Morning, all!! Morning, Dr. R!! Can't speak directly to the Flynn Flam of today's Letter.
But to revisit the Senate Judiciary's hearing on September 15 regarding the FBI's botched investigation of Larry Nassar, the convicted pedophile Olympics doctor, my eyes widened upon hearing this:
"Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas said Congress must 'demand real change, and real accountability, and we will not be satisfied by platitudes and vague promises about improved performance' from federal law enforcement." Wow, "accountability." He knows that word!
Wouldn't it be nice if he invoked it in the direction of, well, Loser 45 and his insurrection gang.
And Senator Whitehouse (D-RI) has not finished with the Kavanaugh debacle.
"Whitehouse invokes Dr Christine Blasey Ford in his questions to Wray.
'It strikes me very strongly as we sit here today, and as we heard the powerful testimony earlier this morning, that the last time a woman came forward in this committee to testify to her allegations of sexual assault in her childhood, the witness was Christine Blasey Ford,' he says. 'It appeared to me then, and it appears to me now that her testimony was swept under the rug in a confirmation stampede. It is very possible that the FBI investigation of her allegations was just as flawed, just as constrained, just as inappropriate, as the investigation in this case.'
"He notes that repeated requests for answers in the Ford case have been ignored repeatedly for two years until a letter dated yesterday ('Not coincidentally I suspect on the eve of your appearance today,' he notes) that promised the requested information would be forthcoming.
He concludes: 'Let’s just make sure there’s wasn’t also a botched handling of another allegation in this committee with regard to Dr Ford.'” Love this guy!
“'My goal today is to convince you that this court is not comprised of a bunch of partisan hacks,' the newest Supreme Court justice, Amy Coney Barrett, said Sunday. Good luck with that. When the court’s hard-right majority stops acting like partisan hacks, maybe we’ll believe her, writes Eugene Robinson of The Washington Post. https://wapo.st/3EsGyEs
Eugene is a class act. He didn't go into the legitimacy of her appointment.
Justice Clarence Thomas who rarely does public speaking came out of his bunker this week and lectured the audience with the same spittle as Barrett. Throwing down the gauntlet against “packing the court”.
I say let’s have another convo about Anita Hill. I doubt, though, that Thomas’s wife would allow that. If she’s not too busy arranging buses for this Saturday’s “rally” supporting the “political prisoners” of January 6th. Another bus day for her.
With both Barrett and Thomas speaking out, it’s clear to me that the Supreme Court knows full well that they themselves have damaged their standing. This is damage control. Come on Dems, have at the Court!
Morning, Kathy!! Even though this hearing was focused on FBI's treatment of these women in the Nassar case, I was so glad to hear Whitehouse invoke Christine Blasey Ford's treatment as well in regard to the Kavanaugh hearing. I thought of you immediately when I heard what he had to say. Sure hope something comes of it, something like justice.
Sen. Whitehouse is a gem. He’s so knowledgeable about the Court, and is so smart and articulate. I’ll have to look for that - I didn’t see it. And good morning to you, Lynell!
And Senator Whitehouse (D-RI) has not finished with the Kavanaugh debacle.
"Whitehouse invokes Dr Christine Blasey Ford in his questions to Wray.
'It strikes me very strongly as we sit here today, and as we heard the powerful testimony earlier this morning, that the last time a woman came forward in this committee to testify to her allegations of sexual assault in her childhood, the witness was Christine Blasey Ford,' he says. 'It appeared to me then, and it appears to me now that her testimony was swept under the rug in a confirmation stampede. It is very possible that the FBI investigation of her allegations was just as flawed, just as constrained, just as inappropriate, as the investigation in this case.'
"He notes that repeated requests for answers in the Ford case have been ignored repeatedly for two years until a letter dated yesterday ('Not coincidentally I suspect on the eve of your appearance today,' he notes) that promised the requested information would be forthcoming.
He concludes: 'Let’s just make sure there’s wasn’t also a botched handling of another allegation in this committee with regard to Dr Ford.'”
Darlin', I'm the mayor of "snark land" these days! Y'all wouldn't believe the stuff that goes through my head but which is NOT said out loud or printed anywhere. Safer that way. It's my way of fighting back against the insanity and I believe a little "snarkiness" is good for the soul. And when you have people who are such huge targets, as well as being complete and total idiots...well, I admit I can't resist. Christine, you GO gurl!!
Are you snarking at Mr. Christian a/k/a Brad Raffensperger over Cathy Woolard, and Shotgun Kemp regarding his plan to adopt the Texas abortion law to supplement his heartbeat law? I blasted Raffensperger, but not Shotgun, yet. Be sure to tell them to have a blessed day, if you haven't already done so.
I heard this morning that MY representative, Butch Miller (a candidate for Lt. Governor, BTW) will be the one introducing an anti-abortion bill in the GA House that will be almost a carbon copy of the one in Texas. The fun never stops. Gov. Clueless day before yesterday, referring to Biden's mask/vaccine mandates, pretty much intimated that people might riot or revolt when saddled with such tyranny. Okay, OBVIOUSLY trying to play to the Trumpsters in the state--with whom he is NOT popular--ahead of his re-election efforts. However, such not-so-subtle rhetoric, implying a threat of violence, is the degree of hyper-partisanship we're at right now. Columnist Jay Bookman:
"With such words, Kemp and many of his fellow Republicans aren’t issuing warnings, they’re issuing permission slips for a repeat of the type of violence we saw on January 6. They, as leaders, are telling their followers that revolt and mutiny and insurrection are justified, when they ought to be telling them to go get a vaccination and quit their damn whining.
"Why, if government can go so far as to strong-arm our children into getting vaccinated, what else can it do? Force us to wear seatbelts? Not smoke in public places? Tell us how fast we can drive, and require us to have car insurance?"
I'll gladly tell them to have more than a f***ing "blessed day".....sorry, that slipped out.....
I know about Gov. Clueless (love it) planning to adopt the Texas abortion law to "supplement" the existing heartbeat law, but didn't know that Miller was the one who'd introduce it. These morons might want to wait to see how quickly the Texas law is eviscerated. On the other hand, as you aptly pointed out, he's pandering to the Trumpsters, who hate him and Christian Brad. Everyone should know that we already have mandatory immunizations, and they have been in place for years.
Bruce, please don't hold back on my account. I've invented some pretty raunchy words, and use them while screaming at the TV and reading the AJC (although I'm pleased with the AJC's fairness). Let's just hope that the GA Rethuglicans and those from TX have overplayed their hand and will be crushed like the bugs that they are.
Yeah, I heard about Miller this morning on "Political Rewind" on GPB, a show I really enjoy. Miller runs, or used to run, the Milton Martin Honda place here--where, sadly, I bought my car--and the Martin clan (I was in high school with Milton) here are far right-wing Evangelicals. A fun bunch. Though he pretty much agrees with T***p ideologically, Miller hasn't gotten any endorsement from him, as there's another candidate for Lt Gov T***P is supporting. That's one of the things they were discussing on the show this morning (there were 3 professors of politics and Constitutional law from Emory on), the Texas law and its potential legal and political effects in Georgia. I love that show, but if it's on while I'm driving I have to watch out for sudden onsets of road rage.
All of them deserve your snark, but it appears that their protestations that they're not "political hacks" stems from their palpable fear that the court just might be expanded.
Republicans would like nothing more than to discredit the FBI as investigations into their role in the 1/6 insurrection close in. When you have no defense, discredit the accuser. Sadly the FBI has given them ammunition.
Sexism has been with us longer than racism and like racism infects every human institution. The heartrending testimony of our Olympic superstars, reveals that even elite women aren’t safe. It reveals that even the FBI, one of our most elite law enforcement institutions, doesn’t respect women enough to take their abuse seriously.
Sexism is so deeply woven into the human fabric that we simply don’t see it. It takes a situation too flagrant and outrageous to be ignored to force us to actually see what’s right in front of us.
We elect and promote serial abusers. Donald Trump, Brett Kavanaugh and Clarence Thomas are not outliers; they are more the norm than we want to believe.
Interesting commentary regarding racism/sexism. I harken back to the 2008 Democratic Primary, where our choices were, essentially, a Black man and a woman.
It was during that time that I had some interesting conversations with my Republiqan friends about why they'd never vote for either one of them (at that heady time, you could actually have almost a reasonable conversation with them, and not get too much spew from Faux talking points, but I digress). I commented to one of these guys that both Clinton and Obama received their right to vote via amendment to the constitution and asked if that might have anything at all to do with his reticence about either one of them. Oh. My. The bleating.
You make a disturbing point, Diane, in regard to discrediting the accuser. As well, sexism is so "deeply woven into the human fabric" that many women even don't see it as something that needs unraveling.
Lynell, YOU are a class act. And so are Whitehouse, Robinson, and a whole bunch of people up there. It's not over yet....we need to honor them by working against the bad people in our states, like you are. There's more than enough bad people to go around!
Well, here's what Blumenthal had to say about that! (Below is taken from the Guardian):
Connecticut senator Richard Blumenthal, a former prosecutor, is pressing Wray on why they have not encouraged a criminal prosecution of Abbott or Langeman.
“I hope you won’t misinterpret any of my questions indicating disrespect for the FBI or for your position in the FBI and your background as a law enforcer, as a professional career prosecutor,” Blumenthal says. “You say you’ve run out of adjectives, but you haven’t run out of that actions. The gymnasts who testified earlier, really, with all due respect to all of us on this committee, they don’t want more adjectives. They want actions. And part of that action is discipline and deterrence. And you and I both know, cause we both prosecute, we look at action by prosecutors as deterrence is changing culture, whether it’s in corporations or other institutions like the FBI.”
Blumenthal confirms with Wray that Langeman (the FBI agent who interviewed Maroney in 2015 and didn’t follow up) was fired “early last week”, then asks why Langeman wasn’t fired any earlier.
Wray’s response: “We waited until we had the inspector general’s report, so we had all the facts, so we understood the totality as independently investigated of his conduct. And then we followed our disciplinary process because one of the things that is in keeping with my insistence that everybody in the FBI do things in the right way, includes making sure that we follow our disciplinary process in the right way. And we did that and he’s been fired.”
Blumenthal then makes a shrewd implication: “Someone perhaps more cynical than I would have perhaps concluded that it was the hearing here staring the FBI in the face that prompted that action, but I’m not going to go there because I think what’s more important than the firing is, in fact, the criminal prosecution. And here, I think there are really fundamental issues of fairness and law enforcement.”
Now Blumenthal arrives at the main point: Why haven’t the now-former FBI agents faced criminal prosecution?
He says: “For someone who has been a federal prosecutor to put into a 302, a false statement, by a potential witness is so blood-curdling that I can well understand your criminal referral. And in fact, as you say, the false statement inserted by that FBI agent could have been used in a false defense by Larry Nassar.”
Blumenthal continues to Horowitz: “And in addition, separately, Jay Abbott lied to you. People get prosecuted for making false statements when they apply to a federally insured bank for a mortgage, and here is a federal agent, the former special agent in charge of the Indianapolis office, making a material, false statement to you in your investigation.
“Now, Director Wray, put aside adjectives. If I were in your shoes, I would be walking across the street to the attorney general of the United States, and I would be saying, ‘You need to prosecute.’ Why aren’t you doing that?”
“I don’t want to get into my discussions with the attorney general,” Wray responds. “I have a lot of respect for him and for the privacy of our conversations. I will say that in this particular instance, the case agents responsible for the investigation, as is appropriate were the inspector general’s offices’ agents.”
Blumenthal doesn’t accept Wray’s passing of the buck, saying: “I’m well aware, but you’re respectful of your role. The FBI doesn’t make decisions about prosecution, you investigate, and then you refer cases. But we both know it very often, even at the lowly level of the US attorney – I’m being somewhat facetious because I was a US attorney – FBI agents compounding on my door and say, we’ve got to go after this guy. He’s dirty. He’s a bad guy.”
Lynell. Morning friend. Stellar posting. Had not heard the complete court press on Wray. Thank you. The women, these gymnasts who most people still think of as little girls…their voices at this moment in time representative of the deluge of woman’s voice that comes with a force now. What happened in Texas law regarding complete trashing and reckless regard of women’s choice and voice will not sit with any of us. Women are speaking up everywhere.
October 2nd. Women’s March across America. Our voice will be heard.
The numbers of locations for the marches has expanded greatly over the past couple weeks. Thank heavens there's now one in my town. When I first started a couple weeks ago, looking there were practically none in New England.
And yet, as I posted just a bit earlier, I have yet to find one other friend to go to DC to march with me on 10/2. Most have marched in the past but are concerned about Covid in the crowd. 😞
I can't figure out why any FBI field agent, let alone an agent acting for the inspector general's office would unilaterally decide to enter a false statement by a potential and viable witness/victim. Sexism is not a reason that rings true to me. What about the response of the inspector general's office? This report must have mentioned that the parties involved were the US Women's Gymnastic team, their gymnasts and primary trainer - a high-profile and potentially horrible crime. How could they accept that without further investigation? Don't know about you, but I would have picked up the phone and made calls to the team, and asked around. Hey, what this I hear about your trainer sexually abusing one of your gymnasts?
Sorry, I know I'm cynical when it comes to government, but this doesn't pass the smell test. And, viewed in the context that the FBI were shackled in the investigation of Kavanaugh for political reasons, I don't understand how or why the FBI thinks they can pass the buck or minimize the crime. Apologies aren't going to cut it!
Blatant and horrendous sexual abuse!! No way this has a chance or should have a chance to be swept under the table. The politicians that screw this up will or should be unelectable going forward. And, they better not give a whiff of willingness to move on without profound consequences to all those involved. Relative to the crime, firing is a slap on the wrist.
Don, we should all keep in mind the vast amount of money surrounding the Olympics, as well as, I'm sure, political influence with regard to which country or city gets future opportunities to host the games. That seems to me to be a possible explanation - a few co-opted agents who know that a huge scandal involving abuse of the most beloved athletes could very well bring down a cash cow.
Agree!! This is why I mentioned Kavanaugh. Two agents going rogue to protect future opportunities to host the games is less likely than sexism. My point is that this goes far up the food chain and probably to some greedy and mendacious politicians - hopefully, no Democrats are involved.
You're correct. There's a lot of rot, and, certainly in the case of Kavanaugh, it is obviously connected to politicians. However, although sexism is rampant, I still believe that a politician whispering in the agents' ears about loss of capital would be more of a hook, and the implication would be that a politician would have their backs. Their sexism would be secondary.
The Olympics are so completely, totally, and irredeemably corrupt. The modern version needs to be DESTROYED. Replace it with a show in the country of origin, with the rest of the world contributing financial support.
That was the sentiment when the games were held in Atlanta. Of course, we were proud, and it was fun. We were criticized for having vendors in tents, but the upside of that was that we didn't have crippling debt. Still, the IOC (and no doubt many of the local promoters) got no points for admirable principles.
Bring down the cash cow…AS IT SHOULD. If nothing else, it should be held accountable and restructured with protection of the participants at the top of the structure.
There's a reason why some of us use the words "Fools & Buffoons, Inc." to describe that organization. They may not be as bad as they were in the days of J. Edgar Fruitfly, but they're still not an organization to take at face value. I can remember the personal hounding I got from these "defenders of truth, justice, and the American way" for my crimes of believing in the 1st Amendment during the years 1965-72.
I had a brief friendship with a retired FBI agent who turned out to be a blatant racist and fervent Trump supporter. From our discussions, many of his FBI coworkers were cut from the same cloth. The FBI is far more political than we want to believe.
I am not in the slightest bit surprised that a male investigator misstated a woman's (girl's) testimony. Men will go to far lengths to protect men, no matter what the crime against women. I have seen this in the court system. Women's allegations of abuse are disregarded, pushed under the rug, misstated, until one of them dies. And then men notice for a little bit, then quickly revert to their old policies of denigrating women.
I've seen that sort of behavior also. Many (not all) men are dismissive of women, characterizing them as overly emotional, not trustworthy, unintelligent, etc. You have only to read the Biblical story of Adam and Eve to realize that it's baked into our culture - the temptress, among other things. I can imagine a macho agent picturing scenario where a nerdy doctor is led astray by a young woman, and so it really wasn't his fault, or she's making it all up. . . .
The irony is, in my experience, men are more emotional and irrational than women. They are more prone to violent outbursts that result in crime, or prone to defining their masculinity by their vehicles or some other thing . . .
My thought of the macho agent was that he wished he was in Nassar's shoes, possibly envied him, so couldn't prosecute him. I got that from the look in his eyes as he spoke.
If Coney Barrett weren't a hack, she would have rejected being shown off by 45 at a super spreader event, and really, she would have rejected being appointed in the midst of an election. She is the epitome of a partisan hack.
And, yes, Eugene Robinson is definitely a class act.
I agree. Jamie Raskin showed himself to be incredibly able as Impeachment Manager for the second impeachment. I think he'd be a very capable president.
Yes, I wondered why they didn’t task a female FBI agent to do these interviews. We do HAVE female agents, don’t we??? Perhaps because the higher ups realized a woman would get the job done!
Gwynn's Island looks beautiful! I'm in western Loudoun County, near the Potomac River across from Maryland to the north, and also close to the West Virginia border to the west.
At what point are attempts to overthrow the government of the United States Government treason?
From my middle school history, maybe grade school, we learned about Benedict Arnold. Every traitor tried and punished have aid and comfort to our enemies.
After the Civil War, instead of trying and punishing Confederate leaders and their military leaders, the US welcomed them back. Over time, some of the more openly treasonous Confederates regained offices in the US government that enabled them to establish Jim Crow policies and politics that endangered the US.
If military dictatorships and authoritarianism is contrary to our democracy and Constitution, then why don't we have more clear and operable laws to protect us?
I equate traitors to cancer. If you don't eradicate the cancer, it can, and sometimes will come back to kill the host. I'm all for individual human rights, but the lessons of history are clear that when the peril is the future of mankind, the human rights of the many should always outweigh those of the few. If you fail to defend basic human rights against those who seek to strip them from you, one day there will be nothing left to defend. Every war that has ever been fought had at its core the defense of basic human rights against those who seek to overpower, constrain, and control for their sole benefit. Unfortunately, it is far from a given that good will prevail over evil.
This is a form of cancer on the body politic. It could destroy everything good about the U.S.A. Maybe we collectively deserve that for allowing these malignant simpletons a platform from which top spew their toxic trash.
That would be a severe punishment simply for not knowing how bad things would become. Nobody knows the future. We just do our best every day. Sometimes looking back we think we should have done differently. Then we try to do better.
Well, Becky, I was one of the people observing the "antics of the "pussygrabber" in 2016 and I stated that he represents fascism. That his rallies and propaganda are baby Hitler rallies. That his constant repetition of lies are brainwashing techniques and the media thrived on him, never thinking he would be so dangerous. Is it only because I have studied fascism and cults that it was so easy to see through his fakeness and narcissism. And perhaps being in the field of psychology I study people deeply and he was an easy study, because there is no depth. He is just a seething, revengeful empty shell of a corporate nothingness. And the republicans planted him to carry out their much bigger plans. I find it almost impossible that people did not see through this con man, unless they were brainwashed.
I wrote a paper about Donald Trump quite awhile ago and from his incredible business failures, to his malignant narcissism, I concluded that the only thing he was successful in was being a conman. He had not a drop of shame and will do and say ANYTHING if it means money in his pocket. I remember in the 80’s , he was pretty broke, but his father paid him a million a year to “look rich.” Looks, and no substance. People assumed he was wealthy and successful simply because he “looked the part.” People didn’t ask for details, they thought he was a God of sorts. Sickening. He sells his name to hotels and makes money - he doesn’t have anything else because every business he has opened went bankrupt, and the banks never got their money. He always used other people’s money because he probably figured if he loses, no skin off his teeth! He blamed a dead “partner” for his own mishandling of his casino. Who loses money with a casino? He really is a nobody, no talent, no interests, no hobbies, hates reading, has no interest in history, art or science and definitely lacks much knowledge of the sacredness of our democracy. He doesn’t understand government and couldn’t care less. How he was able to run for president with his ties to the Russian mafia and other criminals smacked of pay-offs and lies from the get go. We now know his campaign team were filled with criminals and conmen, just like him!
My paper became part of my professor’s class - “The dangers of a malignant narcissist.” I think Mary Trump would appreciate it!
