Friends Memorial Day as an occasion to honor those who have given their lives so that our democracy can endure. It’s also an occasion to reaffirm our commitment to holding accountable those who have threatened our democracy. On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta sentenced Stewart Rhodes, founder of the Oath Keepers, to 18 years in prison, for seditious conspiracy against the United States. Rhodes is the first Jan. 6 defendant sentenced under that charge, and he received the longest prison term yet in the Justice Department’s probe into the Capitol attack.
What is truly baffling to me is that there are WWII,Korean,and Vietnam veterans that stick up for this idiot,and condone his treasonous antics.
This was the same coward who cried Bone Spurs to avoid duty in Vietnam.(Hence the nickname"Cadet Bone Spurs").
These sedionists would get more than prison if they'd pulled this crap in the olden days,they would have been lined up and shot.How is it that we have people who totally excuse antics like this,and even defend them,and fall to pieces when these people are duly prosecuted?What on Earth has really happened to us,for this to be considered normal behavior?
There is no question that Donald Trump is guilty of seditious conspiracy. It has been clear since the events we all watched real time on January 6, 2021. The fact that Trump isn't already behind bars speaks volumes to the cowardice of our elected officials, from Joe Biden, to Merrick Garland his appointee, to pretty much every member of congress. They fear the backlash, political and otherwise, should Trump be punished for his crimes. And if he is punished, it will be at Mar-A-Lago in a felt ankle bracelet that will tinkle, should he wander off the back side of his golf course. As a Veteran, I have never felt more ashamed of this country than I am this Memorial Day.
Sedition and seditious conspiracy are tough to prove.
IMHO the low hanging fruit, i.e those who asked Trump for pardons, those who admittedly have perjured themselves, are jailbait, should be over by now. They should have been investigated as soon as Biden was inaugurated. Several are members of Congress.
Garland took the position that we would look like a banana republic if we prosecuted the last administration. It took him a year, until the House Jan 6 committee embarrassed him to act.
The Mar a Lago case looks easy. I think the fraud of Trump's own donors is even easier. He and his family pocketed the money. It happened when he was Citizen Trump, no longer president. He did the same with Trump U, when he had to pay $25 mil and the Trump Family charity, that stole from donors, and beneficiaries like kids with cancer and disabled veterans.
It's possible that he will be the defendant in 6 separate criminal cases and in more than 25 civil cases. He has an October trial date in the NY tax fraud case that could bankrupt him and his organization. $250 mil in liquidated damages.
In business I always had it in the back of my mind that lawyers get paid by the hour. If you want something to move along to a conclusion, you have to stay on it.
We have harrumphed ourselves along for two years, into the next presidential campaign season, where convention has it that nothing gets done lest it somehow upset that sacred ritual. Candidate Trump will ask, and get, suspension of his legal entanglements because, you know, "democracy".
I’m with you Bob but, we harrumphed with this lunatic long before January 6. I suggested it started, say from the moment he rode the escalator. The press telling two sides of the story with equal import and co-conspirators from his party carry much shame and culpability. We must admit however, time has made him more vulnerable because his schtick has worn thin as additional evidence comes to light.
If there was truly a will there would be a way. Let's hope we don't go down in history as a failed 'experiment' in Democracy. I don't believe that Democracy has anything to do with not bringing this in before a jury. Rationalization can make anything seem inevitable or reasonable. If Stewart Rhodes can be held accountable ; tRump certainly can, if there is justice.
Is executing existing law in a timely fashion "sink[ing] to their level of corruption"? Trump escaped not one, but two impeachments due to the craven behavior of the Senate not because laws were not clearly broken. Time and again, things stall out until the short attention span of the typical American is exhausted. I, for one, am sick of it.
And the reason Trump escaped was because we spend time bitching to each other with the end result we don’t get a solid majority of patriotic democrats to make an impeachment stick!
justice delayed is justice denied. quick execution of the laws and their consequences would have done immeasurably more to save this democracy than the fearfully timid approach of garland. the whole world saw drumpfs crimes. he did it in the open. if i threaten a judge and his family, would i be walking the streets? this is insanity or worse. collusion comes to mind.
I agree, we need more patriotic democrats. Go support one or more of them. We need a super majority. All I see here are complaints, we collectively need to work our asses off and get rid of the damn turncoats! It’s not Garlands fault, it’s not Biden’s fault, it is our fault!
I challenge that, because voters came out for Biden and we won big in the midterms, too. I wish the story of George Santos and his murky campaign and legal money donors was clearer. There are others in Congress with resumes like Santos', full of lies, and stories that some of the candidates he shared dirty money with made it into seats. If what I have read is true, we know Santos is clearly not legitimate, there should be an investigation. Did the MAGA republicans really win Congress? Or was it stolen? there are plenty of Patriotic Democrats! Far, Far more than there are truly Patriotic Republicans! Their leader called those who serve, Suckers, and P.O.W.s Losers! That is NOT Patriotic! Voters are gerrymandered and purged from the rolls; made to stand for hours in lines, no matter their ages, or conditions or whether they have young children or nursing infants, in all kinds of weather. Even if they could lose their job, or much needed income! The Democrat voters showed up!!! And they will again!
Laurie, our votes nationally are pretty much split 50 D and 50 R. That is not winning. When you need the votes of a low life like Joe Manchin to get 50 votes, we have nothing!
We need super majorities. We also need more states to be held by Democrats in all their powerhouses, the Governor, the senate and the house of each state. Right now republicans control 6 more states than democrats control.
We need goals the middle class can believe are both necessary and that they are attainable and will encourage fair minded people to vote in support of the goals.
We need to be better defined and better marketed to get massive votes to vote us into a super majority.
It does take time, and while time might be infinite, we don’t have all that much more time to prosecute a man who has been able to wiggle out of every effort made to bring him to account. I want no further thought about optics — just what is true, what he deserves to answer for, and make it so!!!
The clock is ticking. Delay works in *Rump’s favor. Garland will be responsible for the end of democracy in this country if *Rump is not held accountable, finally. Unless there is a huge penalty for seditious conspiracy it will be encouraged. The Brits understood this very well, historically. A sentence of ‘drawing-and-quartering’ was imposed, basically butchering a living person, as a deterrent.
Merick Garland's stomach must be a crystal cave, for all he holds in until the time comes for the former president. I continue to believe that when Trump's turn comes up, Garland will have him cornered and naked. We have to be willing to wait a little while longer. Garland is busy blocking off all the escape routes. I must believe this. I must . . .
LeMoine, I'm a vet too. THANK you for your service. It mattered. I struggle with the trump idiocy, too. I feel stained by his treasonous behavior...and still unpunished and crimes. We must still fight for the values our constitution stands for. They are still worthy, and matter, imo.
Surreal, isn't it? It's as if trump brought all the hate and crazy out of people and allowed it a voice. I think this summer/early fall will be a good one for the rule of law.
Trump said military folks were losers and suckers (reported by the Atlantic). Fox News vehemetly denied that he said that and claimed the anonymous sources were unreliable. When I confronted a Veteran Trump supporter (a friend) about Trumps comments it was heavy denial. If you never hear about a story it cant piss you off.
