Yesterday, eight extremist members of the Republican congressional conference demonstrated that they could stop their party, and the government, from functioning. Indeed, that’s about all those members have ever managed to do. Political scientist Lindsey Cormack noted on social media that Representatives Andy Biggs (R-AZ) and Nancy Mace (R-SC) have managed only to name a single facility each; Representatives Ken Buck (R-CO), Tim Burchett (R-TN), Eli Crane (R-AZ), Matt Gaetz (R-FL), and Matt Rosendale (R-MT) have each sponsored no successful bills; and Bob Good (R-VA) has sent one thing to the president, who vetoed it.
‘Vote to oust McCarthy is a warning sign for democracy, scholars say’ (excerpts from WAPO)
‘If you want to know what it looks like when democracy is in trouble, this is what it looks like’
‘The vote reflected the enormous power that a small group of representatives camped on their party’s ideological fringe can wield over an entire institution, said Ziblatt, co-author of the book “Tyranny of the Minority.” ‘It also showcased how difficult it will be for anyone to corral the House in a way that’s functional, with major decisions over the budget and Ukraine funding ahead.’
‘Congress arrived at this point for myriad reasons, all of which build on one another, scholars say: Social media and cable news incentivized politicians to perform for the camera, not for their constituents. Aggressive gerrymandering created deeply partisan districts where representation is decided in primary contests, not general elections. Weakened political parties became captive to their loudest and most extreme members.’
‘Taken together, those factors handed a small number of lawmakers the power to throw one of the three branches of government into disarray and, for now, paralysis.’
‘The 8 Republicans who ousted McCarthy represent a small minority of Americans’
MEMBER DISTRICT DISTRICT LEAN
Tim Burchett TN-02 R+18
Matt Rosendale MT-02 R+16
Ken Buck CO-04 R+13
Matt Gaetz FL-01 R+19
Bob Good VA-05 R+7
Nancy Mace SC-01 R+7
Andy Biggs AZ-05 R+11
Eli Crane AZ-02 R+6
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Cook Political Report
‘As unprecedented as Tuesday’s vote was, this moment is a continuation of a trend in American political culture, said Joseph Postell, a political scientist at Hillsdale College in Michigan. He pointed to the troubled tenures of previous Republican speakers of the House such as John A. Boehner and Paul D. Ryan, both of whom struggled with stiff resistance from their right flank.’
“What McCarthy faced today is another domino in the many dominoes that have fallen over the last decade or so,” Postell said. (WAPO) See gifted link to the article below.
Gulp: "History has shown that government dysfunction can be a prelude to the erasure of democracy altogether, with authoritarianism rising in its place, said Harvard’s Ziblatt.
“What precedes a democratic breakdown is political stalemate and extreme dysfunction where there’s a sense that nothing can get done,” Ziblatt said. “When governments can’t respond in genuine crises, it has a delegitimizing effect, and it reinforces the sense among citizens that we have to resort to other means.”
MaryPat, many of us were complacent, being sure that Hillary Clinton was surely going to win. We were complacent as state after state was gerrymandered.
It’s like car maintenance—if you ignore it long enough, you end up with something that won’t start, much less drive safely.
I hope that we haven’t waited too late to save the engine from seizing up.
I fear we have waited too long. Republicans are entrenched now. Being too afraid to punish republican criminals for the sake of keeping the peace has empowered them.
If I may, it is not too late. Have faith and show strength. Our institutions will continue to hold. Fear is what Trump wants. Vote and support Democrats.
Garland was too busy trying not to be political yet the republicans still accuse the DOJ of being political. He should have just gone ahead like Barre and started the wheels turning long ago. No matter what democrats do, it will be wrong. (even though republicans have done it.
I am hoping that the younger generation will come through. I don't think they have been around long enough to be brain washed. Also I think some of the Independents will not like the abortion rulings ( 60% were pro choice). There is hope with the unions since Biden has championed them. Hopefully the workers will realize that if trump lived up to his promises, they would not be on a picket line. I hope they realize that trump has made a mockery of them with his "fake" union rally. That was pathetic.
Lady Justice is finally showing up and the goons are panicking. The goons are such a mess, (which was to be expected) that they can no longer hide behind their propaganda.
Yes, and to this day I feel guilt being broadsided by Trump and the GOP. The signs were there but, but ignored. Went from being woefully ignorant of current events that mattered, to reading reliable news.
Currently reading Heather Richardson's newly released book and can see how we got to this point/how we missed seeing the oncoming train.
Hillary Clinton should never of been on the ballot. We all know that the republicons has eviscerated her reputation along with Billy Boy. But powers at dem party did it anyway. Much of what they did to the Clinton's were lies but??????????????? the damage had been done.
I am sorry, but I disagree about Hillary Clinton. She was the most knowledgeable and qualified person to ever run for president. She won more popular votes than that idiot that moved into our White House. I refuse to look in my rearview mirror and say that "she should never have been on the ballot". We are way past that...or should be.
Agree with you Colette about most qualified but she had been victimized for all of the 90's and 2000's some justified and most others not justified. She was an easy target for republiCONS and we all new that and know that lamestreet media is a bunch of billionaire thugs.
I disagree for these reasons. To begin with - some of HRCs loss was a result of the FBI directors needless verbiage re an investigation that the bureau did not want to pursue further. and then we have the uphill battle of a third democrat in a row. Take away Comey's words and she might have won. And she did garner more votes. Not a mean feat.
Comey’s judgement to reveal an ongoing investigation when it was a presidential candidate of one party while not revealing an ongoing investigation of the campaign/candidate of the other party (his party) still angers me with his partisanship. I Hope he’s happy with all the chaos that he helped cause.
Yes, agreed but she was a flawed candidate for the previous 16 years even if not justified. That is what repugs do. Also, I was so mad at dem party for what they did to Bernie Sanders but then they would of ripped him apart too as that is all they know hate and fear.
I suspect a lot of people were unaware of their legislatures' nefarious actions in redistricting, or that anything at all could be done about it. Interestingly here in Maine, where we have 2 districts, the state capital was in District 1 (quite Blue) until the most recent redistricting; we're now in District 1 (quite red), which helps offset the red rural voters, the effect of which is to give Maine two Dem reps instead of one Dem and one republicant. So there's that; not all redistricting is evil.
Who's surprised to see Steve Bannon connected to this? And guess who's working with Steve Bannon to burn down everything, leaving a scorched earth path back to the Oval Office in 2024?
This could very well be "Profile-in-Courage" time: a small group of Republicans can come together to join the Congressional Democrats to elect Hakeem Jeffries as Speaker of the House. Otherwise the nation is faced with a catastrophe, with Steve Bannon getting his wish to destroy the administrative state.
A moderate Republican as House Speaker would, I believe, the best course in getting necessary legislation passed, the government working and reducing the power of radical right wing politicians, MAGAs and the former president.
I agree, if one should step forward and if the Republicans could support such a candidate and behave rationally, but that is a tall order. At lunch, after golf, today I had a discussion with three Republicans. They cannot discuss even rational matters such as government spending and the deficits. For example, though the Republicans controlled Congress and the White House during Trump's term in office, the national debt soared to $8.2 trillion more in four short years. But, the Democrats were to blame for that. They are completely controlled by confirmation bias. There is no objectivity there. We can't reason with them. We simply must beat them at the polls.
The image of four white American male golf players at lunch having a discussion about legislative options for the House of Representatives, prompted the desire to be a documentarian with crew being the fly on the wall.
Jefferies will need the skill. along with a few of the Republican representatives in districts that Biden won and at least a several more moderate Republicans to attract enough others that together come up with a Republican candidate for House Speaker who has a chance of taking it. Most of the Republicans in the House would like to see the end of Trump and the right-radical fringe. It may seem like threading the needle, but it's the way to some light; right now the House is paralyzed and the Republicans in it look worse than ever.
With promises to stick to action on issues where they can reach bipartisan consensus. This would show that centrist governing can work and serve the people. We should not underestimate the vilification and demonizing that is done by making “the left” the enemy. Jeffries could show that we’re not. And focus on what helps the majority of people.
Lynn, why petty? Even if I were a conservative Republican, I don’t think that I would want an avowed racist who’s proud of the fact (Scalise) or a guy (Jordan) who admires Erdogan/Putin and vows to table any bill to provide aid to Ukraine to disuade Putin from attacking a neighboring NATO country. To me, preventing both of those persons from controlling what financial bills are advanced is crucial.
I'm sorry, but I don't understand your comment. The temporary speaker's first action was to evict Pelosi from her so-called hideaway office in the Capitol. While she was in California for Senator Feinstein's funeral. That is petty.
In the absence of a functioning House, the mechanisms of the Constitution no longer function. I don’t believe any Federalist Paper addressed such a situation or even imagined that 8 extremists could disrupt their Chessboard of checks and balances
President Lincoln suspended Habeas Corpus, might President Biden declare a national emergency and simply declare previous funding levels be maintained while the House gets its act in gear (or when sane voters elect sane Representatives)?
Maybe - but in Federalist #70 one of Hamilton's arguments in favor of a strong presidency was that the Congress would be slow and "deliberative." Clearly he was kindly taking a jab at the chaos and demonstrated lack of action that arose when the Continental Congress's seemed unable to act when action was sorely needed, and at the current convention which was in a state of chaotic disagreement much of the time.
It may be hard to see and appreciate, but this chaos among the R's could very well end up being a kind of creative destruction. People like Matt G and MTG are nothing if not entertaining fools. Years from now people will be having lots of fun at their expense. Imagine a play with the title "Gaetz Smart."
Good idea, Dave. In times of war the President has this right. While we may not be shooting up the Streets right now, this is pretty damned close to war.
All this is true but I want to add another issue that should not be forgotten--just about all our goods and services are for profit and subject to the speculative markets. Corporations not legislators are controlling just about everything. They have bought everything including the legislators. And the Supreme Court put the cherry on top with Citizens United. If corporate power wants the Republican Party to get its act together it will happen tomorrow. I think in fact the people who are helping direct the wealth of this country into a few pockets are happy with a dis-functioning government. The largest too big to fail corporations have no special allegiance to one particular country. They don’t want to pay taxes to help the country and its citizens. We have ceded control of life essentials to profit makers. Is our government even relevant anymore? We stopped taking care of people and turned to taking care of profit long ago. Just saying I am wondering what big profits may be being made off this turmoil.
Goodbye, House of Representative and the Supreme Court with Trump leading the charge to dictatorship! We have more than a nightmare in the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. UNITED STATES?!
Fern, the power of leveraging propaganda and American belief systems is clearly on display. I just heard on NPR yesterday that 53% of Americans "trust" the Republican party to better handle the "economy".
Given the mess that Republicans made of the economy (just more cutting taxes on wealthy corporations) during the Pandemic and the mess that 8 years of Republican policy made in 2007 and 2008, and the failure of Reagan's "trickle down", and the loss of the middle class due to Republican policy and Republican support for offshoring and outsourcing, starting with Jack Wlech, AND how well the Democrats have handled the economy in the last 2.5 years I am "aghast" to use a word none of my kids or their friends use.
I am left with this echo in my head: The Problem with America is Americans. I know you are not a big fan of that phrase, but, to me it rings true.
Yep. Americans are now their own worst enemy. Ignorance combined with overly developed belief systems combined with underdeveloped critical thinking capacity and a (strong) preference for propaganda (Fox News) AND a willingness to spend large amounts of "free time" drinking beer, watching football, watching survivor on TV, tailgating, and generally pursuing lazy habits ........
........has now produced Matt Gaetz and Ted Cruz: Men my wife says are the ugliest two men she has ever heard or seen (ugly in every way, says she).
Whew! I was worried when she started that "The ugliest men are" sentence yesterday!!
Ugly is perfect. Perfect. Steve Bannon, Trump, Cruz.. just revolting. Self-loathing governs this hoary cult. Racism is their odor, Putinism is their creed and methodology, sexual dysfunction oozes from their every pore, this is a sick bunch of Black and Jew hating ugly males backed by 70 million American racists that hate the memory of Abraham Lincoln. These are Confederate soldiers of yore, they’re fighting the Civil War and seek revenge for the Reformation - they are still hanging the slave over the fire and celebrating the worst of our history. The GOP House reflects who we are. Trump is the wet dream of Bannon racists. Planet Earth is the scene of the crime. Vladimir Putin plays Trump like a three string busted 🪕 banjo. Our embedded racism allows Musk to destroy our cultural commitment and Ukraine. Antisemitism rules as Musk blames the ADL for X going down.
Most MSM blatantly ignores our national intolerance, our innate racism, our exploding antisemitism, Black hatred in the GOP - and the Trump Bannon Putin Orban Gaetz white supremacy cult that wants to bring down our democracy and our Republic.
Ukraine is the hot deadly battleground for decency and democracy, and WW III, Matt Gaetz and Jim Jordan will let Ukraine and Europe fall .. as ugly Steve Bannon smiles.
Fascism Rules the GOP of today, President Biden says all the best things, and FOX News ignores Biden and pumps Trump’s line.
The Book of Job never gets old. Our national political playground is ruled by God and the Devil for all to see. Man is tested day and night. Our children are threatened by this mess. Deep down they feel it. Most are numb.
Warming and Don’t Look Up and death of the smallest living things in our universe and our personal microbiome threaten all life. The metaphors are everywhere.
Self loathing is spot-on. Last night I was watching a program about serial killers, and the shrink who was providing commentary explained how the contempt killers display towards their victims comes from their own deep lack of self esteem. These men, like Trump et al, are destructive people who feel a weird kind of comfort in being able to harm others. Decades of complacency, the deterioration of our educational system and the middle class have created a society that eschews politics in favor of entertainment.
Television and it's ilk is the real opioid of the masses. I watch too, but selectively. I gave up on TV "news" and commercial TV during Bush II's Iraq war. Somehow modern TV debates seem more like gameshows than presentation of of a credible "business plan" worthy of Lincoln-Douglas; and it's not that the world is any simpler, just that TV tends to the superficial.
In the end, it is we who steer the ship of state through the icebergs. Asleep at the wheel almost guarantees a bumpy ride at best, and complete disaster at worst. Our current trajectory is alarming.