Donald Trump is a moron in addition to being a malignant narcissist. You are absolutely correct that the only thing he has done successfully is con people. Unfortunately, evangelicals are the most susceptible group in the United States when it comes to being conned. They already committed to one giant con so they fall for others too because the cognitive dissonance is so strong.
We must change our political system to include mental health criteria for politicians.
Tina, one word was missing from your excellent description of thechump, perhaps intentionally:
LOSER
It is his own word, used to describe everyone else. And I would submit that he is a loser conman as well. The T University, the T. Foundation, the over 60 attempted lawsuits to overturn the election, etc. etc.
I would love to read your paper as well! Is it posted anywhere?
The best label for him is malignant narcissist. People see what they want to see, and it has always been so. What is different now is the reach and impact of the media, and platforms like Facebook that give poorly educated people the idea that they can "do the research" and know more than those who have spent their entire lifetimes developing science based on data-driven, evidence-based actual research rather than one long night on Google.
Absolutely agree with your comment! Only one thing to add, however....I'm not sure that those "armchair researchers" spend one long night on Google. It's doubtful that they possess the attention span needed to do so.
Honestly, I thought he was running to help Hillary win.He had made himself the brunt of many jokes for yrs.Would have never dreamed or imagined we are where we are at due to him. I think there is someone(s) badder behind all this ? I think the price was right.I do believe he was in over his head Debt wise. But this, I didn’t see coming.
I agree, Marcia. There's something "badder" behind him. And it's something the R senators & representatives are going along with because they have their own R agenda which can best be gained by using Trump to get votes. Do you think they are the "badder" behind him and they are just using him to further their own agenda?
Many of us thought the same but underestimated the amount of trouble he would cause. And there were some, like my best friend, who voted for him in 2016 (but not in 2020) because she had always voted Republican and thought the Republicans would rein him in.
Penelope, Your comment brings to mind a marvelous book written in 1940. It is "The True Believer", by Eric Hoffer. It brings to light the formation of a cult and the patten that is visible in all cults. When reading this book, it is not possible to see the formation of the Maga cult and their adherence to trump; The will follow him to the death by covid. They drank the same Koolaid as the Jonestown followers.
Thank you for the book recommendation! And, I couldn’t agree more. Your thoughts are educated and refined. Mine are pedestrian: How Hitler? gets asked. The answer? How Trump. Zero difference. In fact APATHY AND INDIFFERENCE are the indicators of a successful cultic influx.
Exactly! Thanks, Penelope. I'm not in the field of psychology but I could also see all those signs although at the time I didn't label them fascist. One other salient characteristic was his lack of sincerity. His words of "patriotism" ring so hollow, even his body language is of one who has no real passion for what he is doing. He seems to be acting a part somebody else chose for him. Do you see that, too?
Yes, the Yeti does not really believe in anything but what he sees in the mirror and money. He spouts things and later spouts something totally the opposite. He is like a member of our family in the UK that my husband described as "A Person who always has the impression of whomever sat upon them last." In the Yeti's case, that last person would be who made the art of the deal with him.
But do not cross him, because the revenge of a narcissist is pretty evil. Richard Branson (Virgin Air ) said the Yeti called him to have a meeting many years ago. A very puzzled Branson described a man who wailed the entire time about all the vengeance he was going to inflict on others. Branson, tired of being his audience, finally excused himself and left. He never knew why the Yeti called to meet with him. I will wager it was one thing: Branson = fame and wealth. It is that deep. It is also nice to see a normal, intelligent human not persuaded, mesmerized, or taken in by a shallow, self-intoxicated, screaming me-me. (Sorry, I had to delete and edit this as spellcheck went awry).
If only that were a universal truth! I'm talking to the Mitch McConnells, Jim Jordans and all those other power hungry evil types wearing a Republican label. The party of evil.
To become evil all you have to do is throw away principles, abandon reality, spit on human equity, worship a cult of personality, and cannibalize your own values while claiming the whole time that is the opposite of what is happening.
Really? What basic human rights were being defended in, say, World War I, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Kuwait, and probably many more? Most wars are really about resources, power, territory, and money.
"Every war that has ever been fought had at its core the defense of basic human rights against those who seek to overpower, constrain, and control for their sole benefit. " I believe wars are principally instigated over ideology - be that religion or nationalism or some other -ism. I look for the details of a "just war" but they are hard to find.
To be fair, Benedict Arnold was not tried for his treason. I believe that the name of Donald Trump, like that of Arnold, will become synonymous with treason and betrayal. That is, if we ever do find out just how great his dereliction of duty was.
It's due to his inability to get outside his own head and genuinely relate to others. His malignant narcissism and psychopathic tendencies make it impossible. Add his extreme paranoia to the mix, and you have a real nutcase.
Government is not GOVERNMENT. It is a collection of people we elect. It's job is to provide for the common good and all that implies. It is dependent on the quality of people we elect at the local, state and national level. And yes, we sometime need to raise our voices to provide "direction." But government is neither good nor bad. It is a reflection of the people who elected it.
Thank you janjamm. I’ve pushed back on this attitude before. “Our” government is what we make it. Until we stop blaming it’s imperfections on others and accept responsibility for what we make of it the greedy bturds will exact their will on us
I agree we must demonstrate and yet I’m very frustrated as I cannot find one friend to march with me in DC on 10/2 for the Women’s March. I understand their hesitancy over Covid concerns but still … not ONE??
Some of us are worried about Covid and some are worried about violence from anti-democratists. I decided to stay in my own state and march at our Capital which is only 2 hrs away as opposed to 9 hrs. to DC.
I think the name Donald Trump will end up simply fading from people's awareness and memory, which, of course is the worst possible fate for a narcissist - to be forgotten.
Exactly! Is Flynn going to be subpoenaed by the Select Committee? Someone needs to investigate his connection to Putin and expose it to the light of day. From where I sit, the man is literally on a Russian payroll.
Justice for J6! Lock them up and throw away the keys. That includes the big orange pumpkin who was going to lead the march. That’s the justice we need ASAP.
It’s amazing yet not surprising how poorly American history is taught. VP Andrew Johnson was a Tennessee Democrat who assumed the Presidency after Lincoln’s assassination. In short he was highly sympathetic to the institution of slavery. Johnson believed, as did many Southern Democrats, that the Constitution protected private property, including slaves, and thus prohibited the federal and state governments from abolishing slavery.
You can believe that a lot of Union sympathizers were not in the least bit of a hurry to welcome a viper’s pit of slave loving seditionist back to finish the job they started.
One reason Reconstruction failed was largely to the efforts of Johnson and his slave symp buddies.
Sorry Rex. No I wasn’t intending to express anger toward your comment. My anger is toward the 74 million voters you referred to. My bad for using a meme!
Flynn is still subject to the UMCJ and at the very least his military pension should be pulled for his treasonous remarks. His sympathy toward Russia is right out in the open. This is textbook treason.
When does the first amendment go too far? Freedom of speech to insight a government coup? Where are the people hired and elected to protect the constitution? I just can't believe what's going on in our country. I'm so worried about the future of the United States for my grandchildren, nieces and nephews. The 2022 and 2024 elections are going to tell us a lot about how things are going to go forward. We have to get a handle on these coup inspired trump loyalists. They need to pay for their treasonous activities and they need to pay soon!
I don't think we need to wait until 2022 or 2024 to find out how things are going to go. It is completely obvious, today. Every day that passes that any and all of these people aren't punished or don't pay for their treasonous actions, is a day lost in the fight for democracy and preserving the common good.
Right on point! Flynn is retired. So he falls under jurisdiction of the UCMJ, Article 2. If he is making contemptuous speech he can be prosecuted under Article 88. He will defend under 1st Amendment right to free speech. The decision for the convening authority is whether his speech crosses the line. If so, he could be court martialed and perhaps sent to prison. If convicted, perhaps the penalty includes loss of pension. I am not a military lawyer but was married to one (🤣) for 25 years and learned a bit about the UMCJ. Take my comments for what they are worth. Would love to hear direct from the community of military lawyers. My comments focus on what's included in HCR's letter today and doesn't go down the path of Flynn's insurrection activities! I'm out of my baliwick here (which is health care law).
Thanks for this information, Kelly. Hopefully we can get more info from another expert in JAG law. Where is Colonel Harmon Rabb when you need him? (for you old JAG fans).
The people ELECTED aren’t even protecting our constitution! How can they remain in office when they aren’t doing their PRIMARY job of protecting the Constitution?!?!
UMCJ. The Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) is essentially a complete set of criminal laws. It includes many crimes punished under civilian law (e.g., murder, rape, drug use, larceny, drunk driving, etc.), but it also punishes other conduct that affects good order and discipline in the military.
Uniform or United Military Code of Justice? Is that right, Christopher? So even if retired, military people always will answer to military court or rules? Who makes up the military courts? And all these literally stupid people calling for Gen Milley to resign rather than receive a medal, are those resignations decided by military courts? Obv I need to brush up on military justice.
As with all prosecutorial decisions, from deciding to fine a shoplifter to deciding to indict and try a traitor, the question of "can we make it stick?" is always determinitive in the decision. The higher up you go with a crime, the higher the bar for that answer. I can say that I have a good friend who is in a position to know about what is being thought on the topic inside the military, and he tells me that Flynn has been a "hot topic" for being called back to active service to face a court-martial for what he does. The problem with doing so, as it is with all the other traitors, is that right now half the country would see the act as illegitimate - a "political hit" - which makes it a super-high bar.
The convening authority (judge) chooses the members (jury) that will hear the case against the accused. The military has historically skewed Republican although that appears to be changing among younger service members and women of all ranks. "Infiltrated" is not the description I'd use but, IMHO, there would be a thumb on the scale in favor of Flynn since the members (jury) must be higher in rank than he. Not many of those guys, likely mostly white, around.
Wiki is not the best source but this provides an overview.
The following categories of service members are subject to the UCMJ as indicated:
Retired members of the Regular Component who are entitled to retirement pay, per Article 2(a)(4) of UCMJ, regardless of the authority under which retired from active service and transferred to the Retired List of their respective Service's Regular Component,
While it has been over 100 years since a Retired Officer was charged with contemptuous statements, how long in history since the country has seen the likes of Flynn?!
The charges are brought forward by an officer called a "convening authority", and the convening authority also personally selects each of the members (jurors) who will try the accused.
I believe that his brother will eventually be revealed as impeding the call for military to respond to the January 6th insurrection. I'd like to see both of them, plus TFG arrested.
But if he is now encouraging overturning the government, I believe that would be a totally different kettle of fish. He was pardoned for lying to the FBI in the Russia scandal.
It's amazing how you get some bit of good news, like the win in California, and then you get a report on the absolute insanity of Flynn - that he has any role at all in American politics, let alone enough influence to be courted for an endorsement, is truly mind-boggling.
I was talking with a friend yesterday and said I hoped what we were witnessing was a period like that between Pearl Harbor and Midway - black news, deep despair, hanging on by fingernails, and then a turnaround that literally changed everything. I noted that sales of my book that deals with this have remained really high and he opined that people might be taking inspiration. I only hope so.
Reading today of the way things are flailing in DC - one wonders how they can get through all that, especially with people allegedly on our side like Manchin and Sinema, and the three Pharma stooges in the House. And if it all doesn't go right, it will be a disaster in 2022, which will lead to the unthinkable in 2024. I ended up going back to my book and reading the part about my old friend Dick Best, and remembering him telling me that all they could do was not think further than the next step, because everything was so dark. That's what I try to do, and this newsletter is a big help on that.
Taking comfort from your comment. I tell myself: Just keep putting one foot in front of the other. Keep doing something every day to contribute to standing up against these bullies and criminals. Put good energy out into the world. Resist. Don’t cave. Don’t say “whatever”. Maybe together we can turn the tide. From my time in South Africa, I offer this quote. “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all the darkness.” (Desmond Tutu) ❤️🤍💙
We all need to consider that there is a tremendous amount going on behind the scenes that could make all the difference - SDNY, the Select Commission, even the rape charge against TFG, and more, and it could totally change the landscape. Add to that two always-silent SCOTUS justices trying to convince the world that they're never partisan, and you have to wonder whether they're seeing attitudes changing in the country.
They spew the darkness and hopefully we spark the blue flame that burns them out. I’m certain we have more than one “dark” blue politician in the barrel but we have so many more fighting for the everyday citizen and democracy. I want to believe the pendulum is swinging toward the light. The majority is fired up about TX and also about the GA and FL anti-voting laws. If the Freedom to Vote act passes I’ll feel an extremely satisfying exhale. If it doesn’t pass, I feel the pendulum will simply break and God help us all.
I share your cautious optimism. I fired off a nasty email to Brad Raffensperger yesterday, as he's threatening to remove the entire Fulton County (Atlanta) Election Board because Cathy Woolard has been named its Chairperson. She's highly qualified, is a past Chair of the Fulton County Commission, ran for mayor in 2017, and - this is the sticking point - she has worked with Stacy Abrams on FairFight Georgia. That's Raffensperger's "reason" for claiming that Woolard is "blatantly a political appointment," and can't be counted on to be unbiased when supervising elections. Imagine that - a Democratic career office holder being called biased by a REPUBLICAN. Really? After what we've witnessed these last five years, and now Mr. The Elections Were Fair And There Was No Fraud and his boss, Shotgun Kemp have enacted a vote nullification law, aimed at removing the Fulton County Election Board and replacing it with Republican legislators who can toss votes and send their own hand-picked electors to the Electoral College.
That is such a good mantra for these hard days, Deborah!! Thanks. And deep breathing to balance the heart and brain after reading dark news. Keeps the blood pressure down while we continue the battle.
“I've got to keep breathing because tomorrow the sun will rise. Who knows what the tide could bring?” - #castaway As said by Tom Hanks’ character (somewhat less cerebral than Desmond Tutu but no less profound!) in the film when reality did seem hopeless. What trumpsters have and continue to say and do is an ongoing dumpster fire and those who have the power to put them before the judicial system need to step up now before it is too late (which it well might be).
You sure can! But sometimes I need you, TC, as my alter ego, to just pounce, without regard for the guardrails or PC-nes,s on the vampires against Truth and Justice. You sort of shocked me this morning..."I can't get no relief" today!
The will of the majority is severely subverted; power and representation is being diverted into the hands of a clique minority of fear filled, immoral, antidemocratic, lying, sociopathic divorcées from reality. They are fuelled by unjustifiable hatred, and imagined attacks on their freedom. They are dissidents with no enemy.... so they invent enemies. POC, LGBTQI, lefties and liberals, feminists, pro- choice people, health care for all, the person next door who isn’t flying a Trump flag. You cannot fight this level of ignorance, self-deception and manufactured hatred with compassion, logic and evidence.
What is to be done?
They see themselves as patriots, as defenders of the constitution, as soldiers of democracy, and are fuelled by the ambition of weak, cowardly, greedy politicians.
They don’t see themselves as the racist, bigoted, hate riddled, ugly , entitled folk that others see. Nor as the destroyers of democracy, the shredders of the constitution, lambs being led to slaughter by their GOP shepherds. They don’t see that they are the greatest threat to the American experiment than any external force could ever be.
How do you deal with that?
How does the majority take back the power of the voting booth?
I see this as the central dilemma for the Biden government. Because if they don’t seize the reins in this administration....it will be all over. Bye bye the American dream.
There is no room for politeness. For bipartisanship. For compromise. The Democrats have to wrest back the rule of law, parliamentary process. They have to slam the gate on the McConnells and the Taylor-Greens and all the other lying cheating bastards who are running roughshod over majority rule democracy
The Republican Party; a domestic terrorist organization. Good choice of words.
“Kurt Bardella, a Democratic congressional campaign committee adviser, said: “After what we saw in this country on January 6, ‘civil disobedience’ is code word for violence and acts of terror when it comes to the Republican party. So many in this party are trying to whitewash the events of January 6, have referred to those behind it as ‘patriots’ and have gone so far as to suggest that those who have been incarcerated for their crimes should be released.
“The only conclusion that one can draw from their ongoing rallying cries for what they call ‘civil disobedience’ is that it is a call for more violence, more mayhem, more destruction, and solidifies the reality that the Republican party is a domestic terrorist organisation.”
Absolutely. We need to show Constitutional and Federal muscle, immediately. Now. This is so frustrating to watch unfold. Where the hell is Batman and Batwoman? Gotham is really in trouble. I am uneasy about Sept. 18.
Well, I never dreamt all the atrocities that have happened over the past five years would happen. So, I tend to be on the side of Great Caution and hope we are prepared.
I'll go ask my Proud Boy neighbor if he has any travel plans this weekend. I noticed, since it has gotten a little nippy up here in northern Michigan, that he has resorted to wearing clothes again.
Yes, I have been watching my neighbor across the road more closely the past few days. He and his family supported the proud boys' parade...He is in the VT National Guard. We have reasons to be cautious who are infiltrated in our police, national guard and military and of course, government.
Yes, I have been in dialogue with a commenter on Fox angertainment. I finally asked, why is it that genuine discourse on the problems is so impossible here? Why are republicans so filled with anger and hatred and just spew that in this echo chamber over and over again and then attack someone who comes to ask questions, and makes huge assumptions about them--like saying I am not educated. It appears none of you want to really THINK about policy or solutions...you just want to spew venom on anyone who tries to have a convo. I got called being "rude"--and that was incredibly polite. Dealing with brainwashed, reptilian brains appears pointless. They want to kill Milley and cannot understand that Milley was trying to save our country when the repubs refused to impeach. That our system of checks and balances have been completely abandoned by republicans. Win at all costs. This is the the reptilian underbelly of America. It is not pretty at all. Consequences cannot be be meted out quickly enough for republican terrorists against America.
The method and madness behind the Republican hate machine is insidious - leadership has poured unlimited amounts of anger and fear into their dogma because they know those elements work to keep people stirred up and angry. Penelope, don't try to have a conversation with them because you can't, they are living in an eternal spin cycle of circular reasoning, where the premise and conclusion both lack proof. They can't argue with you or supply you with answers when you ask questions because their argument boils down to: Just Because. Just Because you're poor you're lazy. Just Because you're brown you're illegal. Just Because you're Black you're a criminal. And on and on and on.
Last week my mother in law forwarded an e mail with a photo of "members of Congress" not standing for the Pledge. The accompanying text said this:
"This is sad, sad, sad. It’s bad enough to see it with sports, but now it is in schools and even our U.S. Congress. If they won't stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance they have no place in our Congress.
It's mind-boggling WHY the American voters continue keeping these people in office. Any member of the house or senate that refuses to stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance in the Chambers should be escorted out by the Sergeant at Arms until they comply. If your allegiance is not with this country and our flag, just who is it with?"
Now, here's the thing, the photo she sent was not one of current members of US House or Senate refusing to say the pledge but a photo taken in 2009 of the NY State Senate: "The seated state senators were protesting the session itself, and the political wrangling that had led to it, not the Pledge" - Snopes.
What blows me away even further is the fact that several people in the photo were identified with tiny tags on the photo, not a one of them has a name that even resembles that of a current member of the US House or Senate. But she never stopped to look at the faces or names, she just forwarded it. I replied informing her that she had forwarded a verifiable lie to those on her email list and provided her with the Snopes link. Of course, I received no response because really, what could she say? She will not admit that she is wrong or that the photo she posted was misrepresented because she doesn't care that she forwarded a lie. They. Don't. Care.
You are right, Republicans are willing to destroy an entire nation to win back the White House. Those who continue to support Trump affiliated politicians are beyond reasoning with. They are promoting and supporting violence to further their efforts. They are, indeed, terrorists.
I've had similar experiences. One (which led to an unfriending and blocking on FB) was when I told my former coworker that a meme he had posted about the US Senate was, in fact. a state representative from California who had protested the Star Spangled Banner for its lyrics in the third verse:
"And where is that band who so vauntingly swore,
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion
A home and a Country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash'd out their foul footstep's pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave,
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave."
He simply unfriended and blocked me, and when I called him out on my page, his wife (with whom I am still friends) said "he just doesn't want disagreement. Wow. Just. Wow.
My experience exactly! In my few responses to a home-town fb site on politics the knee-jerk reaction is always “ you hate America” followed by other hate-filled assumptions. I try to scroll on by but sometimes……!!
I hope you wear a hazmat suit when diving into that stew. Personally, I think you might employ your time better, but peeing in their Wheaties is an admirable endeavor.
