I completely don’t understand how we’ve gotten this close to losing our democracy. I thought if you overtly talk about ending democracy you would be detained for being a threat. How many things has Trump said about his future term? Where is the FBI? CIA? NSA? Why wasn’t he charged under the Patriot Act for domestic terrorism for J6, the election and for stealing our documents? All. Of. That should have easily earned him remanding. Instead he’s still free and causing problems.
According to Donald Trump, fallen members of our military family who gave their lives for the good of our country, stand as "Suckers and losers," in the eyes of those who can't see the truth. Sadly, those who died in the service of this country simply weren't lucky enough to have Mary and Fred as parents and have a son born with a bone spur on one of his ankles. Donnie Boy, you can run but you can't hide, you're a coward. Lies have never defined a good man. Memorial Day holds no significance to "The Don." However, it does for true Americans.
Skepticat--I would love to see the scar left from the procedure to correct. He would have had the operation the way he wanders aimlessly about one of his many golf courses. Trump is a great example of what criminality can do for a man.
When Trump was asked which foot had the bone spur, he couldn't remember. I knew a retired Army officer who I told if trump had gone into the Army, he would have been fragged within three months. He looked me in the eye and replied, "they'd have fragged him in the first week!" What got me was he was deadly serious.
I think we should not forget about Hitler or tfg. If we do let them fade they show up again in another timeline. You are correct in that we will never be able to put aside this scourge in our lifetime.
Yes, the evil fascist sack of putrid orange feces now has firmly established his place in INFAMY, which sadly for U.S. (and the world!) is basically what he wanted all along.
William--Everyone with a mind knows Trump's bone spur was just a rich man's son's way of not making a sacrifice so many others were so proud to deliver. Everything about that man stinks.
I know that Donald. What I said is that he didn't have a bone spur, but he had a doctor who lied. In fact a lot of dudes who went to Canada could have had their doctor sign a letter claiming this or that.
Ronnie Johnson was that Navy Captain who served as his Physician and lied to the public about his his health and weight.
Jan--Our hearts are heavy because of the tremendous sacrifice they gave for their country. If Trump had his way, we all would be speaking a language other than English. Something that sounds eerily like German.
IF (Flying Spaghetti Monster FORBID!) this lump of rancid orange excrement gets back into power (for life this time), he will attempt to make his mentor, (S)Hitler 1.0, seem like a beneficent being by comparison.
He, and his 'Project 2025' MAGANAZIS are already promising 'detention camps', and we all know what that REALLY means. :( :(
I haven't been able to "like" any comments for a couple weeks. Other people have mentioned having the same issue. I contacted substack, their reply was the equivalent of a form letter. I think more people should contact them and mention it.
I have a similar issue on a website where I have admin access. I told the owner, & he said “server issue.” I reminded him that I have Safari on my Mac too. He said “Oops.” 🙂
William - See my comment to G G. I am still talking with the chat bot every day so maybe they will fix it but I appreciate you still trying to help others find a way.
G G - I also contacted them and had a frustrating time with a chat bot and it told me that it would notify “someone”. I tried what William Farrar wrote but I use an iPad so I am still trying to figure out how to switch my system which is currently set to Duck Duck Go because I don’t trust some of the other ones not to follow me.
If you are using Google Chrome as a browser, that could be the reason you can't like. I can't like any substack comment on Google, but can when I see the same page in Firefox.
I use Firefox, but I cut and pasted into Firefox anyway, in case my android phone was taking the email link through Chrome, I still can't "like" but it also wouldnt let me post this reply because it didnt know who i was i had to go back to the email link to post this, thanks for the suggestion.
People all have flaws, let's face it no one's perfect. When meeting new people, we absorb information we get from that first face to face encounter. Over time we have been warned about people who show various personality deficiencies through their behavior. One my psychology professor raved on was the idea that we should shy away from people that exhibit no sense of humor and do the same for those who have no affection for dogs. Real trouble occurs when both adverse tendencies occur in the same individual. More than anti-social in their basic lifestyles these people are to be treated with great care. Running on empty they can suffer an episode at any moment, and you don't want to be in the area when they do. Trump is just such a man, and to me he is operating on fumes.
No.one.more.brave !.John.McCain was a true.patriot...a man.of.integrity,sir..Something.the.former.occpant.of the White House cannot began.to understand..Thank.you for bring his memory.to.mind.
As far as I am concerned, those who wholeheartedly support the overthrow of our duly elected (despite the racist/fascist BS Electoral College!) government, and promote, or even DEMAND that a fascistic, eventually genocidal, DESPOT and his NAZI-like REGIME be installed in it's place have NO RIGHT WHATSOEVER to observe this solemn holiday at all (let alone self-label themselves as 'true patriots').
Again, they are all shitting on the graves of actual, true patriots who gave up their lives to defend AGAINST the VERY SAME EVIL that these modern day SCUMp MAGANAZI brown shirts and 4th REICHERS are demanding, to the point of using violence to make happen. :( :( :(
David - Like and agree. Due to his pathetic message about Memorial Day and his follow up message I wonder if he is projecting because he has to know by now that HE is the one who is Human Scum ruining this great country - not other people.
Donald - True. There are so many things that I would like to ask him but mostly WTF and Why - but those are probably even a mystery to him as well. Alas…
But he never will be punished. A complicit or corrupt or cowardly judiciary from DOJ down.
Even Fanni Willis, she had Trump and his cronies, then hired a dude she was sleeping with., no crime, but nepotism and gave Trump et al, an opening as big as a barn door, poor judgment.
Merchan, attacked over and over again, and still gives Trump latitude which no one else would enjoy.
Cannon has over and over given Garland and Smith, ample grounds to remove or petition for removal and nada.
And then there is the supreme court.
That blindfold over lady justice only covers the left eye.
I have a growing suspicion that there is already a large abscess of Trump in the government. Trump is the symbol, although I can't imagine people with common sense using corruption as a figurehead. They have half of Congress, and more than half in the Supreme Court, and it trickles down to many of the pickup owners who might normally be patriotic for America's sake. Can a mental illness become so large? Biden has limited power, apparently, and the people working deeply inside of government who have pledge to help keep America safe and on track (most of the time), might be already working against Biden. Is the religion the mental illness? I don't have the resources to investigate that. Something is wrong. The world is watching. They don't get it either.
You must have an ideal before you can have a patriot. We chose capitalism as our ideal! Money as our god, Mammon! All gods have their Fate! If you want to see what a failed ideal looks like, google Money Supply Chart! Our ideal includes an enabler, the US Treasury.
"They express patriotism in taking a fair share of the burdens of keeping the
nation going — sacrificing for the common good. "
The burden of keeping the nation going has fallen on the shoulders of the Treasury, placed there by the politicians, placed there by the voters. We have become a nation of deferral and blame, not patriotism & burden. Our Founders were forced to use their IMAGINATION to escape the Church and Monarchy! Their ideals were shaped from desperation. They were Dante standing at the gates of the Inferno reading that sign - "Abandon All Hope, Ye Who Enter Here." The opening lines - "Midway upon the journey of our life
I found myself within a forest dark,
For the straightforward pathway had been lost"
Dante didn't enter those gates willingly and neither will we!!! Most soldiers never enter the battle willingly and, yet. return heroes. The Inferno awaits us. The straight path has been lost. We find ourselves in a dark wood. We have no ideal. Trump and Putin wear the mask of a Virgil. Biden offers the suffering that is real, Trump a magic wand. We get the Inferno either way. The patriot must choose the burden and the suffering that is the patriot, the ideal. We have chosen deferral! We will not choose to become a patriot or a hero, but we will become both. We will IMAGINE a new ideal, but not without the journey. Dante's ideal was wrought from suffering, as is ours.
One of the few things I feel relatively sure about is that certain vulnerable and poorer populations will get hurt first and worst however this plays out. For one thing they're already being hurt and have been forever but more so since the Republican resurgence that began after desegregation. We're almost spectators.
Democrats are almost helpless or triage nurses bandaging up casualties behind the front lines. The actual fight is between the social conservatives and the laissez-faire, 'libertarian,' disaster-capitalists who live in another world now, they are so inconceivably wealthy. Talk to someone who's witnessed that world if you haven't. I suppose the cut-off point is north of $30M now, but, whatever.
They aren't members of our society in a normal way or can choose not to be and more of them seem to be heading there. In some cases, I think, because even they are afraid -- things are that screwed up. When I say what I feel relatively sure about I mean if Trump were to win it might force a final reckoning with these forces of evil. And that's exactly what they are. It might be good if that happens but it scares the hell out of me.
In any case we must keep the light alive and fight to beat Trump, knowing that whatever the outcome there will be no cause for celebration. Just a lot of work to do.
Alas James, I fear that the vulnerable and poor populations that suffer the most from the Republican's soul less policies don't vote. Either they don't have access to the information needed and/or they can't take time off to register much less stand in line at a polling booth. Or if they do they have been sucked into the right wing culture war and vote against their own self interest.
For me that reckoning came after Trump's first term. The constant lies and misdirection about who is causing the main issues in this country. I would observe that many of the Trumpsters would be disolussioned after nothing gets better on his second and forever term. Many if the MAGa faithful will convert to straight Fascism hurting everyone else to keep the government going. We cant let that happen, because it wont be us defeating Trump and the Oligarchs then. It will be a coalitions of countries attacking us for pursing world conquest with Russia and China.
