So what was happening while we were distracted by Trump’s debate performance? First of all, his tax returns, publicized by the New York Times since Sunday, have taken a back seat to his support for the white supremacist gang the Proud Boys and his attacks on a peaceful election.
There is a sense of dread and anticipation in me for Election Day. I might ask for the day off to just be available in case people need protecting —and I DON’t mean armed protection. I don’t own any weapons except my passion for our democratic processes. I guess I’m thinking of the Wall of Moms in Portland. I don’t want anyone to feel intimidated.
Did any of you see the post circulating in social media that had a list of questions Dems on the Judiciary Committee should pose to Amy Coney Barrett? The writer said they shouldn’t fight her confirmation, but rather ask her to explain the emoluments clause, and then ask if Trump has defied it. Ask her to explain the Hatch Act and then what she thinks about the multiple times Trump’s administration broke that law. Ask her to explain Congressional Oversight, and how Senate Republicans have neglected their duties. I loved that post.
Thank you, Dr Richardson, for your Letter today. For all of them.
Funny how Trump's outrage du jour diverts attention from yesterday's exploded bombshell. His administration is a moonscape of bomb craters.
Headline in this morning's NY Times; "Republicans Distance Themselves, Again..." Nothing creates distance like a vote to impeach, right Mitch?
Senator Collins, have you learned YOUR lesson?
Please excuse me but my seething anger toward the Republican Party, not Trump, for allowing this horrible, horrible destruction of the basic foundations of our government and society to continue is burning me up like those western wildfires. Remember those? They're still burning too.
Thank you HCR, again, for helping us focus our attention.
I spent some time in Northern Ireland learning about the Troubles there. The sense of foreboding was strong. I watched my dad wrestle with the in-absorbable psychic wounds of 40 months as a POW after the fall of Bataan. You just don’t dump out hatred and think it won’t lead to horrors. Yet here we are.
The president of my country asked that white supremacists be on "stand-by" for the election. For me and my family watching, that was the most important moment of the evening. In fact, it was the only moment. For us, there were no other moments or statements. I suppose our perspective might be different from others, who may be more concerned about the debate format, policy questions, and other such things.
He has succeeded in getting us to discuss 'format'. There is no 'format'. It would be irresponsible to give him another opportunity to call vigilante militant white supremacists to arms on live national television. There is no magical 'better set of rules' that will work, though I'm sure, right now somewhere, a room filled with smart people is attempting to conjure such rules. What fantasy is that?
From this point on, the debate commission is complicit.
Quote: "Trump basically said to go f--k them up! this makes me so happy,"
- Proud Boys organizer Joe Biggs, on the conservative social media platform Parler
I don’t think the echoing of Civil War era language is weird at all. That’s what they are trying to push us towards. Proud Boys and those like them have said as much outright. Steve Bannon was pretty clear at the beginning of trump’s reign of terror that total destruction of the US government was the goal. Sarah Kendzior has shown that their goal is to break apart the US and “sell it for parts” for profit. We are on the very knife’s edge of losing our country.
So, and this is an honest question, what do people like me do when the fighting starts? I am a middle aged white woman. I do not own a gun and am not physically fit to fight. I have preexisting conditions that make me vulnerable to covid. I feel like, other than do all the things we are usually told to (ie: vote and help others to do so), all I can do is wait in fear until it comes for me and/ or those I love. It’s not a good feeling.
The president may have thought last night's debate was "fun" but I sure didn't and neither did most of the country. He is an embarrassment, but more importantly, a danger to the peace, freedom and well-being of this country. Sixteen more years!? He shouldn't be allowed to serve sixteen more days.
"Serving" 8, 12, or 16 more years? Now there's another misused term, as 45 serves only himself. Please, we must get that monster out of the White House. I'm certain I cannot survive another term.