They do. Most of my clients watch Faux News and they rant about how unemployment benefits have allowed people to “sit on their asses,” how the “defunding of the police” had led to the rise in crime (and how Giuliani was such a hero with his stop and frisk policy in NYC), and how much they hate President Biden. I finally couldn’t take hearing it anymore and I told them I would not tolerate listening to this talk anymore. It may have cost me these clients and my livelihood but I’m past being able to listen to this crap. This bit about the unemployment benefits letting people “sit on their asses” comes from a Trust Fund baby who has never worked a day in his life and who spends his money and idle hours traveling on exotic hunting and fishing trips around the world. The hypocrisy is nauseating.
I have read, in several places, a statement the gist of which is: If your business model requires you to pay your people a sub-minimum wage (in states where tips are factored into the hourly wage) or bare minimum wage with no benefits in either case, then you do not have a successful business, period.
Pay people what they're worth, treat them well, and your business model is good.
The bit about people being able to sit in their asses (when we need workers) is what the NYT more subtly insinuates. As a result many well-educated people who didn’t vote for Trump and read mainstream news only believe it as well. I have so had it with the NYT.
And thanks for that response, Daria. My chiropractor can't get rid of the "pain in my neck." In the last session we talked about my stress levels. He did a computerized bio-feedback graph sample in normal talking, and then a comparison of deep breathing. The difference between the jagged mountains of talking vs the steady, smooth line of regulated breathing, almost immediately into a green zone of calm was really validating. I had done breathing just before and the severe pain in my neck had gone down almost 90%.
I went out to answer a Fox commenter a little while ago, and I felt my body tension go up measurably. These people are not healthy for us or our democracy. I am taking your advice, it is not my job, to spread light in that way. My body concurs with your advice! Thanks, I sometimes want to be invincible with Truth and go beyond this choir. Better to go make my protest signs for Oct. 2nd!
I have had several patients with what I call early serotonin toxicity who look like these aggressors. The toxic potion is any combination of drugs that increase serotonin in the brain and body too much: e.g., anti-depressant + narcotic + alcohol + sugar. Add tRump and Fox news to the mix and you get an insurrection.
Good morning, Diana. Thank you for brilliant statement… “They are dissidents with no enemy…so they invent enemies.” That line literally jumped off the page and straight into my toolbox of discourse if I may quote you in the future?
A one-liner to explain this incessant defamation of anything convenient to support the lies of The Big Liars. I had just read a link posted above (thank you H.A.Rose) about the idiots at Turning PointUSA and their already voluminous Professor Watchlist. Targeting some of our finest thinkers from the academic world as subversive enemies of the people. This is unthinkable and the assault upon education continues.
No more sittin’ round. Time for our own watchlist to go viral. Because Trump’s money-making carnival barker business is a scourge upon sensibility. HE LOST. Let’s end the chapter because he and his won’t.
Get your lightsabers on. Light will dispel the dark.
"Professor Watchlist" - echoes of Nazi Germany as well as the Taliban. When the Taliban was approaching takeover of Afghanistan in 1996, droves of educated Afghans, many if not most educated abroad, fled the country.
Diane, your phrase "divorcees from reality" is brilliant! Also, your lucid comment bespeaks of the critical need for consequences. A huge number of people need to be imprisoned and impoverished. When they are, others may change their minds and behavior.
I think if we're really being honest with ourselves, we all know what you're describing is ultimately going to lead to violence. The only question is- how much, and when.
Thanks, Heather, for reporting on the latest insanities. The most useful Democratic tactic to be employed against treasonous GOP liars is to try to pass Manchin's watered-down "bipartisan" voting legislation, almost sure to fail. This will be an important demonstration of how things really stand in Congress. Then, Manchin and Sinema will need to be convinced (by Joe Biden) to allow the filibuster to be modified enough to permit rapid passage of voting legislation -- hopefully less watered down -- and the DEMs must then proceed to pass the big infrastructure bill via reconciliation.
A large majority of Americans do not want Trump or a Trump clone as their next President. Equally large majorities of Americans want all or most of what Joe Biden is proposing. If we cannot get this done, it will mean we have become a failed state with a very opaque future indeed.
Are trumpists aware of what happens in Congress? Or do they just hear the deceptive drivel from the likes of Cruz and McConnell on right wing media and believe that?
Hi Fern. Sure, over the long haul McConnell has done more than any other GOP Senator to thwart Democratic majorities and ruin the (relative) impartiality of the Supreme Court, and he continues to influence events. But I'm not sure what really makes him tick, whether it is racist, rightwing ideology or just the lust for power or perhaps some spiritual neediness that needs to be addressed by a psychologist, even at his age.
I am pretty sure that his appeal is now exceeded by the greater appeal of several governors, notably DeSantis and Abbot, to the GOP base, and that what an important part of that base wants and is preparing for does not have room for an aging institutionalist like McConnell. The GOP is now a lawless, insurrectionist cabal made up of frustrated mediocrities mid way through a meandering coup d'etat.
I completely agree with you, Fern. McConnell, in my mind, is the Power that holds the door open for all the other lunatic repubs. He needs to be nabbed and dragged away for years of obstruction. He is responsible for promoting this deep infiltration which has destroyed our checks and balances and our Supreme Court travesty.
He is indeed the most powerful, and perhaps the most dangerous for the fact he doesn't appear to act from an ideological position, though, of course, he does have an ideology, just not one that includes eating babies while alive - unlike Cruz, Hawley, Governor DeathSentence, Wheels Abbot and the rest of the professional gargoyles.
Good morning Fern. Totally agree. McConnell is one with most to lose. And he’s also protecting all the assets of the family he married. Lot on his skinny assed sloping shoulders and wattle neck.
Hi David, 'spiritual neediness' on the part of McConnell! That sounds as though it could be a farce written by Herrick. You needn't stress your imagination or check out a psychology manual. It's easy: power/control/money -- one, two, three!
Some far-out Republicans are calling for Chairman of the Joint Chief Miley’s resignation for contacting a Chinese general to assure him that the United States was not going to launch an attack against China. This assurance was given, after intelligence reports indicated that they feared such an attack because of then-President Trump’s bizarre and dangerous behavior. Bob Woodward’s latest book provided some details of General Miley’s phone calls. Subsequently we learned that then Defense Secretary Espy and at least 15 DOD personnel were involved in these calls. I find that General Miley’s actions were totally within his responsibilities in accordance to the military/civilian chain of command and the Constitution.
It brings to mind another episode when a president’s bizarre state of mind obliged senior administration officials and the military to safe guard our country, Henry KIssinger, who had a love/hate relationship with President Nixon, warned that Nixon, during Watergate, was drinking and ranting in a dangerous manner. Kissinger expressed concern that Nixon might hit the nuclear button during one of his depressive rages. I have the clear impression that Kissinger and some top military had formed a cabal to make sure such would not occur.
What should senior officials, including the Secretary of Defense do, when the president—Trump and Nixon—has clearly gone bonkers? General Miley and Defense Secretary Espy as well as Kissinger and his cabal did precisely what was necessary to protect our country. I consider this a broad and proper interpretation of their Constitutional duty.
Another indication, Keith, of the Republicans' irresponsibility at a time of great 'Peril', was that not one of them, not Chris Miller or David Norquist (Department of Defense) nor Mike Pompeo.(State Department) or Chief of Staff, Mark Meadows, all knowing how nuts Trump was, not one called General Milley to voice concern about Trump's stability. Who did call - unsurprisingly, it was Madame Secretary, Nancy Pelosi!
"...Henry KIssinger, who had a love/hate relationship with President Nixon...."
Nixon and Kissinger used each other toward their own gains. They were an evil duo.
"I have the clear impression that Kissinger and some top military had formed a cabal to make sure such would not occur."
I wonder if Kissinger wrote something like that after Nixon died. Henry was full of self-aggrandizement. Nixon and Kissinger organized the overthrow of the democratically-elected president of Chile. They destroyed the apolitical stance of the Chilean military and guaranteed Pinochet they would stand behind him if he got rid of Allende. N&K were responsible for a great deal of torture and murder of innocent Chileans. Henry tried later to blame those horrors on the U.S. ambassador to Chile at the time. However, the former ambassador to Chile was still alive when Kissinger wrote that in a book. He denied Kissinger's accusation and roughly said, "Don't blame that on me. That was Kissinger's and Nixon's plan." I have no doubt the former ambassador was right. After all, Kissinger was Secretary of State at the time, and the ambassador worked for him. Kissinger and Nixon have a lot of blood on their hands.
Heydon what you wrote was my understanding as an eager young student of government. After Chile, it was our involvement with Nicaragua in 1980-81,(before that time as well) which caused me to pay more attention to the America's involvement in the affairs of other nations. You have stirred the awakening of long ago. The truth of our history echo in your memory. Thank you. You and Keith may differ, and it is to our advantage to hear you both.
Thanks, Fern. But, I'm not sure Keith and I differ. Further, I've been fortunate in life to have a variety of experiences taking me to different countries and with different teachers. I guess I'm most fortunate to remember most of them, at least so far.
I was a Foreign Service Officer Political Officer in Chile 1966-1969, from where I resigned. I knew Ambassador Kerry well there and subsequently. He was not involved in the CIA/ITT machinations and the back door operations involving Kissinger.
Thanks for mentioning it, Keith. I had no doubt that Ambassador Kerry was completely innocent of the Nixon/Kissinger debacle. And I'm glad that he responded to the Kissinger charge. You were in Chile at an interesting time.
My interest in Chile began in 1972 when I lived in Lima for a year as part of the IU Foreign Studies Program. Though I studied more about Peru, the IU program director was a scholar in Chilean history and politics. Peter shared with us some of the current events in Chile. Also, he spoke of Allende and his election. As I recall, Allende's campaign promise was to make sure all children under the age of five would receive a quart of milk a day. The children of the poor, and notably those of the copper mine workers, were getting minimal amounts of food and good nutrition, and the results were extensive brain damage in the children; essentially, a permanent slave class for the mines. Allende being first of all an M.D. was especially concerned about this. So, he ran for President and was democratically elected. Though labeled a communist, I imagined Allende as being more of a socialist. One day I happened to be at Lima's airport picking up a friend when I looked up and saw Allende coming down the escalator. He was happily received in Peru.
About six months after I left Peru is when the overthrow of Allende took place. The army trapped him in a space in Santiago and then shot him. And then there was all the torturing and murders at the national stadium. Then, they took the bodies (and I believe some live prisoners) up in a helicopter and dumped them way out in the ocean. What a horror! Did you ever see the film "Missing" with Jack Lemon which well dramatizes what was happening?
After Allende was killed and General Pinochet was installed as President. the next stage of Americanization began. They brought in Milton Friedman and "the Chicago boys" to redesign the economy and make it purely capitalistic. Nixon and Kissinger didn't even want the hint of socialism in South America. The events in Chile may have created the term "desaparacidos" though I heard it more often a little later during the chaos in Argentina. The U.S. has made some messes there.
A Foreign Service tradition is that an officer’s final dispatch is sent with no clearances—-his own unvarnished opinions. In mine I stated that the Christian Democrat, Radomiro Tomic, and been the. Conservative and the FRAP coalition candidate, Salvador Allende, Chile would do better with Allende. At Allende’s death I published a letter in the NYT stating that Allende was a good Chilean. (Years later, Isbael Allende appreciated my letter. Some of my close friends and tortured and killed by Pinochet. IAs an American I am ashamed of Nixon and Kissinger for various reasons, of which Chile and Vietnam were two. I was on the Nixon White House Enemies List, which I considered an honor.
Well done, Keith. Good on you. And what an honor to be on the Nixon White House Enemies List! Yes, the N&K actions in Chile and Vietnam. N&K were all ambition and no soul, no conscience. I was glad to see Christopher Hitchens writing about Kissinger as well. As you know, Pres. Ford kept Kissinger on as SoS, and the horror in East Timor then resulted.
As an aside, I was in Santiago in December 1972 when the Andean plane crash survivors arrived in town. There was some hoopla about the cannibalism. From Santiago, I took a train to Puerto Montt, then continued my trip by bus and boat over the Andes and through the lakes to finally arrive in Bariloche by boat. It was wonderful. Then a train across the pampas to Buenos Aires; and then on to Uruguay and Montevideo. By chance, I was in Montevideo when the plane survivors ("Alive!) arrived there, which was their home--they being the Uruguayan national soccer team. I loved the Andes. The experience there in multiple countries was priceless.
'The Most Important Statistic of the Biden Presidency'
'One in five hundred Americans has died in the pandemic, and Republicans are actively rooting for the country to fail.'
'His (Biden's) poll numbers have dropped so low that, as Politico’s Playbook noted, on Thursday morning, his approval rating now hovers at that of Gerald Ford at this point in his Presidency, and just above that of Donald Trump.'
'As for post-Afghanistan foreign policy, he rolled out, on Wednesday, a bold new alliance with Australia and Great Britain that will help Canberra develop nuclear-powered submarines to patrol the Indo-Pacific—a not-so-veiled counter to China.'
'He came into office promising an end to the pandemic and a return to competent, commonsense governance. It’s why he beat Trump.'
'Consider the news this week that now one in five hundred Americans has died in the pandemic; total deaths in the country approach seven hundred thousand. What’s worse, covid deaths—the vast majority of them preventable, avoidable deaths, now that science and the federal government have provided us with free vaccines—are continuing to rise across large swaths of vaccine-resistant Trump country. This is not a tragic mistake but a calculated choice by many Republicans who have made vaccine resistance synonymous with resistance to Biden and the Democrats. The current average of more than nineteen hundred dead a day means that a 9/11’s worth of Americans are perishing from covid roughly every thirty-eight hours. To my mind, this is the biggest news of the Biden Presidency so far, and it has nothing to do with Afghanistan, or the fate of the budget-reconciliation bill, or Bob Woodward’s new book.'
'America spent twenty years fighting wars in Afghanistan and the Middle East because of 9/11. The 2001 attacks reordered American foreign-policy and national-security thinking for a generation. Does anyone believe that something comparable will happen as a result of the pandemic’s catastrophic death toll, which is far vaster than that of any other crisis in the modern era? It’s hard to imagine, especially because the continuing loss of life is a result of G.O.P. political strategies that intentionally undermine the success of Biden’s policies. How can this President, or any President, reset from that?'
The excerpts above were written by Susan B. Glaser in the article, 'The Most Important Statistic of the Biden Presidency', published yesterday in The New Yorker. The statistic Ms. Glaser is referring to in the title is one for the deaths, hospitalizations, and infections continuing under Biden. It is the demonic strategy that the Republicans' have devised to defeat Biden, the Democratic Part and Democracy. It just means some more deaths, the collapse of our health care system and the destruction of a functioning society. Is there anything Biden can do against the Death Camps the Republicans have created in the USA?
'Idaho hospitals are so overwhelmed with the surge in coronavirus cases that doctors and nurses have to contact dozens of regional hospitals across the West in hopes of finding places to transfer individual critical patients.'
'The situation has grown so bad that the Idaho Department of Health and Wellness announced Thursday that the entire state is in a hospital resource crisis, permitting medical facilities to ration health care and triage patients.' (NBC)
'Hospitals in the southern United States are running dangerously low on space in intensive care units, as the Delta variant has led to spikes in coronavirus cases not seen since last year’s deadly winter wave.'
'One in four hospitals now reports more than 95 percent of I.C.U. beds occupied — up from one in five last month. Experts say it can become difficult to maintain standards of care for the sickest patients in hospitals where all or nearly all I.C.U. beds are occupied.' (NY Times)
“We’re having to postpone elective surgeries that require hospitalizations because we can’t take care of those patients in the hospital,” Pratt said. “The staff working in outpatient services have been redeployed to bedside care.”
'Since the beginning of the pandemic, Pratt said, she’s lost nurses who decided to retire early. The hospital offered salary bumps for current staff and incentive pay earlier in the pandemic, Pratt said. But with larger hospitals in urban areas offering hefty bonuses to lure workers, it’s difficult to recruit specialists and nurses to Lutcher.'
'Across the country, thousands of hospitals are overwhelmed with critically ill patients, prompting many overburdened nurses to change careers or retire early. The shortages are particularly dire in rural areas, rural health experts say, because of the aging workforce and population, smaller salaries and intense workload.'
Repeating writer Glaser's point, 'This is not a tragic mistake but a calculated choice by many Republicans who have made vaccine resistance synonymous with resistance to Biden and the Democrats...'
What are Biden and the Democrats going to do about this? I think there is something for us to do. I will write to the President, the First Lady, the Chief of Staff, the head of the National Democratic Committee, Pelosi, Schumer and more. Our leaders have to find ways to stop this mass assault on the American people. The Republicans are killing us.
For the link to the New Yorker article, see below:
Hello Fern. As an RN working in a "purple" state, I often have to deal with vaccine and mask resistant people, some of whom see their actions as patriotic civil disobedience. When confronted with such people, my reaction is almost never to write a letter to President Biden or even my state rep. Instead, I try to remember that I am dealing with a person, not an adversary. All I can do with those of the "patriotic" ilk is to try and contain their behavior, at least when they are in my presence. For the rest, I call out lies and misinformation - every time. It is not a debate. I do not repeat the lie back to them. I state the truth and move on. It seems to work.
That is what I hope our sane politicians can do with cynical Trumpists like Flynn. Contain their behavior where they can, speak truth in the face of lies, and remember, mostly we are dealing with a very frightened, willfully misinformed public who are subject to grossly cynical leadership. The stakes are too high to do things which do not work. We must all do the work in front of us. I have a LOT more thoughts on your post, but my reply is growing tedious, even to me :). Thanks again Fern.
Thank you Steve for your compassionate service. As a former healthcare worker can easily imagine how hard it must be for all care providers. Your comment reflects a compassionate and brave heart which is invaluable during these hard, scary times. Stay well, be strong 🙏
Not 'tedious' at all Steve. I am sorry that it wasn't clear from my comment that I was addressing DeSantis, Abbott, et al, the Republican Party's tactics their base, but the Party, which is perpetrating this in order to destroy Biden and the hope of the Democrats ever being in the majority, which by the literal numbers Democratic Party is. Perhaps, if you read the article, you would understand better who I was aiming at.
Hi againFern. I know who you were aiming at. I have been to too many funerals over the past 20 months not to. All politics, are, really, personal. All politics are local. That Abbott (no relation dieu merci!) and DeSantis are using life-and-death situations as wedge issues to win reelection in their states shows their moral bankruptcy. My point is we all have real. boots-on-the-ground work to do. My experience has shown me that thinking and acting globally does not work most of the time. I am not contesting any of your points. They are all valid and salient. There is a human dimension at play here that often gets lost in the larger political discussion. I respect and admire your posts. They make me think. Thanks for taking the time to write them.
I agree with you as well, We must work humanely, surely and strategically on all fronts. What do you suggest as a means to critically stop the death machine. You are aware of historical examples reminiscent of this. I don't know that how a dedicated nurse cares for a patient is an appropriate model.
Good morning, Steve. I hope that you are open to further discussion about how to address the Republicans' disruption of public health processes during the pandemic. I was suggesting that given the breakdowns leading to more sickness, deaths and division among us a different way of dealing with the Republicans, at the root of this disaster, may be required by our leaders. Tonight, I received a message from a good friend who is a devoted and excellent teacher. It has been her calling. She relayed the effects of students vandalizing the bathrooms, a Tic Tok trend, in the schools, thereby disrupting the processes of education, fostering more uncontrolled behavior on the part of children and placing more burdens on teachers on who are being stretched to the breaking point -- there may be some useful comparisons to be made between teachers and nurses these days. My friend, Dee's, experience directed me back to our discussion along with other examples of disorder/disruption, which have stayed in my mind. I believe that with some thinking I understand better what you were communicating. This is just to check if that is correct. Steve, were you seeking to emphasize the necessary balance of care and order to reach a goal and that you were concerned that in trying to address the negative forces as I was defining them could lead to even more hardening of the opposing forces? I understand that your suggesting that there may be more constructive ways to restore order -- to work on a local level and with more personal interactions? I think the basic functions necessary for a civil society have been attacked. It is very difficult to restore order and agreement about the rules, which I believe are at the root of our problems. Are you and I now closer in our sense of challenge at hand?
Good morning Fern. I am an RN who works with detained youth. What most of them need, but do not ever say they want, is fair, firm, consistent boundaries to operate in. They seem to equate setting them with love and safety. Being teens, they complain and act out for a while, but behavior and attitudes soon change, and they become calmer and much more centered.