Your comment hits the mark. Of course Trump should have been reigned in years ago. but that even raises a more frightening thought. Like the tactics of organized mobsters, how many officials in those agencies have been personally threatened by Trump supporters into either ignoring Trump or keeping him able to rant on and on, dominating the news cycle? or have those in authority been paid off to keep their mouth shut and their hands in their pockets? I'm sorry to be so cynical but knowing the truth and being able to express it or two different things. Those who hate the truth hate the truth sayers even more.
Somehow Trump seems to have everyone running scared of him? It's crazy! When Michael Johnson showed up at Trump's trial that day in NY, along with J. D. Vance and Doug Bergrum (!), and the lily-livered Johnson called it "election interference," had I been Judge Juan Marchan, I would have thrown the book at them, charged them with contempt, and thrown them into jail for as long as he could've for trying to obstruct justice!
The very same goes for all of his; blood oath loyalist worshiping, brown shirt MAGANAZIS, and loud extreme right wingnutter politicians and, prostrating, acquiescent, quisling sycophants as well. ;)
It's funny how any past threats perceived to be coming from the LEFT were SWIFTLY met with lightning quick speed and draconian enforcement, but I guess that shows the 'stance' or 'bent' of all of the above gummint organizations, as violent, insurrectionist overthrow of our government from the extreme far right is NOT considered un-'muricun by these bodies (or at least not by the individuals in their employ).
Witness the CIA's total and unwavering support of fascist despotic, butchering genocidal regimes around the globe, as long as they label themselves, and self-identify as ANTI-commie, they are considered to be 'in our best interest'. [rolleyes]
So you think Trump and the Project 2025 gang are lying about his plans? You don’t think that he will encourage lawbreaking by his supporters and then pardon them as he has promised to pardon the Jan 6 rioters who have been convicted? Who he calls patriots and heroes? You don’t think that he will try to sack career civil servants and replace them with his flunkies? You don’t think that anyone who speaks out against him will face severe repercussions, quite possibly violence?
Ann, don't waste your words on undocumented commentator. It's a troll. Just scroll on past and engage with others on this substack. You are right about the orange stain and his cult. Don't let trolls stress you out! Vote Blue, America!!
Stay firm to your truth. The troll will try divert people to think about this that or the other thing. Keep reiterating your truth and they will get bored. Responding to Trolls is often very non productive. If a person deigns to do so. Talk to the rest of us and not the Troll themselves. They are there to STOP conversation and sew misinformation. If we let them get us all angry hot and bothered, that is actually a win for them, just like it is for videos on youtube or ticktok. Did it get you emotionally rattled? Theres a good chance that your being manipulated. At that point more investigation should be done before forwarding said emotionally charged clip. Check this out at 55:16 where Nina Jankowicz talks about how we get manipulated and how to avoid it. She says it better than I can.
Ann, Excellent response to someone who is either not real (a bott) or someone who has no clue what is going on. I am guessing this "person" just has a collection of one-liners to pump out so we all will respond. Your response, though was not a waste of time because it laid out in simple terms just what Trump and Kump are up to. Thanks.
Please return to Earth 1 on your fricken spaceship. You’re overwhelmingly addicted to your penis 🤮, maybe because it’s been so lonely out there in space that you’ve developed a “relationship” with it? We surpassed sustainability at 2 billion, we’re now up to 8 billion, all because a bunch of weenie waggers like you need to keep them permanently locked up in your pants, preferably behind a completely stuck zipper, like forever!!!
Laugh my ass off. The dude, and I am sure it is a dude, has, shall we say some mental problems, I have yet to make sense out of any of his comments. I give him a pass, snicker and move on.
I completely agree with you. Why haven’t more people taken him at his word? He literally tells the would how he thinks and who he believes is behind his self-made problems. He openly speaks of what policies he will dismantle and who he will go after if he’s elected. He scorns our government which he, at the very least, assisted in trying to subvert. We may not be able to keep him from running, but Republicans could finally come to their senses and nominate someone else. I can hope, can’t I? I mean, who thought that today’s events would turn out as they have.
My questions exactly BlueQueen! Thanks for clearly stating this.
It is a huge huge slap in the face of every true patriot when our laws do not protect us from domestic terrorism.
Do not , America , forget who really makes us Proud to Be! Those of us who keep going forward as kind, moral , caring Sapiens. That’s who. Protect and reward us!!! Now.🌎👏🏻🥰
Terry, I heard that too, but what I learned over the years listening to conservatives, THEY get to decide what is good and the "good" is always what works for them and who cares about the rest of the folks; "if they worked hard, were as smart as I am, or were thinking clearly, they would have what I have, be what I am, think or believe the way I do, the right way." I can't think right now of one positive thing conservatives or Republicans have done for this nation in about a half century, so maybe we need to get that word out and ask them to give some examples. I can give plenty of positive things they have fought in that time period, things that would have helped a lot of people, appreciated our diversity, better incorporated immigrants into society, made business fairer, cut the power of super rich men and corporations, provided higher quality health care for all of us, helped our children thrive, made society more equal/equitable for all of us, and so on.
Not the way I was raised. My family are/were Republicans. My great-grandfather was the first Chairman of the newly created Republican party in Allen County Indiana (1854) which is the cornerstone of Republicanism in Indiana. His son, my grandfather was elected the Republican County Auditor in the 1920s. His only daughter married a returning GI in 1945 on the condition he converted....to being a Republican...which he did....and above all a Conservative. What passes for Conservatism nowadays would be considered Heresy by my ancestors. Probably the closest party to the old Republican party is the current Libertarian party but I'm not sure any of them would feel comfortable in its folds.
While Buckley got the press he wasn't the arbiter of what is and what is not Conservative. Obviously your definition can't be right. as many conservatives would disagree with you, including Edmund Burke.....https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmund_Burke And while Buckley used his 'Conservatism' to mask his racism, Burke did not.
Yes, little has changed. The beliefs, the values, that under gird America has lingered and survive, but that is true of all cultures
For instance China has a rich culture thousands of years older than western culture, and has gone through wars, Emperors, Mongol and Manhurian, religions from Chinese folk religion, the country's most widespread system of beliefs and practices, has evolved and adapted since at least the second millennium BCE, to Tao, Confucianism, Buddhism to sectarian modern day China but I dare say the basic Chinese identity and culture are unchanged, only modified and adapted..
The same is true of the Germanic cultures, be they Nord or Anglo Saxon.
Religions and rulers come and go, and the culture puts it's imprint upon them.
The Catholicism of Central and South America are alien to that of the Anglo Saxon world, and the African version of Catholicism is alien to that of the Anglo and Hispanic worlds.
The Gallic culture overwhelmed the Franks, who in turn overwhelmed the Norse, who in turn were overwhelmed by the Anglo Saxons they Conquered , the result is a hybrid culture.
The Brythonic or Roman Brit left no imprint on the Anglo Sexons, because the Saxons basically obliterated the Romano Brits, the survivors fled to the mountains or into Scotland and Wales. Brits will argue that point, because of their chauvinism, but there is scant evidence of their existence left, other than in Cornwall and Wales. or archaelogical digs.
The Saxons eventually subjugated Cornwall in the 8th Century, but not their culture, and although After the Norman Conquest in 1066, Robert of Mortain became Earl of Cornwall and built a castle at Launceston. Earl Ordulf was in charge of Moresk Castle, The Cornish consider themselves, even a separate race, from the English,
Brittany in France gets its name from the Brythonic peoples that fled the Anglo axon conquest of southern Angleland.
William, thank you for this illuminating summary. The French have a saying that the more things change the more they stay the same. Still, the industrial revolution has radically transformed the world, and the current microchip revolution is promising to transform the world even more dramatically. Alvin Toffler warned us about the psichological effects in Future Shock, an important book.
I did, but there is a problem when the comments number in the hundreds, clicking on return to thread takes one to the first page, happens often, then I have to scroll to the bottom of the page,and the next page, then the next and the next and use ctrl f for find and use keyword search.
And yes the new America is the same as the old America, only not as bad, and the right wing, conservatives, want to return to old America where it was even worse, and there was not only discrimination, but women were property, as were blacks, and LGBT were neither seen nor heard, but if outed were tied to barbed wire fences, or beat unil dead.,that's the America that MAGA desires.
One of the worst decisions ever made : Citizens United.
It has destroyed elections. It’s a game of who has the most money can buy his way and try competing with corporations . “Give me a billion and I will see that you are not affected by any ground rules”. Donald to the oil
And Iowa's Senators, who are supposed to be looking after our best interests, ignore the fact that if Trump wins with the oil industry's support, the ethanol industry in Iowa will be GONE! Whether you like ethanol or not, that will damage the growers and shutter the ethanol plants. One positive? It will make carbon capture pipelines irrelevant.
Bully for you, Tom. If TFG wins, we’ll have misguided idealists like you (& Stein) to thank for it. She helped Trump in 2016, can’t believe she’s doing it again.
That's what I said, Tom. If you vote for Stein, you'll share the blame if Trump wins.
