There’s a moment in Representative Adam Schiff’s 2021 book Midnight in Washington that jumps out. The book centers around the first impeachment of former president Trump for withholding congressionally approved funds for Ukraine to fight off Russian incursions. In managing the impeachment trial before the Senate, Schiff (D-CA) and his team had prepared thoroughly and carefully to demonstrate that Trump had, in fact, withheld the money in order to force Ukraine’s new president, Volodymyr Zelensky, to help Trump rig the 2020 election.
Rubio in his last election said he would be a check upon Trump. He ended up being a Trumpanze. Ian decimates Florida due to climate change and both Rubio & Scott are climate change deniers. WHERE IS THE PRESS CONFRONTING THEM AND REMINDING VOTERS OF THEIR LIES? The Press is pretty worthless also. The Press is not as culpable as the GOP, but it is culpable.
Donald Trump would be nowhere without the aid of a complicit Republican Party that has been scheming for decades to do exactly what they are doing now.
I trust the honorable Governor of Florida will be policing the inevitable surge of the folks he hates so much as they are called to the state to replace the walls and roofs of his supporters who will and now do need them? I get not getting oranges, but how does he expect to rebuild the most precious and valuable parts of his State (in a timely fashion) without those people? Good luck Ronnie. Good luck.
As a non lawyer, I am convinced that Florida Governor DeSantis and his minions flagrantly broke laws in their political caper to falsely entice 48 Venezuelan asylum seekers in Texas to be flown to Massachusetts with the promise of “up to eight months of cash assistance.”
It appears that Perla Huerta, a woman with a background in counterintelligence, went from Tampa to Texas with funds to organize this ‘political caper.’ She recruited desperate Venezuelans in grocery stores and elsewhere, providing McDonald meals and, on occasion, motel accommodations.
Under false pretenses four dozen Venezuelans were put on a plane (funded with $615,000 drawn from a Florida budget item authorizing $12 million “to create a program for transporting UNAUTHORIZED MIGRANTS OUT OF FLORIDA.)
Upon arriving at the Marthas Vineyard Airport, these Venezuelans were offloaded and dumped on the tarmac without funds, food, or any assistance. Local individuals and community services rescued these abandoned human beings.
The Marshall Court (1801-1835) interpreted the Commerce Clause of the Constitution to give Congress jurisdiction over numerous aspects of intrastate and interstate commerce as well as activities that had traditionally been regarded not to be commerce.
THE VIRTUAL KIDNAPPING OF 48 VENEZUELAN ASYLUM SEEKERS IN TEXAS AND THEN FLYING THEM TO TWO OTHER STATES BEFORE DUMPING THEM IN MASSACHUSETTS WOULD APPEAR TO BE AN INTERSTATE CRIME.
Moreover, DeSantis’s use of funds designated to transport unauthorized migrants out of Florida to recruit Venezuelans in Texas to be flown to Marthas Vineyard clearly is illegal.
A sheriff in Texas currently is exploring the legality of this operation. Several Venezuelans have filed suit about their being illegally shanghaied.I would hope that the Department of Justice would focus on the ‘interstate’ illegality of this political travesty.
Presidential aspirant DeSantis’s Marthas Vineyard’s ‘political caper’ reminds me of the Hunt/Liddy Nixon White House Plumber’s Unit, whose activities, while despicable and illegal, did not engage in human trafficking.
“In an ever-changing, incomprehensible world the masses had reached the point where they would, at the same time, believe everything and nothing, think that everything was possible and nothing was true… The totalitarian mass leaders based their propaganda on the correct psychological assumption that, under such conditions, one could make people believe the most fantastic statements one day, and trust that if the next day they were given irrefutable proof of their falsehood, they would take refuge in cynicism; instead of deserting the leaders who had lied to them, they would protest that they had known all along that the statement was a lie and would admire the leaders for their superior tactical cleverness.” Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism
Joyce Vance talks tonight at her Substack (you should subscribe!) about whether DeSantis and the people involved in this fakakte could be charged under Federal Kidnapping laws and concludes that a case can be made - assuming a US attorney could be found to take it.
Robert Hubbell (another Substack you should subscribe to) has a good description of the issues that are coming on "The First Monday in October" at the Supreme Court.
