany were trusting the lies until it was too late. Let’s not repeat history. Let’s learn from it.
Let’s ALL CALL!
(Hey, much easier than battling at war. If we don’t pick up the phone we could be talking Russian in a few years).
It takes 2/3 of membership, following a full investigation, to expel a member of either house. In history, only 20 (15 senators, 5 Reps) have been expelled, and only 2 since 1861.
Laurie, EXACTLY why the Republicans can find no-one to lead them whom all of them can trust! So many of them have abandoned all sense of honor or reliability or simple honesty that they have become utterly untrustworthy especially amongst themselves. Just as we have learned to recognize what they are likely doing by what they accuse others of doing they have now begun applying that principle to themselves.
Anger and fear when their collective amygdalae are tickled to give them a adrenaline boost. A fundamental belief that they are the chosen Americans, and anyone who is not white, male, cisgendered, heterosexual, Christian is going to get the same benefits of citizenship they assume is their "god given" right to be at the top of the heap.
As long as someone is bullying for their perceived risk, they are all for it.
We see that on tv every Thursday night and all weekend.
The antics, anger outbursts, and un civilized behavior we see in the NFL and college football just astounds me. And the millions that are spent every week. What if the NFL donated 10% of that to education , or feeding our children. But I live in Texas where our "representatives think receiving funds most of us label as bribes is their right, closing libraries and shackling women are a return to family values..
Yes. Many of them speak very well from their well researched positions based on the information they get from Prager U, Faux Noise, the other offshoot RWNJ newscasts. They get stuck when you confront them with facts of what is happening and they get mad, stutter, and bloviate.
Kinda like chess with a pigeon. If things don't go their way, they flap, poop on the board, knock the pieces away, and say they won.
He also proved Shame has no value either. To lack both is why we are where we are today, and exemplified by many Rs, most recently (again) George Santos, but also by Robert Menendez.
Exactly, Marlo. These clowns took an oath to uphold the laws of the Constitution and if this land. They have, and continue to, violate this oath. They should be immediately expelled from office.
These clowns grew up, like most of us, making an oath to a flag every day in school. Instead of extrapolating that that was a false, compelled oath, they extrapolated that no oath is worth anything.
The Pledge of Allegiance is not making an oath to a flag and it was not “false” I gave it no more thought than what I learned in religious instruction in my local church. It was something that all us kids participated in because it was the way it was back then. I hardly think that repetition gave way to extrapolating that no oath is worth anything. These Representatives in Congress, all adults, all who did not respect their oath to the Constitution, who refused Congressional subpoenas, who deny certified election results to this day are ineligible to be Speaker of the House - Ever !!!
I think the oath they take in the House of Representatives is not just “lip service”as some distracted kid reciting the pledge of allegiance. There is no comparison.
The Representatives take an oath that they will abide by our constitution. It is a serious, solemn action. They should be held accountable if they do not follow it.
How juvenile to say we’re going to shut down the government if we don’t get our way.
Or we won’t allow over 500 promotions in our military which is CRUCIAL for the security of our country, if we don’t get our way.
Or like Manchin was the ONLY vote that refused to vote for Biden’s Build Back Better Bill which had climate change,
Infrastructure, & lots of great things. Guess what. Manchin was in the coal business - a conflict of interest. And he reversed his vote at the last minute. He is no Democrat & shouldn’t be in that seat.
Not at all ! By rote we learn to read to conquer math and to make associations as we grow. First the flag,,then history lessons on how the United States was founded growing in complexity with every grade. Then singing the Star Spangled Banner at school and at sporting events and watching war movies and hearing adults talk about this country and Voila ! Patriotism !
Carol and Jim. I took this oath when I had a badge pinned on my chest, to protect and defend the Constitution, and the laws of the state. No place in that oath did it say I could turn my back on anything, follow the actions, or words, of anyone who wanted to destroy our Constitution or Democracy. I wore that badge and the firefighting badge, which I also had to take the same oath to wear, for over 26 years! Not I’ve did u ever go against it to try anything like these clowns 🤡 are doing! My chief(s) would have thrown me out by my short hairs!
Not a religious person at all- but we had to say the Lord's Prayer every day in school and the Pledge along with singing America the Beautiful or some such patriotic song. At some point, all of this was removed because of complaints. The prayer because of religion I get because we are all different, but why the pledge? We ALL have that in common. If not, move back from where you came.
I think when that was taken away a bit of patriotism was also taken away, Look at the people in the stands at a ball game. How many know the words to the Star Spangled Banner? How many have forgotten the Pledge?
Karen, I quit saying the words "Under God" during the pledge when I was in third grade. I also add "for the majority of the people who can pay for it" at the end, because there is no "liberty and justice for all." I can understand the reasoning behind not having the pledge recited every day.
As for the National Anthem: Our NA (The Star Spangled Banner) is sung as the first verse that Francis Scott Key wrote during a battle in the "War of 1812"*. The third verse of that poem is this: "And where is that band who so vauntingly swore,
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion
A home and a Country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash'd out their foul footstep's pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave,
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave."
Going further with proper flag etiquette, that is never taught anywhere except in arenas where presentation is a sacred honor (personal experience here is Honor Guard and in watching public military ceremonies). It mandates certain things, such as order of display, proper care, prohibitions on certain uses of the flag, and the like.
I know that the many, many displays that I see of the National Colors violate some of the major prohibitions. Most of these I see on the backs of or in the beds of massive pick-up trucks; they are frequently torn and tattered, not illuminated at night, and occasionally displayed on the right of the vehicle, with a Gadsden or Confederate Battle flag occupying the prescribed position to the left for the National Colors.
We should rewrite the pledge to be inclusive. You are a citizen who contributes to the good of this country and to its freedoms!!!
I am a Christian, not because someone told me I would not be included or that "I was "going to hell " or that I could not participate in an event or activity or not be invited to their party. My faith is personal. Along with the love I have received through my faith , I have a duty to work at loving others as I have been loved.....not because of any goodness I have but because of the tenets of my faith. As an American and a person of faith, how do we treat those who have given their lives in our fight for freedom, "Oh, this one is not a Christian...his/her life in battle for freedom doesn't really count!!!!
If persons choose to be part of a faith group it should be their choice or not! All Americans should be included within any pledge to lay down their lives for freedom...and that includes "freedom of worship or freedom not to worship!" The government does not own our soul!
I really have no tolerance for fakes. This is the USA....no one should be forced to be told they are required to have a faith if it is their choice not to. In my opinion, there are too many fake Christians! People just being used for political reasons....people just going along with the crowd!!!
The word "should" is doing a lot of work here. They can only be expelled from their conference. If it didn't happen after Jan 6, when how many -- 173? Repubs refused to accept the results of a legitimate election, when several supported the insurrectionists, no chance in hell it will now, so let's get real.
This has been effectively a government shutdown without the loss of jobs and paychecks that would hurt their base…who don’t seem to care that Generals aren’t getting promoted or that laws are not being passed. They think there are too many laws. These extremists are getting exactly what they want with this stupid and dangerous stunt. To make our Democracy look unworkable/dysfunctional… to have their Strong Man waiting in the wings ready to swoop in (from court? Prison?) This has become their platform.
Am I giving them too much credit for forethought? I just can’t come up with another explanation.
In terms of official communication, we can be prosecuted for lying to our government but they get a pass when they lie to us. That does not seem to sit well with of, by and for the people. Now that Trump is lying to judges, we shall see.
J L, The good news is that the highly influential traditional Republican Don Bacon (NE), aside from voicing support for a cross-party mutually agreeable Republican alternative for Speaker, also has convincingly challenged the constitutionality of giving more power to Speaker Pro Tempore McHenry. Hence, unless either McCarthy or Jordan can cobble together 217 votes (which I highly doubt), Bacon’s call for a consensus traditional Republican Speaker, whose respect for governance and a normally functioning, problem-solving legislature would help to restore regular order, could gain traction.
Jerry Weiss who writes Feathers of Hope has mentioned 3 traditional House Republicans he claims would effectively restore normal order in Congress. They are Don Bacon (NE), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA), Robert Reich’s favorite, and Mike Gallagher (WI). Other traditional Republicans Jerry advises we phone to amplify Bacon’s call for a consensus Republican Speaker include: David Joyce (OH), John Curtis (UT), Ashley Hinson (IA), Andrew Garbarino (NY), Dan Newhouse (WA), and David Valadao (CA).
While I apologize for not having time to include D.C. and local phone numbers, I do thank everyone who reads this post and makes calls.
I called Bacon and others encouraging them to vote for Hakeem Jeffries. He only needs 5-6 Republican votes. I will call the others you suggest. Thank you for helping save our Democracy.
Bacon (NE)
202) 225-4155
Fitzpatrick (PA)
(202) 225-4276
Gallagher (WI)
202) 225-5665
Joyce (OH)
202) 225-5731
Curtis (UT)
202) 225-7751
Newhouse (WA)
(202) 225-5816
Hinson (IA)
(202) 225-2911
Garbarino (NY)
(202) 225-7896
Valadao
202) 225-4695
There were 14 Republican-held U.S. House districts up for election in 2022 that Joe Biden (D) won in the 2020 presidential election. Incumbents sought re-election
in 10 of those districts.
(I can’t find the phone numbers for some)
David Schweikert
Arizona (202) 225-2190
David Valadao California (202) 225-4695
Mike Garcia
California (202) 225-1956
Young Kim
California 202) 225-4111
Michelle Steele
California (202) 225-2415
Peter Meijer
Michigan
Don Bacon
Nebraska. 202) 225-4155
Yvette Herrell
New Mexico.
Steve Chabot
Ohio
Brian Fitzpatrick
Pennsylvania
Or consider having Ken Buck as Speaker who believes Biden won the election.
Marlo, While House Democrats are receptive, It will take an extraordinary effort to get traditional House Republicans to join with Democrats to agree upon a consensus Republican candidate for Speaker, one who will restore regular order to the House. The idea that any Republican would vote for Jeffries is unthinkable. Please trust me; I’ve been on this since January.
It’s worth a try. This is a crisis. I think they realize something needs to get done. Shutting down the government to appease their tantrums is seen as children unable to govern.
Marlo, As someone who has been on this project since January, I can assure you that Jeffries won’t get a single Republican vote, and he and virtually every House Democrat knows that. Hence, Dems are offering themselves to join with Republicans to support a Republican candidate, who owes nothing to MAGA, and who has signaled a willingness to work with like-minded people across the aisle.
As they should! If these republicans can’t get their act together, server a “decent” candidate for Speaker of the House, then the Democrats need to keep supporting Jeffries for the job.
It’s exactly what Trumputin wants! His line of thinking is this:
If the government shuts down, he will start his campaign that the government shutdown is all the Democrats, and President Biden’s fault. He’ll start a huge fund raising campaign on that, too.
Jim Jordan is in his back pocket, and has been doing his bidding right from the beginning. Look at what’s been going on since January 20th when they were given the gavel (by our stupidity and mistake). All he’s done is having unwarranted hearings in Hunter Biden’s laptop, trying to impeach President Biden, and the entire 10 months has had no evidence if any kind on anything show up. Nothing. Witness after witness has told him, his hearing label, they are wasting their time because there’s no evidence of wrongdoing there.
What’s going to happen if he gets that gavel? Jordan will be the #3 in line for the presidency. What do you think will happen?
Hope springs eternal….after all someone actually won the Powerball Lotto the other day….so maybe the nation will get lucky! And, yeah, I know the chances are slim to none….just like the Lotto….sigh.
Barbara, Why go for a plan whose “chances are slim to none,” when I have offered up a plan a team has worked on for 10 months to restore normal order in Congress that has a real shot at succeeding?
Daniel, I presume you are referring to Republicans and, respectfully, I disagree. In my original comment, I listed 3, whom Jerry Weiss and his team, after 10 months on this project, determined would restore regular order to the House. In a time of crisis, I view a traditional Republican suitable for the Speakership who has signaled respect for governance and a normally functioning, problem-solving legislature. Jerry has offered 3, one of whom is being advanced by Robert Reich as we speak. That House member is Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA).
Fitzpatrick might be the one, and only one, whom might be able to bring some normality to the House, hurt the next 14 months. BUT, Barbara, this won’t happen. Trumputin will never allow him the gavel. Trumputin’s crew, currently running the Republican caucus of the House of Representatives wouldn’t allow him the gavel, let alone getting anything done the next 14 months.
The House of Representatives is doomed to failure, and doomed to bring this country to its knees, to the absolute brink of disaster. Then, the blame game will start. This will be all Biden’s, and the democrats fault. It will be a media blitz, and you’ll see Trumputin all across the country in all kinds of speeches busing the democrats and Biden.
It’s what he dues, and he has enough of the Republican caucus in his pocket to stop everything in its tracks, since we, the people, gave them the majority.
They talk to non-constituents more than they talk to constituents. Years ago, I was representing an organic pesticide company that needed help, so we turned to Congress. I quickly discovered the lobbyist scheme. It was pure pay-to-play. They wanted to know how much we would contribute and then they'd set up a meeting. They had ZERO interest in helping the environment or making the world a better place. They needed to see a check first.
Of course, they would talk to constituents without forcing them to contribute, but that doesn't generate income, so guess who gets priority.
Always remember that the Number One priority of every member of the U.S. House is to raise money for re-election.
Carole, On this one issue, I have been calling House Republicans for months, and staffers have been listening attentively and assuring me they would pass my message to the Congressperson. If you say you are phoning to rally House Republicans around Rep Don Bacon’s (R-NE) call to join with Democrats to find a House Speaker, I expect you will get a hearing. The alternative, though not as effective, is to call after hours and leave a voice mail message.
If you leave a message. I called after hours. Probably a recording on the weekend. Wait until message instructions tell you to “press 2” to send URGENT before hanging up. Don’t hang up before or they might not get the message.
That is my experience as well & posting on a legislator’s official website is generally not accepted unless you are a constituent (usually defined by Zip Code). A physical letter/card…dunno if they tally them or if it’s straight to the waste bin.
It is a recording after hours. Type up what you want to say. Be polite. Encourage them to vote for Hakeem who only needs 5-6 votes. He will win and then business can continue. Remind them voting is anonymous.
I was expressly told by Rep. Dingell's aide in DC that they require ZIP codes for all recorded comments. He is very kind; I have called him often lately ;-) There is no value in calling federal legislators who do not represent you, that is what I learned. Maybe spend that time postcarding actual voters instead?
That is a strategy too, a PC & like you I wonder what happens to it. With calls, letters PC, the critters have no accountability as to what happens to them. Freedom of information act does not apply I have been told. If there was public knowledge of the tally I wonder what it would show?
If you have a VPN connection you might try faking your location (even connecting through a server in their state if you can find one). Lie about your zip code and being a constituent; it's a little white one in the grand scheme of things. And who are these people anyway to exclude input from all but their partisan flock - It's OUR country and their party is trashing it! I don't know if this will work, but might be worth a try.
It’s an answering machine. You don’t have to give your name, address, phone #. Just start talking.
I remind them it is for our country, the vote is anonymous, Hakeem only needs 5-6 republican votes to win, I point out how ineffective & chaotic Jordan has been & would shut down our government- he is Trump’s puppet. And he was involved in planning the insurrection, receiving a Medal of Honor for it! (Though the reason wasn’t mentioned…but it was 5 days later).
As voting citizens in all these United States of America, we must use these pieces of information to share the best ideas of “Feathers of Hope” to assure that a responsible adult who believes in Democracy and the people’s right to vote is elected (there are limits to the impact we might have in contacting legislators but we must use any resources available to us to STOP ELECTION DENIER GYM JORDAN ). I called the House switchboard and explained who I was and my intent to offer citizen support to Dan Bacon and was instructed to reach out to the office of Hakeem Jeffries.
That effort failed in that the call was lost in transfer but I will reach out to the direct numbers for both Dan Bacon and Hakeem Jeffries. Best of luck to all here; whom I refer to as citizen activists. ❤️🇺🇸🕊️
I don’t know House procedures, but how would Jeffries even be nominated? There would have to be a brave republican willing to lose his seat to do that, and the rest would be afraid of a public vote. Maybe there are still some patriots in the batcrwp Republican Party, but they seem afraid to stick their heads up.
I wanted to be sure people saw it. It was very time consuming for me to look up each number& print it not to mention calling each person. Have you called?
You’re welcome! I tremble at the thought of what might happen if we do nothing. If these Republicans get enough calls to press them to vote for Rep. Jeffries, maybe they will be swayed to do so.
They might even be relieved not having to worry about appeasing Trump.
In a way, Jeffries is being irresponsible by continuing to allow his nomination. The Republicans will never vote for Jeffries. Not one.
He needs to nominate Liz Cheney and then get the Democrats to vote unanimously for her. I believe they'd find enough Republicans who would vote with them.
I would like to see Heather devote one edition to this idea.
Jeffries is doing what many complain Democrats don’t do, letting the country know the Democrats are there, capable, and willing. He’s free to speak and it’s the opposite of irresponsible.
Funny you accuse Jeffries of the exact behavior that is abundantly evident in the rethugs.
Ron, If you’re contending that peeling off, say, a half dozen potential so-called moderate Republican votes is good strategy, I would maintain it likely would be easier to get 40 votes than 5. I base this judgement on the premise, quoting Substack host Jerry Weiss, that “moderates by their very nature are, well, moderate and would be reluctant to act boldly.” My point, having worked with Weiss and his team for 10 months, is that his plan is our best shot for restoring normal order in Congress.
But, the Democrats will NEVER nominate Liz Cheney to even be the janitor for Congress.
Her Republican credentials are just to true Red. Sure, she did not like Trump and testified about what a loser he is and lost her job as a result. Admirable.
BUT, Democrats supporting her to be speaker? Dems might as well cut taxes on on Billionaires themselves (which they did gleefully when Reagan suggested it in 1981).
Of course, her politics are true red, but no more red than any other (R).
She has demonstrated that she is sane. The USA will soon be in big trouble if we don't get a Speaker and we can guarantee that the next Speaker will be a Republican. It might as well be one of the sane few.
Patricia, Because your reply came to me, I don’t know if that is what you intended or whether you intended to reply to Fern. Just wanted to give you a heads-up.
There was/is great lengthily a media discussion , lack of newspaper truth, and talk show cacophony ad infinitum misinformation , disinformation...yada yada.
But here is a wealth of info, opinions that make one think , books to read, well educated people delving into cause n affect/effect.
Humbleness is that of desired integrity , a real clue. Thanks 😉
I share these pages often the commentary(s) is missed by non subscribers and it isn’t cheap tolled up but quality is a choice , for the desperate far less possible.
I would encourage those that don’t share their writs to do so occasionally ( most do, thanks)
For others share with friends and family , it’s such great ...stuff 🤣
The idea of Gym as Speaker makes me want to vomit. He is so awful and the wrestlers he failed to protect spoke out against him this last week. I am thinking he can't actually get enough floor votes and then what. I wish a few Rs would be courageous and join the Ds and elect Jeffries who would be an excellent Speaker.