Voting for what you want instead of what's important is the essence of cluelessness, and not facing reality seems pretty spineless to me. Reality is that Biden or Trump will win.
Make your last stand elsewhere, not on democracy v. fascism. Being willing to risk a fascist USA means condoning criminal behavior. That's insanity.
Yes Tom corporate personhood has been alive in different ways going back to the 1880's. But we had laws that limited election donations in a significant way until Citizens United. The rise in political donations since that decision have been astronomical making our electeds more beholden to money than ever before. I support hjr54 H.J.Res.54 - Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States providing that the rights protected and extended by the Constitution are the rights of natural persons only. But we can't get there from here right now.
Unfortunately politics is "piecemeal".
Sure in our infantile fantasies we all want somebody to cut thru it all and "fix it" asap which is part of the appeal of a Trump figure. And others. But that's what it is: fantasy, illusion. We can't get to a reversal of CU, or HJr54 or many of the things we desire unless we keep the Whitehouse and make gains in the Senate and House.
Even if Jill Stein were to get elected (she's polling around 1%) she will have zero traction with a Congress which is far to her right. Nothing will get done. Biden has made substantial progress on our US goals for CO2 equivalent reductions, though it is not enough.
In answering me one time about her run for Senate in Maine Stein implied that she would not be running unless Rank choice voting was the game. Obviously that was not true, or she has changed her mind.
"We can't get to a reversal of CU, or HJr54 or many of the things we desire unless we keep the Whitehouse and make gains in the Senate and House."
I agree with your basic reasoning, Steve. Getting anything positive done with TFG in the Oval and MAGAs in Congress is a total nonstarter.
That said, what you say in that sentence above is the same thing I've heard for decades. If you look at news reports from 50 years ago, the country was facing the same problems it has now: war, pollution, human rights issues of all kinds, corporatocracy, and so on. What's being said by Dems now is that only they can help with all of those things, same thing they've said since probably FDR (and they were demonstrably correct, back then), and to the extent that the alternative is the RWNJs, it's true. But the Dems are as much corporate creatures as the red contingent. Biden is very much an establishment Dem, chosen by the DNC. Like Obama, he passes important legislation, but there are always, always, substantial giveaways to Wall Street, Big Oil, Big Corp in general. The devil is in the details of the bills.
So, yes, voting blue in November is the better option, but it essentially means voting to keep the [very flawed] status quo versus voting to burn it all down. I find it depressing that those are the only viable choices. My heart is with the Greens, but in this corporate-controlled political system, the party that represents real change for the better has been totally shut out.
Democrats and liberals should take note as to how libertarians stood up to Trump and MAGA over the weekend at their convention in Washington D.C. That was political humiliation at its finest.
Mike, yes, that was pretty special. Unfortunately, that won't keep Trump down. He/his handlers will figure that Trump just has to come up with more of the people Libertarians hate and add them to his rants. Libertarians will vote for Trump because despite their boos, they despise Biden even more, so Trump won't worry much if he remembers to worry at all. Trump and Kump are constantly test-ballooning to see which hates, resentments, and fearmongering work best with each group. Democrats need to find ways to point that out over and over and that Trump has no positive ideas for anyone but those who are willing to bow to him as though he were a king. We ditched a king nearly 250 years ago and don't ever need one again, particularly not one like Trump who is a toddler-man who rants, whines, complains, and tantrums nearly all the time. His handlers, the Steves in particular, just love the way Americans have fallen under the hate spell of a man who barely likes anyone and loves no one, despite his regular use of that word.
Libertarians are anti government, meaning against constraints on corporations, Charles Koch is the biggest financier of libertarian causes, his brother David ran for President in 1980.
Unrestrained corporations were the political basis of Mussolini's fascism. His fascist government, besides Il Duce, was supported by a Chamber of Deputies, the members of which were CEO's or representatives of Corporations.
Can't figure out why Trump went there. Maybe just the publicity. The Trump Party of "how can we use government to rewards ourselves and our buddies" does not fit well with the Party of "why do even have a government?" Oil and water mostly though there is some overlap.
Well his girl, Jilly was seen/pictured sitting at the very same table dining with Vlad The Impaler a short while ago, no??
Maybe he somehow believes (or wants US to believe, LOL!) that that his boss, POOtin will not "behead babies" if/when he overruns Ukraine's defenses, and violently, genocidal despotically takes over THAT land?!?!
It is too bad that America doesn’t follow the lead of Australia. I am an American AND Australian citizen, and have lived in Australia off and on since 1999 (full time since 2005). In Australia it is compulsory to vote. This eliminates everything but gerrymandering, but this is limited due to everyone having to have a say in government. The penalty for not voting isn’t horribly serious, but everyone here seems to have a moral appreciation of what voting means. One can make a statement by casting an illegal ballot if one wishes, but these are not counted. I doubt America would ever consider going down the road to compulsory voting, but it isn’t a bad idea. When you become a citizen in Australia, the first thing you do is enrol in the electoral system (even before taking the citizenship oath).
Fellow Aussie here. And we also have a national government organisation to manage voter enrolment and the election process - the Australian Electoral Commission. It is not up to the states or parts of states to determine voting rules.
i guess it goes back to the Founding Fathers hatred of the Crown and unwillingness to vest too much power in the new Federal government vice the states. And goes back to money of course.
Rob, thank you so much for your service. I could never understand why a person serving in our military was not allowed to vote because of age. I always thought if these brave men and women are willing to serve our country, they should definitely cast their vote for who will lead them!
Why 18, Ukraine just lowered their draft age from 27 to 25.
Getting rid of the draft meant no more flag draped caskets and funerals for middle middle and upper middle class families, Which was the real cause (not protests) for Richard Nixon abandoning Vietnam., after he promised Thieu (the President of Vietnam) that he would double down on support if he backed out of LBJ's, peace accords in Paris.
The event was an act of treason, Nixon then only a candidate, interfered in a war o gain political advantage. The conversation was recorded by the CIA, played to LBJ, LBJ could have, but didn't use it against Nixon, and Everett Dirksen, Republican Senate Majority Leader agreed on the phone in a recorded conversation that Nixon committed Treason.
No special reason. 18 is the end of compulsory education in many countries and people have to make a decision about what's next.
I didn't know about Nixon; nothing he did would surprise me. As a Chicagoan, I have a soft spot for Ev. One of the best Senators of his day imo. He usually flew commercial and would talk to anyone who asked him a question.
Protests got publicity. I can't think of one person I knew who wasn't persuaded by the logic. Most of us hadn't thought about it because the US wasn't in a hot war for 10 years. 2S was standard for my peers followed by a Reserve program. Many jokes like "My dad said if I flunk out he'll tell the Draft Board before I get home."
Given our two parties and a divided country, because of two parties, and the fact that it takes a unified effort on the part of one party to get an amendment through congress and ratified by 3/4ths of the states. Why do you think amendments like the 14, 19th and 26th (the 18 year old voter) amendments are ratified? Answer: Because the party in power sees it as an opportunity to stay in power, thanks to the gratitude of the newly franchised voter.
In other words none of the voting amendments were passed because of a protest vote, there certainly was no massive 18 year old turn out for the vote, maybe the 19th Amendment and the suffragette movement, but given that men, more or less properly believed that women would vote as their husband, saw enfranchising women as doubling their vote and power.
The Republicans controlled congress and state legislatures when the 15th and 19th Amendments were passed and ratified. The Democrats when the 26th was passed and ratified.
Don't forget that in the 19th century the Republican party was the liberals and the Democrats were the slavers. They switched in mid 20th (After Ike)
The protests in the late 60s & early 70s against the Vietnam War was what I was referencing equalizing the Draft/Voting age. It was also the time when the draft/slave army was ended.
The Constitution guarantees Freedom of Speech. Implied in that is Freedom FROM Speech. You are not required to share your opinion, it is yours, and nobody else's business. My opinion is requiring people to vote would clearly be a violation of their civil rights. That being said, anyone who doesn't vote forfeits their right to complain. There is no excuse to not vote.
A question Charles, what does a dual citizen do, when there two countries are at loggerheads, or worse enemies.
For instance Israelis and Palestinians (or Muslims) with citizenship in America and Palesine. Though Palestine is not a recognized country, the Palestinian Authority does issue passports, Thus Palestinian Americans and Israeli Americans, Just like American Australians.
As an example, Russian Americans and Iranian Americans are routinely arrested as spies or foreign agents in Russia and Iran.
One would reconsider one’s duality should that situation arise. I need my US citizenship as my Social Security payment keeps me going. Luckily US and Oz are on good terms.
Well we gots our "freedoms". We'll cry like a baby if you take its ice cream away, if you takes its "freedoms". I got an attitude problem with the American public: they want but they aren't willing to give; ask not what your country.....
Thank you for this post, Dear Robert, you've said almost everything that needs to be said. The only thing I would add to the list: Patriots don't put adulation and loyalty to themselves as the most important part of their agenda. Thank you for all your thought provoking messages.
Fay Reid, thanks for reminding me of something that made me laugh. You noted they require adulation. When some of the nutty House Reps were blathering outside the NYC Courthouse, people were standing behind them with a very large, long sign that said, "Bootlickers". It made me laugh and feel proud!
