At about 2:30 am, police in San Francisco responding to a call discovered that an assailant had broken into the San Francisco home of House speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and attacked her husband, 82-year-old Paul Pelosi, with a hammer, shouting, “Where’s Nancy?” The attacker apparently tried to tie Mr.
Why isn’t this being called an assassination attempt? Pundits call the attacker a home invader or an intruder, but in fact he was trying to assassinate the Speaker of the House.
If we had called it an assassination attempt, as it was, then the other side wouldn’t have been able to pivot to “crime is everywhere.”
This was an assassination attempt by a terrorist. Call it what it was. MTG calling for Pelosi’s death because she’s a traitor and Bobart running a new add targeting Pelosi that ends with gun shots are also federal crimes against a member of congress yet where are the consequences for their actions. It is time they are held accountable.
I don’t understand how they are still in Congress. How are their no consequences for these people? The have defiled the elected position of being a member of Congress.
Assassination attempt? No... not at all. Not with a hammer. Where is Nancy? That was the Jan 6 chant by the break in butt heads. The 250 pound disheveled San Francisco male psycho wanted to make a statement, get attention, find his way on Face Book or Twitter or your favorite anti social social platform for your personal amusement. He saw the Capitol break in. He is a typical nut job, he’s desperate for attention, he’s not Lee Harvey Oswald or Jack Ruby. He’s an internet FB midnight wanna be. He’s a whack job, a total psycho. He’s not The Uni-Bomber mailing mini bombs.
He did not buy Twitter, he did not found MAGA and try to destroy voting or spread lies - he is not a reasoned intellectual, a Mega Billionaire, a college debater... he’s a local jerk with a hammer.
He represents the pathetic Freudian ID of the American psycho boat with no rudder. He’s just plain stupid, dumb and will shortly be forgotten.
Man’s insanity knows no bounds. Political insanity defies logic and is especially deadly. It is common to dictatorships and totalitarian regimes.
Speaker Pelosi’s husband was attacked by a deranged psychotic narcissist assailant influenced by President Trump and his followers, many of whom are known for their violent behavioral patterns and their violent behavior in words - now a platform for this psychotic narcissist who wants to kill or to be killed, or both, and is going to be charged and sentenced for his actions. These people often repeat and lie, their actions will be copied by others, and repetition is its own process and crime. President Trump’s words constitute a threat and a provocation - witness January 6th. The DoJ and AG must charge President Trump for his conduct. Trump must be charged, convicted and sentenced for his role in January 6th, and for his other illegal acts and violations and behaviors. No man is above the law, no president should be above the law. The congress has twice impeached President Trump. Republican failure to convict may be seen as enabling and damaging to democracy.
We, the people, cannot abdicate our responsibility in such matters lest we encourage more of the same. No president should be pardoned for crimes against the state. President Ford’s pardon of President Nixon was generous but poorly advised. Nixon was guilty and should have been charged, convicted and sentenced.
Assassins aren’t required to be rational, thoughtful, political, or competent. Squeaky Fromme, John Hinkley, Jared Lee Loughner - all attempted to assassinate. The goofballs in Michigan who plotted to kidnap the governor - had they actually kidnapped her, they would probably have killed her - she thinks so, and she’s right.
Assassination attempt targeting the Speaker of the House. Yes, that’s what it was and that’s what it should be called.
A more tempered appraisal of the event, Sandy. Thanks. He is a street thug come indoors. Possibly guilty of a crime above his pay-grade, but not the tip of the spear assaulting democracy. Assault and battery of Mr Pelosi with Mr Pelosi's hammer. Nothing strategic, but an incited thug acting out anger and fear. I also think MSM will run with this and all sorts of talking head analyzes until we all look ridiculous in for outrage and grand cospiriaracies.
"Incited" is the key word, Fred. A hammer is also a weapon. And the rhetoric by high-placed Trumplicans (ie,elected to office) is the incitement. No, he's not the tip, but he is an example of the strategy to use unstable people to carry out the hinted-at violence by the people spouting this ugly rhetoric that they then can dismiss as "jokes" or "misunderstanding".
I am very very far from being a conspiracy theorist, and I do not believe that this meets the basic conditions of a conspiracy in itself. But I believe that it is absolutely a valid example of the consequences of irresponsible (at best) accusations and "hypothetical" actions that certain high-level right wing politicians plant among their followers. Then they can legitimately claim they are not responsible for the actions of some pathetic people who are carrying out what they have been primed to interpret as instructions from the top. People who are being set up to further the schism and the fear that are now permeating America.
I suspect that the only way out is to stop giving power to the ones at the top of this peculiar pyramid of lies and schemes. Every single time something like this happens, this discussion goes off the rails. Exactly what the wealthy right wing Trump supporters want. Those are the people to worry about, if we want to keep our democracy. It's less in danger than we think, but we keep tripping over our own feet by letting them distract us.
Go vote. Show up at meetings of local decision-making bodies. Keep up with your state legislature. Write letters to the editor. Let your legislator know what you think is important (especially if you don't like them). It will all take less time and energy than you all expend on railing online.
Appreciate your post. Something callow in how MSM will play this over and over until our concern with incitement, sedition, treason, and planned attacks get trivialized by what many will see as a thug doing what thugs do and while ranting slogans. Not diminishing the act, just concerned that we not come across with protests that don't have strategy to indict and bring the bigger fish to justice, not merely incite or react with fury and noise. We have to do your last items, over and over, even when Ron Johnson bans our emails and mailings to him with viewpoints that are not to his liking, which make me write even more often.
It is high time to indict and charge all the Republicans from the Fat Boy through Congress snd the country who are promoting violence and turning loose assholes like the one attacking Mr Pelosi.
Brian.. Bryan..do not fail to consider that "Corporations" (also deemed citizens, ughh) own the news medics and exert deep concern for language or words such as you suggest. After all, corporate profits are the bottom line here, so carefully shrouded by turning news to pablum. Next..
There is still time to do so. Events take place then analysis evolves by applying critical thought to observations & definitions. Attempted assassination continued from 1/6 threats. NOT random crime.
To be a crime, an act must be capable of completion. Pointing a gun at someone and pulling the trigger is not attempted murder if the firing pin has been removed. As Nancy Pelosi was in DC, it San Francisco, there was no reasonable chance that the attacker could have murdered her. But he will be convicted of attempted murder of Paul Pelosi, and sent away for a very long time..
Sorry to repeat, but I am raising a messaging question, not a legal question. The failure to frame this as an assassination attempt allowed Fox to run with a "crime is everywhere under Democrats" storyline. That would have been prevented if our story from the start and across the board had been "An attempt to assassinate the Speaker of the House failed last night. In the struggle, Paul Pelosi, husband of Speaker Nancy Pelosi, was seriously injured and rushed to hospital. The would-be assassin was taken into custody."
We are journalists and pundits and TV hosts, not lawyers. Our jobs are to deliver messages and change minds. Someone else can deliver the law.
OK, I see your point. You may be right, although I suspect that Fox would have had no trouble re-casting it as "crime is everywhere under Democrats," no matter what the authorities said or other (real) news outlets presented.
"Intent" is part of the law in some states, but how it is considered varies a lot. I don't think any of us know how this one will play out. In some states, the process is to consider what the crime is and them try on guilt or innocence based on evidence. If there are questions about competency or mental illness, that comes during sentencing phase. In other states (VT is one), there is still an "not guilty by reason of insanity" plea option at the trial. Legal insanity is not the same as a psychological condition, but addresses only if the individual is capable of knowing right from wrong. There's lots of literature in academia, mental health fields and criminal justice about this, but there is no good answer.
Personally, I prefer the system in which it is first determined whether or not the detainee committed the crime, and then a determination of their mental health status to ascertain which institution they belong in.
It's better justice all around. Not guilty because of insanity is a questionable defense that can leave victims without a sense of closure on one hand, and the potential that someone with that verdict could be indefinitely held in a mental health facility without the kind of legal safeguards that a guilty verdict would provide.
I don't know what California's laws are on this. I do know that in my state, right now a man known to be mentally ill is being tried for the grisley, very public murder of his wife- and our laws permit a not guilty by reason of insanity defense. What then is a huge matter of discussion.
Though the circumstances and intent are different in each of these cases, upstream Trump supporters are clearly using a baiting strategy to encourage unstable people to carry out actions that leave Trumpists in the clear. So perhaps it's something we need to give some thought to.
I think the law is the same in all states that for an act to be a criminal attempt it must be capable of completion--so the example I gave of intending to kill someone with a pistol that will not fire (is incapable of firing). Insanity--in some cases it may include diminished responsibility--is a defense or a mitigation (lessening of responsibility) that the defense may raise.
Good point, Jon. There are a lot of complexities in most state laws regarding this kind of crime, and gray areas. It's hard enough to grasp the intricacies and implications of one state where criminal law is concerned. So I will take your word on this. At any rate, this is a question for the prosecutor in CA and for whoever takes on the representation for the guy.
This is not a legal question. It is a communications and messaging question. The legal details are not important. The messaging is what needs to change.
That's one of the things I call them these days. I also use inane, idiotic, willfully ignorant, and my mother's favorite, troglodytes with delusions of adequacy.
"Defective" is accurate. As in "that there boy just ain't right!"
I always have to laugh at the "incels." They fail to realize that when the rest of the world looks at them, they don't see the Swave and Deboner International Man of Mystery that these guys see in the bathroom mirror.
Yes! yes! yes! It’s time. Thank you, Donna, for sharing. I forgot about this video and its message. It’s Time! And on Robert Reich’s page I replied to a poster who said women should do more, with a reply and with a link to the Greek Comedy, “Lysistrata” “Lysistrata persuades the women of the warring cities to withhold sexual privileges from their husbands and lovers as a means of forcing the men to negotiate peace—a strategy, however, that inflames the battle between the sexes.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lysistrata
Maybe a little snarky, but how do you respond to a message that overlooks that women have been voting for 100 years in a country that franchised white men in 1776-78? As if women’s voices were even heard. And the ERA wasn’t ever passed. And the first woman in the legislature was Jeanette Rankin from Montana in 1917, the years my Mother was born.
Let's not forget that these MAGA troglodytes are white men from the bottom half of the I.Q. chain who, as children, received little or no toilet training, as evidenced by the smeared feces on the Capitol walls. All of MAGA's actions smack of infantilism.
Certainly some of the people in MAGA are like that, particularly those drawn to militias or influenced by them and by pseudo-info sources. But I distrust generalizations like yours. To me, it suggests something much like so many Trumpists: an inability to think beyond over-simplified cliches and unfamiliarity with the many studies by reliable observers on those who support Trump and why. They are not monolithic. The studies are very illuminating- and necessary if we are to ever get past thinking of each other in this way.
MOST Trump supporters are people who are ordinary people who have for various reasons bought into a system of thinking that is not rational. I don't identify at all with their reasoning , but can understand how they came to the conclusions they did. And part of it has to do with attitudes of people like you.
I try not to blame the victims of a con job, but at what point is the proof of the con enough?
So many are doing mental backflips to avoid digesting facts.
An image crossed my mind as I wrote that. I lived in the country and had several cats in California. One night we had a very rare snowfall; only an inch or so. The cats had never experienced snow. They managed to cross the yard to the barn in acrobatic flights of paw shaking, hissing, and only single paws hitting the ground to propel themselves. Apparently, my psyche is comparing trumpists to that morning.
HER favorite phrase regarding the Right is a hissed, "Vile waste of a perfectly good skin suit." Spoken in her soft voice, it's especially frightening. She sounds like she's making plans for rehoming.
True or not, it doesn't gain you any votes or future votes. Many now remember her for that, unfortunately. And as Mr. Shakespeare says, “The evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft interred with their bones.” Very unfortunate.
Homegrown and hostile foreign entity spawned "Terrorists." Weed them all out. Deport them. If they want to live in a fascist state, move to a fascist country.
Hillary chose an apt description for Trump supporters, and she has been proven correct every day since. She was also spot-on when she sounded the alarm of a vast right-wing conspiracy.
Feckless, weak-kneed Democratic pundits and many of her own supporters cringed instead of defending her. Since then, the right has grown more radical and more extreme. Failure to stand up to the vast right-wing conspiracy has emboldened them and got us to where we are today.
We cannot put aside the fact that harsh, cutting and deplorable rhetoric against Democrats engages and energizes their base. It is way, way past time for the Democratic Party to acknowledge we are in an un-civil war and we're losing badly.
So, I still defend Hillary's use of the relatively innocuous word of "deplorable." I'm glad she called out the obvious and I wish more people and especially the MSM defended her use of the word. Never forget that those deplorable losers are the people who put in power an unhinged narcissistic psychopath and emboldened a party to become a terrorist threat.
I agree that we are now in a civil war, and that we are losing. I do not think the MSM are going to be much of a help - they thrive on "breaking news", and the chaos and outrageousness that is part and parcel to Republican rule is good business for them. The almighty dollar is not on our side. Honestly, I don't know how the world's most successful modern democracies (Denmark, Norway, etc) have managed to rise above and control this kind of deplorable human behavior.
You make two excellent points that cut to the heart of what is happening in this country.
One, the monied interests are not only not on our side; they are squarely on the opposite side doing all they can to pillage and plunder the 99%. If you look at one chart - income and wealth inequality, and you can see that the 99% are working their tails off to further enrich the 1%. Ninety percent of the politicians have sold out to their wealthy donors! The wealthy already are in complete control of the economy and the government, but their greed is insatiable.
I think the U.S. is rather unique in its worship and fealty to money and material worth. I think there is not a society on this planet that is more self-serving and selfish. The obsession with the almighty dollar is not seen elsewhere and it certainly doesn't infiltrate every aspect of our lives (e.g. the media.) As I often say, North Americans live to work; seemingly most people in other countries work to live. The difference is profound when you understand how different people live their lives and how they treat one another.
It is important to recognize that the term did not originate with her: it was in common usage and appeared embarrassingly frequently even in this forum long before Hillary picked it up. Some of us repeatedly tried to discourage its use, but some people just seemed to think that disparaging Trump supporters somehow might magically change their minds. Or, for some, it made them feel superior to people they looked down on.
And it showed. And that ended up playing a far bigger role in why Hillary didn't get the votes she needed to carry the key states that handed the election to Trump via the Electoral College (remember- Hillary won the popular vote handily). When people refer to Hillary's use of the word "deplorables", they are really referring to a widespread attitude that undercut the Democratic message. We can blame ourselves for that.
Actually, there is another angle on this. True that using the word "deplorables" was alienating - but she wasn't going to get their votes anyway. And here is the thing. They ARE deplorable. Maybe if she had been more forceful in such language, she would have stirred up some non voters who saw her as too moderate and part of the old boys system. Maybe if she had called out the thugs for what they are, more of the Bernie Bros would have showed up to vote? She needed more of the Democratic "base". The other "base" was and is utterly hopelessly deplorable and despicable.
And maybe if Hillary had outshouted the pompous con man with a list of his abuses, she would have picked up enough votes. She was too dignified and too professional. Which is why I respect her. But she was bringing a toy rubber sword to a knife fight.
What a better, healthier world this would be if she had won....oy.
Sadly, there is NO WAY that Ms. Clinton would have been dubbed as anything other than shrill, hysterical, and out of control had she actually outshouted tfg in the debates. Trust me on this; women CANNOT have the luxury of righteous anger expression without being demeaned for it.
Totally agree. That is why we gasped when she said deplorables. You need to live in our skin to know the depth of discrimination against woman. We still are fighting for equal pay. Look at the numbers of woman and men in powerful positions. Women who express righteous anger are bitches in this culture. I am sure Janet Mills would have like to reacted to LePage’s bullying of her. I watched her contain herself in the debate. I doubt he would have treated a male opponent like that.
She did win - by 3 million votes! I cannot believe that we still use that outdated electoral college system - you know there is no longer a need for the pony express to get results in....
A sea of "what if's" WRT 2016. It's all about electoral count - she had the popular vote. One thing I think she erred on - there was a debate with Trump where he was roaming around the stage behind her trying to intimidate her while she responded to questions from the moderator. She was clearly aware of it but chose not to react. I almost retched - it was sickening. I believe she needed to lay into him on stage and call out his childish bullying behavior to the moderators right then and there. Something needed to be done and wasn't. Who knows - perhaps some more Ohio farmers would have voted the other way, or more of the less "deplorable" Republican would have stayed home.