I call him "Gym Jordan". The maps in Ohio are SO gerrymandered that his district actually looks like a salamander...if they don't redraw them we may be stuck with his ugly face and personality forever!
Ugly is more than skin deep, really never just appearance. Habitual malice does seem to show for a lot of demagogues, though not always. It's mostly in the "body language" they express, such as the anal-oid Trumpian mouth.
I could not agree with you morel Americans have become fat and lazy and let others make the decisions for them. My sister says Gaetz has a forehead full of Botox. Ugly in every way. I’m glad the democrats didn’t bail out McCarthy. He is an unprincipled feckless self interest self absorbed fool. This never happened under Speaker Pelosi’s watch!
Pelosi reports the Temporary House 'leader' has evicted her from her House office space, (H-132). Per the Twit Temporary, Pelosi's House office lock is being "re-keyed". Meanwhile all the House R's left town split DC. So there will be no reporters seeking comments outside House elevator doors this week. Best make sure you are buckled up when nihilists return.
The Rs can only do pettiness at this point. I just hope that somehow enough sane people will find a new speaker (not Gym and Sheetless KKK) and get on with what is necessary. The Ds as a block and enough Rs could do this and maybe enough Rs are in swing districts to accomplish this. OK, I am being hopeful and probably naive before I have had my first cup of coffee.
McCarthy has long been on my short list of horrible people. He's been around quite a while now, and his snake-like back-stabbing hypocritical behavior has been on full display the whole time. I wish only the worst for him. But even he has his limits, at least momentarily. In a moment of temporary sanity, he decides he will avert a shutdown. But look at what happened - he had made a deal with the devil, and for that act of temporary sanity the devil stabbed him in the back. So good - he got what he deserved. But careful what you wish for. We may very well get Gym Jordan as his replacement. Or maybe Stefanik? Scalise? Makes me want to puke...
PBS News Hour interviewed “moderate” NY R- congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis at length. If that’s moderate, it’s moderate compared to Jim Jordan. She blamed Dems for the fall of Kevin, and her top priorities were “border security” and cutting spending. (Interviewers seem not to be allowed to ask, why not bring in more revenue, even by enforcing current tax laws and making tax cheats pay what they owe?)
Paul Krugman in the NYT explained why MAGAs don’t support Ukraine. It has absolutely nothing to do with money. The public has been encouraged to think 25% of our taxes go to foreign aid, though it’s actually 1%. Ukraine aid is only 5% of our defense spending, and 0.3% of GDP, but 77 billion dollars is a lot of money if no one puts it in context. Projected spending for Halloween is 12 billion dollars.
By no means is it necessary to choose between border security or support to Ukraine. MAGAs just want Putin to win.
"Americans have become fat and lazy and let others make the decisions for them. "
I think it's a security code in our genetic code, more exploitable for some than for others. I think that growing up in an authoritarian family tends to bring it forward.
"Gaetz has a forehead full of Botox."
That explains a lot. It has obviously seeped into his cranium.
Mike S, many of us would benefit from knowing more about the structural weaknesses of American Democracy, aspects of our system that make it vulnerable to the threats we are undergoing. If you read the article in the Washington Post, for which I provided a link and, perhaps, have known, social media, Fox News and other recent tools have made democracy here and in other counties wobble and fall as democracies. I would not lay all the blame as you have on the American people. We are absolutely not alone with our share of bigots, racists, greedy and uninformed citizens.
'It Can Happen Here: 8 Great Books to Read About the Decline of Democracy
It’s among the world’s oldest forms of government, but it’s increasingly under threat. These books consider the sources and effects of an alarming global trend.' (NYTimes, Nov. 4, 2022)
'Autocratic demagogues. The erosion of the rule of law. Growing inequality. The upending of elections. Normalization of violence. These are all symptoms of what the scholar Larry Diamond has called “democratic recession” — and we are seeing them not just in America, but around the world. Over the last 16 years, according to Freedom House, a nonprofit that researches and promotes global democracy, more nations have moved away from democratic principles than strengthened their embrace of them. The list includes the United States. What’s new is that this trend is happening in modern, prosperous, liberal democracies.'
'Here’s a smart starter set of books about how and why democracies deteriorate and how vulnerable we are.'
'How Democracies Die, by Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt
Crown, 2018'
'The Road to Unfreedom: Russia, Europe, America, by Timothy Snyder
Tim Duggan Books, 2018'
'Twilight of Democracy: The Seductive Lure of Authoritarianism, by Anne Applebaum'
'How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them, by Jason Stanley
Random House, 2018'
'Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present, by Ruth Ben-Ghiat
Norton, 2020'
Unfortunately, I could not gift this link. This article and the rest of the books listed are well worth pursuing.
Add: American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War on America Paperback – 8 January 2008
by Chris Hedges (Author)
Way back in 2008 I read this and have followed since. Chris Hedges saw what we see now, then. If you are looking for where our problem has been percolating, look to those who have forgotten "Never combine church and state again" it is the historic recipe for disaster.
Bruce, we had a fill-in preacher at my Baptist church who started talking about how abortion was a sin and that Biden had allowed 93 million abortions. He went on to rant, Do NOT vote for Biden!! He said if you do, you will be sinning, because abortion Is a sin.
Mike S, the documentary features five survivors and provides a sense of the last year of the war. While moving in terms of the suffering that was inflicted by the Nazi's, in terms of the roots and functions of fascism, you will learn a good deal from the books provided in article, 'Democracy Under Threat' and there are many other excellent books if you wish to learn more.
At my advance age, I grow more misanthropic by the day. Death star represents the worse in humankind as do his minions. The problem is further acerbated by a sense among most people that something is wrong and many of them do not know what it is, so they are easy pickings for those who play on fear. I feel personally that it is climate change as more and more people are being in the midst of very bad weather outcomes. And as we know, in some places home insurance is no longer available. Yet so many refuse to do anything to turn the tide, if at this point it can be turned. My hope is in young people who often display much more sense than adults. And despite people's beliefs, neither God nor money is going to save them.
Thank you, Fern, for your lucid, pugnacious, public-spirited defense of democracy and its subverted institutions.
As you know, I am inclined to see eye-to-eye with Mike S about American belief systems.
Not, of course, an exclusively American disease, but blind, deeply ingrained belief in a whole series of radically incompatible nonsenses, does seem to this outsider to be a special characteristic of American culture.
A consequence of heavy exposure to debased religion.
There is nothing like a compliment that leads what I consider to be an easy blame game -- it's the American people! I make the same recommendation to you that I did to Mike S. Learn more about what is happening to democracies around the world and read a book or two about it. The list of books in the article in the New York Times would be a start, unless you've read one or two of them.
Kathy, that is the exact link that I provided, which was not gifted. Gifted links from The New York Times are very long. Check it out, if you can. Thanks.
I watched President Biden's interview on ProPublica a few days ago, and he talked about the danger democracy faces from the MAGAs. First he discussed the fact that America is the leader of the democratic world, and that other countries follow what we do. So he said that if America's democracy collapses, "Katie bar the door." We are not alone. This horror is raising its head all over the world.
I think we need to be paying attention to a number of things, including rising world population that has well more than doubled in my lifetime. It seems to me obvious (though it seems not for many) that there is an absolute limit to how many times we can double that figure, even with minimum "footprints". It seems to me that climate change is our individual impacts X our numbers.
Too, democracy is always herding cats, which is both liberating and frustrating, even when doing it right. Misappropriating a phrase from G.K. Chesterton, I'd say democracy as not been tried and found wanting, but tried and found difficult. On the surface, a "flawless" "benign" dictator lets you get back to the game.
Thirdly (I'm sure there is more) both our technically complicated society (compared to the early, primarily agrarian US) is both better equipped and harder to reach in the scale and quality of public conversion to prepare an adequately informed electorate, and of course, any tool can be harnessed to empowering or predatory objectives. Allowing the development of media near-monopolies (or ANY near-monopolies) was a really, really bad move. History could not have said it plainer.
Blaming the American People for the current crises we find ourselves in is like getting the answer "everything" from the question "what's wrong?" There is nothing actionable about it. I appreciate your sentiment, but disagree with the hopeless nihilism it produces. 81,000,000 members of our electorate did not vote for this dysfunction. That's a lot to work with. I suspect they may resent being lumped in with the 70 - 75,000,000 who did.
Yes, but we are all responsible, so what matters is awareness of that responsibility and determination to act on it.
At the same time, sharp awareness that both the sane and the sick suffer the consequences of deliberately promoted mass psychosis.
When one lives in a severely polluted environment, full awareness of that reality and its consequences can be delayed until very late in the day. Too late to save many victims.
The reference to psychosis is true, mass psychosis. Many may see what these lies have done to loved ones; nothing less than "elder abuse" and further dementing those prone to lazy habits, as noted above. However, the reference to "sloth" needs clarified, for current views on the animal, are that they are very efficient....
Very true, Steve. But, we are the ones that allowed this to happen. We are the people that allowed the Trumpublicans to get the leadership in the House of Representatives. We barely held onto the Senate majority. So, in essence, we sat on our laurels and existed others to carry the weight, and they failed. They failed because not enough of us, the people, got to the polls in 2022 and voted. This is how we ended up with strongholds of MAGA legislative bodies in numerous states, MAGA governors in the same states, and gerrymandering going amuck in those states. We have a lot of work to do, and no time to be lazy now. The Trumpublicans are going to turn this into a dictatorship and we’ll be under Putin’s thumb if we aren’t careful.
Mike S, what you say about Americans is absolutely true. We have brought this upon ourselves by, for lack of a better word, sloth. And it's not like we haven't had any warning. I have been reading for years dire warnings and comparisons of our trajectory to the fate of the Roman Empire. Well, here we are; drink up!
You read my mind, my question is where were the Texas idiots in the list of eight. Damn, not a one. Kevin is proof that to chumpsters, no good deed goes unpunished.
I must add that with Bannon directing much extremist traffic gathers the uninformed and vaguely dissatisfied Republican Americans into a wedge between the Democrats and responsible Republicans.
As an Anarchist Bannon pretends to join the Right but distills hate and disunion.
They dream of a new Christian Evangelical Nationalist America under one single Dictator.
Right on Mike - one can get a skewed sense of reality reading and commenting on HCR, listening to NPR or MSNBC. One can get the feeling that logic and compassion can be had by these people if only they will wake up. But then, look around sometime. Go to a fast food joint, go to Walmart, or Lowe's, a car parts store, or a football game. At least in the mid-south, and I suspect everywhere else to a greater or lesser extent - you will see hordes of folks (not all of them white either) who just don't give a sh_t. Or if they do, they have no idea what they are talking about. Informed voters? America's voters, on the whole, are not very informed, and not very interested. It's all "me and mine" for most.
The times are out of joint. We cannot unite to face the real peril: climate change. We are no longer connected to our mother, Nature. Food is NOT made at the grocery store. It depends on growing SEASONS (or hot houses). We must give up our worship of cars or perish. It’s up to us and particularly US.
Jay, the power of your words hit me like a gut punch. It felt so true. I feel as though I'm balancing on a very narrow fencepost and the choice is to fall into a crowd of undereducated/uninformed fools or a crowd of distracted disinterested sloths who couldn't care less. Unless those of us balancing on fenceposts can outnumber and outwit both hordes, there is no safe place to go.
A few years ago I read "That Dark and Bloody River" by Eckert. A thick tome about American colonists migrating into Shawnee territory in the Ohio River valley. Not fiction, and an awesome read. This is what American were. They were people of the land, entirely uneducated most of them, wanting land, total freedom to do as they want, often very religious, and regarding indigenous people who were there first as something sub-human. Decades before slavery ended, we are talking about innately racist and selfish people. Who cared only about them and theirs, and their similarly colored neighbors to help collectively protect themselves from those that they pissed off (the Shawnee and other lesser tribes in the region). Somehow, they were able to transmogrify Christian principles into such a scenario, those who were devout. There are many people today who are of the same make-up. They want freedom, or better freedumb. It is a frontier mentality - entirely obsolete. And NEVER appropriate. They do not understand that the world is entirely different now. These people care not an iota about climate change, if they are even aware of the issue. Instead they stiffen at the thought, afraid that such stuff will intrude on their way of life. These people regard the government as an adversary if not a direct enemy. So does Trump - and they love him for it. Trump checks a whole lot of boxes for them. We have to hope that this spell we are fighting will one day weaken, and go back to being just a nuisance and not such a dominant thing like it currently is. Destroying Fox would be a step forward - their news lifeline and source of assurance and gratification. Defamation lawsuits and lots of them. Destroying Trump would be another - make those indictments stick and stick soon.
Yes it all sounds vastly, but I am not believing any of the polls. While in the past they may have been truly constructed to reveal real data, todays polls are designed for headlines and fear. The media helped elect Trump with all the feee press they gave him on everything and now are pushing fear and what I believe misinformation on almost everything, including that most Americans believe the R’s are better at handling the economy. I have never been polled, have you?
"Agast is apt. Divided we stand divided we fall. We definitely have some woking up to do. There never was a "golden age", but a ebbs and flows in the war of liberation with subjugation (imagine living through WW-2, even here, much more a place like France?) . And this mix of empowerment to subjugation has never been even throughout any society although it is a stated US aspiration.
"That is the issue that will continue in this country when these poor tongues of Judge Douglas and myself shall be silent. It is the eternal struggle between these two principles -- right and wrong -- throughout the world. They are the two principles that have stood face to face from the beginning of time, and will ever continue to struggle. The one is the common right of humanity and the other the divine right of kings. -- Lincoln"
We also know from history that resistance is NOT futile where there is a sufficient measure of solidarity. Solidarity embraces diversity, conformity does not.
"just heard on NPR yesterday that 53% of Americans "trust" the Republican party to better handle the "economy"." Yes, I think I recall the percentage was even higher before Biden was elected. Do people not notice that the "GOP" is not wearing a stitch? We need to keep that in the spotlight.
Fern, you have taken my torch and are running strong with it! Thus is outstanding, and extremely well said. It’s my hope that everyone read this thread if yours and Mike’s comments because I have nothing tj add except one thing.