I would have held up a sign with much worse than that behind those sniveling, shaking in abject fear, cowardly, prostrated before their king and putrid orange POS fuehrer, acquiescent little worm MAGANAZI quislings! ;)
Do they even realize just how ridiculously ASININE they appear (even dressing like their beloved SHITler!) to anyone even semi-sane, or aware of anything at all?!?!
I guess that they are counting on a vast majority of this land (or at least a vast majority of the ones in the effing 'swing states' that matter at all, thanks to the evil POS Electoral College) NOT being even semi-sane, let alone aware of even their own existence. :(
Maybe you should put this excellent material into a book 'On patriotism'. Maybe you'll get past leaders such as people like yourself would know, to collaborate.
Sir, this is a succinct summary of what modern democracy is about. It also works pretty well here in the UK, despite some constitutional differences. There is a good chance that we will, after least for now, turn the tide back here, where a general election has been called for July 4. All the Independence Day jokes have already been cracked!
The funeral for Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who died along with the Iranian foreign minister and other officials on May 19 in a helicopter crash near Azerbaijan, was muted compared with the procession for Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani, killed by an American drone strike in 2020.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the theocracy’s head of state, for example, wept openly for Soleimani – but was “composed” for Raisi’s service, the Associated Press reported.
Many ordinary Iranians were less than sorry over Raisi’s death, too. The Guardian reported that there was cheering and even fireworks after his death was announced along with an official five-day mourning period.
“Many military agents have been stationed in the streets and even small squares since last night,” one witness told the newspaper. “The police have repeatedly warned that people who are happy about the death of the president will be prosecuted. People were lighting fireworks, listening and dancing to music, and those in the traffic kept honking in solidarity with those celebrating.”
That’s because the hard-line cleric and stalwart regime figure symbolized the worst elements of the country’s Islamic leadership,” noted the Washington Post.
Raisi has long been the face of regime repression through his posts as a prosecutor, chief justice of the supreme court, and his seat on a committee to judge the loyalty of prisoners to the regime when as many as 5,000 were disappeared or extrajudicially executed, according to Amnesty International. His critics say he’s responsible for thousands of other executions.
In 2021, he won Iran’s presidential election, marked by the lowest turnout in the country’s history and the disqualification of any significant opposition candidates. After a young woman died while in the custody of the “morality” police for violating the strict dress codes for women, he cracked down on the mass demonstrations that followed, with more than 550 killed and 60,000 people arrested. Twenty-five people have been given the death penalty for protesting, Human Rights Watch wrote.
Raisi didn’t appear willing to curry favor among the public, either. When only 41 percent of Iranian voters cast ballots in legislative elections in March, and many Iranians filed empty ballots to protest their government’s oppressive Islamic policies, wrote World Politics Review, the president described the turnout as “passionate.”
Now, Reuel Marc Gerecht, a resident scholar at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, and Ray Takeyh, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, argued in the New York Times that Raisi’s death is a bad omen for Iran and the world.
Iran has a complicated government where the president, who runs the government, has often been at odds with the country’s supreme leader, Khamenei, 85, who is also the country’s spiritual boss and leader of the armed forces. Contrary to other recent Iranian presidents, however, Raisi was close to Khamenei. He was widely believed to be one of two candidates in line to replace Khamenei when the supreme leader died, for example.
Now, however, Khamenei and other elites must figure out who will replace Raisi, a process that could trigger turmoil, Newsweek reported. In the meantime, First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber will assume the job until the presidential elections on June 28, NDTV explained.
Many observers think Khamenei’s son Mojtaba is now slated to become president. But Khamenei is not thrilled by the prospect of a monarchical transfer of power that might remind Iranians of the Shah who the Iranian Revolution deposed in 1979, wrote Reuters.
Writing in Politico, Takeyh and Suzanne Maloney of the Brookings Institution, contended that one outcome was clear. Whoever is the next Iranian president will likely be a hardliner eager to complete the country’s nuclear program, challenge the US, expand Iranian power throughout the region and beyond, and suppress any internal dissent to said agenda.
Still, much of the public lacks confidence in the regime and instead views it with contempt and fear. That’s a recipe for a certain faction to retain power, but might not be a plan for peace and prosperity:
“With waning legitimacy, a failing economy and struggles for power behind the scenes, Iran’s regime is more brittle than ever,” wrote the Economist. “Raisi’s rise to the presidency marked the end of the regime’s claim to have democratic credentials. If his death augurs a new stage in the regime’s decay, that could prove to be dangerous for Iranians – and their region.”
We live in a very dangerous world of revanchist countries, ethnic groups, and social movements. Iran, Russia, China, N. Korea, Serbia, much of the post-colonial world, and our own revanchist Confederates are part of this gathering storm. Some of these revanchists are armed with nuclear weapons. Climate change may exacerbate the dangers.
Iran clerics, the Ayatollahs, are also corrupt, they live large with many wives, and in splendor. The public propaganda is that he lives like the poor, a lower middle class life style and only ones one simple piece of property, however he controls a large swath of the Iran economy, and one does not need ownership when one controls everything, that is the secret of Trump and the Billionaires,the secret of Putin, the secret of Xi. Ownership puts a target on your back, control is superior to ownership.
It was publicized that Mao received a monthly allowance of $300, but he had the entire country of china at his command and disposal.
The President of the U.S. doesn't have to own an Airplane, he has on demand use of a plush Boeing 747. And I am sure that Trump doesn't own the plane with his name on the side. That Putin doesn't own those many billion ruble dachas he keeps his mistresses in.
The Billionaires don't own anything,everything is held in trusts by foundations.
Charles Koch doesn't personally donate to parties and politicians, his foundation does.
When they own anything it is stock and a controlling interest in the corporations, and they don't pay taxes on the stock until it is sold
It is only we, the bourgeoisie, the middle class, that is fixated on ownership.
Daniel, I suspect the various leadership members in Iran have been mulling over who will replace Ayatollah Ali Khamenei for years. Raisi has some problems for them. He did not connect with the people and killed plenty of them. That is not a particularly good way to carry on into the future and some people of Iran seem to be restless with what is going on. As you mentioned, that is not a good sign. It's true if they put certain people in charge, the world could be more at risk, but there will come a point where someone bigger than Iran will want to put them in their place, China maybe. It is not in China's interest to have Iran or any other nation gaining nuclear capabilities, particularly when they are run by religious fanatics who just might want to bring about armageddon. So now, the Ayatollah thinks he needs to keep the people from being too happy. Amazing! Not enough suffering? I am guessing he and his thugs will fix that.
45 years ago, the US and Israel were their closest allies. Their enemies were the Sunnis and Kurds, who still have a minor presence in Iran.
IMHO the Ayatollahs have little public support. Half the population are women, who universally oppose them. The latest lethal opposition group is a variation on the ISIS theme. The rockets from Hezbollah yesterday into Israel, are a signal Hezbollah craves attention and is afraid that they will be losing Iranian support. Hundreds of thousands of Arabs have been killed so far in Syria and Yemen by Moslem groups who oppose each other.
Whatever we or Israel do will be the wrong thing. The helicopter crash was like a scene from Homeland. Where's Carrie Mathieson when we need her? Moscow?
Hopefully, there will be internal problems that are more important than the Ayatollah hatred for the Great Satan,. Hopefully, Netanyahu will limit retaliation to Hezbollah targets in Lebanon and Syria.
Daniel, I can't help but think we need a drug or more that can be sprayed around men when they are plotting to hurt people. The drug would silence their orgasmic pleasure of anticipating the havoc they will cause. I am not sure of any other way to stop the male insanity. Thank God it is not all men, not even a large percentage of men who get their goodies from attacking other people and nations. But, there are enough of them that I think medical research is warranted.
ISK or Islamic State of Khorasan is Sunni and a thorn in the side of Iran and the Sunni Taliban, it is responsible for the recent attack in Moscow. because of it's alliance with Iran.
Khorosan is the ancient name for northern Iran and Afghanistan.
To its chagrin the west, and America in particular is so chauvinist and ego centric, that it knows jack squat about the history, conflicts, cultures and religions of anything that doesn't speak English as a first language.
And even then, Americans are oblivious to other English speaking countries.
Since Iran is such a major player in world affairs, a book that everyone interested should read is Sandra Mackay's The Iranians.. Easy to read, well written, documented and enjoyable.
Thanks for sharing that information Daniel. When people complain about this country I want to remind them about places like that. My heart aches for their citizens.
I think the right to vote will prevail. Whether that's all there is to democracy is up for debate. Many people here are fed up with electing the largest minority, and would like a proportional representation system introduced. The only European nations who don't have this now are Russia and Belarus - not good company to keep.
Excellent story, Bob, about the morality of politics.
At the same time I worry about the frame of the politcal debate. Indignation seems not to work. I'm thinking a lot about this, because a mobster and lap dog from Putin in the White House is a menace for my children too. (I live in the Netherlands)
I think that apart from morality we should also consider the practical side: the U.S. should know that the need for governing and coöperating can be defined in a very practical way.
In the "Lettres Persanes" of Montesquieu I found a story about the Troglodites. He tells all we talk and dispute about: the murder of the king, the necessity of coöperation, the control of ugly urges, the need for civility and coöperation. It hit me as very convincing. And practical...