The entire rotted lot of them will hold their breath until they turn blue. Every day, more awakened Americans will turn to the BLUE skies and sweep them out next year. Imagine that! Promote the vote and support the YOUTH VOTE !
So R, Don Bacon calls it a "bipartisan path"; let's call it a "Governing Coalition". Regardless 213 D's + 4 sane R's or 4 'Purples', or 4 Blue Districts with R Reps (whatever) gets you 217 & House of Representatives. We got the Weekend to put it together.
I wouldn't be surprised at what that low-life would stoop to. I got an email a few minutes ago that he has declared himself, ''immune'' to any prosecution. His delusions seem to be getting more bizarre by the day now. In his sick mind, he thinks he is the chosen one to be God and Master of the entire Universe. A true psychopath if i have seen one.
Not to mention scared as hell. Can you visualize what will happen in the upcoming months if he does? Especially taking orders and being the head ‘sheep’ of Donald J. Trump! With Trump’s state of mind, his criminal history, his way of thinking right now, he will do absolutely anything to get rid of his criminal charges. What better way than to get someone in the presidency that will pardon him if all charges, and start his dictatorship in his stead. Jim Jordan will do exactly what Trumputin tells him to do. Including shit this government down.
Marlo, I’m fixing to do one thing better. I’m going to call, and write, Liz Cheney. She’s an attorney. If there’s no attorneys on here that are willing to fight for our democracy, I know she is. She’s proven that. Even though I’m a Democrat, I strongly feel she’ll research and see if we, the people, can start expulsion proceedings, or something , to get these clowns 🤡 out of office before they destroy this nation.
I have great respect for Liz. But it is unfortunate the others responsible for the planning/supporting the insurrection weren’t publicly called out in The January Committee. She was criticized for zeroing in on Trump.
Yep, she zeroed in on the head putinite, and, unfortunately, with no power to make them respond to a subpoena, the committee was kind of hand-tied.
I still emailed her at the college she’s instructing at in Virginia. Don’t know if I’ll get a reply, but I still emailed her. We need professional help/guidance.
I am with you. It leaves me shuddering.There has got to be a way around this gridlock, this being held hostage by a minority of bad actors. We just can't sit back and watch our government being destroyed. I am willing to call and send postcards but this seems like it requires much more serious action. I know a National Strike is ambitious and isn't a spur-of-the-moment thing but what else CAN we do? We just can't let this happen!
I wrote all of the numbers down and will try each one.I read on the comments that you may not be able to get through if you aren’t one of their constituents.I will nevertheless give it a try.I have called, called and called again my state lawmakers one of which is the odious Gym Jordan so no, I don’t hold my breath.Thanks for providing those numbers.
Adults don't usually allow toddlers to run the household, so why don't the adults in the House, at least the 230 who act like adults, just declare an impasse and take over. What could the retrumplicans do but squall and cry like the toddlers they are - or maybe throw themselves on the floor and drum their heels.. Maybe the Sergeant at arms needs to bring out the willow switch and apply it to some bottoms. Like most sane mothers I would not have put up with this kind of behavior from my own toddlers, so, why as a constituent and taxpayer should I have to put up with this sort of behavior from the House of Representatives, send the naughty little toddlers back to their districts and tell their constituents to deal with them, while the adults get on with their job of legislating.
Fay, totally agree. I find it unconscionable that Jordan, in sixteen long years, has never gotten a bill to law. WHY do those folks keep electing such a waster of tax money? It makes me sick. Speaker of The House????? OMG.
This is the question we must ask. And I believe the answer is that Jordan as well as Trump gain their appeal through "Revenge Speak". They are part of an ever shrinking group of older white folks who just can't believe that diversity is now normal.
And to your salient point. Why aren't his constituents asking "Gym" what he has done for them other than be the loudest bully in the school yard? Because they have the political and emotional maturity of pre-teens? Because he sells them the same snake oil that feeds their DNA embedded bigotry?
Gym feeds their amygdalae with the hatred of others. I really do not understand how some of these MAGAts so routinely hate on gay men and child abuse (to wit: complaining about drag shows--I know that is a different arena than gay, but to them it isn't) but choose, time and again, someone who permitted that same abuse to go on in his program.
Bill and Ally, You are both perfectly on point. Gym is just a surfacing of the deep hatred held for anyone “different” from “white folks” that must be so ingrained in our society, we really couldn’t fathom it until now. Of course, every person who is the target of this hatred, including women, knows it well. Bill, I STILL cannot fathom why someone, even a decent Republican, has not appeared in all those sixteen years to challenge his incredible ineffectiveness, to say the least! “DNA embedded bigotry”indeed!!!
Willow switch? I was thinking if a 22’ bull whip with a 1/4 oz steel ball in the end if it. Tie him to the barn doors and beat him until he can’t move!
Thanks, Elizabeth. To me, as a young boy, it was abuse. But, it made me the man I grew up to be. With my career in Civil Service to my community, and state, I’m proud of that. With my humanitarian assistance I was able to give to needy families in my patrol area every year throughout the year, I’m proud of that, too, even while making only $436 take home pay every month.
I didn’t grow up hating my dad. I grew up respecting him. I eventually understood that his way of ‘correcting’ was the exact same way he was done when he was a child. Thankfully, I wasn’t that way toward my step-children. All I had to do with them was look at them a certain way, with a tone they didn’t like in my voice. They knew they had done wrong.
Sadly, as I learned in my law enforcement as well as my firefighting careers, it wasn’t that way for a lot of parents, and young parents of infants and young children. I witnessed everything grim beaten until they couldn’t move to beaten until they were dead. Burned with cigarettes, cigars, torches, to burned to a crisp and killed right in their cribs. What people did with their children was utterly disgusting, unacceptable and unconscionable.
It concerns me that Biden believes Democracy works, of which I agree. But these extremist are poking holes in it on a daily basis with the aim of ultimately claiming that Democracy does not work but authoritarianism does ? We need to find a way to make them irrelevant ! Hakeem Jeffries for Speaker !
Democracy works, but IS work. Snake Oil is always an easy sell. Sabotage of key functions of our republic is corrupt as hell, and we need to explicitly make a bigger thing of it. Republicans are playing childish, destructive ego games when we desperately need all hands on deck to avert multiple disasters.
The Republicans started losing a long time ago when they chose people like Reagan, Gingerich and McConnell to lead their party. They want things to go their way at any cost and think the American people are too wrapped up in their own lives to care.
We won’t forget what they have been doing and how truly authoritarian their goals are at a time when they should be representing the needs and wants of the American people. Didn’t they take an oath to serve? Just what in hell do they do think, they’re doing?
The spike they’re driving into the heart of their own party has destroyed it.
Our democracy is fine....and will only get better. We’ll have a reasonable Speaker soon and the people’s business will resume. Long due structural changes that have allowed extreme minorities to hijack the government will be addressed once the democrats are back in control.
The long list of important legislation to debate and pass just gets more urgent. The American people will long remember who delayed our business and they will pay dearly, indeed.
KD, I sure hope so. I am concerned, however, by the apathy to these issues I see in those around me. Some folks find it too distressing, so they check out, others seem uninterested. Sometime ago I sent friends/family info on Project 2025 after it dropped and got a “meh” response. Really, how is their hair not on fire? I get that the available emotional bandwidth to deal with the onslaught of dangers to democracy is a heavy load….I just ask folks not to wallow in it, but rather at least pay attention & be informed!
I, too, am baffled, Barbara, that folks around me are not freaking out about Project 2025. I’m at a loss on what to do abt it. Then I question myself: Have manifestos been popping up occasionally all along and I’ve missed them? Is this a sign I’m slipping into some conspiracy rabbit hole? Am I losing my frickin’ mind as I recover from the recent (since 2016ish) fiascos and failures this country and its government and citizens have endured?? Then I think, nope, I’m not nuts. This neatly packaged manifesto is real, I can feel it deep in my gut, my soul. It definitely feels and smells Mein Kampf-like. WHAAAAAAA?!??!! What to do?
I know, right? I, too, thought it was a joke a la The Onion or some kind of conspiracy theory at first. Then I started reading it & looking at who authored/supported it and felt a deep psychic chill. We “little people” only have our voices and vote, both of which I plan to exercise. Most of us, however, don’t have the political or economic power ($$$$) to push back at the level those who support this “manifesto” do. My hope is that there are way more of those who oppose this and will do all we can to put it in the shredder (and then put the shredding in a hot composter to get rid of every last pathogen!).
"The Republicans started losing a long time ago when they chose people like Reagan, Gingerich and McConnell to lead their party."
They lost their soul in exchange for raw power, the kind of deal that goes way back. It's long past time for them to lose respect of all but the incurably delusional.
"I think differently about that" and "That is certainly an opinion" are on it so far. Think I'll be adding " Democracy works, but IS work" and "Democracy works, but IS work" to it.
I called the vulnerable who represent the districts Biden won encouraging them to vote for Hakeem Jeffries who only needs 6 Republican votes to win. This is an emergency. Someone has to lead the House and soon.
Here’s a list. We can ALL call. Let’s save our Democracy together! (Wait to the end of the recording BEFORE hanging up! Press 2 to send as URGENT.
"But it is not at all clear they can agree on a candidate. Representative Don Bacon (R-NE) is one of those who is beginning to talk about bipartisanship as a matter of practicality. “A lot of folks are in denial but you're never gonna get eight or 10 folks on board."
Congressman Bacon is in one of those pesky districts that Biden won. However, from people that have worked with him he is one of the smarter Republican Congresscritters and actually tries to help everyone in his district, not just the far right pro-birthers and white supremacists.
My sister and her entire family are his constituents and none of them share his views on anything. But to save his ass, he could potentially cross the aisle and vote for Congressman Jeffries as Speaker.
Bacon supports the GOP spending amendments to cut funding for the poor, climate change and the IRS as he wrote in response to an email I sent him.
Even if Bacon and others vote for Jeffries they may not support the Senate passed version of the spending bills. But, they might pass another CR and provide additional funding for the war in Ukraine and Israel.
Call him! Have your entire family call. Encourage him to vote for Hakeem. 202-225-4155. Wait for the instruction at the end to “press 2” to send as URGENT. Tell him Rep Jeffries will work with the Republicans. He is level headed.
And then have them call the others on the list. We need “All Hands On Deck”!
It sounds to me like Bacon, and many others on the Republican side of the aisle have a hell of a decision to make. Do they side with the Trumputins, or the side with Democracy? To the turn to Dictatorship, or remain as Republic? Do they go down the road of shutting the country, government, down? Or do they go the road to save it?
Seems to me it’s a clear choice. They may think it’s the end of their careers. I don’t see it that way. If I lived in their districts, I would look at them come election time as a person that was out fur the good of the country instead of themselves. Especially if I didn’t care that much fur my candidate
They need to be reminded of this. I believe they are looking at the outcome the wrong way. They could be saviors. Not criminals.
Thank you! I appreciate that and so does your country. Just think, if he wins, that Trump loving insurrectionist will be second in line for the Presidency! It has literally made me ill worrying about this.
Marlo, you, as do all of us, have great cause to worry. I know with the Speaker in line to the presidency right behind the VP, I picture a scenario happening if JJ gets the Gavel, I fear that Trumputin has a plan already ‘mapped out’ for him to move right through the VO to the presidency. Then he, Trumputin, will get what he wants. The start of the dismantling of the DOJ, FBI, CIA, his court cases being held indefinitely, or dismissed altogether, everything we dreamed never would happen would be happening. In other words, the beginning of his dictatorship.
Terrifying. That's why I email/call the news stations and circulate on Nextdoor, Substack and my friends as well as calling the republicans (& my representative(. I am trying to do my part. In the meantime my battery died on my phone so it is out of commission. I am presently using my laptop which had become obsolete but is back In business! I also got sick (Covid neg. Making chicken soup!)
Our Democracy is not serious-we don’t have one person, one vote, there’s dark money, tax cuts and loopholes for the richest corporations, gerrymandering and too many states with their rights are loathe to respect the Constitution and the evolved Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We have a Republic if we can fix it. Right now it’s more of a promise than anything else.
It has been clawed at, mangled, twisted, and diluted by the “supreme republican court,” billionaire money, and racist/religious, self-righteous prigs called republicans. Deliberately and with malice. Ever since we stood tall after our war sacrifices, passing the Marshall plan, helping Japan recover, passing other legislation for the people, we have been seen as a world leader. The billionaires took a back seat and Ike signed on. Guess that was a bridge too far for the oligarchs and Ronnie. This destruction derby is the result. Our citizenry have been hoodwinked and played for fools. Can our silent majority of real patriots roar. It’s now or never…
Jeri, you’re right about our silent majority. A saving grace is the David Hoggs among us—the under-forty voters who have paid attention and have found their voices(thank you, Taylor Swift!). They may well save us all.
The just republic and more perfect union in inherently aspirational and parts may always be flawed, but the structural foundation is sound if we agree to agree that dysfunction and corruption sucks, and enough is enough. Plutocrats have spent over four decades excusing ever more outrageous behaviors, and the deceitful-to-the-core modern Republican Party is the result. Is it not growing tiresome? And they are wrecking our quality of life, and perhaps even chances for long term survival.
It's an uphill climb, trying to overcome confirmation bias and racism. The evangelicals have dumped Christ for Trump. So much for fear of eternal damnation.
Democracy work but our archaic constitution has many trip wires that allow extremists the power to undermine it. Maybe they never anticipated that we would have traitors elected to influential posts.
The Constitution is a product of humans and cannot do it all, but has proved to be enduringly useful infrastructure when used as directed, and was made to be updated. It provides bones that each living generation is called to flesh out. Nothing is foolproof, and we as a society get out of it what we are willing to put into it, with the passing of time.
Mass media stepped in and made it easy and remarkably profitable for the wealthy to manipulate the system with clever propaganda. The problem is: there is a huge segment of the population that doesn't know what it doesn't know. You all know that we're all Socialists. That notion is hammered by Fox et al. hour after hour, day after day. The True Believers fall in line, oblivious to their being manipulated.
Gerrymandering strikes at the heart of the democratic process: one person, one vote, majority rule. Gerrymandering enhances the power of some votes while diminishing the power of other votes, i.e., 1 1/4 vs. 3/4, for example.
It is one thing to realize a thing is broken but believe it can be repaired. It is quite another to see the broken thing as “fixable” when it is clear that it will never be able to support its own structure, no matter how extensive the “repair.” A critical piece is missing.
The Republicans are now firmly in the land of magical thinking. Psychologists define magical thinking as the belief that specific words, thoughts, emotions, or rituals can influence the external world. In this case, they believe that repeating the ritual of going through the motions of electing a Speaker designee this time will have a different outcome, and the fractures in their conference will heal and they will come out united with a disciplined governable caucus.
I wrote in October 13’s post, “The Way Out of House Dysfunction,” about the fracturing of the Republican party into three major pieces. The fracturing and repeated unsuccessful repairs have been happening since John Boehner resigned from Congress in 2015 before the end of his term as Speaker after conservatives criticized him over the government shutdowns.
Paul Ryan managed to finish out his term in 2018 but resigned from Congress at age 48. Politico quoted him as saying, “I’m an old Jack Kemp guy that believes strongly in inclusive, aspirational politics that are based on bringing people together and not exploiting divisions.” He went on to say, “With identity politics being played all around and 21st-century technology accelerating it and putting gas on the fire — that is my big concern of politics these days. And that makes it harder to have political goodwill in this country because of all this polarization.”
We have just witnessed the debacle of Kevin McCarthy’s turn at the wheel, followed by the one-day wonder of Steve Scalise, and now we have Jim Jordan.
The essence of magical thinking is summed up in the adage,” Insanity is repeating the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.” Republicans have been repeating their rituals since 2015.
For quite a while, Democrats, including myself, have also been in our own realm of magical thinking. We keep holding on to the broken dream that some moderate Republicans, led perhaps by Brian Fitzpatrick, will have “on the road to Damascus” moments and, once the scales drop from their eyes, be able to see a way to heal the fractures among their fractious factions. It ain’t going to happen.
Why have I stepped out of the land of magical thinking? Two reasons:
The Republicans left for the weekend in the midst of cascading crises. Their only move to bring back even a tiny bit of credibility to the view that they care about governing would have been to stay and start voting on the House floor and let the chips fall as they may.
They were not able to get rid of their coalition-destructive “one person can call for a motion to vacate” rule. There is no way for that unstable coalition to function if the rule remains in place. They are allowing democracy to be replaced by minority rule. This is the critical piece that is gone that makes the Republican party broken beyond repair.
The Republicans are still mired in their own land of magical thinking, that they hold a majority when, in fact, what they have is an unstable coalition with the factions having incredible animosity towards each other.
There is only one way out of the dysfunction. The necessary handful of Republicans must grow spines and vote for Jeffries as Speaker. The entire chamber cannot be held hostage. The work of governance must take precedence.
Well said. But a GQP House Rep that votes for Jeffries will invoke the "auto primary" rule. They will be doing the patriotic thing, of course. But they know they will be ending their political careers as Republicans. Their competitors will eat them for breakfast. And those competitors will look and sound like MTG, LB and MG. Perhaps, these "patriots" will also look at life the way Paul Ryan did. And Ryan does have a very nice life after politics.
I think we may see a broken House for a long time - a series of speakers thrown under the bus time after time. Hopefully one will last long enough to fund the essentials of our country, Ukraine and Israel. But I think Chaos will be King on Capitol Hill until we win it back in 2024.
The only good news is that because Republicans are acting like rabid little children, they are providing Democrats with all the campaign ammunition necessary to restore order to the House, build a bigger majority in the Senate and keep a Democrat in the WH.
The self destruction of a political party right before our eyes. Well deserved path to obscurity. Who will replace them?
Bill, I think you are making some assumptions that may not prove true. The main one is that the bipartisan leaning Rs may actually win their primaries against against chaos caucus candidates. Trump is not being listened to by a large fraction of the caucus (they didn't support Jordan in the first round) and after the debacle of non-governance currently on display it is hard to see why any R who isn't MAGA crazy themselves would support them. Boebert won by a hair in the last election--hard to see her winning by more at this point. The Rs have had their chance and they have accomplished nothing. And somehow have Jordan as speaker, someone who could not even get a bill through the House since 2007 when he was first elected, let alone passed into law says something because that is one of the best talking points against him, along with his tolerance of sexual predators.
Secondly, In spite of what you hear from most of the pundits a lot of this year's elections are going to democrats.
Finally, I am sure there would be some behind the scenes horse trading of comfortable positions in a second Biden administration for those with bipartisanship in their hearts. Ambassadorships, special envoys, deputy secretaries....Yes it is a risk but this is the point I am sure these bipartisanly inclined Rs are thinking that even if they win their primaries they may not be win the generals so better to be looking for a plan B.
All excellent points. Agree on what could happen in the general elections. I am optimistic! But my point was that as McConnell had said, they didn't have that red wave because they didn't have quality candidates.
