Today started off with Attorney General William Barr designating New York City, Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, Washington, as “Jurisdictions Permitting Violence and Destruction of Property.” His statement responded to Trump’s September 2 memorandum calling for a review of funding to “state and local governments that are permitting anarchy, violence, and destruction in American cities.”
Panama papers and or Pentagon papers here we come. I just hope that the accountants and journalists can work fast enough to get out a revelation each day till Jan 20. This election might only end at that date!
Three points come to mind instantly directly concerning Trump:
Firstly, the mountains of Russian cash the Trump/Kushner have laundered directly through their condominium sales operations.
Secondly, the possible/probable Russian origin of Trumps corporate and personal borrowing through Deutsch Bank. These people aren't happy neither with losing their "laundered" capital through legal foreclosure or criminal bankrupcy nor with being exposed for their criminal behaviour on all the front pages of every newspaper and on headlines of every TV/internt news. Secrecy is golden and its breach deadly...and Putin is both their leader and their principal enforcer.
Thirdly, this will hit the Koch Poltical Network that own, organize and finance the GOP as they will be as exposed as their Russian "brothers" and other Plutocrats. They have the same morals, fears, aims and methods. Trump's campaign is running short of cash and his financiers might be a little annoyed that this breach was allowed and draw in their horns to protect their wealth and the GOP could suffer the consequences across the board. This is going to be fun!
Tears for the honor being so righteously bestowed upon Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
A little relief that justice is tapping more and more cracks into the veneer covering the dark money and greed that threaten our democracy and well being.
I’m so tired of the red/blue divisions. Our elected officials are *supposed* to represent *all* Americans, not just those they like. I have voted independent for years, judging candidates by their actions rather than their political affiliation, but no more. This year I’ll vote Democrat all the way.
The one thing we can depend on, in this group of administration thugs is a smoke screen. Where there is the call of “Fire!” is their cover up for something they want no one to notice. Tiring! Which is another part of the scenario.
I still can’t believe there are his supporters and there are undecided or worse third party voters. A coworker just today said Covid deaths aren’t real. And ACA made our health system worse. I don’t even try to convince her. It’s the undecided I think we need to reach!
Thanks for the daily run down! Clarity in the smoke screen! 💙
Exhausting, and the muddling of information by the CDC has lost them much credibility at a time the nation needs strong leadership.
I am however cheered a bit to know that on Friday, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg will become the first woman to lie in state in the U.S. Capitol.
This one is going on my regular Facebook feed. There are a lot of nuggets people need to read. I was text banking late yesterday afternoon to let people know about a event with Jennifer Garner last night. There were a few Republicans that texted me back that they planned to vote for Biden. I know it does not seem like much, however I still did a happy dance. By posting "letters" like this, it will push some "on the fence" over on Joe's side.
The tagging of Seattle, Portland, and New York as "anarchist jurisdictions" really was the tipping point for me.
I visited NYC for the first time in six months last week. Parts of it -- Times Square and the theater district -- were empty, more like something out of the Twilight Zone than an anarchist free-for-all -- and others -- Central Park and the Metropolitan Museum -- were as ordinary as imaginable, except for the masks. Calling NYC anarchist is nothing more than political vindictiveness against a place that knows Trump for what he is, and all too well. And more than a little hypocritical given Trump's calls for violence to his base, and his plea for armed goons to "liberate Michigan".
The "deal" with Federalism is: the States have their bailiwick, and the Federal government its own, but the States can count on the Feds to fulfill its part of the contract and treat States and their citizens evenhandedly. So...Federalism, on any interpretation, is dead. Full stop.
I keep thinking of the economic historian Albert O. Hirschman's book "Exit, Voice, and Loyalty." He tried to generalize the ways in which actors in all sorts of institutions -- governments, states, businesses, markets, churches, etc. -- can deal with situations where the institutions fail to address the needs and legitimate expectations of those who participate in them. "Exit" is one option: leave your employer, find another brand, join another party, emigrate. "Voice" is another: try to change that institution from within by making noises and being heard. To the extent that "voice" does not get heard, "exit" becomes a more attractive option, the only mitigating factor being "loyalty" to the institution. But loyalty is not limitless. Striking some kind of practical balance between exit, voice, and loyalty constitutes the dynamics of institutional change, preservation, and collapse.
I do not like to draw this conclusion, but the grounds for loyalty to the federation called the USA are disintegrating by the day -- certainly for those locales that the Trump administration is hell bent on punishing. If voice continues to fail, exit becomes the reasonable option. Unless you are a one-percenter, the Federal government is not only useless, it is actively harmful, especially to your health with 200,000 dead from COVID and Jared-the-ghoul's religious devotion to the free market. We are literally on our own now. Whether "we" encompasses the States, or a smaller political unit, will be determined in the next few months. Exit is never an attractive option, but in a sense it's being forced on us, and the form it will take is that of Yeats's "rough beast, slouching toward Bethlehem, to be born."
Joe Biden better be prepared to recognize this: it is either rebirth or endgame for the USA.