Trump also said he didn’t want to support the August 2018 funeral of Republican Sen. John McCain, a decorated Navy veteran who spent years as a Vietnam prisoner of war, because he was a “loser.” The Atlantic also reported that Trump was angered that flags were flown at half-staff for McCain, saying: “What the f—- are we doing that for? Guy was a f—-ing loser.”
I admired what McCain did in his service to this country. What he suffered through as a result of that service as a prisoner of war and how he fought 45 and Mitch McConnel in the final years of his life. He and all veterans have got more strength of character and experience than the expres.
Trump's remarks about John McCain were worse than anything I have ever witnessed. The real losers here are Donald J. Trump and the people who blindly follow him and his associates. Why fairly sane people still believe what Trump says is a great mystery to me. Can anyone explain how so many can still believe him in the face of all credible evidence against what he yells from the roof tops? We must never allow Trump near the White House again---no matter what it takes.
But it's true! He can't get back into the oval office! We must all vote! and I just wrote a letter to the DOJ to remind Merrick Garland, our Attorney General and jack Smith, Special Counsel, to follow the Constitution and do their duty. I "respectfully requested" that they do so.
I saw this article on a recent edition of Slate, but didn't link it: Trump still has the MAGA touch: Republican women remain captivated
"...most of the women voters who backed Trump in 2016 and 2020 aren't walking away. In many cases, his behavior—and Democrats' and the courts' attempts to hold him accountable—only strengthens their support for him. Even those who condemn his misogyny often say it's not a dealbreaker. At this point, eight years into the Trump era, the sexism is internalized by his supporters. And even shared by some of them."
and...
"The women who support Donald Trump and the Republican-fascists and "conservative" movement are also rational actors who have decided that sexism and misogyny and hatred of women more generally matter less to them than other issues – such as keeping and expanding white supremacy and white privilege."
He also wouldn’t honor the Normandy invasion or those who fell during that awful period that turned WW II for the Allied Forces. He didn’t want to get that hair of his wet. What a freaking p**sy!
And when he was quoted as saying that military were losers and suckers, he was also quoted as saying, "which side did we fight on [in WWII] and why?" !!!!!
Melissa, Trump is in the company of W. Bush who also nixed military service and no one ever held him accountable either, although for a moment, someone tried. I am thinking that is the Republican modus operandi because they do their best to keep from being held accountable while plotting the next attack they will make which they also do not plan to be held accountable for. One "red" state bans books and the others will follow when they find out that no one they respect will call them out on their "freedom of speech" violations. Many Repoublicans, particularly the white, pseudo-christian males, are trying to make this a "Christian" nation despite that being forbidden by the first amendment. Voter suppression works for them despite the 15th, 19th, and 26th amendments to our Constitution which give all citizens 18 and older the right to vote, not just the rich, loud-mouthed "straight," white "pseudo-christian" male ones. Where are our Department of Justice and our courts? Republicans claim to be soooo patriotic while they ignore the needs of veterans until they are called hypocrites, then they change their attitude and behavior toward the military personnel and veterans until national attention moves on, then it is back to their normal. I bet most run of the mill Republicans in legislatures could not even pass a basic exam about this nation's history, our critical documents, or anything else except how they can scam the people and how long it may take them to get caught and what they will need to do to dodge the charges if there even are any. We simply need to do better if we are going to keep any semblance of a democracy.
I doubt there are that many WWII veterans still alive. An 18 year old entering military service in 1945 would be 96 today. While Germany threw 12 and 14 year olds into the final days of the war, the Allies didn't. As to the rest of your post, I agree.
According to polls during 2020, older veterans overwhelmingly backed Trump while younger veterans significantly supported Biden.
I am a combat veteran and called for Biden. Not many veterans were lifers. I find that like many other groups, once they learn that they are considered to be "takers" and that their benefits are in jeopardy, they have an attitude adjustment.
IMHO characters like Flynn should have been among the first investigated by a grand jury. Apparently his brother, another general was involved with him. Rhodes was head of an organization with about 30,000 members. Hundreds of elected officials, military members, and law enforcement officers appear on the membership lists. https://www.adl.org/resources/report/oath-keepers-data-leak-unmasking-extremism-public-life.
IMHO anyone involved in the conspiracy jeopardizes their rights to receive government benefits, including VA benefits and military pensions.
Micheal Flynns vehement dissownership of his brother is suspicious. Even post Jan 6th investigation I dont see that we have any explaination of the military and other groups complicit inaction during the jan 6th coup attempt. I get that a lot of the "blockers" were trump appointees. They havent seen any sort of justice so far.
And we are fortunate to have them. In the Senior Living Apartments where I reside we have at least two, one is 98, the other 103. I believe both are rather apolitical. They are definitely not trumpsters.
The common thread is narcissism and stinginess with regard to the common good. Anything goes! Some people don’t see themselves as part of humanity. Fear and loathing are a way of life. They are beneath politics and service to others. They are the brotherhood of the damned.
We have to ferret out the impostors, those who would pose as legitimate citizens when their stated purpose is to destroy our democracy. They must be punished for their perverse orientation to their own flawed agenda of self serving policies for the destruction of the very idea of democracy and “we, the people.”
The insurrectionists stand in ignominious contrast to the fallen defenders of our Constitution, our way of life and democracy writ large. Our remembered lost loved ones whose sacrifice of self has made our prosperity and peace possible.
We the people stand by our armed forces, diplomats, and all those who serve as they stand with us.
Unfortunately, there are three powerful psychological forces at play that may provide clues to this behavior. First, there are atrocities at war that may fall short of PTSD but cause a lifelong numbing in a percentage of veterans that cause them unable to feel normal rewards and/or leave them feeling under appreciated. They may envy individuals who escaped the draft like Trump. Second, these individuals form bonds with like-minded veterans and it is always easier for a group to engage in immoral acts than an individual. Finally, this process of rooting for someone who cheated to escape their patriotic duty may become a behavioral addiction such as internet surfing. This type of addiction activates the same brain areas as a drug/alcohol addiction. Their acts are unconscious and I don’t have a good suggestion on how they can really become aware that they dishonor those that gave their lives to protect others so they can enjoy democracy. Trump even dishonored John McCain, who survived horrific torture as a POW!
Dr Gasic: I describe one WWII veteran elsewhere in this thread. Your analysis may apply to many MAGA vets; for the record, not one word applies to the one I mention. His political views were formed before djt was born and would been the basis, I believe, for reluctant support for someone he would have deplored personally.
Melissa: Yeah well -- thanks be to the condition of bafflement. If you were not baffled, you would undoubtedly be unbaffled and one of the supporters of the seditionists, either overtly or covertly. On this day, let's drink to bafflement in all its patriotic glory.
Melissa—As i started reading your commrent I was idly wondering what a relative dear to me would have thought of RR's essay. A highly decorated WWII South Pacific combat infantry officer, he is buried—at his insistence—at Arlington. A full view of the Pentagon lies below. He was so far right he felt a need to volunteer a sheepish apology to me for accepting Social Security. An otherwise decent man, he was a casual social racist typical of his and previous middle-class generations north of Dixie—not hate-filled, not KKK-sympathetic, deeply ignorant. The few residents of our town who weren't white were rarely even visible. He'd have loathed everything about trump personally, but I must sadly say probably would have supported him politically.