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it” George Santayana. I would venture to present an alternate idea to fit our times. How about, those who refuse to ACCEPT the past are condemning us all to regression, pointless turmoil, and depravity?
The first line of the oath of enlistment is "I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Too many soldiers fought and died for the freedoms and liberties ALL Americans should be enjoying today. May America not only recall its past but make the willful decision to turn from evil selfishness and honor the memory of the brave who gave it all up for the US.
I completely don’t understand how we’ve gotten this close to losing our democracy. I thought if you overtly talk about ending democracy you would be detained for being a threat. How many things has Trump said about his future term? Where is the FBI? CIA? NSA? Why wasn’t he charged under the Patriot Act for domestic terrorism for J6, the election and for stealing our documents? All. Of. That should have easily earned him remanding. Instead he’s still free and causing problems.
You are correct.
Trump should be in jail as the criminal he is.
According to Donald Trump, fallen members of our military family who gave their lives for the good of our country, stand as "Suckers and losers," in the eyes of those who can't see the truth. Sadly, those who died in the service of this country simply weren't lucky enough to have Mary and Fred as parents and have a son born with a bone spur on one of his ankles. Donnie Boy, you can run but you can't hide, you're a coward. Lies have never defined a good man. Memorial Day holds no significance to "The Don." However, it does for true Americans.
remember what he said about John McCain
Brooks--How could any American ever forget it. Even his thoughts are disgraceful.
we don't like to believe it,but some people are just born bad to the bone
Brooks--Perhaps it's the "Secret to his success."
Or, rather, to have a friendly family doctor who would say there were bone spurs.
Skepticat--I would love to see the scar left from the procedure to correct. He would have had the operation the way he wanders aimlessly about one of his many golf courses. Trump is a great example of what criminality can do for a man.
When Trump was asked which foot had the bone spur, he couldn't remember. I knew a retired Army officer who I told if trump had gone into the Army, he would have been fragged within three months. He looked me in the eye and replied, "they'd have fragged him in the first week!" What got me was he was deadly serious.
Dave--Enen in the military weeds have a habit of being picked.
What does that mean, please, "fragged"?
"Wanders" above implies that he actually WALKS around the course to attempt to knock the tiny balls into the cup.
NO, this bloviated sack of putrid orange despotic shit RIDES (probably aimlessly! ;) ) his cart around his courses.
Sadly one of those said courses is not 35 minutes from where I sit right now. :(
David--Time for some wonderful words of wisdom to be spelled out with the help of a little Round-up on a Greene or two.
Connections position one in life? Trump uses those people to reach his desired heights! Standards? Morals? Forget it, guys!
VOTE Blue!
I look forward to seeing the day when this pathetic excuse for a human being is finally missing from the daily conversation.
M J -- I hear that; however, I fear that man will be in discussions related to things of a negative nature for some time to come.
True! We're still talking about Hitler. Looks like the scourge of Trump could have an even greater impact on our national psyche.
Jamie--But first someone must juggle the flush handle, I feel we have a leaky Korky-Flapper.
Jaime
I think we should not forget about Hitler or tfg. If we do let them fade they show up again in another timeline. You are correct in that we will never be able to put aside this scourge in our lifetime.
Yes, the evil fascist sack of putrid orange feces now has firmly established his place in INFAMY, which sadly for U.S. (and the world!) is basically what he wanted all along.
David--That he may have done but somehow, I feel his public image should have been a bit higher.
🤞🙏👍
Donnie didn't and doesn't have a bone spur, but a doctor like Ronnie Johnson.
Everyone has a price.
William--Everyone with a mind knows Trump's bone spur was just a rich man's son's way of not making a sacrifice so many others were so proud to deliver. Everything about that man stinks.
I know that Donald. What I said is that he didn't have a bone spur, but he had a doctor who lied. In fact a lot of dudes who went to Canada could have had their doctor sign a letter claiming this or that.
Ronnie Johnson was that Navy Captain who served as his Physician and lied to the public about his his health and weight.
Now, Jackson is one of those fine, yelling, MAGA congressmen! And,
from Texas!
Illegal? What makes a draft illegal? My dad was drafted to serve in Korea. No one ever talked about illegal drafts back then I'm confused.
William--I was right in the middle of that illegal draft, when they read the numbers. I was in college.
Yep, Donald. E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G.
Actually he bone spur is in the head!!!! that's why he combs his hair to hide it.
🤣
Yes, Congressman Ronnie Johnson. What a bum.
Yes, this morning National Public Radio announced that Joe Biden is visiting Arlington National Cemetery today: that’s what a real President does.
Stan--Basic human respect isn't something you can buy, its earned.
The like button on my phone seems to have died, so ❤️, Donald.
Flags at half-mast till Noon to honor all fallen heroes.
Jan--Our hearts are heavy because of the tremendous sacrifice they gave for their country. If Trump had his way, we all would be speaking a language other than English. Something that sounds eerily like German.
He's not getting his way,did you see him booed at the Libertarian convention last night? One guy even told him 'to go 'F' himself.It was fun!!!
Red--For a brief moment I really think Trump saw the lights dim just a bit.
Trump got booed for all the wrong reasons. The Libertarians are delusional.
Jawohl.
I suspect Trump would butcher German as badly as he does English.
IF (Flying Spaghetti Monster FORBID!) this lump of rancid orange excrement gets back into power (for life this time), he will attempt to make his mentor, (S)Hitler 1.0, seem like a beneficent being by comparison.
He, and his 'Project 2025' MAGANAZIS are already promising 'detention camps', and we all know what that REALLY means. :( :(
They want all of us to have guns -- they must intend for us to use them for SOMETHING! "Target practice" is my suggestion.
I haven't been able to "like" any comments for a couple weeks. Other people have mentioned having the same issue. I contacted substack, their reply was the equivalent of a form letter. I think more people should contact them and mention it.
See above, I think it is a Google Chrome problem on some devices or platforms. If I copy and paste the URL into Firefox I have nor problem liking.
I have Chrome, and can "like"; especially if I am using the Substack app.
Safari here.
I have a similar issue on a website where I have admin access. I told the owner, & he said “server issue.” I reminded him that I have Safari on my Mac too. He said “Oops.” 🙂
Will report to Substack anyway.
Enjoy the holiday.
Hasn't worked in Firefox, on many occasions, for me.
William - See my comment to G G. I am still talking with the chat bot every day so maybe they will fix it but I appreciate you still trying to help others find a way.
G G - I also contacted them and had a frustrating time with a chat bot and it told me that it would notify “someone”. I tried what William Farrar wrote but I use an iPad so I am still trying to figure out how to switch my system which is currently set to Duck Duck Go because I don’t trust some of the other ones not to follow me.
On my computer, not iPhone -- Like works. It was slow (like it had to wake up and decide I was serious lol).
I wonder about some in substack, censoring. I, too, have experienced recurring issues; and not merely in this newsletter, either.
Thx, G G. Will do. It’s just my iPhone, not my computer, but I bet a lot of people use tablets & check social media in free moments.
If you are using Google Chrome as a browser, that could be the reason you can't like. I can't like any substack comment on Google, but can when I see the same page in Firefox.
I use Firefox, but I cut and pasted into Firefox anyway, in case my android phone was taking the email link through Chrome, I still can't "like" but it also wouldnt let me post this reply because it didnt know who i was i had to go back to the email link to post this, thanks for the suggestion.
Donald Hodgins <silencenotbad@gmail.com>
5:15 PM (0 minutes ago)
Donald Hodgins <silencenotbad@gmail.com>
5:13 PM (0 minutes ago)
People all have flaws, let's face it no one's perfect. When meeting new people, we absorb information we get from that first face to face encounter. Over time we have been warned about people who show various personality deficiencies through their behavior. One my psychology professor raved on was the idea that we should shy away from people that exhibit no sense of humor and do the same for those who have no affection for dogs. Real trouble occurs when both adverse tendencies occur in the same individual. More than anti-social in their basic lifestyles these people are to be treated with great care. Running on empty they can suffer an episode at any moment, and you don't want to be in the area when they do. Trump is just such a man, and to me he is operating on fumes.
“Running on empty” is a great description.
Jan--It worked for Jackson Browne.
Love your blasts from the past, Donald. 🙂
No.one.more.brave !.John.McCain was a true.patriot...a man.of.integrity,sir..Something.the.former.occpant.of the White House cannot began.to understand..Thank.you for bring his memory.to.mind.
As far as I am concerned, those who wholeheartedly support the overthrow of our duly elected (despite the racist/fascist BS Electoral College!) government, and promote, or even DEMAND that a fascistic, eventually genocidal, DESPOT and his NAZI-like REGIME be installed in it's place have NO RIGHT WHATSOEVER to observe this solemn holiday at all (let alone self-label themselves as 'true patriots').
Again, they are all shitting on the graves of actual, true patriots who gave up their lives to defend AGAINST the VERY SAME EVIL that these modern day SCUMp MAGANAZI brown shirts and 4th REICHERS are demanding, to the point of using violence to make happen. :( :( :(
David - Like and agree. Due to his pathetic message about Memorial Day and his follow up message I wonder if he is projecting because he has to know by now that HE is the one who is Human Scum ruining this great country - not other people.