Hannah Arendt - the banality of evil - Adam Schiff the use of lies and misinformation and GOP cowardice and complicity in evil - Mitt Romney on his lack of courage in ignoring obstruction - all that’s necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing - Edmund Burke - a republic if you can keep it - Ben Franklin - let’s roll, the Flight downed over Pennsylvania - Pan Am flight 103 over Scotland - Never Again - the Holocaust - a day that will live in infamy - our last declaration of war - Eddie Adams photograph of the street shooting and the photo of the burning girl in the My Ly massacre - Nobel James Franck - The Franck Report - The Manhattan Project - Putin’s lies about voting in the Donbas - nuclear war - the only thing we have to fear is fear itself - the cause of prejudice is fear and ignorance - racism in America - Jews will not replace us - racism in state governments - the stench in SCOTUS - complicit MSM support of Trump coming down the escalator - the pathological liar in chief -
Do we need more? Will DOJ investigate and indict and convict?
The R’s are complicit as hell. Their denials are catching up with them. Putin is so similar except...he is in control of nuclear weaponry with the flick of the switch. The R’s are not, thank goodness! Trump is the R’s nightmare not their leader. He cannot stand being ignored so he blabbers untruths and threats. The more threats, the louder he becomes but the DOJ is taking notes and adding things to their already bulging list of charges. Okay, I have seen and heard enough. That SOB should be dragged off to prison. If that cannot be acknowledged, then isolate him from “friends” and family. Squeeze him until he panics and cries uncle.
The Republicans continue to be complicit because they need the TFG’s MAGA Mob to keep their seats. That is the GOP’s millstone and the threat to our democracy. Does the MAGA Mob know they’re being lied to by their messiah and still run to him? I think they choose to believe whatever he says, and will continue to do so no matter what the verdict of any trial or the result of any election.
DiSantis should send that plane back to Martha's Vineyard to pick up those migrants -- Florida is going to need a LOT of workers to clean up and rebuild after Ian!
"But leaders embraced the lies because they reinforced those leaders’ superiority, and gave them power, over those who did believe them."
Substitute a few words and it sounds so much like "religion is excellent stuff for keeping the common people quiet. Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich." Napoleon Bonaparte
I wish there was some point where I said, Ah, I didn’t know that. But I would guess that all who comment here know well the truth of the lies. It’s too bad that I don’t hear political ads that say loud and clear. Republicans want to kill SS, Medicare, Democrats are not for open borders, republicans want to control women’s bodies tell you and doctor what is acceptable for you ((including birth control), Democrats have lowered the deficit and provided for middle class expansion, etc. instead I hear the same old blather. There are many groups working to address these issues and I applaud and support them. But the narrative from MSM is still pretending that republicans are legitimate actors instead of “crisis actors,” with a script straight out of Hannah Arendt’s world.
As an expat American living in Europe, I think there is a clear message in the recent Swedish and Italian elections. Immigration is turning otherwise sensible people to the Right. Immigration reform in America is long overdue and the Biden government needs to face this before 2024.
America is the land of immigrants. Immigrants built modern America, supplying labor in the era of industrialisation. But our system is out of control. We need to address these issues immediately to keep Americans from copying both northern, otherwise progressive Sweden and southern, historically fascist Italians. It is not too late, but it must be done.
"I think they know they are being lied to, but hate being wrong and admitting they were lied to."
There is that, plus, I think, if the MAGA Mob acknowledges losing an election, they're acknowledging minority status. That would mean it is no longer "their" country; they have to share it with people they don't like or understand, on an equal basis. They really don't want to swallow that pill.
It was my understanding that TFG ended funding to Mexico that helped Mexico secure their southern border. And the result was more people making it to our southern border states. If that is so, did any funding resume with Biden administration?
Hopeful Beto has a chance to resolve Texas border issues.
Watching video of Ukraine is sickening. Putin is just a KGB thug! Stuck in a Cold War past. I am very hopeful the Ukrainian people can win this war!
Thank you, Heather! Your insight always enlightens!
This is related (even if it seems out of left field): PM Liz Truss, who on the day of her assumption of leadership in the UK, declared her devotion to Reaganomics, has--in less than a week--rolled back her demands about lowering the income tax rate for highest earners in the UK because she caused the pound sterling and the FTSE to plummet and interest rates to shoot up. And why did she walk back what was clearly one of the stupidest plans ever? Because Truss is not just PM. She is a member of Parliament who has to answer to her constituents at every election. Who is legally required to have a regular "clinic" (in US lingo a Town Hall) in which her own constituency has an opportunity to pepper with questions, submit requests for action, etc. Amurrikans think that our lopsided system--congressional districts were capped to 435 in 1929, which is why Wyoming has more representation per capita than CA or NY--is one in which congresspeople have to answer to their constituents. They're wrong, as we know all too well. Because US reps don't have to look people in the eye and explain why they're behaving so badly, we have lost any semblance of representative democracy. And because the cap also has a huge effect on the Electoral College, the presidency is also under the thumb of the same rigged system. There are ways to fix this, but the fat-arses in Washington don't have the political will to do so. And now we have a SCOTUS that is actively seeking to impose a theocracy on the USA, because of the absolute spinelessness of the people who are supposed to be representing us.