Trump and his ilk did not set firm, fair, or consistent boundaries early in the pandemic, and continue to disrupt efforts of Democrats and others who have tried to do so. Instead, every state (really, every person) had to set their own, during a pandemic, with little information. About 30% of us chose to listen to antisocial media and politicians to define the parameters to live in. This was the far right's undoing. If Donald Trump had put a mask on in April of 2020 he would easily have won re-election. That Abbott, DeSantis, et. al., are still playing disrupter shows how out of step they are with science, human nature, and the actual politics of now.
The one thing Donald Trump is good at is making a mess. When one of my charges makes a mess, they are expected to clean it up once they are calm enough to. I have never seen a mess that cleaned itself up, especially one that has involved 400,000 - 500,000 unnecessary deaths. Right now, we are at the point of containing the mess makers. A certain amount of deploring the mess and those who made it is also necessary (after all, we are human too), but that does not get the job done. Frankly, we need to get past self-righteous indignation, roll up our sleeves, and do the work at hand. That is the most loving thing I can think of to do. What we do depends on where we are and who we are with. For me, it is keeping my family, friends, charges, and co-workers as safe and well informed as possible.
Steve, Your experiences and perspective - particularly your perspective and mine are one. Some good people that I know are swamped and operating with little if any support. The lawlessness on various levels is another aspect of 'feeling' swamped as is the hostility that sometimes surrounds us. We must call on the center within and continue to nurture that strength. Thank you for your generosity and commitment to uniting the whole of us.
The Republican strategy is to create as many deaths as possible, create chaos, blame the chaos on the "failed Democratic presidency" and offer the solution of their "enlightened", no, "traditional" values. And, should they, God forbid, succeed, dispense with the more unmanageable details of democracy, like voting. Then they will "discover" the importance of vaccines and masks, make them mandatory (for whites at least), save the country from ruin using the one party rule which has served them so well since the day the Constitution
That is it exactly, Bruce. Look at what they are doing to their angry sheep -- killing them and many others. It is evil incarnate. They will do anything to maintain power, divide us more, stoke the scapegoating and destroy society to block Biden from his efforts to address the needs of all of us as well as protecting the earth.
In addition to the immorality of causing unnecessary deaths, the families, including children, are robbed of loved ones. The second half of the comment points to the impacts this demonical strategy has on hospitals, all that work in them and the people in need of medical attention for other health problens and cannot be admitted. The Republican's tactics affect many people.
A letter to the editor I wrote and sent in today to our northern Michigan newspaper:
SO:
1) The voters of Leelanau County voted FOR an Early Childhood Program millage.
2) The 4 Republicans on the County Commission voted to give the program NO MONEY, essentially killing the program.
3) When Chairman Will Bunek was asked by Commisioner Gwenne Allgaier "So you just said that if a public vote is taken and we think it's wrong, it's our job as a constitutional republic to nullify it?" Bunek responded,
"Yes, that's exactly right."
That is EXACTLY WRONG. That is NOT how a democracy or a republic works. That is, however, how Hitler worked, how Mussolini worked, how Pinochet worked...
The county administrator and a representative if the health department which runs the program, are meeting with an attorney from the firm that represents most county governments in the state, for a written opinion. First response is it may be legal but it is not ethical.
I am left wondering if the months-long effort to discredit General Milley is an attempt to minimize the impact of whatever it is that he knows, should he ever be called to testify. January 6 Commission, please, call him!
No doubt! That's what Voldemort Trump and the Death Eaters do every time - they discredit their opponents and disembowel their enemies. It works! Reminds me of the bloody spectacles in the Roman Colosseum and the crowds cheering and lusting for blood to be spilled.
Ah, Michael Flynn, whom I met once (only 10 yrs ago--it seems like 20). Yep, disgraced and unfortunately bringing more shame on his former profession as well. After his "coup" comment (which he quickly "clarified" BTW), I inquired about how his actions are perceived in the military and what, if anything can/will be done about it. The answers are revealing about how, aside from all other things, the man is simply a fool. His change of plea to "not guilty," was because he had NO IDEA (a man in the Army more than 30 yrs) that if a servicemember is convicted of a felony they also lose all of their retirement pay and benefits (then Trump swooped in with the pardon to save him).
Then, later, he also had NO IDEA that he could still be brought up on Article 32 charges of sedition and attempting a military coup as a retired servicemember...he discovered this days later when Colonel John Vinman (JAG) offered to prosecute him for such to the Sec of the Army, so Flynn used the press and social media to "clarify" his comments. Meanwhile, Flynn IS a calculator of sorts--he knows there is still one person who could strip him down for what he's already done--the president (he ask for a review of his actions post-retirement & reduce him in rank to Colonel). But he's banking on the fact Biden doesn't want to give these guys one lick of additional press.
Still, if I had to bet on it, I'd say that Flynn will continue to step in metaphorical dog doo (he can't help himself) until he, again, goes too far and has his family jewels taken away once and for all. Narcissistic fools (he is, big time) always do this.
My own "clarification" -- there was a typo-- I meant to say "the president (he CAN ask...)." To anyone's knowledge the president hasn't done a thing about this (he has, consistently, ignored Trump and his minions since taking office), and has no plans to.
Dear HCR - Once again, I have learned so much from today's post, important information that I am unlikely to find in my online subscriptions to newspapers with more resources (only three of you many references are from news sources I read with any regularity. -- But I going to make a detour and post something completely unrelated, because I believe your readership will be as amazed and touched by this NPR story as I was: "At 101, This Woman From Maine Is Still Hauling Lobsters With No Plans To Stop" (https://www.npr.org/2021/09/16/1037773633/at-101-this-woman-from-maine-is-still-hauling-lobsters-with-no-plans-to-stop)
In 2004, Jimmy Buffett (yes, THAT Jimmy Buffett) published a novel, A Salty Piece of Land. One of the major characters was Cleopatra Highbourne, a 100 year old sea captain. Immediately came to mind when I read this story.
Wonderful! I have an 83 year old neighbor “waterman” who still takes his Dead Rise fishing boat out at least 3xs a week! This woman would be his heroin!!!
Yes, things seem to keep getting crazier in this upside down world but let's remember that tfgx45 is a compulsive liar responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands, sexist,racist, sick human being guilty of treason and worse. This is not the time to be criticizing the Biden administration by following red herrings that the crazies throw down. QAnon turned out to be a father/son in New Jersey but that barely made news. Flynn, Rudy, Ganz etc are in a pathetic minority and have replaced the daily tweets we lived through 4 years of with lies and bluster and red herrings. Biden has already corrected many horrible, nasty 🤮 actions done by the past administration. Let's concentrate on voting rights, correct Manchin's calculations and spread THE BIG TRUTH.
"Flynn has continued to speak to pro-Trump groups and to rebuild his brand, going so far in May as to call for a coup in the U.S."
The Response:
"Twitter permanently banned Flynn"
Am I the only person in America that thinks our Government should do SOMETHING to guard against this threat? Day by day I lose confidence in this government's lack of action to protect me.
Don’t lose that confidence, Daniel. I personally feel (although it’s frustrating having done it several times when managing recalcitrant children), that it actually is admirable and strategic how much President Biden has ignored the former and his minions’ antics. That’s exactly what to do so as not to throw more coals on the fire.. especially the pens and mouths of the many rabid members of the press and journalism to escalate the tensions even more. That fire is too hot. And President Biden is not doing that ignoring to stop the slide of his poll numbers. He is our best person now and for just 3+ more years. Strategically, in child psychology and classroom management, one must let some steam to seep from the balloon and weaken its inflating property. Then is the time to strike. Trump LOST. President Biden has the full force of the military and best minds behind him and the majority of the people in this country. I don’t think war is imminent, war has been declared in this country by liars, traitors, idiots, and losers.
I want the strike to be effective, crushing, and lasting. President Biden is our president. I trust him to erase the lardo windbag and his grease spots. And at the right time.
All of us have had our confidence shaken because the reality of this treason is frightening. I’m calling on every memory I have in my life when being brave hearted and surrounded with the Creator’s Light light saw me through any darkness. Same now. I will not turn away.
And hopefully the DOJ is quietly collecting evidence of Flynn's continued treason and collusion with (orders from) Putin, to put him away for life this time.
I just don't want this to go on too long. I too taught children. Day 1 I took no nonsense. Day two I detained. Day 3 I called parents...By Week 2 all was well.
"Then is the time to strike. Trump LOST. President Biden has the full force of the military and best minds behind him and the majority of the people in this country."
(just don't wait TOO long.) I am not concerned that things can't be turned around. Just concerned about who, when, and how. This is not a waiting game; some Texans just assaulted a hostess doing her job to check proof of vaccination. I WILL NOT STAND for these people coming to civilization and trying to create chaos. We know how to deal with that here.
This happened in my very civilized, very divers, community-oriented neighborhood.
The Texans are from Humble, Texas: “With a crime rate of 122 per one thousand residents, Humble has one of the highest crime rates in America compared to all communities of all sizes – from the smallest towns to the very largest cities. One’s chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime here is one in 8.” These people come to our civilized neighborhood and act like they’re home.
I have tried to keep my distance from this lunacy, hoping the government would accept its responsibility to protect its citizens. I am hoping they do, but am prepared if they don't.
You are not the only American. I question how infiltrated our FBI and justice systems really are... very little consequences for seditious behaviors that I am sure normal people would be thrown in jail for committing.
I keep wondering what the heck Merrick Garland is doing? And as for the FBI, what happened with that investigation they were supposed to do apropos Kavanaugh, too? Wray has concerned me for awhile.
I'm grateful HCR is keeping tabs on Michael Flynn, though I can't imagine how she does all this and teaches college-level academic courses as well. I'm glad when she takes the occasional day off.
Back to Mr. Flynn. He might be taking a page from the former president's playbook; deriving a steady income from running for office. The former president will be running for re-election as long as the campaign cash keeps flowing in from the MAGA mob. HCR didn't mention whether or not in any of his endorsement screeds Flynn stuck his hand out for a handout, (everybody else does,) but if he did, that could be his plan.
The unemployed Flynn could also follow in the foosteps of another disgraced US military officer, Oliver North, and become the figure-head president of the NRA. They have been having some upper level personnel problems of late. Flynn would fit right in.
The fact that General Flynn is being allowed to continuously incite sedition and get away with it, consequence free, is not the sign of a healthy democracy.
In many countries other than the United States of America, those like Flynn, Carlson and others of that ilk might be sent to 're-education' camps as the Chinese do, be poisoned as has occurred in Russia, or just be 'disappeared,' never to be seen or heard of again as was the practice in some Latin-American nations. But our democratic principles allow them to exist, even as they try to undermine those same democratic principles with acts bordering on treason. But doing so also keeps them in the public spotlight, which is preferable to their hiding as an armed underground resistance tearing at the nation's roots.
But what are the standards of evidence for inciting sedition? Ugly as it may be to watch Flynn, those standards are high and the evidence will need to be rock solid in order to convict him without starting another civil war (though that might happen any way at the rate we are going).
I also don’t know whether Flynn would be tried in civil court or by a military tribunal. If a military tribunal, he was pardoned by his commander in chief, as aggravating as that really is to most of us here. Evidence that he lied and engaged in prior seditious activities may not be admissible- damnit. I wish I was a lawyer or that my JAG lawyer friend Brian was still alive so I could ask those questions but Flynn’s actions will have consequences. Just not sure I understand what we can legally do about it at this point.
Traitors like Flynn should be tried and hopefully found guilty- but not in the court of public opinion. We know he is deranged, that he outright lies in a dangerous manner and that he has the attention of the media. What can we legally do?
He was pardoned for lying to the FBI. This charge would be different - inciting an insurrection, I believe. That is, unless TFG pardoned him for anything he is accused of in the future. Even then, this incitement is new and didn't occur until after TFG was out of office.
I'm sure they can't, but there was a lot of talk at the end of TFG's term, when there was discussion of pardoning any future accusations, and that it could be done, but not publicized. I assumed at the time that the discussion had to do with transgressions during TFG's time in office, so my comment pointed out that this would be outside the time that a pardon would have relevance. There's no question that this traitor will do it again, until he is charged.
I respectfully disagree. This is how a Democracy works. It is noisy and sometimes awful and frightening when anti-Democracy people have the bully pulpit. We can always raise up our own voices in opposition to those who would destroy Democracy which includes freedom of speech.
"The First Amendment guarantees freedoms concerning religion, expression, assembly, and the right to petition. It forbids Congress from both promoting one religion over others and also restricting an individual’s religious practices. It guarantees freedom of expression by prohibiting Congress from restricting the press or the rights of individuals to speak freely. It also guarantees the right of citizens to assemble peaceably and to petition their government."
With respect, I think you're being naïve. Platitudes aren't going to cut it when a general is fomenting violence and faces zero consequences. Elite criminal immunity does not engender faith in democracy among the citizenry.
When my daughter was small if things got really quiet in the next room where she was playing I could probably count on her being up to no good. The quiet, behind the scenes machinations in the Trump Administration to overthrow the election are what terrifies me. Flynn talking crazy does not. Where is his Army? Where are the powerful Politicians supporting him on stage? I just don't see him creating a movement. Even the Proud Boys and others are too afraid to go to tomorrow's event in DC because of the arrest of insurrectionists. The wheels of Democracy grind slowly but true. You know who scares me? McConnell. His decades of quiet behind the scenes rearrangement of the make up of the Courts is profoundly impacting us at this time. And he is being pretty quiet right now.
What is he up to?
And thanks for the part about me being naive. I am in my 70's. Glad this old world has not jaded me.
Barbara, I remember on another day, when you mentioned in a reply to me about watching subscribers bending themselves around the troll's poles. That not an exact quote, but you get my drift.
My observations in the past of the person you were having this exchange with, including this time, led me to suspect, so I was sending up a flare for you to take note and decide for yourself.
Morning, all!! Morning, Dr. R!! Can't speak directly to the Flynn Flam of today's Letter.
But to revisit the Senate Judiciary's hearing on September 15 regarding the FBI's botched investigation of Larry Nassar, the convicted pedophile Olympics doctor, my eyes widened upon hearing this:
"Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas said Congress must 'demand real change, and real accountability, and we will not be satisfied by platitudes and vague promises about improved performance' from federal law enforcement." Wow, "accountability." He knows that word!
Wouldn't it be nice if he invoked it in the direction of, well, Loser 45 and his insurrection gang.
And Senator Whitehouse (D-RI) has not finished with the Kavanaugh debacle.
"Whitehouse invokes Dr Christine Blasey Ford in his questions to Wray.
'It strikes me very strongly as we sit here today, and as we heard the powerful testimony earlier this morning, that the last time a woman came forward in this committee to testify to her allegations of sexual assault in her childhood, the witness was Christine Blasey Ford,' he says. 'It appeared to me then, and it appears to me now that her testimony was swept under the rug in a confirmation stampede. It is very possible that the FBI investigation of her allegations was just as flawed, just as constrained, just as inappropriate, as the investigation in this case.'
"He notes that repeated requests for answers in the Ford case have been ignored repeatedly for two years until a letter dated yesterday ('Not coincidentally I suspect on the eve of your appearance today,' he notes) that promised the requested information would be forthcoming.
He concludes: 'Let’s just make sure there’s wasn’t also a botched handling of another allegation in this committee with regard to Dr Ford.'” Love this guy!
https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/biles-former-gymnasts-testify-on-fbis-mishandling-of-larry-nassar-case
Oh, heck, let's beat up on SCOTUS some more:
“'My goal today is to convince you that this court is not comprised of a bunch of partisan hacks,' the newest Supreme Court justice, Amy Coney Barrett, said Sunday. Good luck with that. When the court’s hard-right majority stops acting like partisan hacks, maybe we’ll believe her, writes Eugene Robinson of The Washington Post. https://wapo.st/3EsGyEs
Eugene is a class act. He didn't go into the legitimacy of her appointment.
Justice Clarence Thomas who rarely does public speaking came out of his bunker this week and lectured the audience with the same spittle as Barrett. Throwing down the gauntlet against “packing the court”.
I say let’s have another convo about Anita Hill. I doubt, though, that Thomas’s wife would allow that. If she’s not too busy arranging buses for this Saturday’s “rally” supporting the “political prisoners” of January 6th. Another bus day for her.
Uh-oh. I’m edging into snark land.
With both Barrett and Thomas speaking out, it’s clear to me that the Supreme Court knows full well that they themselves have damaged their standing. This is damage control. Come on Dems, have at the Court!
Morning, Kathy!! Even though this hearing was focused on FBI's treatment of these women in the Nassar case, I was so glad to hear Whitehouse invoke Christine Blasey Ford's treatment as well in regard to the Kavanaugh hearing. I thought of you immediately when I heard what he had to say. Sure hope something comes of it, something like justice.
Sen. Whitehouse is a gem. He’s so knowledgeable about the Court, and is so smart and articulate. I’ll have to look for that - I didn’t see it. And good morning to you, Lynell!
Here's the excerpt of Whitehouse remarks:
And Senator Whitehouse (D-RI) has not finished with the Kavanaugh debacle.
"Whitehouse invokes Dr Christine Blasey Ford in his questions to Wray.
'It strikes me very strongly as we sit here today, and as we heard the powerful testimony earlier this morning, that the last time a woman came forward in this committee to testify to her allegations of sexual assault in her childhood, the witness was Christine Blasey Ford,' he says. 'It appeared to me then, and it appears to me now that her testimony was swept under the rug in a confirmation stampede. It is very possible that the FBI investigation of her allegations was just as flawed, just as constrained, just as inappropriate, as the investigation in this case.'
"He notes that repeated requests for answers in the Ford case have been ignored repeatedly for two years until a letter dated yesterday ('Not coincidentally I suspect on the eve of your appearance today,' he notes) that promised the requested information would be forthcoming.
He concludes: 'Let’s just make sure there’s wasn’t also a botched handling of another allegation in this committee with regard to Dr Ford.'”
Oh, I did see that! Thank you for the reminder. He’s wonderful.
Morning, again, Christine!! Since when is truth to power snarking? Just sayin'.
Ha!! Slide away to Snarkland.
Darlin', I'm the mayor of "snark land" these days! Y'all wouldn't believe the stuff that goes through my head but which is NOT said out loud or printed anywhere. Safer that way. It's my way of fighting back against the insanity and I believe a little "snarkiness" is good for the soul. And when you have people who are such huge targets, as well as being complete and total idiots...well, I admit I can't resist. Christine, you GO gurl!!
You may be the mayor of Snark City, but Christine is the Queen of Snarkland.
Well, my oh my Mr. TC. Flattery just takes me to the moon and back.
😂😂😂
Are you snarking at Mr. Christian a/k/a Brad Raffensperger over Cathy Woolard, and Shotgun Kemp regarding his plan to adopt the Texas abortion law to supplement his heartbeat law? I blasted Raffensperger, but not Shotgun, yet. Be sure to tell them to have a blessed day, if you haven't already done so.
I heard this morning that MY representative, Butch Miller (a candidate for Lt. Governor, BTW) will be the one introducing an anti-abortion bill in the GA House that will be almost a carbon copy of the one in Texas. The fun never stops. Gov. Clueless day before yesterday, referring to Biden's mask/vaccine mandates, pretty much intimated that people might riot or revolt when saddled with such tyranny. Okay, OBVIOUSLY trying to play to the Trumpsters in the state--with whom he is NOT popular--ahead of his re-election efforts. However, such not-so-subtle rhetoric, implying a threat of violence, is the degree of hyper-partisanship we're at right now. Columnist Jay Bookman:
"With such words, Kemp and many of his fellow Republicans aren’t issuing warnings, they’re issuing permission slips for a repeat of the type of violence we saw on January 6. They, as leaders, are telling their followers that revolt and mutiny and insurrection are justified, when they ought to be telling them to go get a vaccination and quit their damn whining.
"Why, if government can go so far as to strong-arm our children into getting vaccinated, what else can it do? Force us to wear seatbelts? Not smoke in public places? Tell us how fast we can drive, and require us to have car insurance?"
I'll gladly tell them to have more than a f***ing "blessed day".....sorry, that slipped out.....