Thank you, Heather, for guiding us through the day's events and giving us the benefit of your knowledge and historical perspective. As a poll worker since 2016, I've seen my share of canvassers coming too close to the polling place, belligerent voters not wanting to wait in line, and official poll watchers. I've never before been worried about threats and intimidation tactics at the polls. My county was blessed with huge numbers of volunteers this year who responded to the call by President Obama and others for younger people to volunteer to work at the polls. We're going to get through this together! The vote must go on
I am glad to see that the CPD is considering allowing the moderator the ability to mute the participants mics, but I doubt if that will stop trump from running his mouth, once a bully gets the feedback he wants it is hard to shut him down.
There is so much that needs closely scrutinized: taxes, trump's support of white supremacists, too much to list, but you know the list don't get distracted. We are watching a sleight of hand expert and his stage assistants at work trying to misdirect us from watching what he is actually doing and what matters.
Early in person voting starts in OH Oct 6. Poll watchers are required to be 100 feet away from the polling place entrance and voters are not allowed to wear partisan gear. I will be there on the 6 to vote wearing a blue shirt since that is as close as I can get to a partisan statement, but it will be interesting to see what and who will be there as "poll watchers". This is our chance to push the "mute" button permanently on trump....please vote.
Regarding the stepping down of Brad Parscale and “the family” being concerned he’ll spill secrets, I assume that’s the Trump family? As in, an organized crime “family”?
Trump's “somebody's got to do something about antifa and the left," sounds like a statement credited to King Henry II, "Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?" Shortly thereafter, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Beckett, was murdered in his own church. I hope that American democracy doesn't go the way of Beckett.
At this point I feel if one does not actively push back against Trump and what he says and does then one is actually condoning him. Thank you for all your research and letters, Professor Richardson.
Thank you Heather for your accurate as hell account of the day. While running errands this afternoon, I listened to Trumps press conference on the radio. It was striking how his account of the debate was polar opposite from reality. Is he banking on his followers dismissing reality for his home cooked version? Perhaps so, it has worked so far and I'm not seeing any sizable trend in it stopping.
Trump is going to lose the election, and he knows it. Hence, he will try to invalidate it by litigation and that's why his nomination for the SCOTUS is crucial. That's where it will all end up.
Thank you, Heather, for your excellent work. I applaud you for being able to keep up with all this and still teach. Your students are very lucky. I hope all of them are going to vote.
There is a sense of dread and anticipation in me for Election Day. I might ask for the day off to just be available in case people need protecting —and I DON’t mean armed protection. I don’t own any weapons except my passion for our democratic processes. I guess I’m thinking of the Wall of Moms in Portland. I don’t want anyone to feel intimidated.
Did any of you see the post circulating in social media that had a list of questions Dems on the Judiciary Committee should pose to Amy Coney Barrett? The writer said they shouldn’t fight her confirmation, but rather ask her to explain the emoluments clause, and then ask if Trump has defied it. Ask her to explain the Hatch Act and then what she thinks about the multiple times Trump’s administration broke that law. Ask her to explain Congressional Oversight, and how Senate Republicans have neglected their duties. I loved that post.
Thank you, Dr Richardson, for your Letter today. For all of them.
Funny how Trump's outrage du jour diverts attention from yesterday's exploded bombshell. His administration is a moonscape of bomb craters.
Headline in this morning's NY Times; "Republicans Distance Themselves, Again..." Nothing creates distance like a vote to impeach, right Mitch?
Senator Collins, have you learned YOUR lesson?
Please excuse me but my seething anger toward the Republican Party, not Trump, for allowing this horrible, horrible destruction of the basic foundations of our government and society to continue is burning me up like those western wildfires. Remember those? They're still burning too.
Thank you HCR, again, for helping us focus our attention.
I spent some time in Northern Ireland learning about the Troubles there. The sense of foreboding was strong. I watched my dad wrestle with the in-absorbable psychic wounds of 40 months as a POW after the fall of Bataan. You just don’t dump out hatred and think it won’t lead to horrors. Yet here we are.
The president of my country asked that white supremacists be on "stand-by" for the election. For me and my family watching, that was the most important moment of the evening. In fact, it was the only moment. For us, there were no other moments or statements. I suppose our perspective might be different from others, who may be more concerned about the debate format, policy questions, and other such things.