James, I agree with you that Trump should have been called out. But that's not on Hillary. The moderators should have stepped in. They didn't. Trump knew where the cameras were and used all the old upstaging techniques in the book.
I think Hillary was in a tough spot, especially as she was trying to emphasize civility. If she had spoken up, all the old tropes would have been in the headlines the next day.
Yes, these are "we should haves" that won't change the outcome. But it makes us rethink where things might have gone differently. We are having a discussion that could help us rethink our reactions in the future. IF we own what happened and how we reacted then so that it increases our awareness of what WE did and didn't do that we could have.
Thank you for reminding us that one of the things still on our to-do list is to get rid of the electoral college. That's been talked about as an anachronism that we need to get rid of since I was a school child, and probably even before then. If it were not for that getting in the way, we could have elected a competent president in 2016 and in 2000.
Couldn't help smiling. Looking back then, when we have a mountain up against us now. It is understandable to go back, as though 'it' was possible then. The present is a tad difficult, so we look around for something else. That's my take, Alec. Your sense of humor moved my dial. Thank you.
Maybe...maybe... Bill too much past and present in her portfolio, Too few Blacks bought in; She was too outside the people without the essence to get in. Chemistry, history, personality, campaign leadership...
I think her portfolio was amazing. Many people appreciated her essence and personality. She would have been a great leader for our country. I still grieve our loss and the continuing ripples from tfg's victory.
And I am going to repeat this again, because an awful lot of people have forgotten it:
It is important to recognize that the term did not originate with Hillary. It was in common usage and appeared embarrassingly frequently even in this forum long before Hillary picked it up.
Some of us repeatedly tried to discourage its use, but some people just seemed to think that disparaging Trump supporters somehow might magically change their minds. Or, for some, it made them feel superior to people they looked down on.
It showed. And that ended up playing a far bigger role in why Hillary didn't get the votes she needed to carry the key states that handed the election to Trump via the Electoral College (remember- Hillary won the popular vote handily).
When people refer to Hillary's use of the word "deplorables", they are really referring to a widespread attitude that undercut the Democratic message. We can blame ourselves for that.
My heart sank when I heard her say deplorables. With the advent of Trump and his language that was nothing. Yet he is a man and woman have different rules. Sexism reigns in this country. Keep the woman barefoot and pregnant and in poverty. Keep them out of positions of power. New Zealand government has a female majority. We have 25% in the government. Never have had a female President.
Me too. My heart sank when she used that word in a debate. She won the popular vote. We must hold on to that and get rid of the Electoral College and keep the Reswamplicans from creating a state legislator vote only mandate.
Actually if my recollection is right, she used that term in an interview, not a debate. But it didn't matter - it was all over the press. It's just the sort of thing that gets people's backs up, no matter how true. It was not helpful.
Yes, it was an interview. And I am going to repeat this again, because an awful lot of people have forgotten it:
It is important to recognize that the term did not originate with Hillary. It was in common usage and appeared embarrassingly frequently even in this forum long before Hillary picked it up.
Some of us repeatedly tried to discourage its use, but some people just seemed to think that disparaging Trump supporters somehow might magically change their minds. Or, for some, it made them feel superior to people they looked down on.
It showed. And that ended up playing a far bigger role in why Hillary didn't get the votes she needed to carry the key states that handed the election to Trump via the Electoral College (remember- Hillary won the popular vote handily).
When people refer to Hillary's use of the word "deplorables", they are really referring to a widespread attitude that undercut the Democratic message. We can blame ourselves for that.
The bullies have the force of gravity on their side. I believe that those who want to raise standards are burdened with speaking more carefully and strategically. The "deplorables" remark was counterproductive. It is simply discounting. Demanding accountability for behavior is another matter. Republican leaders are frequently, provably, and shamelessly lying, and using lies as a weapon. Modern Republicans regularly resort to bullying rather than demonstrating any recognizable virtue.
Have you been watching political ads in Texas, lies on top of lies. And where is the push back. Come on HRC, deplorables is the nicest term I could use. Dems won’t even mention the plan to sunset SS and Medicare. WTH
Yet if TFG had spoken the same word, the world would have looked the other way, maybe not even noticed. Maybe Hillary’s biggest problem is being female. Maybe I already said that.
“The "deplorables" remark was counterproductive.” One word doesn’t lose an election. If it did we wouldn’t be in this fight for Democracy. How many of TFG’s words were lies, slander, libel, hate, inflammatory, disgusting and disrespectful and disturbing? His base before it was even a base loved him. And no matter what word or which female candidate was on the stage with TFG he would have won in their eyes. They didn’t even care about his remarks about grabbing women or his paying off women he abused.
It wasn’t wise only because it didn’t seem to work. The real deplorable was TFG who walked behind Hillary and mocked her all the time she was speaking. Like an uncontrolled child. And the moderator couldn’t control TFG. Or wouldn’t. TFG was performing on just one more show. Was anything hidden in that debate or his campaign? Not quite half the electorate liked him.
Just commented on that above. She was too civil at that moment I believe. I desperately wanted her to turn around and ask Trump just what he thought he was doing, to which he would respond he was just merely stretching his legs or something disingenuous. And then call on the moderators to send him back to his podium, lest she walk out of the debate. But like many women have stated here - the fact that she is a woman might have meant even a reaction such as that would have backfired.
I remember my outrage during the repuklicant primaries, where the "moderators" let the Orange Sadist say ANYTHING he wanted, and never once called him on it. It was horrific. And then, as you say, the debates: sickening!
I think that the Bernie supporters, 20% of whom voted for the Orange Sadist in protest of her candidacy, were the ones who tipped things. Them, with pukin's help I imagine.
In the 2016 primary I voted for Bernie. Then I voted for Hillary in the general.
In the 2020 primary we voted for Warren. Then we voted for Joe in the general.
I still think the principles that Sanders and Warren stand for are spot on. They have the real solutions for the "deplorables" and the rest of the nation. To sit out an election because "your person" didn't get the nod is worse than childish. It is betrayal. To not vote for Hillary or Joe as some protest was A VOTE FOR THE BEAST. Unforgivable, stupid and counterproductive are the kindest words I can come up with. The Earth saw more than four years of environmental degradation. The 2016 election led to the unnecessary deaths of hundreds of thousands due to a maniac at the helm promoting quackery and lies.
Democrats of all stripes and Independents of any leaning need to gather together and fight the fascists. We should be viewing the current political struggle not just as a battle of philosophies. It is no different than a war against an alien invasion.
Some of you may remember the Twilight Zone episode where the humans are boarding a plane while the "friendly space man" smiles as he is reading a large book titled "To Serve Man". That is what the Oligarchs have planned for us. Don't get on the plane.
She won the popular vote. This is what matters. The electoral college must end. The majority of Americans are not on either end of the political spectrum.
I agree with you completely about the absolute necessity of abolishing the electoral college. I also feel strongly that the number of Senators from each state MUST be based on the number of residents. It makes me sick that N. Dakota and California each have two Senators, when there are 30X the number of residents in California. There is absolutely no justice in that. (I, too, wish that Sanders or Warren could have been our President. I marched with the Bernie supporters here in Charleston, SC -- the only old lady in the group. A young friend of mine walked with me. She told me that she wasn't going to vote if Bernie wasn't the Dem candidate. I was very surprised and told her that a no-vote was a vote for the Orange Sadist. She was stunned, and then said, "I never thought of it that way. I need to tell my friends!")
She said later that she knew immediately that she had made a mistake, and wished she had not said that. It is important to recognize that the term did not originate with her: it was in common usage and appeared embarrassingly frequently even in this forum long before Hillary picked it up. Some of us repeatedly tried to discourage its use, but some people just seemed to think that disparaging Trump supporters somehow mightmagically change their minds. Or, for some, it made them feel superior to people they looked down on. It showed. And that ended up playing a far bigger role in why Hillary didn't get the votes she needed to carry the key states that handed the election to Trump via the Electoral College (remember- Hillary won the popular vote handily). When people refer to Hillary's use of the word "deplorables", they are really referring to a widespread attitude that undercut the Democratic message. We can blame ourselves for that.
Absolutely. Outrage and concern about this heinous crime and concern about Paul Pelosi as a victim of this violence should be heard from every repub. Instead we’ve “heard” veiled humor, silence and even blaming Nancy Pelosi. What many repubs don’t realize is that as violence is increasing, they, too, are in danger. This is their opportunity to Apologize and implore their base to end the political violence. Could that happen? We’ve seen too many lost opportunities.
Right-wing media have in fact been publicizing attacks on Republicans recently, in such a way as to present all their opponents as friends of crime, foes and defunders of police, promoters of insecurity... They, of course, promise Law and Order.
Unstated, what kind of "Law", what kind of "Order".
It begins with revenge scenes worthy of what would have happened if the mob had broken into the Chamber before the lawmakers were evacuated and moves inexorably towards a particularly vicious form of totalitarian dictatorship -- witness Putin's Russia today.
And let's not forget that the Republicans are saying out loud that they intend on exacting revenge against Democrats, i.e. impeaching Biden, holding the economy hostage to force Biden to get rid of SS & Medicare, making the #45 tax cuts for the very wealthy permanent, getting rid of the Inflation Reduction Act, thereby increasing inflation, getting rid of its big pharma rules re decreasing medication costs, getting rid of the renewable/green energy aspects of it, dissolving the Jan. 6 Committee etc, etc, etc.
I understand the tax cuts for corporations and uber wealthy don't expire in 2025 as do those for those in the remaining 90% of taxpayers. Revenue from the lower 90% then are expected to offset the other "investment" or "incentives to business and investor" cuts through new economic growth.
I seem to recall Reagan claiming tax cuts for the wealthy would actually increase tax revenues by supercharging the economy; "A high tide lifts all boats", but mostly see cruise-ship sized "super yachts" growing. When it comes to funding education or infrastructure, Republicans say literally "We're broke", and prescribe "austerity".
These threats are beyond idle. The crazies who continue to embrace TFG and the repub lies place us all in danger. Fear is another way to control a population. Fear of the unbalanced or evil, or possible. Or unknown. Paul Pelosi, Nancy Pelosi, even had government protection. How can that be? The Fox guarding the henhouse? So many who identify with Dems, President Biden, Justice, Peace, all of us, are threatened. It would not surprise me if gun sales increase. I know I sound scared. I am.
I think I've already answered you indirectly, Irenie, but... if only this were possible... Unfortunately, it is completely out of character for narcissistic perverts, who thrive on sadism. And you have a whole bunch of suchlike at the core of the MAGA movement, plus terrified but cowardly acolytes baying alongside the leaders of the pack.
*
But I am just wondering if it is not here that I should have asked readers to keep at least a corner of their eye open for another event this weekend. One whose effect could be apocalyptic:
Peter, yes the reelection of Bolsonaro is predicted and is already apocalyptic. This is the kind of “leader” TFG loves and admired. Here’s a fact sheet on him, courtesy of CNN. The world should care but are we all too consumed by the strongmen in our own corners? https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/29/americas/jair-bolsonaro-fast-facts/index.html
I cannot imagine how our country will ever get past the damage Trump and his people has done. The division, the loss of trust in anything said or done, and the hate. It will just get worse with our climate crisis and it feels like our world will become savages with everyone out for themselves.
Perhaps, if FEMA was disbanded and states had to self insure for climate disasters, there would be some sort of reckoning about climate change? Now, big hurricane and in comes those awful Feds. Let DeSantis own the recovery, not Biden.
Hello Florida state income tax. States should all self insofar natural disasters. Perhaps they could borrow from som sort of FEMA account but that money would have to be repaid with interest.
That is the scariest thought for me. The people who are currently sitting in office who do not have the moral fortitude to do the moral thing and speak up and out about what is going on. FRIGHTENING!!!
It's obvious that the Republicans don't care about their constituents, only winning regardless of how many are hurt by their agenda. They have NO morals.
Or in other positions of influence. Republicans are literally attacking "government of the people, by the people, for the people". Literally. I am also surprised to hear so little from churches (which I imagine still exist) that don't subscribe to hating the most deprived, identifying with the wealthiest, and itching to machine-gun one's enemies.
They are the disgusting party of death, totally devoid of any redeeming human characteristics. As for Musk, memes are already appearing which are not flattering.
Not a party any more, nothing political about this mob. There's a mighty struggle coming, now just days away.
When Hillary used that apt word, we laughed in approval because she was heading for the Presidency. Her opponent was so unsuitable that it would have been laughable, had he not been so repulsive.
Yes, the Deplorables, and he was the shepherd of that flock.
They are creating a cult that cultivates malignant narcissism. That what racism and sexism are. That is Putin attacking Ukraine. That's "Proud Boys" and other armed cosplaytriot groups. That's terrorists who think of themselves as heroes. "We are the Master Race" , We are the True Americans". "We are the truly righteous".
“We are the past,” so hope that is true. They are American lowlife run amok. Sorry Bill Maher, not just another tribe. I hope my dear nephew figures that out before he is tainted beyond redemption…
I deactivated my hardly used twitter account today in protest to elon musk. I will also protest via boycotting all advertisers, once I find out who they are. I am commend GM who pulled their advertising. Will write to them to thank them for having the cojones to do the right thing.
I ran out of words a while back because there are none bad enough to do justice to these vile people. I did read an interesting article on rest today in the Science section of the NYT. It is about a black lady who decided she needed to take time to rest and part of her suggestion is taking a rest from social media. What struck me however, was her comments of the exhaustion of her ancestors to benefit white supremacy and capitalism. I hadn't thought about it in exactly that way.
I have a Facebook account because it allows me to keep up with family, friends, ex-students, and it does have a lot of interesting info.....and of course, piles of nonsense.
Janet Ann Applebaum is spot on regarding The Twilight of Democracy. Her superb grounding in the Soviet Union/Russia provides her keen insights into what is occurring in our own country.
Janet Don’t knock that ‘science stuff.’ My MS from MIT provided essential counterpoint to my humanities/economics. Life is a succulent bouillabaisse. Just got to find the appropriate seasonings.
Sorry, Kathy. AZ is a state where members of my family once lived. I've visited there. Love the landscape. But it is one of the most bigoted places I've ever been. Why my relatives left.
Actually, Republican behavior aka Trump behavior is a crime against the state. Such criminal behavior should be investigated, charged and punished. It would make sense for reconstitute the Reconstruction and Rehabilitation of our Country following the Civil War - and put it right.
Our biggest challenge is prosecuting our own behavior. We must bravely and property put right the major transgressions that have been studied and published. We cannot respect ourselves or our flawed nation by ignoring our indecency and banality over time. We can overcome our differences and overcome our indecency by apology and restitution and forgiveness. We must express the truth, confess our history and sins and move on. Our present flirtation with fascism is a legacy of our past. Let’s face ourselves. We can do this.
Last time I was there was 60 years ago, which was bad enough but nothing like now, so you're seeing two more generations of Western Slope Inbreeding. Long enough for the brain to be the first thing to go.
Of which Boebert, the professional permanent juvenile delinquent and statutory raper, is the best example.
I dunno, TC. I lived on the Western Slope, way high up, and what I found was that the majority of people there were relative newcomers or part-timers. I knew a lot of really nice people, many of them old-timers, but there were also a lot of younger people just getting started in another back to the land and sustainability movement.
The worrisome ones to me were entitled wealthy people, and an increasing number of near-ne'er do wells who came because they couldn't manage living outside. Get those two demographics together and they can collectively do a lot of damage to how society works.
I come from people who are pre-adapted to high altitudes, and I had no problems being active at 8500-9000 feet up. But I often wondered if the altitude had something to do with the crankiness of some of the folks up there. Thin air, low oxygen, and bodies not able to adapt well enough. Maybe they'd be normal at 2000 feet. Dunno. Just a thought.
Good Morning, Janet R., A couple Ranges to the East in the SLV. Agast. Drifting out here with like-minded friends in a sea of red on our blue voting life raft with Dr. R and all the remarkable, informed, incouraging folks adding to LFAA.
