On chaos: Drawing from Friday’s news and the Atlantic, it looks as if Tuberville’s menacing, one-man blockade has been, in part, to muzzle Gen. Milley’s chilling revelations about Trump...delayed as long and tortuous as possible… right up to the October 1st deadline. That is to say, Milley could not speak out until the confirmation of his successor, which marked Milley’s official retirement.
That is true. General Miley knows where all the bodies are. The stories he can tell. Since 45 could not get what he was doing with foreign affairs he would of given Ukraine to Putin, maybe start World War III.
45’s failure to understand history and his autocratic views would of killed NATO and destroyed America. He is a threat to the living and the dead. Why is he running again? We did not have enough of four years of 45? If we start with ending Citizen United and get money out of politics it would be a start. Look let’s start working to defeat the autocrats and save Democracy! We can then discuss everything else! Come on people work together!
Well, maybe the corrupt moolah his kids made on the sly. I guarantee that amount will make Hunter Biden’s income from Berizma look like chump change. Why aren’t Jared and that plastic bobo doll of a wife, Ivanka not on the investigation list?
PS. I used a lot of Prof Reich’s material to teach undergraduates courses in psychology during the last half of a 43 year career in the State University of NY University College at old Westbury the social justice campus of the 62 unit system. His work is beautifully illustrated and content rationally and accurately organized making it accessible to undergraduate students in social, developmental, practice and research courses helping students to make sense of systemic racism, classism and sexism and the dynamics of failure to address the needs of working people. Thanks Dr. Reich, M Barrett, PhD Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus, (active 9/75-8/2018.
I haven't heard much about their lives and it seems they are much smarter (possibly more honest) than T(?) Can't go this way without facts. Thanks for reply.
I totally agree. He is running to keep his sorry ass out of prison. No one and nothing means a tinker's damn to him but himself and his pathetic malignant narcissistic ego.This country is going to be feeling the effects of his 4 year reign of terror for many years. He and those who aided him must be held accountable. It is surrealistic that some of these people are still in Congress representing(if you can call it that) constituents.
Robert, its nice to see you found a way to catch a plane, just kidding we missed ya. Hi Heather. As for the subject of this thread Trump loves confusion. If that man was on a submarine he wouldn't be happy unless he heard the captain shouting "Dive-Dive-Dive." Then as things got a bit "Stormy" a smile would appear on both his face and hers. Seriously, Trump needs to create a feeling of uncertainty in order for him to seize the moment. The status quo holds no opportunity for Trump, he strives to create as much fear and chaos as he possibly can. Through that feeling of social unrest Donnie Boy finds his happy place. and the rest of us and our country suffers.
We do not need states to become like the released - 'El Juicio (The Trial)' details the 1976-'83 Argentine dictatorship's reign of terror - (NPR story) tapes.
Writing off Florida is like writing off the Ukraine. These policies are aggressive and these right wing zealots will not stop at the borders.
“… retirement translates Milley’s freedom of speech. Under Senate norms, Milley’s retirement would have occurred six months ago, March 2023. Tuberville sold his position on the MAGA retail market on anti-abortion; while in truth, the far more significant motive was to avoid six-months of Milley’s shocking revelations about Trump’s view of wounded veterans (or his view that soldiers are nothing more than “killers”). Having recently relocated to a retirement community, in Richmond, VA, it was a shock to run headlong into a large population of retired MAGA military blindly devoted to Trump. Since this group appears wedded to FOX and buried in Trump’s insurrection bunker, I wonder if they will ever be exposed to the facts.
I'm sorry to hear of your new challenging community. Its make up seems typical of those of my boom gen, at least in the past (I grew up in Virginia) as those who chose military careers were always predominantly conservative in orientation. That the military is sticking up for federal funding for their female soldier's choice is VERY commendable. Why Tuberville would make a big deal of paying a soldier's petty transport costs when getting an abortion of an unborn fetus in another state on some moral grounds, while sanctioning those soldiers in training to and/or actually engaged in the murder the already born is just too ironic.
We were so fortunate to have our joint chiefs of staff and every ex-general stand up against the partisan pressuring of the military to go along with a repressive and punitive agenda that the 1/6 conspirators/rabble rousers were dreaming of (declaring martial law). Hopefully these new appointments will be as staunch as Milley was to block authoritarian impulses--even he got hooked into the circus.
Perhaps you are the leaven there to leaven that whole bunch of diehards? Good luck. Channel comedy, good listening skills, and a mighty compassionate heart---its the only way--otherwise its just too easy, and ineffective to boot, to belittle their loyalties.
Lt. Col. Mike Franken, who ran against Chuck Grassley in the last election, recounted how he cut off FOX News in the mess. I think he was the exception to the rule. Which suggests that in countless other battalions, FOX ran breakfast, lunch and dinner. One of my former graduate students married a retired nuclear sub engineer, Naval Academy graduate, and moved with him to a military suburb south of Norfolk Va. Surrounded by military wives, she fell in line with the anti-abortion, pro-Trump talk on neighborhood morning runs. This is how disinformation and anti-democratic bias forms in neighborhood cells and metastases. And then you get the military in the mob at the Capitol.