I know about Gov. Clueless (love it) planning to adopt the Texas abortion law to "supplement" the existing heartbeat law, but didn't know that Miller was the one who'd introduce it. These morons might want to wait to see how quickly the Texas law is eviscerated. On the other hand, as you aptly pointed out, he's pandering to the Trumpsters, who hate him and Christian Brad. Everyone should know that we already have mandatory immunizations, and they have been in place for years.
Bruce, please don't hold back on my account. I've invented some pretty raunchy words, and use them while screaming at the TV and reading the AJC (although I'm pleased with the AJC's fairness). Let's just hope that the GA Rethuglicans and those from TX have overplayed their hand and will be crushed like the bugs that they are.
"From your lips to God's ears", as they say.
Yeah, I heard about Miller this morning on "Political Rewind" on GPB, a show I really enjoy. Miller runs, or used to run, the Milton Martin Honda place here--where, sadly, I bought my car--and the Martin clan (I was in high school with Milton) here are far right-wing Evangelicals. A fun bunch. Though he pretty much agrees with T***p ideologically, Miller hasn't gotten any endorsement from him, as there's another candidate for Lt Gov T***P is supporting. That's one of the things they were discussing on the show this morning (there were 3 professors of politics and Constitutional law from Emory on), the Texas law and its potential legal and political effects in Georgia. I love that show, but if it's on while I'm driving I have to watch out for sudden onsets of road rage.
All of them deserve your snark, but it appears that their protestations that they're not "political hacks" stems from their palpable fear that the court just might be expanded.
Snark away, Christine....and good morning to you.
Go for it Christine! Jump right into snark land!
😂😂😂
🤣🤣🤣
Republicans would like nothing more than to discredit the FBI as investigations into their role in the 1/6 insurrection close in. When you have no defense, discredit the accuser. Sadly the FBI has given them ammunition.
Sexism has been with us longer than racism and like racism infects every human institution. The heartrending testimony of our Olympic superstars, reveals that even elite women aren’t safe. It reveals that even the FBI, one of our most elite law enforcement institutions, doesn’t respect women enough to take their abuse seriously.
Sexism is so deeply woven into the human fabric that we simply don’t see it. It takes a situation too flagrant and outrageous to be ignored to force us to actually see what’s right in front of us.
We elect and promote serial abusers. Donald Trump, Brett Kavanaugh and Clarence Thomas are not outliers; they are more the norm than we want to believe.
Interesting commentary regarding racism/sexism. I harken back to the 2008 Democratic Primary, where our choices were, essentially, a Black man and a woman.
It was during that time that I had some interesting conversations with my Republiqan friends about why they'd never vote for either one of them (at that heady time, you could actually have almost a reasonable conversation with them, and not get too much spew from Faux talking points, but I digress). I commented to one of these guys that both Clinton and Obama received their right to vote via amendment to the constitution and asked if that might have anything at all to do with his reticence about either one of them. Oh. My. The bleating.
Excellent point, sharp enough to spear him with right through the beer gut.
You make a disturbing point, Diane, in regard to discrediting the accuser. As well, sexism is so "deeply woven into the human fabric" that many women even don't see it as something that needs unraveling.
It’s heartbreaking. This is the 21st Century and yet women are still pushed aside, abused and trodden on!
Lynell, YOU are a class act. And so are Whitehouse, Robinson, and a whole bunch of people up there. It's not over yet....we need to honor them by working against the bad people in our states, like you are. There's more than enough bad people to go around!
Well, you know, Gus, I just love this classy comment of yours!😊
Gus knows that "flattery will get you *everywhere*!"
Yes, I do. But I really do mean it! This time.
I remember you saying that in the past, TC. I didn't want to commandeer it, a/k/a, steal it out from under you!
It's "open source." :-)
Great, thanks, TC. You're da best. BTW, You put out some "Fine Mess," though I wish it was fiction.
“Confirmation stampede” could also apply to Coney Barrett. Maybe more so.
Ain't that the truth, Marcy.
and the FBI fired an agent for failing to properly investigate the allegations against Nassar:
https://twitter.com/NBCNews/status/1438454129614069763?s=20
Well, here's what Blumenthal had to say about that! (Below is taken from the Guardian):
Connecticut senator Richard Blumenthal, a former prosecutor, is pressing Wray on why they have not encouraged a criminal prosecution of Abbott or Langeman.
“I hope you won’t misinterpret any of my questions indicating disrespect for the FBI or for your position in the FBI and your background as a law enforcer, as a professional career prosecutor,” Blumenthal says. “You say you’ve run out of adjectives, but you haven’t run out of that actions. The gymnasts who testified earlier, really, with all due respect to all of us on this committee, they don’t want more adjectives. They want actions. And part of that action is discipline and deterrence. And you and I both know, cause we both prosecute, we look at action by prosecutors as deterrence is changing culture, whether it’s in corporations or other institutions like the FBI.”
Blumenthal confirms with Wray that Langeman (the FBI agent who interviewed Maroney in 2015 and didn’t follow up) was fired “early last week”, then asks why Langeman wasn’t fired any earlier.
Wray’s response: “We waited until we had the inspector general’s report, so we had all the facts, so we understood the totality as independently investigated of his conduct. And then we followed our disciplinary process because one of the things that is in keeping with my insistence that everybody in the FBI do things in the right way, includes making sure that we follow our disciplinary process in the right way. And we did that and he’s been fired.”
Blumenthal then makes a shrewd implication: “Someone perhaps more cynical than I would have perhaps concluded that it was the hearing here staring the FBI in the face that prompted that action, but I’m not going to go there because I think what’s more important than the firing is, in fact, the criminal prosecution. And here, I think there are really fundamental issues of fairness and law enforcement.”
Now Blumenthal arrives at the main point: Why haven’t the now-former FBI agents faced criminal prosecution?
He says: “For someone who has been a federal prosecutor to put into a 302, a false statement, by a potential witness is so blood-curdling that I can well understand your criminal referral. And in fact, as you say, the false statement inserted by that FBI agent could have been used in a false defense by Larry Nassar.”
Blumenthal continues to Horowitz: “And in addition, separately, Jay Abbott lied to you. People get prosecuted for making false statements when they apply to a federally insured bank for a mortgage, and here is a federal agent, the former special agent in charge of the Indianapolis office, making a material, false statement to you in your investigation.
“Now, Director Wray, put aside adjectives. If I were in your shoes, I would be walking across the street to the attorney general of the United States, and I would be saying, ‘You need to prosecute.’ Why aren’t you doing that?”
“I don’t want to get into my discussions with the attorney general,” Wray responds. “I have a lot of respect for him and for the privacy of our conversations. I will say that in this particular instance, the case agents responsible for the investigation, as is appropriate were the inspector general’s offices’ agents.”
Blumenthal doesn’t accept Wray’s passing of the buck, saying: “I’m well aware, but you’re respectful of your role. The FBI doesn’t make decisions about prosecution, you investigate, and then you refer cases. But we both know it very often, even at the lowly level of the US attorney – I’m being somewhat facetious because I was a US attorney – FBI agents compounding on my door and say, we’ve got to go after this guy. He’s dirty. He’s a bad guy.”
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2021/sep/15/simone-biles-and-aly-raisman-testify-before-senate-on-nassar-investigation-live-updates?page=with:block-614229b18f08001fa2d1aaa9
This Guardian link should have been posted instead of the Fox2detroit link I submitted by mistake.
Lynell. Morning friend. Stellar posting. Had not heard the complete court press on Wray. Thank you. The women, these gymnasts who most people still think of as little girls…their voices at this moment in time representative of the deluge of woman’s voice that comes with a force now. What happened in Texas law regarding complete trashing and reckless regard of women’s choice and voice will not sit with any of us. Women are speaking up everywhere.
October 2nd. Women’s March across America. Our voice will be heard.
Morning, Christine!! October 2nd will be epic.
The numbers of locations for the marches has expanded greatly over the past couple weeks. Thank heavens there's now one in my town. When I first started a couple weeks ago, looking there were practically none in New England.
Sharon Dequaine: THANKS for posting about the March. That made me recheck the March Website and found and immediately signed up!
And yet, as I posted just a bit earlier, I have yet to find one other friend to go to DC to march with me on 10/2. Most have marched in the past but are concerned about Covid in the crowd. 😞
Like a dog with a bone, Blumenthal wouldn't let go. Good dog!
Yes, indeed, Nancy, he was impressive...morning!!
I can't figure out why any FBI field agent, let alone an agent acting for the inspector general's office would unilaterally decide to enter a false statement by a potential and viable witness/victim. Sexism is not a reason that rings true to me. What about the response of the inspector general's office? This report must have mentioned that the parties involved were the US Women's Gymnastic team, their gymnasts and primary trainer - a high-profile and potentially horrible crime. How could they accept that without further investigation? Don't know about you, but I would have picked up the phone and made calls to the team, and asked around. Hey, what this I hear about your trainer sexually abusing one of your gymnasts?
Sorry, I know I'm cynical when it comes to government, but this doesn't pass the smell test. And, viewed in the context that the FBI were shackled in the investigation of Kavanaugh for political reasons, I don't understand how or why the FBI thinks they can pass the buck or minimize the crime. Apologies aren't going to cut it!
Blatant and horrendous sexual abuse!! No way this has a chance or should have a chance to be swept under the table. The politicians that screw this up will or should be unelectable going forward. And, they better not give a whiff of willingness to move on without profound consequences to all those involved. Relative to the crime, firing is a slap on the wrist.
Don, we should all keep in mind the vast amount of money surrounding the Olympics, as well as, I'm sure, political influence with regard to which country or city gets future opportunities to host the games. That seems to me to be a possible explanation - a few co-opted agents who know that a huge scandal involving abuse of the most beloved athletes could very well bring down a cash cow.
Agree!! This is why I mentioned Kavanaugh. Two agents going rogue to protect future opportunities to host the games is less likely than sexism. My point is that this goes far up the food chain and probably to some greedy and mendacious politicians - hopefully, no Democrats are involved.
You're correct. There's a lot of rot, and, certainly in the case of Kavanaugh, it is obviously connected to politicians. However, although sexism is rampant, I still believe that a politician whispering in the agents' ears about loss of capital would be more of a hook, and the implication would be that a politician would have their backs. Their sexism would be secondary.
The Olympics are so completely, totally, and irredeemably corrupt. The modern version needs to be DESTROYED. Replace it with a show in the country of origin, with the rest of the world contributing financial support.
That was the sentiment when the games were held in Atlanta. Of course, we were proud, and it was fun. We were criticized for having vendors in tents, but the upside of that was that we didn't have crippling debt. Still, the IOC (and no doubt many of the local promoters) got no points for admirable principles.
Bring down the cash cow…AS IT SHOULD. If nothing else, it should be held accountable and restructured with protection of the participants at the top of the structure.
There's a reason why some of us use the words "Fools & Buffoons, Inc." to describe that organization. They may not be as bad as they were in the days of J. Edgar Fruitfly, but they're still not an organization to take at face value. I can remember the personal hounding I got from these "defenders of truth, justice, and the American way" for my crimes of believing in the 1st Amendment during the years 1965-72.
“J. Edgar Fruitfly”???
Hahahahahahaha. Damn gnat of a man.
While they're removing Confederate monuments, his name should be removed from FBI headquarters. Monster.
I had a brief friendship with a retired FBI agent who turned out to be a blatant racist and fervent Trump supporter. From our discussions, many of his FBI coworkers were cut from the same cloth. The FBI is far more political than we want to believe.
I am not in the slightest bit surprised that a male investigator misstated a woman's (girl's) testimony. Men will go to far lengths to protect men, no matter what the crime against women. I have seen this in the court system. Women's allegations of abuse are disregarded, pushed under the rug, misstated, until one of them dies. And then men notice for a little bit, then quickly revert to their old policies of denigrating women.
I've seen that sort of behavior also. Many (not all) men are dismissive of women, characterizing them as overly emotional, not trustworthy, unintelligent, etc. You have only to read the Biblical story of Adam and Eve to realize that it's baked into our culture - the temptress, among other things. I can imagine a macho agent picturing scenario where a nerdy doctor is led astray by a young woman, and so it really wasn't his fault, or she's making it all up. . . .
The irony is, in my experience, men are more emotional and irrational than women. They are more prone to violent outbursts that result in crime, or prone to defining their masculinity by their vehicles or some other thing . . .
My thought of the macho agent was that he wished he was in Nassar's shoes, possibly envied him, so couldn't prosecute him. I got that from the look in his eyes as he spoke.
Thanks for posting this. I cannot help but think a certain representative from Ohio might be watching this with a great deal of.... interest.
Agree Ally.
Hmm, very interesting🤔
He's my guy! (CT!)
Pardon my manners. I forgot to say, "Morning, Ellie!!"
If Coney Barrett weren't a hack, she would have rejected being shown off by 45 at a super spreader event, and really, she would have rejected being appointed in the midst of an election. She is the epitome of a partisan hack.
And, yes, Eugene Robinson is definitely a class act.
Twitter was full of what you say about her. I agree 100%
Flynn Flam!!! I’m last to the party two days in a row now. 🙃
🤣
Whitehouse in the White House? I truly ❤️ Whitehouse.
I have an actual older man crush on him. 💙
Yeah, Marcy, he's real pretty...and smart, too😉
That'd be a yep from me, GMB!
I agree. Jamie Raskin showed himself to be incredibly able as Impeachment Manager for the second impeachment. I think he'd be a very capable president.
'Morning, Lynell. Well said!
Morning, Sally!!
Morning Lynell. I'm travelling today so will get back to the issues later.
Morning, Stuart!! We'll be here. Safe travels!
Notice that those whose charges of sexual abuse/attempted or actual rape were essentially ignored are all female. And the Fibbies, all male. Hmmmm....
Yes, I wondered why they didn’t task a female FBI agent to do these interviews. We do HAVE female agents, don’t we??? Perhaps because the higher ups realized a woman would get the job done!
Morning, Lynell! Thanks for this post, and the links in it and following it.
Ditto, ditto.
Morning, Ally!!
I try to keep up with all of you but it ain’t ez!
From what I can tell, you're doing mighty fine, Sharon. Not sure what time zone you're in, so I'll say...Afternoon!!
Eastern time zone…VA also. Just down the coast on Gwynn’s Island! Good Night Lynell…!
Gwynn's Island looks beautiful! I'm in western Loudoun County, near the Potomac River across from Maryland to the north, and also close to the West Virginia border to the west.
At what point are attempts to overthrow the government of the United States Government treason?
From my middle school history, maybe grade school, we learned about Benedict Arnold. Every traitor tried and punished have aid and comfort to our enemies.
After the Civil War, instead of trying and punishing Confederate leaders and their military leaders, the US welcomed them back. Over time, some of the more openly treasonous Confederates regained offices in the US government that enabled them to establish Jim Crow policies and politics that endangered the US.
If military dictatorships and authoritarianism is contrary to our democracy and Constitution, then why don't we have more clear and operable laws to protect us?
I equate traitors to cancer. If you don't eradicate the cancer, it can, and sometimes will come back to kill the host. I'm all for individual human rights, but the lessons of history are clear that when the peril is the future of mankind, the human rights of the many should always outweigh those of the few. If you fail to defend basic human rights against those who seek to strip them from you, one day there will be nothing left to defend. Every war that has ever been fought had at its core the defense of basic human rights against those who seek to overpower, constrain, and control for their sole benefit. Unfortunately, it is far from a given that good will prevail over evil.
This is a form of cancer on the body politic. It could destroy everything good about the U.S.A. Maybe we collectively deserve that for allowing these malignant simpletons a platform from which top spew their toxic trash.
If we could shut down the FOX (NOT) NEWS it would be an excellent start!
That would be a severe punishment simply for not knowing how bad things would become. Nobody knows the future. We just do our best every day. Sometimes looking back we think we should have done differently. Then we try to do better.
Well, Becky, I was one of the people observing the "antics of the "pussygrabber" in 2016 and I stated that he represents fascism. That his rallies and propaganda are baby Hitler rallies. That his constant repetition of lies are brainwashing techniques and the media thrived on him, never thinking he would be so dangerous. Is it only because I have studied fascism and cults that it was so easy to see through his fakeness and narcissism. And perhaps being in the field of psychology I study people deeply and he was an easy study, because there is no depth. He is just a seething, revengeful empty shell of a corporate nothingness. And the republicans planted him to carry out their much bigger plans. I find it almost impossible that people did not see through this con man, unless they were brainwashed.
I wrote a paper about Donald Trump quite awhile ago and from his incredible business failures, to his malignant narcissism, I concluded that the only thing he was successful in was being a conman. He had not a drop of shame and will do and say ANYTHING if it means money in his pocket. I remember in the 80’s , he was pretty broke, but his father paid him a million a year to “look rich.” Looks, and no substance. People assumed he was wealthy and successful simply because he “looked the part.” People didn’t ask for details, they thought he was a God of sorts. Sickening. He sells his name to hotels and makes money - he doesn’t have anything else because every business he has opened went bankrupt, and the banks never got their money. He always used other people’s money because he probably figured if he loses, no skin off his teeth! He blamed a dead “partner” for his own mishandling of his casino. Who loses money with a casino? He really is a nobody, no talent, no interests, no hobbies, hates reading, has no interest in history, art or science and definitely lacks much knowledge of the sacredness of our democracy. He doesn’t understand government and couldn’t care less. How he was able to run for president with his ties to the Russian mafia and other criminals smacked of pay-offs and lies from the get go. We now know his campaign team were filled with criminals and conmen, just like him!
My paper became part of my professor’s class - “The dangers of a malignant narcissist.” I think Mary Trump would appreciate it!
Donald Trump is a moron in addition to being a malignant narcissist. You are absolutely correct that the only thing he has done successfully is con people. Unfortunately, evangelicals are the most susceptible group in the United States when it comes to being conned. They already committed to one giant con so they fall for others too because the cognitive dissonance is so strong.
We must change our political system to include mental health criteria for politicians.
I would like to read it. Can you post it here?
Hey wait . He likes playing with his little white balls ! Tag Ur it ! LOL ! I could not resist.
Tina, one word was missing from your excellent description of thechump, perhaps intentionally:
LOSER
It is his own word, used to describe everyone else. And I would submit that he is a loser conman as well. The T University, the T. Foundation, the over 60 attempted lawsuits to overturn the election, etc. etc.
I would love to read your paper as well! Is it posted anywhere?
Thanks.
The best label for him is malignant narcissist. People see what they want to see, and it has always been so. What is different now is the reach and impact of the media, and platforms like Facebook that give poorly educated people the idea that they can "do the research" and know more than those who have spent their entire lifetimes developing science based on data-driven, evidence-based actual research rather than one long night on Google.
Absolutely agree with your comment! Only one thing to add, however....I'm not sure that those "armchair researchers" spend one long night on Google. It's doubtful that they possess the attention span needed to do so.
Honestly, I thought he was running to help Hillary win.He had made himself the brunt of many jokes for yrs.Would have never dreamed or imagined we are where we are at due to him. I think there is someone(s) badder behind all this ? I think the price was right.I do believe he was in over his head Debt wise. But this, I didn’t see coming.
I agree, Marcia. There's something "badder" behind him. And it's something the R senators & representatives are going along with because they have their own R agenda which can best be gained by using Trump to get votes. Do you think they are the "badder" behind him and they are just using him to further their own agenda?
Many of us thought the same but underestimated the amount of trouble he would cause. And there were some, like my best friend, who voted for him in 2016 (but not in 2020) because she had always voted Republican and thought the Republicans would rein him in.
Penelope, Your comment brings to mind a marvelous book written in 1940. It is "The True Believer", by Eric Hoffer. It brings to light the formation of a cult and the patten that is visible in all cults. When reading this book, it is not possible to see the formation of the Maga cult and their adherence to trump; The will follow him to the death by covid. They drank the same Koolaid as the Jonestown followers.
Thank you for the book recommendation! And, I couldn’t agree more. Your thoughts are educated and refined. Mine are pedestrian: How Hitler? gets asked. The answer? How Trump. Zero difference. In fact APATHY AND INDIFFERENCE are the indicators of a successful cultic influx.
Exactly! Thanks, Penelope. I'm not in the field of psychology but I could also see all those signs although at the time I didn't label them fascist. One other salient characteristic was his lack of sincerity. His words of "patriotism" ring so hollow, even his body language is of one who has no real passion for what he is doing. He seems to be acting a part somebody else chose for him. Do you see that, too?
I can't wipe the vision from my brain of iDJT hugging the American Flag with that smirk on his face! Ugh!