That has been clear for years now, and the vermin (including friends and family) show their true colors. “Conservative” should have lost it’s attraction when chump claimed it. Instead, republicans embraced the horror of WW2 Nazis and tainted the term forever. They have yet to figure that out. I was banned from Twitter three days before the 2020 election for saying just that. It was not just chump hate speech that was banned, it was posts critical of chump. Well, seems that events have supported my position, have they not???
They are a party with NO platform, NO workable ideas and NO bottom. The R's are only after power and will stoop to any low to radicalize as many useful idiots as they can. Stay focused, engaged and make sure we clear this election that their vision of America is roundly rejected!
The Rethuglican politicians don't condemn violence like this because they are fully intimidated by their f...ed up base. They are so insecure that they might look "weak" or sympathetic. They don't express the horror they should feel when ANYONE is beaten ANYWHERE.
They have no moral compass. And the preachers who don't condemn this act from the pulpit are agents of Satan.
BTW, "Calderone" is a name in my wife's lineage - often mentioned. Probably the generation before "Passo" who came here escaping the Turks in the early 20th century. Big family with lots of "Donnas" as well :)
Whoa!! "Lowest common denominator (LCD) of society"..really? Well, you're right that the most the most vulnerable of our "society" are attracted to the cleverly twisted facts or outright lies. They can hardly read, much less comprehend critically. The "LCD" folks are products of a deficient public education system (6th grade reading level..an average!). I'm sorry. To me, The Scum that has risen to the top., is our very neighbors with the in-ground pool, 4 car garage, children in private school living on Mom's credit card, etc. And "The Scum" begets scum.
I spent years in a public school where, for a time at least, kids could quit school and make more money than we were in the mill. Often education wasn't valued at home and that made it more difficult. Most of us did all we could to help these kids, but for some we simply couldn't overcome their family background. I once had a class in government which was required as I told them, me to teach it and them to pass it. My favorite class had no college prep students in it, but most of them had a desire to graduate, so they worked at it. I had one person fail in the years i taught government and he failed twice and there was no help from home. They also figured out that government was indeed necessary which puts them way ahead of many of the adults I see spouting off today.
I think we have to vote in Republican elections, primaries, state legislator elections. It will take some fancy footwork, i.e. knowing your state’s election laws and registering and re-registering depending on where the most valuable votes are. It may mean sacrificing your voice in some Democratic primaries. (For example, in California, before the “top-two/top-four” primaries, you DIDn’t have to be a registered Democrat to vote the Democratic primary ballot, but you DID have to be a Republican to vote the Republican ballot). We know we outnumber them and that they don’t represent the will of the people, so we have to take over their party, or at least take it away from the Trump crazies.
From Wikipedia (edited for brevity): >>During the Army-McCarthy hearings in 1954, chief counsel for the Army, Joseph N. Welch, in exasperation with McCarthy, said, "Have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?" Welch's TV performance turned the tide of public and press opinion against McCarthy overnight.<<
It's long past time for a "have you no sense of decency" moment by the Democrats toward any Republican candidate, during debates for statewide offices, local offices, whatever. Anyone associated with the Republican party has long ago lost any credibility regarding decency (along with other desirable characteristics).
I’m afraid Dems lost their backbones somewhere along the way. As much as I hate to say it, it’s looking like two Republicans, Adam Kinsinger and Liz Cheney, are voicing their love of country more than anyone currently. Good for them. Maybe this will turn into a good thing.
I still marvel that Republicans have the audacity to refer to Democrats as "radical". Um...exactly WHO is acting "radical" here?? Insurrectionists herding through the Capitol calling for Pelosi, defying laws, bringing our government to a screeching halt, how is this seen as anything but "radical". As seems to once again be the case, Republicans accuse others of the very things they themselves are guilty of. And as has been pointed out before, this is right out of the Nazi/fascist playbook. Only a party bereft of ethics, morals, or an ounce of any remorse or guilt could keep pulling off stuff like this. That's what we're facing, folks. Nothing phases them. Where is Republican outcry for an attack on a House Speaker?? Pursuit of power has blinded them to having any decency. But then, I think we knew this already.
*EDIT* In fairness, some higher profile Republicans have subsequently come out and condemned the attack on Pelosi, but the silence and/or tepid replies from some are certainly telling.
In psychology they call this projection: accusing others of what you actually do. I think that was what the impeachment of Clinton was about: to create him as the Democratic Nixon, to balance the books of “evil”. And the deification of Reagan created a Republican JFK. Except Reagan did nothing admirable. He invaded Grenada so Clint Eastwood could say “America is back”, treasonously blocked Carter’s negotiations with Iran (as Nixon did to Johnson’s Vietnam peace talks), and broke the law with Iran-Contra. A political party led by self-serving, opportunists who have no qualms about sedition or treason.
“As seems to once again be the case, Republicans accuse others of the very things they themselves are guilty of.”
“In psychology they call this projection: accusing others of what you actually do.”
Yup, been seeing this as plain as day for the last 6 years. TFG had a penchant for doing this and convincing everyone his words spoke the truth.
Unless someone has studied psychology and/ or had counseling it’s not likely they will see this much less understand it. Sadly so many under the “spell” of tfg, the propagandist “news” on Fox, etc. etc. are caught in the web of denial and projection. Many of us know what they have been doing and trying to achieve for years. That said Their rhetoric, their projection, is more dangerous now than it has ever been.
Pullman, beautiful summation of the past 50 years. I would add that I believe that the Republican Party has been so angry and humiliated by the successes of FDR and LBJ that they have been on a vengeful mission to wipe clean their accomplishments and find their own messiah thus Ronald Reagan. Jay Essif, Lancaster,Pa.
Or John Wilkes Booth’s cry after shooting Lincoln, “sic semper tyrannis!” thus always to tyrants. He just couldn’t stand it that his side had lost. He wanted to make the south great again. It’s like you’re Isaac Newton and an apple lands on your head and instead of formulating the law of gravity you decide there is somebody hidden in the upper branches who is secretly trying to destroy you. OK, time to attack one of the victims. What the hell was nancy Pelosi doing in Taiwan anyway? Was the January 6th committee getting all the headlines?
'woman in the white house' - a good, old fashioned loretta-lynn-worthy country song. i thought they'd stopped writing them. well, why not? we've tried everything else.
As I understand the terms, "radical" is used to describe the far left and "reactionary" is used to describe the far right. Sadly, the far right is far beyond "reactionary" and has moved the needle all the way over to "fascist". They are so far gone that neither "conservative" nor "right" describe any of their political stances. I have now converted my "RWNJ" from "right wing nut job" to Reich wing nut job". I now add the appropriate letter of the alphabet into my use of the word "RepubliQan".
The good governor is probably right. The political party that quietly (or in MJT's case, not so quietly) condones this sort of awful thing is probably going to take at least partial control in a week and a half. Don't take me wrong - it is my most fervent wish that I will be embarrassed by my false predictions for the election. But I have been around the block a few times, and I think when I smell a skunk, there is a skunk. Human beings are mostly selfish - we can't help it; it's in our genes. You see it everywhere. I think, to put it very simply, there are four kinds of American voters. There are selfish Republicans, selfish Democrats, unselfish Republicans, and unselfish Democrats. I believe 90% of Republicans are selfish, exceedingly so. All rich Republicans are in this category including most of the most powerful people in the country. 99% of racists and red necks and other "deplorables" are in this category. The other 10% are perhaps misguided evangelicals and the like - kind people but listening to the wrong stuff. I believe less than 50% of Democrats are selfish (how much less, I don't know) - most are in need and think they will get more of what they need/want from the Democratic Party. They are OK with "handouts" as long as it benefits them personally. Republicans think all of Democrats are in this category; they are wrong. And greater than 50% are unselfish - the less needy of us who just have a conscience and wish for our country to be more benevolent and caring. I am in the last category as are practically all of LFAA readers. I also think Democratic leaning voters outnumber Republican leaning voters maybe 55/45, but of all those who stay home in disgust or disinterest, by far most are democratic leaning. Do the math. And if that isn't enough, factor in some voter suppression and gerrymandering. My mindset of late is trying to determine how I am going to endure once again living in a country that has lost its way. Where loons like Louie Gohmert and MJT and Jim Jordan hold outsized sway in our government. With a House Speaker named McCarthy, a person I loath almost as much as Trump. And LFAA becomes a sort of underground resistance letter. God how I hope I am wrong.
the part where he says "...we're going to send her back to be with him in California" as if they're somehow in charge of her. There aren't the right word combinations for how this makes me feel.
Heather, my mind is blown by your letter. OMG. Bryan Watson, you got it right! Assassination is exactly what DePape (do you BELIEVE his name???? “Of the Pope”) intended. To kill the Speaker of the House, second in line to become President if the VP cannot take over. I just can’t believe what is happening. I really hope our Fellow Americans get it and VOTE BLUE!
We need every Democrat and Independent to Vote in this election. And if there are any repubs of conscience maybe they will join the few like Liz Cheney. This Vote is a life and death choice.
Right. We can’t count on Independents, but also we can’t really count on every voter who claims to vote for party or answers a survey. It’s a secret ballot. So what’s left? Hope?
What I have left is a hope that at least 10% of white working class women who voted for Trump will vote D next month and, to protect themselves, tell the louts they’re living with that fhey voted R.
Thank you for this column. Thank you for introducing me to the term stochastic terrorism, though it sickens me to have to learn this. And until the MAGAt crowd and the Fox station that supports them acknowledges that this was an assassination attempt on the life of the Speaker of the House, I remain sickened by them. No, I will always remain sickened by them. This is the hell that Donald Trump and his evil sycophants have given us. Sending wishes for recovery to the octogenarian Paul Pelosi; thoughts of healing to the Pelosi family.
I moved from one of the most progressive communities in Massachusetts to a rural area south of the Mason-Dixon. I own and operate a multi-family complex that serves elderly residents with low and moderate incomes, almost all of who have limited education. In contrast, I am a 68 year-old atheist who has voted Republican once (against Ed King) with two graduate degrees.
Many of you mentioned your regret when hearing Hillary use the term “Deplorables” in the presidential debate, understanding that it would alienate a considerable amount of voters. Alas, you now echo those sentiments and paint much of the country with the same broad brush.
My take is that most of the people I meet in my rural community are generally good hearted but products of their upbringing: an insular culture, a bubble of influence dominated by FOX, silos of social media and religion that makes them both vulnerable to demagogues (politicians, tv news personalities and tv preachers). They have been ingrained with the notion “others” are a threat and they can only trust like-kind individuals while needing to “fit in”. Different isn’t welcomed, it is immediately suspect, a suspicion that I felt immediately upon arrival.
That said, people respond well to kindness and a helping hand. They want to make a life and a living and ensure their children and their children’s children have love, happiness, and prosperity. Republican politicians and FOX News personalities promise that but it is illusionary. Joe Biden’s empathy is real and he’s actually trying to do for all Americans what they need and want.
The problem is that there is a disconnect. Individuals who have been taught life is a zero sum game are easily manipulated by demagoguery that tells them that Biden and the Dems are giving all these “others” (minorities, gays, non-Christians, immigrants, transgenders, elitists) what should be “yours”.
By painting these individuals that are being manipulated with a broad brush you do what people like Trump, Hannity and the dark money want. You are telling them we are different, we are a threat to them, they are right to fear and loathe us.
The antidote to that is the type of empathy and broad based social benefit policies that Biden represents. Instead of all the time and energy talking about Trump we need to have repetitive messaging from Biden that he’s bringing Americans together and improving lives. And each of us have to provide individual examples of that reality.
I appreciate your measured approach to those across the Mason-Dixon Line but everything has to be put in historical context.
As Thoreau said “it is the province of the historian to find out, not what was, but is”. There has always been a significant number of people above and below the Mason Dixon line who embrace white supremacy to the fullest. Many of these folks are descendants of confederates and their supporters who will do anything (lynching, bombing, raping, murdering etc) to protect their “whiteness”. It’s a sickness that has infected the whole country and if left untreated it will kill all of us.
Most people want to believe the past is the past but it is not. We’re experiencing the vestiges of an ongoing civil war about whether America is meant to be a country ruled only by White people who oppress others or a country that will be a true democracy that embraces liberty and justice for all.
Our capitalist system has always catered to those with “ capital”. Capitalists define what wages will be and what the cost of goods and services will be. Democracy in America has been severely distorted by capitalism.
Unfortunately we’re living at a time when the weakness of our system, the malice of many (including politicians) and the ignorance/insanity of those who believe in white supremacy is bringing us to the brink of destruction. Racism, anti-semitism, sexism etc. and the violence that goes with crimes against humanity have been allowed to metastasize for far too long.
I have empathy for the people who are deranged because of white supremacy but I refuse to excuse their attitudes and behaviors. Let’s hope there are enough people who standup and VOTE for a more perfect union.
I am not promoting meeting bigotry with silence. Far from it.
I just think we need to understand that there are many people who are good hearted that are still susceptible to to the power of a demagogue. I think a guy like Biden should be able to win them over because he’s offering real solutions, not manipulations. If we we really believe half the country is deplorable then it’s the endgame.
Integration works. Living side by side, sharing life’s benefits and hardships creates kinship. I see it every day.
Paul-I understand your perspective. I just don’t think “good people” with “good hearts” would follow a demagogue like Trump or Murdoch (Fox News). We definitely seem to be facing an end game.
Gina, I think the point is that not every one who supports Trump is unreachable. People often hear the one thing that resonates with them and think the rest is just noise. A number of polls have demonstrated this, as well as investigative stories by journalists who aren't going in with built in assumptions. I'll add that there are not a few people on this forum are the same way in terms of how they think, only with a different set of assumptions.
What you say is true. However, just doing good deeds does not break through to people's consciousness when propaganda in opposition to what is actually happening fills their media exposure.
"Don't believe your own lying eyes" works all too well. Repubs claim credit for programs they voted against, and people don't know that. Unless the truth is shouted out repetitious.
Thanks for your understanding post. Biden is on the right track. Is sad that we don’t have news and reporters anymore people are lost in a fog of noise.
They are not commoners anymore. They are often their own multifaceted media personalities with publicists and marketing agents. The all write books.
MSNBC is the same show every hour with the same breaking news.
I watch MJ blame Biden for not messaging better. He doesn’t have a propaganda arm similar to FOX. They forget the role they played in attacking Clinton in the final weeks of the 2016 election. Post election, Mika slammed SNL for the Halleluja rendition by McKinnon as Clinton saying it was disrespectful to Trump voters.
There’s no Fairness Doctrine. It must be done on our own.
Do you feel like the minds of the people you work with can be changed, after they have been so indoctrinated by those you cite? I live south of the Mason-Dixon Line and have seen the mindset you describe.
Yes, but it is difficult and takes a lot of time to build trust.
Just this morning one guy mentioned to me how crazy it was for someone to go into Pelosi’s home and attack her 82-year-old husband. Alas, a total non-response to my telling him about Republican plans to sunset Social Security and Medicare and to use the debt ceiling budgeting to do it. SS is at least 90% of his income.
Paul, I think that non-response is habit. But you likely planted a seed. And at some point that seed may well make him hear some of the things he's being told in a different way. Once that starts, doubt and uncertainty begins and more questions pop up. Many will not be open about it, especially guys, because, you know, pride. (And possibly fear, thanks to the folks who put people like him down.) May be too late for this election, but it's there now, and we've already seen some folks come around.
I found your and Gina's comments thoughtful, Paul. Gina's for making the case for historical context that explains the wrong in why folks strick with and protect beliefs that benefit them. As you described the bubble in which you are finding your adopted neighbors in rural Red country, the label of "innocence" came to mind. At dinner the other night with old colleagues, we all recounted where to and what our children and grandchildren were up to. Among those of us who moved here to begin our careers, we considered it praiseworthy that our kids and grandkids were spread across the country, some now or having been posted abroad. Among those born here with whom we became friends, they spoke proudly of the fact that all of theirs were living within 40 miles and couldn't think of greater disappointment to not have them close by and in jobs natural to our area. So, the term innocence came then and now as the outside is only curated for them through media like Fox or PBS or the stories, lore, and instilled beliefs that keeps their defined circle of life, experiences, relationships, and, thusly, attitudes and beliefs about good and right preserved. While they do travel for vacations or wintering, they carry with them, metaphorically, the foodand knowledge that they will return untainted by the alien, the foreign, the big city, the theme parks visited, the "gated" recreational parks where they park their 5th wheel or have a timeshare. The innocence of living in a bubble. Disturbing for us in the sense that after 50+ years, we remain outsiders, respected, but outside, though our son, raised here and who came back from outside bringing experiences to share, is accepted ... with qualification. So, perhaps it is not an ignorance or lack of empathy for the strange to them, but the innocence that comports with all things centric for them, that ensures them and supports a bubble, a reality that comes up with every sunrise within that 40-mile of their world. More benign, such innocence, or more intractable given built-in distrust of differences considered unnecessary to a good life?