I must repeat what I said yesterday -- we cannot do anything about the SCOTUS appointment. It is now nothing but a distraction. There are plenty of remedies for after the election. It is most important to win the election up and down the ballot. And it will keep the senators who are running in Washington, not out on the campaign trail. We need to keep Covid and trump's awful handling of it front and center, especially now that he has designated the elderly as nobodies. Get the senior vote and we assure a win. It is the one thing trump doesn't want being talked about, so we must.
Someone on Nicole Wallace yesterday theorized that tRump and McConnell have a pact...tRump appoints conservative judges all down the line, (McConnell's goal to pack the courts), and McConnell will see to it that the Senate goes along with whatever tRump and the rest of the thugs want. Sounds reasonable, but on the same show, another theory suggested that pushing this nomination through will be the death knoll for tRump and his sycophants in November. I like the second theory better. While most of yesterdays news continues to rush at us with warp speed, I do sense that people are fed up. I'm seeing a slight ray of hope where I haven't for some time.
The removal of an important statement from the CDC’s website and henchman Azar’s literal takeover of all official announcements regarding health/medical issues is not only disturbing, it is downright criminal and irresponsible! Aren’t 200,000 deaths enough, Mr. “president”?
Then again, what does this administration promote that isn’t detrimental to our country and her citizens? Its designation of three cities as “anarchy jurisdictions” or its diversionary tactics to incite war with Iran — with Israel and her two new emirate allies — just prior to the election?
The Most Honorable Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is as worthy of lying in state in the Capitol as any white man before her, and in many cases, more so. That she is the very first woman is exceedingly deserving — that there will be families watching (or there, in person) to pay their respects with their daughters and granddaughters gives me hope.
One of the many things that disturbs me is the projection, saying the cities are violent places deserving defunding when in fact the violence is mostly done by outside agitators, encouraged by the Creature's rhetoric and praise of police who shoot rubber bullets into a journalist's (Ali Veshi's) knee and teenagers who travel there from out of state to kill protestors.
Each day another episode of the Reality Show “What Would Hitler Do?”
Starring Twitler as The Don, Bill DisBarred as Goebbels, Moscow Mitch as Goering and featuring ICE Dr. Mengele Amin. With a cast of minions playing Nazi cultists cheering on The Don.
Sorry, but I find cynicism cathartic at times. Especially these times. Also posting memes of Repugnant Party Lying Hypocrites:
Panama papers and or Pentagon papers here we come. I just hope that the accountants and journalists can work fast enough to get out a revelation each day till Jan 20. This election might only end at that date!
Three points come to mind instantly directly concerning Trump:
Firstly, the mountains of Russian cash the Trump/Kushner have laundered directly through their condominium sales operations.
Secondly, the possible/probable Russian origin of Trumps corporate and personal borrowing through Deutsch Bank. These people aren't happy neither with losing their "laundered" capital through legal foreclosure or criminal bankrupcy nor with being exposed for their criminal behaviour on all the front pages of every newspaper and on headlines of every TV/internt news. Secrecy is golden and its breach deadly...and Putin is both their leader and their principal enforcer.
Thirdly, this will hit the Koch Poltical Network that own, organize and finance the GOP as they will be as exposed as their Russian "brothers" and other Plutocrats. They have the same morals, fears, aims and methods. Trump's campaign is running short of cash and his financiers might be a little annoyed that this breach was allowed and draw in their horns to protect their wealth and the GOP could suffer the consequences across the board. This is going to be fun!
Tears for the honor being so righteously bestowed upon Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
A little relief that justice is tapping more and more cracks into the veneer covering the dark money and greed that threaten our democracy and well being.
I’m so tired of the red/blue divisions. Our elected officials are *supposed* to represent *all* Americans, not just those they like. I have voted independent for years, judging candidates by their actions rather than their political affiliation, but no more. This year I’ll vote Democrat all the way.
The one thing we can depend on, in this group of administration thugs is a smoke screen. Where there is the call of “Fire!” is their cover up for something they want no one to notice. Tiring! Which is another part of the scenario.
I still can’t believe there are his supporters and there are undecided or worse third party voters. A coworker just today said Covid deaths aren’t real. And ACA made our health system worse. I don’t even try to convince her. It’s the undecided I think we need to reach!
Thanks for the daily run down! Clarity in the smoke screen! 💙
Exhausting, and the muddling of information by the CDC has lost them much credibility at a time the nation needs strong leadership.
I am however cheered a bit to know that on Friday, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg will become the first woman to lie in state in the U.S. Capitol.
This one is going on my regular Facebook feed. There are a lot of nuggets people need to read. I was text banking late yesterday afternoon to let people know about a event with Jennifer Garner last night. There were a few Republicans that texted me back that they planned to vote for Biden. I know it does not seem like much, however I still did a happy dance. By posting "letters" like this, it will push some "on the fence" over on Joe's side.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg will be the first Jew and first woman to lie in state at the Capitol. Her Jewishness was important to her.
The tagging of Seattle, Portland, and New York as "anarchist jurisdictions" really was the tipping point for me.