Trump and MAGA will full out blame Biden and the Democrats and will profile GOP and Trump as the right party to solve the ensuing chaos and damage done to the American people........and many Americans will fall for it because once the chaos is there, people are only interested in how to get out . Who to blame is irrelevant then . The party who makes the most populist promises with the loudest voice will win, independent of whether these promises are realistic. A few short term wins will be sufficient. Concerns about the longer term consequences of a MAGA regime also will be pushed aside
Divide us and conquer us. In one fell swoop Trump weakens the FDR Democratic base and activates his cult.
As Robert said, as many as 40% of union members supported Trump in 2016 and 2020.
Many in the UAW membership voted for Trump twice, are anti-immigrant, and some have that collective racist subconscious. They remember jobs lost to China, Japan, S. Korea, and most especially the more than one million Mexicans working in the 3,000+ maquiladora plants.
Nevermind that Biden is bringing new car jobs and Trump was an utter failure.
I'm more hopeful about the 'Murican people honestly. Recent statistics show that a scant 25% are registered Trumplicans! Of that, only about 40% even support Bunkerboy!
I stopped taking math classes my last year of High School, as I was bafflingly a year ahead, so I needed a website for this: Only 10% of those in "The United Shtaysh" are Ttump supporters! [sic] This means that their second coup WILL fail . . . IF we ALL vote!!!
If handled properly, the younger generation can outvote everyone else. A union of Gen Z and millennial voters will account for nearly 40 percent of votes in the next presidential election, according to estimates from the Center for American Progress.
I'm pessimistic about the future of our American experiment. The votes siphoned from Biden by the No Labels and Green Parties might get us a second Trump presidency.
Why should Trump have anything to say about our economy? He doesn’t understand anything about the economy, government, international trade, the Constitution, rule of law, or Democracy. Trump is a traitor that has sold our Democracy out for personal power and personal financial wealth.
Because appearance, in politics, is more important than reality. Trump is a fraud and should be depicted as such. But our media is complicit or incompetent or both.
Blame is not consequential to those who can rally their supporters. It’s free publicity for extremists. We’ve reached the point where the purpose of working for the common good is uncommon. If citizens who are centrists don’t exercise their franchise, they will have conceded their freedoms. Registering and voting is the primary response to autocracy.
I basically agree. I think who gets blamed depends on who you ask and what news they consume. It's always been that way, to some extent, but I suspect it may be more that way now than it's ever been before, and I think it's a politically calculated objective.
What am I missing? The Republicans don’t give one hoot about the country. To watch them trying to destroy rather then to fix is disheartening. They are more un-American than any sworn enemy. How surreal!
On McCarthy, the voters in Kern County should be hanging their heads in shame. This power mad wimp is NOT a leader, he's a whining coward who caves as soon as the MAGAts raise their voices. The MAGAts, in turn have maybe three brain cells they share amongst them. Do they think voters are going to praise them if their Social Security payments are not deposited? If their children, relatives and friends in government service receive no paychecks? They, the Republicans, will be blamed, and even the media will need to report at least some of the truth.
UAW strike: I read that the big three have furloughed several workers in addition to those on strike. Personally I don't give a damn, I don't drive and from 1960 to 2017 I drove Volkswagons or Japanese cars as they were more reliable, had more useful gadgets, and lasted longer, plus I was able to repair them myself, and they got way better mileage. Why would any decent citizen think that it was ok when the companies cut pay and benefits for workers when the manufacturers were in trouble, but when they were making record profits they kept the money for the executives and none for the workers. YAY for the unions.
Trump is against aid to Ukraine because he intends to give Ukraine to Putin if he regains the Presidency even if he is in prison. And of course, he will blame Biden,Democrats, educated people, anyone who didn't vote for him, and for everything he perceives as not good for Trump.
The so-called 'mainstream media' quit reporting the real news during the Reign of Terror (trump that is) So why should they point out that Biden is slim, healthy, and has excellent control for a person who has dealt with a lifelong speech impediment. They would then have to report that der donald is a fat sack of orange blubber with a very low intellect and who's claim to fame consists of stiffing sub-contractors, 6 bankruptcies, 4 indictments on 91 counts, found guilty of one rape and is under judgement of millions of dollars.
Heather, I love your policy of the week idea. And thank you for pointing out San Francisco's tax on multi-millionaires.
Fay, why don't you say what you REALLY think? (LOL) News has separated into those who will really report what is going on and those who will say anything for ratings. There should be a civics test for those who run for office (and I am sure 45 would flunk) and those who don't get above "C" should be forbidden from running.
Thank you, Cathie for saying it for me, I love your Civics test, I absolutely agree that anyone running fir office either by appointment or election should have to pass a civics test, how else can they write legislation or pass judgement. Maybe back in the days of the wild, wild, west they could get away with just a gun and a star; but this is the twenty-first century 150 years later, we should and need to expect more. As to those who would flunk the test, add blaring Jim Jordan, and dumb as a rock Tommy Tuberville.
It’s ironic that as the head of the Judiciary Committee, Jordan has never taken the bar exam. His only “qualification” - he is a staunch ally of Trump. He doesn’t care about justice for the American people. He should NOT be in that position.
You have that so right! Apparently his constituency thinks a wrestling coach involved in a college scandal is a better fit since he loves trumspsters and yells a lot.
No, He was appointed by dumdum Kevin McCarthy during his fight to achieve House Speakership. Like the whore that he is he sold his soul (worthless as it is) to the MAGA maniacs in the House. As usual the craven McCarthy slithered on his belly to kiss the rings.