Rubio in his last election said he would be a check upon Trump. He ended up being a Trumpanze. Ian decimates Florida due to climate change and both Rubio & Scott are climate change deniers. WHERE IS THE PRESS CONFRONTING THEM AND REMINDING VOTERS OF THEIR LIES? The Press is pretty worthless also. The Press is not as culpable as the GOP, but it is culpable.
Donald Trump would be nowhere without the aid of a complicit Republican Party that has been scheming for decades to do exactly what they are doing now.
Hypocracy On top of itself.
I trust the honorable Governor of Florida will be policing the inevitable surge of the folks he hates so much as they are called to the state to replace the walls and roofs of his supporters who will and now do need them? I get not getting oranges, but how does he expect to rebuild the most precious and valuable parts of his State (in a timely fashion) without those people? Good luck Ronnie. Good luck.
As a non lawyer, I am convinced that Florida Governor DeSantis and his minions flagrantly broke laws in their political caper to falsely entice 48 Venezuelan asylum seekers in Texas to be flown to Massachusetts with the promise of “up to eight months of cash assistance.”
It appears that Perla Huerta, a woman with a background in counterintelligence, went from Tampa to Texas with funds to organize this ‘political caper.’ She recruited desperate Venezuelans in grocery stores and elsewhere, providing McDonald meals and, on occasion, motel accommodations.
Under false pretenses four dozen Venezuelans were put on a plane (funded with $615,000 drawn from a Florida budget item authorizing $12 million “to create a program for transporting UNAUTHORIZED MIGRANTS OUT OF FLORIDA.)
Upon arriving at the Marthas Vineyard Airport, these Venezuelans were offloaded and dumped on the tarmac without funds, food, or any assistance. Local individuals and community services rescued these abandoned human beings.
The Marshall Court (1801-1835) interpreted the Commerce Clause of the Constitution to give Congress jurisdiction over numerous aspects of intrastate and interstate commerce as well as activities that had traditionally been regarded not to be commerce.
THE VIRTUAL KIDNAPPING OF 48 VENEZUELAN ASYLUM SEEKERS IN TEXAS AND THEN FLYING THEM TO TWO OTHER STATES BEFORE DUMPING THEM IN MASSACHUSETTS WOULD APPEAR TO BE AN INTERSTATE CRIME.
Moreover, DeSantis’s use of funds designated to transport unauthorized migrants out of Florida to recruit Venezuelans in Texas to be flown to Marthas Vineyard clearly is illegal.
A sheriff in Texas currently is exploring the legality of this operation. Several Venezuelans have filed suit about their being illegally shanghaied.I would hope that the Department of Justice would focus on the ‘interstate’ illegality of this political travesty.
Presidential aspirant DeSantis’s Marthas Vineyard’s ‘political caper’ reminds me of the Hunt/Liddy Nixon White House Plumber’s Unit, whose activities, while despicable and illegal, did not engage in human trafficking.
“In an ever-changing, incomprehensible world the masses had reached the point where they would, at the same time, believe everything and nothing, think that everything was possible and nothing was true… The totalitarian mass leaders based their propaganda on the correct psychological assumption that, under such conditions, one could make people believe the most fantastic statements one day, and trust that if the next day they were given irrefutable proof of their falsehood, they would take refuge in cynicism; instead of deserting the leaders who had lied to them, they would protest that they had known all along that the statement was a lie and would admire the leaders for their superior tactical cleverness.” Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism
Joyce Vance talks tonight at her Substack (you should subscribe!) about whether DeSantis and the people involved in this fakakte could be charged under Federal Kidnapping laws and concludes that a case can be made - assuming a US attorney could be found to take it.
Robert Hubbell (another Substack you should subscribe to) has a good description of the issues that are coming on "The First Monday in October" at the Supreme Court.
Hannah Arendt - the banality of evil - Adam Schiff the use of lies and misinformation and GOP cowardice and complicity in evil - Mitt Romney on his lack of courage in ignoring obstruction - all that’s necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing - Edmund Burke - a republic if you can keep it - Ben Franklin - let’s roll, the Flight downed over Pennsylvania - Pan Am flight 103 over Scotland - Never Again - the Holocaust - a day that will live in infamy - our last declaration of war - Eddie Adams photograph of the street shooting and the photo of the burning girl in the My Ly massacre - Nobel James Franck - The Franck Report - The Manhattan Project - Putin’s lies about voting in the Donbas - nuclear war - the only thing we have to fear is fear itself - the cause of prejudice is fear and ignorance - racism in America - Jews will not replace us - racism in state governments - the stench in SCOTUS - complicit MSM support of Trump coming down the escalator - the pathological liar in chief -
Do we need more? Will DOJ investigate and indict and convict?