I have been to 49 of the fifty states, 25+ countries and every continent sans Antartica (Falkland Islands was close).
Well received in every country. Sadly, the coolest receptions were in parts of the US but they pale in comparison to the CNN warm receptions.
I am also outgoing and will talk to anyone so that helps.
I will say I have been astonished at the open racism I encountered and that was true pre-Trump. Alas, Trump has made too many willing to wear racism, misogyny and homophobia like a badge, and laugh at cruelty. That’s hard to comprehend.
Paul, thank you. I wrote something similar several hours after your post, not yet having gotten that far down the posts. On this very forum at one point a fair number of people spent considerable time "deploring the deplorables", post after post, often with course language and labels, and with hideous assumptions about people they know nothing about other than their support of Trump. It was disgusting, and went on for months.
Some were trolls, but some were people who were no better than the people they thought they were describing. Some, thank goodness, responded to the concern expressed by others here and rethought how they looked at folks they considere the "Trump base". I admire them for being willing to do the kind of self -examination that took. Some are people I've come to admire.
But lately this kind of thing has re-emerged. None of us benefit from it. I am grateful for your thoughtful and compassionate post sharing your experience with some of the people who've been targeted by people who should know better. Best of all, you are a living example of the kind of human beings we can be, once we stop pointing fingers and start listening. One thing I would add is that it's not just repetitive positive messaging FROM Biden, but also from us, about what his administration is doing, in terms that reflect how individual lives are being improved.
I think Bernie does a better job than most of relating to working class Americans. His voice is important.
Trump speaks to many of the same Americans as Bernie but he creates a clear divide, is manipulative, exploits fear and stokes resentment. Trump doesn’t really promise much positive, it’s a promise to screw the “others” and, in a zero sum game, you win without really winning.
My problem with Bernie is that he vilified Clinton and Biden (to a lesser extent) and Trump wouldn’t have won without him. Sometimes you have the eat the elephant one bite at a time but Bernie keeps thinking he can get the country to do it in one gulp.
I was a Bernie fan long before he entered national politics because he spoke to the values I try to live by. He lost me, too, when he bad-mouthed Hillary with things he had not bothered to check out. By the time he walked them back it was too late. I agree he is an important voice: he began a much needed refocus of Democratic priorities and we're seeing the results of that now. Or would if more people would take off their blinders.
I disagree that Bernie is trying to get the country "to do it in one gulp", given that he has been at this for over 50 years, beginning at the local level. And he has by no means been at it alone- there are many of us who worked for decades on some of the same issues. But I also think that what Bernie has done is what Bernie is best at. He ran for President to jolt the Dems awake. He succeeded at that. And we are starting the process to get us back on track to join other nations in caring for our citizens instead of pandering to the uber-wealthy.
I agree he refocused the Democratic Party back to the Truman-LBJ days, which is long overdue. Bernie’s $6Trillion proposal “do it in one gulp” Build Back Better at the beginning of the Biden Presidency was an absolute disaster, gave Republicans the ability to say there are no moderate Democrats, and almost prevented anything at all from getting passed. And Shame on Biden for letting him do that.
All negotiations start with the premise that you are never going to get everything you ask for, so you lay out more than you expect. Then you have negotiating room that can allow a great deal of flexibility. I think that is exactly what Biden did. It's how thing are generally done. And in a turn around way that the Republicans didn't see coming. Bernie was not responsible for Republican obstruction. That was going to happen no matter what. Bernie's proposal actually may have helped. I am not exactly looking in from outside on these processes. I have been deeply involved in all kinds of policy negotiations for a long time.
Bernie had waited 30+ years for a receptive audience, and was never a team player--or a Democrat. That's why he had no trouble trashing Democrats who didn't support his "cheering crowds" and did all he could to turn his people away from Hillary in the primary he stayed in after he'd already lost it in 2016. If Bernie had had a mandate, he would've won the 2020 primary. At least in 2020 he couldn't blame "the rigged system."
Like it wasn't since non-Natives landed on these shores? Let's ask the Native Americans
Like it wasn't since the Articles of Confederation? Like it hasn't been since the writing/adoption of the Constitution?
Bernie preaches, and always has, a utopian vision of the US. It is not grounded in reality; if it was, Vermont would've adopted all of his proposals and policies.
At least the Dems keep trying to slowly bend the arc. Blowing it up and starting over is not a Democratic option.
Citizen60, E. Warren has put forth plans to rearrange some of the 'systems' pipes or circulation depending on your image of body/foundation of our functions. Don't there need to be major changes, so, that greater equality is achieved (economically and socially); stronger protection of the people's rights established; regulation of social media enacted; reform of the electoral process to achieve one person, one vote? One change at a time.
Silence would be an improvement. Republicans are openly trying to blame the assassination attempt on Democrats, and there are 74 million Americans who will see it their way.
Thank you for tonight’s note. I am terrified for my Orthodox neighbors in Los Angeles this weekend. I am glad to have your writings as a steady guidepost.
I find the racism and antisemitism absolutely sickening and worry all the time. When will these irrational, man-made constructs atrophy and die away for good?
Assassinating your political opponents is one of the first steps in a fascist takeover. TFG has often suggested revenge against his political opponents if re-elected.
Ted Cruz has said that, if the Republicans take over the House in 2023, they will impeach Biden, even if there is no justification for doing so. He states that, contrary to popular belief, he feels that Trump’s two impeachments had no basis and were strictly political.
With this kind of whipping up of the base, it’s not surprising that anyone who does not publicly shout the big lie about the 2020 election from the rooftops is in physical danger from members of the public who have become convinced that they have a moral obligation to remove those who do not comply.
Thank you for the phrase 'stochastic terrorism'! It still rankles the mind as far back as Bill O'Riellys' repeated comments of 'Diller the killer', openly advocating (as you described) what eventually happened, and then blithely shrugging his shoulders, free from any responsibility for his advocacy however indirect. The same is going on today, a bit more refined, a LOT more blatant.
Going after family members is a mafia trait, a terrorist action, not something we as a nation have held up with pride before.
Yet here we are.
I visit some far Right sites, get a couple of newsletters from the new republican party, and pay attention to what's said between the trolls on social media. The misinformation is rampant and explosive. The fear is real, and Fox continues to feed it. Most won't watch anything that doesn't come from a Far Right source. Religions are being twisted to enhance the fear of "other" people. Only the Red god is true, all others are Satan in disguise.
People are convinced we're in a recession that will become a depression within months. They're scared enough to make it happen if there are enough of them.
There are illegal aliens handing out fentanyl to Trick or Treaters, Blacks are replacing whites in every sector of society, Biden will give Indians (never Native Americans) their land back and whites will have pay back rent for hundreds of years of occupancy, Putin is actually trying to save the US, but our news is being controlled by Obama and Hillary, COVID was made by the Chinese and secret cabals in the Democratic party spread it across the country, COVID is just a fake virus meant to scare people into wearing masks that have a powder in them to make people sheep. . .
There are days my jaw hurts from it hitting the floor. Conspiracy theories don't have to pass any test of logic, much less critical thought.
No, these people aren't necessarily the norm - at least I hope they aren't the norm - but they spread enough misinformation and fear that others start to doubt actual sources of information. That leaves the rest of us trying to disprove something that doesn't exist; there is no "there," there.
How the hell do we help enlighten people who have come to enjoy the darkness of fear and ignorance? I get the physiological concept of endorphins becoming addictive, whether through pleasure or fear, but I don't understand the willful choice to keep pressing the button marked "poison" when every single one of them truly knows right from wrong.
Locally, a Red Cap overhead me talking to a friend about moving to Costa Rica. We'd also been talking politics. He told me good riddance, America didn't need my kind. I let him know my interest in my homeland would not want, that I'd still be voting. He was shocked to learn that was a possibility. I think that's something they should hear more often. Americans may choose to leave the states for a safer place to raise a family, but our right to vote travels with us.
I keep reminding myself Italy got through their fascist phase. I just hope it doesn't get that far.
Are we descending into a period of “religious/political “ wars? Look at history. We need to find common humanity and stop hateful projections against the “other” This is metastatic cancel culture which directly provoked stochastic terrorism
Yes, it is interesting (and novel to some) that a US citizen may choose to live outside the USA but is still entitled to vote. There is a huge group of expats (approximately 9 million) who belong to a group known as Democrats Abroad and who are assisted by this arm of the DNC to vote in (for) their home state. Interestingly, there seems to be no comparable arm of the Republican party.
The attack on Paul Pelosi is a shot across the bow of democracy. The attacker was likely told, by whoever put him up to this, that Congresswoman Pelosi would be returning to San Francisco. Initial reports don't exactly paint the attacker as a genius at planning. I would not be surprised to learn this was a group effort.
According to the news,he was attempting to tie Mr. Pelosi up and wait for Nancy to return. It was an assassination attempt. The attempted murder was because Pelosi fought back. I believe he had the hammer.
Why isn’t this being called an assassination attempt? Pundits call the attacker a home invader or an intruder, but in fact he was trying to assassinate the Speaker of the House.
If we had called it an assassination attempt, as it was, then the other side wouldn’t have been able to pivot to “crime is everywhere.”
Thank you for calling it what it is.
https://www.facebook.com/sherylcrow/videos/335872917599678
This was an assassination attempt by a terrorist. Call it what it was. MTG calling for Pelosi’s death because she’s a traitor and Bobart running a new add targeting Pelosi that ends with gun shots are also federal crimes against a member of congress yet where are the consequences for their actions. It is time they are held accountable.
I don’t understand how they are still in Congress. How are their no consequences for these people? The have defiled the elected position of being a member of Congress.
https://www.facebook.com/sherylcrow/videos/335872917599678
https://www.facebook.com/sherylcrow/videos/335872917599678
Assassination attempt? No... not at all. Not with a hammer. Where is Nancy? That was the Jan 6 chant by the break in butt heads. The 250 pound disheveled San Francisco male psycho wanted to make a statement, get attention, find his way on Face Book or Twitter or your favorite anti social social platform for your personal amusement. He saw the Capitol break in. He is a typical nut job, he’s desperate for attention, he’s not Lee Harvey Oswald or Jack Ruby. He’s an internet FB midnight wanna be. He’s a whack job, a total psycho. He’s not The Uni-Bomber mailing mini bombs.
He did not buy Twitter, he did not found MAGA and try to destroy voting or spread lies - he is not a reasoned intellectual, a Mega Billionaire, a college debater... he’s a local jerk with a hammer.
He represents the pathetic Freudian ID of the American psycho boat with no rudder. He’s just plain stupid, dumb and will shortly be forgotten.
Man’s insanity knows no bounds. Political insanity defies logic and is especially deadly. It is common to dictatorships and totalitarian regimes.
Speaker Pelosi’s husband was attacked by a deranged psychotic narcissist assailant influenced by President Trump and his followers, many of whom are known for their violent behavioral patterns and their violent behavior in words - now a platform for this psychotic narcissist who wants to kill or to be killed, or both, and is going to be charged and sentenced for his actions. These people often repeat and lie, their actions will be copied by others, and repetition is its own process and crime. President Trump’s words constitute a threat and a provocation - witness January 6th. The DoJ and AG must charge President Trump for his conduct. Trump must be charged, convicted and sentenced for his role in January 6th, and for his other illegal acts and violations and behaviors. No man is above the law, no president should be above the law. The congress has twice impeached President Trump. Republican failure to convict may be seen as enabling and damaging to democracy.
We, the people, cannot abdicate our responsibility in such matters lest we encourage more of the same. No president should be pardoned for crimes against the state. President Ford’s pardon of President Nixon was generous but poorly advised. Nixon was guilty and should have been charged, convicted and sentenced.
We are a government of laws or we have chaos.
Except he's admitted his plan was to tie Paul Pelosi up and wait for Nancy to come home.
SF street thugs take the tvs and anything that can be turned into cash. Or simply wholly trash the place. Signed, former SF resident for decades
https://www.facebook.com/sherylcrow/videos/335872917599678
My feeling is that many (most?) T supporters happy some dangerous kook will carry out their wishes, doing their dirty work.
https://www.facebook.com/sherylcrow/videos/335872917599678
Assassins aren’t required to be rational, thoughtful, political, or competent. Squeaky Fromme, John Hinkley, Jared Lee Loughner - all attempted to assassinate. The goofballs in Michigan who plotted to kidnap the governor - had they actually kidnapped her, they would probably have killed her - she thinks so, and she’s right.
Assassination attempt targeting the Speaker of the House. Yes, that’s what it was and that’s what it should be called.
https://www.facebook.com/sherylcrow/videos/335872917599678
A more tempered appraisal of the event, Sandy. Thanks. He is a street thug come indoors. Possibly guilty of a crime above his pay-grade, but not the tip of the spear assaulting democracy. Assault and battery of Mr Pelosi with Mr Pelosi's hammer. Nothing strategic, but an incited thug acting out anger and fear. I also think MSM will run with this and all sorts of talking head analyzes until we all look ridiculous in for outrage and grand cospiriaracies.
"Incited" is the key word, Fred. A hammer is also a weapon. And the rhetoric by high-placed Trumplicans (ie,elected to office) is the incitement. No, he's not the tip, but he is an example of the strategy to use unstable people to carry out the hinted-at violence by the people spouting this ugly rhetoric that they then can dismiss as "jokes" or "misunderstanding".
I am very very far from being a conspiracy theorist, and I do not believe that this meets the basic conditions of a conspiracy in itself. But I believe that it is absolutely a valid example of the consequences of irresponsible (at best) accusations and "hypothetical" actions that certain high-level right wing politicians plant among their followers. Then they can legitimately claim they are not responsible for the actions of some pathetic people who are carrying out what they have been primed to interpret as instructions from the top. People who are being set up to further the schism and the fear that are now permeating America.
I suspect that the only way out is to stop giving power to the ones at the top of this peculiar pyramid of lies and schemes. Every single time something like this happens, this discussion goes off the rails. Exactly what the wealthy right wing Trump supporters want. Those are the people to worry about, if we want to keep our democracy. It's less in danger than we think, but we keep tripping over our own feet by letting them distract us.
Go vote. Show up at meetings of local decision-making bodies. Keep up with your state legislature. Write letters to the editor. Let your legislator know what you think is important (especially if you don't like them). It will all take less time and energy than you all expend on railing online.
Appreciate your post. Something callow in how MSM will play this over and over until our concern with incitement, sedition, treason, and planned attacks get trivialized by what many will see as a thug doing what thugs do and while ranting slogans. Not diminishing the act, just concerned that we not come across with protests that don't have strategy to indict and bring the bigger fish to justice, not merely incite or react with fury and noise. We have to do your last items, over and over, even when Ron Johnson bans our emails and mailings to him with viewpoints that are not to his liking, which make me write even more often.
https://www.facebook.com/sherylcrow/videos/335872917599678
https://www.facebook.com/sherylcrow/videos/335872917599678
It is high time to indict and charge all the Republicans from the Fat Boy through Congress snd the country who are promoting violence and turning loose assholes like the one attacking Mr Pelosi.
https://www.facebook.com/sherylcrow/videos/335872917599678
I just called it an assassination attempt in a conversation with my partner, and I think I've seen it elsewhere as well.
https://www.facebook.com/sherylcrow/videos/335872917599678
Essentially correct.

Brian.. Bryan..do not fail to consider that "Corporations" (also deemed citizens, ughh) own the news medics and exert deep concern for language or words such as you suggest. After all, corporate profits are the bottom line here, so carefully shrouded by turning news to pablum. Next..
https://www.facebook.com/sherylcrow/videos/335872917599678
Very good question.
