Times like this teach us who are friends to democracy, who are enemies, and who are just in it for themselves. Assuming we defeat Trump’s autocratic auto coup (we must) and turn things around, we need to remember who stood with us and who betrayed our trust. There must be consequences. Maybe not today, but some day and hopefully some day soon.
Times like this teach us who are friends to democracy, who are enemies, and who are just in it for themselves. Assuming we defeat Trump’s autocratic auto coup (we must) and turn things around, we need to remember who stood with us and who betrayed our trust. There must be consequences. Maybe not today, but some day and hopefully some day soon.
Michael, you are so right! Once we have defeated the orange man and have begun our path to rebuild our country, we must never, ever forget those who chose this tyrannical regime over our Democracy. I am sure that the consequences of their actions will haunt them for the rest of their lives. History will not be kind to them. Also, we must never allow them back into any position of leadership or authority again. A heart felt thank you to everyone who stood up for Democracy and worked with us to turn back this march to anarchy!
We Da People cannot rely on most of our elected 'officials' in DC.
Who has voted for Citizens United; Who has voted for it to remain?
Who confirmed the madman on the cabinet who is in charge of our Health?
Who confirmed Clarence Thomas and did not believe Anita
Who confirmed Cavanaugh - an angry drunk mysongenist legal scholar
Who let Trump pardon the rioters?
Who voted for Trump and who still protects him?
Who worked with us peace and justice loving Americans who are trying to eject this mistake and turn back the path toward the second Depression and a war between economies and a War between the Have and Have Nots.
America is not at war with Poverty - we are letting our wealthy leaders suck more marrow out of the bones of our Nation.
Make America Great Again means getting rid of this gas bag and doubling down on Truth, Justice and what we still hold to be the dream of an American way
Shorter version, no more Merrick Garlands! Since Trump has completely weaponized the Department of Justice (predictably since, it was one of his favorite accusations against Biden of which Biden was never guilty), we need to lose our fear of being accused of doing so whenever we actually seek true justice according to the Constitution and the laws of the land. It doesn't matter what we do, they'll accuse us of "weaponizing justice," if they get rightfully prosecuted. We have to stop allowing their whining and crying to have any impact on us, and reserve our compassion for those who are truly deserving of it (which leaves out the entire Trump regime).
Michael and Peggy, may the law firms loose their clients! But will the names be documented? Don't tell me where, but let their names be filed, not for revenge, but to make their business in returning normal times impossible.
The analogy is the handling of traitors after the war.
Their reputation is done for any of us who have morals and values. They are too big and famous in their industry. You can look up the Wikipedia of companies like Skadden Arp and see who some of their clients are or at least were (I saw Laura Ingraham and gagged) , and always look at the bottom of the Wiki for the footnotes and see any associated articles about them, like one about Paul Manafort who recommended Skadden to some of the Ukranians before Zelensky, 10 years ago, the Pro-Putin oligarchs they have represented, some lawyers who had to pay millions in fines. Two weeks ago I wouldn't have known Skadden from H&R Block. It's amazing what you can find out. Before they try to wipe their shame clean, I take screen caps and download the wikis as PDFs and anything else I can find. I'm not playing. The Wikis are always being edited (good or bad) but I discovered where they have the edits with the name, date and timestamp that shows every change and what it originally said and what it replaced it with. Some going back 10 years. Plus there is the internet archive if that doesn't get wiped.
Dr. Reich has it right that the law firms that caved have displayed abject cowardice rooted in greed. Trump's vindictiveness increasingly has been on full display, and this type of behavior traces back 50 years to his assimilation into the family real estate racket, and his mentoring by the notorious mob lawyer Roy Cohn. Trump shows all the facets of a successful racketeer to his core, and now employs libel, intimidation, and extortion to cow the weaklings of character in the law trade, since he has decades of experience in how they operate. He methodically is dismantling the last bastion of government, the rule of law which can block him from seizing absolute power. Since he has had the right-wing members of the USSC installed on his behalf, and since they have done his bidding in return by granting him blanket immunity from prosecution while in office, independent litigators of conscience must hold forth and block his every sinister retaliatory move. Courage is the central virtue that remains to protect the Republic from the onslaught of this lunatic.