So, if these "reasonable" Republicans are primaried by crazies, we are just in a better position for the general election.
Do you remember how many times Pelosi held everyone in the chamber over the weekend to get a bill through, voted in, and work done? I can’t count the times she did that. This bunch is interested in two things. Government shutdown, and dictatorship.
Bacon keeps talking the talk and then balking at walking the walk. Relying on him is like relying on the weather forecast in Colorado. Wait five minutes, it'll change. And so will he.
To say this is not a good look for the Republicans , is a colossal understatement.
Liz Cheney is right. Again. The pushing forward of Jordan by some of his peers is revealing that they would settle on a loudmouth Insurrectionist over someone who may actual work across the aisle to get work done for this Country. The Republican Party, or what is left of it, has exposed its inner core to the world.
And 'clown show' was such an understatement. It seems that governments all over the world are failing: from our 'least effective legislature ever' here in Massachusetts, to Washington's appalling Republican-controlled House of Representatives, to the blind-sided Netenyahu government. All examples of utter incompetence at the task of governance. And the key is our House: without action to support Israel and Ukraine, we set the wrong example. Like it or not, the United States has to step up and LEAD. We cannot shirk that responsibility.
We shirk that responsibility all the time. Leadership would entail working for peace, instead of writing blank checks for military hardware to Ukraine and Israel that accomplish little other than further death and destruction.
We have a government owned by monied interests, therefore we don’t have a democracy to save. The quicker we realize this, and get at how the corporate coup took place, and fix that, the greater our chances at preventing authoritarian rule.
Tribal elections and inside the beltway political intrigue are a sideshow. The armies of lobbyists, and their employers, are the enemy here. Until a majority of Americans form a coalition to fight that, we’ll continue to circle the drain.
Given that the RW majority was chosen by Leonard Leo's Federalist Society dark money, as exemplified by Clarence Thomas and Alito, I doubt that will ever happen
It’s bigger than Citizen’s United. While a travesty, that decision was just another in a long line of corporate ‘personhood’ SCOTUS precedents that stretch back to the Santa Clara railroad case in the 1880s. We have to kill the twin concepts of corporate personhood and money as speech. The only way to do that is via Constitutional Amendment (see here - MoveToAmend.org) We have to circumvent the court, and their requirement to uphold the Constitution would ensure their compliance.
For those who say that path is too daunting, I offer two rebuttals. One, the Amendment that brought 18yos the right to vote took less than a year from Congressional vote to ratification. And two, I have found common ground talking to dozens of Trump supporters when I initiate a conversation talking about the disfunction in DC, and then, after their typical response of rigged game, etc., follow up with an explanation of how the pawn politicians aren’t behind the rigging, corporations/monied interests are.
The tinderbox for coalition building and creating a populist democratic wave to fix what ails us is out there. We just need the combination of awareness, organization, and leadership to light the match. We can either continue on this path of tribal political inertia and dysfunction towards corporate/individual authoritarianism, or build a coalition to create a real democratic society.
Forget most of the Republican politicians. Even in their extremism, they still do Wall Street’s bidding, as they always have since 1900. We have to connect and peel away their public support, and I don’t for a second believe they are unreachable. The Democratic Party just has to renounce its fealty to its own corporate donors, and mean it. And that’s our responsibility as a liberal/left; to hold it to account whenever it puts donor interest above that of working people and the poor. We’ve done a piss poor job of it since Reagan, and that’s what set the stage for Trump.
True.I would love to have the opportunity to ask Chief Justice Roberts if this is what he thought would happen when he chose corporate money over real live people.
If I didn’t have a cat to take care of who needs eye drops 5 X’s/day I would March and protest Jordan and the Supreme Court for starters. Right now we all need to flood the list I provided with CALLS to vote for Hakeem Jeffries!
To sway them, be polite. Get your talking points ready. You get more with honey.
Totally agree with your "corporate coup" concept. The more conflict, the richer the oligarchs get. It's been that way forever. The Civil War made millionaires.
But I am wondering what your solution to Putin's genocide and Hamas' brutal murders would be?
Both entities are the essence of evil and threaten the lives of millions every day. What's your plan?
Solutions based on the principle that agreed upon borders must be adhered to; That Putin be forced to return all of Ukraine to Ukraine's people and Netanyahu return to within Israel's originally mandated borders to force a return to the 2-state bargaining table while simultaneously rejecting outright the terrorism of a Hamas or Hezbollah by finding (and funding?) effective ways to eliminate them. That would seem to include finding and/or creating a state for the Palestinians to call their own.
I would disagree that Putin is committing genocide; one could argue that he is preventing that if you look at the history in Ukraine post-2014 U.S.-backed coup. That’s not his motivation, strategic interests are, but Israel is being much more genocidal in its response to Hamas brutality than is Putin.
On Ukraine, I would push for a ceasefire, then seek a negotiated settlement with Russia, which allows them to keep Crimea, and puts the areas of eastern Ukraine up for a referendum and vote over whether to remain Ukrainian or be incorporated into Russia, and abide by the result. I would urge Ukraine to give up a desire for NATO membership adopt permanent neutrality status, and in return guarantee a massive amount of reconstruction and humanitarian aid, from the U.S., NATO, and Russia, in order to rebuild infrastructure that all three of the aforementioned parties had a major hand in destroying.
I agree with John below on Israel, although I don’t see a Middle East two-state solution happening, not as long as Israel demands a majority Jewish population. I think we should make Israel an offer to just leave the Middle East and take Texas in a straight up swap.
A two state solution should have been involved with the formation of Israel on day one. Israel had a right to exist and so did a Muslim Palestine.
As to your ideas about Russia and Ukraine, at first blush you sound reasonable. But upon reflection, these ideas sound like those of the extremely naive Neville Chamberlain.
Putin has been slaughtering Ukrainian civilians. I call that a genocide. Or perhaps, mass murder and multiple war crimes. Choose your name. Putin is just a reincarnation of Hitler...or perhaps Genghis Khan.
And your suggestion that the US and NATO should pay for the destruction of Ukraine is utter nonsense. Putin's Russia is entirely responsible.
You’re right on your first assertion about Israel, but the racist colonial powers at the time didn’t care about Arab sentiment; only strategic self interest. See here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXfuqUhzESg&t=23s
Putin slaughters civilians. Ukrainian Nazis (Azov Battalion) slaughter civilians. And around and around we go. You think Putin is Hitler because you have been propagandized to believe such; any deep dive into Ukrainian and Russian history proves that analogy ridiculous on its face.
Not surprised at the Chamberlain reference; it’s the Western propaganda go-to, along with Putin apologist, when U.S. narrative in the foreign policy realm is questioned when it comes to Russia/Ukraine.
There is plenty of hard evidence out there that we provoked the invasion of Ukraine, and turned our back on several occasions to prevent it, post-2014 coup. One just has to be willing to accept the logical assertion that we aren’t always the good guys in the foreign policy realm, anymore than the Brits were when Israel was created.
Do your homework. Many serious diplomats warned that we were going to ‘wreck’ Ukraine if we pursued NATO expansion; that it was a hard line Russia would never accept. Well, here we are. But hey, at least our corporate weapons and energy industries are happy, so there’s that.
I know. Call me crazy. But it's obvious to me that the only difference between the Jews of Israel, the Palestinians and me are religion (or the lack thereof).
This naive, lone voice would like us to think like a species - not self manufactured tribes.
The only real comfort I can take from seeing many of the world's democracies stumble is seeing many of the world's largest autocracies doing even worse. Putin's Russia is involved in a war that is bleeding them white. China's economy, now that they have a full on dictator, is faltering and becoming a much less attractive place for foreign investment. The trillions in Taiwanese money that kick started their rise is drying up. Hamas has started an asymmetrical war that, regardless of what ever traps they have set, will end in their destruction as an organization. The African Union will eventually answer the seeming tide of new autocracies there.
Democracy is messy, but mostly deliver because they are at least partly answerable to their people. Autocracies are weak because they have no effective oversight. This ALWAYS leads to state crippling incompetence (loyalty appointments) and corruption (kleptocracy). It is the same autocratic tendencies that erode democracies - this republic is ours to keep - if we can fix it.
Steve, how does your 'only real comfort' consider people living in collapsing or recently collapsed autocracies? Generally, are their lives the same, better or worse? It impossible to calculate for the sum of all the different countries and for each one, but keen observation by people who know the country may provide a reasonable estimation. If we think of the people, I think most do worse given the uncertainly and chaos in a country without a government. In sum, I don't take any comfort from collapsing autocracies, unless more decent regimes or democracies are replacing them.
Very good point Fern! It would seem from current examples that a failed country with no government is worse off than a country with an autocratic government which can function on SOME level yet is worse off than a democracy led by oligarchs which is worse than what we aim to get back to, a democracy with strong and reasonably educated lower and middle classes; "building up from below and outward from the middle."
Fern, you missed my point. Mainly because I did not explain it very well. This forum is filled with posts bemoaning the failure of democracies around the world. I was merely trying to point out that autocracies aren't doing very well either. I hope you do not think I am so callous as to disregard, or take joy in the suffering of real people, whatever form of government they live under.
Hello, Steve. I could not imagine you to be callous. Your writing as you now realize was not in accord with your intention, which was complex and, perhaps, not fully thought out.
Finding comfort in collapsing governments can only be possible if there is reason/evidence that the lives of most of the people will be improved.
Steve, a problem with democracies is that they require a population of people who have something (property, resources, income, sustenance) worth fighting FOR and the education to allow them to understand how to pursue that fight, a fundamental or structural problem undergirding what I see in Africa and perhaps in Venezuela as well.
This one man planted the seeds for a mainstream resurgence of open racism that we're still battling against today, and much of the Red vs. Blue friction in the House can be traced back to the effects of his activites.
I hope i don't ever find out that SOB Kevin Phillips is part of my family tree. I may change my last name if i ever even have a hint that he was related to our family. I do not like people that are racists.
An interesting life. He didn't like the Frankenstein's monster he had helped create... and was not impressed by Democratic Party turncoats who worshipped at the shrine of the Free Market fetish.
I do believe he recanted a couple of decades ago. If you search his books, you'll see that he wrote against theocracy and the super-rich. Not many people are willing to concede they are wrong so publicly, but let's hope more do.
I met him at UNC. He was one of the idea-men behind the last major political realignment. He later repudiated the direction the Republican Party took, writing a book called "American Theocracy." https://jimbuie.substack.com/p/historic-realignment-now-underway
Gary, thank you for your post. I had never heard of this man but the linked article discusses his first book which you cite (written when he was very young). The obituary then goes on to detail all the author’s subsequent works and somewhat shifting ideals. I am trying to absorb the entirety of the man’s complexity.
Thanks for letting me finish the post. I think your knowledge of history far surpasses mine, but I agree with the premise that there may be a realignment afoot. I’m worried though that some of the well-meaning groups such as No Labels or the Forward Party will muddy the waters. I’ve been spending this afternoon knitting and listening to the ProPublica podcast “We Don’t Talk About Leonard” about Leonard Leo at the recommendation of Asha Rangappa and The Freedom Academy. The more information I absorb the better I’m able to articulate my own views. You have definitely contributed to my knowledge base.
I did finish the article no I appreciate another way of thinking about the republicans. It have been thinking they are fracturing but need a more concrete way to articulate that.
The Republicans are awfully close to causing the US, and with it the entire Western civilization, to collapse. And I’m afraid that’s exactly the goal they have in mind: they want to stand victorious on the rubbles of democracy and rise as the leaders in a “new age of the strong man”.
Yup. And he's probably opening a bottle of champagne as we speak for the call of the former Hamas leader to incite an uprising of all Muslims to fight against Israel. It is Bannon's big dream: the end fight of (his vision of) the West against Islam.
What I still can't figure out, though, is why so many common people happily join his caravan. I mean, it isn't a very attractive vision of the future to actively pursue, now, is it?
No, but they all hate Dems, or so it seems. No rationale for destroying the world. Must just be power and greed, and of course ignorance and stupidity. Religion is still the ball breaker for logic and reason.
As I stated before, citing William James: rationality only stays superficial, it never "hits as deeply" as instincts, intuition and emotions - and science doesn't cater to the last three, but religion does. That's why religion will never be "relieved from its duty" and replaced by rationality.
There is no rationale for destroying the world. But if you're led to believe that it's not the climate chaos that threatens your world (because it's just a hoax invented by either "the left" or "the Chinese") but the "liberal snowflake woke libs" who are going to destroy your world, well, the hate for all Dems is easily reaped by such types as Bannon, Trump et al.
Like many of us “humanoids,” I have suffered mightily from following intuition, emotion, and instincts. When I saw pretty clearly that they had led me astray, I sought therapy from someone who was outside my head and the heads of others involved. Took me awhile to realize that I could no longer trust my own judgment, so I know how difficult that is. Very complex mental processes at work, on which James had an incredible grasp. BTW, religion has been relieved of that duty in my life.
I can understand your viewpoint... I am guessing here, but it almost seems to be that you were caught in some kind of "groupthink", a kind of cult, maybe?
I myself am not striving to have intuition, emotions and instincts relieved of their duty by rationality. I have had situations where my _rationality_ led me astray, where instead I definitely should have listened to my intuition, which would have prevented a lot of harm. Yes, I welcome rationality, but not as king and ruler of all; I strive towards a harmonious cooperation between the feeling and the thinking side.
A ‘limited’ letter in the midst of this constitutional chaos is a blessing. Especially because it offers the hope of a bipartisan compromise! The comparison with Pelosi’s accomplishments was delightful!
Presently in CO there is a court case regarding that very thing. If they rule that DJT cannot be on the ballot due to the 14th amendment & his involvement/support of insurrection, it will ripple through the country. And he won’t be on any ballot.
The SOS leading the charge is Jena Griswold, a very intelligent, clear thinking, savy official who should be in Congress. I would vote for her!
The MN Supreme Court will begin to hear arguments on November 2, for real. If you read the article more carefully, Marlo, you will understand that the recent denial regards the Trump campaign's (untimely and improper) request to participate.
Yes, because like it or not, we need the so-called "Republican" Party. The two-party system, and the two specific parties we have, are enshrined in law to such an extent as to make it impossible to replace either of them with another, and however bad the two-party system may be, a one-party system would be worse.
Agreed, although I'm not sure that the current "Republican Party" qualifies. Good faith debate helps keep us honest and can further insight. An organization for which lying and treachery is their central strategy, a party devoted to becoming the only party, really doesn't fill the bill. Yes we need the dialectic dynamic of two (perhaps more, though that has its own pros and cons) contrasting points of view, but it only works when cheating is kept to a minimum by public demand.
Why, I think Mr. Allen above has the answer. A "resounding defeat at the voting booths" will discredit those who presently dominate the party and they will, in time, be replaced by others who can win elections.
Personally, I don’t see us getting to the polls next year. I’m going to say this with the utmost regret.
If Jim Jordan is made Speaker of the House of Representatives, he will be the last one.
Jordan is a staunch Trumputin sheep. He will do, and has been doing, exactly as Trumputin tells him to do. He will be the 3rd in line to the presidency. Do you understand what that means? IF anything happens to President Biden and Vice President Harris, then we have President Jim Jordan, the 48th President of the United States.
He will be the last. He will pardon Trump, name Trump as his Vice President, then he’ll step down turning it over to Trump. Then he’ll turn this nation into a dictatorship with a few swipes of his ink pen. He’ll have exactly what he wants.
Either that, or he’ll leave Jordan there and tell him exactly what to do, and have Jordan do it. Either way, Democracy and our Constitution will be gone!
agreed completely...its more about soundly thumping the current boneheads at the voting booth in hopes that a more reasonable crop will eventually emerge...but I am not holding my breath.
If we can get that far. I hate to see a vision of what we will look like by 2025. Of course the republicans have a vision of what they want, Project 2025. Be very afraid.
Not that many speak of the republican ideal; too often confused with a criminal organization using a name that is spelled the same way. We need to rescue it though.
Your 'limited' Letter, HCR, was exactly what was needed. You chose the point between two wars and the time when the government's budget should have been decided, the point at which America faltered. Let us not make too little of those wars. Israel has walked into a trap set up by the terrorist organization, Hamas, and Ukraine's survival from democracies' demon, Putin, needs our help.
Thank you, HCR.
I would be willing to bet.....
( I don’t ever bet)
Biden knows the score , we have only an inkling correctly assumed by MOST OF US HERE that a book full of goings on beneath any belief would complicate the average mind.
But it’s both the good guys and the bad doing. People are shocked so and so didn’t know what was ‘going on’.
Me thinks not.
But this is what I entrust to my President , his staff, our representatives.
I’m not surprise by the extremists within our own ranks , the glory seekers, liars or evil minded ...I’m old enough to know they’re in every faction. But I expect the majority of those whose are elected to stand well informed and solve the issues.
We have a war going on right here in river city, folks. The numbers shot, overdosed, trafficked , abused... let alone mislead by narrow minded controllers is shameful.
Then there’s the whole other LOTS.
If we don’t get out there
AND VOTE THEM OUT
then we are no more than sheep led by THEM .
I realize many are desperate
EVERYWHERE....
But I do believe we can , we have, and we will straighten up this mess.
💙💙VOTE OUT ALL THE COMPLICIT 💙💙
Beautiful, Patricia Davis! Do you also remember Tom Lehrer? I’m somewhere between him (“National Brotherhood Week”) and December 1941. Maybe, just maybe if we made it since then, our amazing group in DC and sanity in ‘24 will allow US to continue. Get your Covid shot, everyone, don’t complain about egg prices (also climate change), and vote blue as your life truly depends on it!
Thanks so much. I really can’t lose hope. I’ve seen outside of America . I’ve seen us trial and traipse through knee deeps. And others too...far worse off ....pool what survives and grow strong.
There are the alarmists , those screamers , who keep fever pitch hyped, it’s effective to far too many . The rugs pulled out were old plots replotted -always just a few years from popping up again once subsided. It appears/some worry they get a little smarter each time, but I don’t think that.
The world has lifted itself out of heavy times, tremendous poverty, and discovered cures for most the scourges.
Most of what I hear -the ‘dooms and glooms’ are lies, or at least disinformation ,plantings of the...our contras. The proof is rolling out and has been for two + years ( I’d say 5+ but folks weren’t seeing it then) . That so few cause this much chaos is a curiosity ..behind the scenes is where I suspect the real players lie.
Living for 10 years on a boat traveling through the canals of France, begoinning in November 2002, meeting people every day, spending some time in French regional hospitals, I became convinced that we were the bad teenagers on the block. Five years after my return to the US, we got Trump and all his baggage, continued denial of climate change, and mishandled Covid. Now we have election deniers and one non-functional party, voters saying our most experienced leader is too old, and a senator holding up military promotions with two wars and China.
Those are my concerns.
Being 80 myself I am biased, but I think ‘he’s too old ‘ is sold by the nay sayers, repetitively. They are continuously imprinting. It’s their famous tactic.