I visited NYC for the first time in six months last week. Parts of it -- Times Square and the theater district -- were empty, more like something out of the Twilight Zone than an anarchist free-for-all -- and others -- Central Park and the Metropolitan Museum -- were as ordinary as imaginable, except for the masks. Calling NYC anarchist is nothing more than political vindictiveness against a place that knows Trump for what he is, and all too well. And more than a little hypocritical given Trump's calls for violence to his base, and his plea for armed goons to "liberate Michigan".
The "deal" with Federalism is: the States have their bailiwick, and the Federal government its own, but the States can count on the Feds to fulfill its part of the contract and treat States and their citizens evenhandedly. So...Federalism, on any interpretation, is dead. Full stop.
I keep thinking of the economic historian Albert O. Hirschman's book "Exit, Voice, and Loyalty." He tried to generalize the ways in which actors in all sorts of institutions -- governments, states, businesses, markets, churches, etc. -- can deal with situations where the institutions fail to address the needs and legitimate expectations of those who participate in them. "Exit" is one option: leave your employer, find another brand, join another party, emigrate. "Voice" is another: try to change that institution from within by making noises and being heard. To the extent that "voice" does not get heard, "exit" becomes a more attractive option, the only mitigating factor being "loyalty" to the institution. But loyalty is not limitless. Striking some kind of practical balance between exit, voice, and loyalty constitutes the dynamics of institutional change, preservation, and collapse.
I do not like to draw this conclusion, but the grounds for loyalty to the federation called the USA are disintegrating by the day -- certainly for those locales that the Trump administration is hell bent on punishing. If voice continues to fail, exit becomes the reasonable option. Unless you are a one-percenter, the Federal government is not only useless, it is actively harmful, especially to your health with 200,000 dead from COVID and Jared-the-ghoul's religious devotion to the free market. We are literally on our own now. Whether "we" encompasses the States, or a smaller political unit, will be determined in the next few months. Exit is never an attractive option, but in a sense it's being forced on us, and the form it will take is that of Yeats's "rough beast, slouching toward Bethlehem, to be born."
Joe Biden better be prepared to recognize this: it is either rebirth or endgame for the USA.
I must repeat what I said yesterday -- we cannot do anything about the SCOTUS appointment. It is now nothing but a distraction. There are plenty of remedies for after the election. It is most important to win the election up and down the ballot. And it will keep the senators who are running in Washington, not out on the campaign trail. We need to keep Covid and trump's awful handling of it front and center, especially now that he has designated the elderly as nobodies. Get the senior vote and we assure a win. It is the one thing trump doesn't want being talked about, so we must.
Someone on Nicole Wallace yesterday theorized that tRump and McConnell have a pact...tRump appoints conservative judges all down the line, (McConnell's goal to pack the courts), and McConnell will see to it that the Senate goes along with whatever tRump and the rest of the thugs want. Sounds reasonable, but on the same show, another theory suggested that pushing this nomination through will be the death knoll for tRump and his sycophants in November. I like the second theory better. While most of yesterdays news continues to rush at us with warp speed, I do sense that people are fed up. I'm seeing a slight ray of hope where I haven't for some time.
Another day packed with so much news! Are the wildfires slowing down?
Thank you, thank you, thank you for distilling the news for us, and for writing this history.
The removal of an important statement from the CDC’s website and henchman Azar’s literal takeover of all official announcements regarding health/medical issues is not only disturbing, it is downright criminal and irresponsible! Aren’t 200,000 deaths enough, Mr. “president”?
Then again, what does this administration promote that isn’t detrimental to our country and her citizens? Its designation of three cities as “anarchy jurisdictions” or its diversionary tactics to incite war with Iran — with Israel and her two new emirate allies — just prior to the election?
The Most Honorable Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is as worthy of lying in state in the Capitol as any white man before her, and in many cases, more so. That she is the very first woman is exceedingly deserving — that there will be families watching (or there, in person) to pay their respects with their daughters and granddaughters gives me hope.
Thank you, Heather.
One of the many things that disturbs me is the projection, saying the cities are violent places deserving defunding when in fact the violence is mostly done by outside agitators, encouraged by the Creature's rhetoric and praise of police who shoot rubber bullets into a journalist's (Ali Veshi's) knee and teenagers who travel there from out of state to kill protestors.
This is dark but it’s a warning nevertheless. Wait till after your morning coffee. https://gregolear.substack.com/p/psychopath-in-chief?r=3hwn3&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email&utm_source=email
Each day another episode of the Reality Show “What Would Hitler Do?”
Starring Twitler as The Don, Bill DisBarred as Goebbels, Moscow Mitch as Goering and featuring ICE Dr. Mengele Amin. With a cast of minions playing Nazi cultists cheering on The Don.
Sorry, but I find cynicism cathartic at times. Especially these times. Also posting memes of Repugnant Party Lying Hypocrites:
https://twitter.com/roboyte/status/1307810924779188231?s=20
Can imagine how angry he is that RBG is lying in state. I doubt he ever gets that honor.