6 January. Assassination attempt on the Vice President. Even as his life was threatened he was unable to put 2+2 together.
https://www.facebook.com/sherylcrow/videos/335872917599678
There is still time to do so. Events take place then analysis evolves by applying critical thought to observations & definitions. Attempted assassination continued from 1/6 threats. NOT random crime.
To be a crime, an act must be capable of completion. Pointing a gun at someone and pulling the trigger is not attempted murder if the firing pin has been removed. As Nancy Pelosi was in DC, it San Francisco, there was no reasonable chance that the attacker could have murdered her. But he will be convicted of attempted murder of Paul Pelosi, and sent away for a very long time..
Sorry to repeat, but I am raising a messaging question, not a legal question. The failure to frame this as an assassination attempt allowed Fox to run with a "crime is everywhere under Democrats" storyline. That would have been prevented if our story from the start and across the board had been "An attempt to assassinate the Speaker of the House failed last night. In the struggle, Paul Pelosi, husband of Speaker Nancy Pelosi, was seriously injured and rushed to hospital. The would-be assassin was taken into custody."
We are journalists and pundits and TV hosts, not lawyers. Our jobs are to deliver messages and change minds. Someone else can deliver the law.
OK, I see your point. You may be right, although I suspect that Fox would have had no trouble re-casting it as "crime is everywhere under Democrats," no matter what the authorities said or other (real) news outlets presented.
https://www.facebook.com/sherylcrow/videos/335872917599678
Jon,
He asked “where is Nancy?” He didn’t know that she was in DC.
"Intent" is part of the law in some states, but how it is considered varies a lot. I don't think any of us know how this one will play out. In some states, the process is to consider what the crime is and them try on guilt or innocence based on evidence. If there are questions about competency or mental illness, that comes during sentencing phase. In other states (VT is one), there is still an "not guilty by reason of insanity" plea option at the trial. Legal insanity is not the same as a psychological condition, but addresses only if the individual is capable of knowing right from wrong. There's lots of literature in academia, mental health fields and criminal justice about this, but there is no good answer.
Personally, I prefer the system in which it is first determined whether or not the detainee committed the crime, and then a determination of their mental health status to ascertain which institution they belong in.
It's better justice all around. Not guilty because of insanity is a questionable defense that can leave victims without a sense of closure on one hand, and the potential that someone with that verdict could be indefinitely held in a mental health facility without the kind of legal safeguards that a guilty verdict would provide.
I don't know what California's laws are on this. I do know that in my state, right now a man known to be mentally ill is being tried for the grisley, very public murder of his wife- and our laws permit a not guilty by reason of insanity defense. What then is a huge matter of discussion.
Though the circumstances and intent are different in each of these cases, upstream Trump supporters are clearly using a baiting strategy to encourage unstable people to carry out actions that leave Trumpists in the clear. So perhaps it's something we need to give some thought to.
I think the law is the same in all states that for an act to be a criminal attempt it must be capable of completion--so the example I gave of intending to kill someone with a pistol that will not fire (is incapable of firing). Insanity--in some cases it may include diminished responsibility--is a defense or a mitigation (lessening of responsibility) that the defense may raise.
Good point, Jon. There are a lot of complexities in most state laws regarding this kind of crime, and gray areas. It's hard enough to grasp the intricacies and implications of one state where criminal law is concerned. So I will take your word on this. At any rate, this is a question for the prosecutor in CA and for whoever takes on the representation for the guy.
This is not a legal question. It is a communications and messaging question. The legal details are not important. The messaging is what needs to change.
https://www.facebook.com/sherylcrow/videos/335872917599678
They absolutely would have pivoted there anyway. They don't need any rational connection to facts or particular wording.
https://www.facebook.com/sherylcrow/videos/335872917599678
Horrid but true.
Surely we wouldn’t dare call them DEPLORABLES now; would we?
That's one of the things I call them these days. I also use inane, idiotic, willfully ignorant, and my mother's favorite, troglodytes with delusions of adequacy.
"Defective" is accurate. As in "that there boy just ain't right!"
I always have to laugh at the "incels." They fail to realize that when the rest of the world looks at them, they don't see the Swave and Deboner International Man of Mystery that these guys see in the bathroom mirror.
Whiners, my least favorite creatures on earth. May they go extinct….
"The free market of women has spoken!"
https://www.facebook.com/sherylcrow/videos/335872917599678
Yes! yes! yes! It’s time. Thank you, Donna, for sharing. I forgot about this video and its message. It’s Time! And on Robert Reich’s page I replied to a poster who said women should do more, with a reply and with a link to the Greek Comedy, “Lysistrata” “Lysistrata persuades the women of the warring cities to withhold sexual privileges from their husbands and lovers as a means of forcing the men to negotiate peace—a strategy, however, that inflames the battle between the sexes.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lysistrata
Maybe a little snarky, but how do you respond to a message that overlooks that women have been voting for 100 years in a country that franchised white men in 1776-78? As if women’s voices were even heard. And the ERA wasn’t ever passed. And the first woman in the legislature was Jeanette Rankin from Montana in 1917, the years my Mother was born.
Let's not forget that these MAGA troglodytes are white men from the bottom half of the I.Q. chain who, as children, received little or no toilet training, as evidenced by the smeared feces on the Capitol walls. All of MAGA's actions smack of infantilism.
Certainly some of the people in MAGA are like that, particularly those drawn to militias or influenced by them and by pseudo-info sources. But I distrust generalizations like yours. To me, it suggests something much like so many Trumpists: an inability to think beyond over-simplified cliches and unfamiliarity with the many studies by reliable observers on those who support Trump and why. They are not monolithic. The studies are very illuminating- and necessary if we are to ever get past thinking of each other in this way.
MOST Trump supporters are people who are ordinary people who have for various reasons bought into a system of thinking that is not rational. I don't identify at all with their reasoning , but can understand how they came to the conclusions they did. And part of it has to do with attitudes of people like you.
I try not to blame the victims of a con job, but at what point is the proof of the con enough?
So many are doing mental backflips to avoid digesting facts.
An image crossed my mind as I wrote that. I lived in the country and had several cats in California. One night we had a very rare snowfall; only an inch or so. The cats had never experienced snow. They managed to cross the yard to the barn in acrobatic flights of paw shaking, hissing, and only single paws hitting the ground to propel themselves. Apparently, my psyche is comparing trumpists to that morning.
https://www.facebook.com/sherylcrow/videos/335872917599678
I can't say that your statement is literally accurate, but it sure seems that way on most days!
https://www.facebook.com/sherylcrow/videos/335872917599678
"Delusions of adequacy" -- very good!
https://www.facebook.com/sherylcrow/videos/335872917599678
"Troglodytes with delusions of adequacy"....Priceless. I may have to steal that one! I think I'd like your mother!!
Actually, it's mine, but she loves loves it. LOL
HER favorite phrase regarding the Right is a hissed, "Vile waste of a perfectly good skin suit." Spoken in her soft voice, it's especially frightening. She sounds like she's making plans for rehoming.
https://www.facebook.com/sherylcrow/videos/335872917599678
https://www.facebook.com/sherylcrow/videos/335872917599678
I knew HRC was right, it was clear from the git go
True or not, it doesn't gain you any votes or future votes. Many now remember her for that, unfortunately. And as Mr. Shakespeare says, “The evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft interred with their bones.” Very unfortunate.
https://www.facebook.com/sherylcrow/videos/335872917599678
You know who keeps bringing it up? White left-leaning women.
https://www.facebook.com/sherylcrow/videos/335872917599678
????
https://www.facebook.com/sherylcrow/videos/335872917599678
You read my mind.
Homegrown and hostile foreign entity spawned "Terrorists." Weed them all out. Deport them. If they want to live in a fascist state, move to a fascist country.
https://www.facebook.com/sherylcrow/videos/335872917599678
I think Hillary nailed it years ago.....a basket of deplorables.....
Now the basket has grown to be huge shipping containers.
Shipping containers stacked in coliseums awaiting the lions.
https://www.facebook.com/sherylcrow/videos/335872917599678
https://www.facebook.com/sherylcrow/videos/335872917599678
Hah! Hillary knew.
https://www.facebook.com/sherylcrow/videos/335872917599678
https://www.facebook.com/sherylcrow/videos/335872917599678
Hillary chose an apt description for Trump supporters, and she has been proven correct every day since. She was also spot-on when she sounded the alarm of a vast right-wing conspiracy.
Feckless, weak-kneed Democratic pundits and many of her own supporters cringed instead of defending her. Since then, the right has grown more radical and more extreme. Failure to stand up to the vast right-wing conspiracy has emboldened them and got us to where we are today.
We cannot put aside the fact that harsh, cutting and deplorable rhetoric against Democrats engages and energizes their base. It is way, way past time for the Democratic Party to acknowledge we are in an un-civil war and we're losing badly.
So, I still defend Hillary's use of the relatively innocuous word of "deplorable." I'm glad she called out the obvious and I wish more people and especially the MSM defended her use of the word. Never forget that those deplorable losers are the people who put in power an unhinged narcissistic psychopath and emboldened a party to become a terrorist threat.
I agree that we are now in a civil war, and that we are losing. I do not think the MSM are going to be much of a help - they thrive on "breaking news", and the chaos and outrageousness that is part and parcel to Republican rule is good business for them. The almighty dollar is not on our side. Honestly, I don't know how the world's most successful modern democracies (Denmark, Norway, etc) have managed to rise above and control this kind of deplorable human behavior.
You make two excellent points that cut to the heart of what is happening in this country.
One, the monied interests are not only not on our side; they are squarely on the opposite side doing all they can to pillage and plunder the 99%. If you look at one chart - income and wealth inequality, and you can see that the 99% are working their tails off to further enrich the 1%. Ninety percent of the politicians have sold out to their wealthy donors! The wealthy already are in complete control of the economy and the government, but their greed is insatiable.
I think the U.S. is rather unique in its worship and fealty to money and material worth. I think there is not a society on this planet that is more self-serving and selfish. The obsession with the almighty dollar is not seen elsewhere and it certainly doesn't infiltrate every aspect of our lives (e.g. the media.) As I often say, North Americans live to work; seemingly most people in other countries work to live. The difference is profound when you understand how different people live their lives and how they treat one another.
https://www.facebook.com/sherylcrow/videos/335872917599678
It is important to recognize that the term did not originate with her: it was in common usage and appeared embarrassingly frequently even in this forum long before Hillary picked it up. Some of us repeatedly tried to discourage its use, but some people just seemed to think that disparaging Trump supporters somehow might magically change their minds. Or, for some, it made them feel superior to people they looked down on.
And it showed. And that ended up playing a far bigger role in why Hillary didn't get the votes she needed to carry the key states that handed the election to Trump via the Electoral College (remember- Hillary won the popular vote handily). When people refer to Hillary's use of the word "deplorables", they are really referring to a widespread attitude that undercut the Democratic message. We can blame ourselves for that.
https://www.facebook.com/sherylcrow/videos/335872917599678
Yes. Hillary was right. But by name-calling she gave the republicans a weapon to effectively use against her. Was not helpful.
https://www.facebook.com/sherylcrow/videos/335872917599678
Actually, there is another angle on this. True that using the word "deplorables" was alienating - but she wasn't going to get their votes anyway. And here is the thing. They ARE deplorable. Maybe if she had been more forceful in such language, she would have stirred up some non voters who saw her as too moderate and part of the old boys system. Maybe if she had called out the thugs for what they are, more of the Bernie Bros would have showed up to vote? She needed more of the Democratic "base". The other "base" was and is utterly hopelessly deplorable and despicable.
And maybe if Hillary had outshouted the pompous con man with a list of his abuses, she would have picked up enough votes. She was too dignified and too professional. Which is why I respect her. But she was bringing a toy rubber sword to a knife fight.
What a better, healthier world this would be if she had won....oy.
Sadly, there is NO WAY that Ms. Clinton would have been dubbed as anything other than shrill, hysterical, and out of control had she actually outshouted tfg in the debates. Trust me on this; women CANNOT have the luxury of righteous anger expression without being demeaned for it.
Totally agree. That is why we gasped when she said deplorables. You need to live in our skin to know the depth of discrimination against woman. We still are fighting for equal pay. Look at the numbers of woman and men in powerful positions. Women who express righteous anger are bitches in this culture. I am sure Janet Mills would have like to reacted to LePage’s bullying of her. I watched her contain herself in the debate. I doubt he would have treated a male opponent like that.
She did win - by 3 million votes! I cannot believe that we still use that outdated electoral college system - you know there is no longer a need for the pony express to get results in....
A sea of "what if's" WRT 2016. It's all about electoral count - she had the popular vote. One thing I think she erred on - there was a debate with Trump where he was roaming around the stage behind her trying to intimidate her while she responded to questions from the moderator. She was clearly aware of it but chose not to react. I almost retched - it was sickening. I believe she needed to lay into him on stage and call out his childish bullying behavior to the moderators right then and there. Something needed to be done and wasn't. Who knows - perhaps some more Ohio farmers would have voted the other way, or more of the less "deplorable" Republican would have stayed home.
James, I agree with you that Trump should have been called out. But that's not on Hillary. The moderators should have stepped in. They didn't. Trump knew where the cameras were and used all the old upstaging techniques in the book.
I think Hillary was in a tough spot, especially as she was trying to emphasize civility. If she had spoken up, all the old tropes would have been in the headlines the next day.
Yes, these are "we should haves" that won't change the outcome. But it makes us rethink where things might have gone differently. We are having a discussion that could help us rethink our reactions in the future. IF we own what happened and how we reacted then so that it increases our awareness of what WE did and didn't do that we could have.
Thank you for reminding us that one of the things still on our to-do list is to get rid of the electoral college. That's been talked about as an anachronism that we need to get rid of since I was a school child, and probably even before then. If it were not for that getting in the way, we could have elected a competent president in 2016 and in 2000.
Maybe if she had run with Bernie…
Couldn't help smiling. Looking back then, when we have a mountain up against us now. It is understandable to go back, as though 'it' was possible then. The present is a tad difficult, so we look around for something else. That's my take, Alec. Your sense of humor moved my dial. Thank you.
Maybe...maybe... Bill too much past and present in her portfolio, Too few Blacks bought in; She was too outside the people without the essence to get in. Chemistry, history, personality, campaign leadership...
I think her portfolio was amazing. Many people appreciated her essence and personality. She would have been a great leader for our country. I still grieve our loss and the continuing ripples from tfg's victory.
She won the popular election, Fern. Your "analysis" is a stretch.
And maybe if she had been a man!
Oy is right.
And I am going to repeat this again, because an awful lot of people have forgotten it:
It is important to recognize that the term did not originate with Hillary. It was in common usage and appeared embarrassingly frequently even in this forum long before Hillary picked it up.
Some of us repeatedly tried to discourage its use, but some people just seemed to think that disparaging Trump supporters somehow might magically change their minds. Or, for some, it made them feel superior to people they looked down on.
It showed. And that ended up playing a far bigger role in why Hillary didn't get the votes she needed to carry the key states that handed the election to Trump via the Electoral College (remember- Hillary won the popular vote handily).
When people refer to Hillary's use of the word "deplorables", they are really referring to a widespread attitude that undercut the Democratic message. We can blame ourselves for that.
My heart sank when I heard her say deplorables. With the advent of Trump and his language that was nothing. Yet he is a man and woman have different rules. Sexism reigns in this country. Keep the woman barefoot and pregnant and in poverty. Keep them out of positions of power. New Zealand government has a female majority. We have 25% in the government. Never have had a female President.
It was the word of an "elitist." Had she said the "rats and rapists" it would have been fine! (I'm being a little facetious, but only a little.)
I have long believed that, despite my personal desires, the first female President of the US will be a Republican. Now I'm hoping for a RINO.
Don't support at least half of her positions, but Liz Cheney would be good.
Me too. My heart sank when she used that word in a debate. She won the popular vote. We must hold on to that and get rid of the Electoral College and keep the Reswamplicans from creating a state legislator vote only mandate.