There are many who were involved in this attempted coup who are still roaming free without having to deal with the consequences of their actions supporting this insurrection. They need to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. This includes trumpie boy and all those involved on his staff as well as congresspersons who gave tours etc.
Those who have given their lives must feel insulted that these guys are not paying for their treasonous acts. I understand that the wheels of justice turn slowly, but it would be assuring that they will get their just due.
There must be consequences, whether for some one tearing down LGTBQ merchandise in Target, or who actively supported Jan 6th. If not, these things, and the ability to intimidate, grow. I don't think this can be overemphasized.
I want to add that "consequences" talk is all downstream talk, i.e.dealing with impacts. We also need to work on "upstream" conditions that lead people to act badly. The analogy is getting more cops on the beat.(downstream) but also changing the (upstream)conditions which lead to criminal behavior. We should be treating the infosphere like air and water in needing protection from pollution. I realize this is deeply problematic and even abhorrent to many. But we are drowning in BS which is harming society and our institutions, so I think we have to do something. Certainly an educated public is important , but the problem transcends that.Otherwise we likely will continue to see some sizable part of the public doing damage. There are choices between the wild west anything goes and the policed conformity of China. Every freedom is bounded by the claims of other freedoms.
We know these facts already, Professor Reich. I, and millions of other people watched this travesty unfold on live TV on January 6, 2021. I have faith (odd coming from me, but I do) in the Department of Justice, in the Attorney General, Merrick Garland, and in Jack Smith. Yes it's taking a long time. But the DOJ is meticulously gathering so much evidence that even the, not so Supreme Court will be able to overturn a conviction without being impeached themselves. The Magats may think they have control, but in realty their forces amount to at most 20% of the registered voters. If the Democrats have the courage to go out in unison and remind people of how horrible the trumpster is, of how he demeaned us before the world, of how he attacked their own government just so he could declare himself dictator for life. If President Biden continues to produce the great legislation he as already had passed and if he and the Democrats shout it out loud, hole town halls nationwide to present our achievements we can and will win 2024. All it takes is the courage to stand up proudly and tell the truth. Of course, if the magats succeed in throwing the United States and the whole world into economic chaos, we may not still be a country by 2024. Won't that make the trumpster and putin happy.
I pray you are right. But with the thugs owning the media, while labeling entertainment as news, and AI obfuscation already underway, i sure am worried. Floriduh is hostile, and unrecognizable to me these days.
Piling on fake news doesn't advance our cause, Lynn duffy. Fox, Newsmax, OANN, Breitbart, et al are not "the media." They are twisted radical right-wing extremes of the media. This forum wouldn't exist as a place to express your opinions freely if what you replied were true. It is not.
If this were any other country, Donald Trump would have already been jailed as a flight risk, indicted, convicted, imprisoned or executed for treason. He is using his freedom as an American to attack the country.
Excellent suggestion. The mail is slow and this is urgent. At the bottom of the DOJ website is a "contact us" link to a form. On the form is a drop-down list of subjects. I chose "messages for the Attorney General". Then submitted this:
Memorial Day, May 29, 2023
Attorney General Merrick Garland
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530-0001
Dear Mr. Garland
Today is Memorial Day. I am writing you this letter to thank you for your service to our country in
discharging your constitutional duty to prosecute the case of seditious conspiracy against Donald
Trump. I believe the prosecution of this case is vitally urgent in protecting our Democracy, because a court of law is better equipped to sort through the deluge of disinformation and misinformation than “the court of public opinion”, which has shown to be easily bought and swayed by nefarious influences.
Thanks for the link, I just sent my own message to Mr. Garland.
Who would have imagined this 40 years ago, when that horse's ass with the smiley face, Mr. Morning in America, upended liberal capitalism and delivered us Rupert Murdoch and the people who are still fighting the Civil War?
Thank you for reminding us of our duty as citizens. I will write that letter. My family is a military family, father, grandfather, uncles, cousins and their children have served. Donald Trump has committed treason and sedition. He is a clear and present danger to our country. He has no excuse. He is a despicable person and deserves to end his life in prison. The time has more than come to get him in court and tried for his crimes against this country, full stop.
reading this makes you wonder why the guy is not even in court yet, let alone in jail.........in reality he is a likely candidate to become president again. In stark contrast with it fighting off external enemies, why is US so weak with dealing with its internal enemies.?...and the external enemies happily use the internal enemies for their cause..... Those convicted sofar are not even the real enemies...they are just some of the soldiers.........the powerful internal enemies who are driven by their big money and big business masters remain untouched, protected by corrupt politicians , paid to destroy democracy..... America today
Agreed. I cannot believe we do not have better tools to protect our democracy. We have members of Congress actively undermining our institutions and government. What happened to their oaths of office? And we must be able to speed our response to internal threats; the law is lagging the offenses by years, years in which the perpetrators are free and continuing with their malevolence. It is very frustrating.
Memorial Day was originally instituted to honor and remember those who had died in defense of the Union and to end slavery in the Civil War. My wife's mother used to tell us about the parades of Civil War veterans, many getting pretty old at that point, in Cleveland when she was a child on what they still called Decoration Day. Sadly, the Day was founded at the same time as the traitors that tried to destroy the United States in order to preserve slavery were being let off from facing any consequences for their sedition. Some things never change, and it may well be that the failure to hold the leaders of the Confederacy responsible for their crimes has led to the failure to hold Donald Trump responsible for his crimes. One thing that has sadly changed is that states like Ohio and Indiana and too many others have completely forgotten the many young men from their states who gave their lives to save the Union between 1861 and 1865. Not to mention the contrast between what the original Republican Party was in 1860 and the horrible monstrosity that the Republican Party is now. Never forget the original purpose of Memorial Day.
People support Donald Trump because with the accelerated rate of societal change in the last several decades, they fear their way of life is coming to an end. Trump appeals to them because his simplistic tropes on white nationalist supremacy, abortion and gun idolatry are easy for even the dullest minds to embrace.
This is very similar to the pattern of many prior autocrats around the world. It's very disturbing but a real threat to our American values. For most of us the only option is to support President Biden and Democrats up and down the ticket, despite their flaws. If Democrats turn out in force we can still defeat the gerrymandering Republicans.
Donnie boy trump is a coward and a walking talking Fraud.
His manipulation of the” unwashed “ is a direct result of our failed education system and the formally Supreme Court becoming a corrupt third world elites that wants to be above the law .
That combination of CROOKS and Conmen has been eating at the roots of Democracy for decades. The idea that the Jan 6 traitors and roger stone types can be pardoned is an abuse of common sense that invites vigilante justice, makes this a laughing collection of Fools.
Why doesn’t Roger Stone have to testify and come clean about his abuse of our duty honor and country.??!
It might surprise you to know that Roger Stone attended the same high school as Robert Reich, although not in the same class. According to someone I know who was there while both were students, Stone was a huge admirer of Roy Cohn and Richard Nixon even as a high school student.