Without hearing your comments first, the simple answer to your question is that very simply, Trump is Captain Chaos. But beyond that simple answer lies much deeper questions. Like why. Why does he chose chaos. There we can find the epicenter of his selfish evilness. Me! Me! Me!, My! My! My! And finally, "Le etat et mois." The horrors of comprehending this are what ultimately are driving all of our thoughts, communications, and ultimately, votes. And the better this is understood, the more certain we are to vote. I, for one, urge the vote. Ultimately, it is his biggest trip wire. So vote. Against Trump. Against the crazies in Congress. Against authoritarianism. Against chaos. Against this entire evil mess. Trip him up -- Vote.
Lawrence O'Donnell correctly stated on his show Thursday that Tommy Tuberville is the stupidest Senator with his blockade on military appointments. Tuberville personifies all that is wrong with the Republican party. It appears that their main priority is the "gum up" government with inane investigations (Impeach Joe Biden) and causes (CRT) instead of prioritizing the needs of the country.
House Republicans should be representing the American people, specifically all of the people in their voting districts, regardless of age, economic status, sexual orientation, political party, etc. This includes the responsibility of upholding one of the main responsibilities of the House of Representatives: to keep the government fiscally running. If they fail to do this they are negligent in their duties as elected representatives of our government. There must be someway when treasonous, and this is treasonous activity (when you put self above nation) occurs that they can speedily be removed from office other than waiting for another election. Should not the states have a remedy for this if the Congress cannot?
"There must be someway [to stop it] when treasonous, and this is treasonous activity"
It's simple, Garland as attorney general has the power to investigate and if treason, rebellion or insurrection, to prosecute. In fact, McCarthy and Gym Jordan were in conrtempt of the past Congress and were referred for investigation.
18 USC §2383. Rebellion or insurrection
Whoever incites, sets on foot, assists, or engages in any rebellion or insurrection against the authority of the United States or the laws thereof, or gives aid or comfort thereto, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States.
IMHO all of those whpo soulght pardons from Trump should have been investigated from the moment Garland was sworn.
18 USC §2384. Seditious conspiracy
If two or more persons in any State or Territory, or in any place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, conspire to overthrow, put down, or to destroy by force the Government of the United States, or to levy war against them, or to oppose by force the authority thereof, or by force to prevent, hinder, or delay the execution of any law of the United States, or by force to seize, take, or possess any property of the United States contrary to the authority thereof, they shall each be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both.
In reality, the facts appeaar that they are taking orders from Trump, to protect him.
I watched the recent hearing. Garland as a witness, despite having heard thousands of cases, had no clue how to handle cross examination. I don't understand why the Democrats didn't object -- to the hearing, let alone objectionle questions. Most of the Republican "questions" were loaded with false facts that are not part of an established record. As a matter of right, Garland should have been given the opportunity to see whether they are true or false. Facts assumed not part of the record are objectionale. Argumentative questions, impertinent questions are objectionable. I was embarrassed for him and for the entire process.
Norman Griffin, I strongly agree! In these last eight years, I sure have learned a lot about where there are gaps in laws, policies, and traditions and how rascals game them, exploit them and dishonor them. It appalls me, the sheer number of people who never did believe in democracy.
Please don’t be offended, but you lost me at the third word, “should.”
Next you will tell me republicans are hypocrites.
There is no point in telling the choir the flaws and lies of the enemy. We need to find a way to make the less involved see the danger and that they are being played.
Exactly. I was being metaphorical. That persona reached people we don’t.
I too like this substack and the comments. I feel I’m in a community of people who think like I do. But we need to reach a whole different population of citizens.
The states do have a remedy--election. The problem is gerrymandering. The corruption of the R Party is as bad as it has been in over 100 years (back to bosses running politics in smoke-filled rooms). This is exacerbated by the electoral college. Basically, our entire system is corrupt in favor of the minority.
Most will blame "congress" in general because most folks only listen to sound bites from MSM or don't listen to any news at all. Folks like Robert Reich need to keep up the good work educating the youngsters.
Thanks for calling out the MSM's obsession with Biden's age (which they can never mention without claiming that voters are worried about it--thus telling voters that they should be worried about it). Trump is only 3 1/2 years younger than Biden and in far worse shape physically and mentally, but they never mention that.
I wonder if it's their obsession with "even-handedness": it's one of the few things they can find to criticize about Biden, while the only positive thing they can find to say about Trump is that he's leading in the GQP polls.
Of course, they could just be boiler-plating in the mantra about Biden's age's worrying voters into ANYTHING they write about him to meet a required word count--or maybe they just resent him because he doesn't give them scandalous headlines on a daily basis. Hmmm . . . maybe they want Trump to win to keep up their readership; after all, people no longer wake up every morning thinking, "What has he done THIS time?"
Coincidentally, Amanda Marcotte of Salon just posted the following (looks like I guessed right on the "Biden is old" stories):
Why the media has picked up on the dumbest storylines
We’ve got over a year to go before the 2024 election, and already, mainstream journalists are starting to act like they were born yesterday. That’s evident in the flood of “Biden is old” stories, which present a fact that’s always been known as somehow “news.” And, maddeningly, it’s in the “Trump pivots to moderate on abortion” stories, which are all built on the preposterous assumption that we can believe a word Trump says about anything.