We better start sweating this Third Party getting the signatures to allow them in the ballot in every state. It was reported the other day they have 15 states now, and expect to be on the ballot with a candidate in all 50 states by election time.
This is a serious threat to Biden, and will put Trump, or whomever the Republican candidate is, in the White House. If this happens, you know that will happen! Democracy and Constitution will be destroyed. Dictatorship will be here to stay!
Mine also, Marj! I have absolutely no idea, other than beg people not to sign their petitions. And, we can beg other democrats to make sure they get their vote counted. We are going to need all hands on deck these next election cycles! We also need to get young people involved. Get them to understand our democracy, freedom, Constitution, is at risk if they don’t register, and vote.
None. The Congress is in paralysis. Nothing can be initiated, brought to the floor, debated or negotiated between the two houses. This is a standstill and Gaetz/Bannon will keep it that way until at least Thanksgiving, IMHO. Question for me is what will the Democrats acede to to get a Speaker AND to get funding for Ukraine (short need) and another CR (intermediate need) and a complete budget for this year (where the hostages will be executed in reprisal for Democrats not cutting the Administrative State)?
Matt Gaetz's lack of character was known ....how he was nominated for anything involving the governing or oversight of any human being is still a mystery to me.
DeSantas' book bannings only reminded me of Hitler's reigh, why and how do we as freedom loving Americans vote such fake "Americans" into office?????
How was Trump nominated to fill a servant leader's position (ie President of the US of A ) ??? At that moment is when I changed political parties. It is still one of the big question marks in my life.....everyone has been aware of Trump's shady dealings for years. Who he is as a person has NOT changed!!!
Our President Joe Biden stands up for freedom for all of us. He is a great, selfless leader. He has been voted in to lead consistently from the beginning of his career. He is experienced. His character has withstood lies and accusations and multiple disruptions to his leadership. He has experienced the loss of a son who served our nation in the military!!!! Younger men would not negotiate with strength of character and with goodwill as he AND HIS TEAM DO!!!! His team are like him in character....in their hearts and with their brilliance and skills and very lives at stake THEY STAND FOR AMERICA!!!! the America that chooses freedom, the America that believes in giving "a hand up" instead of a boot in the face!!!!
Thank you Heather for your "Letters" and for making this a space for each and all!!!
Fern, so true. Beau of the 5th Column has a very good segment about how a minority of the House is ruling. If either Jordan or Scalise is elected speaker, it will get even worse, with a single man ruling.
When I first heard about McCarthy's "vacation", I had the thought that Jeffries and the Democrats had played right into Republican/fascist strategist's (e.g. Bannon) hands. Their goal of frozen government has been reached, with the full support of the Democratic Caucus. Hmmm... I hope I am wrong (I mostly am about such things).
You're excellent at asking good questions. I don't think the Dems played into the fascists' hands on this one. We are literally in the struggle of our lives. Much more pointed messaging needs to be done by Biden and Biden's surrogates. I think that we are very behind in making the case and getting Trump out of the picture!
Reduced! Virginia you are a significant part of keeping our wheels moving forward. THANK YOU! One more thing, you are a thoughtful and supportive contributor to this forum and, for another point, I believe in your home, with your family, friends, neighbors and contacts you keep the principles of democracy alive and well!
Thank you, Fern. Long story, but I have no other course thanks to remembering who we were during WWII. Actually I am living with the dark web and fear what Putin’s and Bannon’s traitors will do to poison democracy almost as much as I fear climate change, or maybe more.
I would argue (and remind you) that this is NO MINORITY at work. Remember, the LARGE MAJORITY of the former GOP VOTED AGAINST a lawful and Constitutional Election!!!! January 6, 2021 is the day and time when the former GOP stated clearly that they don't give a damn about a fair and lawful election!!! They don't give a damn about Constitutional procedure and law!!! They don't give a damn about compromise, balance and checks, institutions, law, et al. BE TRUTHFUL and ACCURATE about how we got here!!!! Nearly 1/2 of American VOTERS DEMAND this chaos in the form of Trump and the entire GOP who said NO to law and elections!!!! They are NOT "fringe," they are a NEW PARTY: The Neo-Fascists Party. End. Full Stop.
After each name (below) there is the state they represent but then some vague numbers.
For example what does dash zero two (-02) after Burchett’s name mean or the (-05) after Bigg’s name mean? Same question with the plus eighteen (+18) after the letter “R” for Burchett and the (+11) after Biggs mean? (The R is obviously for Republican).
George, above the list of the names of the 8 congress people there is written ' MEMBER' 'DISTRICT' 'DISTRICT LEAN'. As an example; Tim Burchett is the MEMBER, 'TN-02' is the DISTRICT, in this case it's the second district in Tennessee; DISTRICT LEAN, means that Burchett's district leans Republican by about 16%. I hope that I have clarified this for you. I suggest you look again at the line above the list of names. Sorry that the copy was not easy to understand.
George T, I am relieved and appreciated your interest -- still do appreciate your interest in understanding a poorly presented piece of information! Thank you!
Obviously, McCarthy didn't read the room. There is only one “Teflon Don” and even his shield is showing signs of cracking! For McCarthy to think he is invincible is beyond stupid.
And the message for the Democrats it's not about numbers but it is not the numbers (221 Republican vs 212 Democratic) which gives you power. Power equals ONE ~ One voice of truth ~ One voice defending our Democracy ~ One voice advocating for your constituents
The only light in this darkness is for Republican votes to wake up and see their party for what it really is.... Incompetent, ignorant, self centered, et al... who have no interest in Governing.
Ever since ReaGUN and neo liberalism took hold in this country by both parties during Clinton/Obama 16 year era has brought us to this moment. They all (especially democrats) need to stand up and apologize to "we the people". Biden's 50+ years in Congress and look what we got. He seems to be partially moving in right direction but ever so slowly toward protecting the planet as it should be. BUT vote blue no matter who. I'm asking myself why? But will.
Can anyone doubt, given the news on the Russian withdrawal of its fleet from Crimea, that the Republican insistence on cutting out the funding for Ukraine is more than fortuitous?
The Republican extremists take their orders from Trump and Trump desperately wants Putin to win the war. Trump is so easy to figure out... Putin very shrewdly called him a 'genius' before the 2016 election and Trump bragged about that for months. Now Putin has a lap dog for life and Putin needs him in power so he can gain more power and riches for himself. Trump also admires the absolute power of autocrats and craves that power for himself. He's so deeply insecure and craves attention and approval, that he shares all of our highly sensitive and classified intel to other rich guys, simply to impress and, in his twisted view, gain respect. He doesn't give two cents for the individuals of his base, he merely adores their collective adoration of him and the money and power they give. He's still craving his daddy's approval. Trump is a very sick man and I'll be happy when he's thrown in jail for the rest of his life.
A vote against Ukraine and Zelensky is a vote for Russia, Putin and Communism. Look at the votes for not supporting Ukraine, and you will see the traitors of our nation and all those against the hope and promises of freedom for each and all.
'Every House Republican to Be Speaker for Four Minutes'
'WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)—In an agreement that members of the G.O.P. conference are calling a game changer, every House Republican will serve as Speaker for a term of four minutes.'
'At the end of each four-minute term, Rep. Matt Gaetz, of Florida, will advance a motion to vacate the chair, after which the Speaker will be forced to clean out his or her office and start working from Starbucks.'
'Once the Speaker has been removed, Republicans will recess for a week before choosing who will serve for the next four minutes.'
'Future Speaker of the House George Santos of New York hailed the agreement as' “the best idea I’ve seen in my thirty years in Congress.”
'Another future Speaker, Marjorie Taylor Greene, of Georgia, said that the arrangement would restore Americans’ faith in the Republicans’ ability to govern.' “With this distraction out of the way, we can get back to the important business of impeaching Hunter Biden,” she said.' (Satire, NEWYORKER)
Fern, I saw a hilarious comment on fb I think: McCarthy served eleven “Scaramuccis”....I laughed out loud. Thanks for sharing Borowitz, he always lightens the day....
He was pardoned, if memory serves. But he could have multiple charges. However, he is way worse than Covid. Has been traveling the world as typhoid Steve.
Keith, Bannon was set to appear in court for his appeal next week on Oct 12, but has now been pushed back to Nov 9 (think that’s the date); delay was sadly due to a death in the family of someone on the prosecution team. Bannon has stated that he will not be going to jail….sure do hope he is wrong & it’s a short sentence at only 4 months—IMHO, not nearly enough!
At this point the only resolution that will fund the government is for at least 5 of the House Republicans who were elected in districts Biden won to vote for Hakeem Jeffries on a first ballot for Speaker and then immediately have the Democrats and that core change the ridiculous vacate the chair rules. Electing a more moderate Republican is not going to be viable because the chaos caucus will just keep using the vacate the chair motion again and again and again. There is no question that the "turncoats" will have to declare as independents and caucus with the Democrats.
I doubt any of these will be Liz Cheney anti-Trumpers. They will all be acting in self-interest in the only way they have a hope of winning re-election in their districts. I also do not doubt that there will be behind the scenes inducements for them to switch. At the very least in terms of committee assignments and bringing forward legislation.
The only Republicans who would flip are the ones in districts won by Biden where they know they will not win in the next election given the chaos caucus causing total government dysfunction. And obviously Democrats would not be chatting up anyone on the infamous list of the ones who voted against certifying the results on January 6-7.
But there are always trade-offs that can be made like funding for projects in a representative's district or "safety net" positions in the executive branch as advisors or ambassadors or positions in think tanks as inducements.
After all, there are 3 independents in the Senate (Bernie, Angus King and Sinema) all currently caucusing with the Democrats even after Thune asked Sinema to caucus with the Republicans and she said no. So there is precedent for Republican leadership to approach new independents formerly of the other party to switch who they caucus with.
This comment is a follow up/ reply to the post by Georgia Fisanik.
Most of us are unfamiliar with how the arcane rules of Congress actually apply... particularly in fraught moments like now, so your comment is interesting and helpful, thanks.
It appears that many of the rules that govern how Congress does things need to be revised but that won’t even be possible ( it seems) until the air clears and the Dems succeed in winning a clear majority which seems achievable. But, in the meantime, are there enough republicans willing to step up and support the idea of a functioning democracy? Don’t they take an oath to protect and serve?
Now, is the time for this question to be asked again and again, until enough republican congressional representatives come to the aid of their country....as you suggest, Georgia, and back the minority leader’s bid to become the next Speaker. I think we can urge our own representatives to get behind this ... if they aren’t already...and encourage the media to stop wringing their hands about how dysfunctional Congress is, and instead begin talking about the possibility of a solution like you have suggested. Is it so hard to get 5 ( is it really just that) republicans to simply drop the posing and do the right thing for our country to help put an end to the destructive bickering?
Switch to Dems, never. Caucus will be the same to MAGAts. They love “conservative Republican. It is plastered all over Texas and means “continue the chaos.”
Along with the rules change, a Democratic/Independent majority could take up censure and expulsion motions against Republicans who are under investigation for scandals. Matt Gaetz and George Santos come to mind, but there are probably a few others, and if there are enough Republican moderates willing to cross the line for Jeffries they might be willing to help clean house (or House) as well.
Gaetz was elected from a +19 Trump district and would certainly be replaced by another Republican, but hopefully a less toxic one who doesn't just perform for the cameras and the donors. Santos' replacement could go either way. But it's a chance to get rid of some of the chaos agents and send a shot across the bow to the others that there could be consequences for continuing to torpedo the US government.
Wouldn't it be something if the end result of all this drama was a Congress that was more willing to work in the interests of the country? Call me a cockeyed optimist, but it's not impossible.
I don’t think Congress can just vote to expel one of its Members. Nor should it have the ability to as that is anti-democratic. How can some portion of the rest of the country remove who those voters chose to represent them?! Members can be removed for appropriate causes but I remember during the early days of Santos it being hard. Better to address that one at the district level and it seems that they have not been able to recall him for some reason.
House leadership can control Committee assignments and that is how you isolate.
I was remembering back to Adam Clayton Powell, who was barred from taking his seat after an investigation over corruption. The decision was controversial, he won a special election for the vacancy created by his removal, and he eventually served again in Congress although he was stripped of seniority and committee assignments. In the end, the Supreme Court found his removal was unconstitutional for the reasons you brought up in your comment.
That makes it difficult to punish Gaetz for his conduct. Censure would be ineffective since he has no shame, would consider it a badge of honor, and would fundraise off of the notoriety. He could be stripped of his committee assignments, I guess, but since he's an ineffective legislator already it wouldn't change much for either him or the House. The Republican governing margin is so small that the party can't afford to annoy him to the point where he would simply play spoiler along with his loyal followers and obstruct anything the House tries to do.
Basically, he's untouchable until the next election, when he will be returned to office by his loyal constituents. Lord help us.
I agree. I am also always looking for a rabbit being pulled from a hat, like President Biden bypassing Tuberville to confirm the military higher ups. There is much we haven’t thought of that is being discussed now (I hope 😬).
Republicans wanted to shut down government, now they effectively have. They wanted to stop funding for Ukraine, now they have. It's interesting that Scalise describes himself as like Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke “but without the baggage.” It was David Duke who got the ball rolling for Putin as the 'great white hope' of racists world wide. A wrecking ball for the United States. There is a direct line from the KKK to Republicans working to unburden themselves of equality before the law and equal representation. Just as there is a direct line from Nazism to Republicans working to use judicial protocols to drain justice from their country's law. Of course, the Charles Koch money funding much of this (through bagman Leonard Leo funneling dark money to antidemocratic causes) came from Pappy Fred Koch working for Stalin and Hitler.
lin, you have encapsulated the situation clearly and succinctly identifying the root cause in Charles Koch; begotten son of a man who’s wealth was derived assisting Nazi Germany
I’ve been here before. Allende, Pinochet. That didn’t end well. The Chilean people are still traumatized and the economy has never acquired stability. Broken trust? Fear of being overrun by interlopers? Goodness knows. My entire fucking life blew up all around that Coup and country.
Pedestrian language but these are pedestrian times. This is literally where this democracy survives or dies.
It’s a day-to-day thing in my opinion. I have a lot of opinions about what I think could happen, may happen etc. At this point I would be committing negligence by submitting my conjecture as though my opinion bears weight ever….