What he accomplishes says LOUDLY -experienced, clever, and surrounded by excellent advisors, hand picked. He’s got tremendous FAITH , the REAL kind ☺️. It in itself is a source of dependable energy.
Hold on Virginia! We can do this !
You know what one can do at 80. I began Pilates classes at 78 and started learning Polish (not a Romance language, as I was warned), traveling through 2019 to Kraków to Polish school. Always thinking of Der Alte, Konrad Adenauer at 85.
Oh, I am. Will be doing another 100 GOTV postcards to VA as soon as they arrive. Then more to OH. Will not quit writing until end of 10/24 and will attend as many Indivisible meetings as I can. At 89, it’s day to day.
YESS, DEMS !! ,,,,,,,SAY " YES ! " !! ( ALL !,,,,FAITH !! ) . ( BUT !, when it Will BE A Fair ELECTION,,, the WINGNUTTS, Will be SCREAMMING !! rigged ! rigged ! ,,,,,RIGGED !! ) . THEN !,, Get INTO !, Your BODY- ARMOUR ! LORD !, Have MERCY !! .
Virginia, REMEMBER !, " A House , DIVIDED ! .....Cannot STAND !" . Problem IS : The WINGNUTS !,, Are HOLDING UP ! The WHOLE KITTENKABOODLE ! ( The COMPLETE !, cLOWN sHOWW !} . GO ! DEMS !! ,,,,,
SPOT ON !!, Virginia !, ( FOLKS !, This IS !, 'CRITCAL MASS '. ! ) WAKE UP !, EveryOne !! KEEP !,, The FAITH !!
This week: 100 GOTV postcards to VA.
ALL GLORY !, unto HIM !! Virginia !! THE FAITH March !, ,,,,,, is ON ! . BLESSINGS !!
Thank you, Mark!
Susan Gratz: I was Virginia Gratz (family joke: my parents were married as Gracnowskis, but my sister and I were born as Gratzes. Are we related, as I have no idea about all my dozens of cousins. Richmond, VA, then many moves. Now Chicago.
Hopefully! But I would not bet on it. Indiana is full of glory seekers, liars and evil minded.
I look at the states lowest in average income, health care, etc. Often if not usually they had the greatest resources ...we should all give a big ‘hmmmmmm’ there
Because they were taken advantage of that’s why. Because the people didn’t see the rape perpetrated ever so cleverly. Not THIER fault btw!
Thorough investigation would reveal who the enemy was ...most know anyhow , but feel hopeless to change that status quo.
There is a tremendous resilience in the common folk, those ‘hillbilly’s ‘strengths. And taking advantage of another’s weaknesses is the truest form of terrorism ...hello!
The angels that walk this earth are the quiet, the considerate, the hard workers, the honest, teachers of great standing.
It’s time we put the heros in the limelight.
It’s time we stop the ads/rankings/screaming of the real terrorist.
🗣️You know what to do...
💙💙VOTE THE COMPLICIT ALL OUT💙💙
PATRICIA ! YESS YESSS YESSS ! ( OUT !, With the ' SWILL !! )
YESS ! , Vote OUT !! the ' RIFF RAFF !!' ........... AMEN !!
Thank you Fern, you articulated the comparisons I formed as I read Heather’s description of Jordan’s dis-qualifications for speak.
The House Republican antics are not much different than any terrorist organization, that is to obstruct and destroy rather than represent loyal opposition.
Their results are similar to the Hamas strikes and Putin’s tactics to challenge and harm legitimate Government.
The Republican Majority of the house has been a anti-Government function since January.
Thank you, Art. I think some of those Republican House members were anti-US government before Jan. 6, 2021,
Were they moles then? Getting in to sink the ship? Seems they would have been suspected before trouble. 🤷♀️
I remember Heather writing about the McCarthy era ( not the current one) and the Treason Trials and then the Maddow tape she did . Seems like a repeat performance loosely phrased but not much different.
Present day MAGAs want a white supremacy autocracy.
You and this constituency are aware, thanks for pointing this out , do it again and again. Making this format more accessible is the least we can do, I admire the footwork further done and acknowledged. Hopefully more people will hear. More people will read. We are consistent in a loving way to right practices. More are seeing this versus complaining about our lack of screaming 😉😌
Thank you Richard for your own eloquence, and the SO MANY OTHERS.
I just ordered HCR’s new book and will share it like her ‘Letters ‘ .
We are not to be underestimated …either 😉
Peace come to us all🫶
💙💙VOTE💙💙
Heather is amazing and does an outstanding job of summarizing what has happened and why. Without a doubt, the oligarchs and their front pieces, The Federalist Society and the Heritage Foundation, to name only two, effectively propagandize ordinary Americans to vote against their own best social and economic interests, driving them further and further down the income/security pole. For many, their only sources of information (disinformation and misinformation) is Fox, OAN, Alex Jones and Newsmax, which are peddlers of conspiracy theories.
At least from the Reagan years.
Yes, the current Republicans have found a way to shut down the government. McCarthy failed their previous attempts by passing compromise bills so they threw him out. They are finished with democracy because they know they are a minority. Their 4 vote majority is the result of gerrymandering. They are still working for Trump and Trump is working for Putin and Hezbollah.
I would not be surprised to find out that Trump is somehow involved in this attack. The Israeli military is one of the best in the world and they were caught off guard? Very unlikely unless there we’re outside influences.
Jo, I can't get the image of tfg and all those boxes of classified information he had out of my head. What was in them, who saw the documents? He would sell anything to anyone to make a $. Actually he's so stupid he would just give away intelligence not having any idea how valuable and dangerous it was. The attack was planned for 2 years and Israeli intelligence knew nothing? Many pieces to this puzzle are missing.
I think tfg's duplicity preceded his document theft. It started when the 2 Russians Lavrov and Kislyak were in the Oval Office in 2017, and the three goons were all laughing. It was reported soon after that tfg disclosed highly, stress HIGHLY classified info re: Israel to them, and they shared it with Iran, who then shared with Hamas.
Doug, yes that is in my head too. There is no end to tfg's duplicity and danger to our country.
Hi Doug, I think the second man was Ambassador Sergey Kislyak.
TFG sets a new standard on many fronts - malignant narcissism, for one, that makes him completely unable to be empathetic or sympathetic. I have seen animals in the wild show more "humanity" than TFG. He is a hollow carcus.
I think that Putin got some of them - close aids falling out of windows late last summer. Probably info in the 48 missing documents.
There was an interesting article in the NY Times a few days ago analyzing the reasons for the failure of the Israelis to anticipate the attack by Hamas. Partly due to over-reliance on technology, partly due to Hamas's very clever use of low-tech means to defeat Israeli border protections. Trump is quoted as saying Hezbollah is smart. I assume he meant Hamas but doesn't know the difference. People all over the world are smart, including Hamas and Hezbollah, but not wise. Including us.
Here's the link to the NYT article I mentioned in my previous post:
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/10/world/middleeast/israel-gaza-security-failure.html
Oldandintheway, As despicable as I find him, I doubt tfg is working for Hezbollah. I absolutely agree with everything else you said. It's a tiny minority of a slim majority throwing sand in the gears of governance because they can't achieve their goals otherwise.
Trump never forgave Netanyahu for acknowledging that Biden won the election. He wants to hurt him back. That’s Trumps only form of diplomacy, unless someone is paying him
But consider when support goes to Israel and Ukraine is neglected, it only helps Putin.
Tie the two together?
Common thread: Iran’s support of Putin w drones,etc for war in Ukraine & Iran’s support of Hamas & Hezbollah aggression toward Israel
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/truman-israel/
Fern, I went back and found the original statements of the origin of the modern Israel in 1948, sponsored by the US at the UN. The words of formation of Israel are fascinating. I never read them before. They are at the link.
It is interesting that the US, a country that was not founded on a specific religion, like the formation of Israel in 1948 was, but, rather, founded on representation by (some) of the people, regardless of religion.....well.......it is interesting that a religious state (Israel) origin was so fully supported by the US.
I can see better where today's push to form a Christian theocracy, in the US, originated. A little better anyway.
We have precedent for having substantial enthusiasm for theocracy.
Fern, I found this first hand account from inside Gaza on the NY Times. Gift link below
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/12/opinion/gaza-children-war-hamas.html?campaign_id=39&emc=edit_ty_20231014&instance_id=105213&nl=opinion-today®i_id=22580327&segment_id=147344&te=1&user_id=1547d998b69d189a7e483dd231c992ab
Mike S, am I correct in believing that you 'like' your comment and click that function before
posting? You may not be alone in that practice. My question is a matter of curiosity - has my observation been correct?
Your point about theocracy as connected to what you learned about the origin of Israel is critical. Zionism is connected to theocracy as it was the aspiration for a Jewish state. Your interest in learning may benefit from knowing a bit more about Zionism. Britannica via Google and or Wikipedia would be a start concerning the history of Zionism or sufficient.
PS The support of the formation of Israel was not exclusively by the US. The foremost support for the country has to do with Holocaust and the persecution of Jews for centuries.
Cheers!
Fern,
I don't think it is possible to click "like" "before posting". At any rate, if it is possible, I am unaware of how and, hence, don't do it because of that lack of awareness.
Good idea about learning more. Working on it!
Please be careful of your sources for the founding of Israel. There is so much bias , such as the idea that Israel is a theocracy. Judaism is a culture and nationality as much as it is a belief system. Your 43ference to US help is based on the fact that Truman was the first national leader to recognize the State of Israel. You have to go back to the turn of the century and the development of the idea of Zionism as a homeland for Jews as well as a very complex division of the Middle East after WW1 by the French and British that allowed the British to set up a mandate over what was known as Palestine since Roman times. Lord Balfour got the League of Nations to pass "The Balfour Declaration" that partitioned the land between Arabs and Jews with the Jordan River as boundary and East Jerusalem as the new country of Jordan. Britain left the mandate in 1947 giving all of their material and security buildings to the Arabs. Isreal declared statehood in 1948 as a democracy with political parties. Israel is not based on religion and there are many types of Jews such as the 700,000 Jews kicked out of Arab nations in 1950 and the Ultra-Orthodox who do not believe in Israel's right to exist and who have lived in Jerusalem for thousands of years. Arab nations declared warbon Israel three times. The 1967 war saw Israel regain the old city that Jordan held as well as the West Bank. The 1973 war won by Israel was similar to what just happened; with Egypt and Jordan attacking Israel without provocation.
Do not depend on Wikipedia for your information. There are non-biased sources about the founding of Israel and the development of the idea of Palestinians by Yasser Arafat in 1964. It's very complicated. And Israel is Not a theocracy and Zionism is not a religion but the aspirations of a people without a home whose origins was Israel.
Try Lucy Davidson, Thomas Friedman's From Beirut to Jerusalem or Jeffrey Goldberg. Do not trust reporting from either the New York Times or Washington Post.
Thank you Rita for the the prior 1948 history of Israel. It's often left out deliberately by people that know better, but choose to characterize Israel as a usurper of Palestinian land. Not only has Israel fought 3 or 4 major wars, add 14 major skirmishes between the Palestinians and Israelis. Mention should be made of the land purchases made by Jewish organizations and private individuals beginning in the 1850's and became a major effort during the Mandate period. By 1948, 1/10 of the country of Palestine was under under Jewish ownership. 70,000 hectares about 300,00.acres were purchased. The rest of the country belonged to the Arabs.
I am almost through reading a book I was introduced to on c-span.
"THE LAST MILLION
Europe’s Displaced Persons From World War to Cold War"
By David Nasaw
All the nationalities that had to go somewhere when the war was over....stuck in Germany in US and British run facilities....some did NOT want to go back to their less than desirable homeland, and: what to do with the Jews. Brilliant reading and for this current situation another piece of the puzzle. Listen to the author on c-span....
book review on the NYTimes: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/15/books/review/the-last-million-david-nasaw.html
And my daughter reminded me that we need to read Exodus again.
Of course, you are right about not being able to click 'like' before posting your comment; it would be clicking soon after you post. How's that? Any comment about how that practice is familiar to you?
Fern,
I went away and read about Zionism. I think I understand better and better.
So, for example, I have now invented a new movement, let us call it, Mikeism.
Mikeism is a movement to move back to East Texas with all my friends who think like I do. If they don't think like I do, forget it, they cannot move back with me. If they do though, they are IN!
Now, once I arrive in East Texas, with all my like minded Mikeism folks, to settle there, I don't sweat the fact that other people are already living there as well. I just get some bulldozers and the US Army and move them off their land and give the land to my own friends and followers of Mikeism.
Now, this aggravates those that I forcibly removed and dang it, they don't like me now and once in a while those buggers come and try to get some of their land back.
However, I made an ally with one of the largest weapons manufacturers in the world, so, when people come to try to get the land back, well, it does not work out too well for them.
How am I doing Fern?
Sounds like Native Americans
You are so off base historically that it is ridiculous. Jews bought the land from absentee landlords-- wealthy Arabs and Ottoman Empire grandees. They owned and improved that land and included those Arabs who wished citizenship when they declared statehood. Yes, during the resulting war of 1948, some villages were overrun but most Arabs were told to leave for what was promised to be a short time by the owners of their tenant farms-- Arabs. Subsequently, those Arabs who left were never absorbed into any surrounding Arab nations but still languish in camps. The terrorist movements have declared their purpose to kill all the Jews between the Mediterranean and the Jordan River. Sort of like Chivington's 1868 declaration that the only good Indian is a dead Indian.
But Mike, were you and your friends herded into camps and murdered, and hated by your neighbours?
It is good that you have begun to learn about the serious issues between the Palestinians and Israel. Personalizing such turmoil may be common; making yourself the dictator of East Texas was amusing and not surprising. Would you be worse than governor Abbott?
I thought about your plan to move to Greece when reading about the wildfires there and the indifference or worse of its government concerning the lives of migrants on ships seeking safety. 'Greece’s parliamentary democracy features vigorous competition between political parties and a strong if imperfect record of upholding civil liberties. Ongoing concerns include corruption, discrimination against immigrants and minority groups, and poor conditions for irregular migrants and asylum seekers.' (Freedom House) So, is it Greece or 'Mikeism' for you?
That is the clearest explanation I've heard - and as I remember reading about it - thats what happened!
Pretty close to the colonialism that the US & other countries have practiced for hundreds or more years!
LOL
Israel was not founded as a theocracy, but as a democracy that is a homeland for Jews—the relevance of the latter being more apparent now than at any time since the nation’s creation. (If Israel was founded as a theocracy, then so is the UK.) There are now elements in Israel that would like to see a theocracy, and they have got much of their impetus from the extremists on the other side.
US support for the foundation of Israel involved a lot of raw politics around the issues of immigration, xenophobia, and anti-semitism.
I have always seen guilt as the motivating force for the US and Europe supporting the creation of Israel. Guilt because the US and Europe not only stood by and allowed Hitler to kill Six Million people, they actively prevented their escape from Hitler's concentration camps. In fact, the US built our own concentration camps to remove anyone of Japanese ancestry from the west coast. No, they didn't gas people, but they certainly didn't provide a healthful environment in the camps.
Uhhhh, "actively stood by and prevented their escape....."????
Yes. The US and other countries turned away ships full of refugees.
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/us-government-turned-away-thousands-jewish-refugees-fearing-they-were-nazi-spies-180957324/
So Mike, to be clear Israel was formed because no other country wanted to take in the Jews ( including the USA) This was not an "inclination toward theocracy"
It was offering a desert to people who were not wanted anywhere, from a world that was trying to make reparation for the callous disregard when the Jews knocked on their door and they slammed it shut. If you watch ken Burns documentary on the treatment by the US government of the Jews trying to escape during WWII you will see that Christian Theocracy has nothing in common with the founding of Israel. Nothing
May I also add a desert and a swamp. Arab Sheiks were only too happy to sell to the highest bidder. Jewish organizations that purchased this land, over 300,000 acres still hold the deeds.
And thank you Fran, for getting the ball rolling here. I am astounded, although I shouldn't be, at the mess that the Rs have created in the House. I read a long article in the Atlantic yesterday about how Israel is walking into a trap and Hamas and any entity who backs it, must be happy. Meanwhile, I have a friend here who has been at a loss of what to say to a Jewish friend. I have an ex-student who spent some time in Israel at a kibbutz and she wants to talk. She also was married to a Jewish man and her children were raised in that faith. I don't know if she has any sympathy for Palestinians although I do for the ordinary people in Gaza who are caught in this and being used as shields and pawns and also those in Israel who have been mistreated to put it mildly. I notice too that Egypt is not allowing any of them to come there. When I think about the history of that area, I just want to cry.
Agreed, Michele. And one of the reasons I cry is the hubris of the western world to think that they could assuage their guilt over the Holocaust by giving the Jewish people a nation in an area that was already occupied by another culture, and one which is antagonistic to Judaism.
Islam and Judaism have a lot in common. It's too bad that they became enemies along the way. I blame, among others, the British who had the Palestinian Mandate after WWI and showed both sides how to be totally violent and repressive. Gaza exists because Palestinians left on the creation of Israel. Notice that none of their Arab Muslim neighbors wanted to take them and that is still the case. Gaza has been a simmering mess from the get go. It is the perfect place for some entity like Hamas to fester. And hubris is an excellent word to describe the West's attitude toward so many other parts of the world. Hubris, of course, comes with a cost, as the gods punish it eventually. So, we can only helplessly watch for the most part. Here the R party of death only adds to the dangers.
Well said Michele! The British never expected the Israelis to win the 1948 war.
I do not have the foresight to describe the upcoming invasion as a “trap”. I have found that to have become a popular word in the past couple of days and I’m always suspicious of quick takes in anything so mortally complicated as the Middle East.
Maybe it is. Maybe an incursion will deal a grave wound to Israel. It will certainly rip Gaza apart and leave a humanitarian crisis of severe dimensions.
But surely Israel’s leaders are considering every aspect of this before going in. It doesn’t take too much imagination to see them getting bogged down in a two or three front war with no easy exit. In that case they will have made a serious misjudgment as to how deep they penetrated into Gaza. That’s not a trap necessarily if both sides are aware of the possibility.
It feels to me like a quandary for Israel. At the bottom of the tragedy they suffered last weekend lies the humiliation of having been so completely taken by surprise. No nation could accept that and not react. The question, a fiendishly difficult one, is how to répond proportionately. Too little and Israel’s enemies will be emboldened as they have not been in decades. Too much and they will pay the price of becoming a pariah nation. On top of that it will become increasingly hard to get out.
But this is clearly not a great moment for Hamas. One expression I did think was sensible coming out of the millions of words spilled on this terrible situation was “catastrophic success”. Hamas had far more limited objectives I would guess. The magnitude of Israel’s security failure was immense and so Hamas took full advantage.
Now they are faced with an attack on whatever scale Israel chooses to respond. Their leaders have a death sentence. Perhaps they can hide. Perhaps some are out of Gaza. Their calculations include what to do with their hostages (a few of whom are undoubtedly dead already). They have to believe that their days of ruling Gaza are numbered and that number is not especially high. And it’s hard not to believe that some Palestinians, perhaps a majority, hate Hamas and Israel with equal passion.