What these two stories have in common, besides a total failure to be honest with the audience, is that they are both rooted in a bit of wishcasting: For a competitive presidential primary. Not because the press thinks it’s good for democracy or for the voters, but because they need to fill column inches.
Intra-party conflicts drive audience interest, especially in one party-dominated markets, where primaries are that rare opportunity for voters to feel like their vote matters. If you live in New York or Texas, you already knew how your state was going in the 2016 general election, for instance, but not on the question of Hillary vs. Bernie or Trump vs. the 16 other GOP candidates.
Filing deadlines are next month, so we’re getting a huge “Biden is old” push now from journalists who are praying someone younger decides to run in the Democratic primary at the last minute. Similarly, there’s hope that Trump’s “moderation” on abortion will somehow turn evangelicals against him, allow some other candidate to get some votes, and turn the GOP primary into a real contest.
It’s a sign of how desperate the media is for some more interesting horse-race coverage that they’re going there. Folks, it’s just not happening. No one is challenging Biden on the left. No one on the right actually thinks Trump has become a squish on abortion. It’s Trump v. Biden, like it or not. And, like it or not, the fate of democracy still lies in the balance.
I believe Biden is extraordinarily intelligent, empathetic, knowledgeable, capable, and believes in our Democracy and the welfare of the American people! He should not be compared to the ordinary layman. One cell in Biden’s body is more capable than all the radical right wing Fascist Republican candidates young or old who care nothing about the American people but their own personal political power and personal financial wealth!
And ALL of them are mentally incompetent? You must live in an old age home.
I'm 77, and I also know a lot of older people.. I just retired from teaching university--not because I could no longer do it but because I no longer wanted to do it. I have friends who are older than I who are still doing it and doing it well.
I'd say very few people of ANY age could run a country. Biden has the necessary experience, seems to still have the necessary energy and mental acuity, and has seemingly chosen good advisors; I'd trust him over people half his age, like Vivek Ramaswamy, or a bit more, like DeSantis..
If not all people over 70 are mentally incompetent, why do you think the ones who are mentally competent are still not mentally capable of running a government?
Do I forget things or people's names? Yes, and I have done so all my life. It's part of my ADHD, but it doesn't seem to have stopped me from getting my PhD or teaching university.
Am I capable of running a government; probably not, but I doubt I would have been capable of doing so when I was half my age due to ADHD. One the other hand, I've met people older than me to whom I would entrust that responsibility. For example, I heard Norman Thomas speak when he was 84, and he blew me away; I'd happily have voted for him.
I am 81 and I agree. There should be a retirement age for all government officials. That way we wouldn't be stuck with so many elders in government. I still have most of my marbles, but some of them get misplaced at times. I wouldn't want the weight of running the government in my hands.
The majority of U S citizens have grown tired of the blame game and the tyranny of one lone Senator, House Member, President, Governor or Judge deciding what’s best for the country. WE are in charge and WE will replace those who FAIL to UNITE us, FAIL to believe in the Constitution and the RULE of law, and FAIL to recognize OUR collective authority!
UAW president Shawn Fein said outright that Trump is one of the wealthy coastal elitists who has benefitted from the system that is harming ordinary workers. He has also said that a second Trump administration would be a disaster. Democrats should run with this message. When Trump was president, he appointed people who were virulently anti-labor as Labor Secretary and to the NLRB. He also, during the pandemic, ordered that meat processing plants remain open at full capacity, without protections for workers, such that many of them died, as a direct result of this anti-worker policy. And remember Trump's generous tax cut for himself.
Trump is one of the powerful elites who has rigged the system in favor of the wealthy.
On chaos: Drawing from Friday’s news and the Atlantic, it looks as if Tuberville’s menacing, one-man blockade has been, in part, to muzzle Gen. Milley’s chilling revelations about Trump...delayed as long and tortuous as possible… right up to the October 1st deadline. That is to say, Milley could not speak out until the confirmation of his successor, which marked Milley’s official retirement.
That is true. General Miley knows where all the bodies are. The stories he can tell. Since 45 could not get what he was doing with foreign affairs he would of given Ukraine to Putin, maybe start World War III.
45’s failure to understand history and his autocratic views would of killed NATO and destroyed America. He is a threat to the living and the dead. Why is he running again? We did not have enough of four years of 45? If we start with ending Citizen United and get money out of politics it would be a start. Look let’s start working to defeat the autocrats and save Democracy! We can then discuss everything else! Come on people work together!
T. is running only to be able to pardon himself. I don't think he cares about anything else...
Well, maybe the corrupt moolah his kids made on the sly. I guarantee that amount will make Hunter Biden’s income from Berizma look like chump change. Why aren’t Jared and that plastic bobo doll of a wife, Ivanka not on the investigation list?
PS. I used a lot of Prof Reich’s material to teach undergraduates courses in psychology during the last half of a 43 year career in the State University of NY University College at old Westbury the social justice campus of the 62 unit system. His work is beautifully illustrated and content rationally and accurately organized making it accessible to undergraduate students in social, developmental, practice and research courses helping students to make sense of systemic racism, classism and sexism and the dynamics of failure to address the needs of working people. Thanks Dr. Reich, M Barrett, PhD Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus, (active 9/75-8/2018.