We’ve sure got a passel of flying monkeys right now.
I will admit this - I had a real hair on fire week last week up until the press quit sucking its thumb and quit beating around the bush. This character is a threat to our nation and our national psyche.
I’ll quit there. Because there’s zero hyperbole in that declarative statement.
Reading A Long Petal of the Sea by Allende. The horrors of Spain's civil wars is enough to fear if it happens here & why people want to allow Russia' cruel invasion of Ukraine. Just getting into their life's in Chile.
Political nihilism pushed by Steve Bannon; why are Republicans so unhappy/unsatisfied/dejected? Such actions are beyond explanation, because voters are tired of useless shenanigans, and of Congress not doing its job. Sheesh!
A lot of the MAGA cult yearn for civil war. They want to go out into the streets and shoot all the people of colour and LGBTQ-people that they are so afraid of - without any law & order to interfere with their “freedoms”. And for that, democracy has to fall. Trump and Bannon are more than ready to claim leadership of the smouldering heap of rubble that is left of the USA after they are done.
I think you are accurate, Dutch Mike. They long to exterminate those of us who are "different" and force those of us who are women into baby producing factories.
The leadership is in selecting and naming the ‘Other’ and ‘Different’ as evil and to be feared and exterminated. Quick, easy and final solutions to any problem, kill it: tfg stated that as shoplifters exit stores, shoot them, and the rally hearers cheered. (Surely I misheard: that cannot be?)
Now where did I hear about final solutions. It goes back a few years and a time when USA was involved in the ‘war to end all wars’, and liberated the survivors of death camps, a grim reality…read ‘Hiding in Plain Sight’, by Pieter Van Os, how a. Jewish girl survived Europe’s heart of darkness, (Scribe). Deadly chaos extended far beyond the death camps, for years of…hardship and privation don’t begin to describe the conditions of entire countries of Europe at this time: not some bygone age, but the early part of my lifetime. And some of us look to easy and fast solutions, even ‘civil’ war? My sense of hope for all of us at this time, is very slim: yet I must hope.
Spot on… It all works very nicely: just kill everyone who is “other”. Very primeval stone age tribal thinking, that, and the MAGAts love it: easy, and understandable for people who are not endowed with an IQ exceeding their shoe size. But they don’t realize that if this thinking again becomes normal, trouble comes as soon as someone else names THEM “other” and orders THEM to be killed… Hey, “two can play that game”….
Each and everyone of these evil people have that evil etched on their faces and demeanor. They truly are ugly from the inside out. I cannot imagine being anywhere near the same orbit - a giant fur ball arising!
He was pardoned by Trump on the Fed charge (his buddies in crime have been sentenced to jail time…no pardons for you!)—he is due in court to hear his appeal on the ignoring a subpoena charge in Nov; he has been sentenced to 4 months in jail & is why he is appealing the verdict. Hope they uphold it, tho it’s not nearly long enough!
I’ve never understood why once convicted you are not jailed waiting for appeal. Surely it’s your right to appeal, but if you’ve been found guilty then jail
Should be where you wait to see if your appeal is successful as you are no longer innocent UNTIL proven guilty. Can anyone explain this?
Yes, we hope “…voters are tired of useless shenanigans, and of Congress not doing its job.” Yet, the repubs continue to block and sabotage, showing they are not to be trusted and they have the power to disrupt. Governing is not on their agenda.
He was convicted last year for contempt of Congress. He has NOT been pardoned for that. He is facing prison (but it out pending "appeal" or some bullshit)
I’m with you. I’ve never understood why once convicted you are not jailed waiting for appeal. Surely it’s your right to appeal, but if you’ve been found guilty then jail
Should be where you wait to see if your appeal is successful as you are no longer innocent UNTIL proven guilty. Can anyone explain this?
This is so informative and so damming to the do nothing for their country and constituents clown caravan Thank you Heather It was so special to see you speaking Tuesday nite up close in front row😊💐🥁
" "Frankly, one has to wonder whether the House is governable at all," Representative Dusty Johnson (R-SD) told Andrew Solender of Axios." Dusty Johnson could make the House instantly governable. He needs to gather ten or twenty of his colleagues who would stand behind him as he announces for Speaker. If he were prepared, European style, to create a written agreement for a kind of coalition government, he could be elected Speaker with Democratic votes and, for the year plus that remains, govern the House like the Moderate Republican he is.
Every single member of that renegade caucus has ties to J6. Where is justice for that? Did the DOJ just assume they would be voted out? Without considering the how the government would function in the meantime? WTH? I get that they’re busy... so, now what? If it’s sink or swim, it looks like we’ll sink.
“It is an unfortunate time for the U.S. to back away from Ukraine funding, and legislators are urging the House to pass that funding quickly.”
How can the House do anything quickly when there is no speaker? And how long will it take to get one in place? And if it is one of the 2 that are running, I have no confidence that they will do anything other than shut down the government just before the holidays.
I was really upset when the CR did not include funding for Ukraine. I never trusted McCarthy’s assurances that a vote for funds for Ukraine would be forth coming. Now I am really upset and worried. Whatever Sacrificial Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing that gets to be speaker next will have to earn our trust. I am skeptical.
You may remember what Republican assurances have been worth in the past.
Yes, I'm holding my breath and waiting for the announcement from Biden that that frozen Russian money will go to support Zelensky's fight to save Ukraine. (And besides, what could be more satisfying?)
The one thing that Repugs still are clinging to, maybe in an effort to seem sane, are their 3 talking points: they will secure the border, rein in spending, deregulate to unleash business and promote prosperity. They sometimes throw in investigate the Biden crime family, or replace an incoherent aging Biden, lower taxes, etc. They continue to insist that this is what the American people want. Sadly, MSM keeps giving Repugs interviews that end up being free advertising for their talking points. They are not fact checked in real time, so MSM is almost as bad as Faux News by failing to give better understanding of what is really transpiring and why. Right now, MSM reinforces discontent. Just look at Heather's sources for her letter tonight, and for analysis. Mostly not mainstream media. The voting public needs better information at this critical time. They can't hold their representatives accountable without fuller and better understanding.
Yes. The value of 24/7 news is more than questionable. It becomes a scramble to get eyeballs watching to satisfy advertisers. This does not promote thoughtful, accurate journalism. It has devolved into infotainment - and even the "info" part is, well, not.
You are correct that cable news is a wasteland. I would quibble with your comment above re. ‘Heather’s sources’. I think she relies too heavily on mainstream outlets (NYT, WaPo, etc.), status quo punditry (Politico, etc.), and “think” tanks that have a U.S. propaganda bias (see her Atlantic Council source to buttress the claim that Ukraine good/Russia bad).
Sure you buy it, there’s a sucker born every minute. I’ll bet you’re bought into whole ‘American Exceptionalism’ thingy as well. Propaganda is an equal opportunity bedfellow for nationalistic humans.
As to what planet, that would be Earth. You know, the one that might soon be wrecked by either nuclear holocaust or climate chaos, both of which could have been prevented by rational diplomatic and legislative policy, with which the U.S., as of late, has zero inclination to pursue, preferring to think that saber-rattling, global hegemony, and neoliberal ‘market’ economics are the way to solve problems.
Quiverin' Qevin McQarthy, the empty suit who stood for nothing, believed in nothing. Like a famous "Hollywood Legend" once advised me, "If you don't give a shit about what you're doing, why should anyone else?"
Too bad five of the unvaxxed collection of creeps can't catch COVID and become members of the "excess deaths" statistics.
"Today news broke that Ukrainian attacks have forced Russia to withdraw most of its Black Sea Fleet from occupied Crimea. This is a serious blow to Vladimir Putin’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. It is an unfortunate time for the U.S. to back away from Ukraine funding, and legislators are urging the House to pass that funding quickly."
This "unfortunate" timing for cutting aid to Ukraine is no coincidence: Follow the money from Putin to Republican obstructionists. We must vote the remaining insurrectionists out.
Our idiocy can make a joke of all the sacrifices the Ukrainians have made and negate their battle field successes. The end of America’s leadership in the world. And repubs think Putin will be their friend. What gross insanity.
Heather Cox Richardson it seems once again the Republican model of the few ruling the many has ended in disasterous result with this chaos. With no "adults" in the room they continue to do, be and have nothing.
Holy shit, this is no laughing matter!
‘Vote to oust McCarthy is a warning sign for democracy, scholars say’ (excerpts from WAPO)
‘If you want to know what it looks like when democracy is in trouble, this is what it looks like’
‘The vote reflected the enormous power that a small group of representatives camped on their party’s ideological fringe can wield over an entire institution, said Ziblatt, co-author of the book “Tyranny of the Minority.” ‘It also showcased how difficult it will be for anyone to corral the House in a way that’s functional, with major decisions over the budget and Ukraine funding ahead.’
‘Congress arrived at this point for myriad reasons, all of which build on one another, scholars say: Social media and cable news incentivized politicians to perform for the camera, not for their constituents. Aggressive gerrymandering created deeply partisan districts where representation is decided in primary contests, not general elections. Weakened political parties became captive to their loudest and most extreme members.’
‘Taken together, those factors handed a small number of lawmakers the power to throw one of the three branches of government into disarray and, for now, paralysis.’
‘The 8 Republicans who ousted McCarthy represent a small minority of Americans’
MEMBER DISTRICT DISTRICT LEAN
Tim Burchett TN-02 R+18
Matt Rosendale MT-02 R+16
Ken Buck CO-04 R+13
Matt Gaetz FL-01 R+19
Bob Good VA-05 R+7
Nancy Mace SC-01 R+7
Andy Biggs AZ-05 R+11
Eli Crane AZ-02 R+6
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Cook Political Report
‘As unprecedented as Tuesday’s vote was, this moment is a continuation of a trend in American political culture, said Joseph Postell, a political scientist at Hillsdale College in Michigan. He pointed to the troubled tenures of previous Republican speakers of the House such as John A. Boehner and Paul D. Ryan, both of whom struggled with stiff resistance from their right flank.’
“What McCarthy faced today is another domino in the many dominoes that have fallen over the last decade or so,” Postell said. (WAPO) See gifted link to the article below.
https://wapo.st/46mUmy8
Gulp: "History has shown that government dysfunction can be a prelude to the erasure of democracy altogether, with authoritarianism rising in its place, said Harvard’s Ziblatt.
“What precedes a democratic breakdown is political stalemate and extreme dysfunction where there’s a sense that nothing can get done,” Ziblatt said. “When governments can’t respond in genuine crises, it has a delegitimizing effect, and it reinforces the sense among citizens that we have to resort to other means.”
MaryPat, many of us were complacent, being sure that Hillary Clinton was surely going to win. We were complacent as state after state was gerrymandered.
It’s like car maintenance—if you ignore it long enough, you end up with something that won’t start, much less drive safely.
I hope that we haven’t waited too late to save the engine from seizing up.
I fear we have waited too long. Republicans are entrenched now. Being too afraid to punish republican criminals for the sake of keeping the peace has empowered them.
If I may, it is not too late. Have faith and show strength. Our institutions will continue to hold. Fear is what Trump wants. Vote and support Democrats.
Not too late. The wheels of justice are slowly grinding. I do wish Garland and the DOJ had not taken so long. They did not have the luxury of time.
It will take many elections and eventually we will get the trumpers to follow the rule of law again.
Not an easy fix. Vote Blue from Dogcatcher to President.
Garland was too busy trying not to be political yet the republicans still accuse the DOJ of being political. He should have just gone ahead like Barre and started the wheels turning long ago. No matter what democrats do, it will be wrong. (even though republicans have done it.
I agree with all of this. No sense dragging it out. IMHO waiting just makes it worse.
I have the same fear but we must stay strong and VOTE. We must also get all of our like minded friends and family to VOTE!
I am hoping that the younger generation will come through. I don't think they have been around long enough to be brain washed. Also I think some of the Independents will not like the abortion rulings ( 60% were pro choice). There is hope with the unions since Biden has championed them. Hopefully the workers will realize that if trump lived up to his promises, they would not be on a picket line. I hope they realize that trump has made a mockery of them with his "fake" union rally. That was pathetic.
Lady Justice is finally showing up and the goons are panicking. The goons are such a mess, (which was to be expected) that they can no longer hide behind their propaganda.
Yes, and to this day I feel guilt being broadsided by Trump and the GOP. The signs were there but, but ignored. Went from being woefully ignorant of current events that mattered, to reading reliable news.
Currently reading Heather Richardson's newly released book and can see how we got to this point/how we missed seeing the oncoming train.
Hillary Clinton should never of been on the ballot. We all know that the republicons has eviscerated her reputation along with Billy Boy. But powers at dem party did it anyway. Much of what they did to the Clinton's were lies but??????????????? the damage had been done.
I am sorry, but I disagree about Hillary Clinton. She was the most knowledgeable and qualified person to ever run for president. She won more popular votes than that idiot that moved into our White House. I refuse to look in my rearview mirror and say that "she should never have been on the ballot". We are way past that...or should be.
Time to get rid of the Electoral college. Right?
WAY past time and also, make Washington D.C. a state so their votes actually count.
Another AMEN!!
AMEN! And thank you.
Agree with you Colette about most qualified but she had been victimized for all of the 90's and 2000's some justified and most others not justified. She was an easy target for republiCONS and we all new that and know that lamestreet media is a bunch of billionaire thugs.
I disagree for these reasons. To begin with - some of HRCs loss was a result of the FBI directors needless verbiage re an investigation that the bureau did not want to pursue further. and then we have the uphill battle of a third democrat in a row. Take away Comey's words and she might have won. And she did garner more votes. Not a mean feat.
And let's not forget that we had just had our first Democratic Black President. Then to elect a woman was just a bridge too far.
Comey’s judgement to reveal an ongoing investigation when it was a presidential candidate of one party while not revealing an ongoing investigation of the campaign/candidate of the other party (his party) still angers me with his partisanship. I Hope he’s happy with all the chaos that he helped cause.
Yes, agreed but she was a flawed candidate for the previous 16 years even if not justified. That is what repugs do. Also, I was so mad at dem party for what they did to Bernie Sanders but then they would of ripped him apart too as that is all they know hate and fear.