As I read this, I remembered a clip of trump fondling the flag and mouthing the words”my baby”. You can’t make this stuff up.
Yes, the Yeti does not really believe in anything but what he sees in the mirror and money. He spouts things and later spouts something totally the opposite. He is like a member of our family in the UK that my husband described as "A Person who always has the impression of whomever sat upon them last." In the Yeti's case, that last person would be who made the art of the deal with him.
But do not cross him, because the revenge of a narcissist is pretty evil. Richard Branson (Virgin Air ) said the Yeti called him to have a meeting many years ago. A very puzzled Branson described a man who wailed the entire time about all the vengeance he was going to inflict on others. Branson, tired of being his audience, finally excused himself and left. He never knew why the Yeti called to meet with him. I will wager it was one thing: Branson = fame and wealth. It is that deep. It is also nice to see a normal, intelligent human not persuaded, mesmerized, or taken in by a shallow, self-intoxicated, screaming me-me. (Sorry, I had to delete and edit this as spellcheck went awry).
I completely agree.
If only that were a universal truth! I'm talking to the Mitch McConnells, Jim Jordans and all those other power hungry evil types wearing a Republican label. The party of evil.
They do seem so evil, and I have trouble understanding that.
To become evil all you have to do is throw away principles, abandon reality, spit on human equity, worship a cult of personality, and cannibalize your own values while claiming the whole time that is the opposite of what is happening.
Really? What basic human rights were being defended in, say, World War I, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Kuwait, and probably many more? Most wars are really about resources, power, territory, and money.
"Every war that has ever been fought had at its core the defense of basic human rights against those who seek to overpower, constrain, and control for their sole benefit. " I believe wars are principally instigated over ideology - be that religion or nationalism or some other -ism. I look for the details of a "just war" but they are hard to find.
To be fair, Benedict Arnold was not tried for his treason. I believe that the name of Donald Trump, like that of Arnold, will become synonymous with treason and betrayal. That is, if we ever do find out just how great his dereliction of duty was.
The man BETRAYS EVERYONE.
Wives, mistresses, brothers, cousins, underage girls, partners, banks, workers, his execs...
...Women, men...
It's due to his inability to get outside his own head and genuinely relate to others. His malignant narcissism and psychopathic tendencies make it impossible. Add his extreme paranoia to the mix, and you have a real nutcase.
And most of all, we the citizens of these United States.
We must demonstrate. Government is never your friend.
It doesn't "look out for you" unless pushed to do so.
Government is not GOVERNMENT. It is a collection of people we elect. It's job is to provide for the common good and all that implies. It is dependent on the quality of people we elect at the local, state and national level. And yes, we sometime need to raise our voices to provide "direction." But government is neither good nor bad. It is a reflection of the people who elected it.
Thank you janjamm. I’ve pushed back on this attitude before. “Our” government is what we make it. Until we stop blaming it’s imperfections on others and accept responsibility for what we make of it the greedy bturds will exact their will on us
Have you read Professor Richardson's Letters from an American?
I agree we must demonstrate and yet I’m very frustrated as I cannot find one friend to march with me in DC on 10/2 for the Women’s March. I understand their hesitancy over Covid concerns but still … not ONE??
Some of us are worried about Covid and some are worried about violence from anti-democratists. I decided to stay in my own state and march at our Capital which is only 2 hrs away as opposed to 9 hrs. to DC.
I've got a sprained foot, wearing a pretty clunky boot. But maybe I can do something else to help? Please let me know!
The opposition has done most of the demonstrations as of late.
I don't know where I've been, but this is the first I've heard of it!?
I think the name Donald Trump will end up simply fading from people's awareness and memory, which, of course is the worst possible fate for a narcissist - to be forgotten.
Exactly! Is Flynn going to be subpoenaed by the Select Committee? Someone needs to investigate his connection to Putin and expose it to the light of day. From where I sit, the man is literally on a Russian payroll.
This is such a good and IMO fair question, David
Justice for J6! Lock them up and throw away the keys. That includes the big orange pumpkin who was going to lead the march. That’s the justice we need ASAP.
It’s amazing yet not surprising how poorly American history is taught. VP Andrew Johnson was a Tennessee Democrat who assumed the Presidency after Lincoln’s assassination. In short he was highly sympathetic to the institution of slavery. Johnson believed, as did many Southern Democrats, that the Constitution protected private property, including slaves, and thus prohibited the federal and state governments from abolishing slavery.
You can believe that a lot of Union sympathizers were not in the least bit of a hurry to welcome a viper’s pit of slave loving seditionist back to finish the job they started.
One reason Reconstruction failed was largely to the efforts of Johnson and his slave symp buddies.
Hope this helps.
This is nicely laid out on Dr. Richardson's book "How the South Won the War".
Excellent questions.
Is it the lack of laws or the will to enforce?
The real problem is the 74 million voters who prefer white autocracy to a democracy with fair treatment for Americans with non-European ancestors.
😡
I’m never sure how to interpret responses like this, do you intend to express anger about my comment or about the situation it descrbes? Just curious.
Sorry Rex. No I wasn’t intending to express anger toward your comment. My anger is toward the 74 million voters you referred to. My bad for using a meme!
I agree. Why are none of these traitors being held accountable?
Flynn is still subject to the UMCJ and at the very least his military pension should be pulled for his treasonous remarks. His sympathy toward Russia is right out in the open. This is textbook treason.
When does the first amendment go too far? Freedom of speech to insight a government coup? Where are the people hired and elected to protect the constitution? I just can't believe what's going on in our country. I'm so worried about the future of the United States for my grandchildren, nieces and nephews. The 2022 and 2024 elections are going to tell us a lot about how things are going to go forward. We have to get a handle on these coup inspired trump loyalists. They need to pay for their treasonous activities and they need to pay soon!
I don't think we need to wait until 2022 or 2024 to find out how things are going to go. It is completely obvious, today. Every day that passes that any and all of these people aren't punished or don't pay for their treasonous actions, is a day lost in the fight for democracy and preserving the common good.
This is my fear also. No consequences means it becomes matter of fact and this is how it goes.
This is how the Roman Republic fell.
(P.S. I am almost halfway through 'Talk to Me'! You are fabulous!)
Flattery will always get you *everywhere* Cynthia. :-)
Right on point! Flynn is retired. So he falls under jurisdiction of the UCMJ, Article 2. If he is making contemptuous speech he can be prosecuted under Article 88. He will defend under 1st Amendment right to free speech. The decision for the convening authority is whether his speech crosses the line. If so, he could be court martialed and perhaps sent to prison. If convicted, perhaps the penalty includes loss of pension. I am not a military lawyer but was married to one (🤣) for 25 years and learned a bit about the UMCJ. Take my comments for what they are worth. Would love to hear direct from the community of military lawyers. My comments focus on what's included in HCR's letter today and doesn't go down the path of Flynn's insurrection activities! I'm out of my baliwick here (which is health care law).
Thanks for this information, Kelly. Hopefully we can get more info from another expert in JAG law. Where is Colonel Harmon Rabb when you need him? (for you old JAG fans).
Call Lindsay Graham. He’s a real JAG-off.
I actually Lauighed Out Loud at that.
After I read KellyS' comment, I thought of JAG, too. I think Sarah MacKenzie could be a better choice.
BTW: It's UCMJ--Uniform Code of Military Justice.
The people ELECTED aren’t even protecting our constitution! How can they remain in office when they aren’t doing their PRIMARY job of protecting the Constitution?!?!
One of the many problems of democracy.
Exactly.
I absolutely agree!
AMEN!!
When something said results in immediate harm. I know what you’re gonna say next.
I DO!!!!😡😡😡😡😡😡
I do
UMCJ. The Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) is essentially a complete set of criminal laws. It includes many crimes punished under civilian law (e.g., murder, rape, drug use, larceny, drunk driving, etc.), but it also punishes other conduct that affects good order and discipline in the military.
Thank you Bonnie.
Uniform or United Military Code of Justice? Is that right, Christopher? So even if retired, military people always will answer to military court or rules? Who makes up the military courts? And all these literally stupid people calling for Gen Milley to resign rather than receive a medal, are those resignations decided by military courts? Obv I need to brush up on military justice.
Can it be that the military courts have been infiltrated too?
As with all prosecutorial decisions, from deciding to fine a shoplifter to deciding to indict and try a traitor, the question of "can we make it stick?" is always determinitive in the decision. The higher up you go with a crime, the higher the bar for that answer. I can say that I have a good friend who is in a position to know about what is being thought on the topic inside the military, and he tells me that Flynn has been a "hot topic" for being called back to active service to face a court-martial for what he does. The problem with doing so, as it is with all the other traitors, is that right now half the country would see the act as illegitimate - a "political hit" - which makes it a super-high bar.
TC, honestly. You know the scariest sh*t. Your connections are amaze.
We can’t rule out anything but aren’t they looking at trying to eliminate these people from the military?
Oh.
The convening authority (judge) chooses the members (jury) that will hear the case against the accused. The military has historically skewed Republican although that appears to be changing among younger service members and women of all ranks. "Infiltrated" is not the description I'd use but, IMHO, there would be a thumb on the scale in favor of Flynn since the members (jury) must be higher in rank than he. Not many of those guys, likely mostly white, around.
Actually, Flynn is highly disliked by many of "those guys." They're the ones who got him fired when he started going crazy.
Uniform Code of Military Justice, ftr.
Wiki is not the best source but this provides an overview.
The following categories of service members are subject to the UCMJ as indicated:
Retired members of the Regular Component who are entitled to retirement pay, per Article 2(a)(4) of UCMJ, regardless of the authority under which retired from active service and transferred to the Retired List of their respective Service's Regular Component,
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniform_Code_of_Military_Justice
UCMJ, Article 88 info:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contempt_toward_officials
Article 88 Contempuous Statements
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contempt_toward_officials
While it has been over 100 years since a Retired Officer was charged with contemptuous statements, how long in history since the country has seen the likes of Flynn?!
The charges are brought forward by an officer called a "convening authority", and the convening authority also personally selects each of the members (jurors) who will try the accused.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_military_jury
I believe that his brother will eventually be revealed as impeding the call for military to respond to the January 6th insurrection. I'd like to see both of them, plus TFG arrested.
Praying this happens.
Let's not get the cart before the horse. First they have to be indicted.
Yes! I didn't realize he was still receiving his pension!
😡😡😡
Because he was pardoned,
But if he is now encouraging overturning the government, I believe that would be a totally different kettle of fish. He was pardoned for lying to the FBI in the Russia scandal.
🤬
?
It seems he could be tried for sedition, as encouraging overthrowing the government.
One would think, but if that's true it would have happened by now.
Looking at the 2016 pay scale, an 0-9, would be receiving at least US$133,000/p.a.
https://ec.militarytimes.com/static/pdfs/Pay-Center-2016-Retirement-Pay.pdf
Well, that would smart!
It's amazing how you get some bit of good news, like the win in California, and then you get a report on the absolute insanity of Flynn - that he has any role at all in American politics, let alone enough influence to be courted for an endorsement, is truly mind-boggling.
I was talking with a friend yesterday and said I hoped what we were witnessing was a period like that between Pearl Harbor and Midway - black news, deep despair, hanging on by fingernails, and then a turnaround that literally changed everything. I noted that sales of my book that deals with this have remained really high and he opined that people might be taking inspiration. I only hope so.
Reading today of the way things are flailing in DC - one wonders how they can get through all that, especially with people allegedly on our side like Manchin and Sinema, and the three Pharma stooges in the House. And if it all doesn't go right, it will be a disaster in 2022, which will lead to the unthinkable in 2024. I ended up going back to my book and reading the part about my old friend Dick Best, and remembering him telling me that all they could do was not think further than the next step, because everything was so dark. That's what I try to do, and this newsletter is a big help on that.
Taking comfort from your comment. I tell myself: Just keep putting one foot in front of the other. Keep doing something every day to contribute to standing up against these bullies and criminals. Put good energy out into the world. Resist. Don’t cave. Don’t say “whatever”. Maybe together we can turn the tide. From my time in South Africa, I offer this quote. “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all the darkness.” (Desmond Tutu) ❤️🤍💙
We all need to consider that there is a tremendous amount going on behind the scenes that could make all the difference - SDNY, the Select Commission, even the rape charge against TFG, and more, and it could totally change the landscape. Add to that two always-silent SCOTUS justices trying to convince the world that they're never partisan, and you have to wonder whether they're seeing attitudes changing in the country.
They spew the darkness and hopefully we spark the blue flame that burns them out. I’m certain we have more than one “dark” blue politician in the barrel but we have so many more fighting for the everyday citizen and democracy. I want to believe the pendulum is swinging toward the light. The majority is fired up about TX and also about the GA and FL anti-voting laws. If the Freedom to Vote act passes I’ll feel an extremely satisfying exhale. If it doesn’t pass, I feel the pendulum will simply break and God help us all.
I share your cautious optimism. I fired off a nasty email to Brad Raffensperger yesterday, as he's threatening to remove the entire Fulton County (Atlanta) Election Board because Cathy Woolard has been named its Chairperson. She's highly qualified, is a past Chair of the Fulton County Commission, ran for mayor in 2017, and - this is the sticking point - she has worked with Stacy Abrams on FairFight Georgia. That's Raffensperger's "reason" for claiming that Woolard is "blatantly a political appointment," and can't be counted on to be unbiased when supervising elections. Imagine that - a Democratic career office holder being called biased by a REPUBLICAN. Really? After what we've witnessed these last five years, and now Mr. The Elections Were Fair And There Was No Fraud and his boss, Shotgun Kemp have enacted a vote nullification law, aimed at removing the Fulton County Election Board and replacing it with Republican legislators who can toss votes and send their own hand-picked electors to the Electoral College.
That is such a good mantra for these hard days, Deborah!! Thanks. And deep breathing to balance the heart and brain after reading dark news. Keeps the blood pressure down while we continue the battle.
“I've got to keep breathing because tomorrow the sun will rise. Who knows what the tide could bring?” - #castaway As said by Tom Hanks’ character (somewhat less cerebral than Desmond Tutu but no less profound!) in the film when reality did seem hopeless. What trumpsters have and continue to say and do is an ongoing dumpster fire and those who have the power to put them before the judicial system need to step up now before it is too late (which it well might be).
Thank you for that quote. ❤️
💙
TC, that was so much more polite than what I am feeling about Flynn and prosecuting his behind, immediately. Schist.
See, TCinLA can be a "nice guy." :-)
You sure can! But sometimes I need you, TC, as my alter ego, to just pounce, without regard for the guardrails or PC-nes,s on the vampires against Truth and Justice. You sort of shocked me this morning..."I can't get no relief" today!
What is to be done?
The will of the majority is severely subverted; power and representation is being diverted into the hands of a clique minority of fear filled, immoral, antidemocratic, lying, sociopathic divorcées from reality. They are fuelled by unjustifiable hatred, and imagined attacks on their freedom. They are dissidents with no enemy.... so they invent enemies. POC, LGBTQI, lefties and liberals, feminists, pro- choice people, health care for all, the person next door who isn’t flying a Trump flag. You cannot fight this level of ignorance, self-deception and manufactured hatred with compassion, logic and evidence.
What is to be done?
They see themselves as patriots, as defenders of the constitution, as soldiers of democracy, and are fuelled by the ambition of weak, cowardly, greedy politicians.
They don’t see themselves as the racist, bigoted, hate riddled, ugly , entitled folk that others see. Nor as the destroyers of democracy, the shredders of the constitution, lambs being led to slaughter by their GOP shepherds. They don’t see that they are the greatest threat to the American experiment than any external force could ever be.
How do you deal with that?
How does the majority take back the power of the voting booth?
I see this as the central dilemma for the Biden government. Because if they don’t seize the reins in this administration....it will be all over. Bye bye the American dream.
There is no room for politeness. For bipartisanship. For compromise. The Democrats have to wrest back the rule of law, parliamentary process. They have to slam the gate on the McConnells and the Taylor-Greens and all the other lying cheating bastards who are running roughshod over majority rule democracy
To add to your list of their contrived enemies: science, vaccines, and masks.
Yes...! The list is long
The Republican Party; a domestic terrorist organization. Good choice of words.
“Kurt Bardella, a Democratic congressional campaign committee adviser, said: “After what we saw in this country on January 6, ‘civil disobedience’ is code word for violence and acts of terror when it comes to the Republican party. So many in this party are trying to whitewash the events of January 6, have referred to those behind it as ‘patriots’ and have gone so far as to suggest that those who have been incarcerated for their crimes should be released.
“The only conclusion that one can draw from their ongoing rallying cries for what they call ‘civil disobedience’ is that it is a call for more violence, more mayhem, more destruction, and solidifies the reality that the Republican party is a domestic terrorist organisation.”
Absolutely. We need to show Constitutional and Federal muscle, immediately. Now. This is so frustrating to watch unfold. Where the hell is Batman and Batwoman? Gotham is really in trouble. I am uneasy about Sept. 18.
I think tomorrow will be a complete nothing burger. This whole grievance thing is losing steam quickly.
Well, I never dreamt all the atrocities that have happened over the past five years would happen. So, I tend to be on the side of Great Caution and hope we are prepared.
As long as General Milley is at the helm of the Joint Chiefs of Staff I can sleep at night.
I agree with both of you. A nothingbuger, but as they say "even clowns with flamethrowers still have flamethrowers."
Exactly! Watch your back.
Oh yes… there is that! 😳
And that is the main message that will ring true from President Biden, our current Commander-in-Chief. Whether the protest is a banger or a bust.
We ARE prepared. And here’s a Big Truth. Trump lost. So did Weasel Flynn.
Last I saw on Twitter: "Trump Won...Second Place"😁
Yes THE BIG TRUTH…BIDEN WON !
I'll go ask my Proud Boy neighbor if he has any travel plans this weekend. I noticed, since it has gotten a little nippy up here in northern Michigan, that he has resorted to wearing clothes again.
Yes, I have been watching my neighbor across the road more closely the past few days. He and his family supported the proud boys' parade...He is in the VT National Guard. We have reasons to be cautious who are infiltrated in our police, national guard and military and of course, government.
Scary stuff.
Oh my eyes!
NOT a pretty site.
That’s why all the right wing nut cases are saying it’s a government “frame-up” and NOT to attend. Me thinks they couldn’t get enough of a following.
I certainly hope it will be.
Truer words never spoken!
And their tactic is to be loud and aggressive, even violent, in voicing their so called patriotism.
When I see a clip of them I marvel at the level of aggression. Can you imagine the fear they must have, to generate so much?
It's as though they live in an entirely different world. I cannot imagine.
Yes, I have been in dialogue with a commenter on Fox angertainment. I finally asked, why is it that genuine discourse on the problems is so impossible here? Why are republicans so filled with anger and hatred and just spew that in this echo chamber over and over again and then attack someone who comes to ask questions, and makes huge assumptions about them--like saying I am not educated. It appears none of you want to really THINK about policy or solutions...you just want to spew venom on anyone who tries to have a convo. I got called being "rude"--and that was incredibly polite. Dealing with brainwashed, reptilian brains appears pointless. They want to kill Milley and cannot understand that Milley was trying to save our country when the repubs refused to impeach. That our system of checks and balances have been completely abandoned by republicans. Win at all costs. This is the the reptilian underbelly of America. It is not pretty at all. Consequences cannot be be meted out quickly enough for republican terrorists against America.
The method and madness behind the Republican hate machine is insidious - leadership has poured unlimited amounts of anger and fear into their dogma because they know those elements work to keep people stirred up and angry. Penelope, don't try to have a conversation with them because you can't, they are living in an eternal spin cycle of circular reasoning, where the premise and conclusion both lack proof. They can't argue with you or supply you with answers when you ask questions because their argument boils down to: Just Because. Just Because you're poor you're lazy. Just Because you're brown you're illegal. Just Because you're Black you're a criminal. And on and on and on.
Last week my mother in law forwarded an e mail with a photo of "members of Congress" not standing for the Pledge. The accompanying text said this:
"This is sad, sad, sad. It’s bad enough to see it with sports, but now it is in schools and even our U.S. Congress. If they won't stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance they have no place in our Congress.
It's mind-boggling WHY the American voters continue keeping these people in office. Any member of the house or senate that refuses to stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance in the Chambers should be escorted out by the Sergeant at Arms until they comply. If your allegiance is not with this country and our flag, just who is it with?"