"Courage" in its full meaning: "...the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear". (Merriam-Webster)
You wrote it before I had a chance. Courage usually involves some fear, what's truly courageous is when the person is full of fear and does the right thing anyway.
Not that I'm against your idea in principle, but I'm not sure it's practical. For instance, there are over 800 attorneys in Kirkland's Chicago (main) office and 900 in its NY office. Not all are partners, of course, and many more aren't sr. partners, but the total number of partners is substantial.
Maybe a list of current sr partners in major locations? Especially those with some national-level exposure.
Sorry. This is just one more valid response to the countless questions I get asked about my "church affiliation" here in the Deep South...
------------------------------------------
"Loathe thy neighbor: Elon Musk and the Christian right are waging war on empathy"
"Trump’s actions are irreconcilable with Christian compassion. But an unholy alliance seeks to cast empathy as a parasitic plague"
"The idea that caring about others could end civilization may seem extreme, but it comes amid a growing wave of opposition to empathy from across the American right."
" “The fundamental weakness of western civilization is empathy,” Musk continued to Rogan, couching his argument in the type of (pseudo)scientific language that’s catnip to both mens’ followings on X. “The empathy exploit. They’re exploiting a bug in western civilization, which is the empathy response.” "
But this should certainly come as ANYTHING BUT a surprise, after 65 years of the Southern Strategy. To the GOP, the church only has one purpose: a breeding ground for hate, disguised as love for a Jesus who hasn't been the Christian role-model for action since about 1960. He still acts as SAVIOR, because someone has to offer reward, and it's increasingly difficult to imagine GAWD-DADDY Trump in that role.
Perhaps my best response would be to ask them about their "Jesus affiliation". But they'd just as likely provide an answer by killing me on the spot. The implied response being, "Just like every white cultist in America."
Good morning, Peggy. Sorry to start the day in such a manner.
Can’t heart this, but there’s much here to digest and agree with, foofaraw. I am an atheist, but have studied religions, and have much respect for the basics of what is taught ‘in Jesus name.’ I can’t fathom how ostensibly Christian people who are prancing around these days calling “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus” can hear Elon say our problem is empathy and not vomit all over that monstrous Oligarch!
I have dear Christian friends who are appalled at what is being done in the name of their faith, for it is NOT their faith they see on parade behind Trump and Musk!
Trump and Musk and the Project 2025 gang are the antithesis of Jesus-centered Christianity.
nowhere in the Bible is a distinction made between people of differing physical appearance. Language differences are lamented, because they divide rather than unite people of diverse regions. "Christian nationalism" masks antisemitism, Islamophobia, and xenophobia itself.
People tend to select the version of religion that resonates with their psychology. So people who select the hateful version of whatever belief system, tend to think in absolutist terms - us and them, black and white. They use their religion, then, to justify their fear and hate-driven behavior.
Yet Pat it is the Jesus centered Christians that voted for Trump and stand behind him still, while he cuts the legs from under them. His popularity rating is still at 40% or more, those who voted for him did so because of DEI and immigrants, and he still has them clutched by the private parts.
They are such phonies crying “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus”—If he walked in the door today, they’d toss him out without even finding out who he is . They are not followers of The Christ. They are monstrous hypocrites.
A lot of atheists have the capacity to think complexly and to think for themselves. They often reach conclusions that are similar to the original teachings of Jesus without the superstition.
The teachings of Jesus are found in every religion, they are universal, because they are requisites for survival of a tribe, a clan, a peoples
The Golden Rule, often stated as "do unto others as you would have them do unto you," is a widely recognized ethical principle, found across numerous cultures and religions, suggesting a potential universality in its appeal to human morality.
Sharing and kindness towards your tribal kinsman guarantees ones own survival.
The natives of the Pacific NW had a custom of pot latch, when those that had more would give their stuff away to those that had less, the practice assured the harmony and thus survival of the tribe.. Not that they had a "Christian attitude", they also raided their neighbors to kidnap women, someone they knew that they needed to diversify the gene pool.
The ancients seem to know more about science than they realize, for instance the inheritance of kingship, was first to the eldest son (primogeniture). and in the 20th century we discover that the male chromosome passes on a SNP that can be traced back thousands of years. Surprise results was that the YDNA of Richard III did not match the YDNA of living male relative., although his mitochondrial DNA did match with a fellow in Ohio, both are descended from the same woman. Men inherit Mitochondrial DNA but don't pass it on to their sons, only their daughters.