Yeah progwoman: Guess Stone's teenage fixation on Roy Cohn not difficult to fathom. The blatant fear-mongering based on deep self-loathing psychic contortions and projections seems to be the go-to formula for these neo-nazi/fascist thugs.
That Trump has not all ready been convicted of seditious conspiracy is an absurd obscenity. I am embarrassed by the fecklessness of our justice system, and especially by the Disgraced Roberts Court. The silly six are without a scintilla of ethics. Congratulations to them for replacing the Taney Court as the absolute worst.
Given attitudes at the time of each court, it’s worse. The court has now set itself up as scientific experts who know medicine better than MD’s, ecology better than ecologists, and environmental damage better than toxicologists. And beside that, the Sinister Six are rewriting history in order to decimate precedent.
Beautifully written. Succinct. Simple. Factual.Why is this indictment taking this long? Trump should be dusqualified from running for President under the 14th Amendment which apparently is one Constitutional Amendment thr Republican Party ignores. We have a man who committed treason running for reelection. His main rival has declared that, if elected, he would pardon Trump and all those convicted of the January 6th insurrection. This man wore a uniform of the US Navy and swore an oath to uphold the Constitution with his life. Mr. Top Gov makes a mockery of his service and uses the uniform not in service to his country but to serve his own political ambitions. Its not pudding that DeSantis is eating with his fingers
On this Memorial Day, I want YOU and YOUR OFFICE to take solemn note of your duty to protect this democracy from SEDITIOUS criminals. Specifically, Donald J Trump, Virginia Thomas, Roger Stone, John Eastman, Roger Stone—all traitors who planned and participated in the Jan. 6 coup attempt. The Oath Keeper ringleaders received some measure of justice; now it is time to put the hammer of justice to the ACTUAL traitors.
Furthermore, the Republican Party needs to be investigated on RICO charges: A coterie of fascist, neonazi billionaires act as Mob bosses, using their money to install and control GOP office holders. The Republican Party has become an instrument of obstruction of justice and sedition for the purpose of gaining power, influence and monetary exploitation by billionaires who criminally employ “Citizen’s United” to extort politicians who receive campaign funding.
With regards to the Jan. 6 coup, there are specific corporate entities (executive/owners) who financed “election denying candidates” and THEY NEED TO BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE. Investigative reporters, Judd Legum and Rebecca Crosby of “Popular Information” published the names of the “top 50” obstructionists in their article, “Corporations donated more than $35.6 million to election deniers” on Substack. https://popular.info/p/corporations-donated-more-than-356?r=brih&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post.
There is no greater threat to this country and, as Attorney General to the United States, I hope you recognized the duty to bring justice to Republican traitors.
First, Robert, thank you for what you said about Trump. He’s a seditionist of the first and worst order.
In reference to what Memorial Day is about, most of the servicemen who died in battle in the decades since WW II did not do so on behalf of freedom or democracy. They fought in unjust wars. Hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians were murdered by our soldiers, and they had done nothing to hurt us; they hadn’t invaded or attacked our country. The deaths of our soldiers, caused by people defending their homelands, are being used to glorify the hideous national, and presidential, egotism and imperialism that is the great shame of the United States. There’s so much false patriotism about this!
Those who have died in service to this country since World War II were the pawns and victims of our own misguided government. Individually they still deserve our respect and we should honor them.
I know they were pawns. However, any acclaim they receive should include the statement that they were misused, because otherwise if we thank them for their service we are thanking them for fighting in support of hideous American imperialism. Too often the statement is sweetly repeated with hand over heart--“They made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, for democracy, for freedom.” A HIDEOUS LIE! It means that the innocent civilians they killed, the homes they burned, the treasure they looted and destroyed, were all wasted for the sake of freedom, the American flag, and all we hold dear. AWAY WITH THAT HYPOCRISY, THAT FILTH!
Wars are fought by the poor who get drafted. The moneyed and educated wiggle out any draft and in the end the war fighters are scorned as brutal bullies, drug addicts (wwII methamphetamine, wwI drunks, Korea just ignored, Vietnam pot heads heroin, attic‘s and consciously portrayed as baby killers scum and untrustworthy by the organized anti war college educated peers)
BTW Jane Fonda only stupid move was her photograph sitting in a north Vietnam anti aircraft gun that gave a Nixon dirty tricks guys a political opening they exploited Jane was young and just as naïve as the poor soldiers, who actually ended up fighting the war, Jane Fonda has ever since that moment been nothing but supportive and apologetic to all veterans now I admire her willingness to start and FTA and help young men avoid the draft and the criminal meat grinder that was Vietnam. Most soldiers just did their assigned tasks to the best of their ability in support of their fellow soldiers.
There are no political discussion when your getting shot at and friends get wounded or killed you shoot back and seek revenge human traits manipulated by militaries since the beginning of time.
I never even mentioned I was veteran until Bush the Dead on rehabilitation of Vietnam era veterans just prior to the first three day war in Iraq.
J
God bless all of you who were lucky enough to return live well!!!
Agree. Especially indicative of this failure was the fact that the congress never declared war on Vietnam. It was waged as a “police action” similar to Purim’s “ special military operation “. The constitution only gives the congress the authority to declare war. If it does not do so then the prosecution of violence by the military on a foreign country is illegal.
We are teetering on the brink of institutional collapse of our formally great country. We need battle of ideas to refresh our Democracy.not just moneyed interests.
What is truly baffling to me is that there are WWII,Korean,and Vietnam veterans that stick up for this idiot,and condone his treasonous antics.
This was the same coward who cried Bone Spurs to avoid duty in Vietnam.(Hence the nickname"Cadet Bone Spurs").
These sedionists would get more than prison if they'd pulled this crap in the olden days,they would have been lined up and shot.How is it that we have people who totally excuse antics like this,and even defend them,and fall to pieces when these people are duly prosecuted?What on Earth has really happened to us,for this to be considered normal behavior?
There is no question that Donald Trump is guilty of seditious conspiracy. It has been clear since the events we all watched real time on January 6, 2021. The fact that Trump isn't already behind bars speaks volumes to the cowardice of our elected officials, from Joe Biden, to Merrick Garland his appointee, to pretty much every member of congress. They fear the backlash, political and otherwise, should Trump be punished for his crimes. And if he is punished, it will be at Mar-A-Lago in a felt ankle bracelet that will tinkle, should he wander off the back side of his golf course. As a Veteran, I have never felt more ashamed of this country than I am this Memorial Day.
Sedition and seditious conspiracy are tough to prove.
IMHO the low hanging fruit, i.e those who asked Trump for pardons, those who admittedly have perjured themselves, are jailbait, should be over by now. They should have been investigated as soon as Biden was inaugurated. Several are members of Congress.
Garland took the position that we would look like a banana republic if we prosecuted the last administration. It took him a year, until the House Jan 6 committee embarrassed him to act.
The Mar a Lago case looks easy. I think the fraud of Trump's own donors is even easier. He and his family pocketed the money. It happened when he was Citizen Trump, no longer president. He did the same with Trump U, when he had to pay $25 mil and the Trump Family charity, that stole from donors, and beneficiaries like kids with cancer and disabled veterans.