Now, here's the thing, the photo she sent was not one of current members of US House or Senate refusing to say the pledge but a photo taken in 2009 of the NY State Senate: "The seated state senators were protesting the session itself, and the political wrangling that had led to it, not the Pledge" - Snopes.
What blows me away even further is the fact that several people in the photo were identified with tiny tags on the photo, not a one of them has a name that even resembles that of a current member of the US House or Senate. But she never stopped to look at the faces or names, she just forwarded it. I replied informing her that she had forwarded a verifiable lie to those on her email list and provided her with the Snopes link. Of course, I received no response because really, what could she say? She will not admit that she is wrong or that the photo she posted was misrepresented because she doesn't care that she forwarded a lie. They. Don't. Care.
You are right, Republicans are willing to destroy an entire nation to win back the White House. Those who continue to support Trump affiliated politicians are beyond reasoning with. They are promoting and supporting violence to further their efforts. They are, indeed, terrorists.
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/stand-pledge-of-allegiance-congress/
I've had similar experiences. One (which led to an unfriending and blocking on FB) was when I told my former coworker that a meme he had posted about the US Senate was, in fact. a state representative from California who had protested the Star Spangled Banner for its lyrics in the third verse:
"And where is that band who so vauntingly swore,
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion
A home and a Country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash'd out their foul footstep's pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave,
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave."
He simply unfriended and blocked me, and when I called him out on my page, his wife (with whom I am still friends) said "he just doesn't want disagreement. Wow. Just. Wow.
Family - the gift that keeps on *living*!
My experience exactly! In my few responses to a home-town fb site on politics the knee-jerk reaction is always “ you hate America” followed by other hate-filled assumptions. I try to scroll on by but sometimes……!!
Ooo Penelope. You are so damn fierce. You remind me of Princess Leia. Can I be in your squadron? 🙋🏽🙋🏼🙋🏿🙋🏾🙋🏻
Thanks! Yes! From One Fierce One to another!!
I hope you wear a hazmat suit when diving into that stew. Personally, I think you might employ your time better, but peeing in their Wheaties is an admirable endeavor.
They do. Most of my clients watch Faux News and they rant about how unemployment benefits have allowed people to “sit on their asses,” how the “defunding of the police” had led to the rise in crime (and how Giuliani was such a hero with his stop and frisk policy in NYC), and how much they hate President Biden. I finally couldn’t take hearing it anymore and I told them I would not tolerate listening to this talk anymore. It may have cost me these clients and my livelihood but I’m past being able to listen to this crap. This bit about the unemployment benefits letting people “sit on their asses” comes from a Trust Fund baby who has never worked a day in his life and who spends his money and idle hours traveling on exotic hunting and fishing trips around the world. The hypocrisy is nauseating.
I have read, in several places, a statement the gist of which is: If your business model requires you to pay your people a sub-minimum wage (in states where tips are factored into the hourly wage) or bare minimum wage with no benefits in either case, then you do not have a successful business, period.
Pay people what they're worth, treat them well, and your business model is good.
You have read correctly.
"Most of my clients watch Fox news." That, in a (crazy) nut shell is the problem. FOX MUST BE SILENCED.
The bit about people being able to sit in their asses (when we need workers) is what the NYT more subtly insinuates. As a result many well-educated people who didn’t vote for Trump and read mainstream news only believe it as well. I have so had it with the NYT.
The NYT - the nation's finest fishwrap.
A couple of detailed examples, Mary, to clarify what you mean about how bad the NYTimes is?
Killing endangered species for the joy of turning them extinct, no doubt.
They do live in a different world, and see the world entirely differently. There is no reasoning with them nor understanding them.
None whatsoever. See my response to Penelope.
And thanks for that response, Daria. My chiropractor can't get rid of the "pain in my neck." In the last session we talked about my stress levels. He did a computerized bio-feedback graph sample in normal talking, and then a comparison of deep breathing. The difference between the jagged mountains of talking vs the steady, smooth line of regulated breathing, almost immediately into a green zone of calm was really validating. I had done breathing just before and the severe pain in my neck had gone down almost 90%.
I went out to answer a Fox commenter a little while ago, and I felt my body tension go up measurably. These people are not healthy for us or our democracy. I am taking your advice, it is not my job, to spread light in that way. My body concurs with your advice! Thanks, I sometimes want to be invincible with Truth and go beyond this choir. Better to go make my protest signs for Oct. 2nd!
I have had several patients with what I call early serotonin toxicity who look like these aggressors. The toxic potion is any combination of drugs that increase serotonin in the brain and body too much: e.g., anti-depressant + narcotic + alcohol + sugar. Add tRump and Fox news to the mix and you get an insurrection.
Good morning, Diana. Thank you for brilliant statement… “They are dissidents with no enemy…so they invent enemies.” That line literally jumped off the page and straight into my toolbox of discourse if I may quote you in the future?
A one-liner to explain this incessant defamation of anything convenient to support the lies of The Big Liars. I had just read a link posted above (thank you H.A.Rose) about the idiots at Turning PointUSA and their already voluminous Professor Watchlist. Targeting some of our finest thinkers from the academic world as subversive enemies of the people. This is unthinkable and the assault upon education continues.
No more sittin’ round. Time for our own watchlist to go viral. Because Trump’s money-making carnival barker business is a scourge upon sensibility. HE LOST. Let’s end the chapter because he and his won’t.
Get your lightsabers on. Light will dispel the dark.
Loved that line also. They do invent enemies.
Lightsaber set to full 'crispy critter'.
💫🔥💥🤺
"Professor Watchlist" - echoes of Nazi Germany as well as the Taliban. When the Taliban was approaching takeover of Afghanistan in 1996, droves of educated Afghans, many if not most educated abroad, fled the country.
Me, too. Can I quote you Diana? Brilliant.
Diane, your phrase "divorcees from reality" is brilliant! Also, your lucid comment bespeaks of the critical need for consequences. A huge number of people need to be imprisoned and impoverished. When they are, others may change their minds and behavior.
Hi Diana,
I think if we're really being honest with ourselves, we all know what you're describing is ultimately going to lead to violence. The only question is- how much, and when.
How to deal with disidents with no enemy? Just wsit until Rusdias little twirps hack their phones!
Thanks, Heather, for reporting on the latest insanities. The most useful Democratic tactic to be employed against treasonous GOP liars is to try to pass Manchin's watered-down "bipartisan" voting legislation, almost sure to fail. This will be an important demonstration of how things really stand in Congress. Then, Manchin and Sinema will need to be convinced (by Joe Biden) to allow the filibuster to be modified enough to permit rapid passage of voting legislation -- hopefully less watered down -- and the DEMs must then proceed to pass the big infrastructure bill via reconciliation.
A large majority of Americans do not want Trump or a Trump clone as their next President. Equally large majorities of Americans want all or most of what Joe Biden is proposing. If we cannot get this done, it will mean we have become a failed state with a very opaque future indeed.
It reminds me of the changes Dems made to the Affordable Care Act, in an attempt to win Republican votes. I expect this will work as well as that did.
Yes, David. Thank you. I agree with your round-up of how things stand. We’re on an edge.
Teetering.
Razor thin.
Razor thin.
Are trumpists aware of what happens in Congress? Or do they just hear the deceptive drivel from the likes of Cruz and McConnell on right wing media and believe that?
The trumpists I know understand little of the process. They hear the propaganda, are outraged by it, and repeat it to others.
The Trumpers are the ones you remember asleep in the back row of the classroom, for 12 years.
Diana, that's a good question. I'm not sure I want to know the answer. And Cruz and McConnell, bad as they are, are not even the worst.
Who is more powerful than McConnell and the one who has made the minority rule?
Hi Fern. Sure, over the long haul McConnell has done more than any other GOP Senator to thwart Democratic majorities and ruin the (relative) impartiality of the Supreme Court, and he continues to influence events. But I'm not sure what really makes him tick, whether it is racist, rightwing ideology or just the lust for power or perhaps some spiritual neediness that needs to be addressed by a psychologist, even at his age.
I am pretty sure that his appeal is now exceeded by the greater appeal of several governors, notably DeSantis and Abbot, to the GOP base, and that what an important part of that base wants and is preparing for does not have room for an aging institutionalist like McConnell. The GOP is now a lawless, insurrectionist cabal made up of frustrated mediocrities mid way through a meandering coup d'etat.
McConnell continues to be the most powerful Republican.
I completely agree with you, Fern. McConnell, in my mind, is the Power that holds the door open for all the other lunatic repubs. He needs to be nabbed and dragged away for years of obstruction. He is responsible for promoting this deep infiltration which has destroyed our checks and balances and our Supreme Court travesty.
He is indeed the most powerful, and perhaps the most dangerous for the fact he doesn't appear to act from an ideological position, though, of course, he does have an ideology, just not one that includes eating babies while alive - unlike Cruz, Hawley, Governor DeathSentence, Wheels Abbot and the rest of the professional gargoyles.
Good morning Fern. Totally agree. McConnell is one with most to lose. And he’s also protecting all the assets of the family he married. Lot on his skinny assed sloping shoulders and wattle neck.
Hi David, 'spiritual neediness' on the part of McConnell! That sounds as though it could be a farce written by Herrick. You needn't stress your imagination or check out a psychology manual. It's easy: power/control/money -- one, two, three!
The New Yorker profiled McConnell recently. It provides insight into your question, “what makes him tick”
Thanks Dave, I'll check it out.
Oh, no, Diana, they also hear the drivel from Faux News and NewsMax and those hateful social media Influencers and run with that, too.
Some far-out Republicans are calling for Chairman of the Joint Chief Miley’s resignation for contacting a Chinese general to assure him that the United States was not going to launch an attack against China. This assurance was given, after intelligence reports indicated that they feared such an attack because of then-President Trump’s bizarre and dangerous behavior. Bob Woodward’s latest book provided some details of General Miley’s phone calls. Subsequently we learned that then Defense Secretary Espy and at least 15 DOD personnel were involved in these calls. I find that General Miley’s actions were totally within his responsibilities in accordance to the military/civilian chain of command and the Constitution.
It brings to mind another episode when a president’s bizarre state of mind obliged senior administration officials and the military to safe guard our country, Henry KIssinger, who had a love/hate relationship with President Nixon, warned that Nixon, during Watergate, was drinking and ranting in a dangerous manner. Kissinger expressed concern that Nixon might hit the nuclear button during one of his depressive rages. I have the clear impression that Kissinger and some top military had formed a cabal to make sure such would not occur.
What should senior officials, including the Secretary of Defense do, when the president—Trump and Nixon—has clearly gone bonkers? General Miley and Defense Secretary Espy as well as Kissinger and his cabal did precisely what was necessary to protect our country. I consider this a broad and proper interpretation of their Constitutional duty.
Another indication, Keith, of the Republicans' irresponsibility at a time of great 'Peril', was that not one of them, not Chris Miller or David Norquist (Department of Defense) nor Mike Pompeo.(State Department) or Chief of Staff, Mark Meadows, all knowing how nuts Trump was, not one called General Milley to voice concern about Trump's stability. Who did call - unsurprisingly, it was Madame Secretary, Nancy Pelosi!
"...Henry KIssinger, who had a love/hate relationship with President Nixon...."
Nixon and Kissinger used each other toward their own gains. They were an evil duo.
"I have the clear impression that Kissinger and some top military had formed a cabal to make sure such would not occur."
I wonder if Kissinger wrote something like that after Nixon died. Henry was full of self-aggrandizement. Nixon and Kissinger organized the overthrow of the democratically-elected president of Chile. They destroyed the apolitical stance of the Chilean military and guaranteed Pinochet they would stand behind him if he got rid of Allende. N&K were responsible for a great deal of torture and murder of innocent Chileans. Henry tried later to blame those horrors on the U.S. ambassador to Chile at the time. However, the former ambassador to Chile was still alive when Kissinger wrote that in a book. He denied Kissinger's accusation and roughly said, "Don't blame that on me. That was Kissinger's and Nixon's plan." I have no doubt the former ambassador was right. After all, Kissinger was Secretary of State at the time, and the ambassador worked for him. Kissinger and Nixon have a lot of blood on their hands.
Heydon what you wrote was my understanding as an eager young student of government. After Chile, it was our involvement with Nicaragua in 1980-81,(before that time as well) which caused me to pay more attention to the America's involvement in the affairs of other nations. You have stirred the awakening of long ago. The truth of our history echo in your memory. Thank you. You and Keith may differ, and it is to our advantage to hear you both.
Thanks, Fern. But, I'm not sure Keith and I differ. Further, I've been fortunate in life to have a variety of experiences taking me to different countries and with different teachers. I guess I'm most fortunate to remember most of them, at least so far.
Thank you, Heydon. When appropriate, It would instructive to know more about your experiences in other countries.
I was a Foreign Service Officer Political Officer in Chile 1966-1969, from where I resigned. I knew Ambassador Kerry well there and subsequently. He was not involved in the CIA/ITT machinations and the back door operations involving Kissinger.
Thanks for mentioning it, Keith. I had no doubt that Ambassador Kerry was completely innocent of the Nixon/Kissinger debacle. And I'm glad that he responded to the Kissinger charge. You were in Chile at an interesting time.
My interest in Chile began in 1972 when I lived in Lima for a year as part of the IU Foreign Studies Program. Though I studied more about Peru, the IU program director was a scholar in Chilean history and politics. Peter shared with us some of the current events in Chile. Also, he spoke of Allende and his election. As I recall, Allende's campaign promise was to make sure all children under the age of five would receive a quart of milk a day. The children of the poor, and notably those of the copper mine workers, were getting minimal amounts of food and good nutrition, and the results were extensive brain damage in the children; essentially, a permanent slave class for the mines. Allende being first of all an M.D. was especially concerned about this. So, he ran for President and was democratically elected. Though labeled a communist, I imagined Allende as being more of a socialist. One day I happened to be at Lima's airport picking up a friend when I looked up and saw Allende coming down the escalator. He was happily received in Peru.
About six months after I left Peru is when the overthrow of Allende took place. The army trapped him in a space in Santiago and then shot him. And then there was all the torturing and murders at the national stadium. Then, they took the bodies (and I believe some live prisoners) up in a helicopter and dumped them way out in the ocean. What a horror! Did you ever see the film "Missing" with Jack Lemon which well dramatizes what was happening?
After Allende was killed and General Pinochet was installed as President. the next stage of Americanization began. They brought in Milton Friedman and "the Chicago boys" to redesign the economy and make it purely capitalistic. Nixon and Kissinger didn't even want the hint of socialism in South America. The events in Chile may have created the term "desaparacidos" though I heard it more often a little later during the chaos in Argentina. The U.S. has made some messes there.
A Foreign Service tradition is that an officer’s final dispatch is sent with no clearances—-his own unvarnished opinions. In mine I stated that the Christian Democrat, Radomiro Tomic, and been the. Conservative and the FRAP coalition candidate, Salvador Allende, Chile would do better with Allende. At Allende’s death I published a letter in the NYT stating that Allende was a good Chilean. (Years later, Isbael Allende appreciated my letter. Some of my close friends and tortured and killed by Pinochet. IAs an American I am ashamed of Nixon and Kissinger for various reasons, of which Chile and Vietnam were two. I was on the Nixon White House Enemies List, which I considered an honor.
Well done, Keith. Good on you. And what an honor to be on the Nixon White House Enemies List! Yes, the N&K actions in Chile and Vietnam. N&K were all ambition and no soul, no conscience. I was glad to see Christopher Hitchens writing about Kissinger as well. As you know, Pres. Ford kept Kissinger on as SoS, and the horror in East Timor then resulted.
As an aside, I was in Santiago in December 1972 when the Andean plane crash survivors arrived in town. There was some hoopla about the cannibalism. From Santiago, I took a train to Puerto Montt, then continued my trip by bus and boat over the Andes and through the lakes to finally arrive in Bariloche by boat. It was wonderful. Then a train across the pampas to Buenos Aires; and then on to Uruguay and Montevideo. By chance, I was in Montevideo when the plane survivors ("Alive!) arrived there, which was their home--they being the Uruguayan national soccer team. I loved the Andes. The experience there in multiple countries was priceless.
'The Most Important Statistic of the Biden Presidency'
'One in five hundred Americans has died in the pandemic, and Republicans are actively rooting for the country to fail.'
'His (Biden's) poll numbers have dropped so low that, as Politico’s Playbook noted, on Thursday morning, his approval rating now hovers at that of Gerald Ford at this point in his Presidency, and just above that of Donald Trump.'
'As for post-Afghanistan foreign policy, he rolled out, on Wednesday, a bold new alliance with Australia and Great Britain that will help Canberra develop nuclear-powered submarines to patrol the Indo-Pacific—a not-so-veiled counter to China.'
'He came into office promising an end to the pandemic and a return to competent, commonsense governance. It’s why he beat Trump.'
'Consider the news this week that now one in five hundred Americans has died in the pandemic; total deaths in the country approach seven hundred thousand. What’s worse, covid deaths—the vast majority of them preventable, avoidable deaths, now that science and the federal government have provided us with free vaccines—are continuing to rise across large swaths of vaccine-resistant Trump country. This is not a tragic mistake but a calculated choice by many Republicans who have made vaccine resistance synonymous with resistance to Biden and the Democrats. The current average of more than nineteen hundred dead a day means that a 9/11’s worth of Americans are perishing from covid roughly every thirty-eight hours. To my mind, this is the biggest news of the Biden Presidency so far, and it has nothing to do with Afghanistan, or the fate of the budget-reconciliation bill, or Bob Woodward’s new book.'
'America spent twenty years fighting wars in Afghanistan and the Middle East because of 9/11. The 2001 attacks reordered American foreign-policy and national-security thinking for a generation. Does anyone believe that something comparable will happen as a result of the pandemic’s catastrophic death toll, which is far vaster than that of any other crisis in the modern era? It’s hard to imagine, especially because the continuing loss of life is a result of G.O.P. political strategies that intentionally undermine the success of Biden’s policies. How can this President, or any President, reset from that?'
The excerpts above were written by Susan B. Glaser in the article, 'The Most Important Statistic of the Biden Presidency', published yesterday in The New Yorker. The statistic Ms. Glaser is referring to in the title is one for the deaths, hospitalizations, and infections continuing under Biden. It is the demonic strategy that the Republicans' have devised to defeat Biden, the Democratic Part and Democracy. It just means some more deaths, the collapse of our health care system and the destruction of a functioning society. Is there anything Biden can do against the Death Camps the Republicans have created in the USA?
'Idaho hospitals are so overwhelmed with the surge in coronavirus cases that doctors and nurses have to contact dozens of regional hospitals across the West in hopes of finding places to transfer individual critical patients.'
'The situation has grown so bad that the Idaho Department of Health and Wellness announced Thursday that the entire state is in a hospital resource crisis, permitting medical facilities to ration health care and triage patients.' (NBC)
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/idaho-declares-statewide-hospital-resource-crisis-covid-surge-rcna1997
'Hospitals in the southern United States are running dangerously low on space in intensive care units, as the Delta variant has led to spikes in coronavirus cases not seen since last year’s deadly winter wave.'
'One in four hospitals now reports more than 95 percent of I.C.U. beds occupied — up from one in five last month. Experts say it can become difficult to maintain standards of care for the sickest patients in hospitals where all or nearly all I.C.U. beds are occupied.' (NY Times)
“We’re having to postpone elective surgeries that require hospitalizations because we can’t take care of those patients in the hospital,” Pratt said. “The staff working in outpatient services have been redeployed to bedside care.”
'Since the beginning of the pandemic, Pratt said, she’s lost nurses who decided to retire early. The hospital offered salary bumps for current staff and incentive pay earlier in the pandemic, Pratt said. But with larger hospitals in urban areas offering hefty bonuses to lure workers, it’s difficult to recruit specialists and nurses to Lutcher.'
'Across the country, thousands of hospitals are overwhelmed with critically ill patients, prompting many overburdened nurses to change careers or retire early. The shortages are particularly dire in rural areas, rural health experts say, because of the aging workforce and population, smaller salaries and intense workload.'
https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2021/09/01/rural-hospitals-cant-find-the-nurses-they-need-to-fight-covid
Repeating writer Glaser's point, 'This is not a tragic mistake but a calculated choice by many Republicans who have made vaccine resistance synonymous with resistance to Biden and the Democrats...'