Years of far right excesses by Israel, intifadas by Palestinians, and growing indifference in the big Middle East players have led the region to this point. The moral turpitude is impossible to calculate with any accuracy. Any grievance by one side can be one-upped by the other. The next few weeks will be a horror show. But years of hatred and hard men have brought this moment into being. And this moment will bring immeasurable grief.
For the United States to have a non-functioning government at this time is inexcusable. It has long since become an unserious country led by Republicans who count their clicks on social media as the only definition of success. The lack of a Speaker is not rock bottom for this sorry excuse of a party, but it is getting damn close. Bring it on.
Eric, you have written a great summary of the stakes both parties face. What I believe you have left out in your post is the elephant in the room. Hamas is not calling the shots. Hamas is just a proxy for Iran. Their goal is and has always been to drive Israel into the see. Their partner in this effort is Russia, although Russia's aim is to distract the US from the Ukraine war. Iran may have gone too far. Biden has already warned them to not get involved.
Israel walked into a trap? Only if you mean that it will do so if it allows itself to get bogged down in urban warfare. Remember who started this latest round, with multiple crimes against humanity.
Jon, here's a quote from Thomas Friedman's Oct 10 piece in the NYT: "I hope the president is asking Israel to ask itself this question as it considers what to do next in Gaza: What do my worst enemies want me to do — and how can I do just the opposite?" It is in that sense that Israel has walked into a trap set by Hamas.
This is gifted: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/10/opinion/israel-hamas-.html?unlocked_article_code=T6D4X7kup9rCLKL35CI_dPrTOaSuFRHDdo6kv4o3QrQzGZ7YpakdVN6vWReRigxusM8AG88AASZQs-FlDIBbgFAB4JbykXhk01xiTd-aV6P2z0ZG9pRrETqLIdoGiEkMXcGxSWbTaNWp0HKpQTjua3uXIco-nJQeq3xVQLuGcs8rPr0XFX7YOkRHAq7_bwlttBaihORTgUEHB3ul1b6p4XavTFuuwmnF4TbkHgzIgPEKt0cArIg5MuSvbbDfznAbfN5PLVu-w0MkmrCDhNl4nXCXm1u0OS6Rf3b41qDHib62O21ufZr1GjSRrk1J1k3ROIF6NlwKIw&smid=url-share
My opinion of Hamas before, during and after their massacre in Israel is as negative as it can be. As to the latest round, we have not arrived together at the 'round' or its starting point. I do not accept the way you have framed the conflict between the Palestinians and Israel.
So you think they should be wiped off the earth?
Jo, you read into my comment about 'negatively' the most dire of consequences. I do not practice such extremism nor read it into others' words. You do not know what I would want to happen to members of Hamas who took part in the attacks on Israelis, let alone others who did not but belong to Hamas.
I don’t assume anything that’s why I seek clarification. I’ve seen too many posts of people wanting Israel to “level”Gaza. This is a long and complicated conflict and Israel certainly has done its share of war crimes. I don’t condone the actions of Hama in any way but it’s very likely that many Palestinians do not either. There are many innocent lives on both sides and should be treated with equal dignity. Treat people like animals, they behave like animals.
“There are many innocent lives on both sides” reminded me of tfg saying “There are very fine people on both sides”. Both good and evil people are basically saying the same thing.
You did not ask to seek clarification, instead you absolutely did issue a charge/assumption. Then you went on to tell me about the nature of the conflicts between the Palestinians and Israel. Your communication was nasty, uninformed, and I wondered whether, in addition, the result of misplaced anger, a lack of self-awareness or a language deficit.
I came up with two slogans if Republican leaders would like to use them:
DEFUND OUR DEMOCRACY
Or
VACATE + OBSTRUCT THE FREE WORLD
Don’t you think that the House’s negligence is signaling to China: “This is a great time to move on Taiwan!” ?
Fern et al,
I have come to admire how much history many of you know already, and I'm grateful for suggestions and opinions. Now I want to ask you what you think of this message from trauma expert Dr. Gabor Mate about the Israel/Palestine tragedy (see youtube link below). He is a Holocaust survivor, born in Budapest in 1944. His grandparents were killed in Auschwitz, his father was forced to do hard labor for the Nazi's and he lost other relatives. This is his take on the Israel/Palestine crisis and his understanding of the history behind what happened last week. I ask you this because it is deeply troubling from a humanitarian view, and therefore makes me question if the morally right stance for the US to take is more complex than what we are hearing.
This is a quote from an article about Dr. Mate in the Guardian (see link below), and it refers to his views on Israel and what they cost him in his family. "His maternal grandfather had been a Zionist leader and “to have actually looked at the reality that I was looking at would have meant a betrayal of her father who died in Auschwitz. So I understood that.” His father kicked him out of the house at first and then came to agree with him.
I hope some of you will have the time to respond. Thank you!
https://youtu.be/N6_GDDa4bmI?si=nLkTZmTUSvrATHXM
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/apr/12/the-trauma-doctor-gabor-mate-on-happiness-hope-and-how-to-heal-our-deepest-wounds
Chaplain, may I suggest in the future, if wish to reach subscribers, post as you normally do to comment in the early morning between 4:30 to 6:30 AM, so that you reach a good number of readers in an open way, not specifically addressed to one person. You may wish to that with this post in the very near future as the subject may come up again in the Letter.
Fern, thank you for the suggestion about timing. Ever since my heart surgery, I've had to take each day as I'm able, so I sometimes don't get to Heather's letter until later. I don't think I've ever commented between 4:30 and 6:30 AM, but I get why that would be a good idea! I think I'm finally understanding your first email. I think you're saying that it wasn't appropriate to put that broad of a request into a response to one person, and that it would be more appropriate as a separate comment. Thank you for your suggestion to repost. I will do that as a comment to the next letter from Heather that mentions the Israel/Hamas conflict. Thanks for your thoughtful comments.
I'm reading it. Many subscribers , as I do, read way down the line....one way to get it further up is to attach it to an appropriate comment at the top. If he comments separately it goes to the bottom. I attached my recommendation to the book The Last Million to the most liked comment.
Chaplain Terry Nicholetti, thank you for your post. I have received it twice. Have you sent it separately to many of LFAA's subscribers who participate in the forum? I asked this question as my name is the only one you used. These questions reflect my hesitancy to agree to your request. One more question, did you simply post this with the hope that those interested would stop and respond? In addition, you posted this late in the day, when the vast majority of subscribers had read HCR's letter, came to the forum and left hours ago. I believe your intentions were caring, but your methods raised questions. With that, I will say goodbye and wish you well.
Fern, I'm so sorry - I'm not sure what you mean by "received it twice," unless you mean an email notification? I had left something out and I couldn't find it when I went to edit it, so I did it over. When I posted the revised one, the first one appeared as well so I deleted it. If that's what you mean, I didn't know the notices went out so fast!
Also I addressed it to "Fern et al" because there were several others on the thread responding to your comment. I apologize for any discomfort that caused.
As to the time I posted, I had just finished watching Dr. Mate's video and I was deeply troubled. I really wanted to reach out to folks who I thought would have a reasoned and knowledgeable response. I hope this addresses your concerns, and again I apologize.
I don't think you should worry too much about your timing, as I'm just now reading this LFAA after having read the next one first (so yes, in reverse order).
Also Substack is weird in how hard it can be to find and edit one's own post, and especially after an edit, the edited post seems to temporarily disappear. Carry on.
...very hard to find one's own post in order to edit. You have to wait for someone to like it,
Thank you for your story - that is encouraging! And I will.
Dear Fern M and others, i am wondering if among the classified documents trump mishandled, if perhaps he gave Putin secret information about Israel’s military weaknesses. Possible scenario: Putin shares it with Iran; Iran helps Hamas; USA has less bandwidth to assist Ukraine.
We need 5+ moderate GOP US Representatives to form a coalition with Minority Leader Jeffries to elect a Speaker of the House so that urgent legislation can be passed. These GOP US Representatives will need to have the moral clarity and backbone of Liz Cheney as they will quickly draw fire from Trump and his allies.
Beautifully succinct distillation Fern - even flavor included. Brava !
Liz Cheney is right, though the Republican Party has already and repeatedly abandoned the Constitution which their poster boy claims not to support. Making Jordan Speaker would only underline that abandonment in that respect, though it could potentially throw an even more disruptive monkey wrench into the functioning of US society.
I don’t understand how they can take an oath and then go against that oath. That should be grounds for removal.
Any elected official who, by their actions or statements, opposes the government, despite taking an oath to uphold the Constitution, should be swiftly removed from office and disqualified from holding such a position. The underlying principle is that individuals running for office should not be anti the government they have committed to serve and protect through their oath to the Constitution.
Then let’s roll up our sleeves and make it happen! There are about 15 of them aren’t there? Who can accomplish that? We cannot afford to sleep through this or when we wake up our Democracy will be gone and a fascist oligarch will be in power.
The people of Germany were trusting the lies until it was too late. Let’s not repeat history. Let’s learn from it.
Let’s ALL CALL!
(Hey, much easier than battling at war. If we don’t pick up the phone we could be talking Russian in a few years).
I am hoping that some states can remove trump from the presidential ballots. Imagine the loss of electoral votes!
It takes 2/3 of membership, following a full investigation, to expel a member of either house. In history, only 20 (15 senators, 5 Reps) have been expelled, and only 2 since 1861.
An oath is just some words they have to read out loud to get into the room. There is no need to understand or honor them
And that lack of honor is precisely why they should be voted out. How can anyone who renegs on a sworn promise ever be trusted.
Laurie, EXACTLY why the Republicans can find no-one to lead them whom all of them can trust! So many of them have abandoned all sense of honor or reliability or simple honesty that they have become utterly untrustworthy especially amongst themselves. Just as we have learned to recognize what they are likely doing by what they accuse others of doing they have now begun applying that principle to themselves.
The expression "no honor among thieves" coms to mind.
Their voters don’t care about trust, they care about forceful Bullyism
I’m still trying to understand the root of that admiration
Anger and fear when their collective amygdalae are tickled to give them a adrenaline boost. A fundamental belief that they are the chosen Americans, and anyone who is not white, male, cisgendered, heterosexual, Christian is going to get the same benefits of citizenship they assume is their "god given" right to be at the top of the heap.
As long as someone is bullying for their perceived risk, they are all for it.
Seems to be the MO
We see that on tv every Thursday night and all weekend.
The antics, anger outbursts, and un civilized behavior we see in the NFL and college football just astounds me. And the millions that are spent every week. What if the NFL donated 10% of that to education , or feeding our children. But I live in Texas where our "representatives think receiving funds most of us label as bribes is their right, closing libraries and shackling women are a return to family values..
That’s why an informed electorate is important. Have you ever listened to MAGATs talk?
Yes. Many of them speak very well from their well researched positions based on the information they get from Prager U, Faux Noise, the other offshoot RWNJ newscasts. They get stuck when you confront them with facts of what is happening and they get mad, stutter, and bloviate.
Kinda like chess with a pigeon. If things don't go their way, they flap, poop on the board, knock the pieces away, and say they won.
"If things don't go their way, they flap, poop on the board, knock the pieces away, and say they won."
Gosh, does that describe any particular group of people we know of?
Then what is the purpose? Maybe it’s time to start enforcing it.
Back when Honor held value, an oath was a reflection of Character. Trump proved Honor no longer held value
The sad, infuriating truth
He also proved Shame has no value either. To lack both is why we are where we are today, and exemplified by many Rs, most recently (again) George Santos, but also by Robert Menendez.
Honest and Honorable folks have no leverage except when the cretans break laws and are prosecuted
We're becoming a country of hypocrites!
Becoming?
Not in his personal life either.
Exactly, Marlo. These clowns took an oath to uphold the laws of the Constitution and if this land. They have, and continue to, violate this oath. They should be immediately expelled from office.
An oath means nothing to them, because they have no belief in anything besides self-interest.
Using their Word of the Week, an oath to them is *fungible*.
Exactly, Ally!
These clowns grew up, like most of us, making an oath to a flag every day in school. Instead of extrapolating that that was a false, compelled oath, they extrapolated that no oath is worth anything.
The Pledge of Allegiance is not making an oath to a flag and it was not “false” I gave it no more thought than what I learned in religious instruction in my local church. It was something that all us kids participated in because it was the way it was back then. I hardly think that repetition gave way to extrapolating that no oath is worth anything. These Representatives in Congress, all adults, all who did not respect their oath to the Constitution, who refused Congressional subpoenas, who deny certified election results to this day are ineligible to be Speaker of the House - Ever !!!
And yet the powers that be will step right over that.
I think the oath they take in the House of Representatives is not just “lip service”as some distracted kid reciting the pledge of allegiance. There is no comparison.
The Representatives take an oath that they will abide by our constitution. It is a serious, solemn action. They should be held accountable if they do not follow it.
How juvenile to say we’re going to shut down the government if we don’t get our way.
Or we won’t allow over 500 promotions in our military which is CRUCIAL for the security of our country, if we don’t get our way.
Or like Manchin was the ONLY vote that refused to vote for Biden’s Build Back Better Bill which had climate change,
Infrastructure, & lots of great things. Guess what. Manchin was in the coal business - a conflict of interest. And he reversed his vote at the last minute. He is no Democrat & shouldn’t be in that seat.
THAT is NOT putting the country’s interest first.
That's my point. In this country and society, we have cheapened the meaning of an oath. The rote repetition required of children is part of that.
Not at all ! By rote we learn to read to conquer math and to make associations as we grow. First the flag,,then history lessons on how the United States was founded growing in complexity with every grade. Then singing the Star Spangled Banner at school and at sporting events and watching war movies and hearing adults talk about this country and Voila ! Patriotism !
Carol and Jim. I took this oath when I had a badge pinned on my chest, to protect and defend the Constitution, and the laws of the state. No place in that oath did it say I could turn my back on anything, follow the actions, or words, of anyone who wanted to destroy our Constitution or Democracy. I wore that badge and the firefighting badge, which I also had to take the same oath to wear, for over 26 years! Not I’ve did u ever go against it to try anything like these clowns 🤡 are doing! My chief(s) would have thrown me out by my short hairs!
Not a religious person at all- but we had to say the Lord's Prayer every day in school and the Pledge along with singing America the Beautiful or some such patriotic song. At some point, all of this was removed because of complaints. The prayer because of religion I get because we are all different, but why the pledge? We ALL have that in common. If not, move back from where you came.
I think when that was taken away a bit of patriotism was also taken away, Look at the people in the stands at a ball game. How many know the words to the Star Spangled Banner? How many have forgotten the Pledge?
Karen, I quit saying the words "Under God" during the pledge when I was in third grade. I also add "for the majority of the people who can pay for it" at the end, because there is no "liberty and justice for all." I can understand the reasoning behind not having the pledge recited every day.
As for the National Anthem: Our NA (The Star Spangled Banner) is sung as the first verse that Francis Scott Key wrote during a battle in the "War of 1812"*. The third verse of that poem is this: "And where is that band who so vauntingly swore,
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion
A home and a Country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash'd out their foul footstep's pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave,
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave."
Going further with proper flag etiquette, that is never taught anywhere except in arenas where presentation is a sacred honor (personal experience here is Honor Guard and in watching public military ceremonies). It mandates certain things, such as order of display, proper care, prohibitions on certain uses of the flag, and the like.
I know that the many, many displays that I see of the National Colors violate some of the major prohibitions. Most of these I see on the backs of or in the beds of massive pick-up trucks; they are frequently torn and tattered, not illuminated at night, and occasionally displayed on the right of the vehicle, with a Gadsden or Confederate Battle flag occupying the prescribed position to the left for the National Colors.
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/4/8#:~:text=The%20flag%20should%20never%20be%20carried%20flat%20or%20horizontally%2C%20but,always%20allowed%20to%20fall%20free.
Ally,
We should rewrite the pledge to be inclusive. You are a citizen who contributes to the good of this country and to its freedoms!!!
I am a Christian, not because someone told me I would not be included or that "I was "going to hell " or that I could not participate in an event or activity or not be invited to their party. My faith is personal. Along with the love I have received through my faith , I have a duty to work at loving others as I have been loved.....not because of any goodness I have but because of the tenets of my faith. As an American and a person of faith, how do we treat those who have given their lives in our fight for freedom, "Oh, this one is not a Christian...his/her life in battle for freedom doesn't really count!!!!
If persons choose to be part of a faith group it should be their choice or not! All Americans should be included within any pledge to lay down their lives for freedom...and that includes "freedom of worship or freedom not to worship!" The government does not own our soul!
I really have no tolerance for fakes. This is the USA....no one should be forced to be told they are required to have a faith if it is their choice not to. In my opinion, there are too many fake Christians! People just being used for political reasons....people just going along with the crowd!!!
The word "should" is doing a lot of work here. They can only be expelled from their conference. If it didn't happen after Jan 6, when how many -- 173? Repubs refused to accept the results of a legitimate election, when several supported the insurrectionists, no chance in hell it will now, so let's get real.
I fully understand, Doug. But, I’m going to raise tough hell with these clowns 🤡 they are going to get tired of hearing me.
One wonders how they can, in any conscience, mouth the words.
I couldn’t in good conscience even go into the chamber if that Oath I took meant nothing to. E. It’s totally “Un-American”!
It is!!! That it isn’t applied is the question....justice ? Is it a joke?
This has been effectively a government shutdown without the loss of jobs and paychecks that would hurt their base…who don’t seem to care that Generals aren’t getting promoted or that laws are not being passed. They think there are too many laws. These extremists are getting exactly what they want with this stupid and dangerous stunt. To make our Democracy look unworkable/dysfunctional… to have their Strong Man waiting in the wings ready to swoop in (from court? Prison?) This has become their platform.
Am I giving them too much credit for forethought? I just can’t come up with another explanation.
You are so right!
If you take an oath as an ordinary citizen in a court of law and then decide to break it, you could end up in the pokey.
An oath is sacred. And don’t they have to raise their right hand in front of a judge and SWEAR they will be true to their oath?
In a court of law it is considered perjury if they don’t follow the oath to “tell the truth, the whole truth & nothing but the truth”.
In terms of official communication, we can be prosecuted for lying to our government but they get a pass when they lie to us. That does not seem to sit well with of, by and for the people. Now that Trump is lying to judges, we shall see.
Hypocritical don't you think?
J L, The good news is that the highly influential traditional Republican Don Bacon (NE), aside from voicing support for a cross-party mutually agreeable Republican alternative for Speaker, also has convincingly challenged the constitutionality of giving more power to Speaker Pro Tempore McHenry. Hence, unless either McCarthy or Jordan can cobble together 217 votes (which I highly doubt), Bacon’s call for a consensus traditional Republican Speaker, whose respect for governance and a normally functioning, problem-solving legislature would help to restore regular order, could gain traction.