David--The day will come when they need real assistance and then who will they turn to, the "Ant?"
Beautiful!
Donald - Like this very much! Regardless of what we could offer our child they Chose to enlist and stay enlisted.
Anon--What is a sacrifice if you don't give it. Just ask Trump..
Donald - True. There are so many things that I would like to ask him but mostly WTF and Why - but those are probably even a mystery to him as well. Alas…
Anon--His ability to hide from reality would be fractured to the core if he could see the fool he actually is.
But he never will be punished. A complicit or corrupt or cowardly judiciary from DOJ down.
Even Fanni Willis, she had Trump and his cronies, then hired a dude she was sleeping with., no crime, but nepotism and gave Trump et al, an opening as big as a barn door, poor judgment.
Merchan, attacked over and over again, and still gives Trump latitude which no one else would enjoy.
Cannon has over and over given Garland and Smith, ample grounds to remove or petition for removal and nada.
And then there is the supreme court.
That blindfold over lady justice only covers the left eye.
I have a growing suspicion that there is already a large abscess of Trump in the government. Trump is the symbol, although I can't imagine people with common sense using corruption as a figurehead. They have half of Congress, and more than half in the Supreme Court, and it trickles down to many of the pickup owners who might normally be patriotic for America's sake. Can a mental illness become so large? Biden has limited power, apparently, and the people working deeply inside of government who have pledge to help keep America safe and on track (most of the time), might be already working against Biden. Is the religion the mental illness? I don't have the resources to investigate that. Something is wrong. The world is watching. They don't get it either.
I think the illness is greed
looks like you might be right
And as a clear & present national security threat
Memorial Day. Trump depicts patriots as Not suckers or losers. Post every day on Social media.
Register Democrats in their honor to save democracy.
https://www.fieldteam6.org/
I agree Daniel. I started doing it yesterday. ❤️🇺🇸💙
You must have an ideal before you can have a patriot. We chose capitalism as our ideal! Money as our god, Mammon! All gods have their Fate! If you want to see what a failed ideal looks like, google Money Supply Chart! Our ideal includes an enabler, the US Treasury.
"They express patriotism in taking a fair share of the burdens of keeping the
nation going — sacrificing for the common good. "
The burden of keeping the nation going has fallen on the shoulders of the Treasury, placed there by the politicians, placed there by the voters. We have become a nation of deferral and blame, not patriotism & burden. Our Founders were forced to use their IMAGINATION to escape the Church and Monarchy! Their ideals were shaped from desperation. They were Dante standing at the gates of the Inferno reading that sign - "Abandon All Hope, Ye Who Enter Here." The opening lines - "Midway upon the journey of our life
I found myself within a forest dark,
For the straightforward pathway had been lost"
Dante didn't enter those gates willingly and neither will we!!! Most soldiers never enter the battle willingly and, yet. return heroes. The Inferno awaits us. The straight path has been lost. We find ourselves in a dark wood. We have no ideal. Trump and Putin wear the mask of a Virgil. Biden offers the suffering that is real, Trump a magic wand. We get the Inferno either way. The patriot must choose the burden and the suffering that is the patriot, the ideal. We have chosen deferral! We will not choose to become a patriot or a hero, but we will become both. We will IMAGINE a new ideal, but not without the journey. Dante's ideal was wrought from suffering, as is ours.
Those who died for our country were patriots.
I would if I used social media.
Wtf?
👍 Michael
Michael: Best not to use that 3-letter interrogative construction under the circumstances. You might instigate another explanatory tirade. 😉
LOL. Dude is off the rocker. I do not understand their comments, ever.
One of the few things I feel relatively sure about is that certain vulnerable and poorer populations will get hurt first and worst however this plays out. For one thing they're already being hurt and have been forever but more so since the Republican resurgence that began after desegregation. We're almost spectators.
Democrats are almost helpless or triage nurses bandaging up casualties behind the front lines. The actual fight is between the social conservatives and the laissez-faire, 'libertarian,' disaster-capitalists who live in another world now, they are so inconceivably wealthy. Talk to someone who's witnessed that world if you haven't. I suppose the cut-off point is north of $30M now, but, whatever.
They aren't members of our society in a normal way or can choose not to be and more of them seem to be heading there. In some cases, I think, because even they are afraid -- things are that screwed up. When I say what I feel relatively sure about I mean if Trump were to win it might force a final reckoning with these forces of evil. And that's exactly what they are. It might be good if that happens but it scares the hell out of me.
In any case we must keep the light alive and fight to beat Trump, knowing that whatever the outcome there will be no cause for celebration. Just a lot of work to do.
Alas James, I fear that the vulnerable and poor populations that suffer the most from the Republican's soul less policies don't vote. Either they don't have access to the information needed and/or they can't take time off to register much less stand in line at a polling booth. Or if they do they have been sucked into the right wing culture war and vote against their own self interest.
Against their very EXISTENCE in most cases, such is the seduction/promise of the 4th REICH's racism, ANTI-SEMITISM, and fascism. :( :(
For me that reckoning came after Trump's first term. The constant lies and misdirection about who is causing the main issues in this country. I would observe that many of the Trumpsters would be disolussioned after nothing gets better on his second and forever term. Many if the MAGa faithful will convert to straight Fascism hurting everyone else to keep the government going. We cant let that happen, because it wont be us defeating Trump and the Oligarchs then. It will be a coalitions of countries attacking us for pursing world conquest with Russia and China.
Your comment hits the mark. Of course Trump should have been reigned in years ago. but that even raises a more frightening thought. Like the tactics of organized mobsters, how many officials in those agencies have been personally threatened by Trump supporters into either ignoring Trump or keeping him able to rant on and on, dominating the news cycle? or have those in authority been paid off to keep their mouth shut and their hands in their pockets? I'm sorry to be so cynical but knowing the truth and being able to express it or two different things. Those who hate the truth hate the truth sayers even more.
This is why Kashoghy and other journalists have been assassinated. Trump regards them as enemies.
Somehow Trump seems to have everyone running scared of him? It's crazy! When Michael Johnson showed up at Trump's trial that day in NY, along with J. D. Vance and Doug Bergrum (!), and the lily-livered Johnson called it "election interference," had I been Judge Juan Marchan, I would have thrown the book at them, charged them with contempt, and thrown them into jail for as long as he could've for trying to obstruct justice!
YES, EXACTLY!
The very same goes for all of his; blood oath loyalist worshiping, brown shirt MAGANAZIS, and loud extreme right wingnutter politicians and, prostrating, acquiescent, quisling sycophants as well. ;)
It's funny how any past threats perceived to be coming from the LEFT were SWIFTLY met with lightning quick speed and draconian enforcement, but I guess that shows the 'stance' or 'bent' of all of the above gummint organizations, as violent, insurrectionist overthrow of our government from the extreme far right is NOT considered un-'muricun by these bodies (or at least not by the individuals in their employ).
Witness the CIA's total and unwavering support of fascist despotic, butchering genocidal regimes around the globe, as long as they label themselves, and self-identify as ANTI-commie, they are considered to be 'in our best interest'. [rolleyes]
BlueQueen - Agree. He should be. He isn’t. Vote! Everyone! Please!
BlueQueen--Why would you block people from liking your post?
We are not losing our democracy. FFS, this is a dumb narrative.
So you think Trump and the Project 2025 gang are lying about his plans? You don’t think that he will encourage lawbreaking by his supporters and then pardon them as he has promised to pardon the Jan 6 rioters who have been convicted? Who he calls patriots and heroes? You don’t think that he will try to sack career civil servants and replace them with his flunkies? You don’t think that anyone who speaks out against him will face severe repercussions, quite possibly violence?
How is that not “losing democracy”?
Ann, don't waste your words on undocumented commentator. It's a troll. Just scroll on past and engage with others on this substack. You are right about the orange stain and his cult. Don't let trolls stress you out! Vote Blue, America!!
Stay firm to your truth. The troll will try divert people to think about this that or the other thing. Keep reiterating your truth and they will get bored. Responding to Trolls is often very non productive. If a person deigns to do so. Talk to the rest of us and not the Troll themselves. They are there to STOP conversation and sew misinformation. If we let them get us all angry hot and bothered, that is actually a win for them, just like it is for videos on youtube or ticktok. Did it get you emotionally rattled? Theres a good chance that your being manipulated. At that point more investigation should be done before forwarding said emotionally charged clip. Check this out at 55:16 where Nina Jankowicz talks about how we get manipulated and how to avoid it. She says it better than I can.
https://www.youtube.com/live/bvOc6Z3_qyg?si=ev95VK1ME-4vDks1
Ann, Excellent response to someone who is either not real (a bott) or someone who has no clue what is going on. I am guessing this "person" just has a collection of one-liners to pump out so we all will respond. Your response, though was not a waste of time because it laid out in simple terms just what Trump and Kump are up to. Thanks.
I suspect troll, Ann.
Possibly yet another POOtie-bot FSB troll out of good ol' St. Petersburgh. ;)
Please return to Earth 1 on your fricken spaceship. You’re overwhelmingly addicted to your penis 🤮, maybe because it’s been so lonely out there in space that you’ve developed a “relationship” with it? We surpassed sustainability at 2 billion, we’re now up to 8 billion, all because a bunch of weenie waggers like you need to keep them permanently locked up in your pants, preferably behind a completely stuck zipper, like forever!!!