On the other hand Talmudic (Rabbinical) andThe Israeli Law of Return, enacted in 1950, grants Jews the right to immigrate to Israel and obtain immediate citizenship, along with extending this right to their children, grandchildren, and spouses, with some exceptions. , if the mother is Jewish.
Thus matrilineal descent, not that Judaism is a matriarchy, like all Abrahamic religions it is patriarchal.
One reason could be that it is never known for certain who is the father, especially in an era when war and rape were common.
But more likely, as we are learning that a gestating child is nurtured by the mothers voice, and even emotions and apparently the rabbis believe their beliefs and opinions.
Southern strategy? 1960s? Try 1600 until now. Goes all the way back to slavery. Slaves were not permitted to read so many believed what Master said was in the bible was true. And apparently the bible said that Africans were meant to be slaves. And when slaves were allowed in church, they were segregated to the upstairs pews.
Typically, my go-to on Christian hypocrisy (an oxymoron if ever there was one) is the same as my response to the depraved cliche, "God never gives anyone more than they can handle": The Children's Crusades.
But in a more contemporary context, the Southern Strategy was very much a product of American racism and the American Civil War. Though the GOP denied its existence for a long time, now they just seem to be really proud of having corrupted Christianity specifically in the name of 20th and 21st century hate:
"The Long Southern Strategy: How Chasing White Voters in the South Changed American Politics"
The problem is that the media and even we on the left have taken the Right wing at it's word.
They speak in code. Family values has nothing to do with family or values, except in the patriarchal sense epitomized by Augustus Caesars law of Pater Familia in which the father has life and death control over the family. In other words family values translated means female submission, male dominance.
Love they neighbor as thyself, who is their neighbor, not the black person, not the brown person, not the queer, not the Muslim, their neighbor is a white "Christian" nationalist like them.
Peace, means submission, victory. Trump speaks of Peace in Ukraine he is speaking of Russian victory and Ukrainian submission.
This anti-empathy stance is really a smoke screen for anti-woman since it is usually women who value empathy and see it as an essential characteristic in all things human. They might as well say they're against anything smacking of the feminine.
I wish I could believe that those who caved to the corruption will experience regret, moral anguish and repentance? I don't expect it. Business as usual isn't.
Actually, Miriam, I am hoping that these podcasters and writers on substacks will continue to call out those who caved. I hope they never let Americans forget who the treasonous SOBs were! If they lose everything they thought was more important to hang onto than our Democracy, maybe then they will experience regret. I don't know if they will because to turn your back on your country in order to appease an absolute morally bankrupt human being makes them pretty corrupt as well!
No Miriam, I don't believe they will experience moral anguish and repentance...if they had an ounce of it to begin with they wouldn't have caved. But it will hit them in their pocketbooks. One day Trump will be gone and these firms will hopefully be radioactive. My father always said at the end, our reputations are all we have.
Lately I keep thinking about the prophesy of Michael Cohen, who sat at the feet of the beast for many years (before his 'enlightenment)':
"Everything Trump touches, dies".
It's proved to be true in many ways for many who've wandered into that black hole. Eventually those in trump's orbit will fall...It's Musk's turn today, and what about those billionaires crashing hard right now, eventual disbarment for shady lawyers, republican politicians detested by their own constituents, unable to show their faces in public, and more to com....
When the dust settles There will be winners and losers. Every one of the collaborating trump sycophants won't be able to wash away the stench - they will be forever tainted and tarnished by their association with the "smelly" beast.
Michael Cohen, who I love, was one of the worst. And he really did take that bullet and paid his dues. He is proof that people can change and repent. He has been screaming about Trump from Day One. He said at one of his senate hearings that he did not believe Trump would ever go away quietly. On TV for all to see. He testified how many times in front of Congress. To this day he thanks the grace of the late Elijah Cummings who said to him people can change. Talk about weaponizing the justice system. Even after he got out of jail because of covid, Trump had Bill Barr throw him into solitary confinement for 50 days when they threatened his wife and him because he wouldn't sign a piece of paper that he wouldn't write a book about Trump and give up his 1st Amendment rights. Thankfully there was a Federal Judge who he thanks to this day also.