Update to my previous comment:
I agree. Professor Reich is a beautiful Human Being. Unfortunately in the era of social media - this doesn't spread like a fire...
I haven't heard much about their lives and it seems they are much smarter (possibly more honest) than T(?) Can't go this way without facts. Thanks for reply.
I totally agree. He is running to keep his sorry ass out of prison. No one and nothing means a tinker's damn to him but himself and his pathetic malignant narcissistic ego.This country is going to be feeling the effects of his 4 year reign of terror for many years. He and those who aided him must be held accountable. It is surrealistic that some of these people are still in Congress representing(if you can call it that) constituents.
A SINGLE gaff, Ms. Goldman! Bunkerboy's demenSHAH made him say World War TWO. This might start World War TWO somehow.
You mean WWIi, don't you (haha)?
Right you are.
Very scary how brainwashed mist of our military is — and partisan
Robert, its nice to see you found a way to catch a plane, just kidding we missed ya. Hi Heather. As for the subject of this thread Trump loves confusion. If that man was on a submarine he wouldn't be happy unless he heard the captain shouting "Dive-Dive-Dive." Then as things got a bit "Stormy" a smile would appear on both his face and hers. Seriously, Trump needs to create a feeling of uncertainty in order for him to seize the moment. The status quo holds no opportunity for Trump, he strives to create as much fear and chaos as he possibly can. Through that feeling of social unrest Donnie Boy finds his happy place. and the rest of us and our country suffers.
We do not need states to become like the released - 'El Juicio (The Trial)' details the 1976-'83 Argentine dictatorship's reign of terror - (NPR story) tapes.
Writing off Florida is like writing off the Ukraine. These policies are aggressive and these right wing zealots will not stop at the borders.
“… retirement translates Milley’s freedom of speech. Under Senate norms, Milley’s retirement would have occurred six months ago, March 2023. Tuberville sold his position on the MAGA retail market on anti-abortion; while in truth, the far more significant motive was to avoid six-months of Milley’s shocking revelations about Trump’s view of wounded veterans (or his view that soldiers are nothing more than “killers”). Having recently relocated to a retirement community, in Richmond, VA, it was a shock to run headlong into a large population of retired MAGA military blindly devoted to Trump. Since this group appears wedded to FOX and buried in Trump’s insurrection bunker, I wonder if they will ever be exposed to the facts.
I'm sorry to hear of your new challenging community. Its make up seems typical of those of my boom gen, at least in the past (I grew up in Virginia) as those who chose military careers were always predominantly conservative in orientation. That the military is sticking up for federal funding for their female soldier's choice is VERY commendable. Why Tuberville would make a big deal of paying a soldier's petty transport costs when getting an abortion of an unborn fetus in another state on some moral grounds, while sanctioning those soldiers in training to and/or actually engaged in the murder the already born is just too ironic.
We were so fortunate to have our joint chiefs of staff and every ex-general stand up against the partisan pressuring of the military to go along with a repressive and punitive agenda that the 1/6 conspirators/rabble rousers were dreaming of (declaring martial law). Hopefully these new appointments will be as staunch as Milley was to block authoritarian impulses--even he got hooked into the circus.
Perhaps you are the leaven there to leaven that whole bunch of diehards? Good luck. Channel comedy, good listening skills, and a mighty compassionate heart---its the only way--otherwise its just too easy, and ineffective to boot, to belittle their loyalties.
Lt. Col. Mike Franken, who ran against Chuck Grassley in the last election, recounted how he cut off FOX News in the mess. I think he was the exception to the rule. Which suggests that in countless other battalions, FOX ran breakfast, lunch and dinner. One of my former graduate students married a retired nuclear sub engineer, Naval Academy graduate, and moved with him to a military suburb south of Norfolk Va. Surrounded by military wives, she fell in line with the anti-abortion, pro-Trump talk on neighborhood morning runs. This is how disinformation and anti-democratic bias forms in neighborhood cells and metastases. And then you get the military in the mob at the Capitol.
Trump and MAGA will full out blame Biden and the Democrats and will profile GOP and Trump as the right party to solve the ensuing chaos and damage done to the American people........and many Americans will fall for it because once the chaos is there, people are only interested in how to get out . Who to blame is irrelevant then . The party who makes the most populist promises with the loudest voice will win, independent of whether these promises are realistic. A few short term wins will be sufficient. Concerns about the longer term consequences of a MAGA regime also will be pushed aside
Divide us and conquer us. In one fell swoop Trump weakens the FDR Democratic base and activates his cult.
As Robert said, as many as 40% of union members supported Trump in 2016 and 2020.
Many in the UAW membership voted for Trump twice, are anti-immigrant, and some have that collective racist subconscious. They remember jobs lost to China, Japan, S. Korea, and most especially the more than one million Mexicans working in the 3,000+ maquiladora plants.
Nevermind that Biden is bringing new car jobs and Trump was an utter failure.
I'm more hopeful about the 'Murican people honestly. Recent statistics show that a scant 25% are registered Trumplicans! Of that, only about 40% even support Bunkerboy!
I stopped taking math classes my last year of High School, as I was bafflingly a year ahead, so I needed a website for this: Only 10% of those in "The United Shtaysh" are Ttump supporters! [sic] This means that their second coup WILL fail . . . IF we ALL vote!!!
Even BETTER??? 70% of AMERICANS are more PROGRESSive than Bunkerboy and his ilk!