Amen,is this science or health class?
Laugh my ass off. The dude, and I am sure it is a dude, has, shall we say some mental problems, I have yet to make sense out of any of his comments. I give him a pass, snicker and move on.
Do you just want to wait and find out? Then what?
This is why bots are undocumented.
What an idiotic comment. You’re in the wrong place, pal. Go back to Truth Social.
aka; SHITlerian Social
Trump's Prvada to our Izvestyia (Fox News).
I can see why u are undocumented. If I were as stupid as u I'd remain anonymous as you.
Thanks to SCOTUS we have already lost it.
You're on the wrong side of history Lonny, and will be remembered as an enemy of the American ideal.
I completely agree with you. Why haven’t more people taken him at his word? He literally tells the would how he thinks and who he believes is behind his self-made problems. He openly speaks of what policies he will dismantle and who he will go after if he’s elected. He scorns our government which he, at the very least, assisted in trying to subvert. We may not be able to keep him from running, but Republicans could finally come to their senses and nominate someone else. I can hope, can’t I? I mean, who thought that today’s events would turn out as they have.
We are ALL wondering that!
Deep Thought says the answer is: Mitch McConnell.
Blue Queen, here are some of the ways our democracy is being undermined. We don’t have laws for much of this, https://thedemlabs.org/2024/05/27/facebook-data-leads-to-teens-abortion-arrest-tips-to-protect-your-privacy/
My questions exactly BlueQueen! Thanks for clearly stating this.
It is a huge huge slap in the face of every true patriot when our laws do not protect us from domestic terrorism.
Do not , America , forget who really makes us Proud to Be! Those of us who keep going forward as kind, moral , caring Sapiens. That’s who. Protect and reward us!!! Now.🌎👏🏻🥰
Chauvinists say, "My country, right or wrong."
Patriots say, "My country: if it is right, let's keep it that way; if it is wrong, let's fix it."
Too many people don't know the difference.
I was always taught that Conservatism means keeping the good, getting rid of or changing the bad and being educated enough to know the difference.
Terry, I heard that too, but what I learned over the years listening to conservatives, THEY get to decide what is good and the "good" is always what works for them and who cares about the rest of the folks; "if they worked hard, were as smart as I am, or were thinking clearly, they would have what I have, be what I am, think or believe the way I do, the right way." I can't think right now of one positive thing conservatives or Republicans have done for this nation in about a half century, so maybe we need to get that word out and ask them to give some examples. I can give plenty of positive things they have fought in that time period, things that would have helped a lot of people, appreciated our diversity, better incorporated immigrants into society, made business fairer, cut the power of super rich men and corporations, provided higher quality health care for all of us, helped our children thrive, made society more equal/equitable for all of us, and so on.
Not the way I was raised. My family are/were Republicans. My great-grandfather was the first Chairman of the newly created Republican party in Allen County Indiana (1854) which is the cornerstone of Republicanism in Indiana. His son, my grandfather was elected the Republican County Auditor in the 1920s. His only daughter married a returning GI in 1945 on the condition he converted....to being a Republican...which he did....and above all a Conservative. What passes for Conservatism nowadays would be considered Heresy by my ancestors. Probably the closest party to the old Republican party is the current Libertarian party but I'm not sure any of them would feel comfortable in its folds.
Wrong Terry. It simply means resistant to change. I use to read Bill Buckley regularly.
The whole idea of conservatism is to keep the social order as it was at the beginning.
While Buckley got the press he wasn't the arbiter of what is and what is not Conservative. Obviously your definition can't be right. as many conservatives would disagree with you, including Edmund Burke.....https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmund_Burke And while Buckley used his 'Conservatism' to mask his racism, Burke did not.
Alas, for many conservatives "changing what is bad" means going back in time, and for still others conservatism means opposing all change..
Yes. Of course there's a name for those people: Reactionaries
How about the old “America, Love it or Leave it!” 🤬
The old America was sexist, racist, phobic.
NEW America can be explained by these same words!!
Yes, little has changed. The beliefs, the values, that under gird America has lingered and survive, but that is true of all cultures
For instance China has a rich culture thousands of years older than western culture, and has gone through wars, Emperors, Mongol and Manhurian, religions from Chinese folk religion, the country's most widespread system of beliefs and practices, has evolved and adapted since at least the second millennium BCE, to Tao, Confucianism, Buddhism to sectarian modern day China but I dare say the basic Chinese identity and culture are unchanged, only modified and adapted..
The same is true of the Germanic cultures, be they Nord or Anglo Saxon.
Religions and rulers come and go, and the culture puts it's imprint upon them.
The Catholicism of Central and South America are alien to that of the Anglo Saxon world, and the African version of Catholicism is alien to that of the Anglo and Hispanic worlds.
The Gallic culture overwhelmed the Franks, who in turn overwhelmed the Norse, who in turn were overwhelmed by the Anglo Saxons they Conquered , the result is a hybrid culture.
The Brythonic or Roman Brit left no imprint on the Anglo Sexons, because the Saxons basically obliterated the Romano Brits, the survivors fled to the mountains or into Scotland and Wales. Brits will argue that point, because of their chauvinism, but there is scant evidence of their existence left, other than in Cornwall and Wales. or archaelogical digs.
The Saxons eventually subjugated Cornwall in the 8th Century, but not their culture, and although After the Norman Conquest in 1066, Robert of Mortain became Earl of Cornwall and built a castle at Launceston. Earl Ordulf was in charge of Moresk Castle, The Cornish consider themselves, even a separate race, from the English,
Brittany in France gets its name from the Brythonic peoples that fled the Anglo axon conquest of southern Angleland.
William, thank you for this illuminating summary. The French have a saying that the more things change the more they stay the same. Still, the industrial revolution has radically transformed the world, and the current microchip revolution is promising to transform the world even more dramatically. Alvin Toffler warned us about the psichological effects in Future Shock, an important book.
Isn't it still?
Terry. Not being flippant, but "Isn't it still?, what? I have no idea to what you are referring.
My reply was to your comment: "The old America was sexist, racist, phobic."
The best way to get context is to click on Return to Thread and scroll up. :)
I did, but there is a problem when the comments number in the hundreds, clicking on return to thread takes one to the first page, happens often, then I have to scroll to the bottom of the page,and the next page, then the next and the next and use ctrl f for find and use keyword search.
And yes the new America is the same as the old America, only not as bad, and the right wing, conservatives, want to return to old America where it was even worse, and there was not only discrimination, but women were property, as were blacks, and LGBT were neither seen nor heard, but if outed were tied to barbed wire fences, or beat unil dead.,that's the America that MAGA desires.
Chavinist.
Maureen 👏👏👏
We start with eliminating 'Citizen's United', a decision that gave Corporations the same rights of an individual.
One of the worst decisions ever made : Citizens United.
It has destroyed elections. It’s a game of who has the most money can buy his way and try competing with corporations . “Give me a billion and I will see that you are not affected by any ground rules”. Donald to the oil
Industry giants.
And Iowa's Senators, who are supposed to be looking after our best interests, ignore the fact that if Trump wins with the oil industry's support, the ethanol industry in Iowa will be GONE! Whether you like ethanol or not, that will damage the growers and shutter the ethanol plants. One positive? It will make carbon capture pipelines irrelevant.
Thanks for nothing Tom.
I've had a long exchange with the dude, he is a Putinist, A vote for Stein is a vote for Trump, a vote for Trump is a vote for Putin;s agenda.
If you vote for Jill Stein, who cannot win, you are voting for the Orange Monstrosity.
And you know this.
Bully for you, Tom. If TFG wins, we’ll have misguided idealists like you (& Stein) to thank for it. She helped Trump in 2016, can’t believe she’s doing it again.
Get real while you can.
Tom is disingenuous, if he can vote in America he will vote for Trump, he's just here to pull people away from Biden.
Dude champions Putin, blames Ukraine on Biden.
Sad. Thx, G G.
That's what I said, Tom. If you vote for Stein, you'll share the blame if Trump wins.
Voting for what you want instead of what's important is the essence of cluelessness, and not facing reality seems pretty spineless to me. Reality is that Biden or Trump will win.
Make your last stand elsewhere, not on democracy v. fascism. Being willing to risk a fascist USA means condoning criminal behavior. That's insanity.
Yes Tom corporate personhood has been alive in different ways going back to the 1880's. But we had laws that limited election donations in a significant way until Citizens United. The rise in political donations since that decision have been astronomical making our electeds more beholden to money than ever before. I support hjr54 H.J.Res.54 - Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States providing that the rights protected and extended by the Constitution are the rights of natural persons only. But we can't get there from here right now.
Unfortunately politics is "piecemeal".
Sure in our infantile fantasies we all want somebody to cut thru it all and "fix it" asap which is part of the appeal of a Trump figure. And others. But that's what it is: fantasy, illusion. We can't get to a reversal of CU, or HJr54 or many of the things we desire unless we keep the Whitehouse and make gains in the Senate and House.