Jerry Weiss who writes Feathers of Hope has mentioned 3 traditional House Republicans he claims would effectively restore normal order in Congress. They are Don Bacon (NE), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA), Robert Reich’s favorite, and Mike Gallagher (WI). Other traditional Republicans Jerry advises we phone to amplify Bacon’s call for a consensus Republican Speaker include: David Joyce (OH), John Curtis (UT), Ashley Hinson (IA), Andrew Garbarino (NY), Dan Newhouse (WA), and David Valadao (CA).
While I apologize for not having time to include D.C. and local phone numbers, I do thank everyone who reads this post and makes calls.
I called Bacon and others encouraging them to vote for Hakeem Jeffries. He only needs 5-6 Republican votes. I will call the others you suggest. Thank you for helping save our Democracy.
Bacon (NE)
202) 225-4155
Fitzpatrick (PA)
(202) 225-4276
Gallagher (WI)
202) 225-5665
Joyce (OH)
202) 225-5731
Curtis (UT)
202) 225-7751
Newhouse (WA)
(202) 225-5816
Hinson (IA)
(202) 225-2911
Garbarino (NY)
(202) 225-7896
Valadao
202) 225-4695
There were 14 Republican-held U.S. House districts up for election in 2022 that Joe Biden (D) won in the 2020 presidential election. Incumbents sought re-election
in 10 of those districts.
(I can’t find the phone numbers for some)
David Schweikert
Arizona (202) 225-2190
David Valadao California (202) 225-4695
Mike Garcia
California (202) 225-1956
Young Kim
California 202) 225-4111
Michelle Steele
California (202) 225-2415
Peter Meijer
Michigan
Don Bacon
Nebraska. 202) 225-4155
Yvette Herrell
New Mexico.
Steve Chabot
Ohio
Brian Fitzpatrick
Pennsylvania
Or consider having Ken Buck as Speaker who believes Biden won the election.
(202) 225-4676
Have YOU called?
Marlo, While House Democrats are receptive, It will take an extraordinary effort to get traditional House Republicans to join with Democrats to agree upon a consensus Republican candidate for Speaker, one who will restore regular order to the House. The idea that any Republican would vote for Jeffries is unthinkable. Please trust me; I’ve been on this since January.
It’s worth a try. This is a crisis. I think they realize something needs to get done. Shutting down the government to appease their tantrums is seen as children unable to govern.
Marlo, As someone who has been on this project since January, I can assure you that Jeffries won’t get a single Republican vote, and he and virtually every House Democrat knows that. Hence, Dems are offering themselves to join with Republicans to support a Republican candidate, who owes nothing to MAGA, and who has signaled a willingness to work with like-minded people across the aisle.
As they should! If these republicans can’t get their act together, server a “decent” candidate for Speaker of the House, then the Democrats need to keep supporting Jeffries for the job.
It’s exactly what Trumputin wants! His line of thinking is this:
If the government shuts down, he will start his campaign that the government shutdown is all the Democrats, and President Biden’s fault. He’ll start a huge fund raising campaign on that, too.
Jim Jordan is in his back pocket, and has been doing his bidding right from the beginning. Look at what’s been going on since January 20th when they were given the gavel (by our stupidity and mistake). All he’s done is having unwarranted hearings in Hunter Biden’s laptop, trying to impeach President Biden, and the entire 10 months has had no evidence if any kind on anything show up. Nothing. Witness after witness has told him, his hearing label, they are wasting their time because there’s no evidence of wrongdoing there.
What’s going to happen if he gets that gavel? Jordan will be the #3 in line for the presidency. What do you think will happen?
Exactly! Jordan is an ineffective crazy person. Adam Kinzinger said as much in his Substack.com article.
He hasn’t put through one bill since he’s been in Congress in SIXTEEN YEARS!
That should tell you something. Plus, participation in the planning of the January 6th insurrection & then getting a medal for for it days later!!
He has got to go. If he won’t resign, our DOJ should press charges for ignoring the sex scandal that took place under his nose
Hope springs eternal….after all someone actually won the Powerball Lotto the other day….so maybe the nation will get lucky! And, yeah, I know the chances are slim to none….just like the Lotto….sigh.
Barbara, Why go for a plan whose “chances are slim to none,” when I have offered up a plan a team has worked on for 10 months to restore normal order in Congress that has a real shot at succeeding?
Barbara, simply put. This House of Representatives doesn’t have one single person:
A. Worthy.
B. Capable.
C. Knowledgeable.
D. All the above,
to take the gavel and be a respectable, decent, worthy, Speaker of the House.
Daniel, I presume you are referring to Republicans and, respectfully, I disagree. In my original comment, I listed 3, whom Jerry Weiss and his team, after 10 months on this project, determined would restore regular order to the House. In a time of crisis, I view a traditional Republican suitable for the Speakership who has signaled respect for governance and a normally functioning, problem-solving legislature. Jerry has offered 3, one of whom is being advanced by Robert Reich as we speak. That House member is Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA).
Fitzpatrick might be the one, and only one, whom might be able to bring some normality to the House, hurt the next 14 months. BUT, Barbara, this won’t happen. Trumputin will never allow him the gavel. Trumputin’s crew, currently running the Republican caucus of the House of Representatives wouldn’t allow him the gavel, let alone getting anything done the next 14 months.
The House of Representatives is doomed to failure, and doomed to bring this country to its knees, to the absolute brink of disaster. Then, the blame game will start. This will be all Biden’s, and the democrats fault. It will be a media blitz, and you’ll see Trumputin all across the country in all kinds of speeches busing the democrats and Biden.
It’s what he dues, and he has enough of the Republican caucus in his pocket to stop everything in its tracks, since we, the people, gave them the majority.
In the past when I have tried to call as a non constituent, I have been turned down. Is that still the case?
They talk to non-constituents more than they talk to constituents. Years ago, I was representing an organic pesticide company that needed help, so we turned to Congress. I quickly discovered the lobbyist scheme. It was pure pay-to-play. They wanted to know how much we would contribute and then they'd set up a meeting. They had ZERO interest in helping the environment or making the world a better place. They needed to see a check first.
Of course, they would talk to constituents without forcing them to contribute, but that doesn't generate income, so guess who gets priority.
Always remember that the Number One priority of every member of the U.S. House is to raise money for re-election.
Ron, I find it difficult to "Like" something which accurately describes such a deplorable state of affairs! Citizens United INDEED! HAH!
Yup, EXCELLENT POINT REITERATED! And this TOO needs revamped. ( amongst the many) money is a leading root to evil as has been declared by the many.
Equality. In races, in pocketbooks, in competitions ( healthy and honest) in food consumption, in ....in...why is this so hard to enforce?
Greed?
Carole, On this one issue, I have been calling House Republicans for months, and staffers have been listening attentively and assuring me they would pass my message to the Congressperson. If you say you are phoning to rally House Republicans around Rep Don Bacon’s (R-NE) call to join with Democrats to find a House Speaker, I expect you will get a hearing. The alternative, though not as effective, is to call after hours and leave a voice mail message.
Rosendale of MT phone people have turned me down & in ID too. I will give it another go!!
Carole, Feel free to use any of my text to get and hold the staffer’s attention.
If you leave a message. I called after hours. Probably a recording on the weekend. Wait until message instructions tell you to “press 2” to send URGENT before hanging up. Don’t hang up before or they might not get the message.
Yes.
That is my experience as well & posting on a legislator’s official website is generally not accepted unless you are a constituent (usually defined by Zip Code). A physical letter/card…dunno if they tally them or if it’s straight to the waste bin.
It is a recording after hours. Type up what you want to say. Be polite. Encourage them to vote for Hakeem who only needs 5-6 votes. He will win and then business can continue. Remind them voting is anonymous.
I was expressly told by Rep. Dingell's aide in DC that they require ZIP codes for all recorded comments. He is very kind; I have called him often lately ;-) There is no value in calling federal legislators who do not represent you, that is what I learned. Maybe spend that time postcarding actual voters instead?
That is a strategy too, a PC & like you I wonder what happens to it. With calls, letters PC, the critters have no accountability as to what happens to them. Freedom of information act does not apply I have been told. If there was public knowledge of the tally I wonder what it would show?
If you have a VPN connection you might try faking your location (even connecting through a server in their state if you can find one). Lie about your zip code and being a constituent; it's a little white one in the grand scheme of things. And who are these people anyway to exclude input from all but their partisan flock - It's OUR country and their party is trashing it! I don't know if this will work, but might be worth a try.
It’s an answering machine. You don’t have to give your name, address, phone #. Just start talking.
I remind them it is for our country, the vote is anonymous, Hakeem only needs 5-6 republican votes to win, I point out how ineffective & chaotic Jordan has been & would shut down our government- he is Trump’s puppet. And he was involved in planning the insurrection, receiving a Medal of Honor for it! (Though the reason wasn’t mentioned…but it was 5 days later).
As voting citizens in all these United States of America, we must use these pieces of information to share the best ideas of “Feathers of Hope” to assure that a responsible adult who believes in Democracy and the people’s right to vote is elected (there are limits to the impact we might have in contacting legislators but we must use any resources available to us to STOP ELECTION DENIER GYM JORDAN ). I called the House switchboard and explained who I was and my intent to offer citizen support to Dan Bacon and was instructed to reach out to the office of Hakeem Jeffries.
That effort failed in that the call was lost in transfer but I will reach out to the direct numbers for both Dan Bacon and Hakeem Jeffries. Best of luck to all here; whom I refer to as citizen activists. ❤️🇺🇸🕊️
Thank You Marlo!
You’re welcome! Trying to help what little I can.
I don’t know House procedures, but how would Jeffries even be nominated? There would have to be a brave republican willing to lose his seat to do that, and the rest would be afraid of a public vote. Maybe there are still some patriots in the batcrwp Republican Party, but they seem afraid to stick their heads up.
And time is short.
Can’t anyone nominate a candidate? Look how Scott snuck in and scooped up 90 + votes yesterday, spoiling Jordan chance to win.
Marlo, having copied this long list 2X very close to one another, a great deal of
space has been taken from the beginning of the forum. Did you consider that?
I wanted to be sure people saw it. It was very time consuming for me to look up each number& print it not to mention calling each person. Have you called?
Thank you Marlo
You’re welcome! I tremble at the thought of what might happen if we do nothing. If these Republicans get enough calls to press them to vote for Rep. Jeffries, maybe they will be swayed to do so.
They might even be relieved not having to worry about appeasing Trump.
You are on a roll today
In a way, Jeffries is being irresponsible by continuing to allow his nomination. The Republicans will never vote for Jeffries. Not one.
He needs to nominate Liz Cheney and then get the Democrats to vote unanimously for her. I believe they'd find enough Republicans who would vote with them.
I would like to see Heather devote one edition to this idea.
Heartily disagree.
Jeffries is doing what many complain Democrats don’t do, letting the country know the Democrats are there, capable, and willing. He’s free to speak and it’s the opposite of irresponsible.
Funny you accuse Jeffries of the exact behavior that is abundantly evident in the rethugs.
Ron, If you’re contending that peeling off, say, a half dozen potential so-called moderate Republican votes is good strategy, I would maintain it likely would be easier to get 40 votes than 5. I base this judgement on the premise, quoting Substack host Jerry Weiss, that “moderates by their very nature are, well, moderate and would be reluctant to act boldly.” My point, having worked with Weiss and his team for 10 months, is that his plan is our best shot for restoring normal order in Congress.
Not a bad idea Ron. Truly.
But, the Democrats will NEVER nominate Liz Cheney to even be the janitor for Congress.
Her Republican credentials are just to true Red. Sure, she did not like Trump and testified about what a loser he is and lost her job as a result. Admirable.
BUT, Democrats supporting her to be speaker? Dems might as well cut taxes on on Billionaires themselves (which they did gleefully when Reagan suggested it in 1981).
Of course, her politics are true red, but no more red than any other (R).
She has demonstrated that she is sane. The USA will soon be in big trouble if we don't get a Speaker and we can guarantee that the next Speaker will be a Republican. It might as well be one of the sane few.
Liz Cheney left office in January 2023
But they don't have to be in office to become speaker, strangely.
Anyone can be Speaker of the House. Haven't you read that some Republicans tried to recruit Trump?
Great info Fern 🫶👍
Patricia, Because your reply came to me, I don’t know if that is what you intended or whether you intended to reply to Fern. Just wanted to give you a heads-up.
Thanks, I get confused easily..high school nickname ( space cadet😉) .You BOTH are great commentators and avail us all of wonderful info. Thanks 🫶
Patricia, Since I would feel ridiculous speaking for myself, suffice it to say I agree with your remarks about Fern.
There was/is great lengthily a media discussion , lack of newspaper truth, and talk show cacophony ad infinitum misinformation , disinformation...yada yada.
But here is a wealth of info, opinions that make one think , books to read, well educated people delving into cause n affect/effect.
Humbleness is that of desired integrity , a real clue. Thanks 😉
I share these pages often the commentary(s) is missed by non subscribers and it isn’t cheap tolled up but quality is a choice , for the desperate far less possible.
I would encourage those that don’t share their writs to do so occasionally ( most do, thanks)
For others share with friends and family , it’s such great ...stuff 🤣
Carry on 🫶
Calling him "flamethrower" ... sounds about right!
The idea of Gym as Speaker makes me want to vomit. He is so awful and the wrestlers he failed to protect spoke out against him this last week. I am thinking he can't actually get enough floor votes and then what. I wish a few Rs would be courageous and join the Ds and elect Jeffries who would be an excellent Speaker.
The entire rotted lot of them will hold their breath until they turn blue. Every day, more awakened Americans will turn to the BLUE skies and sweep them out next year. Imagine that! Promote the vote and support the YOUTH VOTE !
So R, Don Bacon calls it a "bipartisan path"; let's call it a "Governing Coalition". Regardless 213 D's + 4 sane R's or 4 'Purples', or 4 Blue Districts with R Reps (whatever) gets you 217 & House of Representatives. We got the Weekend to put it together.
The idea that Jim Jordan could end up Speaker of the House and 2nd in line, after the Vice President, for the Presidency leaves me speechless.
That also leaves me speechless and scares the bejeebers out of me.
You know tfg is working the phones overtime trying to make this happen.
I doubt this. TFG’s attention span precludes anything that might be classified as working the phones, or working anything else.
I wouldn't be surprised at what that low-life would stoop to. I got an email a few minutes ago that he has declared himself, ''immune'' to any prosecution. His delusions seem to be getting more bizarre by the day now. In his sick mind, he thinks he is the chosen one to be God and Master of the entire Universe. A true psychopath if i have seen one.
Yes.
Not to mention scared as hell. Can you visualize what will happen in the upcoming months if he does? Especially taking orders and being the head ‘sheep’ of Donald J. Trump! With Trump’s state of mind, his criminal history, his way of thinking right now, he will do absolutely anything to get rid of his criminal charges. What better way than to get someone in the presidency that will pardon him if all charges, and start his dictatorship in his stead. Jim Jordan will do exactly what Trumputin tells him to do. Including shit this government down.
Daniel, I agree. We cannot let that happen. CALL! Strength in numbers. They can’t ignore us.
Marlo, I’m fixing to do one thing better. I’m going to call, and write, Liz Cheney. She’s an attorney. If there’s no attorneys on here that are willing to fight for our democracy, I know she is. She’s proven that. Even though I’m a Democrat, I strongly feel she’ll research and see if we, the people, can start expulsion proceedings, or something , to get these clowns 🤡 out of office before they destroy this nation.
I have great respect for Liz. But it is unfortunate the others responsible for the planning/supporting the insurrection weren’t publicly called out in The January Committee. She was criticized for zeroing in on Trump.
Yep, she zeroed in on the head putinite, and, unfortunately, with no power to make them respond to a subpoena, the committee was kind of hand-tied.
I still emailed her at the college she’s instructing at in Virginia. Don’t know if I’ll get a reply, but I still emailed her. We need professional help/guidance.
Just left messages for all the representatives you listed and posted this on my Facebook page, hoping others will call.
I am with you. It leaves me shuddering.There has got to be a way around this gridlock, this being held hostage by a minority of bad actors. We just can't sit back and watch our government being destroyed. I am willing to call and send postcards but this seems like it requires much more serious action. I know a National Strike is ambitious and isn't a spur-of-the-moment thing but what else CAN we do? We just can't let this happen!
We don’t have time for postcards. By the time they are received it will be too late.
Call. I have provided a list with phone numbers.
I wrote all of the numbers down and will try each one.I read on the comments that you may not be able to get through if you aren’t one of their constituents.I will nevertheless give it a try.I have called, called and called again my state lawmakers one of which is the odious Gym Jordan so no, I don’t hold my breath.Thanks for providing those numbers.
Adults don't usually allow toddlers to run the household, so why don't the adults in the House, at least the 230 who act like adults, just declare an impasse and take over. What could the retrumplicans do but squall and cry like the toddlers they are - or maybe throw themselves on the floor and drum their heels.. Maybe the Sergeant at arms needs to bring out the willow switch and apply it to some bottoms. Like most sane mothers I would not have put up with this kind of behavior from my own toddlers, so, why as a constituent and taxpayer should I have to put up with this sort of behavior from the House of Representatives, send the naughty little toddlers back to their districts and tell their constituents to deal with them, while the adults get on with their job of legislating.
Fay, totally agree. I find it unconscionable that Jordan, in sixteen long years, has never gotten a bill to law. WHY do those folks keep electing such a waster of tax money? It makes me sick. Speaker of The House????? OMG.
This is the question we must ask. And I believe the answer is that Jordan as well as Trump gain their appeal through "Revenge Speak". They are part of an ever shrinking group of older white folks who just can't believe that diversity is now normal.
And to your salient point. Why aren't his constituents asking "Gym" what he has done for them other than be the loudest bully in the school yard? Because they have the political and emotional maturity of pre-teens? Because he sells them the same snake oil that feeds their DNA embedded bigotry?
Gym feeds their amygdalae with the hatred of others. I really do not understand how some of these MAGAts so routinely hate on gay men and child abuse (to wit: complaining about drag shows--I know that is a different arena than gay, but to them it isn't) but choose, time and again, someone who permitted that same abuse to go on in his program.
Bill and Ally, You are both perfectly on point. Gym is just a surfacing of the deep hatred held for anyone “different” from “white folks” that must be so ingrained in our society, we really couldn’t fathom it until now. Of course, every person who is the target of this hatred, including women, knows it well. Bill, I STILL cannot fathom why someone, even a decent Republican, has not appeared in all those sixteen years to challenge his incredible ineffectiveness, to say the least! “DNA embedded bigotry”indeed!!!
He hates the right people, he never stops screaming it.
Fay,I think that’s one reason Nancy Pelosi was such an effective Speaker—-she raised 5 kids, so knows how to herd toddlers!
So, maybe we could use more Nancy Pelosi's and fewer Greene's and Boebert's (:-)
lol…that’s got my vote!
My momma would have tanned their hide, chump first.
If only.....! 👍
Maybe they did, damn I really liked the imagery of taking a willow switch to loud mouth Jordan.