It's possible that he will be the defendant in 6 separate criminal cases and in more than 25 civil cases. He has an October trial date in the NY tax fraud case that could bankrupt him and his organization. $250 mil in liquidated damages.
In business I always had it in the back of my mind that lawyers get paid by the hour. If you want something to move along to a conclusion, you have to stay on it.
We have harrumphed ourselves along for two years, into the next presidential campaign season, where convention has it that nothing gets done lest it somehow upset that sacred ritual. Candidate Trump will ask, and get, suspension of his legal entanglements because, you know, "democracy".
He is materialistic. He's been making more from his foreign interests than his domestic investments. Huge judgments can force his hand....
The most recent developments are that he and his son in law will be investigated for the Saudi/Middle East connections. They were supposed to be working for the government when in fact, they were self dealing. https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2020/10/trump-foreign-business-deals-1020/
According to the media, subpoenas to get financial info were sent months ago.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/05/24/trump-saudis-golf-republicans/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/05/24/trump-saudis-golf-republicans/
I’m with you Bob but, we harrumphed with this lunatic long before January 6. I suggested it started, say from the moment he rode the escalator. The press telling two sides of the story with equal import and co-conspirators from his party carry much shame and culpability. We must admit however, time has made him more vulnerable because his schtick has worn thin as additional evidence comes to light.
If there was truly a will there would be a way. Let's hope we don't go down in history as a failed 'experiment' in Democracy. I don't believe that Democracy has anything to do with not bringing this in before a jury. Rationalization can make anything seem inevitable or reasonable. If Stewart Rhodes can be held accountable ; tRump certainly can, if there is justice.
Laurie,, you've said it all, in fewer words than I ever could. Thank you.
We’ll look like a banana republic if we DON’T prosecute the previous administration!
I too, am a veteran. Biden, Garland and Smith are doing the right thing. They are using the democratic system and that system takes time.
We are fighting the Strongman Revolutionists Party and cannot sink to thier level of corruption, power by dictatorship and lies.
We must put them in jail using existing law.
While that takes time, let’s use it wisely. Focus on electing democrats everywhere, supporting efforts with money, our time and our tongues.
Mr Collins,
Is executing existing law in a timely fashion "sink[ing] to their level of corruption"? Trump escaped not one, but two impeachments due to the craven behavior of the Senate not because laws were not clearly broken. Time and again, things stall out until the short attention span of the typical American is exhausted. I, for one, am sick of it.
And the reason Trump escaped was because we spend time bitching to each other with the end result we don’t get a solid majority of patriotic democrats to make an impeachment stick!
justice delayed is justice denied. quick execution of the laws and their consequences would have done immeasurably more to save this democracy than the fearfully timid approach of garland. the whole world saw drumpfs crimes. he did it in the open. if i threaten a judge and his family, would i be walking the streets? this is insanity or worse. collusion comes to mind.
I agree, we need more patriotic democrats. Go support one or more of them. We need a super majority. All I see here are complaints, we collectively need to work our asses off and get rid of the damn turncoats! It’s not Garlands fault, it’s not Biden’s fault, it is our fault!
I challenge that, because voters came out for Biden and we won big in the midterms, too. I wish the story of George Santos and his murky campaign and legal money donors was clearer. There are others in Congress with resumes like Santos', full of lies, and stories that some of the candidates he shared dirty money with made it into seats. If what I have read is true, we know Santos is clearly not legitimate, there should be an investigation. Did the MAGA republicans really win Congress? Or was it stolen? there are plenty of Patriotic Democrats! Far, Far more than there are truly Patriotic Republicans! Their leader called those who serve, Suckers, and P.O.W.s Losers! That is NOT Patriotic! Voters are gerrymandered and purged from the rolls; made to stand for hours in lines, no matter their ages, or conditions or whether they have young children or nursing infants, in all kinds of weather. Even if they could lose their job, or much needed income! The Democrat voters showed up!!! And they will again!
Laurie, our votes nationally are pretty much split 50 D and 50 R. That is not winning. When you need the votes of a low life like Joe Manchin to get 50 votes, we have nothing!
We need super majorities. We also need more states to be held by Democrats in all their powerhouses, the Governor, the senate and the house of each state. Right now republicans control 6 more states than democrats control.
We need goals the middle class can believe are both necessary and that they are attainable and will encourage fair minded people to vote in support of the goals.
We need to be better defined and better marketed to get massive votes to vote us into a super majority.
It does take time, and while time might be infinite, we don’t have all that much more time to prosecute a man who has been able to wiggle out of every effort made to bring him to account. I want no further thought about optics — just what is true, what he deserves to answer for, and make it so!!!
The clock is ticking. Delay works in *Rump’s favor. Garland will be responsible for the end of democracy in this country if *Rump is not held accountable, finally. Unless there is a huge penalty for seditious conspiracy it will be encouraged. The Brits understood this very well, historically. A sentence of ‘drawing-and-quartering’ was imposed, basically butchering a living person, as a deterrent.
Thank you.
Merick Garland's stomach must be a crystal cave, for all he holds in until the time comes for the former president. I continue to believe that when Trump's turn comes up, Garland will have him cornered and naked. We have to be willing to wait a little while longer. Garland is busy blocking off all the escape routes. I must believe this. I must . . .
LeMoine, I'm a vet too. THANK you for your service. It mattered. I struggle with the trump idiocy, too. I feel stained by his treasonous behavior...and still unpunished and crimes. We must still fight for the values our constitution stands for. They are still worthy, and matter, imo.
Surreal, isn't it? It's as if trump brought all the hate and crazy out of people and allowed it a voice. I think this summer/early fall will be a good one for the rule of law.
Trump said military folks were losers and suckers (reported by the Atlantic). Fox News vehemetly denied that he said that and claimed the anonymous sources were unreliable. When I confronted a Veteran Trump supporter (a friend) about Trumps comments it was heavy denial. If you never hear about a story it cant piss you off.
He said it several times and it was reported by Den. Kelly, his former chief of staff and by Milley. https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2020/09/trump-americans-who-died-at-war-are-losers-and-suckers/615997/
Trump also said he didn’t want to support the August 2018 funeral of Republican Sen. John McCain, a decorated Navy veteran who spent years as a Vietnam prisoner of war, because he was a “loser.” The Atlantic also reported that Trump was angered that flags were flown at half-staff for McCain, saying: “What the f—- are we doing that for? Guy was a f—-ing loser.”
I admired what McCain did in his service to this country. What he suffered through as a result of that service as a prisoner of war and how he fought 45 and Mitch McConnel in the final years of his life. He and all veterans have got more strength of character and experience than the expres.
People who served with him in the Hanoi Hilton don't feel that way. He screwed the VA every chance he got. Took a bribe and was caught.
But he didn't deserve the treatment he got from Trump.
Could you send me a reference about the people who served with him in the HH? I am unfamiliar with that. Thank you.
Used to be dozens of sites like these.
https://vietnamveteransagainstjohnmccain.com/
https://www.nationalalliance.org/hot-topics/mccain-and-the-pow-cover-up
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_Veterans_Against_John_McCain
Trump's remarks about John McCain were worse than anything I have ever witnessed. The real losers here are Donald J. Trump and the people who blindly follow him and his associates. Why fairly sane people still believe what Trump says is a great mystery to me. Can anyone explain how so many can still believe him in the face of all credible evidence against what he yells from the roof tops? We must never allow Trump near the White House again---no matter what it takes.