If handled properly, the younger generation can outvote everyone else. A union of Gen Z and millennial voters will account for nearly 40 percent of votes in the next presidential election, according to estimates from the Center for American Progress.
https://www.americanprogress.org/article/americas-electoral-future-3/
https://time.com/6272690/democrats-young-people-vote/
Kevin McCarthy himself said that the house repugs are to blame.
I'm pessimistic about the future of our American experiment. The votes siphoned from Biden by the No Labels and Green Parties might get us a second Trump presidency.
Why should Trump have anything to say about our economy? He doesn’t understand anything about the economy, government, international trade, the Constitution, rule of law, or Democracy. Trump is a traitor that has sold our Democracy out for personal power and personal financial wealth.
Because appearance, in politics, is more important than reality. Trump is a fraud and should be depicted as such. But our media is complicit or incompetent or both.
Blame is not consequential to those who can rally their supporters. It’s free publicity for extremists. We’ve reached the point where the purpose of working for the common good is uncommon. If citizens who are centrists don’t exercise their franchise, they will have conceded their freedoms. Registering and voting is the primary response to autocracy.
I basically agree. I think who gets blamed depends on who you ask and what news they consume. It's always been that way, to some extent, but I suspect it may be more that way now than it's ever been before, and I think it's a politically calculated objective.
Doesn't HAVE to be that way.
Without getting all euphoric, there >seems< to be room for a little optimism, if you haven't seen this MSNBC view from 2 days ago: https://youtu.be/hwGweHQ2t4s?si=MpeH51RpxJXbFNx-
But then again, it all goes back to who you ask and what news they consume.
What am I missing? The Republicans don’t give one hoot about the country. To watch them trying to destroy rather then to fix is disheartening. They are more un-American than any sworn enemy. How surreal!
"Republicans don’t give one hoot " That should be the thesis sentence in every news article about politics.
Heasdlines, "Republicans don’t give one hoot!"
On McCarthy, the voters in Kern County should be hanging their heads in shame. This power mad wimp is NOT a leader, he's a whining coward who caves as soon as the MAGAts raise their voices. The MAGAts, in turn have maybe three brain cells they share amongst them. Do they think voters are going to praise them if their Social Security payments are not deposited? If their children, relatives and friends in government service receive no paychecks? They, the Republicans, will be blamed, and even the media will need to report at least some of the truth.
UAW strike: I read that the big three have furloughed several workers in addition to those on strike. Personally I don't give a damn, I don't drive and from 1960 to 2017 I drove Volkswagons or Japanese cars as they were more reliable, had more useful gadgets, and lasted longer, plus I was able to repair them myself, and they got way better mileage. Why would any decent citizen think that it was ok when the companies cut pay and benefits for workers when the manufacturers were in trouble, but when they were making record profits they kept the money for the executives and none for the workers. YAY for the unions.
Trump is against aid to Ukraine because he intends to give Ukraine to Putin if he regains the Presidency even if he is in prison. And of course, he will blame Biden,Democrats, educated people, anyone who didn't vote for him, and for everything he perceives as not good for Trump.
The so-called 'mainstream media' quit reporting the real news during the Reign of Terror (trump that is) So why should they point out that Biden is slim, healthy, and has excellent control for a person who has dealt with a lifelong speech impediment. They would then have to report that der donald is a fat sack of orange blubber with a very low intellect and who's claim to fame consists of stiffing sub-contractors, 6 bankruptcies, 4 indictments on 91 counts, found guilty of one rape and is under judgement of millions of dollars.
Heather, I love your policy of the week idea. And thank you for pointing out San Francisco's tax on multi-millionaires.
You forgot to point out he buried his first wife on his golf course in
Bedminster , New Jersey.
Fay, why don't you say what you REALLY think? (LOL) News has separated into those who will really report what is going on and those who will say anything for ratings. There should be a civics test for those who run for office (and I am sure 45 would flunk) and those who don't get above "C" should be forbidden from running.
Thank you, Cathie for saying it for me, I love your Civics test, I absolutely agree that anyone running fir office either by appointment or election should have to pass a civics test, how else can they write legislation or pass judgement. Maybe back in the days of the wild, wild, west they could get away with just a gun and a star; but this is the twenty-first century 150 years later, we should and need to expect more. As to those who would flunk the test, add blaring Jim Jordan, and dumb as a rock Tommy Tuberville.
It’s ironic that as the head of the Judiciary Committee, Jordan has never taken the bar exam. His only “qualification” - he is a staunch ally of Trump. He doesn’t care about justice for the American people. He should NOT be in that position.
You have that so right! Apparently his constituency thinks a wrestling coach involved in a college scandal is a better fit since he loves trumspsters and yells a lot.
How did he get that position? Wasn’t he appointed by Trump?
No, He was appointed by dumdum Kevin McCarthy during his fight to achieve House Speakership. Like the whore that he is he sold his soul (worthless as it is) to the MAGA maniacs in the House. As usual the craven McCarthy slithered on his belly to kiss the rings.
👍
You should write a column in the paper!
Very kind of you, but doubtful, the Sacramento Bee publishes very few letters to the editor
Too Bad!