Don't enjoy being contrary, but the popular vote said otherwise.
That view based on her being a woman? Following that line of logic, Obama shouldn't have been on the ballot.
I would ask you...what did SHE do that made her not fit for ballot???
AND what did HE do that was ignored, even still, as he lunges for the ballot one more time.
20/20 hindsight is fun, isn't it?
Republicans, Murdoch’s, Koch’s, and Putin’s bots would have had a heyday with Bernie if they had thought he had any chance of winning.
So Bill did what? trump has done what ( probably earlier than Clinton.
I always thought we elected officers to represent us. To step up , cite the problem, set in motion the counter active measures needed and act upon it.
40-50% voter participation indicative - part of that complacency.
Most wait til we’re in trouble to get out of their chair?
Gerrymandering illegal , laws not effective, corruptive influence. Not us surely?
Is another large problem that those elected in did NOT meet their promise but colluded with the extremists.
Are the people mentioned in this Letter( the 9 ) forfilling their voters reason for voting them in? We should ask.
Sorta seems like the popular vote doesn’t win... hmmmm
So does money buy the electoral ?
What’s the old saying , get the rotting apples/potatoes out of the barrel before the whole lot is lost.
💙💙VOTE💙💙
I suspect a lot of people were unaware of their legislatures' nefarious actions in redistricting, or that anything at all could be done about it. Interestingly here in Maine, where we have 2 districts, the state capital was in District 1 (quite Blue) until the most recent redistricting; we're now in District 1 (quite red), which helps offset the red rural voters, the effect of which is to give Maine two Dem reps instead of one Dem and one republicant. So there's that; not all redistricting is evil.
Putin is happy
Who's surprised to see Steve Bannon connected to this? And guess who's working with Steve Bannon to burn down everything, leaving a scorched earth path back to the Oval Office in 2024?
Not surprised at all. Bannon is scum, and always has been. Ask his ex-wife.
Wasn't he convicted of something ? and still walks the streets. Our system does need an overhaul.
Trump pardoned him after he was convicted of embezzling millions out of a private fund meant for building Trump's wall.
Thanks Marycat
Believe he was convicted of not answering the Jan. 6 call to testify. It is on appeal.
I guess then that money talks when you have it and you can delay, delay delay. No Justice. Our system is BROKEN
"Putin is happy..."
...with his tight little band of 5th columnist saboteurs... who may yet achieve for him all that his sprawling armed forces cannot.
Yes.
Sure as s—t is🥴
This could very well be "Profile-in-Courage" time: a small group of Republicans can come together to join the Congressional Democrats to elect Hakeem Jeffries as Speaker of the House. Otherwise the nation is faced with a catastrophe, with Steve Bannon getting his wish to destroy the administrative state.
A moderate Republican as House Speaker would, I believe, the best course in getting necessary legislation passed, the government working and reducing the power of radical right wing politicians, MAGAs and the former president.
I agree, if one should step forward and if the Republicans could support such a candidate and behave rationally, but that is a tall order. At lunch, after golf, today I had a discussion with three Republicans. They cannot discuss even rational matters such as government spending and the deficits. For example, though the Republicans controlled Congress and the White House during Trump's term in office, the national debt soared to $8.2 trillion more in four short years. But, the Democrats were to blame for that. They are completely controlled by confirmation bias. There is no objectivity there. We can't reason with them. We simply must beat them at the polls.
The image of four white American male golf players at lunch having a discussion about legislative options for the House of Representatives, prompted the desire to be a documentarian with crew being the fly on the wall.
Jefferies will need the skill. along with a few of the Republican representatives in districts that Biden won and at least a several more moderate Republicans to attract enough others that together come up with a Republican candidate for House Speaker who has a chance of taking it. Most of the Republicans in the House would like to see the end of Trump and the right-radical fringe. It may seem like threading the needle, but it's the way to some light; right now the House is paralyzed and the Republicans in it look worse than ever.
With promises to stick to action on issues where they can reach bipartisan consensus. This would show that centrist governing can work and serve the people. We should not underestimate the vilification and demonizing that is done by making “the left” the enemy. Jeffries could show that we’re not. And focus on what helps the majority of people.
Naive perhaps. But prefer to be optimistic
And he could give Nancy Pelosi back her office. Really, how petty can you get?
Lynn, why petty? Even if I were a conservative Republican, I don’t think that I would want an avowed racist who’s proud of the fact (Scalise) or a guy (Jordan) who admires Erdogan/Putin and vows to table any bill to provide aid to Ukraine to disuade Putin from attacking a neighboring NATO country. To me, preventing both of those persons from controlling what financial bills are advanced is crucial.
I'm sorry, but I don't understand your comment. The temporary speaker's first action was to evict Pelosi from her so-called hideaway office in the Capitol. While she was in California for Senator Feinstein's funeral. That is petty.
Lynn, it appears that I misinterpreted your remark, thinking that you had called Richard petty. I apologize.
In the absence of a functioning House, the mechanisms of the Constitution no longer function. I don’t believe any Federalist Paper addressed such a situation or even imagined that 8 extremists could disrupt their Chessboard of checks and balances
President Lincoln suspended Habeas Corpus, might President Biden declare a national emergency and simply declare previous funding levels be maintained while the House gets its act in gear (or when sane voters elect sane Representatives)?
Maybe - but in Federalist #70 one of Hamilton's arguments in favor of a strong presidency was that the Congress would be slow and "deliberative." Clearly he was kindly taking a jab at the chaos and demonstrated lack of action that arose when the Continental Congress's seemed unable to act when action was sorely needed, and at the current convention which was in a state of chaotic disagreement much of the time.
It may be hard to see and appreciate, but this chaos among the R's could very well end up being a kind of creative destruction. People like Matt G and MTG are nothing if not entertaining fools. Years from now people will be having lots of fun at their expense. Imagine a play with the title "Gaetz Smart."
Good idea, Dave. In times of war the President has this right. While we may not be shooting up the Streets right now, this is pretty damned close to war.
All this is true but I want to add another issue that should not be forgotten--just about all our goods and services are for profit and subject to the speculative markets. Corporations not legislators are controlling just about everything. They have bought everything including the legislators. And the Supreme Court put the cherry on top with Citizens United. If corporate power wants the Republican Party to get its act together it will happen tomorrow. I think in fact the people who are helping direct the wealth of this country into a few pockets are happy with a dis-functioning government. The largest too big to fail corporations have no special allegiance to one particular country. They don’t want to pay taxes to help the country and its citizens. We have ceded control of life essentials to profit makers. Is our government even relevant anymore? We stopped taking care of people and turned to taking care of profit long ago. Just saying I am wondering what big profits may be being made off this turmoil.
Checks and balances?
Goodbye, House of Representative and the Supreme Court with Trump leading the charge to dictatorship! We have more than a nightmare in the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. UNITED STATES?!
Fern, the power of leveraging propaganda and American belief systems is clearly on display. I just heard on NPR yesterday that 53% of Americans "trust" the Republican party to better handle the "economy".
Given the mess that Republicans made of the economy (just more cutting taxes on wealthy corporations) during the Pandemic and the mess that 8 years of Republican policy made in 2007 and 2008, and the failure of Reagan's "trickle down", and the loss of the middle class due to Republican policy and Republican support for offshoring and outsourcing, starting with Jack Wlech, AND how well the Democrats have handled the economy in the last 2.5 years I am "aghast" to use a word none of my kids or their friends use.
I am left with this echo in my head: The Problem with America is Americans. I know you are not a big fan of that phrase, but, to me it rings true.
Yep. Americans are now their own worst enemy. Ignorance combined with overly developed belief systems combined with underdeveloped critical thinking capacity and a (strong) preference for propaganda (Fox News) AND a willingness to spend large amounts of "free time" drinking beer, watching football, watching survivor on TV, tailgating, and generally pursuing lazy habits ........
........has now produced Matt Gaetz and Ted Cruz: Men my wife says are the ugliest two men she has ever heard or seen (ugly in every way, says she).
Whew! I was worried when she started that "The ugliest men are" sentence yesterday!!
Good morning to you Fern.
Ugly is perfect. Perfect. Steve Bannon, Trump, Cruz.. just revolting. Self-loathing governs this hoary cult. Racism is their odor, Putinism is their creed and methodology, sexual dysfunction oozes from their every pore, this is a sick bunch of Black and Jew hating ugly males backed by 70 million American racists that hate the memory of Abraham Lincoln. These are Confederate soldiers of yore, they’re fighting the Civil War and seek revenge for the Reformation - they are still hanging the slave over the fire and celebrating the worst of our history. The GOP House reflects who we are. Trump is the wet dream of Bannon racists. Planet Earth is the scene of the crime. Vladimir Putin plays Trump like a three string busted 🪕 banjo. Our embedded racism allows Musk to destroy our cultural commitment and Ukraine. Antisemitism rules as Musk blames the ADL for X going down.
Most MSM blatantly ignores our national intolerance, our innate racism, our exploding antisemitism, Black hatred in the GOP - and the Trump Bannon Putin Orban Gaetz white supremacy cult that wants to bring down our democracy and our Republic.
Ukraine is the hot deadly battleground for decency and democracy, and WW III, Matt Gaetz and Jim Jordan will let Ukraine and Europe fall .. as ugly Steve Bannon smiles.
Fascism Rules the GOP of today, President Biden says all the best things, and FOX News ignores Biden and pumps Trump’s line.
The Book of Job never gets old. Our national political playground is ruled by God and the Devil for all to see. Man is tested day and night. Our children are threatened by this mess. Deep down they feel it. Most are numb.
Warming and Don’t Look Up and death of the smallest living things in our universe and our personal microbiome threaten all life. The metaphors are everywhere.
The People Shall Choose - vote, America.
Vote.
A republic if we can keep it.
Ben Franklin saw it all.
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, save us, please. 🙏
Save us from ourselves.
Self loathing is spot-on. Last night I was watching a program about serial killers, and the shrink who was providing commentary explained how the contempt killers display towards their victims comes from their own deep lack of self esteem. These men, like Trump et al, are destructive people who feel a weird kind of comfort in being able to harm others. Decades of complacency, the deterioration of our educational system and the middle class have created a society that eschews politics in favor of entertainment.
Television and it's ilk is the real opioid of the masses. I watch too, but selectively. I gave up on TV "news" and commercial TV during Bush II's Iraq war. Somehow modern TV debates seem more like gameshows than presentation of of a credible "business plan" worthy of Lincoln-Douglas; and it's not that the world is any simpler, just that TV tends to the superficial.
In the end, it is we who steer the ship of state through the icebergs. Asleep at the wheel almost guarantees a bumpy ride at best, and complete disaster at worst. Our current trajectory is alarming.
If only…. Jym Jordan or Steve Scalise would surely finish the job
I call him "Gym Jordan". The maps in Ohio are SO gerrymandered that his district actually looks like a salamander...if they don't redraw them we may be stuck with his ugly face and personality forever!
Amen, SB, Amen.
That about says it all! God help us!
Ugly is more than skin deep, really never just appearance. Habitual malice does seem to show for a lot of demagogues, though not always. It's mostly in the "body language" they express, such as the anal-oid Trumpian mouth.
I could not agree with you morel Americans have become fat and lazy and let others make the decisions for them. My sister says Gaetz has a forehead full of Botox. Ugly in every way. I’m glad the democrats didn’t bail out McCarthy. He is an unprincipled feckless self interest self absorbed fool. This never happened under Speaker Pelosi’s watch!
Pelosi reports the Temporary House 'leader' has evicted her from her House office space, (H-132). Per the Twit Temporary, Pelosi's House office lock is being "re-keyed". Meanwhile all the House R's left town split DC. So there will be no reporters seeking comments outside House elevator doors this week. Best make sure you are buckled up when nihilists return.
The Rs can only do pettiness at this point. I just hope that somehow enough sane people will find a new speaker (not Gym and Sheetless KKK) and get on with what is necessary. The Ds as a block and enough Rs could do this and maybe enough Rs are in swing districts to accomplish this. OK, I am being hopeful and probably naive before I have had my first cup of coffee.
McCarthy has long been on my short list of horrible people. He's been around quite a while now, and his snake-like back-stabbing hypocritical behavior has been on full display the whole time. I wish only the worst for him. But even he has his limits, at least momentarily. In a moment of temporary sanity, he decides he will avert a shutdown. But look at what happened - he had made a deal with the devil, and for that act of temporary sanity the devil stabbed him in the back. So good - he got what he deserved. But careful what you wish for. We may very well get Gym Jordan as his replacement. Or maybe Stefanik? Scalise? Makes me want to puke...
PBS News Hour interviewed “moderate” NY R- congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis at length. If that’s moderate, it’s moderate compared to Jim Jordan. She blamed Dems for the fall of Kevin, and her top priorities were “border security” and cutting spending. (Interviewers seem not to be allowed to ask, why not bring in more revenue, even by enforcing current tax laws and making tax cheats pay what they owe?)
Paul Krugman in the NYT explained why MAGAs don’t support Ukraine. It has absolutely nothing to do with money. The public has been encouraged to think 25% of our taxes go to foreign aid, though it’s actually 1%. Ukraine aid is only 5% of our defense spending, and 0.3% of GDP, but 77 billion dollars is a lot of money if no one puts it in context. Projected spending for Halloween is 12 billion dollars.
By no means is it necessary to choose between border security or support to Ukraine. MAGAs just want Putin to win.
I think any of those are terrible and much worse if possible than Keystone. I have made much use of the puke emoji.
Republicans vary in degree of vile.
"Americans have become fat and lazy and let others make the decisions for them. "
I think it's a security code in our genetic code, more exploitable for some than for others. I think that growing up in an authoritarian family tends to bring it forward.
"Gaetz has a forehead full of Botox."
That explains a lot. It has obviously seeped into his cranium.
Mike S, many of us would benefit from knowing more about the structural weaknesses of American Democracy, aspects of our system that make it vulnerable to the threats we are undergoing. If you read the article in the Washington Post, for which I provided a link and, perhaps, have known, social media, Fox News and other recent tools have made democracy here and in other counties wobble and fall as democracies. I would not lay all the blame as you have on the American people. We are absolutely not alone with our share of bigots, racists, greedy and uninformed citizens.