Willow switch? I was thinking if a 22’ bull whip with a 1/4 oz steel ball in the end if it. Tie him to the barn doors and beat him until he can’t move!
Worked for my dad on my ass!
Daniel, I am sorry you had to endure that abuse. Really....
Thanks, Elizabeth. To me, as a young boy, it was abuse. But, it made me the man I grew up to be. With my career in Civil Service to my community, and state, I’m proud of that. With my humanitarian assistance I was able to give to needy families in my patrol area every year throughout the year, I’m proud of that, too, even while making only $436 take home pay every month.
I didn’t grow up hating my dad. I grew up respecting him. I eventually understood that his way of ‘correcting’ was the exact same way he was done when he was a child. Thankfully, I wasn’t that way toward my step-children. All I had to do with them was look at them a certain way, with a tone they didn’t like in my voice. They knew they had done wrong.
Sadly, as I learned in my law enforcement as well as my firefighting careers, it wasn’t that way for a lot of parents, and young parents of infants and young children. I witnessed everything grim beaten until they couldn’t move to beaten until they were dead. Burned with cigarettes, cigars, torches, to burned to a crisp and killed right in their cribs. What people did with their children was utterly disgusting, unacceptable and unconscionable.
It concerns me that Biden believes Democracy works, of which I agree. But these extremist are poking holes in it on a daily basis with the aim of ultimately claiming that Democracy does not work but authoritarianism does ? We need to find a way to make them irrelevant ! Hakeem Jeffries for Speaker !
Democracy works, but IS work. Snake Oil is always an easy sell. Sabotage of key functions of our republic is corrupt as hell, and we need to explicitly make a bigger thing of it. Republicans are playing childish, destructive ego games when we desperately need all hands on deck to avert multiple disasters.
Steve Bannon is licking his chops at the disfunction. Chump is just waiting for his chance to finish us off. It is so hard to bear.
Yes it is. I feel like the proud boys and such are taking notes from Hamas and practicing to unleash their horror in our country.
Don't like, but they are haters extraordinaire
Putin smiles.
Democracy works, but IS work - a line I plan to steal :)
That’s it, Steve.
The Republicans started losing a long time ago when they chose people like Reagan, Gingerich and McConnell to lead their party. They want things to go their way at any cost and think the American people are too wrapped up in their own lives to care.
We won’t forget what they have been doing and how truly authoritarian their goals are at a time when they should be representing the needs and wants of the American people. Didn’t they take an oath to serve? Just what in hell do they do think, they’re doing?
The spike they’re driving into the heart of their own party has destroyed it.
Our democracy is fine....and will only get better. We’ll have a reasonable Speaker soon and the people’s business will resume. Long due structural changes that have allowed extreme minorities to hijack the government will be addressed once the democrats are back in control.
The long list of important legislation to debate and pass just gets more urgent. The American people will long remember who delayed our business and they will pay dearly, indeed.
KD, I sure hope so. I am concerned, however, by the apathy to these issues I see in those around me. Some folks find it too distressing, so they check out, others seem uninterested. Sometime ago I sent friends/family info on Project 2025 after it dropped and got a “meh” response. Really, how is their hair not on fire? I get that the available emotional bandwidth to deal with the onslaught of dangers to democracy is a heavy load….I just ask folks not to wallow in it, but rather at least pay attention & be informed!
I, too, am baffled, Barbara, that folks around me are not freaking out about Project 2025. I’m at a loss on what to do abt it. Then I question myself: Have manifestos been popping up occasionally all along and I’ve missed them? Is this a sign I’m slipping into some conspiracy rabbit hole? Am I losing my frickin’ mind as I recover from the recent (since 2016ish) fiascos and failures this country and its government and citizens have endured?? Then I think, nope, I’m not nuts. This neatly packaged manifesto is real, I can feel it deep in my gut, my soul. It definitely feels and smells Mein Kampf-like. WHAAAAAAA?!??!! What to do?
I know, right? I, too, thought it was a joke a la The Onion or some kind of conspiracy theory at first. Then I started reading it & looking at who authored/supported it and felt a deep psychic chill. We “little people” only have our voices and vote, both of which I plan to exercise. Most of us, however, don’t have the political or economic power ($$$$) to push back at the level those who support this “manifesto” do. My hope is that there are way more of those who oppose this and will do all we can to put it in the shredder (and then put the shredding in a hot composter to get rid of every last pathogen!).
The majority is noticing, Barbara. When it comes time to pull the lever and vote that will be their best opportunity to do something about it.
Fingers crossed!
"The Republicans started losing a long time ago when they chose people like Reagan, Gingerich and McConnell to lead their party."
They lost their soul in exchange for raw power, the kind of deal that goes way back. It's long past time for them to lose respect of all but the incurably delusional.
Agree. I will keep that line top of mind, (meaning on my fridge) to use in conversation and to strengthen my own resolve.
Here’s another, from Sr. Joan Chittister, that has helped this Blue Dot in a Red Sea enter/ re-enter a conversation: “I think differently about that”.
I'm gonna have to my note card.
"I think differently about that" and "That is certainly an opinion" are on it so far. Think I'll be adding " Democracy works, but IS work" and "Democracy works, but IS work" to it.
Me, also. I like that!
As Thom Hartmann says every day - it is not a spectator sport....
Did you call??
I called the vulnerable who represent the districts Biden won encouraging them to vote for Hakeem Jeffries who only needs 6 Republican votes to win. This is an emergency. Someone has to lead the House and soon.
Here’s a list. We can ALL call. Let’s save our Democracy together! (Wait to the end of the recording BEFORE hanging up! Press 2 to send as URGENT.
Bacon (NE) (202) 225-4155
Fitzpatrick (PA) (202) 225-4276
Gallagher (WI) (202) 225-5665
Joyce (OH) (202) 225-5731
Curtis (UT) (202) 225-7751
Newhouse (WA) (202) 225-5816
Hinson (IA) (202) 225-2911
Garbarino (NY) (202) 225-7896
Valadao CA (202) 2254695
David Schweikert Arizona
(202) 225-2190
Mike Garcia California
(202) 225-1956
Young Kim California
(202) 225-4111
Michelle Steele California
(202) 225-2415
Don Bacon Nebraska
(202) 225-4155
HAVE YOU CALLED??
"But it is not at all clear they can agree on a candidate. Representative Don Bacon (R-NE) is one of those who is beginning to talk about bipartisanship as a matter of practicality. “A lot of folks are in denial but you're never gonna get eight or 10 folks on board."
Congressman Bacon is in one of those pesky districts that Biden won. However, from people that have worked with him he is one of the smarter Republican Congresscritters and actually tries to help everyone in his district, not just the far right pro-birthers and white supremacists.
My sister and her entire family are his constituents and none of them share his views on anything. But to save his ass, he could potentially cross the aisle and vote for Congressman Jeffries as Speaker.
Bacon supports the GOP spending amendments to cut funding for the poor, climate change and the IRS as he wrote in response to an email I sent him.
Even if Bacon and others vote for Jeffries they may not support the Senate passed version of the spending bills. But, they might pass another CR and provide additional funding for the war in Ukraine and Israel.
I fear this is the best outcome we can hope for.
Call him! Have your entire family call. Encourage him to vote for Hakeem. 202-225-4155. Wait for the instruction at the end to “press 2” to send as URGENT. Tell him Rep Jeffries will work with the Republicans. He is level headed.
And then have them call the others on the list. We need “All Hands On Deck”!
It sounds to me like Bacon, and many others on the Republican side of the aisle have a hell of a decision to make. Do they side with the Trumputins, or the side with Democracy? To the turn to Dictatorship, or remain as Republic? Do they go down the road of shutting the country, government, down? Or do they go the road to save it?
Seems to me it’s a clear choice. They may think it’s the end of their careers. I don’t see it that way. If I lived in their districts, I would look at them come election time as a person that was out fur the good of the country instead of themselves. Especially if I didn’t care that much fur my candidate
They need to be reminded of this. I believe they are looking at the outcome the wrong way. They could be saviors. Not criminals.
If they had an ounce of integrity they would side with Democracy. They took an oath to after all.
If not, they might consider their reelection. If they give up our Democracy, they won’t be re-elected.
Marlo, you are exactly right. IF THEY HAD AN OUNCE OF INTEGRITY!
They have NONE, ZERO, ZILCH, NADA! I doubt seriously if they even know what integrity means!
The list I have provided are the Reps. who might be swayed. There are probably a lot more. We only need 5 or 6.
Excellent points. I will use them.
Feel free to, Richard.
Governing is a matter of practicality. The idea that it is "my way or the highway" is ludicrous and juvenile. Well, it's also unrealistic and stupid.
Yep. That method worked back in the 70s-99s for us in law enforcement, on the road. But, that’s even changed now.
Wow !
Maybe.
Don’t bother to call Peter Meijers, he was primaried by a hard right idiot, who then lost the general election to a good Democrat!
Oh also, really good work there! Thanks!
I have copied the list and will make some calls. Thank you for this, Marlo.
Thank you! I appreciate that and so does your country. Just think, if he wins, that Trump loving insurrectionist will be second in line for the Presidency! It has literally made me ill worrying about this.
Marlo, you, as do all of us, have great cause to worry. I know with the Speaker in line to the presidency right behind the VP, I picture a scenario happening if JJ gets the Gavel, I fear that Trumputin has a plan already ‘mapped out’ for him to move right through the VO to the presidency. Then he, Trumputin, will get what he wants. The start of the dismantling of the DOJ, FBI, CIA, his court cases being held indefinitely, or dismissed altogether, everything we dreamed never would happen would be happening. In other words, the beginning of his dictatorship.
Terrifying. That's why I email/call the news stations and circulate on Nextdoor, Substack and my friends as well as calling the republicans (& my representative(. I am trying to do my part. In the meantime my battery died on my phone so it is out of commission. I am presently using my laptop which had become obsolete but is back In business! I also got sick (Covid neg. Making chicken soup!)
Marlo, your extensive work is greatly appreciated. If everyone does this, hopefully we will conquer this clown 🤡!
Our Democracy is not serious-we don’t have one person, one vote, there’s dark money, tax cuts and loopholes for the richest corporations, gerrymandering and too many states with their rights are loathe to respect the Constitution and the evolved Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We have a Republic if we can fix it. Right now it’s more of a promise than anything else.
It has been clawed at, mangled, twisted, and diluted by the “supreme republican court,” billionaire money, and racist/religious, self-righteous prigs called republicans. Deliberately and with malice. Ever since we stood tall after our war sacrifices, passing the Marshall plan, helping Japan recover, passing other legislation for the people, we have been seen as a world leader. The billionaires took a back seat and Ike signed on. Guess that was a bridge too far for the oligarchs and Ronnie. This destruction derby is the result. Our citizenry have been hoodwinked and played for fools. Can our silent majority of real patriots roar. It’s now or never…
Jeri, you’re right about our silent majority. A saving grace is the David Hoggs among us—the under-forty voters who have paid attention and have found their voices(thank you, Taylor Swift!). They may well save us all.
Hope people care enough, all ages
Thank you.
The just republic and more perfect union in inherently aspirational and parts may always be flawed, but the structural foundation is sound if we agree to agree that dysfunction and corruption sucks, and enough is enough. Plutocrats have spent over four decades excusing ever more outrageous behaviors, and the deceitful-to-the-core modern Republican Party is the result. Is it not growing tiresome? And they are wrecking our quality of life, and perhaps even chances for long term survival.
Teetering on the brink
It's an uphill climb, trying to overcome confirmation bias and racism. The evangelicals have dumped Christ for Trump. So much for fear of eternal damnation.
We have a republic, if we can fix it - another line I plan to steal.
Yes, Ben Franklin beat you to it by about 232 years.
If we can get through this & win the House we can change it. We can’t give up.
You're right. "When the going gets tough, the tough get going." - Knute Rockne
Maybe the spirit if this land just devoured the European conquest. Maybe not.
I doubt that the spirit of the land is so short sighted.
I wrote that comment when I should have been sleeping.
Democracy work but our archaic constitution has many trip wires that allow extremists the power to undermine it. Maybe they never anticipated that we would have traitors elected to influential posts.
The Constitution is a product of humans and cannot do it all, but has proved to be enduringly useful infrastructure when used as directed, and was made to be updated. It provides bones that each living generation is called to flesh out. Nothing is foolproof, and we as a society get out of it what we are willing to put into it, with the passing of time.
Mass media stepped in and made it easy and remarkably profitable for the wealthy to manipulate the system with clever propaganda. The problem is: there is a huge segment of the population that doesn't know what it doesn't know. You all know that we're all Socialists. That notion is hammered by Fox et al. hour after hour, day after day. The True Believers fall in line, oblivious to their being manipulated.
I agree. That was my point, but you said it much better.
Definitely could not have said this better. That's what makes Gerrymandering so dangerous. All Democracy has is our vote !
Gerrymandering strikes at the heart of the democratic process: one person, one vote, majority rule. Gerrymandering enhances the power of some votes while diminishing the power of other votes, i.e., 1 1/4 vs. 3/4, for example.
CALL the republicans on the list I provided. Did you call?
There is strength in numbers!
Exactomundo !
The Republicans went home for the weekend.
It is one thing to realize a thing is broken but believe it can be repaired. It is quite another to see the broken thing as “fixable” when it is clear that it will never be able to support its own structure, no matter how extensive the “repair.” A critical piece is missing.
The Republicans are now firmly in the land of magical thinking. Psychologists define magical thinking as the belief that specific words, thoughts, emotions, or rituals can influence the external world. In this case, they believe that repeating the ritual of going through the motions of electing a Speaker designee this time will have a different outcome, and the fractures in their conference will heal and they will come out united with a disciplined governable caucus.
I wrote in October 13’s post, “The Way Out of House Dysfunction,” about the fracturing of the Republican party into three major pieces. The fracturing and repeated unsuccessful repairs have been happening since John Boehner resigned from Congress in 2015 before the end of his term as Speaker after conservatives criticized him over the government shutdowns.
Paul Ryan managed to finish out his term in 2018 but resigned from Congress at age 48. Politico quoted him as saying, “I’m an old Jack Kemp guy that believes strongly in inclusive, aspirational politics that are based on bringing people together and not exploiting divisions.” He went on to say, “With identity politics being played all around and 21st-century technology accelerating it and putting gas on the fire — that is my big concern of politics these days. And that makes it harder to have political goodwill in this country because of all this polarization.”
We have just witnessed the debacle of Kevin McCarthy’s turn at the wheel, followed by the one-day wonder of Steve Scalise, and now we have Jim Jordan.
The essence of magical thinking is summed up in the adage,” Insanity is repeating the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.” Republicans have been repeating their rituals since 2015.
For quite a while, Democrats, including myself, have also been in our own realm of magical thinking. We keep holding on to the broken dream that some moderate Republicans, led perhaps by Brian Fitzpatrick, will have “on the road to Damascus” moments and, once the scales drop from their eyes, be able to see a way to heal the fractures among their fractious factions. It ain’t going to happen.
Why have I stepped out of the land of magical thinking? Two reasons:
The Republicans left for the weekend in the midst of cascading crises. Their only move to bring back even a tiny bit of credibility to the view that they care about governing would have been to stay and start voting on the House floor and let the chips fall as they may.
They were not able to get rid of their coalition-destructive “one person can call for a motion to vacate” rule. There is no way for that unstable coalition to function if the rule remains in place. They are allowing democracy to be replaced by minority rule. This is the critical piece that is gone that makes the Republican party broken beyond repair.
The Republicans are still mired in their own land of magical thinking, that they hold a majority when, in fact, what they have is an unstable coalition with the factions having incredible animosity towards each other.
There is only one way out of the dysfunction. The necessary handful of Republicans must grow spines and vote for Jeffries as Speaker. The entire chamber cannot be held hostage. The work of governance must take precedence.
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/04/11/ryan-in-interview-im-done-seeking-elected-office-515678#:~:text=Full%20video%3A%20Paul%20Ryan%20announces,alike%20%E2%80%94%20are%20legion%20these%20days.
https://georgiafisanick.substack.com/p/the-way-out-of-house-dysfunction
Well said. But a GQP House Rep that votes for Jeffries will invoke the "auto primary" rule. They will be doing the patriotic thing, of course. But they know they will be ending their political careers as Republicans. Their competitors will eat them for breakfast. And those competitors will look and sound like MTG, LB and MG. Perhaps, these "patriots" will also look at life the way Paul Ryan did. And Ryan does have a very nice life after politics.
I think we may see a broken House for a long time - a series of speakers thrown under the bus time after time. Hopefully one will last long enough to fund the essentials of our country, Ukraine and Israel. But I think Chaos will be King on Capitol Hill until we win it back in 2024.
The only good news is that because Republicans are acting like rabid little children, they are providing Democrats with all the campaign ammunition necessary to restore order to the House, build a bigger majority in the Senate and keep a Democrat in the WH.
The self destruction of a political party right before our eyes. Well deserved path to obscurity. Who will replace them?
Bill, I think you are making some assumptions that may not prove true. The main one is that the bipartisan leaning Rs may actually win their primaries against against chaos caucus candidates. Trump is not being listened to by a large fraction of the caucus (they didn't support Jordan in the first round) and after the debacle of non-governance currently on display it is hard to see why any R who isn't MAGA crazy themselves would support them. Boebert won by a hair in the last election--hard to see her winning by more at this point. The Rs have had their chance and they have accomplished nothing. And somehow have Jordan as speaker, someone who could not even get a bill through the House since 2007 when he was first elected, let alone passed into law says something because that is one of the best talking points against him, along with his tolerance of sexual predators.
Secondly, In spite of what you hear from most of the pundits a lot of this year's elections are going to democrats.
Finally, I am sure there would be some behind the scenes horse trading of comfortable positions in a second Biden administration for those with bipartisanship in their hearts. Ambassadorships, special envoys, deputy secretaries....Yes it is a risk but this is the point I am sure these bipartisanly inclined Rs are thinking that even if they win their primaries they may not be win the generals so better to be looking for a plan B.
All excellent points. Agree on what could happen in the general elections. I am optimistic! But my point was that as McConnell had said, they didn't have that red wave because they didn't have quality candidates.
So, if these "reasonable" Republicans are primaried by crazies, we are just in a better position for the general election.
But can we live until November 2024?
What is the alternative, Kathleen? I don’t plan on dying anytime soon....but ya never know!
Can the Ukrainians?
Do you remember how many times Pelosi held everyone in the chamber over the weekend to get a bill through, voted in, and work done? I can’t count the times she did that. This bunch is interested in two things. Government shutdown, and dictatorship.
I dream with you, but…is a handful of sanity available
And 16 don't even show up to vote. But, Im sure their paychecks continue.
There is a precedent for making Jordan speaker.
It was back some time ago (AD41 I think) when Caligula made his horse a Senator.
It didn't turn out too good for the Emperor. Can't say what happened to the horse
Main difference is that Jordan isn't an entire horse. I leave it to you good people which end he is.