Without hearing your comments first, the simple answer to your question is that very simply, Trump is Captain Chaos. But beyond that simple answer lies much deeper questions. Like why. Why does he chose chaos. There we can find the epicenter of his selfish evilness. Me! Me! Me!, My! My! My! And finally, "Le etat et mois." The horrors of comprehending this are what ultimately are driving all of our thoughts, communications, and ultimately, votes. And the better this is understood, the more certain we are to vote. I, for one, urge the vote. Ultimately, it is his biggest trip wire. So vote. Against Trump. Against the crazies in Congress. Against authoritarianism. Against chaos. Against this entire evil mess. Trip him up -- Vote.
Journalists should be required to pass a Civic Education course about our governmental System. “Inform oneself before trying to inform the public”
John Livingstone
Lawrence O'Donnell correctly stated on his show Thursday that Tommy Tuberville is the stupidest Senator with his blockade on military appointments. Tuberville personifies all that is wrong with the Republican party. It appears that their main priority is the "gum up" government with inane investigations (Impeach Joe Biden) and causes (CRT) instead of prioritizing the needs of the country.
House Republicans should be representing the American people, specifically all of the people in their voting districts, regardless of age, economic status, sexual orientation, political party, etc. This includes the responsibility of upholding one of the main responsibilities of the House of Representatives: to keep the government fiscally running. If they fail to do this they are negligent in their duties as elected representatives of our government. There must be someway when treasonous, and this is treasonous activity (when you put self above nation) occurs that they can speedily be removed from office other than waiting for another election. Should not the states have a remedy for this if the Congress cannot?
"There must be someway [to stop it] when treasonous, and this is treasonous activity"
It's simple, Garland as attorney general has the power to investigate and if treason, rebellion or insurrection, to prosecute. In fact, McCarthy and Gym Jordan were in conrtempt of the past Congress and were referred for investigation.
18 USC §2383. Rebellion or insurrection
Whoever incites, sets on foot, assists, or engages in any rebellion or insurrection against the authority of the United States or the laws thereof, or gives aid or comfort thereto, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States.
The Gym Jordan House committee attacked state prosecutions in NY and GA, and can be investigated for obstruction of justice. https://www.justice.gov/archives/jm/criminal-resource-manual-1721-protection-government-processes-obstruction-justice-scope-18-usc#:~:text=Section%201503%20of%20Title%2018,intimidate%2C%20or%20impede.%22%20Section
IMHO all of those whpo soulght pardons from Trump should have been investigated from the moment Garland was sworn.
18 USC §2384. Seditious conspiracy
If two or more persons in any State or Territory, or in any place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, conspire to overthrow, put down, or to destroy by force the Government of the United States, or to levy war against them, or to oppose by force the authority thereof, or by force to prevent, hinder, or delay the execution of any law of the United States, or by force to seize, take, or possess any property of the United States contrary to the authority thereof, they shall each be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both.
In reality, the facts appeaar that they are taking orders from Trump, to protect him.
I watched the recent hearing. Garland as a witness, despite having heard thousands of cases, had no clue how to handle cross examination. I don't understand why the Democrats didn't object -- to the hearing, let alone objectionle questions. Most of the Republican "questions" were loaded with false facts that are not part of an established record. As a matter of right, Garland should have been given the opportunity to see whether they are true or false. Facts assumed not part of the record are objectionale. Argumentative questions, impertinent questions are objectionable. I was embarrassed for him and for the entire process.
Sounds like they need your help. Interested in saving our Democracy?
Norman Griffin, I strongly agree! In these last eight years, I sure have learned a lot about where there are gaps in laws, policies, and traditions and how rascals game them, exploit them and dishonor them. It appalls me, the sheer number of people who never did believe in democracy.
Please don’t be offended, but you lost me at the third word, “should.”
Next you will tell me republicans are hypocrites.
There is no point in telling the choir the flaws and lies of the enemy. We need to find a way to make the less involved see the danger and that they are being played.
We need Joe the Plumber.
Wasn't even a plumber. All bull.
Exactly. I was being metaphorical. That persona reached people we don’t.
I too like this substack and the comments. I feel I’m in a community of people who think like I do. But we need to reach a whole different population of citizens.
The states do have a remedy--election. The problem is gerrymandering. The corruption of the R Party is as bad as it has been in over 100 years (back to bosses running politics in smoke-filled rooms). This is exacerbated by the electoral college. Basically, our entire system is corrupt in favor of the minority.
It’s so good to klatch with you!
Why does #MangoWanker do anything?
1. To evade prison
2. To please the Russian mob (who set vigorish on his $2 billion loans from them)
3. To crash American justice system (see #1)
Most will blame "congress" in general because most folks only listen to sound bites from MSM or don't listen to any news at all. Folks like Robert Reich need to keep up the good work educating the youngsters.
stee9190, oh I hadn't thought of Congress as a whole being blamed. Yes, I bet many will do so.
Thanks for calling out the MSM's obsession with Biden's age (which they can never mention without claiming that voters are worried about it--thus telling voters that they should be worried about it). Trump is only 3 1/2 years younger than Biden and in far worse shape physically and mentally, but they never mention that.
I wonder if it's their obsession with "even-handedness": it's one of the few things they can find to criticize about Biden, while the only positive thing they can find to say about Trump is that he's leading in the GQP polls.