'It Can Happen Here: 8 Great Books to Read About the Decline of Democracy
It’s among the world’s oldest forms of government, but it’s increasingly under threat. These books consider the sources and effects of an alarming global trend.' (NYTimes, Nov. 4, 2022)
'Autocratic demagogues. The erosion of the rule of law. Growing inequality. The upending of elections. Normalization of violence. These are all symptoms of what the scholar Larry Diamond has called “democratic recession” — and we are seeing them not just in America, but around the world. Over the last 16 years, according to Freedom House, a nonprofit that researches and promotes global democracy, more nations have moved away from democratic principles than strengthened their embrace of them. The list includes the United States. What’s new is that this trend is happening in modern, prosperous, liberal democracies.'
'Here’s a smart starter set of books about how and why democracies deteriorate and how vulnerable we are.'
'How Democracies Die, by Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt
Crown, 2018'
'The Road to Unfreedom: Russia, Europe, America, by Timothy Snyder
Tim Duggan Books, 2018'
'Twilight of Democracy: The Seductive Lure of Authoritarianism, by Anne Applebaum'
'How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them, by Jason Stanley
Random House, 2018'
'Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present, by Ruth Ben-Ghiat
Norton, 2020'
Unfortunately, I could not gift this link. This article and the rest of the books listed are well worth pursuing.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/02/books/review/books-on-democracy-under-threat.html
Add: American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War on America Paperback – 8 January 2008
by Chris Hedges (Author)
Way back in 2008 I read this and have followed since. Chris Hedges saw what we see now, then. If you are looking for where our problem has been percolating, look to those who have forgotten "Never combine church and state again" it is the historic recipe for disaster.
Bruce, we had a fill-in preacher at my Baptist church who started talking about how abortion was a sin and that Biden had allowed 93 million abortions. He went on to rant, Do NOT vote for Biden!! He said if you do, you will be sinning, because abortion Is a sin.
I could not believe it! Sickening.
Thank you Fern.
Thank you, Lynn Sanguedolce, for your attention to democracy as well as our need to share and work together. Salud!
Many thanks Fern. I will take a look at the references.
As for leaning to Fascism, I recommend you guys watch "The Last Days" on Netflix although I am not sure it is still there.
Take note: Fascism can turn ANYONE into one of the "survivors". Or, not.
That documentary will NOT make you a fan of fascism. Unfortunately, it may not make you much of a fan of the human race either. To say the least.
Mike S, the documentary features five survivors and provides a sense of the last year of the war. While moving in terms of the suffering that was inflicted by the Nazi's, in terms of the roots and functions of fascism, you will learn a good deal from the books provided in article, 'Democracy Under Threat' and there are many other excellent books if you wish to learn more.
At my advance age, I grow more misanthropic by the day. Death star represents the worse in humankind as do his minions. The problem is further acerbated by a sense among most people that something is wrong and many of them do not know what it is, so they are easy pickings for those who play on fear. I feel personally that it is climate change as more and more people are being in the midst of very bad weather outcomes. And as we know, in some places home insurance is no longer available. Yet so many refuse to do anything to turn the tide, if at this point it can be turned. My hope is in young people who often display much more sense than adults. And despite people's beliefs, neither God nor money is going to save them.
Thank you, Fern, for your lucid, pugnacious, public-spirited defense of democracy and its subverted institutions.
As you know, I am inclined to see eye-to-eye with Mike S about American belief systems.
Not, of course, an exclusively American disease, but blind, deeply ingrained belief in a whole series of radically incompatible nonsenses, does seem to this outsider to be a special characteristic of American culture.
A consequence of heavy exposure to debased religion.
There is nothing like a compliment that leads what I consider to be an easy blame game -- it's the American people! I make the same recommendation to you that I did to Mike S. Learn more about what is happening to democracies around the world and read a book or two about it. The list of books in the article in the New York Times would be a start, unless you've read one or two of them.
I have several of those books. We need one on how democracies Survive Fascist Onslaughts!
link to: BOOKS ON DEMOCRACY UNDER THREAT
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/02/books/review/books-on-democracy-under-threat.html?
Gifted link
Kathy, that is the exact link that I provided, which was not gifted. Gifted links from The New York Times are very long. Check it out, if you can. Thanks.
All,
I would add Dr. Richardson's new book that I am reading right now.
Democracy Awakening......
Kathy.
Got it and thank you.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/02/books/review/books-on-democracy-under-threat.html?unlocked_article_code=o-kMsiYzl4zNXRU_fEItv9jZErpuMh0kk9Y6d3Frz-lCgorl3jwmaBgTEqZLU0nw8ObDdQJlHT-LAjTXOdi_3hCq4X_NBRrScMIgHVLBdfHX3VeY0Qi_QY7gLUwsxV1Qrx_09cWWYXLGlqYEzzsBVY0F2wDrcuhdwPFb04kdfwPjKClaS4NZ9SqKBSu9VmvPQogvK-RDedNqHuGBgpXGwjTwR377gXtnlf_5wBU0Taegyp9-sVxw9xiHfwStdJnbiS3lUWXUaioZY19czH1GSRKrd0BUf0cJgSHX9NKlhqrjweoSetUJlByP8j92HTHnJjuUYSo31FUcicz8d3S8AONBQ9YxhaLrJJGNpo-n&smid=url-share
I watched President Biden's interview on ProPublica a few days ago, and he talked about the danger democracy faces from the MAGAs. First he discussed the fact that America is the leader of the democratic world, and that other countries follow what we do. So he said that if America's democracy collapses, "Katie bar the door." We are not alone. This horror is raising its head all over the world.
Thanks so much for this list of books. I have heard all of these authors speak on MSNBC ( or most of them) but not read their books.
Fern, thank you for sharing this list.
I think we need to be paying attention to a number of things, including rising world population that has well more than doubled in my lifetime. It seems to me obvious (though it seems not for many) that there is an absolute limit to how many times we can double that figure, even with minimum "footprints". It seems to me that climate change is our individual impacts X our numbers.
Too, democracy is always herding cats, which is both liberating and frustrating, even when doing it right. Misappropriating a phrase from G.K. Chesterton, I'd say democracy as not been tried and found wanting, but tried and found difficult. On the surface, a "flawless" "benign" dictator lets you get back to the game.
Thirdly (I'm sure there is more) both our technically complicated society (compared to the early, primarily agrarian US) is both better equipped and harder to reach in the scale and quality of public conversion to prepare an adequately informed electorate, and of course, any tool can be harnessed to empowering or predatory objectives. Allowing the development of media near-monopolies (or ANY near-monopolies) was a really, really bad move. History could not have said it plainer.
I appreciate your long view, J L. It is much calmer than being absorbed with current affairs. Are you in the long view state of mind?
Blaming the American People for the current crises we find ourselves in is like getting the answer "everything" from the question "what's wrong?" There is nothing actionable about it. I appreciate your sentiment, but disagree with the hopeless nihilism it produces. 81,000,000 members of our electorate did not vote for this dysfunction. That's a lot to work with. I suspect they may resent being lumped in with the 70 - 75,000,000 who did.
Yes, but we are all responsible, so what matters is awareness of that responsibility and determination to act on it.
At the same time, sharp awareness that both the sane and the sick suffer the consequences of deliberately promoted mass psychosis.
When one lives in a severely polluted environment, full awareness of that reality and its consequences can be delayed until very late in the day. Too late to save many victims.
The reference to psychosis is true, mass psychosis. Many may see what these lies have done to loved ones; nothing less than "elder abuse" and further dementing those prone to lazy habits, as noted above. However, the reference to "sloth" needs clarified, for current views on the animal, are that they are very efficient....
Very true, Steve. But, we are the ones that allowed this to happen. We are the people that allowed the Trumpublicans to get the leadership in the House of Representatives. We barely held onto the Senate majority. So, in essence, we sat on our laurels and existed others to carry the weight, and they failed. They failed because not enough of us, the people, got to the polls in 2022 and voted. This is how we ended up with strongholds of MAGA legislative bodies in numerous states, MAGA governors in the same states, and gerrymandering going amuck in those states. We have a lot of work to do, and no time to be lazy now. The Trumpublicans are going to turn this into a dictatorship and we’ll be under Putin’s thumb if we aren’t careful.
Mike S, what you say about Americans is absolutely true. We have brought this upon ourselves by, for lack of a better word, sloth. And it's not like we haven't had any warning. I have been reading for years dire warnings and comparisons of our trajectory to the fate of the Roman Empire. Well, here we are; drink up!
Absolutely, positively. This comment aligns with my beliefs more than anything I've ever read on here.
You read my mind, my question is where were the Texas idiots in the list of eight. Damn, not a one. Kevin is proof that to chumpsters, no good deed goes unpunished.
I must add that with Bannon directing much extremist traffic gathers the uninformed and vaguely dissatisfied Republican Americans into a wedge between the Democrats and responsible Republicans.
As an Anarchist Bannon pretends to join the Right but distills hate and disunion.
They dream of a new Christian Evangelical Nationalist America under one single Dictator.
I know Trump would not be he.
Right on Mike - one can get a skewed sense of reality reading and commenting on HCR, listening to NPR or MSNBC. One can get the feeling that logic and compassion can be had by these people if only they will wake up. But then, look around sometime. Go to a fast food joint, go to Walmart, or Lowe's, a car parts store, or a football game. At least in the mid-south, and I suspect everywhere else to a greater or lesser extent - you will see hordes of folks (not all of them white either) who just don't give a sh_t. Or if they do, they have no idea what they are talking about. Informed voters? America's voters, on the whole, are not very informed, and not very interested. It's all "me and mine" for most.
The times are out of joint. We cannot unite to face the real peril: climate change. We are no longer connected to our mother, Nature. Food is NOT made at the grocery store. It depends on growing SEASONS (or hot houses). We must give up our worship of cars or perish. It’s up to us and particularly US.
You have nailed it, exactly, Virginia! It’s up to us, and only us, to fix this mess!
Jay, the power of your words hit me like a gut punch. It felt so true. I feel as though I'm balancing on a very narrow fencepost and the choice is to fall into a crowd of undereducated/uninformed fools or a crowd of distracted disinterested sloths who couldn't care less. Unless those of us balancing on fenceposts can outnumber and outwit both hordes, there is no safe place to go.
A few years ago I read "That Dark and Bloody River" by Eckert. A thick tome about American colonists migrating into Shawnee territory in the Ohio River valley. Not fiction, and an awesome read. This is what American were. They were people of the land, entirely uneducated most of them, wanting land, total freedom to do as they want, often very religious, and regarding indigenous people who were there first as something sub-human. Decades before slavery ended, we are talking about innately racist and selfish people. Who cared only about them and theirs, and their similarly colored neighbors to help collectively protect themselves from those that they pissed off (the Shawnee and other lesser tribes in the region). Somehow, they were able to transmogrify Christian principles into such a scenario, those who were devout. There are many people today who are of the same make-up. They want freedom, or better freedumb. It is a frontier mentality - entirely obsolete. And NEVER appropriate. They do not understand that the world is entirely different now. These people care not an iota about climate change, if they are even aware of the issue. Instead they stiffen at the thought, afraid that such stuff will intrude on their way of life. These people regard the government as an adversary if not a direct enemy. So does Trump - and they love him for it. Trump checks a whole lot of boxes for them. We have to hope that this spell we are fighting will one day weaken, and go back to being just a nuisance and not such a dominant thing like it currently is. Destroying Fox would be a step forward - their news lifeline and source of assurance and gratification. Defamation lawsuits and lots of them. Destroying Trump would be another - make those indictments stick and stick soon.
Mike S, I agree with everything you have said. I also agree with your wife, but add on Trump and Steve Bannon. The ugliness comes from within too.
feels true to me as well
Your wife is right. We could draw up a list. Meanness is ugly. Keats was right about truth and beauty.
Yes it all sounds vastly, but I am not believing any of the polls. While in the past they may have been truly constructed to reveal real data, todays polls are designed for headlines and fear. The media helped elect Trump with all the feee press they gave him on everything and now are pushing fear and what I believe misinformation on almost everything, including that most Americans believe the R’s are better at handling the economy. I have never been polled, have you?
"Agast is apt. Divided we stand divided we fall. We definitely have some woking up to do. There never was a "golden age", but a ebbs and flows in the war of liberation with subjugation (imagine living through WW-2, even here, much more a place like France?) . And this mix of empowerment to subjugation has never been even throughout any society although it is a stated US aspiration.
"That is the issue that will continue in this country when these poor tongues of Judge Douglas and myself shall be silent. It is the eternal struggle between these two principles -- right and wrong -- throughout the world. They are the two principles that have stood face to face from the beginning of time, and will ever continue to struggle. The one is the common right of humanity and the other the divine right of kings. -- Lincoln"
We also know from history that resistance is NOT futile where there is a sufficient measure of solidarity. Solidarity embraces diversity, conformity does not.
"just heard on NPR yesterday that 53% of Americans "trust" the Republican party to better handle the "economy"." Yes, I think I recall the percentage was even higher before Biden was elected. Do people not notice that the "GOP" is not wearing a stitch? We need to keep that in the spotlight.
Fern, you have taken my torch and are running strong with it! Thus is outstanding, and extremely well said. It’s my hope that everyone read this thread if yours and Mike’s comments because I have nothing tj add except one thing.
We better start sweating this Third Party getting the signatures to allow them in the ballot in every state. It was reported the other day they have 15 states now, and expect to be on the ballot with a candidate in all 50 states by election time.
This is a serious threat to Biden, and will put Trump, or whomever the Republican candidate is, in the White House. If this happens, you know that will happen! Democracy and Constitution will be destroyed. Dictatorship will be here to stay!
How do we stop No Labels? This is one of my biggest fears.
Mine also, Marj! I have absolutely no idea, other than beg people not to sign their petitions. And, we can beg other democrats to make sure they get their vote counted. We are going to need all hands on deck these next election cycles! We also need to get young people involved. Get them to understand our democracy, freedom, Constitution, is at risk if they don’t register, and vote.