No one tainted by Trump will be able to wash away the stain. They should be branded with "T" on their foreheads so they can never hide after what they have done.
Also Peggy, we need to INSIST the Congress put in place laws protecting us from actions that this president has taken and remove the decisions our Supreme Court has made which erode our rights. I am speaking specifically of Citizens United, politicians can lie on the campaign trail, and reinstating the Fair Act or some facsimile of it. This court is tainted with the greed for money. Money is a powerful aphrodisiac. They are overcome with it. Republicans did this to us. They have thrown America under the bus with their greed, lies, and ignorance. The oligarchs are the "Elites" , idiots.
Also, there needs to be an off-ramp if this scenario occurs again whereas the people in the minority find themselves with a rogue president. I do believe we need term limits for the SC too.
I agree wholeheartedly. First we have to stop the lawlessness of the regime in the White House and his enablers in Congress. Then we need to clean house and get rid of the oligarchs that paid for it, including any corporate entities that went along. They want corporations to have the same rights as people, let them suffer the same consequences as traitors.
The truly sad part is the division among the people of this country that all this has caused is not going to heal. At least not easily and not for a long time - especially those who are die hard maga supporters who worship his every word and overlook every bad thing he does even when it affects them.
I find that people I used to enjoy greeting and chatting with I now avoid because they fly trump flags or plaster banners with his name all over their garages. My attitude toward them has done a complete about face. I don't know that I will ever be able to look at them as friends again because of what they have done to this country.
Hopefully some day? No! We either work and organize for that day now or it will never happen.
When Citizens United and other treasonous SCOTUS rulings purposefully ripped our constitution to threads and transferred it’s power from We the People to the super rich and their corporations, it corrupted everything and everyone by changing the rules of the game.
It paved the way for Trump and his criminal organization to seize control. It empowered Israel’s AIPAC even more to turn both Biden and Trump and both Houses of Congress into hideous mass murdering monsters.
It transformed every taxpayer into accomplices in crushing to death babies and their mothers by the thousands for prime real estate.
And it corrupted a few US law firms too.
To over rule SCOTUS please help us grow the movement to pass the We the People Amendment, HJR54. It ends both corporate personhood and money as speech. It restores our constitution back to us alone, We the People. It restores our rightful power and America’s promise of all power to the people.
Learn more and sign on at movetoamend.org But then ask your favorite organizations to sign on and also actively work to advance HJR54, the Movement of the People to save democracy, good jobs, and our living planet. Over 700 orgs have signed on at movetoamend.org/organizations
If we only elect candidates who support us by pledging to restore our constitution and our power, then we can realize authentic democracy in our lifetimes.
Make sure that every candidate for public office that you are considering supporting has signed the pledge at movetoamend.org/pledge
And check out the latest resolution to advance HJR54 from the Atlanta North Georgia Labor Council, AFL-CIO at movetoamend.org/labor-caucus
Come on guys, we can’t do this alone. Now is the time to grow our democracy movement.
In 2016, EVERY Traitor must be hanged - literally or metaphorically! By then we'll have a weak liddle President Vance who isn't Pootin's or President musk's pet as well. [sic]
Times like this teach us who are friends to democracy, who are enemies, and who are just in it for themselves. Assuming we defeat Trump’s autocratic auto coup (we must) and turn things around, we need to remember who stood with us and who betrayed our trust. There must be consequences. Maybe not today, but some day and hopefully some day soon.
Michael, you are so right! Once we have defeated the orange man and have begun our path to rebuild our country, we must never, ever forget those who chose this tyrannical regime over our Democracy. I am sure that the consequences of their actions will haunt them for the rest of their lives. History will not be kind to them. Also, we must never allow them back into any position of leadership or authority again. A heart felt thank you to everyone who stood up for Democracy and worked with us to turn back this march to anarchy!
We Da People cannot rely on most of our elected 'officials' in DC.
Who has voted for Citizens United; Who has voted for it to remain?
Who confirmed the madman on the cabinet who is in charge of our Health?
Who confirmed Clarence Thomas and did not believe Anita
Who confirmed Cavanaugh - an angry drunk mysongenist legal scholar
Who let Trump pardon the rioters?
Who voted for Trump and who still protects him?
Who worked with us peace and justice loving Americans who are trying to eject this mistake and turn back the path toward the second Depression and a war between economies and a War between the Have and Have Nots.