Be careful with that last part.
But it's true! He can't get back into the oval office! We must all vote! and I just wrote a letter to the DOJ to remind Merrick Garland, our Attorney General and jack Smith, Special Counsel, to follow the Constitution and do their duty. I "respectfully requested" that they do so.
I saw this article on a recent edition of Slate, but didn't link it: Trump still has the MAGA touch: Republican women remain captivated
"...most of the women voters who backed Trump in 2016 and 2020 aren't walking away. In many cases, his behavior—and Democrats' and the courts' attempts to hold him accountable—only strengthens their support for him. Even those who condemn his misogyny often say it's not a dealbreaker. At this point, eight years into the Trump era, the sexism is internalized by his supporters. And even shared by some of them."
and...
"The women who support Donald Trump and the Republican-fascists and "conservative" movement are also rational actors who have decided that sexism and misogyny and hatred of women more generally matter less to them than other issues – such as keeping and expanding white supremacy and white privilege."
He also wouldn’t honor the Normandy invasion or those who fell during that awful period that turned WW II for the Allied Forces. He didn’t want to get that hair of his wet. What a freaking p**sy!
And when he was quoted as saying that military were losers and suckers, he was also quoted as saying, "which side did we fight on [in WWII] and why?" !!!!!
He isnt young enough to be excused for knowing WW2 history. Its obvious that his history was the only one important to him.
The truth will set us free!
Melissa, Trump is in the company of W. Bush who also nixed military service and no one ever held him accountable either, although for a moment, someone tried. I am thinking that is the Republican modus operandi because they do their best to keep from being held accountable while plotting the next attack they will make which they also do not plan to be held accountable for. One "red" state bans books and the others will follow when they find out that no one they respect will call them out on their "freedom of speech" violations. Many Repoublicans, particularly the white, pseudo-christian males, are trying to make this a "Christian" nation despite that being forbidden by the first amendment. Voter suppression works for them despite the 15th, 19th, and 26th amendments to our Constitution which give all citizens 18 and older the right to vote, not just the rich, loud-mouthed "straight," white "pseudo-christian" male ones. Where are our Department of Justice and our courts? Republicans claim to be soooo patriotic while they ignore the needs of veterans until they are called hypocrites, then they change their attitude and behavior toward the military personnel and veterans until national attention moves on, then it is back to their normal. I bet most run of the mill Republicans in legislatures could not even pass a basic exam about this nation's history, our critical documents, or anything else except how they can scam the people and how long it may take them to get caught and what they will need to do to dodge the charges if there even are any. We simply need to do better if we are going to keep any semblance of a democracy.
I doubt there are that many WWII veterans still alive. An 18 year old entering military service in 1945 would be 96 today. While Germany threw 12 and 14 year olds into the final days of the war, the Allies didn't. As to the rest of your post, I agree.
According to polls during 2020, older veterans overwhelmingly backed Trump while younger veterans significantly supported Biden.
I am a combat veteran and called for Biden. Not many veterans were lifers. I find that like many other groups, once they learn that they are considered to be "takers" and that their benefits are in jeopardy, they have an attitude adjustment.
IMHO characters like Flynn should have been among the first investigated by a grand jury. Apparently his brother, another general was involved with him. Rhodes was head of an organization with about 30,000 members. Hundreds of elected officials, military members, and law enforcement officers appear on the membership lists. https://www.adl.org/resources/report/oath-keepers-data-leak-unmasking-extremism-public-life.
IMHO anyone involved in the conspiracy jeopardizes their rights to receive government benefits, including VA benefits and military pensions.
Micheal Flynns vehement dissownership of his brother is suspicious. Even post Jan 6th investigation I dont see that we have any explaination of the military and other groups complicit inaction during the jan 6th coup attempt. I get that a lot of the "blockers" were trump appointees. They havent seen any sort of justice so far.
There are ~167,000 World War II veterans alive in the USA alone today. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_last_surviving_World_War_II_veterans#:~:text=The%20people%20listed%20below%20are,in%20the%20United%20States%20alone.
And we are fortunate to have them. In the Senior Living Apartments where I reside we have at least two, one is 98, the other 103. I believe both are rather apolitical. They are definitely not trumpsters.
For those who are not aware of this:
- CHAIRMAN WHITEHOUSE BREAKS DOWN HOW TAXPAYERS ARE SUBSIDIZING FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY'S BOTTOM LINE:
https://youtu.be/1iptJrA9hJE
I know. It's not overtly seditious. They just want to make sure things remain status-quo - by any means necessary.
Excellent points, you can add active Secret Service, military and police personnel as well.
The common thread is narcissism and stinginess with regard to the common good. Anything goes! Some people don’t see themselves as part of humanity. Fear and loathing are a way of life. They are beneath politics and service to others. They are the brotherhood of the damned.
We have to ferret out the impostors, those who would pose as legitimate citizens when their stated purpose is to destroy our democracy. They must be punished for their perverse orientation to their own flawed agenda of self serving policies for the destruction of the very idea of democracy and “we, the people.”
The insurrectionists stand in ignominious contrast to the fallen defenders of our Constitution, our way of life and democracy writ large. Our remembered lost loved ones whose sacrifice of self has made our prosperity and peace possible.
We the people stand by our armed forces, diplomats, and all those who serve as they stand with us.
Unfortunately, there are three powerful psychological forces at play that may provide clues to this behavior. First, there are atrocities at war that may fall short of PTSD but cause a lifelong numbing in a percentage of veterans that cause them unable to feel normal rewards and/or leave them feeling under appreciated. They may envy individuals who escaped the draft like Trump. Second, these individuals form bonds with like-minded veterans and it is always easier for a group to engage in immoral acts than an individual. Finally, this process of rooting for someone who cheated to escape their patriotic duty may become a behavioral addiction such as internet surfing. This type of addiction activates the same brain areas as a drug/alcohol addiction. Their acts are unconscious and I don’t have a good suggestion on how they can really become aware that they dishonor those that gave their lives to protect others so they can enjoy democracy. Trump even dishonored John McCain, who survived horrific torture as a POW!
Dr Gasic: I describe one WWII veteran elsewhere in this thread. Your analysis may apply to many MAGA vets; for the record, not one word applies to the one I mention. His political views were formed before djt was born and would been the basis, I believe, for reluctant support for someone he would have deplored personally.
Melissa: Yeah well -- thanks be to the condition of bafflement. If you were not baffled, you would undoubtedly be unbaffled and one of the supporters of the seditionists, either overtly or covertly. On this day, let's drink to bafflement in all its patriotic glory.
We are indeed baffled. That's the purpose of the legacy media. But that does not entice me to back the seditionists.
Melissa—As i started reading your commrent I was idly wondering what a relative dear to me would have thought of RR's essay. A highly decorated WWII South Pacific combat infantry officer, he is buried—at his insistence—at Arlington. A full view of the Pentagon lies below. He was so far right he felt a need to volunteer a sheepish apology to me for accepting Social Security. An otherwise decent man, he was a casual social racist typical of his and previous middle-class generations north of Dixie—not hate-filled, not KKK-sympathetic, deeply ignorant. The few residents of our town who weren't white were rarely even visible. He'd have loathed everything about trump personally, but I must sadly say probably would have supported him politically.