My heart sank that she was spot on, and how low the politics had bottomed out
https://www.facebook.com/sherylcrow/videos/335872917599678
Gailee, I agree but we are an election cycle too late.
https://www.facebook.com/sherylcrow/videos/335872917599678
Actually if my recollection is right, she used that term in an interview, not a debate. But it didn't matter - it was all over the press. It's just the sort of thing that gets people's backs up, no matter how true. It was not helpful.
https://www.facebook.com/sherylcrow/videos/335872917599678
Yes, it was an interview. And I am going to repeat this again, because an awful lot of people have forgotten it:
It is important to recognize that the term did not originate with Hillary. It was in common usage and appeared embarrassingly frequently even in this forum long before Hillary picked it up.
Some of us repeatedly tried to discourage its use, but some people just seemed to think that disparaging Trump supporters somehow might magically change their minds. Or, for some, it made them feel superior to people they looked down on.
It showed. And that ended up playing a far bigger role in why Hillary didn't get the votes she needed to carry the key states that handed the election to Trump via the Electoral College (remember- Hillary won the popular vote handily).
When people refer to Hillary's use of the word "deplorables", they are really referring to a widespread attitude that undercut the Democratic message. We can blame ourselves for that.
https://www.facebook.com/sherylcrow/videos/335872917599678
Exactly the way I felt/feel, Janet!
The bullies have the force of gravity on their side. I believe that those who want to raise standards are burdened with speaking more carefully and strategically. The "deplorables" remark was counterproductive. It is simply discounting. Demanding accountability for behavior is another matter. Republican leaders are frequently, provably, and shamelessly lying, and using lies as a weapon. Modern Republicans regularly resort to bullying rather than demonstrating any recognizable virtue.
Have you been watching political ads in Texas, lies on top of lies. And where is the push back. Come on HRC, deplorables is the nicest term I could use. Dems won’t even mention the plan to sunset SS and Medicare. WTH
Yet if TFG had spoken the same word, the world would have looked the other way, maybe not even noticed. Maybe Hillary’s biggest problem is being female. Maybe I already said that.
Well said, J L!
“The "deplorables" remark was counterproductive.” One word doesn’t lose an election. If it did we wouldn’t be in this fight for Democracy. How many of TFG’s words were lies, slander, libel, hate, inflammatory, disgusting and disrespectful and disturbing? His base before it was even a base loved him. And no matter what word or which female candidate was on the stage with TFG he would have won in their eyes. They didn’t even care about his remarks about grabbing women or his paying off women he abused.
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It wasn’t wise only because it didn’t seem to work. The real deplorable was TFG who walked behind Hillary and mocked her all the time she was speaking. Like an uncontrolled child. And the moderator couldn’t control TFG. Or wouldn’t. TFG was performing on just one more show. Was anything hidden in that debate or his campaign? Not quite half the electorate liked him.
Just commented on that above. She was too civil at that moment I believe. I desperately wanted her to turn around and ask Trump just what he thought he was doing, to which he would respond he was just merely stretching his legs or something disingenuous. And then call on the moderators to send him back to his podium, lest she walk out of the debate. But like many women have stated here - the fact that she is a woman might have meant even a reaction such as that would have backfired.
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Hillary would've won votes had she turned around and told Trump to back off.
Just as Hillary would've won votes had she responded to his "abortion the day before delivery" with "that's called a Caesarean Section."
Hillary is enormously talented, but a terrible campaigner.
She won the popular vote.
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I DESPISED him for that!
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I remember my outrage during the repuklicant primaries, where the "moderators" let the Orange Sadist say ANYTHING he wanted, and never once called him on it. It was horrific. And then, as you say, the debates: sickening!
I think that the Bernie supporters, 20% of whom voted for the Orange Sadist in protest of her candidacy, were the ones who tipped things. Them, with pukin's help I imagine.
Agreed.
In the 2016 primary I voted for Bernie. Then I voted for Hillary in the general.
In the 2020 primary we voted for Warren. Then we voted for Joe in the general.
I still think the principles that Sanders and Warren stand for are spot on. They have the real solutions for the "deplorables" and the rest of the nation. To sit out an election because "your person" didn't get the nod is worse than childish. It is betrayal. To not vote for Hillary or Joe as some protest was A VOTE FOR THE BEAST. Unforgivable, stupid and counterproductive are the kindest words I can come up with. The Earth saw more than four years of environmental degradation. The 2016 election led to the unnecessary deaths of hundreds of thousands due to a maniac at the helm promoting quackery and lies.
Democrats of all stripes and Independents of any leaning need to gather together and fight the fascists. We should be viewing the current political struggle not just as a battle of philosophies. It is no different than a war against an alien invasion.
Some of you may remember the Twilight Zone episode where the humans are boarding a plane while the "friendly space man" smiles as he is reading a large book titled "To Serve Man". That is what the Oligarchs have planned for us. Don't get on the plane.
She won the popular vote. This is what matters. The electoral college must end. The majority of Americans are not on either end of the political spectrum.
I agree with you completely about the absolute necessity of abolishing the electoral college. I also feel strongly that the number of Senators from each state MUST be based on the number of residents. It makes me sick that N. Dakota and California each have two Senators, when there are 30X the number of residents in California. There is absolutely no justice in that. (I, too, wish that Sanders or Warren could have been our President. I marched with the Bernie supporters here in Charleston, SC -- the only old lady in the group. A young friend of mine walked with me. She told me that she wasn't going to vote if Bernie wasn't the Dem candidate. I was very surprised and told her that a no-vote was a vote for the Orange Sadist. She was stunned, and then said, "I never thought of it that way. I need to tell my friends!")
She said later that she knew immediately that she had made a mistake, and wished she had not said that. It is important to recognize that the term did not originate with her: it was in common usage and appeared embarrassingly frequently even in this forum long before Hillary picked it up. Some of us repeatedly tried to discourage its use, but some people just seemed to think that disparaging Trump supporters somehow mightmagically change their minds. Or, for some, it made them feel superior to people they looked down on. It showed. And that ended up playing a far bigger role in why Hillary didn't get the votes she needed to carry the key states that handed the election to Trump via the Electoral College (remember- Hillary won the popular vote handily). When people refer to Hillary's use of the word "deplorables", they are really referring to a widespread attitude that undercut the Democratic message. We can blame ourselves for that.
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Absolutely. Outrage and concern about this heinous crime and concern about Paul Pelosi as a victim of this violence should be heard from every repub. Instead we’ve “heard” veiled humor, silence and even blaming Nancy Pelosi. What many repubs don’t realize is that as violence is increasing, they, too, are in danger. This is their opportunity to Apologize and implore their base to end the political violence. Could that happen? We’ve seen too many lost opportunities.
"They, too, are in danger."
Right-wing media have in fact been publicizing attacks on Republicans recently, in such a way as to present all their opponents as friends of crime, foes and defunders of police, promoters of insecurity... They, of course, promise Law and Order.
Unstated, what kind of "Law", what kind of "Order".
It begins with revenge scenes worthy of what would have happened if the mob had broken into the Chamber before the lawmakers were evacuated and moves inexorably towards a particularly vicious form of totalitarian dictatorship -- witness Putin's Russia today.
And let's not forget that the Republicans are saying out loud that they intend on exacting revenge against Democrats, i.e. impeaching Biden, holding the economy hostage to force Biden to get rid of SS & Medicare, making the #45 tax cuts for the very wealthy permanent, getting rid of the Inflation Reduction Act, thereby increasing inflation, getting rid of its big pharma rules re decreasing medication costs, getting rid of the renewable/green energy aspects of it, dissolving the Jan. 6 Committee etc, etc, etc.
Believe them. But remember, there are many more us us than them. There is power in numbers. Use it.
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I understand the tax cuts for corporations and uber wealthy don't expire in 2025 as do those for those in the remaining 90% of taxpayers. Revenue from the lower 90% then are expected to offset the other "investment" or "incentives to business and investor" cuts through new economic growth.
I seem to recall Reagan claiming tax cuts for the wealthy would actually increase tax revenues by supercharging the economy; "A high tide lifts all boats", but mostly see cruise-ship sized "super yachts" growing. When it comes to funding education or infrastructure, Republicans say literally "We're broke", and prescribe "austerity".
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These threats are beyond idle. The crazies who continue to embrace TFG and the repub lies place us all in danger. Fear is another way to control a population. Fear of the unbalanced or evil, or possible. Or unknown. Paul Pelosi, Nancy Pelosi, even had government protection. How can that be? The Fox guarding the henhouse? So many who identify with Dems, President Biden, Justice, Peace, all of us, are threatened. It would not surprise me if gun sales increase. I know I sound scared. I am.
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Not rule of law, nor equal protection. Not "liberty and justice for all".
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If they trapped Congress, they might have been like the dog that caught the car.
Wondering what do we do now?
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"Apologize and implore".
I think I've already answered you indirectly, Irenie, but... if only this were possible... Unfortunately, it is completely out of character for narcissistic perverts, who thrive on sadism. And you have a whole bunch of suchlike at the core of the MAGA movement, plus terrified but cowardly acolytes baying alongside the leaders of the pack.
*
But I am just wondering if it is not here that I should have asked readers to keep at least a corner of their eye open for another event this weekend. One whose effect could be apocalyptic:
The presidential election in Brazil.
Indeed, it will affect us all, as we have affected them.
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So they will need to vote for the lesser of two evils just like us.
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Peter, yes the reelection of Bolsonaro is predicted and is already apocalyptic. This is the kind of “leader” TFG loves and admired. Here’s a fact sheet on him, courtesy of CNN. The world should care but are we all too consumed by the strongmen in our own corners? https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/29/americas/jair-bolsonaro-fast-facts/index.html
There are and will be interactions. All beliefs in separation are fallacious.
As for the consequences of this idiot destroying the lungs of the planet, those are already affecting us all.
I have radical views on the issue of his "policies", which resemble those of TFG and of the latter's boss in the Kremlin.
https://www.facebook.com/sherylcrow/videos/335872917599678
The Republicans think they benefit from the violence.
Sadly, they do. The violent vote for them.
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I agree wholeheartedly, Irenie, especially that "they, too, are in danger." We're already seeing signs of that happening as we head to the polls.
You have to keep people off base to get them to passionately agree to their own subjugation.
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They are cheering, listen carefully
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I cannot imagine how our country will ever get past the damage Trump and his people has done. The division, the loss of trust in anything said or done, and the hate. It will just get worse with our climate crisis and it feels like our world will become savages with everyone out for themselves.
And then privileged white people will be living in the same world that brown people have lived in for a very long times.
https://www.facebook.com/sherylcrow/videos/335872917599678
Perhaps, if FEMA was disbanded and states had to self insure for climate disasters, there would be some sort of reckoning about climate change? Now, big hurricane and in comes those awful Feds. Let DeSantis own the recovery, not Biden.
Hello Florida state income tax. States should all self insofar natural disasters. Perhaps they could borrow from som sort of FEMA account but that money would have to be repaid with interest.
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Exactly. Octavia Butler describes our trashed country in The Parable of the Sower.
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They don't consider themselves to be in danger, just like Trump declaring "they're not after me" during the insurrection.
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People entrusted with vital responsibilities "to ourselves and our Posterity".
That is the scariest thought for me. The people who are currently sitting in office who do not have the moral fortitude to do the moral thing and speak up and out about what is going on. FRIGHTENING!!!
It's obvious that the Republicans don't care about their constituents, only winning regardless of how many are hurt by their agenda. They have NO morals.
Or in other positions of influence. Republicans are literally attacking "government of the people, by the people, for the people". Literally. I am also surprised to hear so little from churches (which I imagine still exist) that don't subscribe to hating the most deprived, identifying with the wealthiest, and itching to machine-gun one's enemies.
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The “random cult” is SCOTUS.
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"who are SUPPOSED to make decisions on our behalf", unfortunately.
Allegedly with the aggregated consent of the governed. They are supposed to be our hired representatives with fiduciary duties to our interests.
Precisely. Instead, the repuklicant "leaders" only interest is in themselves.
Yes.
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They are the disgusting party of death, totally devoid of any redeeming human characteristics. As for Musk, memes are already appearing which are not flattering.
Not a party any more, nothing political about this mob. There's a mighty struggle coming, now just days away.
When Hillary used that apt word, we laughed in approval because she was heading for the Presidency. Her opponent was so unsuitable that it would have been laughable, had he not been so repulsive.
Yes, the Deplorables, and he was the shepherd of that flock.
https://www.facebook.com/sherylcrow/videos/335872917599678
It wasn't just the Deplorables: too many "Classic Republicans" admitted they would've voted for Anyone But Hillary.
They are creating a cult that cultivates malignant narcissism. That what racism and sexism are. That is Putin attacking Ukraine. That's "Proud Boys" and other armed cosplaytriot groups. That's terrorists who think of themselves as heroes. "We are the Master Race" , We are the True Americans". "We are the truly righteous".
"cosplaytriot groups"
That is an incredibly accurate description!
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I picked it from another blogger, but for sure there is an overwhelming element of fantasy there, which is dangerous when mixed up with weapons.
“We are the past,” so hope that is true. They are American lowlife run amok. Sorry Bill Maher, not just another tribe. I hope my dear nephew figures that out before he is tainted beyond redemption…
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Exactly so.
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I deactivated my hardly used twitter account today in protest to elon musk. I will also protest via boycotting all advertisers, once I find out who they are. I am commend GM who pulled their advertising. Will write to them to thank them for having the cojones to do the right thing.
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Or at least the most expedient thing for their marketing...
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I ran out of words a while back because there are none bad enough to do justice to these vile people. I did read an interesting article on rest today in the Science section of the NYT. It is about a black lady who decided she needed to take time to rest and part of her suggestion is taking a rest from social media. What struck me however, was her comments of the exhaustion of her ancestors to benefit white supremacy and capitalism. I hadn't thought about it in exactly that way.
https://www.facebook.com/sherylcrow/videos/335872917599678
I have a Facebook account because it allows me to keep up with family, friends, ex-students, and it does have a lot of interesting info.....and of course, piles of nonsense.
Same here, on all counts, Janet.
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Janet Ann Applebaum is spot on regarding The Twilight of Democracy. Her superb grounding in the Soviet Union/Russia provides her keen insights into what is occurring in our own country.
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Janet Don’t knock that ‘science stuff.’ My MS from MIT provided essential counterpoint to my humanities/economics. Life is a succulent bouillabaisse. Just got to find the appropriate seasonings.
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I am looking for Jon Meacham's new book on Lincoln. Waiting for a plane to return to AZ and into a pit of radicalized extremist election deniers. Sad.
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Sorry, Kathy. AZ is a state where members of my family once lived. I've visited there. Love the landscape. But it is one of the most bigoted places I've ever been. Why my relatives left.
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Well, it is time for me to return. 4 degrees at my house in AK yesterday and a foot of snow.The Tucson area is not too bad but Phoenix is awful.
Bring the Light of Sanity to AZ! We go with you! Viva Democracy!
https://www.facebook.com/sherylcrow/videos/335872917599678
Ann Applebaum is excellent. I downloaded her book but have not yet started it. Today might be a good day to do so. Thank you, Janet.
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Actually, Republican behavior aka Trump behavior is a crime against the state. Such criminal behavior should be investigated, charged and punished. It would make sense for reconstitute the Reconstruction and Rehabilitation of our Country following the Civil War - and put it right.
Our biggest challenge is prosecuting our own behavior. We must bravely and property put right the major transgressions that have been studied and published. We cannot respect ourselves or our flawed nation by ignoring our indecency and banality over time. We can overcome our differences and overcome our indecency by apology and restitution and forgiveness. We must express the truth, confess our history and sins and move on. Our present flirtation with fascism is a legacy of our past. Let’s face ourselves. We can do this.
Do we dream, been waiting…
I have a dream!
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Yes. There are at least 74 million of them, and most of them have assault rifles and are willing to use them against people.
Not just willing to, anxious to use their weapons of choice.
Their radical propaganda and inflammatory machines need to be shut down.
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Last time I was there was 60 years ago, which was bad enough but nothing like now, so you're seeing two more generations of Western Slope Inbreeding. Long enough for the brain to be the first thing to go.
Of which Boebert, the professional permanent juvenile delinquent and statutory raper, is the best example.
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I dunno, TC. I lived on the Western Slope, way high up, and what I found was that the majority of people there were relative newcomers or part-timers. I knew a lot of really nice people, many of them old-timers, but there were also a lot of younger people just getting started in another back to the land and sustainability movement.