Dang! You got there first. He really is a horse's ass.
I figured somebody was bound to say it :D
🎠🤡💩 for 🍓💩🤡!
Another anatomical comparison comes to mind, but consideration for your, no doubt sensitive nature. prevents me from posting it
Bacon keeps talking the talk and then balking at walking the walk. Relying on him is like relying on the weather forecast in Colorado. Wait five minutes, it'll change. And so will he.
Bacon is a tool who answers directly to Joe Ricketts and Charles KKKoch
Thank you Heather.
To say this is not a good look for the Republicans , is a colossal understatement.
Liz Cheney is right. Again. The pushing forward of Jordan by some of his peers is revealing that they would settle on a loudmouth Insurrectionist over someone who may actual work across the aisle to get work done for this Country. The Republican Party, or what is left of it, has exposed its inner core to the world.
It's not flattering.
Be safe. Be well.
And 'clown show' was such an understatement. It seems that governments all over the world are failing: from our 'least effective legislature ever' here in Massachusetts, to Washington's appalling Republican-controlled House of Representatives, to the blind-sided Netenyahu government. All examples of utter incompetence at the task of governance. And the key is our House: without action to support Israel and Ukraine, we set the wrong example. Like it or not, the United States has to step up and LEAD. We cannot shirk that responsibility.
We shirk that responsibility all the time. Leadership would entail working for peace, instead of writing blank checks for military hardware to Ukraine and Israel that accomplish little other than further death and destruction.
We have a government owned by monied interests, therefore we don’t have a democracy to save. The quicker we realize this, and get at how the corporate coup took place, and fix that, the greater our chances at preventing authoritarian rule.
Tribal elections and inside the beltway political intrigue are a sideshow. The armies of lobbyists, and their employers, are the enemy here. Until a majority of Americans form a coalition to fight that, we’ll continue to circle the drain.
We have to find a way to dismantle Citizens United. The only way is for Supreme Court Justices to reverse their opinion.
Given that the RW majority was chosen by Leonard Leo's Federalist Society dark money, as exemplified by Clarence Thomas and Alito, I doubt that will ever happen
Expand the Court.
Maybe if Biden wins, we get the House, we can hold Thomas & Alito accountable and replace them
It’s bigger than Citizen’s United. While a travesty, that decision was just another in a long line of corporate ‘personhood’ SCOTUS precedents that stretch back to the Santa Clara railroad case in the 1880s. We have to kill the twin concepts of corporate personhood and money as speech. The only way to do that is via Constitutional Amendment (see here - MoveToAmend.org) We have to circumvent the court, and their requirement to uphold the Constitution would ensure their compliance.
For those who say that path is too daunting, I offer two rebuttals. One, the Amendment that brought 18yos the right to vote took less than a year from Congressional vote to ratification. And two, I have found common ground talking to dozens of Trump supporters when I initiate a conversation talking about the disfunction in DC, and then, after their typical response of rigged game, etc., follow up with an explanation of how the pawn politicians aren’t behind the rigging, corporations/monied interests are.
The tinderbox for coalition building and creating a populist democratic wave to fix what ails us is out there. We just need the combination of awareness, organization, and leadership to light the match. We can either continue on this path of tribal political inertia and dysfunction towards corporate/individual authoritarianism, or build a coalition to create a real democratic society.
Forget most of the Republican politicians. Even in their extremism, they still do Wall Street’s bidding, as they always have since 1900. We have to connect and peel away their public support, and I don’t for a second believe they are unreachable. The Democratic Party just has to renounce its fealty to its own corporate donors, and mean it. And that’s our responsibility as a liberal/left; to hold it to account whenever it puts donor interest above that of working people and the poor. We’ve done a piss poor job of it since Reagan, and that’s what set the stage for Trump.
True.I would love to have the opportunity to ask Chief Justice Roberts if this is what he thought would happen when he chose corporate money over real live people.
If I didn’t have a cat to take care of who needs eye drops 5 X’s/day I would March and protest Jordan and the Supreme Court for starters. Right now we all need to flood the list I provided with CALLS to vote for Hakeem Jeffries!
To sway them, be polite. Get your talking points ready. You get more with honey.
Totally agree with your "corporate coup" concept. The more conflict, the richer the oligarchs get. It's been that way forever. The Civil War made millionaires.
But I am wondering what your solution to Putin's genocide and Hamas' brutal murders would be?
Both entities are the essence of evil and threaten the lives of millions every day. What's your plan?
Solutions based on the principle that agreed upon borders must be adhered to; That Putin be forced to return all of Ukraine to Ukraine's people and Netanyahu return to within Israel's originally mandated borders to force a return to the 2-state bargaining table while simultaneously rejecting outright the terrorism of a Hamas or Hezbollah by finding (and funding?) effective ways to eliminate them. That would seem to include finding and/or creating a state for the Palestinians to call their own.
Agree about Israel. Not about Ukraine.
I would disagree that Putin is committing genocide; one could argue that he is preventing that if you look at the history in Ukraine post-2014 U.S.-backed coup. That’s not his motivation, strategic interests are, but Israel is being much more genocidal in its response to Hamas brutality than is Putin.
I would also try to stay away from ‘essence of evil’ characterizations. There’s a case to be made that the U.S., since the end of WWII, has been the real ‘evil’ empire in the world. See here - https://www.caitlinjohnst.one/p/the-us-is-just-as-culpable-as-israel
On Ukraine, I would push for a ceasefire, then seek a negotiated settlement with Russia, which allows them to keep Crimea, and puts the areas of eastern Ukraine up for a referendum and vote over whether to remain Ukrainian or be incorporated into Russia, and abide by the result. I would urge Ukraine to give up a desire for NATO membership adopt permanent neutrality status, and in return guarantee a massive amount of reconstruction and humanitarian aid, from the U.S., NATO, and Russia, in order to rebuild infrastructure that all three of the aforementioned parties had a major hand in destroying.
I agree with John below on Israel, although I don’t see a Middle East two-state solution happening, not as long as Israel demands a majority Jewish population. I think we should make Israel an offer to just leave the Middle East and take Texas in a straight up swap.
A two state solution should have been involved with the formation of Israel on day one. Israel had a right to exist and so did a Muslim Palestine.
As to your ideas about Russia and Ukraine, at first blush you sound reasonable. But upon reflection, these ideas sound like those of the extremely naive Neville Chamberlain.
Putin has been slaughtering Ukrainian civilians. I call that a genocide. Or perhaps, mass murder and multiple war crimes. Choose your name. Putin is just a reincarnation of Hitler...or perhaps Genghis Khan.
And your suggestion that the US and NATO should pay for the destruction of Ukraine is utter nonsense. Putin's Russia is entirely responsible.
You’re right on your first assertion about Israel, but the racist colonial powers at the time didn’t care about Arab sentiment; only strategic self interest. See here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXfuqUhzESg&t=23s
Putin slaughters civilians. Ukrainian Nazis (Azov Battalion) slaughter civilians. And around and around we go. You think Putin is Hitler because you have been propagandized to believe such; any deep dive into Ukrainian and Russian history proves that analogy ridiculous on its face.
Not surprised at the Chamberlain reference; it’s the Western propaganda go-to, along with Putin apologist, when U.S. narrative in the foreign policy realm is questioned when it comes to Russia/Ukraine.
There is plenty of hard evidence out there that we provoked the invasion of Ukraine, and turned our back on several occasions to prevent it, post-2014 coup. One just has to be willing to accept the logical assertion that we aren’t always the good guys in the foreign policy realm, anymore than the Brits were when Israel was created.
Do your homework. Many serious diplomats warned that we were going to ‘wreck’ Ukraine if we pursued NATO expansion; that it was a hard line Russia would never accept. Well, here we are. But hey, at least our corporate weapons and energy industries are happy, so there’s that.
"Israel had a right to exist and so did a Muslim Palestine."
A lone voice in the wilderness Bill.
I know. Call me crazy. But it's obvious to me that the only difference between the Jews of Israel, the Palestinians and me are religion (or the lack thereof).
This naive, lone voice would like us to think like a species - not self manufactured tribes.
The only real comfort I can take from seeing many of the world's democracies stumble is seeing many of the world's largest autocracies doing even worse. Putin's Russia is involved in a war that is bleeding them white. China's economy, now that they have a full on dictator, is faltering and becoming a much less attractive place for foreign investment. The trillions in Taiwanese money that kick started their rise is drying up. Hamas has started an asymmetrical war that, regardless of what ever traps they have set, will end in their destruction as an organization. The African Union will eventually answer the seeming tide of new autocracies there.
Democracy is messy, but mostly deliver because they are at least partly answerable to their people. Autocracies are weak because they have no effective oversight. This ALWAYS leads to state crippling incompetence (loyalty appointments) and corruption (kleptocracy). It is the same autocratic tendencies that erode democracies - this republic is ours to keep - if we can fix it.
Steve, how does your 'only real comfort' consider people living in collapsing or recently collapsed autocracies? Generally, are their lives the same, better or worse? It impossible to calculate for the sum of all the different countries and for each one, but keen observation by people who know the country may provide a reasonable estimation. If we think of the people, I think most do worse given the uncertainly and chaos in a country without a government. In sum, I don't take any comfort from collapsing autocracies, unless more decent regimes or democracies are replacing them.
Very good point Fern! It would seem from current examples that a failed country with no government is worse off than a country with an autocratic government which can function on SOME level yet is worse off than a democracy led by oligarchs which is worse than what we aim to get back to, a democracy with strong and reasonably educated lower and middle classes; "building up from below and outward from the middle."
Fern, you missed my point. Mainly because I did not explain it very well. This forum is filled with posts bemoaning the failure of democracies around the world. I was merely trying to point out that autocracies aren't doing very well either. I hope you do not think I am so callous as to disregard, or take joy in the suffering of real people, whatever form of government they live under.
Hello, Steve. I could not imagine you to be callous. Your writing as you now realize was not in accord with your intention, which was complex and, perhaps, not fully thought out.
Finding comfort in collapsing governments can only be possible if there is reason/evidence that the lives of most of the people will be improved.
What is driving the people of Venezuela to make the perilous trip? An authoritarian government.
Steve, a problem with democracies is that they require a population of people who have something (property, resources, income, sustenance) worth fighting FOR and the education to allow them to understand how to pursue that fight, a fundamental or structural problem undergirding what I see in Africa and perhaps in Venezuela as well.
In today's news it was reported that Kevin Phillips, one of the main architects of the Southern Strategy died today. See: https://apnews.com/article/kevin-phillips-political-strategist-obituary-64ba583ba24e4c8ca84658d42b83f304
This one man planted the seeds for a mainstream resurgence of open racism that we're still battling against today, and much of the Red vs. Blue friction in the House can be traced back to the effects of his activites.
I hope i don't ever find out that SOB Kevin Phillips is part of my family tree. I may change my last name if i ever even have a hint that he was related to our family. I do not like people that are racists.
Might I suggest an extensive search through Ancestry.com? It will be enlightening, to say the least!
An interesting life. He didn't like the Frankenstein's monster he had helped create... and was not impressed by Democratic Party turncoats who worshipped at the shrine of the Free Market fetish.
I do believe he recanted a couple of decades ago. If you search his books, you'll see that he wrote against theocracy and the super-rich. Not many people are willing to concede they are wrong so publicly, but let's hope more do.
I met him at UNC. He was one of the idea-men behind the last major political realignment. He later repudiated the direction the Republican Party took, writing a book called "American Theocracy." https://jimbuie.substack.com/p/historic-realignment-now-underway
You mean some regret…
I was repeating the obituary. Maybe others know more about this man's life.
Just wondering. I recall seeing him on tv years ago. He did not raise my hackles…
Gary, thank you for your post. I had never heard of this man but the linked article discusses his first book which you cite (written when he was very young). The obituary then goes on to detail all the author’s subsequent works and somewhat shifting ideals. I am trying to absorb the entirety of the man’s complexity.
You might find this of interest. https://jimbuie.substack.com/p/historic-realignment-now-underway
Couldn’t finish article w/o paying…
I opened it up. I'd be interested to know what you think. https://jimbuie.substack.com/p/historic-realignment-now-underway
Thanks for letting me finish the post. I think your knowledge of history far surpasses mine, but I agree with the premise that there may be a realignment afoot. I’m worried though that some of the well-meaning groups such as No Labels or the Forward Party will muddy the waters. I’ve been spending this afternoon knitting and listening to the ProPublica podcast “We Don’t Talk About Leonard” about Leonard Leo at the recommendation of Asha Rangappa and The Freedom Academy. The more information I absorb the better I’m able to articulate my own views. You have definitely contributed to my knowledge base.
Katherine, thanks for the tip about Leonard Leo. Never heard of him. I should know. -- Jim
Substack defaults to a paywall two weeks after publication. If you are really interested, let me know and I'll let you in. Best, Jim
I did finish the article no I appreciate another way of thinking about the republicans. It have been thinking they are fracturing but need a more concrete way to articulate that.
Me too please. I’d like to finish your article.
May he join Rush in hell.
The Republicans are awfully close to causing the US, and with it the entire Western civilization, to collapse. And I’m afraid that’s exactly the goal they have in mind: they want to stand victorious on the rubbles of democracy and rise as the leaders in a “new age of the strong man”.
Bannon said it out loud, and has worked tirelessly to achieve just that
Yup. And he's probably opening a bottle of champagne as we speak for the call of the former Hamas leader to incite an uprising of all Muslims to fight against Israel. It is Bannon's big dream: the end fight of (his vision of) the West against Islam.
What I still can't figure out, though, is why so many common people happily join his caravan. I mean, it isn't a very attractive vision of the future to actively pursue, now, is it?
No, but they all hate Dems, or so it seems. No rationale for destroying the world. Must just be power and greed, and of course ignorance and stupidity. Religion is still the ball breaker for logic and reason.
As I stated before, citing William James: rationality only stays superficial, it never "hits as deeply" as instincts, intuition and emotions - and science doesn't cater to the last three, but religion does. That's why religion will never be "relieved from its duty" and replaced by rationality.
There is no rationale for destroying the world. But if you're led to believe that it's not the climate chaos that threatens your world (because it's just a hoax invented by either "the left" or "the Chinese") but the "liberal snowflake woke libs" who are going to destroy your world, well, the hate for all Dems is easily reaped by such types as Bannon, Trump et al.
Like many of us “humanoids,” I have suffered mightily from following intuition, emotion, and instincts. When I saw pretty clearly that they had led me astray, I sought therapy from someone who was outside my head and the heads of others involved. Took me awhile to realize that I could no longer trust my own judgment, so I know how difficult that is. Very complex mental processes at work, on which James had an incredible grasp. BTW, religion has been relieved of that duty in my life.
I can understand your viewpoint... I am guessing here, but it almost seems to be that you were caught in some kind of "groupthink", a kind of cult, maybe?
I myself am not striving to have intuition, emotions and instincts relieved of their duty by rationality. I have had situations where my _rationality_ led me astray, where instead I definitely should have listened to my intuition, which would have prevented a lot of harm. Yes, I welcome rationality, but not as king and ruler of all; I strive towards a harmonious cooperation between the feeling and the thinking side.
A ‘limited’ letter in the midst of this constitutional chaos is a blessing. Especially because it offers the hope of a bipartisan compromise! The comparison with Pelosi’s accomplishments was delightful!
Once again the GOP remains committed to subverting democracy and continuing the insurrection.
They should be reminded of their duty to defend the Constitution and to stop giving aid and comfort to adversaries or face expulsion.
To which they will respond, "Yes, and how do you propose to do that with your non-existent 2/3 majority necessary to do so???"
Would be nice for the DOJ to step up and enforce the 14th.
Presently in CO there is a court case regarding that very thing. If they rule that DJT cannot be on the ballot due to the 14th amendment & his involvement/support of insurrection, it will ripple through the country. And he won’t be on any ballot.
The SOS leading the charge is Jena Griswold, a very intelligent, clear thinking, savy official who should be in Congress. I would vote for her!
Also in MN. Here is the latest: https://m.startribune.com/minnesota-supreme-court-trump-campaign-cant-formally-participate-in-ballot-petition/600312114/
The Colorado case is a real case where a decision will be made.
The MN case was thrown out on a formality of incorrect procedure.
The MN Supreme Court will begin to hear arguments on November 2, for real. If you read the article more carefully, Marlo, you will understand that the recent denial regards the Trump campaign's (untimely and improper) request to participate.
https://law.umn.edu/events/section-3-insurrection-and-2024-election
Dunno how to do it, but it's not just a good idea; it's the law.
So this is going on in Minnesota,for those who might be interested: https://law.umn.edu/events/section-3-insurrection-and-2024-election
All I know is this has been Friday the 13th and the Maddox didn’t fire on the Turner Joy. WTF.
George, this is what they seem to have forgotten. In both houses!
Clearly the republican tree must be refreshed ...this time with resounding defeat at the voting booths. if we can get that far...
Yes, because like it or not, we need the so-called "Republican" Party. The two-party system, and the two specific parties we have, are enshrined in law to such an extent as to make it impossible to replace either of them with another, and however bad the two-party system may be, a one-party system would be worse.
Agreed, although I'm not sure that the current "Republican Party" qualifies. Good faith debate helps keep us honest and can further insight. An organization for which lying and treachery is their central strategy, a party devoted to becoming the only party, really doesn't fill the bill. Yes we need the dialectic dynamic of two (perhaps more, though that has its own pros and cons) contrasting points of view, but it only works when cheating is kept to a minimum by public demand.
I don’t see how, considering that current Repubs are trying to destroy us.
Why, I think Mr. Allen above has the answer. A "resounding defeat at the voting booths" will discredit those who presently dominate the party and they will, in time, be replaced by others who can win elections.
If we can get that far…
Personally, I don’t see us getting to the polls next year. I’m going to say this with the utmost regret.
If Jim Jordan is made Speaker of the House of Representatives, he will be the last one.
Jordan is a staunch Trumputin sheep. He will do, and has been doing, exactly as Trumputin tells him to do. He will be the 3rd in line to the presidency. Do you understand what that means? IF anything happens to President Biden and Vice President Harris, then we have President Jim Jordan, the 48th President of the United States.
He will be the last. He will pardon Trump, name Trump as his Vice President, then he’ll step down turning it over to Trump. Then he’ll turn this nation into a dictatorship with a few swipes of his ink pen. He’ll have exactly what he wants.
Either that, or he’ll leave Jordan there and tell him exactly what to do, and have Jordan do it. Either way, Democracy and our Constitution will be gone!
agreed completely...its more about soundly thumping the current boneheads at the voting booth in hopes that a more reasonable crop will eventually emerge...but I am not holding my breath.
If we can get that far. I hate to see a vision of what we will look like by 2025. Of course the republicans have a vision of what they want, Project 2025. Be very afraid.
Not that many speak of the republican ideal; too often confused with a criminal organization using a name that is spelled the same way. We need to rescue it though.
When the cat's away the mice will have more wars.
Instability is a dangerous thing.