I don't know who these people are, and I don't know if it's even true, but this short item is >certainly< provocative!:
- TRUMP IS FINALLY OUT OF THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE:
https://youtu.be/3z5Is2PoorM
Take >that< all under >extreme< advisement! LOL!
And yet if it was you and I we would be in jail
I just wrote an old fashioned letter to the DOJ.
There are many who were involved in this attempted coup who are still roaming free without having to deal with the consequences of their actions supporting this insurrection. They need to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. This includes trumpie boy and all those involved on his staff as well as congresspersons who gave tours etc.
Those who have given their lives must feel insulted that these guys are not paying for their treasonous acts. I understand that the wheels of justice turn slowly, but it would be assuring that they will get their just due.
There must be consequences, whether for some one tearing down LGTBQ merchandise in Target, or who actively supported Jan 6th. If not, these things, and the ability to intimidate, grow. I don't think this can be overemphasized.
I want to add that "consequences" talk is all downstream talk, i.e.dealing with impacts. We also need to work on "upstream" conditions that lead people to act badly. The analogy is getting more cops on the beat.(downstream) but also changing the (upstream)conditions which lead to criminal behavior. We should be treating the infosphere like air and water in needing protection from pollution. I realize this is deeply problematic and even abhorrent to many. But we are drowning in BS which is harming society and our institutions, so I think we have to do something. Certainly an educated public is important , but the problem transcends that.Otherwise we likely will continue to see some sizable part of the public doing damage. There are choices between the wild west anything goes and the policed conformity of China. Every freedom is bounded by the claims of other freedoms.
Public education should include critical thinking... so citizens don't swallow every statement they read on the internet.
We know these facts already, Professor Reich. I, and millions of other people watched this travesty unfold on live TV on January 6, 2021. I have faith (odd coming from me, but I do) in the Department of Justice, in the Attorney General, Merrick Garland, and in Jack Smith. Yes it's taking a long time. But the DOJ is meticulously gathering so much evidence that even the, not so Supreme Court will be able to overturn a conviction without being impeached themselves. The Magats may think they have control, but in realty their forces amount to at most 20% of the registered voters. If the Democrats have the courage to go out in unison and remind people of how horrible the trumpster is, of how he demeaned us before the world, of how he attacked their own government just so he could declare himself dictator for life. If President Biden continues to produce the great legislation he as already had passed and if he and the Democrats shout it out loud, hole town halls nationwide to present our achievements we can and will win 2024. All it takes is the courage to stand up proudly and tell the truth. Of course, if the magats succeed in throwing the United States and the whole world into economic chaos, we may not still be a country by 2024. Won't that make the trumpster and putin happy.
Fay look to the 2024 elections with glee. We'll clean house on the lot of them.
I pray you are right. But with the thugs owning the media, while labeling entertainment as news, and AI obfuscation already underway, i sure am worried. Floriduh is hostile, and unrecognizable to me these days.
Yet, i persist.
Floriduh! I like that. May I suggest Flori-duh or Flori-DUH ‽
Piling on fake news doesn't advance our cause, Lynn duffy. Fox, Newsmax, OANN, Breitbart, et al are not "the media." They are twisted radical right-wing extremes of the media. This forum wouldn't exist as a place to express your opinions freely if what you replied were true. It is not.
If this were any other country, Donald Trump would have already been jailed as a flight risk, indicted, convicted, imprisoned or executed for treason. He is using his freedom as an American to attack the country.
Done! I sent an email to Mr. Garland via the website www.justice.gov.
Excellent suggestion. The mail is slow and this is urgent. At the bottom of the DOJ website is a "contact us" link to a form. On the form is a drop-down list of subjects. I chose "messages for the Attorney General". Then submitted this:
Memorial Day, May 29, 2023
Attorney General Merrick Garland
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530-0001
Dear Mr. Garland
Today is Memorial Day. I am writing you this letter to thank you for your service to our country in
discharging your constitutional duty to prosecute the case of seditious conspiracy against Donald
Trump. I believe the prosecution of this case is vitally urgent in protecting our Democracy, because a court of law is better equipped to sort through the deluge of disinformation and misinformation than “the court of public opinion”, which has shown to be easily bought and swayed by nefarious influences.
Respectfully,
Douglass Blanding
It's not a bad choice for those who don't have time to mail a letter but sacks of mail makes a statement that isn't so easy to delete.
Thanks for the link, I just sent my own message to Mr. Garland.
Who would have imagined this 40 years ago, when that horse's ass with the smiley face, Mr. Morning in America, upended liberal capitalism and delivered us Rupert Murdoch and the people who are still fighting the Civil War?
Thanks! I will do the same. A good Memorial Day to you.
I will too.
I have sent a message as well. Indict the guy already.
so have I.
Done, as well.
Thank you Linda, easiest website yet!
Thank you for reminding us of our duty as citizens. I will write that letter. My family is a military family, father, grandfather, uncles, cousins and their children have served. Donald Trump has committed treason and sedition. He is a clear and present danger to our country. He has no excuse. He is a despicable person and deserves to end his life in prison. The time has more than come to get him in court and tried for his crimes against this country, full stop.
reading this makes you wonder why the guy is not even in court yet, let alone in jail.........in reality he is a likely candidate to become president again. In stark contrast with it fighting off external enemies, why is US so weak with dealing with its internal enemies.?...and the external enemies happily use the internal enemies for their cause..... Those convicted sofar are not even the real enemies...they are just some of the soldiers.........the powerful internal enemies who are driven by their big money and big business masters remain untouched, protected by corrupt politicians , paid to destroy democracy..... America today
Agreed. I cannot believe we do not have better tools to protect our democracy. We have members of Congress actively undermining our institutions and government. What happened to their oaths of office? And we must be able to speed our response to internal threats; the law is lagging the offenses by years, years in which the perpetrators are free and continuing with their malevolence. It is very frustrating.
Memorial Day was originally instituted to honor and remember those who had died in defense of the Union and to end slavery in the Civil War. My wife's mother used to tell us about the parades of Civil War veterans, many getting pretty old at that point, in Cleveland when she was a child on what they still called Decoration Day. Sadly, the Day was founded at the same time as the traitors that tried to destroy the United States in order to preserve slavery were being let off from facing any consequences for their sedition. Some things never change, and it may well be that the failure to hold the leaders of the Confederacy responsible for their crimes has led to the failure to hold Donald Trump responsible for his crimes. One thing that has sadly changed is that states like Ohio and Indiana and too many others have completely forgotten the many young men from their states who gave their lives to save the Union between 1861 and 1865. Not to mention the contrast between what the original Republican Party was in 1860 and the horrible monstrosity that the Republican Party is now. Never forget the original purpose of Memorial Day.
" Please write Attorney General Merrick Garland* and remind him and Special Counsel Jack Smith of their constitutional duty."
Sad when this needs to be said.