The worrisome ones to me were entitled wealthy people, and an increasing number of near-ne'er do wells who came because they couldn't manage living outside. Get those two demographics together and they can collectively do a lot of damage to how society works.
I come from people who are pre-adapted to high altitudes, and I had no problems being active at 8500-9000 feet up. But I often wondered if the altitude had something to do with the crankiness of some of the folks up there. Thin air, low oxygen, and bodies not able to adapt well enough. Maybe they'd be normal at 2000 feet. Dunno. Just a thought.
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They do breed, sad to say…
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Good Morning, Janet R., A couple Ranges to the East in the SLV. Agast. Drifting out here with like-minded friends in a sea of red on our blue voting life raft with Dr. R and all the remarkable, informed, incouraging folks adding to LFAA.
Peace, be well.
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That has been clear for years now, and the vermin (including friends and family) show their true colors. “Conservative” should have lost it’s attraction when chump claimed it. Instead, republicans embraced the horror of WW2 Nazis and tainted the term forever. They have yet to figure that out. I was banned from Twitter three days before the 2020 election for saying just that. It was not just chump hate speech that was banned, it was posts critical of chump. Well, seems that events have supported my position, have they not???
FleeceBlock has to be "balanced" in its algorithmjic stupidity.
They are a party with NO platform, NO workable ideas and NO bottom. The R's are only after power and will stoop to any low to radicalize as many useful idiots as they can. Stay focused, engaged and make sure we clear this election that their vision of America is roundly rejected!
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The Rethuglican politicians don't condemn violence like this because they are fully intimidated by their f...ed up base. They are so insecure that they might look "weak" or sympathetic. They don't express the horror they should feel when ANYONE is beaten ANYWHERE.
They have no moral compass. And the preachers who don't condemn this act from the pulpit are agents of Satan.
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I shut my FB account down. I used to like Sheryl Crow. Should I still?
It's not about her personally but this specific song.
I just found the song. Wow. Terrific. Brought tears to my eyes. It almost happened. And it is WAY overdue. "After 230 something years..." for sure.
I'll try to find it another way. Thanks.
BTW, "Calderone" is a name in my wife's lineage - often mentioned. Probably the generation before "Passo" who came here escaping the Turks in the early 20th century. Big family with lots of "Donnas" as well :)
https://www.facebook.com/sherylcrow/videos/335872917599678
The Deplorables are defective.
One Baggie short of a box.
I actually Laughed Out Loud!
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that's good
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The republicans' reaction marked a definite line.
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Whoa!! "Lowest common denominator (LCD) of society"..really? Well, you're right that the most the most vulnerable of our "society" are attracted to the cleverly twisted facts or outright lies. They can hardly read, much less comprehend critically. The "LCD" folks are products of a deficient public education system (6th grade reading level..an average!). I'm sorry. To me, The Scum that has risen to the top., is our very neighbors with the in-ground pool, 4 car garage, children in private school living on Mom's credit card, etc. And "The Scum" begets scum.
I spent years in a public school where, for a time at least, kids could quit school and make more money than we were in the mill. Often education wasn't valued at home and that made it more difficult. Most of us did all we could to help these kids, but for some we simply couldn't overcome their family background. I once had a class in government which was required as I told them, me to teach it and them to pass it. My favorite class had no college prep students in it, but most of them had a desire to graduate, so they worked at it. I had one person fail in the years i taught government and he failed twice and there was no help from home. They also figured out that government was indeed necessary which puts them way ahead of many of the adults I see spouting off today.
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I think we have to vote in Republican elections, primaries, state legislator elections. It will take some fancy footwork, i.e. knowing your state’s election laws and registering and re-registering depending on where the most valuable votes are. It may mean sacrificing your voice in some Democratic primaries. (For example, in California, before the “top-two/top-four” primaries, you DIDn’t have to be a registered Democrat to vote the Democratic primary ballot, but you DID have to be a Republican to vote the Republican ballot). We know we outnumber them and that they don’t represent the will of the people, so we have to take over their party, or at least take it away from the Trump crazies.
From Wikipedia (edited for brevity): >>During the Army-McCarthy hearings in 1954, chief counsel for the Army, Joseph N. Welch, in exasperation with McCarthy, said, "Have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?" Welch's TV performance turned the tide of public and press opinion against McCarthy overnight.<<
It's long past time for a "have you no sense of decency" moment by the Democrats toward any Republican candidate, during debates for statewide offices, local offices, whatever. Anyone associated with the Republican party has long ago lost any credibility regarding decency (along with other desirable characteristics).
I’m afraid Dems lost their backbones somewhere along the way. As much as I hate to say it, it’s looking like two Republicans, Adam Kinsinger and Liz Cheney, are voicing their love of country more than anyone currently. Good for them. Maybe this will turn into a good thing.
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I hope you're right.
So do I.
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And apparently that lowest common denominator is a very big number.
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I still marvel that Republicans have the audacity to refer to Democrats as "radical". Um...exactly WHO is acting "radical" here?? Insurrectionists herding through the Capitol calling for Pelosi, defying laws, bringing our government to a screeching halt, how is this seen as anything but "radical". As seems to once again be the case, Republicans accuse others of the very things they themselves are guilty of. And as has been pointed out before, this is right out of the Nazi/fascist playbook. Only a party bereft of ethics, morals, or an ounce of any remorse or guilt could keep pulling off stuff like this. That's what we're facing, folks. Nothing phases them. Where is Republican outcry for an attack on a House Speaker?? Pursuit of power has blinded them to having any decency. But then, I think we knew this already.
*EDIT* In fairness, some higher profile Republicans have subsequently come out and condemned the attack on Pelosi, but the silence and/or tepid replies from some are certainly telling.
Kevin probably choked on his words of condolence when he met the absolute best Speaker of the House of the last 50 years to tell her so.
In psychology they call this projection: accusing others of what you actually do. I think that was what the impeachment of Clinton was about: to create him as the Democratic Nixon, to balance the books of “evil”. And the deification of Reagan created a Republican JFK. Except Reagan did nothing admirable. He invaded Grenada so Clint Eastwood could say “America is back”, treasonously blocked Carter’s negotiations with Iran (as Nixon did to Johnson’s Vietnam peace talks), and broke the law with Iran-Contra. A political party led by self-serving, opportunists who have no qualms about sedition or treason.
Goebbels just called it a propaganda tactic: say your opponents are doing what you're actually doing
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“As seems to once again be the case, Republicans accuse others of the very things they themselves are guilty of.”
“In psychology they call this projection: accusing others of what you actually do.”
Yup, been seeing this as plain as day for the last 6 years. TFG had a penchant for doing this and convincing everyone his words spoke the truth.
Unless someone has studied psychology and/ or had counseling it’s not likely they will see this much less understand it. Sadly so many under the “spell” of tfg, the propagandist “news” on Fox, etc. etc. are caught in the web of denial and projection. Many of us know what they have been doing and trying to achieve for years. That said Their rhetoric, their projection, is more dangerous now than it has ever been.
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Pullman, beautiful summation of the past 50 years. I would add that I believe that the Republican Party has been so angry and humiliated by the successes of FDR and LBJ that they have been on a vengeful mission to wipe clean their accomplishments and find their own messiah thus Ronald Reagan. Jay Essif, Lancaster,Pa.
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"Republicans accuse others of the very things they themselves are guilty of" Spot on Bruce. An M.O. I've observed for decades now. Good eye.
Been following the Goebbels playbook since 1994, in my recollection.
Or John Wilkes Booth’s cry after shooting Lincoln, “sic semper tyrannis!” thus always to tyrants. He just couldn’t stand it that his side had lost. He wanted to make the south great again. It’s like you’re Isaac Newton and an apple lands on your head and instead of formulating the law of gravity you decide there is somebody hidden in the upper branches who is secretly trying to destroy you. OK, time to attack one of the victims. What the hell was nancy Pelosi doing in Taiwan anyway? Was the January 6th committee getting all the headlines?
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'woman in the white house' - a good, old fashioned loretta-lynn-worthy country song. i thought they'd stopped writing them. well, why not? we've tried everything else.
Putin does the same thing!
https://www.facebook.com/sherylcrow/videos/335872917599678
https://www.facebook.com/sherylcrow/videos/335872917599678
As I understand the terms, "radical" is used to describe the far left and "reactionary" is used to describe the far right. Sadly, the far right is far beyond "reactionary" and has moved the needle all the way over to "fascist". They are so far gone that neither "conservative" nor "right" describe any of their political stances. I have now converted my "RWNJ" from "right wing nut job" to Reich wing nut job". I now add the appropriate letter of the alphabet into my use of the word "RepubliQan".
https://www.facebook.com/sherylcrow/videos/335872917599678
Yes we did, but MSM seems to have blinders on
https://www.facebook.com/sherylcrow/videos/335872917599678
https://www.facebook.com/sherylcrow/videos/335872917599678
The Governor of Virginia??? Please, give me a break.
Good wishes to Nancy Pelosi, the wife, not just the speaker, and all the friends and family.
Good wishes also to the struggle of love against hate.
All the while prancing around in his red vest. He makes me ill, but the idiots who voted for him because “parent’s rights” are disgusting and stupid.
I hope that at least some of them regret their vote!
That would require them to have brains, an item not obviously present in their personal inventory.
They, like hitler's nazis in Germany have truly been lobotomized. Like dealing with zombies.
https://www.facebook.com/sherylcrow/videos/335872917599678
https://www.facebook.com/sherylcrow/videos/335872917599678
https://www.facebook.com/sherylcrow/videos/335872917599678
Not only does the governor of Virginia make a bad joke, he is a disgusting vomit inducing joke.
I don't think it was a joke at all. He wants to be a high-ranking Commander in Gilead.
I only wish we Dems had put a better candidate up against him. I'll be moving from Virginia early next year.
This is what Rs do....say something that sounds like a joke and thus is deniable, but really is something crass.
https://www.facebook.com/sherylcrow/videos/335872917599678
https://www.facebook.com/sherylcrow/videos/335872917599678
I'm so embarrassed for my state, Carol. So wish we had our Governor Northam back.
Same.
https://www.facebook.com/sherylcrow/videos/335872917599678
The good governor is probably right. The political party that quietly (or in MJT's case, not so quietly) condones this sort of awful thing is probably going to take at least partial control in a week and a half. Don't take me wrong - it is my most fervent wish that I will be embarrassed by my false predictions for the election. But I have been around the block a few times, and I think when I smell a skunk, there is a skunk. Human beings are mostly selfish - we can't help it; it's in our genes. You see it everywhere. I think, to put it very simply, there are four kinds of American voters. There are selfish Republicans, selfish Democrats, unselfish Republicans, and unselfish Democrats. I believe 90% of Republicans are selfish, exceedingly so. All rich Republicans are in this category including most of the most powerful people in the country. 99% of racists and red necks and other "deplorables" are in this category. The other 10% are perhaps misguided evangelicals and the like - kind people but listening to the wrong stuff. I believe less than 50% of Democrats are selfish (how much less, I don't know) - most are in need and think they will get more of what they need/want from the Democratic Party. They are OK with "handouts" as long as it benefits them personally. Republicans think all of Democrats are in this category; they are wrong. And greater than 50% are unselfish - the less needy of us who just have a conscience and wish for our country to be more benevolent and caring. I am in the last category as are practically all of LFAA readers. I also think Democratic leaning voters outnumber Republican leaning voters maybe 55/45, but of all those who stay home in disgust or disinterest, by far most are democratic leaning. Do the math. And if that isn't enough, factor in some voter suppression and gerrymandering. My mindset of late is trying to determine how I am going to endure once again living in a country that has lost its way. Where loons like Louie Gohmert and MJT and Jim Jordan hold outsized sway in our government. With a House Speaker named McCarthy, a person I loath almost as much as Trump. And LFAA becomes a sort of underground resistance letter. God how I hope I am wrong.
https://www.facebook.com/sherylcrow/videos/335872917599678
the part where he says "...we're going to send her back to be with him in California" as if they're somehow in charge of her. There aren't the right word combinations for how this makes me feel.
Yes, Denise. Seems he ditched his "aww shucks" persona from his campaign days.
https://www.facebook.com/sherylcrow/videos/335872917599678
"Respect Existence or Expect Resistance!"
Yes, indeed, Donna, a woman in the White House. I'm in!
https://www.facebook.com/sherylcrow/videos/335872917599678
Misogynistic and disrespectful. And in this atmosphere that's somehow okay. Disgusting.
https://www.facebook.com/sherylcrow/videos/335872917599678
https://www.facebook.com/sherylcrow/videos/335872917599678
Can we please stop referring to conspiracy “theories “?
They are not theories, they are sick fantasies.
Conspiracy Fantasies is a good term. I think I'll start using that.
Paul Pelosi and Salman Rushdie: the Ayatollahs are different but the results are the same.
You’ve got that right! I’m sure many of us have seen that very same comparison from a mile away though. Radicals all.
Heather, my mind is blown by your letter. OMG. Bryan Watson, you got it right! Assassination is exactly what DePape (do you BELIEVE his name???? “Of the Pope”) intended. To kill the Speaker of the House, second in line to become President if the VP cannot take over. I just can’t believe what is happening. I really hope our Fellow Americans get it and VOTE BLUE!
We need every Democrat and Independent to Vote in this election. And if there are any repubs of conscience maybe they will join the few like Liz Cheney. This Vote is a life and death choice.
Don’t count on independents. Most of them are to Republicans as agnostics are to atheists: unwilling to come clean.
Right. We can’t count on Independents, but also we can’t really count on every voter who claims to vote for party or answers a survey. It’s a secret ballot. So what’s left? Hope?
What I have left is a hope that at least 10% of white working class women who voted for Trump will vote D next month and, to protect themselves, tell the louts they’re living with that fhey voted R.
Louts, my new favorite word
I’m an Independent, and I DID vote blue. Of course I did!
Remember when they had a bounty on wolves!
Perhaps DePape refers to Pope Innocent of the true witch hunts?
Thank you for this column. Thank you for introducing me to the term stochastic terrorism, though it sickens me to have to learn this. And until the MAGAt crowd and the Fox station that supports them acknowledges that this was an assassination attempt on the life of the Speaker of the House, I remain sickened by them. No, I will always remain sickened by them. This is the hell that Donald Trump and his evil sycophants have given us. Sending wishes for recovery to the octogenarian Paul Pelosi; thoughts of healing to the Pelosi family.
I moved from one of the most progressive communities in Massachusetts to a rural area south of the Mason-Dixon. I own and operate a multi-family complex that serves elderly residents with low and moderate incomes, almost all of who have limited education. In contrast, I am a 68 year-old atheist who has voted Republican once (against Ed King) with two graduate degrees.
Many of you mentioned your regret when hearing Hillary use the term “Deplorables” in the presidential debate, understanding that it would alienate a considerable amount of voters. Alas, you now echo those sentiments and paint much of the country with the same broad brush.
My take is that most of the people I meet in my rural community are generally good hearted but products of their upbringing: an insular culture, a bubble of influence dominated by FOX, silos of social media and religion that makes them both vulnerable to demagogues (politicians, tv news personalities and tv preachers). They have been ingrained with the notion “others” are a threat and they can only trust like-kind individuals while needing to “fit in”. Different isn’t welcomed, it is immediately suspect, a suspicion that I felt immediately upon arrival.
That said, people respond well to kindness and a helping hand. They want to make a life and a living and ensure their children and their children’s children have love, happiness, and prosperity. Republican politicians and FOX News personalities promise that but it is illusionary. Joe Biden’s empathy is real and he’s actually trying to do for all Americans what they need and want.
The problem is that there is a disconnect. Individuals who have been taught life is a zero sum game are easily manipulated by demagoguery that tells them that Biden and the Dems are giving all these “others” (minorities, gays, non-Christians, immigrants, transgenders, elitists) what should be “yours”.
By painting these individuals that are being manipulated with a broad brush you do what people like Trump, Hannity and the dark money want. You are telling them we are different, we are a threat to them, they are right to fear and loathe us.
The antidote to that is the type of empathy and broad based social benefit policies that Biden represents. Instead of all the time and energy talking about Trump we need to have repetitive messaging from Biden that he’s bringing Americans together and improving lives. And each of us have to provide individual examples of that reality.