He has succeeded in getting us to discuss 'format'. There is no 'format'. It would be irresponsible to give him another opportunity to call vigilante militant white supremacists to arms on live national television. There is no magical 'better set of rules' that will work, though I'm sure, right now somewhere, a room filled with smart people is attempting to conjure such rules. What fantasy is that?
From this point on, the debate commission is complicit.
Quote: "Trump basically said to go f--k them up! this makes me so happy,"
- Proud Boys organizer Joe Biggs, on the conservative social media platform Parler
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have an errand.
I don’t think the echoing of Civil War era language is weird at all. That’s what they are trying to push us towards. Proud Boys and those like them have said as much outright. Steve Bannon was pretty clear at the beginning of trump’s reign of terror that total destruction of the US government was the goal. Sarah Kendzior has shown that their goal is to break apart the US and “sell it for parts” for profit. We are on the very knife’s edge of losing our country.
So, and this is an honest question, what do people like me do when the fighting starts? I am a middle aged white woman. I do not own a gun and am not physically fit to fight. I have preexisting conditions that make me vulnerable to covid. I feel like, other than do all the things we are usually told to (ie: vote and help others to do so), all I can do is wait in fear until it comes for me and/ or those I love. It’s not a good feeling.
The president may have thought last night's debate was "fun" but I sure didn't and neither did most of the country. He is an embarrassment, but more importantly, a danger to the peace, freedom and well-being of this country. Sixteen more years!? He shouldn't be allowed to serve sixteen more days.
"Serving" 8, 12, or 16 more years? Now there's another misused term, as 45 serves only himself. Please, we must get that monster out of the White House. I'm certain I cannot survive another term.
Thank you, Heather, for guiding us through the day's events and giving us the benefit of your knowledge and historical perspective. As a poll worker since 2016, I've seen my share of canvassers coming too close to the polling place, belligerent voters not wanting to wait in line, and official poll watchers. I've never before been worried about threats and intimidation tactics at the polls. My county was blessed with huge numbers of volunteers this year who responded to the call by President Obama and others for younger people to volunteer to work at the polls. We're going to get through this together! The vote must go on
I am glad to see that the CPD is considering allowing the moderator the ability to mute the participants mics, but I doubt if that will stop trump from running his mouth, once a bully gets the feedback he wants it is hard to shut him down.
There is so much that needs closely scrutinized: taxes, trump's support of white supremacists, too much to list, but you know the list don't get distracted. We are watching a sleight of hand expert and his stage assistants at work trying to misdirect us from watching what he is actually doing and what matters.
Early in person voting starts in OH Oct 6. Poll watchers are required to be 100 feet away from the polling place entrance and voters are not allowed to wear partisan gear. I will be there on the 6 to vote wearing a blue shirt since that is as close as I can get to a partisan statement, but it will be interesting to see what and who will be there as "poll watchers". This is our chance to push the "mute" button permanently on trump....please vote.
Can I just say what a piece of TOAST Susan Collins is????!!!!! Sheesh!
Regarding the stepping down of Brad Parscale and “the family” being concerned he’ll spill secrets, I assume that’s the Trump family? As in, an organized crime “family”?
Trump's “somebody's got to do something about antifa and the left," sounds like a statement credited to King Henry II, "Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?" Shortly thereafter, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Beckett, was murdered in his own church. I hope that American democracy doesn't go the way of Beckett.
At this point I feel if one does not actively push back against Trump and what he says and does then one is actually condoning him. Thank you for all your research and letters, Professor Richardson.
Thank you Heather for your accurate as hell account of the day. While running errands this afternoon, I listened to Trumps press conference on the radio. It was striking how his account of the debate was polar opposite from reality. Is he banking on his followers dismissing reality for his home cooked version? Perhaps so, it has worked so far and I'm not seeing any sizable trend in it stopping.
Trump is going to lose the election, and he knows it. Hence, he will try to invalidate it by litigation and that's why his nomination for the SCOTUS is crucial. That's where it will all end up.
Thank you, Heather, for your excellent work. I applaud you for being able to keep up with all this and still teach. Your students are very lucky. I hope all of them are going to vote.