People support Donald Trump because with the accelerated rate of societal change in the last several decades, they fear their way of life is coming to an end. Trump appeals to them because his simplistic tropes on white nationalist supremacy, abortion and gun idolatry are easy for even the dullest minds to embrace.
This is very similar to the pattern of many prior autocrats around the world. It's very disturbing but a real threat to our American values. For most of us the only option is to support President Biden and Democrats up and down the ticket, despite their flaws. If Democrats turn out in force we can still defeat the gerrymandering Republicans.
are we in a period of accelerated societal change ? Intutively I agree, but others don't.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0040162521002882
I have been thinking about this very thing ever since last Thursday. The former occupant of the Peoples House must be locked up.
Kudos for this piece, Professor - I hope everyone viewing this today will put pen to paper (fingers to keyboard…) and write to Garland as well.
Be well,
Anne in MD 🌻
Donnie boy trump is a coward and a walking talking Fraud.
His manipulation of the” unwashed “ is a direct result of our failed education system and the formally Supreme Court becoming a corrupt third world elites that wants to be above the law .
That combination of CROOKS and Conmen has been eating at the roots of Democracy for decades. The idea that the Jan 6 traitors and roger stone types can be pardoned is an abuse of common sense that invites vigilante justice, makes this a laughing collection of Fools.
Why doesn’t Roger Stone have to testify and come clean about his abuse of our duty honor and country.??!
J
It might surprise you to know that Roger Stone attended the same high school as Robert Reich, although not in the same class. According to someone I know who was there while both were students, Stone was a huge admirer of Roy Cohn and Richard Nixon even as a high school student.
Yeah progwoman: Guess Stone's teenage fixation on Roy Cohn not difficult to fathom. The blatant fear-mongering based on deep self-loathing psychic contortions and projections seems to be the go-to formula for these neo-nazi/fascist thugs.
That Trump has not all ready been convicted of seditious conspiracy is an absurd obscenity. I am embarrassed by the fecklessness of our justice system, and especially by the Disgraced Roberts Court. The silly six are without a scintilla of ethics. Congratulations to them for replacing the Taney Court as the absolute worst.
Yes, the Taney court is the one that ruled on the Dread Scott case. Is history repeating itself?
Given attitudes at the time of each court, it’s worse. The court has now set itself up as scientific experts who know medicine better than MD’s, ecology better than ecologists, and environmental damage better than toxicologists. And beside that, the Sinister Six are rewriting history in order to decimate precedent.
Beautifully written. Succinct. Simple. Factual.Why is this indictment taking this long? Trump should be dusqualified from running for President under the 14th Amendment which apparently is one Constitutional Amendment thr Republican Party ignores. We have a man who committed treason running for reelection. His main rival has declared that, if elected, he would pardon Trump and all those convicted of the January 6th insurrection. This man wore a uniform of the US Navy and swore an oath to uphold the Constitution with his life. Mr. Top Gov makes a mockery of his service and uses the uniform not in service to his country but to serve his own political ambitions. Its not pudding that DeSantis is eating with his fingers
Name:
Dawna Robertson
Email Address:
Please choose the general topic of your message:
Messages to the Attorney General
Your message to the Department of Justice
Dear AG Garland,
On this Memorial Day, I want YOU and YOUR OFFICE to take solemn note of your duty to protect this democracy from SEDITIOUS criminals. Specifically, Donald J Trump, Virginia Thomas, Roger Stone, John Eastman, Roger Stone—all traitors who planned and participated in the Jan. 6 coup attempt. The Oath Keeper ringleaders received some measure of justice; now it is time to put the hammer of justice to the ACTUAL traitors.
Furthermore, the Republican Party needs to be investigated on RICO charges: A coterie of fascist, neonazi billionaires act as Mob bosses, using their money to install and control GOP office holders. The Republican Party has become an instrument of obstruction of justice and sedition for the purpose of gaining power, influence and monetary exploitation by billionaires who criminally employ “Citizen’s United” to extort politicians who receive campaign funding.
With regards to the Jan. 6 coup, there are specific corporate entities (executive/owners) who financed “election denying candidates” and THEY NEED TO BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE. Investigative reporters, Judd Legum and Rebecca Crosby of “Popular Information” published the names of the “top 50” obstructionists in their article, “Corporations donated more than $35.6 million to election deniers” on Substack. https://popular.info/p/corporations-donated-more-than-356?r=brih&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post.
There is no greater threat to this country and, as Attorney General to the United States, I hope you recognized the duty to bring justice to Republican traitors.
First, Robert, thank you for what you said about Trump. He’s a seditionist of the first and worst order.
In reference to what Memorial Day is about, most of the servicemen who died in battle in the decades since WW II did not do so on behalf of freedom or democracy. They fought in unjust wars. Hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians were murdered by our soldiers, and they had done nothing to hurt us; they hadn’t invaded or attacked our country. The deaths of our soldiers, caused by people defending their homelands, are being used to glorify the hideous national, and presidential, egotism and imperialism that is the great shame of the United States. There’s so much false patriotism about this!
Those who have died in service to this country since World War II were the pawns and victims of our own misguided government. Individually they still deserve our respect and we should honor them.
I know they were pawns. However, any acclaim they receive should include the statement that they were misused, because otherwise if we thank them for their service we are thanking them for fighting in support of hideous American imperialism. Too often the statement is sweetly repeated with hand over heart--“They made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, for democracy, for freedom.” A HIDEOUS LIE! It means that the innocent civilians they killed, the homes they burned, the treasure they looted and destroyed, were all wasted for the sake of freedom, the American flag, and all we hold dear. AWAY WITH THAT HYPOCRISY, THAT FILTH!
Wars are fought by the poor who get drafted. The moneyed and educated wiggle out any draft and in the end the war fighters are scorned as brutal bullies, drug addicts (wwII methamphetamine, wwI drunks, Korea just ignored, Vietnam pot heads heroin, attic‘s and consciously portrayed as baby killers scum and untrustworthy by the organized anti war college educated peers)
BTW Jane Fonda only stupid move was her photograph sitting in a north Vietnam anti aircraft gun that gave a Nixon dirty tricks guys a political opening they exploited Jane was young and just as naïve as the poor soldiers, who actually ended up fighting the war, Jane Fonda has ever since that moment been nothing but supportive and apologetic to all veterans now I admire her willingness to start and FTA and help young men avoid the draft and the criminal meat grinder that was Vietnam. Most soldiers just did their assigned tasks to the best of their ability in support of their fellow soldiers.
There are no political discussion when your getting shot at and friends get wounded or killed you shoot back and seek revenge human traits manipulated by militaries since the beginning of time.
I never even mentioned I was veteran until Bush the Dead on rehabilitation of Vietnam era veterans just prior to the first three day war in Iraq.
J
God bless all of you who were lucky enough to return live well!!!
Agree. Especially indicative of this failure was the fact that the congress never declared war on Vietnam. It was waged as a “police action” similar to Purim’s “ special military operation “. The constitution only gives the congress the authority to declare war. If it does not do so then the prosecution of violence by the military on a foreign country is illegal.
We are teetering on the brink of institutional collapse of our formally great country. We need battle of ideas to refresh our Democracy.not just moneyed interests.
J