What are Biden and the Democrats going to do about this? I think there is something for us to do. I will write to the President, the First Lady, the Chief of Staff, the head of the National Democratic Committee, Pelosi, Schumer and more. Our leaders have to find ways to stop this mass assault on the American people. The Republicans are killing us.
For the link to the New Yorker article, see below:
https://www.newyorker.com/news/letter-from-bidens-washington/the-most-important-statistic-of-the-biden-presidency
Hello Fern. As an RN working in a "purple" state, I often have to deal with vaccine and mask resistant people, some of whom see their actions as patriotic civil disobedience. When confronted with such people, my reaction is almost never to write a letter to President Biden or even my state rep. Instead, I try to remember that I am dealing with a person, not an adversary. All I can do with those of the "patriotic" ilk is to try and contain their behavior, at least when they are in my presence. For the rest, I call out lies and misinformation - every time. It is not a debate. I do not repeat the lie back to them. I state the truth and move on. It seems to work.
That is what I hope our sane politicians can do with cynical Trumpists like Flynn. Contain their behavior where they can, speak truth in the face of lies, and remember, mostly we are dealing with a very frightened, willfully misinformed public who are subject to grossly cynical leadership. The stakes are too high to do things which do not work. We must all do the work in front of us. I have a LOT more thoughts on your post, but my reply is growing tedious, even to me :). Thanks again Fern.
Thank you Steve for your compassionate service. As a former healthcare worker can easily imagine how hard it must be for all care providers. Your comment reflects a compassionate and brave heart which is invaluable during these hard, scary times. Stay well, be strong 🙏
Not 'tedious' at all Steve. I am sorry that it wasn't clear from my comment that I was addressing DeSantis, Abbott, et al, the Republican Party's tactics their base, but the Party, which is perpetrating this in order to destroy Biden and the hope of the Democrats ever being in the majority, which by the literal numbers Democratic Party is. Perhaps, if you read the article, you would understand better who I was aiming at.
Hi againFern. I know who you were aiming at. I have been to too many funerals over the past 20 months not to. All politics, are, really, personal. All politics are local. That Abbott (no relation dieu merci!) and DeSantis are using life-and-death situations as wedge issues to win reelection in their states shows their moral bankruptcy. My point is we all have real. boots-on-the-ground work to do. My experience has shown me that thinking and acting globally does not work most of the time. I am not contesting any of your points. They are all valid and salient. There is a human dimension at play here that often gets lost in the larger political discussion. I respect and admire your posts. They make me think. Thanks for taking the time to write them.
I agree with you as well, We must work humanely, surely and strategically on all fronts. What do you suggest as a means to critically stop the death machine. You are aware of historical examples reminiscent of this. I don't know that how a dedicated nurse cares for a patient is an appropriate model.
Good morning, Steve. I hope that you are open to further discussion about how to address the Republicans' disruption of public health processes during the pandemic. I was suggesting that given the breakdowns leading to more sickness, deaths and division among us a different way of dealing with the Republicans, at the root of this disaster, may be required by our leaders. Tonight, I received a message from a good friend who is a devoted and excellent teacher. It has been her calling. She relayed the effects of students vandalizing the bathrooms, a Tic Tok trend, in the schools, thereby disrupting the processes of education, fostering more uncontrolled behavior on the part of children and placing more burdens on teachers on who are being stretched to the breaking point -- there may be some useful comparisons to be made between teachers and nurses these days. My friend, Dee's, experience directed me back to our discussion along with other examples of disorder/disruption, which have stayed in my mind. I believe that with some thinking I understand better what you were communicating. This is just to check if that is correct. Steve, were you seeking to emphasize the necessary balance of care and order to reach a goal and that you were concerned that in trying to address the negative forces as I was defining them could lead to even more hardening of the opposing forces? I understand that your suggesting that there may be more constructive ways to restore order -- to work on a local level and with more personal interactions? I think the basic functions necessary for a civil society have been attacked. It is very difficult to restore order and agreement about the rules, which I believe are at the root of our problems. Are you and I now closer in our sense of challenge at hand?
Good morning Fern. I am an RN who works with detained youth. What most of them need, but do not ever say they want, is fair, firm, consistent boundaries to operate in. They seem to equate setting them with love and safety. Being teens, they complain and act out for a while, but behavior and attitudes soon change, and they become calmer and much more centered.
Trump and his ilk did not set firm, fair, or consistent boundaries early in the pandemic, and continue to disrupt efforts of Democrats and others who have tried to do so. Instead, every state (really, every person) had to set their own, during a pandemic, with little information. About 30% of us chose to listen to antisocial media and politicians to define the parameters to live in. This was the far right's undoing. If Donald Trump had put a mask on in April of 2020 he would easily have won re-election. That Abbott, DeSantis, et. al., are still playing disrupter shows how out of step they are with science, human nature, and the actual politics of now.
The one thing Donald Trump is good at is making a mess. When one of my charges makes a mess, they are expected to clean it up once they are calm enough to. I have never seen a mess that cleaned itself up, especially one that has involved 400,000 - 500,000 unnecessary deaths. Right now, we are at the point of containing the mess makers. A certain amount of deploring the mess and those who made it is also necessary (after all, we are human too), but that does not get the job done. Frankly, we need to get past self-righteous indignation, roll up our sleeves, and do the work at hand. That is the most loving thing I can think of to do. What we do depends on where we are and who we are with. For me, it is keeping my family, friends, charges, and co-workers as safe and well informed as possible.
Steve, Your experiences and perspective - particularly your perspective and mine are one. Some good people that I know are swamped and operating with little if any support. The lawlessness on various levels is another aspect of 'feeling' swamped as is the hostility that sometimes surrounds us. We must call on the center within and continue to nurture that strength. Thank you for your generosity and commitment to uniting the whole of us.
The Republican strategy is to create as many deaths as possible, create chaos, blame the chaos on the "failed Democratic presidency" and offer the solution of their "enlightened", no, "traditional" values. And, should they, God forbid, succeed, dispense with the more unmanageable details of democracy, like voting. Then they will "discover" the importance of vaccines and masks, make them mandatory (for whites at least), save the country from ruin using the one party rule which has served them so well since the day the Constitution
was first penned.
That is it exactly, Bruce. Look at what they are doing to their angry sheep -- killing them and many others. It is evil incarnate. They will do anything to maintain power, divide us more, stoke the scapegoating and destroy society to block Biden from his efforts to address the needs of all of us as well as protecting the earth.
But all those dead anti-vaxxers sure owned the libs, didn't they?
In addition to the immorality of causing unnecessary deaths, the families, including children, are robbed of loved ones. The second half of the comment points to the impacts this demonical strategy has on hospitals, all that work in them and the people in need of medical attention for other health problens and cannot be admitted. The Republican's tactics affect many people.
When you are dead you don't own anything - not even the libtards.
Making calls as I read the forum today, Fern.
Love!
Thank you, dear Christine.
A letter to the editor I wrote and sent in today to our northern Michigan newspaper:
SO:
1) The voters of Leelanau County voted FOR an Early Childhood Program millage.
2) The 4 Republicans on the County Commission voted to give the program NO MONEY, essentially killing the program.
3) When Chairman Will Bunek was asked by Commisioner Gwenne Allgaier "So you just said that if a public vote is taken and we think it's wrong, it's our job as a constitutional republic to nullify it?" Bunek responded,
"Yes, that's exactly right."
That is EXACTLY WRONG. That is NOT how a democracy or a republic works. That is, however, how Hitler worked, how Mussolini worked, how Pinochet worked...
What will the citizens of your town do as they continue to ignore the will of the citizens?
The county administrator and a representative if the health department which runs the program, are meeting with an attorney from the firm that represents most county governments in the state, for a written opinion. First response is it may be legal but it is not ethical.
Hoping for a recall, but...
I am left wondering if the months-long effort to discredit General Milley is an attempt to minimize the impact of whatever it is that he knows, should he ever be called to testify. January 6 Commission, please, call him!
No doubt! That's what Voldemort Trump and the Death Eaters do every time - they discredit their opponents and disembowel their enemies. It works! Reminds me of the bloody spectacles in the Roman Colosseum and the crowds cheering and lusting for blood to be spilled.
Ah, Michael Flynn, whom I met once (only 10 yrs ago--it seems like 20). Yep, disgraced and unfortunately bringing more shame on his former profession as well. After his "coup" comment (which he quickly "clarified" BTW), I inquired about how his actions are perceived in the military and what, if anything can/will be done about it. The answers are revealing about how, aside from all other things, the man is simply a fool. His change of plea to "not guilty," was because he had NO IDEA (a man in the Army more than 30 yrs) that if a servicemember is convicted of a felony they also lose all of their retirement pay and benefits (then Trump swooped in with the pardon to save him).
Then, later, he also had NO IDEA that he could still be brought up on Article 32 charges of sedition and attempting a military coup as a retired servicemember...he discovered this days later when Colonel John Vinman (JAG) offered to prosecute him for such to the Sec of the Army, so Flynn used the press and social media to "clarify" his comments. Meanwhile, Flynn IS a calculator of sorts--he knows there is still one person who could strip him down for what he's already done--the president (he ask for a review of his actions post-retirement & reduce him in rank to Colonel). But he's banking on the fact Biden doesn't want to give these guys one lick of additional press.
Still, if I had to bet on it, I'd say that Flynn will continue to step in metaphorical dog doo (he can't help himself) until he, again, goes too far and has his family jewels taken away once and for all. Narcissistic fools (he is, big time) always do this.
Follow the money. Clearly Flynn is still working for Putin.
Narcissists never really work for anybody except themselves. They accept egregious help if handed to them as a favor.
My own "clarification" -- there was a typo-- I meant to say "the president (he CAN ask...)." To anyone's knowledge the president hasn't done a thing about this (he has, consistently, ignored Trump and his minions since taking office), and has no plans to.
Nice, Robert. Thanks for some insider info.
Dear HCR - Once again, I have learned so much from today's post, important information that I am unlikely to find in my online subscriptions to newspapers with more resources (only three of you many references are from news sources I read with any regularity. -- But I going to make a detour and post something completely unrelated, because I believe your readership will be as amazed and touched by this NPR story as I was: "At 101, This Woman From Maine Is Still Hauling Lobsters With No Plans To Stop" (https://www.npr.org/2021/09/16/1037773633/at-101-this-woman-from-maine-is-still-hauling-lobsters-with-no-plans-to-stop)
I consider this the #1 story of the day, Steve. Thanks so much.
Well, certainly a lovely reprieve, for a moment, in a long line of disheartening news.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nU-Jo1acO7s
Thank you. I was pretty sure I had seen a video about this amazing woman!
Thanks for the audio/video, Ron. Goes well with Steve's write-up about her.
Thanks, so wonderful to hear her speaking.
I read about her too. So remarkable!
In 2004, Jimmy Buffett (yes, THAT Jimmy Buffett) published a novel, A Salty Piece of Land. One of the major characters was Cleopatra Highbourne, a 100 year old sea captain. Immediately came to mind when I read this story.
Thanks for the link. Great story!
Great story, and I'm sure Buddy probably knows her.
Wonderful! I have an 83 year old neighbor “waterman” who still takes his Dead Rise fishing boat out at least 3xs a week! This woman would be his heroin!!!
Yes, things seem to keep getting crazier in this upside down world but let's remember that tfgx45 is a compulsive liar responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands, sexist,racist, sick human being guilty of treason and worse. This is not the time to be criticizing the Biden administration by following red herrings that the crazies throw down. QAnon turned out to be a father/son in New Jersey but that barely made news. Flynn, Rudy, Ganz etc are in a pathetic minority and have replaced the daily tweets we lived through 4 years of with lies and bluster and red herrings. Biden has already corrected many horrible, nasty 🤮 actions done by the past administration. Let's concentrate on voting rights, correct Manchin's calculations and spread THE BIG TRUTH.
"THE BIG TRUTH." Very catchy, Gigi. I like it!
Father/son? Could you post where you found this information? Thanks.
https://www.insider.com/who-is-q-why-people-think-jim-watkins-qanon-8chan-2020-10
Thanks, I'd seen this back when it came out. I was hoping there was new info. Thanks for posting!
QAnon turned out go be a father and son? Where is this news reported?
The Situation:
"Flynn has continued to speak to pro-Trump groups and to rebuild his brand, going so far in May as to call for a coup in the U.S."
The Response:
"Twitter permanently banned Flynn"
Am I the only person in America that thinks our Government should do SOMETHING to guard against this threat? Day by day I lose confidence in this government's lack of action to protect me.
Don’t lose that confidence, Daniel. I personally feel (although it’s frustrating having done it several times when managing recalcitrant children), that it actually is admirable and strategic how much President Biden has ignored the former and his minions’ antics. That’s exactly what to do so as not to throw more coals on the fire.. especially the pens and mouths of the many rabid members of the press and journalism to escalate the tensions even more. That fire is too hot. And President Biden is not doing that ignoring to stop the slide of his poll numbers. He is our best person now and for just 3+ more years. Strategically, in child psychology and classroom management, one must let some steam to seep from the balloon and weaken its inflating property. Then is the time to strike. Trump LOST. President Biden has the full force of the military and best minds behind him and the majority of the people in this country. I don’t think war is imminent, war has been declared in this country by liars, traitors, idiots, and losers.
I want the strike to be effective, crushing, and lasting. President Biden is our president. I trust him to erase the lardo windbag and his grease spots. And at the right time.
All of us have had our confidence shaken because the reality of this treason is frightening. I’m calling on every memory I have in my life when being brave hearted and surrounded with the Creator’s Light light saw me through any darkness. Same now. I will not turn away.
And hopefully the DOJ is quietly collecting evidence of Flynn's continued treason and collusion with (orders from) Putin, to put him away for life this time.
I just don't want this to go on too long. I too taught children. Day 1 I took no nonsense. Day two I detained. Day 3 I called parents...By Week 2 all was well.
"Then is the time to strike. Trump LOST. President Biden has the full force of the military and best minds behind him and the majority of the people in this country."
(just don't wait TOO long.) I am not concerned that things can't be turned around. Just concerned about who, when, and how. This is not a waiting game; some Texans just assaulted a hostess doing her job to check proof of vaccination. I WILL NOT STAND for these people coming to civilization and trying to create chaos. We know how to deal with that here.
This happened in my very civilized, very divers, community-oriented neighborhood.
The Texans are from Humble, Texas: “With a crime rate of 122 per one thousand residents, Humble has one of the highest crime rates in America compared to all communities of all sizes – from the smallest towns to the very largest cities. One’s chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime here is one in 8.” These people come to our civilized neighborhood and act like they’re home.
I have tried to keep my distance from this lunacy, hoping the government would accept its responsibility to protect its citizens. I am hoping they do, but am prepared if they don't.
Reply
You are not the only American. I question how infiltrated our FBI and justice systems really are... very little consequences for seditious behaviors that I am sure normal people would be thrown in jail for committing.
I keep wondering what the heck Merrick Garland is doing? And as for the FBI, what happened with that investigation they were supposed to do apropos Kavanaugh, too? Wray has concerned me for awhile.
Wray is a lying, smiling sycophant. Not at all up to performing his job duties.
We have Merrill Garland there now. I believe he will ferret them out. The wheels of justice grind slow… so they say.
It is another situation where I am concerned with Merrick Garland and his philosophy of "action" which appears to be "nothing".
The modus operandi of government is to do nothing for its citizens unless forced to.
I'm grateful HCR is keeping tabs on Michael Flynn, though I can't imagine how she does all this and teaches college-level academic courses as well. I'm glad when she takes the occasional day off.
Back to Mr. Flynn. He might be taking a page from the former president's playbook; deriving a steady income from running for office. The former president will be running for re-election as long as the campaign cash keeps flowing in from the MAGA mob. HCR didn't mention whether or not in any of his endorsement screeds Flynn stuck his hand out for a handout, (everybody else does,) but if he did, that could be his plan.
The unemployed Flynn could also follow in the foosteps of another disgraced US military officer, Oliver North, and become the figure-head president of the NRA. They have been having some upper level personnel problems of late. Flynn would fit right in.
OK, he might be 'unemployed' but as a retired Lt Gen w/ 33 years service, he has 'steady income.'
An income that most certainly should be halted for his attempt to encourage a coup!
Indeed, but is a lieutenant general's pension enough for Flynn's lifestyle? After palling, (paling?) around with the former president, I doubt it.
I'm surprised Oliver North isn't running for the GOP nomination.
"I'm surprised Oliver North isn't running for the GOP nomination."
You wanna be real careful with that thought.
Retirement and appearance fees.
The fact that General Flynn is being allowed to continuously incite sedition and get away with it, consequence free, is not the sign of a healthy democracy.
In many countries other than the United States of America, those like Flynn, Carlson and others of that ilk might be sent to 're-education' camps as the Chinese do, be poisoned as has occurred in Russia, or just be 'disappeared,' never to be seen or heard of again as was the practice in some Latin-American nations. But our democratic principles allow them to exist, even as they try to undermine those same democratic principles with acts bordering on treason. But doing so also keeps them in the public spotlight, which is preferable to their hiding as an armed underground resistance tearing at the nation's roots.
No one ever graduated from the re-education camp.
But what are the standards of evidence for inciting sedition? Ugly as it may be to watch Flynn, those standards are high and the evidence will need to be rock solid in order to convict him without starting another civil war (though that might happen any way at the rate we are going).
I also don’t know whether Flynn would be tried in civil court or by a military tribunal. If a military tribunal, he was pardoned by his commander in chief, as aggravating as that really is to most of us here. Evidence that he lied and engaged in prior seditious activities may not be admissible- damnit. I wish I was a lawyer or that my JAG lawyer friend Brian was still alive so I could ask those questions but Flynn’s actions will have consequences. Just not sure I understand what we can legally do about it at this point.
Traitors like Flynn should be tried and hopefully found guilty- but not in the court of public opinion. We know he is deranged, that he outright lies in a dangerous manner and that he has the attention of the media. What can we legally do?
He was pardoned for lying to the FBI. This charge would be different - inciting an insurrection, I believe. That is, unless TFG pardoned him for anything he is accused of in the future. Even then, this incitement is new and didn't occur until after TFG was out of office.
A person cannot be pardoned for future crimes. He's a criminal, he'll do it again.
I'm sure they can't, but there was a lot of talk at the end of TFG's term, when there was discussion of pardoning any future accusations, and that it could be done, but not publicized. I assumed at the time that the discussion had to do with transgressions during TFG's time in office, so my comment pointed out that this would be outside the time that a pardon would have relevance. There's no question that this traitor will do it again, until he is charged.
Transgressions up to the date of the pardon, yes.
Yes, that's what I intended.
I respectfully disagree. This is how a Democracy works. It is noisy and sometimes awful and frightening when anti-Democracy people have the bully pulpit. We can always raise up our own voices in opposition to those who would destroy Democracy which includes freedom of speech.
"The First Amendment guarantees freedoms concerning religion, expression, assembly, and the right to petition. It forbids Congress from both promoting one religion over others and also restricting an individual’s religious practices. It guarantees freedom of expression by prohibiting Congress from restricting the press or the rights of individuals to speak freely. It also guarantees the right of citizens to assemble peaceably and to petition their government."
With respect, I think you're being naïve. Platitudes aren't going to cut it when a general is fomenting violence and faces zero consequences. Elite criminal immunity does not engender faith in democracy among the citizenry.
When my daughter was small if things got really quiet in the next room where she was playing I could probably count on her being up to no good. The quiet, behind the scenes machinations in the Trump Administration to overthrow the election are what terrifies me. Flynn talking crazy does not. Where is his Army? Where are the powerful Politicians supporting him on stage? I just don't see him creating a movement. Even the Proud Boys and others are too afraid to go to tomorrow's event in DC because of the arrest of insurrectionists. The wheels of Democracy grind slowly but true. You know who scares me? McConnell. His decades of quiet behind the scenes rearrangement of the make up of the Courts is profoundly impacting us at this time. And he is being pretty quiet right now.
What is he up to?
And thanks for the part about me being naive. I am in my 70's. Glad this old world has not jaded me.
Barbara, I remember on another day, when you mentioned in a reply to me about watching subscribers bending themselves around the troll's poles. That not an exact quote, but you get my drift.
Not sure what you mean Fern. Could you please explain?
My observations in the past of the person you were having this exchange with, including this time, led me to suspect, so I was sending up a flare for you to take note and decide for yourself.
There are plenty of reasons to be concerned.
There always are. Have a good weekend.