Yes. They are an easily identified group bringing the dangerous numbers of those
who are always drawn to 3rd parties and young educated people who don't know
what Biden has achieved and can do. 'Labels' is primarily GOP financed, & will
only take votes from Dems.
Yes. It was a third party that also helped Hillary “lose” in 2016. A lot of disgruntled voters who were angry that Bernie did not win the nomination.
Move a couple letters and United States becomes untied states. What a mess.
A pervert enabler and a self described racist: I s that the best the GOP can do? Oh yeah, they are republicans.
Check$ and Balance$
$pot on, Mary Pat.
LOTS of checks, no balance!
Not when you own the Supreme Court
None. The Congress is in paralysis. Nothing can be initiated, brought to the floor, debated or negotiated between the two houses. This is a standstill and Gaetz/Bannon will keep it that way until at least Thanksgiving, IMHO. Question for me is what will the Democrats acede to to get a Speaker AND to get funding for Ukraine (short need) and another CR (intermediate need) and a complete budget for this year (where the hostages will be executed in reprisal for Democrats not cutting the Administrative State)?
Matt Gaetz's lack of character was known ....how he was nominated for anything involving the governing or oversight of any human being is still a mystery to me.
DeSantas' book bannings only reminded me of Hitler's reigh, why and how do we as freedom loving Americans vote such fake "Americans" into office?????
How was Trump nominated to fill a servant leader's position (ie President of the US of A ) ??? At that moment is when I changed political parties. It is still one of the big question marks in my life.....everyone has been aware of Trump's shady dealings for years. Who he is as a person has NOT changed!!!
Our President Joe Biden stands up for freedom for all of us. He is a great, selfless leader. He has been voted in to lead consistently from the beginning of his career. He is experienced. His character has withstood lies and accusations and multiple disruptions to his leadership. He has experienced the loss of a son who served our nation in the military!!!! Younger men would not negotiate with strength of character and with goodwill as he AND HIS TEAM DO!!!! His team are like him in character....in their hearts and with their brilliance and skills and very lives at stake THEY STAND FOR AMERICA!!!! the America that chooses freedom, the America that believes in giving "a hand up" instead of a boot in the face!!!!
Thank you Heather for your "Letters" and for making this a space for each and all!!!
Tell your grown kids and their friends. Warn them about No Labels.
Wow, Emily, thank you for so beautifully expressing for me (and others?) our horrors and also our gratitude.
seems like the only solution is for enough house Republicans to switch parties in order to save the country. (looking at you New York )
Fern, so true. Beau of the 5th Column has a very good segment about how a minority of the House is ruling. If either Jordan or Scalise is elected speaker, it will get even worse, with a single man ruling.
https://youtu.be/TJLO9Ubb9E4?si=ges7_G3GOM5j_Fve
Thanks for the link, Mary.
Thanks for the link.
When I first heard about McCarthy's "vacation", I had the thought that Jeffries and the Democrats had played right into Republican/fascist strategist's (e.g. Bannon) hands. Their goal of frozen government has been reached, with the full support of the Democratic Caucus. Hmmm... I hope I am wrong (I mostly am about such things).
You're excellent at asking good questions. I don't think the Dems played into the fascists' hands on this one. We are literally in the struggle of our lives. Much more pointed messaging needs to be done by Biden and Biden's surrogates. I think that we are very behind in making the case and getting Trump out of the picture!
Fern MCBRIDE, you are a jewel of concision and research. Thank you from an ex researcher (medieval studies!), now reduced to GOTV postcards.
Reduced! Virginia you are a significant part of keeping our wheels moving forward. THANK YOU! One more thing, you are a thoughtful and supportive contributor to this forum and, for another point, I believe in your home, with your family, friends, neighbors and contacts you keep the principles of democracy alive and well!
Thank you, Fern. Long story, but I have no other course thanks to remembering who we were during WWII. Actually I am living with the dark web and fear what Putin’s and Bannon’s traitors will do to poison democracy almost as much as I fear climate change, or maybe more.
Do be sure to read David Wallace-Wells in today’s NY Times (if you haven’t already).
Virginia, what is the title of the article?
Steve, Peter Baker has covered the way the rest of the world looks on this in today’s New York Times. This is a gift link.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/05/us/politics/speaker-mccarthy-biden-democracy.html?unlocked_article_code=muFIBy5HDxzvUDhkIEWkjy-hk97wp1CooCQeJeIheZHbzOij7VI8D0Y9hPMsbZhc0gF2rOSdoBewZghj518BFVs2XwH74s4W0UCkPDUx2EjB61OqklbNBEy5tJ-GW2CgRCwUraB6OGVR15niSxHhhf4Bil5bFMfV6b3TdZdxVouPb_RaHmSXrNItmynmAj-8pCKc5Y5hfxUQw1TapBnPFdILNugUK_kx-Lu_dQJpI2PjHkPv0HGF063JPgloCRNH3fvYKJh5R5GWdXzew0y6lJaCdO_WNoM40V491vSSDsWWLEyErJlm7vUcHs1RC33aSkA6SagDYMGv83hiO9jkmBYHeeIDGjgitKQIZcNt&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
I would argue (and remind you) that this is NO MINORITY at work. Remember, the LARGE MAJORITY of the former GOP VOTED AGAINST a lawful and Constitutional Election!!!! January 6, 2021 is the day and time when the former GOP stated clearly that they don't give a damn about a fair and lawful election!!! They don't give a damn about Constitutional procedure and law!!! They don't give a damn about compromise, balance and checks, institutions, law, et al. BE TRUTHFUL and ACCURATE about how we got here!!!! Nearly 1/2 of American VOTERS DEMAND this chaos in the form of Trump and the entire GOP who said NO to law and elections!!!! They are NOT "fringe," they are a NEW PARTY: The Neo-Fascists Party. End. Full Stop.
After each name (below) there is the state they represent but then some vague numbers.
For example what does dash zero two (-02) after Burchett’s name mean or the (-05) after Bigg’s name mean? Same question with the plus eighteen (+18) after the letter “R” for Burchett and the (+11) after Biggs mean? (The R is obviously for Republican).
———-
Tim Burchett TN-02 R+18
Matt Rosendale MT-02 R+16
Ken Buck CO-04 R+13
Matt Gaetz FL-01 R+19
Bob Good VA-05 R+7
Nancy Mace SC-01 R+7
Andy Biggs AZ-05 R+11
Eli Crane AZ-02 R+6
George, above the list of the names of the 8 congress people there is written ' MEMBER' 'DISTRICT' 'DISTRICT LEAN'. As an example; Tim Burchett is the MEMBER, 'TN-02' is the DISTRICT, in this case it's the second district in Tennessee; DISTRICT LEAN, means that Burchett's district leans Republican by about 16%. I hope that I have clarified this for you. I suggest you look again at the line above the list of names. Sorry that the copy was not easy to understand.
Thank you!
George T, I am relieved and appreciated your interest -- still do appreciate your interest in understanding a poorly presented piece of information! Thank you!
Fern, I couldn't agree more!
Obviously, McCarthy didn't read the room. There is only one “Teflon Don” and even his shield is showing signs of cracking! For McCarthy to think he is invincible is beyond stupid.
And the message for the Democrats it's not about numbers but it is not the numbers (221 Republican vs 212 Democratic) which gives you power. Power equals ONE ~ One voice of truth ~ One voice defending our Democracy ~ One voice advocating for your constituents
The only light in this darkness is for Republican votes to wake up and see their party for what it really is.... Incompetent, ignorant, self centered, et al... who have no interest in Governing.
Comments from today's peanut gallery!
Ever since ReaGUN and neo liberalism took hold in this country by both parties during Clinton/Obama 16 year era has brought us to this moment. They all (especially democrats) need to stand up and apologize to "we the people". Biden's 50+ years in Congress and look what we got. He seems to be partially moving in right direction but ever so slowly toward protecting the planet as it should be. BUT vote blue no matter who. I'm asking myself why? But will.
Thanks for gifting this link Fern. (Washington Post)
Can anyone doubt, given the news on the Russian withdrawal of its fleet from Crimea, that the Republican insistence on cutting out the funding for Ukraine is more than fortuitous?
Well, what do you expect from a collection of collaborationist traitors?
Yes, this is all by design. You can almost hear the wrecking ball.
The Republican extremists take their orders from Trump and Trump desperately wants Putin to win the war. Trump is so easy to figure out... Putin very shrewdly called him a 'genius' before the 2016 election and Trump bragged about that for months. Now Putin has a lap dog for life and Putin needs him in power so he can gain more power and riches for himself. Trump also admires the absolute power of autocrats and craves that power for himself. He's so deeply insecure and craves attention and approval, that he shares all of our highly sensitive and classified intel to other rich guys, simply to impress and, in his twisted view, gain respect. He doesn't give two cents for the individuals of his base, he merely adores their collective adoration of him and the money and power they give. He's still craving his daddy's approval. Trump is a very sick man and I'll be happy when he's thrown in jail for the rest of his life.
Yes, this is all by design. You can almost hear the wrecking ball.
A vote against Ukraine and Zelensky is a vote for Russia, Putin and Communism. Look at the votes for not supporting Ukraine, and you will see the traitors of our nation and all those against the hope and promises of freedom for each and all.
No. Not when they’re in Putin’s back pocket…
Don’t tread on me!!! (Or look into that secret bank account …)
'Every House Republican to Be Speaker for Four Minutes'
'WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)—In an agreement that members of the G.O.P. conference are calling a game changer, every House Republican will serve as Speaker for a term of four minutes.'
'At the end of each four-minute term, Rep. Matt Gaetz, of Florida, will advance a motion to vacate the chair, after which the Speaker will be forced to clean out his or her office and start working from Starbucks.'
'Once the Speaker has been removed, Republicans will recess for a week before choosing who will serve for the next four minutes.'
'Future Speaker of the House George Santos of New York hailed the agreement as' “the best idea I’ve seen in my thirty years in Congress.”
'Another future Speaker, Marjorie Taylor Greene, of Georgia, said that the arrangement would restore Americans’ faith in the Republicans’ ability to govern.' “With this distraction out of the way, we can get back to the important business of impeaching Hunter Biden,” she said.' (Satire, NEWYORKER)
Fern, I saw a hilarious comment on fb I think: McCarthy served eleven “Scaramuccis”....I laughed out loud. Thanks for sharing Borowitz, he always lightens the day....
I’m so glad when you post these. They make me laugh in the midst of my panic. Thanks!
4 minutes of fame rather than 15? That's the computer age for ya'.
Thank you Fern- I needed that!😂
So did I! Cheers!
Hilarious Fern!
Sadly funny
Why can't someone find a way to get Bannon into prison (preferably in solitary confinement)? He is pure poison.
Just the possibility of sleazy, dim Jim Jordan becoming Speaker gives me hives.
Carolyn I believe that Bannon is in judicial trouble with, I believe, an appeal of a conviction.
He was pardoned, if memory serves. But he could have multiple charges. However, he is way worse than Covid. Has been traveling the world as typhoid Steve.
Jeri Pardoned by Trump on federal charges, but I believe that he was later indicted and convicted in a state court.
not aware of another conviction, where is jail???
NY?
can't wait
This is correct Keith
Keith, Bannon was set to appear in court for his appeal next week on Oct 12, but has now been pushed back to Nov 9 (think that’s the date); delay was sadly due to a death in the family of someone on the prosecution team. Bannon has stated that he will not be going to jail….sure do hope he is wrong & it’s a short sentence at only 4 months—IMHO, not nearly enough!
At this point the only resolution that will fund the government is for at least 5 of the House Republicans who were elected in districts Biden won to vote for Hakeem Jeffries on a first ballot for Speaker and then immediately have the Democrats and that core change the ridiculous vacate the chair rules. Electing a more moderate Republican is not going to be viable because the chaos caucus will just keep using the vacate the chair motion again and again and again. There is no question that the "turncoats" will have to declare as independents and caucus with the Democrats.
I doubt any of these will be Liz Cheney anti-Trumpers. They will all be acting in self-interest in the only way they have a hope of winning re-election in their districts. I also do not doubt that there will be behind the scenes inducements for them to switch. At the very least in terms of committee assignments and bringing forward legislation.
Unfortunately, it is not likely there are 5 Republicans in Congress who care more about the country than they do about saving their own asses.
Time for that to change....
Given what is taking place to disenfranchise voters, that change may be Gilead.
Thank you for mentioning that
Is there any way to increase pressure of R that could switch sides & vote for Hakeem? Who would they be? Go to their fb pages & pressure them?
The only Republicans who would flip are the ones in districts won by Biden where they know they will not win in the next election given the chaos caucus causing total government dysfunction. And obviously Democrats would not be chatting up anyone on the infamous list of the ones who voted against certifying the results on January 6-7.
But there are always trade-offs that can be made like funding for projects in a representative's district or "safety net" positions in the executive branch as advisors or ambassadors or positions in think tanks as inducements.
After all, there are 3 independents in the Senate (Bernie, Angus King and Sinema) all currently caucusing with the Democrats even after Thune asked Sinema to caucus with the Republicans and she said no. So there is precedent for Republican leadership to approach new independents formerly of the other party to switch who they caucus with.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/01/07/us/elections/electoral-college-biden-objectors.html
This comment is a follow up/ reply to the post by Georgia Fisanik.
Most of us are unfamiliar with how the arcane rules of Congress actually apply... particularly in fraught moments like now, so your comment is interesting and helpful, thanks.
It appears that many of the rules that govern how Congress does things need to be revised but that won’t even be possible ( it seems) until the air clears and the Dems succeed in winning a clear majority which seems achievable. But, in the meantime, are there enough republicans willing to step up and support the idea of a functioning democracy? Don’t they take an oath to protect and serve?
Now, is the time for this question to be asked again and again, until enough republican congressional representatives come to the aid of their country....as you suggest, Georgia, and back the minority leader’s bid to become the next Speaker. I think we can urge our own representatives to get behind this ... if they aren’t already...and encourage the media to stop wringing their hands about how dysfunctional Congress is, and instead begin talking about the possibility of a solution like you have suggested. Is it so hard to get 5 ( is it really just that) republicans to simply drop the posing and do the right thing for our country to help put an end to the destructive bickering?