America is not at war with Poverty - we are letting our wealthy leaders suck more marrow out of the bones of our Nation.
Make America Great Again means getting rid of this gas bag and doubling down on Truth, Justice and what we still hold to be the dream of an American way
Shorter version, no more Merrick Garlands! Since Trump has completely weaponized the Department of Justice (predictably since, it was one of his favorite accusations against Biden of which Biden was never guilty), we need to lose our fear of being accused of doing so whenever we actually seek true justice according to the Constitution and the laws of the land. It doesn't matter what we do, they'll accuse us of "weaponizing justice," if they get rightfully prosecuted. We have to stop allowing their whining and crying to have any impact on us, and reserve our compassion for those who are truly deserving of it (which leaves out the entire Trump regime).
I like the expression "gas bag." A minister in my church used it a couple of times, but he was referring to himself!!
My thanks go out with yours, Peggy, to everyone has and will work together to defeat this autocratic Trump regime!
Hear! Hear!
Michael and Peggy, may the law firms loose their clients! But will the names be documented? Don't tell me where, but let their names be filed, not for revenge, but to make their business in returning normal times impossible.
The analogy is the handling of traitors after the war.
Their reputation is done for any of us who have morals and values. They are too big and famous in their industry. You can look up the Wikipedia of companies like Skadden Arp and see who some of their clients are or at least were (I saw Laura Ingraham and gagged) , and always look at the bottom of the Wiki for the footnotes and see any associated articles about them, like one about Paul Manafort who recommended Skadden to some of the Ukranians before Zelensky, 10 years ago, the Pro-Putin oligarchs they have represented, some lawyers who had to pay millions in fines. Two weeks ago I wouldn't have known Skadden from H&R Block. It's amazing what you can find out. Before they try to wipe their shame clean, I take screen caps and download the wikis as PDFs and anything else I can find. I'm not playing. The Wikis are always being edited (good or bad) but I discovered where they have the edits with the name, date and timestamp that shows every change and what it originally said and what it replaced it with. Some going back 10 years. Plus there is the internet archive if that doesn't get wiped.
Robin..you are amazing.Rock on!
You’re so sweet. Thank you Kate ❤️🙏
Tom, Michael, and Peggy,
Dr. Reich has it right that the law firms that caved have displayed abject cowardice rooted in greed. Trump's vindictiveness increasingly has been on full display, and this type of behavior traces back 50 years to his assimilation into the family real estate racket, and his mentoring by the notorious mob lawyer Roy Cohn. Trump shows all the facets of a successful racketeer to his core, and now employs libel, intimidation, and extortion to cow the weaklings of character in the law trade, since he has decades of experience in how they operate. He methodically is dismantling the last bastion of government, the rule of law which can block him from seizing absolute power. Since he has had the right-wing members of the USSC installed on his behalf, and since they have done his bidding in return by granting him blanket immunity from prosecution while in office, independent litigators of conscience must hold forth and block his every sinister retaliatory move. Courage is the central virtue that remains to protect the Republic from the onslaught of this lunatic.
"Courage" in its full meaning: "...the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear". (Merriam-Webster)
I’d like this quote even more if the last two words were
“WITH fear.” I imagine David’s heart trembling as he faced Goliath.
You wrote it before I had a chance. Courage usually involves some fear, what's truly courageous is when the person is full of fear and does the right thing anyway.
It's not exactly a quote -- it's a dictionary definition, not a philosophical statement.
I see your point, Tom. We must never forget what these people did to try and destroy our country!
THE BEST OF US IS NOW BEGINNING TO SHOW UP IN THESE COMMENTS
HOW DO WE ORGANIZE...WHO WANTS TO CREATE A FORUM ASIDE FROM CAPTAIN BOB'S SO WE DON'T NEED TO CAUSE HIM GRIEF
Lose, not loose.
It probably was a typo. Kind of petty. Cheers.
Thank you, Peggy!
We should also list the names of the partners in everyone of these law firms. List them on all social media with unending determination.
Not that I'm against your idea in principle, but I'm not sure it's practical. For instance, there are over 800 attorneys in Kirkland's Chicago (main) office and 900 in its NY office. Not all are partners, of course, and many more aren't sr. partners, but the total number of partners is substantial.