That was thoughtful
I agree. I also thought of timing. Can we determine where we are, so we are not runover? It feels as though we are too alone. Can we change that?
Yes. By getting our of our own silos.
Thank you
I appreciate your measured approach to those across the Mason-Dixon Line but everything has to be put in historical context.
As Thoreau said “it is the province of the historian to find out, not what was, but is”. There has always been a significant number of people above and below the Mason Dixon line who embrace white supremacy to the fullest. Many of these folks are descendants of confederates and their supporters who will do anything (lynching, bombing, raping, murdering etc) to protect their “whiteness”. It’s a sickness that has infected the whole country and if left untreated it will kill all of us.
Most people want to believe the past is the past but it is not. We’re experiencing the vestiges of an ongoing civil war about whether America is meant to be a country ruled only by White people who oppress others or a country that will be a true democracy that embraces liberty and justice for all.
Our capitalist system has always catered to those with “ capital”. Capitalists define what wages will be and what the cost of goods and services will be. Democracy in America has been severely distorted by capitalism.
Unfortunately we’re living at a time when the weakness of our system, the malice of many (including politicians) and the ignorance/insanity of those who believe in white supremacy is bringing us to the brink of destruction. Racism, anti-semitism, sexism etc. and the violence that goes with crimes against humanity have been allowed to metastasize for far too long.
I have empathy for the people who are deranged because of white supremacy but I refuse to excuse their attitudes and behaviors. Let’s hope there are enough people who standup and VOTE for a more perfect union.
I am not promoting meeting bigotry with silence. Far from it.
I just think we need to understand that there are many people who are good hearted that are still susceptible to to the power of a demagogue. I think a guy like Biden should be able to win them over because he’s offering real solutions, not manipulations. If we we really believe half the country is deplorable then it’s the endgame.
Integration works. Living side by side, sharing life’s benefits and hardships creates kinship. I see it every day.
Paul-I understand your perspective. I just don’t think “good people” with “good hearts” would follow a demagogue like Trump or Murdoch (Fox News). We definitely seem to be facing an end game.
Gina, I think the point is that not every one who supports Trump is unreachable. People often hear the one thing that resonates with them and think the rest is just noise. A number of polls have demonstrated this, as well as investigative stories by journalists who aren't going in with built in assumptions. I'll add that there are not a few people on this forum are the same way in terms of how they think, only with a different set of assumptions.
Well said
What you say is true. However, just doing good deeds does not break through to people's consciousness when propaganda in opposition to what is actually happening fills their media exposure.
"Don't believe your own lying eyes" works all too well. Repubs claim credit for programs they voted against, and people don't know that. Unless the truth is shouted out repetitious.
another of Goebbels's very effective propaganda techniques, brought to you by Rupert Murdoch.
Well said
Thanks for your understanding post. Biden is on the right track. Is sad that we don’t have news and reporters anymore people are lost in a fog of noise.
They are not commoners anymore. They are often their own multifaceted media personalities with publicists and marketing agents. The all write books.
MSNBC is the same show every hour with the same breaking news.
I watch MJ blame Biden for not messaging better. He doesn’t have a propaganda arm similar to FOX. They forget the role they played in attacking Clinton in the final weeks of the 2016 election. Post election, Mika slammed SNL for the Halleluja rendition by McKinnon as Clinton saying it was disrespectful to Trump voters.
There’s no Fairness Doctrine. It must be done on our own.
Do you feel like the minds of the people you work with can be changed, after they have been so indoctrinated by those you cite? I live south of the Mason-Dixon Line and have seen the mindset you describe.
Yes, but it is difficult and takes a lot of time to build trust.
Just this morning one guy mentioned to me how crazy it was for someone to go into Pelosi’s home and attack her 82-year-old husband. Alas, a total non-response to my telling him about Republican plans to sunset Social Security and Medicare and to use the debt ceiling budgeting to do it. SS is at least 90% of his income.
Paul, I think that non-response is habit. But you likely planted a seed. And at some point that seed may well make him hear some of the things he's being told in a different way. Once that starts, doubt and uncertainty begins and more questions pop up. Many will not be open about it, especially guys, because, you know, pride. (And possibly fear, thanks to the folks who put people like him down.) May be too late for this election, but it's there now, and we've already seen some folks come around.
😪
I found your and Gina's comments thoughtful, Paul. Gina's for making the case for historical context that explains the wrong in why folks strick with and protect beliefs that benefit them. As you described the bubble in which you are finding your adopted neighbors in rural Red country, the label of "innocence" came to mind. At dinner the other night with old colleagues, we all recounted where to and what our children and grandchildren were up to. Among those of us who moved here to begin our careers, we considered it praiseworthy that our kids and grandkids were spread across the country, some now or having been posted abroad. Among those born here with whom we became friends, they spoke proudly of the fact that all of theirs were living within 40 miles and couldn't think of greater disappointment to not have them close by and in jobs natural to our area. So, the term innocence came then and now as the outside is only curated for them through media like Fox or PBS or the stories, lore, and instilled beliefs that keeps their defined circle of life, experiences, relationships, and, thusly, attitudes and beliefs about good and right preserved. While they do travel for vacations or wintering, they carry with them, metaphorically, the foodand knowledge that they will return untainted by the alien, the foreign, the big city, the theme parks visited, the "gated" recreational parks where they park their 5th wheel or have a timeshare. The innocence of living in a bubble. Disturbing for us in the sense that after 50+ years, we remain outsiders, respected, but outside, though our son, raised here and who came back from outside bringing experiences to share, is accepted ... with qualification. So, perhaps it is not an ignorance or lack of empathy for the strange to them, but the innocence that comports with all things centric for them, that ensures them and supports a bubble, a reality that comes up with every sunrise within that 40-mile of their world. More benign, such innocence, or more intractable given built-in distrust of differences considered unnecessary to a good life?
I have been to 49 of the fifty states, 25+ countries and every continent sans Antartica (Falkland Islands was close).
Well received in every country. Sadly, the coolest receptions were in parts of the US but they pale in comparison to the CNN warm receptions.
I am also outgoing and will talk to anyone so that helps.
I will say I have been astonished at the open racism I encountered and that was true pre-Trump. Alas, Trump has made too many willing to wear racism, misogyny and homophobia like a badge, and laugh at cruelty. That’s hard to comprehend.
Immovable people in the midst of social disorder and the collapse of the country's foundation.
Paul, thank you. I wrote something similar several hours after your post, not yet having gotten that far down the posts. On this very forum at one point a fair number of people spent considerable time "deploring the deplorables", post after post, often with course language and labels, and with hideous assumptions about people they know nothing about other than their support of Trump. It was disgusting, and went on for months.
Some were trolls, but some were people who were no better than the people they thought they were describing. Some, thank goodness, responded to the concern expressed by others here and rethought how they looked at folks they considere the "Trump base". I admire them for being willing to do the kind of self -examination that took. Some are people I've come to admire.
But lately this kind of thing has re-emerged. None of us benefit from it. I am grateful for your thoughtful and compassionate post sharing your experience with some of the people who've been targeted by people who should know better. Best of all, you are a living example of the kind of human beings we can be, once we stop pointing fingers and start listening. One thing I would add is that it's not just repetitive positive messaging FROM Biden, but also from us, about what his administration is doing, in terms that reflect how individual lives are being improved.
How do you see Bernie Sanders with regard to your understanding?
I think Bernie does a better job than most of relating to working class Americans. His voice is important.
Trump speaks to many of the same Americans as Bernie but he creates a clear divide, is manipulative, exploits fear and stokes resentment. Trump doesn’t really promise much positive, it’s a promise to screw the “others” and, in a zero sum game, you win without really winning.
My problem with Bernie is that he vilified Clinton and Biden (to a lesser extent) and Trump wouldn’t have won without him. Sometimes you have the eat the elephant one bite at a time but Bernie keeps thinking he can get the country to do it in one gulp.
Overcharged by sense of need and the bite of history___not exactly the right temperament___he knows what's happening with too much intensity...
I was a Bernie fan long before he entered national politics because he spoke to the values I try to live by. He lost me, too, when he bad-mouthed Hillary with things he had not bothered to check out. By the time he walked them back it was too late. I agree he is an important voice: he began a much needed refocus of Democratic priorities and we're seeing the results of that now. Or would if more people would take off their blinders.
I disagree that Bernie is trying to get the country "to do it in one gulp", given that he has been at this for over 50 years, beginning at the local level. And he has by no means been at it alone- there are many of us who worked for decades on some of the same issues. But I also think that what Bernie has done is what Bernie is best at. He ran for President to jolt the Dems awake. He succeeded at that. And we are starting the process to get us back on track to join other nations in caring for our citizens instead of pandering to the uber-wealthy.
I agree he refocused the Democratic Party back to the Truman-LBJ days, which is long overdue. Bernie’s $6Trillion proposal “do it in one gulp” Build Back Better at the beginning of the Biden Presidency was an absolute disaster, gave Republicans the ability to say there are no moderate Democrats, and almost prevented anything at all from getting passed. And Shame on Biden for letting him do that.
All negotiations start with the premise that you are never going to get everything you ask for, so you lay out more than you expect. Then you have negotiating room that can allow a great deal of flexibility. I think that is exactly what Biden did. It's how thing are generally done. And in a turn around way that the Republicans didn't see coming. Bernie was not responsible for Republican obstruction. That was going to happen no matter what. Bernie's proposal actually may have helped. I am not exactly looking in from outside on these processes. I have been deeply involved in all kinds of policy negotiations for a long time.
Bernie had waited 30+ years for a receptive audience, and was never a team player--or a Democrat. That's why he had no trouble trashing Democrats who didn't support his "cheering crowds" and did all he could to turn his people away from Hillary in the primary he stayed in after he'd already lost it in 2016. If Bernie had had a mandate, he would've won the 2020 primary. At least in 2020 he couldn't blame "the rigged system."
The economic system and rule of law have been rigged before and after Bernie Sanders.
Like it wasn't since non-Natives landed on these shores? Let's ask the Native Americans
Like it wasn't since the Articles of Confederation? Like it hasn't been since the writing/adoption of the Constitution?
Bernie preaches, and always has, a utopian vision of the US. It is not grounded in reality; if it was, Vermont would've adopted all of his proposals and policies.
At least the Dems keep trying to slowly bend the arc. Blowing it up and starting over is not a Democratic option.
Citizen60, E. Warren has put forth plans to rearrange some of the 'systems' pipes or circulation depending on your image of body/foundation of our functions. Don't there need to be major changes, so, that greater equality is achieved (economically and socially); stronger protection of the people's rights established; regulation of social media enacted; reform of the electoral process to achieve one person, one vote? One change at a time.
Hear the crickets? The silence of the GOP on this assassination attempt speaks volumes. Silence is complicity.
Silence would be an improvement. Republicans are openly trying to blame the assassination attempt on Democrats, and there are 74 million Americans who will see it their way.
Thank you for tonight’s note. I am terrified for my Orthodox neighbors in Los Angeles this weekend. I am glad to have your writings as a steady guidepost.
This might be a fine time to lose your patience and decorum, Janet. If not now, when?
"If not me, who?"
attempted like
I find the racism and antisemitism absolutely sickening and worry all the time. When will these irrational, man-made constructs atrophy and die away for good?
Happened long ago
Assassinating your political opponents is one of the first steps in a fascist takeover. TFG has often suggested revenge against his political opponents if re-elected.
Ted Cruz has said that, if the Republicans take over the House in 2023, they will impeach Biden, even if there is no justification for doing so. He states that, contrary to popular belief, he feels that Trump’s two impeachments had no basis and were strictly political.
With this kind of whipping up of the base, it’s not surprising that anyone who does not publicly shout the big lie about the 2020 election from the rooftops is in physical danger from members of the public who have become convinced that they have a moral obligation to remove those who do not comply.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/08/16/trump-speeches-extreme-agenda-2024-bid/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/ted-cruz-impeach-biden/2022/01/04/afc3f7ac-6da0-11ec-aaa8-35d1865a6977_story.html
WHY does Ted Cruz still have a license to practice law? Bar associations are useless.
He is the definition of vile, lout, and deplorable
He is the ugliest, worst kind of tfg sycophant. He repulses me.
Thank you for the phrase 'stochastic terrorism'! It still rankles the mind as far back as Bill O'Riellys' repeated comments of 'Diller the killer', openly advocating (as you described) what eventually happened, and then blithely shrugging his shoulders, free from any responsibility for his advocacy however indirect. The same is going on today, a bit more refined, a LOT more blatant.
O’Reilly was blatant enough. Evil to the core and still blathering bull Schitt.
Enablers like Vladimir Putin
Enablers like Mitch McConnell and 90% of the Republican Party in office.
Going after family members is a mafia trait, a terrorist action, not something we as a nation have held up with pride before.
Yet here we are.
I visit some far Right sites, get a couple of newsletters from the new republican party, and pay attention to what's said between the trolls on social media. The misinformation is rampant and explosive. The fear is real, and Fox continues to feed it. Most won't watch anything that doesn't come from a Far Right source. Religions are being twisted to enhance the fear of "other" people. Only the Red god is true, all others are Satan in disguise.
People are convinced we're in a recession that will become a depression within months. They're scared enough to make it happen if there are enough of them.
There are illegal aliens handing out fentanyl to Trick or Treaters, Blacks are replacing whites in every sector of society, Biden will give Indians (never Native Americans) their land back and whites will have pay back rent for hundreds of years of occupancy, Putin is actually trying to save the US, but our news is being controlled by Obama and Hillary, COVID was made by the Chinese and secret cabals in the Democratic party spread it across the country, COVID is just a fake virus meant to scare people into wearing masks that have a powder in them to make people sheep. . .
There are days my jaw hurts from it hitting the floor. Conspiracy theories don't have to pass any test of logic, much less critical thought.
No, these people aren't necessarily the norm - at least I hope they aren't the norm - but they spread enough misinformation and fear that others start to doubt actual sources of information. That leaves the rest of us trying to disprove something that doesn't exist; there is no "there," there.
How the hell do we help enlighten people who have come to enjoy the darkness of fear and ignorance? I get the physiological concept of endorphins becoming addictive, whether through pleasure or fear, but I don't understand the willful choice to keep pressing the button marked "poison" when every single one of them truly knows right from wrong.
Locally, a Red Cap overhead me talking to a friend about moving to Costa Rica. We'd also been talking politics. He told me good riddance, America didn't need my kind. I let him know my interest in my homeland would not want, that I'd still be voting. He was shocked to learn that was a possibility. I think that's something they should hear more often. Americans may choose to leave the states for a safer place to raise a family, but our right to vote travels with us.
I keep reminding myself Italy got through their fascist phase. I just hope it doesn't get that far.
Pax and Samhain blessings, everyone.
Are we descending into a period of “religious/political “ wars? Look at history. We need to find common humanity and stop hateful projections against the “other” This is metastatic cancel culture which directly provoked stochastic terrorism
Yes, it is interesting (and novel to some) that a US citizen may choose to live outside the USA but is still entitled to vote. There is a huge group of expats (approximately 9 million) who belong to a group known as Democrats Abroad and who are assisted by this arm of the DNC to vote in (for) their home state. Interestingly, there seems to be no comparable arm of the Republican party.
Much of the current republican party seem to think I'm terms of borders. In a worldwide economy, that's not a good idea.
I'll look up Democrats Abroad. Thank you for the info! :-)
The attack on Paul Pelosi is a shot across the bow of democracy. The attacker was likely told, by whoever put him up to this, that Congresswoman Pelosi would be returning to San Francisco. Initial reports don't exactly paint the attacker as a genius at planning. I would not be surprised to learn this was a group effort.
Had the same thought. He came far too close to finding her at home.
Well, talk about conspiracy theories, here we are, right here, folks.
Horrifyingly, I think that the attempted murder of Mr. Pelosi was but the beginning.
I fear you’re correct.
According to the news,he was attempting to tie Mr. Pelosi up and wait for Nancy to return. It was an assassination attempt. The attempted murder was because Pelosi fought back. I believe he had the hammer.
Thank you again for your analysis. I bid good bye to Twitter.com after 11 years. Deactivated my account and tossed forever. So long Chief Twit. 🙏🏽
Never joined, never will!
Make Elon sorry