It appears it is so hard 😢
Switch to Dems, never. Caucus will be the same to MAGAts. They love “conservative Republican. It is plastered all over Texas and means “continue the chaos.”
Along with the rules change, a Democratic/Independent majority could take up censure and expulsion motions against Republicans who are under investigation for scandals. Matt Gaetz and George Santos come to mind, but there are probably a few others, and if there are enough Republican moderates willing to cross the line for Jeffries they might be willing to help clean house (or House) as well.
Gaetz was elected from a +19 Trump district and would certainly be replaced by another Republican, but hopefully a less toxic one who doesn't just perform for the cameras and the donors. Santos' replacement could go either way. But it's a chance to get rid of some of the chaos agents and send a shot across the bow to the others that there could be consequences for continuing to torpedo the US government.
Wouldn't it be something if the end result of all this drama was a Congress that was more willing to work in the interests of the country? Call me a cockeyed optimist, but it's not impossible.
I don’t think Congress can just vote to expel one of its Members. Nor should it have the ability to as that is anti-democratic. How can some portion of the rest of the country remove who those voters chose to represent them?! Members can be removed for appropriate causes but I remember during the early days of Santos it being hard. Better to address that one at the district level and it seems that they have not been able to recall him for some reason.
House leadership can control Committee assignments and that is how you isolate.
I was remembering back to Adam Clayton Powell, who was barred from taking his seat after an investigation over corruption. The decision was controversial, he won a special election for the vacancy created by his removal, and he eventually served again in Congress although he was stripped of seniority and committee assignments. In the end, the Supreme Court found his removal was unconstitutional for the reasons you brought up in your comment.
That makes it difficult to punish Gaetz for his conduct. Censure would be ineffective since he has no shame, would consider it a badge of honor, and would fundraise off of the notoriety. He could be stripped of his committee assignments, I guess, but since he's an ineffective legislator already it wouldn't change much for either him or the House. The Republican governing margin is so small that the party can't afford to annoy him to the point where he would simply play spoiler along with his loyal followers and obstruct anything the House tries to do.
Basically, he's untouchable until the next election, when he will be returned to office by his loyal constituents. Lord help us.
I agree. I am also always looking for a rabbit being pulled from a hat, like President Biden bypassing Tuberville to confirm the military higher ups. There is much we haven’t thought of that is being discussed now (I hope 😬).
Gee, they’re so stupid. Ruining public schools so they can destroy the country.
I 'm not familiar with these people, but what about Good (VA), Mace (SC), and Crane (AR).?
Republicans wanted to shut down government, now they effectively have. They wanted to stop funding for Ukraine, now they have. It's interesting that Scalise describes himself as like Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke “but without the baggage.” It was David Duke who got the ball rolling for Putin as the 'great white hope' of racists world wide. A wrecking ball for the United States. There is a direct line from the KKK to Republicans working to unburden themselves of equality before the law and equal representation. Just as there is a direct line from Nazism to Republicans working to use judicial protocols to drain justice from their country's law. Of course, the Charles Koch money funding much of this (through bagman Leonard Leo funneling dark money to antidemocratic causes) came from Pappy Fred Koch working for Stalin and Hitler.
The fascists have been busy since WW2, thank you for reiterating this chain of evil.
"Chain of evil" indeed.
"Pappy Fred Koch working for Stalin and Hitler." Suddenly it all makes sense.
lin, you have encapsulated the situation clearly and succinctly identifying the root cause in Charles Koch; begotten son of a man who’s wealth was derived assisting Nazi Germany
"...unburden themselves of equality before the law and equal representation."
Get rid of those pesky rules and then they destroy our Nation. That's the plan.
Thank you, lin. I always appreciate your posts!
I’ve been here before. Allende, Pinochet. That didn’t end well. The Chilean people are still traumatized and the economy has never acquired stability. Broken trust? Fear of being overrun by interlopers? Goodness knows. My entire fucking life blew up all around that Coup and country.
Pedestrian language but these are pedestrian times. This is literally where this democracy survives or dies.
It’s a day-to-day thing in my opinion. I have a lot of opinions about what I think could happen, may happen etc. At this point I would be committing negligence by submitting my conjecture as though my opinion bears weight ever….
We’ve sure got a passel of flying monkeys right now.
I will admit this - I had a real hair on fire week last week up until the press quit sucking its thumb and quit beating around the bush. This character is a threat to our nation and our national psyche.
I’ll quit there. Because there’s zero hyperbole in that declarative statement.
Reading A Long Petal of the Sea by Allende. The horrors of Spain's civil wars is enough to fear if it happens here & why people want to allow Russia' cruel invasion of Ukraine. Just getting into their life's in Chile.
Love that author! ALLENDE!
Political nihilism pushed by Steve Bannon; why are Republicans so unhappy/unsatisfied/dejected? Such actions are beyond explanation, because voters are tired of useless shenanigans, and of Congress not doing its job. Sheesh!
A lot of the MAGA cult yearn for civil war. They want to go out into the streets and shoot all the people of colour and LGBTQ-people that they are so afraid of - without any law & order to interfere with their “freedoms”. And for that, democracy has to fall. Trump and Bannon are more than ready to claim leadership of the smouldering heap of rubble that is left of the USA after they are done.
I think you are accurate, Dutch Mike. They long to exterminate those of us who are "different" and force those of us who are women into baby producing factories.
The leadership is in selecting and naming the ‘Other’ and ‘Different’ as evil and to be feared and exterminated. Quick, easy and final solutions to any problem, kill it: tfg stated that as shoplifters exit stores, shoot them, and the rally hearers cheered. (Surely I misheard: that cannot be?)
Now where did I hear about final solutions. It goes back a few years and a time when USA was involved in the ‘war to end all wars’, and liberated the survivors of death camps, a grim reality…read ‘Hiding in Plain Sight’, by Pieter Van Os, how a. Jewish girl survived Europe’s heart of darkness, (Scribe). Deadly chaos extended far beyond the death camps, for years of…hardship and privation don’t begin to describe the conditions of entire countries of Europe at this time: not some bygone age, but the early part of my lifetime. And some of us look to easy and fast solutions, even ‘civil’ war? My sense of hope for all of us at this time, is very slim: yet I must hope.
Spot on… It all works very nicely: just kill everyone who is “other”. Very primeval stone age tribal thinking, that, and the MAGAts love it: easy, and understandable for people who are not endowed with an IQ exceeding their shoe size. But they don’t realize that if this thinking again becomes normal, trouble comes as soon as someone else names THEM “other” and orders THEM to be killed… Hey, “two can play that game”….
Why is Bannon still at large? Oh, some president or other pardoned him, for some reason, didn't they?
Steve Bannon can ONLY exist in America where freedom and ignorance abound.
He has not been pardoned (for blowing off Congress, anyway). That's what makes it even more galling.
He's someone I wouldn't like to encounter on a dark street. Prigozhin! He reminds me of Prigozhin.
Each and everyone of these evil people have that evil etched on their faces and demeanor. They truly are ugly from the inside out. I cannot imagine being anywhere near the same orbit - a giant fur ball arising!
He was pardoned by Trump on the Fed charge (his buddies in crime have been sentenced to jail time…no pardons for you!)—he is due in court to hear his appeal on the ignoring a subpoena charge in Nov; he has been sentenced to 4 months in jail & is why he is appealing the verdict. Hope they uphold it, tho it’s not nearly long enough!
I’ve never understood why once convicted you are not jailed waiting for appeal. Surely it’s your right to appeal, but if you’ve been found guilty then jail
Should be where you wait to see if your appeal is successful as you are no longer innocent UNTIL proven guilty. Can anyone explain this?
Yes, we hope “…voters are tired of useless shenanigans, and of Congress not doing its job.” Yet, the repubs continue to block and sabotage, showing they are not to be trusted and they have the power to disrupt. Governing is not on their agenda.
And why o why is Bannon still walking free, tearing America down? For god's sake, he's been tried, convicted, and sentenced!
Because the system does not hold white men accountable.
... and pardoned.
He was convicted last year for contempt of Congress. He has NOT been pardoned for that. He is facing prison (but it out pending "appeal" or some bullshit)
Thank you, forgot that
Due in court in Nov for his appeal….fingers crossed they don’t toss it!
I’m with you. I’ve never understood why once convicted you are not jailed waiting for appeal. Surely it’s your right to appeal, but if you’ve been found guilty then jail
Should be where you wait to see if your appeal is successful as you are no longer innocent UNTIL proven guilty. Can anyone explain this?
POWER
This is so informative and so damming to the do nothing for their country and constituents clown caravan Thank you Heather It was so special to see you speaking Tuesday nite up close in front row😊💐🥁
I’m sorry I missed that.
" "Frankly, one has to wonder whether the House is governable at all," Representative Dusty Johnson (R-SD) told Andrew Solender of Axios." Dusty Johnson could make the House instantly governable. He needs to gather ten or twenty of his colleagues who would stand behind him as he announces for Speaker. If he were prepared, European style, to create a written agreement for a kind of coalition government, he could be elected Speaker with Democratic votes and, for the year plus that remains, govern the House like the Moderate Republican he is.
What about the "Problem Solvers" caucus?
Do you dream. Know nothing about Dusty. At least he is not Gym or Steve
I do not know a lot about Dusty Johnson. He is relatively young -- 47. He calls himself a conservative. A quick check on Wikipedia has the following:
He was one of 39 Republicans to support a measure that would make it easier to use anti-trust against corporations
He was one of 14 Republicans who voted to override Trump's veto of a bill revoking his declaration of a southern border emergency.
He was one of 35 Republicans who voted to create the January 6 investigative committee
He was one of the few Republicans who voted to keep Liz Cheney are Chair of the Republican Conference.
That does not mean I would vote for him if I lived in South Dakota, but you could hold out hope for him cooperating with Democrats.
Relatively sane, a good thing
Consider my free newsletter. Len's Political Notes https://lenspoliticalnotes.com
Time for a real third party down the road?
Every single member of that renegade caucus has ties to J6. Where is justice for that? Did the DOJ just assume they would be voted out? Without considering the how the government would function in the meantime? WTH? I get that they’re busy... so, now what? If it’s sink or swim, it looks like we’ll sink.
“It is an unfortunate time for the U.S. to back away from Ukraine funding, and legislators are urging the House to pass that funding quickly.”
How can the House do anything quickly when there is no speaker? And how long will it take to get one in place? And if it is one of the 2 that are running, I have no confidence that they will do anything other than shut down the government just before the holidays.
I was really upset when the CR did not include funding for Ukraine. I never trusted McCarthy’s assurances that a vote for funds for Ukraine would be forth coming. Now I am really upset and worried. Whatever Sacrificial Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing that gets to be speaker next will have to earn our trust. I am skeptical.
You may remember what Republican assurances have been worth in the past.
Use the Russian $$$$ that was frozen
Yes, I'm holding my breath and waiting for the announcement from Biden that that frozen Russian money will go to support Zelensky's fight to save Ukraine. (And besides, what could be more satisfying?)
The one thing that Repugs still are clinging to, maybe in an effort to seem sane, are their 3 talking points: they will secure the border, rein in spending, deregulate to unleash business and promote prosperity. They sometimes throw in investigate the Biden crime family, or replace an incoherent aging Biden, lower taxes, etc. They continue to insist that this is what the American people want. Sadly, MSM keeps giving Repugs interviews that end up being free advertising for their talking points. They are not fact checked in real time, so MSM is almost as bad as Faux News by failing to give better understanding of what is really transpiring and why. Right now, MSM reinforces discontent. Just look at Heather's sources for her letter tonight, and for analysis. Mostly not mainstream media. The voting public needs better information at this critical time. They can't hold their representatives accountable without fuller and better understanding.
I have watched the MSM follow Rupert down the money hole. The main reason why my cautious optimism taking a beating.
Yes. The value of 24/7 news is more than questionable. It becomes a scramble to get eyeballs watching to satisfy advertisers. This does not promote thoughtful, accurate journalism. It has devolved into infotainment - and even the "info" part is, well, not.
You are correct that cable news is a wasteland. I would quibble with your comment above re. ‘Heather’s sources’. I think she relies too heavily on mainstream outlets (NYT, WaPo, etc.), status quo punditry (Politico, etc.), and “think” tanks that have a U.S. propaganda bias (see her Atlantic Council source to buttress the claim that Ukraine good/Russia bad).
I buy that “Ukraine good/Russia bad” thing. What planet have you been living on.
Sure you buy it, there’s a sucker born every minute. I’ll bet you’re bought into whole ‘American Exceptionalism’ thingy as well. Propaganda is an equal opportunity bedfellow for nationalistic humans.
As to what planet, that would be Earth. You know, the one that might soon be wrecked by either nuclear holocaust or climate chaos, both of which could have been prevented by rational diplomatic and legislative policy, with which the U.S., as of late, has zero inclination to pursue, preferring to think that saber-rattling, global hegemony, and neoliberal ‘market’ economics are the way to solve problems.
Keep fiddling, Jeri, er, Nero.
Well, it appears that chump will solve all this for you.
Curious as to what you think the solution to the invasion of Ukraine is.
Quiverin' Qevin McQarthy, the empty suit who stood for nothing, believed in nothing. Like a famous "Hollywood Legend" once advised me, "If you don't give a shit about what you're doing, why should anyone else?"
Too bad five of the unvaxxed collection of creeps can't catch COVID and become members of the "excess deaths" statistics.
"Today news broke that Ukrainian attacks have forced Russia to withdraw most of its Black Sea Fleet from occupied Crimea. This is a serious blow to Vladimir Putin’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. It is an unfortunate time for the U.S. to back away from Ukraine funding, and legislators are urging the House to pass that funding quickly."
This "unfortunate" timing for cutting aid to Ukraine is no coincidence: Follow the money from Putin to Republican obstructionists. We must vote the remaining insurrectionists out.
Our idiocy can make a joke of all the sacrifices the Ukrainians have made and negate their battle field successes. The end of America’s leadership in the world. And repubs think Putin will be their friend. What gross insanity.
Heather Cox Richardson it seems once again the Republican model of the few ruling the many has ended in disasterous result with this chaos. With no "adults" in the room they continue to do, be and have nothing.
Your letter is appreciated Professor ⭐