Maybe a list of current sr partners in major locations? Especially those with some national-level exposure.
Any one looking for some good news!?!?
Sorry. This is just one more valid response to the countless questions I get asked about my "church affiliation" here in the Deep South...
------------------------------------------
"Loathe thy neighbor: Elon Musk and the Christian right are waging war on empathy"
"Trump’s actions are irreconcilable with Christian compassion. But an unholy alliance seeks to cast empathy as a parasitic plague"
"The idea that caring about others could end civilization may seem extreme, but it comes amid a growing wave of opposition to empathy from across the American right."
" “The fundamental weakness of western civilization is empathy,” Musk continued to Rogan, couching his argument in the type of (pseudo)scientific language that’s catnip to both mens’ followings on X. “The empathy exploit. They’re exploiting a bug in western civilization, which is the empathy response.” "
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2025/apr/08/empathy-sin-christian-right-musk-trump
------------------------------------------
But this should certainly come as ANYTHING BUT a surprise, after 65 years of the Southern Strategy. To the GOP, the church only has one purpose: a breeding ground for hate, disguised as love for a Jesus who hasn't been the Christian role-model for action since about 1960. He still acts as SAVIOR, because someone has to offer reward, and it's increasingly difficult to imagine GAWD-DADDY Trump in that role.
Perhaps my best response would be to ask them about their "Jesus affiliation". But they'd just as likely provide an answer by killing me on the spot. The implied response being, "Just like every white cultist in America."
Good morning, Peggy. Sorry to start the day in such a manner.
Can’t heart this, but there’s much here to digest and agree with, foofaraw. I am an atheist, but have studied religions, and have much respect for the basics of what is taught ‘in Jesus name.’ I can’t fathom how ostensibly Christian people who are prancing around these days calling “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus” can hear Elon say our problem is empathy and not vomit all over that monstrous Oligarch!
I have dear Christian friends who are appalled at what is being done in the name of their faith, for it is NOT their faith they see on parade behind Trump and Musk!
Trump and Musk and the Project 2025 gang are the antithesis of Jesus-centered Christianity.
nowhere in the Bible is a distinction made between people of differing physical appearance. Language differences are lamented, because they divide rather than unite people of diverse regions. "Christian nationalism" masks antisemitism, Islamophobia, and xenophobia itself.
People tend to select the version of religion that resonates with their psychology. So people who select the hateful version of whatever belief system, tend to think in absolutist terms - us and them, black and white. They use their religion, then, to justify their fear and hate-driven behavior.
Similar to "Never-Trumpers" who once had faith in the GOP?
Yet Pat it is the Jesus centered Christians that voted for Trump and stand behind him still, while he cuts the legs from under them. His popularity rating is still at 40% or more, those who voted for him did so because of DEI and immigrants, and he still has them clutched by the private parts.
They are such phonies crying “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus”—If he walked in the door today, they’d toss him out without even finding out who he is . They are not followers of The Christ. They are monstrous hypocrites.
Agreed, you remember as I do, the long haired Jesus hippies, many looked,talked and acted like their Jesus, but were reviled by these Christians.
I’m a total Atheist and I’m a better Christian than they are, and I don’t mind saying it out loud!!! {or writing it!}
Most atheists are better Christians than self confessed Christians.
Atheists values are those of Matthew 25, Christians are those of Paul and Luke 19 and 22.
A lot of atheists have the capacity to think complexly and to think for themselves. They often reach conclusions that are similar to the original teachings of Jesus without the superstition.
The teachings of Jesus are found in every religion, they are universal, because they are requisites for survival of a tribe, a clan, a peoples
The Golden Rule, often stated as "do unto others as you would have them do unto you," is a widely recognized ethical principle, found across numerous cultures and religions, suggesting a potential universality in its appeal to human morality.
Sharing and kindness towards your tribal kinsman guarantees ones own survival.
The natives of the Pacific NW had a custom of pot latch, when those that had more would give their stuff away to those that had less, the practice assured the harmony and thus survival of the tribe.. Not that they had a "Christian attitude", they also raided their neighbors to kidnap women, someone they knew that they needed to diversify the gene pool.