Of course, they could just be boiler-plating in the mantra about Biden's age's worrying voters into ANYTHING they write about him to meet a required word count--or maybe they just resent him because he doesn't give them scandalous headlines on a daily basis. Hmmm . . . maybe they want Trump to win to keep up their readership; after all, people no longer wake up every morning thinking, "What has he done THIS time?"
Coincidentally, Amanda Marcotte of Salon just posted the following (looks like I guessed right on the "Biden is old" stories):
Why the media has picked up on the dumbest storylines
We’ve got over a year to go before the 2024 election, and already, mainstream journalists are starting to act like they were born yesterday. That’s evident in the flood of “Biden is old” stories, which present a fact that’s always been known as somehow “news.” And, maddeningly, it’s in the “Trump pivots to moderate on abortion” stories, which are all built on the preposterous assumption that we can believe a word Trump says about anything.
What these two stories have in common, besides a total failure to be honest with the audience, is that they are both rooted in a bit of wishcasting: For a competitive presidential primary. Not because the press thinks it’s good for democracy or for the voters, but because they need to fill column inches.
Intra-party conflicts drive audience interest, especially in one party-dominated markets, where primaries are that rare opportunity for voters to feel like their vote matters. If you live in New York or Texas, you already knew how your state was going in the 2016 general election, for instance, but not on the question of Hillary vs. Bernie or Trump vs. the 16 other GOP candidates.
Filing deadlines are next month, so we’re getting a huge “Biden is old” push now from journalists who are praying someone younger decides to run in the Democratic primary at the last minute. Similarly, there’s hope that Trump’s “moderation” on abortion will somehow turn evangelicals against him, allow some other candidate to get some votes, and turn the GOP primary into a real contest.
It’s a sign of how desperate the media is for some more interesting horse-race coverage that they’re going there. Folks, it’s just not happening. No one is challenging Biden on the left. No one on the right actually thinks Trump has become a squish on abortion. It’s Trump v. Biden, like it or not. And, like it or not, the fate of democracy still lies in the balance.
Personally. I live with an 80yr old husband who is quite active but his brain, is working, he forgets a LOT and does some odd things.
I don't think anyone over 70yrs should be running a country.
I believe Biden is extraordinarily intelligent, empathetic, knowledgeable, capable, and believes in our Democracy and the welfare of the American people! He should not be compared to the ordinary layman. One cell in Biden’s body is more capable than all the radical right wing Fascist Republican candidates young or old who care nothing about the American people but their own personal political power and personal financial wealth!
Why? Just because your husband couldn't do it?
Because she is a French voter, hates the US, and does not care whether Fascism wins.
You know Daniel this is a very childish reply.
Yes I am in France.
I do not hate the US but I do see how all this came about.
Of course I don't want 'Facism' to win that does not mean I have to like Biden.
Yuck.
Because we are older we know a lot of older people.it's that simple.
And ALL of them are mentally incompetent? You must live in an old age home.
I'm 77, and I also know a lot of older people.. I just retired from teaching university--not because I could no longer do it but because I no longer wanted to do it. I have friends who are older than I who are still doing it and doing it well.
I'd say very few people of ANY age could run a country. Biden has the necessary experience, seems to still have the necessary energy and mental acuity, and has seemingly chosen good advisors; I'd trust him over people half his age, like Vivek Ramaswamy, or a bit more, like DeSantis..
I did not say that...........no I don't live in an old people's home.
Good for you........and you I guess don't forget things or people's names?
NO people of age 70+ are not mentally capable of running a Government.
I expect I am going to be called all sorts of names for this comment but you know something.........I could care less.
If not all people over 70 are mentally incompetent, why do you think the ones who are mentally competent are still not mentally capable of running a government?
Do I forget things or people's names? Yes, and I have done so all my life. It's part of my ADHD, but it doesn't seem to have stopped me from getting my PhD or teaching university.
Am I capable of running a government; probably not, but I doubt I would have been capable of doing so when I was half my age due to ADHD. One the other hand, I've met people older than me to whom I would entrust that responsibility. For example, I heard Norman Thomas speak when he was 84, and he blew me away; I'd happily have voted for him.
Also a bigot.
I am 81 and I agree. There should be a retirement age for all government officials. That way we wouldn't be stuck with so many elders in government. I still have most of my marbles, but some of them get misplaced at times. I wouldn't want the weight of running the government in my hands.
The majority of U S citizens have grown tired of the blame game and the tyranny of one lone Senator, House Member, President, Governor or Judge deciding what’s best for the country. WE are in charge and WE will replace those who FAIL to UNITE us, FAIL to believe in the Constitution and the RULE of law, and FAIL to recognize OUR collective authority!
I share your conviction and am confident that those who are obstructing the process of government will be run off.
I am working to make that happen.
I hope you are correct.
UAW president Shawn Fein said outright that Trump is one of the wealthy coastal elitists who has benefitted from the system that is harming ordinary workers. He has also said that a second Trump administration would be a disaster. Democrats should run with this message. When Trump was president, he appointed people who were virulently anti-labor as Labor Secretary and to the NLRB. He also, during the pandemic, ordered that meat processing plants remain open at full capacity, without protections for workers, such that many of them died, as a direct result of this anti-worker policy. And remember Trump's generous tax cut for himself.
Trump is one of the powerful elites who has rigged the system in favor of the wealthy.
Unions need more leaders like Shawn Fein.
We can not forget the incompetent handling of the pandemic. In my view he has committed murder.