Does AG Garland have a choice - and the courage.
The consequences. Banality of Evil.
Hannah Arendt.
The R’s are complicit as hell. Their denials are catching up with them. Putin is so similar except...he is in control of nuclear weaponry with the flick of the switch. The R’s are not, thank goodness! Trump is the R’s nightmare not their leader. He cannot stand being ignored so he blabbers untruths and threats. The more threats, the louder he becomes but the DOJ is taking notes and adding things to their already bulging list of charges. Okay, I have seen and heard enough. That SOB should be dragged off to prison. If that cannot be acknowledged, then isolate him from “friends” and family. Squeeze him until he panics and cries uncle.
The Republicans continue to be complicit because they need the TFG’s MAGA Mob to keep their seats. That is the GOP’s millstone and the threat to our democracy. Does the MAGA Mob know they’re being lied to by their messiah and still run to him? I think they choose to believe whatever he says, and will continue to do so no matter what the verdict of any trial or the result of any election.
The tail really is wagging the dog.
DiSantis should send that plane back to Martha's Vineyard to pick up those migrants -- Florida is going to need a LOT of workers to clean up and rebuild after Ian!
"But leaders embraced the lies because they reinforced those leaders’ superiority, and gave them power, over those who did believe them."
Substitute a few words and it sounds so much like "religion is excellent stuff for keeping the common people quiet. Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich." Napoleon Bonaparte
Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose....
I wish there was some point where I said, Ah, I didn’t know that. But I would guess that all who comment here know well the truth of the lies. It’s too bad that I don’t hear political ads that say loud and clear. Republicans want to kill SS, Medicare, Democrats are not for open borders, republicans want to control women’s bodies tell you and doctor what is acceptable for you ((including birth control), Democrats have lowered the deficit and provided for middle class expansion, etc. instead I hear the same old blather. There are many groups working to address these issues and I applaud and support them. But the narrative from MSM is still pretending that republicans are legitimate actors instead of “crisis actors,” with a script straight out of Hannah Arendt’s world.
As an expat American living in Europe, I think there is a clear message in the recent Swedish and Italian elections. Immigration is turning otherwise sensible people to the Right. Immigration reform in America is long overdue and the Biden government needs to face this before 2024.
America is the land of immigrants. Immigrants built modern America, supplying labor in the era of industrialisation. But our system is out of control. We need to address these issues immediately to keep Americans from copying both northern, otherwise progressive Sweden and southern, historically fascist Italians. It is not too late, but it must be done.
"I think they know they are being lied to, but hate being wrong and admitting they were lied to."
There is that, plus, I think, if the MAGA Mob acknowledges losing an election, they're acknowledging minority status. That would mean it is no longer "their" country; they have to share it with people they don't like or understand, on an equal basis. They really don't want to swallow that pill.
Thank you for responding to my post.
It was my understanding that TFG ended funding to Mexico that helped Mexico secure their southern border. And the result was more people making it to our southern border states. If that is so, did any funding resume with Biden administration?
Hopeful Beto has a chance to resolve Texas border issues.
Watching video of Ukraine is sickening. Putin is just a KGB thug! Stuck in a Cold War past. I am very hopeful the Ukrainian people can win this war!
Thank you, Heather! Your insight always enlightens!
This is related (even if it seems out of left field): PM Liz Truss, who on the day of her assumption of leadership in the UK, declared her devotion to Reaganomics, has--in less than a week--rolled back her demands about lowering the income tax rate for highest earners in the UK because she caused the pound sterling and the FTSE to plummet and interest rates to shoot up. And why did she walk back what was clearly one of the stupidest plans ever? Because Truss is not just PM. She is a member of Parliament who has to answer to her constituents at every election. Who is legally required to have a regular "clinic" (in US lingo a Town Hall) in which her own constituency has an opportunity to pepper with questions, submit requests for action, etc. Amurrikans think that our lopsided system--congressional districts were capped to 435 in 1929, which is why Wyoming has more representation per capita than CA or NY--is one in which congresspeople have to answer to their constituents. They're wrong, as we know all too well. Because US reps don't have to look people in the eye and explain why they're behaving so badly, we have lost any semblance of representative democracy. And because the cap also has a huge effect on the Electoral College, the presidency is also under the thumb of the same rigged system. There are ways to fix this, but the fat-arses in Washington don't have the political will to do so. And now we have a SCOTUS that is actively seeking to impose a theocracy on the USA, because of the absolute spinelessness of the people who are supposed to be representing us.