The ancients seem to know more about science than they realize, for instance the inheritance of kingship, was first to the eldest son (primogeniture). and in the 20th century we discover that the male chromosome passes on a SNP that can be traced back thousands of years. Surprise results was that the YDNA of Richard III did not match the YDNA of living male relative., although his mitochondrial DNA did match with a fellow in Ohio, both are descended from the same woman. Men inherit Mitochondrial DNA but don't pass it on to their sons, only their daughters.
On the other hand Talmudic (Rabbinical) andThe Israeli Law of Return, enacted in 1950, grants Jews the right to immigrate to Israel and obtain immediate citizenship, along with extending this right to their children, grandchildren, and spouses, with some exceptions. , if the mother is Jewish.
Thus matrilineal descent, not that Judaism is a matriarchy, like all Abrahamic religions it is patriarchal.
One reason could be that it is never known for certain who is the father, especially in an era when war and rape were common.
But more likely, as we are learning that a gestating child is nurtured by the mothers voice, and even emotions and apparently the rabbis believe their beliefs and opinions.
Southern strategy? 1960s? Try 1600 until now. Goes all the way back to slavery. Slaves were not permitted to read so many believed what Master said was in the bible was true. And apparently the bible said that Africans were meant to be slaves. And when slaves were allowed in church, they were segregated to the upstairs pews.
Robyn,
Typically, my go-to on Christian hypocrisy (an oxymoron if ever there was one) is the same as my response to the depraved cliche, "God never gives anyone more than they can handle": The Children's Crusades.
But in a more contemporary context, the Southern Strategy was very much a product of American racism and the American Civil War. Though the GOP denied its existence for a long time, now they just seem to be really proud of having corrupted Christianity specifically in the name of 20th and 21st century hate:
"The Long Southern Strategy: How Chasing White Voters in the South Changed American Politics"
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-long-southern-strategy-angie-maxwell/1131044111?ean=9780197579039
I give this book a high rating, as I was informed, horrified and disgusted in approximately equal measures.
The problem is that the media and even we on the left have taken the Right wing at it's word.
They speak in code. Family values has nothing to do with family or values, except in the patriarchal sense epitomized by Augustus Caesars law of Pater Familia in which the father has life and death control over the family. In other words family values translated means female submission, male dominance.
Love they neighbor as thyself, who is their neighbor, not the black person, not the brown person, not the queer, not the Muslim, their neighbor is a white "Christian" nationalist like them.
Peace, means submission, victory. Trump speaks of Peace in Ukraine he is speaking of Russian victory and Ukrainian submission.
This anti-empathy stance is really a smoke screen for anti-woman since it is usually women who value empathy and see it as an essential characteristic in all things human. They might as well say they're against anything smacking of the feminine.
aren't the MAGA complaining that it is the "globalist elites" that lack empathy? Isn't his what holds the movement united with Trump?
I wish I could believe that those who caved to the corruption will experience regret, moral anguish and repentance? I don't expect it. Business as usual isn't.
Actually, Miriam, I am hoping that these podcasters and writers on substacks will continue to call out those who caved. I hope they never let Americans forget who the treasonous SOBs were! If they lose everything they thought was more important to hang onto than our Democracy, maybe then they will experience regret. I don't know if they will because to turn your back on your country in order to appease an absolute morally bankrupt human being makes them pretty corrupt as well!
No Miriam, I don't believe they will experience moral anguish and repentance...if they had an ounce of it to begin with they wouldn't have caved. But it will hit them in their pocketbooks. One day Trump will be gone and these firms will hopefully be radioactive. My father always said at the end, our reputations are all we have.
Lately I keep thinking about the prophesy of Michael Cohen, who sat at the feet of the beast for many years (before his 'enlightenment)':
"Everything Trump touches, dies".
It's proved to be true in many ways for many who've wandered into that black hole. Eventually those in trump's orbit will fall...It's Musk's turn today, and what about those billionaires crashing hard right now, eventual disbarment for shady lawyers, republican politicians detested by their own constituents, unable to show their faces in public, and more to com....
When the dust settles There will be winners and losers. Every one of the collaborating trump sycophants won't be able to wash away the stench - they will be forever tainted and tarnished by their association with the "smelly" beast.
Michael Cohen, who I love, was one of the worst. And he really did take that bullet and paid his dues. He is proof that people can change and repent. He has been screaming about Trump from Day One. He said at one of his senate hearings that he did not believe Trump would ever go away quietly. On TV for all to see. He testified how many times in front of Congress. To this day he thanks the grace of the late Elijah Cummings who said to him people can change. Talk about weaponizing the justice system. Even after he got out of jail because of covid, Trump had Bill Barr throw him into solitary confinement for 50 days when they threatened his wife and him because he wouldn't sign a piece of paper that he wouldn't write a book about Trump and give up his 1st Amendment rights. Thankfully there was a Federal Judge who he thanks to this day also.
No one tainted by Trump will be able to wash away the stain. They should be branded with "T" on their foreheads so they can never hide after what they have done.
Also Peggy, we need to INSIST the Congress put in place laws protecting us from actions that this president has taken and remove the decisions our Supreme Court has made which erode our rights. I am speaking specifically of Citizens United, politicians can lie on the campaign trail, and reinstating the Fair Act or some facsimile of it. This court is tainted with the greed for money. Money is a powerful aphrodisiac. They are overcome with it. Republicans did this to us. They have thrown America under the bus with their greed, lies, and ignorance. The oligarchs are the "Elites" , idiots.
100% agree!
I would like to see legislation that would clearly allow the president to be arrested should he/she violate the Constitution.
Also, there needs to be an off-ramp if this scenario occurs again whereas the people in the minority find themselves with a rogue president. I do believe we need term limits for the SC too.
MICHAEL AND PEGGY AND EVERYONE WHO WANTS REVENGE...THAT'S NOT THE WAY TO ENTER BATTLE...I KNOW BECAUSE I'VE BEEN THERE...
LET'S DEFEAT TRUMP AND THE PAYPAL CRONIES (MUSK, THIEL, ETC) AND NOT BESMIRCH OUR CAUSE WITH ANGER AND REVENGE....
PLEASE REMEMBER, WE ARE THE GOOD GUYS...
I agree wholeheartedly. First we have to stop the lawlessness of the regime in the White House and his enablers in Congress. Then we need to clean house and get rid of the oligarchs that paid for it, including any corporate entities that went along. They want corporations to have the same rights as people, let them suffer the same consequences as traitors.
Criminal trump qualifies as “in it for themselves.”
We will remember
The truly sad part is the division among the people of this country that all this has caused is not going to heal. At least not easily and not for a long time - especially those who are die hard maga supporters who worship his every word and overlook every bad thing he does even when it affects them.
I find that people I used to enjoy greeting and chatting with I now avoid because they fly trump flags or plaster banners with his name all over their garages. My attitude toward them has done a complete about face. I don't know that I will ever be able to look at them as friends again because of what they have done to this country.
disbarrment
Michael, we'll said.
Hopefully some day? No! We either work and organize for that day now or it will never happen.
When Citizens United and other treasonous SCOTUS rulings purposefully ripped our constitution to threads and transferred it’s power from We the People to the super rich and their corporations, it corrupted everything and everyone by changing the rules of the game.
It paved the way for Trump and his criminal organization to seize control. It empowered Israel’s AIPAC even more to turn both Biden and Trump and both Houses of Congress into hideous mass murdering monsters.
It transformed every taxpayer into accomplices in crushing to death babies and their mothers by the thousands for prime real estate.
And it corrupted a few US law firms too.
To over rule SCOTUS please help us grow the movement to pass the We the People Amendment, HJR54. It ends both corporate personhood and money as speech. It restores our constitution back to us alone, We the People. It restores our rightful power and America’s promise of all power to the people.
Learn more and sign on at movetoamend.org But then ask your favorite organizations to sign on and also actively work to advance HJR54, the Movement of the People to save democracy, good jobs, and our living planet. Over 700 orgs have signed on at movetoamend.org/organizations
If we only elect candidates who support us by pledging to restore our constitution and our power, then we can realize authentic democracy in our lifetimes.
Make sure that every candidate for public office that you are considering supporting has signed the pledge at movetoamend.org/pledge
And check out the latest resolution to advance HJR54 from the Atlanta North Georgia Labor Council, AFL-CIO at movetoamend.org/labor-caucus
Come on guys, we can’t do this alone. Now is the time to grow our democracy movement.
How bad do things have to get?
In 2016, EVERY Traitor must be hanged - literally or metaphorically! By then we'll have a weak liddle President Vance who isn't Pootin's or President musk's pet as well. [sic]