Even if Jill Stein were to get elected (she's polling around 1%) she will have zero traction with a Congress which is far to her right. Nothing will get done. Biden has made substantial progress on our US goals for CO2 equivalent reductions, though it is not enough.
BTW, I believe we are in a crisis but l also believe that a "hail Mary" vote for Jill Stein at best will have no impact, and at worse will help put Trump back in the Whiteshouse. https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2016/11/11/13576798/jill-stein-third-party-donald-trump-win
In answering me one time about her run for Senate in Maine Stein implied that she would not be running unless Rank choice voting was the game. Obviously that was not true, or she has changed her mind.
"We can't get to a reversal of CU, or HJr54 or many of the things we desire unless we keep the Whitehouse and make gains in the Senate and House."
I agree with your basic reasoning, Steve. Getting anything positive done with TFG in the Oval and MAGAs in Congress is a total nonstarter.
That said, what you say in that sentence above is the same thing I've heard for decades. If you look at news reports from 50 years ago, the country was facing the same problems it has now: war, pollution, human rights issues of all kinds, corporatocracy, and so on. What's being said by Dems now is that only they can help with all of those things, same thing they've said since probably FDR (and they were demonstrably correct, back then), and to the extent that the alternative is the RWNJs, it's true. But the Dems are as much corporate creatures as the red contingent. Biden is very much an establishment Dem, chosen by the DNC. Like Obama, he passes important legislation, but there are always, always, substantial giveaways to Wall Street, Big Oil, Big Corp in general. The devil is in the details of the bills.
So, yes, voting blue in November is the better option, but it essentially means voting to keep the [very flawed] status quo versus voting to burn it all down. I find it depressing that those are the only viable choices. My heart is with the Greens, but in this corporate-controlled political system, the party that represents real change for the better has been totally shut out.
I don't believe you. Wasn't that Stein we saw sitting around the table with Putin in Moscow? Yes, I believe it was. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/guess-who-came-dinner-flynn-putin-n742696
Biden is our elected representative. Flynn and Stein were not and hopefully never will be.
Democrats and liberals should take note as to how libertarians stood up to Trump and MAGA over the weekend at their convention in Washington D.C. That was political humiliation at its finest.
Yes wasn't that great?!! 🤣🤣🤣
It was great when they called Trump an authoritarian. Period.
Mike, yes, that was pretty special. Unfortunately, that won't keep Trump down. He/his handlers will figure that Trump just has to come up with more of the people Libertarians hate and add them to his rants. Libertarians will vote for Trump because despite their boos, they despise Biden even more, so Trump won't worry much if he remembers to worry at all. Trump and Kump are constantly test-ballooning to see which hates, resentments, and fearmongering work best with each group. Democrats need to find ways to point that out over and over and that Trump has no positive ideas for anyone but those who are willing to bow to him as though he were a king. We ditched a king nearly 250 years ago and don't ever need one again, particularly not one like Trump who is a toddler-man who rants, whines, complains, and tantrums nearly all the time. His handlers, the Steves in particular, just love the way Americans have fallen under the hate spell of a man who barely likes anyone and loves no one, despite his regular use of that word.
Ruth. 👏👏👏👏
Not all libertarians belong to the Libertarian Party.
By definition, Libertarians have got to be the opposition of a dictator. what I saw reported was they also voted against R. Kennedy Jr. Interesting.
Libertarians are anti government, meaning against constraints on corporations, Charles Koch is the biggest financier of libertarian causes, his brother David ran for President in 1980.
Unrestrained corporations were the political basis of Mussolini's fascism. His fascist government, besides Il Duce, was supported by a Chamber of Deputies, the members of which were CEO's or representatives of Corporations.
Kochs are major funders of The Heritage Foundation. The Project 2025 Trump Blueprint for the second term is coming from there. Wake up World!
Unrestrained, totally unfettered, purist capitalism IS fascism. ;)
Totally agree.
Some libertarians are delusional anarchists. Others are fascists.
Can't figure out why Trump went there. Maybe just the publicity. The Trump Party of "how can we use government to rewards ourselves and our buddies" does not fit well with the Party of "why do even have a government?" Oil and water mostly though there is some overlap.
Er, I hate to break it to you, Tom, but “endless war” is a BIG “economic matter.”
Not so much indeed!
The dude, Steve, is a worthless POS Putinist. Blames Biden for Ukraine, Peace in his lexicon is submission. War is resistance to aggression.
Well his girl, Jilly was seen/pictured sitting at the very same table dining with Vlad The Impaler a short while ago, no??
Maybe he somehow believes (or wants US to believe, LOL!) that that his boss, POOtin will not "behead babies" if/when he overruns Ukraine's defenses, and violently, genocidal despotically takes over THAT land?!?!
That's true, I forgot all about that Jill Stein was a fan girl of Putin. Thanks for reminding me.
It is too bad that America doesn’t follow the lead of Australia. I am an American AND Australian citizen, and have lived in Australia off and on since 1999 (full time since 2005). In Australia it is compulsory to vote. This eliminates everything but gerrymandering, but this is limited due to everyone having to have a say in government. The penalty for not voting isn’t horribly serious, but everyone here seems to have a moral appreciation of what voting means. One can make a statement by casting an illegal ballot if one wishes, but these are not counted. I doubt America would ever consider going down the road to compulsory voting, but it isn’t a bad idea. When you become a citizen in Australia, the first thing you do is enrol in the electoral system (even before taking the citizenship oath).
Fellow Aussie here. And we also have a national government organisation to manage voter enrolment and the election process - the Australian Electoral Commission. It is not up to the states or parts of states to determine voting rules.
i guess it goes back to the Founding Fathers hatred of the Crown and unwillingness to vest too much power in the new Federal government vice the states. And goes back to money of course.
Charles, I like that idea! We shouldn't shirk our duties when it comes to selecting who is going to govern our country. It should be mandatory!
Peggy, It was mandatory for 18-year-old boys of my generation to sign up for the draft.
I spent 4 years in the military before I was allowed to vote.
It took my generation of protestors to finally fix that glaring disparity.
Rob, thank you so much for your service. I could never understand why a person serving in our military was not allowed to vote because of age. I always thought if these brave men and women are willing to serve our country, they should definitely cast their vote for who will lead them!
Agree, Peggy. I also thought the Draft should be universal. A mandatory gap year after h.s. graduation or your 18th birthday.
Why 18, Ukraine just lowered their draft age from 27 to 25.
Getting rid of the draft meant no more flag draped caskets and funerals for middle middle and upper middle class families, Which was the real cause (not protests) for Richard Nixon abandoning Vietnam., after he promised Thieu (the President of Vietnam) that he would double down on support if he backed out of LBJ's, peace accords in Paris.
The event was an act of treason, Nixon then only a candidate, interfered in a war o gain political advantage. The conversation was recorded by the CIA, played to LBJ, LBJ could have, but didn't use it against Nixon, and Everett Dirksen, Republican Senate Majority Leader agreed on the phone in a recorded conversation that Nixon committed Treason.
No special reason. 18 is the end of compulsory education in many countries and people have to make a decision about what's next.
I didn't know about Nixon; nothing he did would surprise me. As a Chicagoan, I have a soft spot for Ev. One of the best Senators of his day imo. He usually flew commercial and would talk to anyone who asked him a question.
Protests got publicity. I can't think of one person I knew who wasn't persuaded by the logic. Most of us hadn't thought about it because the US wasn't in a hot war for 10 years. 2S was standard for my peers followed by a Reserve program. Many jokes like "My dad said if I flunk out he'll tell the Draft Board before I get home."
Rob, thank you for your service. Many of us who weren’t “in the pool” agreed. My husband was 1Y.
“If you’re old enough to die for your country, you’re old enough to decide who’s sending you into harm’s way.”
Would our youngsters be more interested in voting if we still had the Draft?
Given our two parties and a divided country, because of two parties, and the fact that it takes a unified effort on the part of one party to get an amendment through congress and ratified by 3/4ths of the states. Why do you think amendments like the 14, 19th and 26th (the 18 year old voter) amendments are ratified? Answer: Because the party in power sees it as an opportunity to stay in power, thanks to the gratitude of the newly franchised voter.
In other words none of the voting amendments were passed because of a protest vote, there certainly was no massive 18 year old turn out for the vote, maybe the 19th Amendment and the suffragette movement, but given that men, more or less properly believed that women would vote as their husband, saw enfranchising women as doubling their vote and power.
The Republicans controlled congress and state legislatures when the 15th and 19th Amendments were passed and ratified. The Democrats when the 26th was passed and ratified.
Don't forget that in the 19th century the Republican party was the liberals and the Democrats were the slavers. They switched in mid 20th (After Ike)
The protests in the late 60s & early 70s against the Vietnam War was what I was referencing equalizing the Draft/Voting age. It was also the time when the draft/slave army was ended.
The Constitution guarantees Freedom of Speech. Implied in that is Freedom FROM Speech. You are not required to share your opinion, it is yours, and nobody else's business. My opinion is requiring people to vote would clearly be a violation of their civil rights. That being said, anyone who doesn't vote forfeits their right to complain. There is no excuse to not vote.
A question Charles, what does a dual citizen do, when there two countries are at loggerheads, or worse enemies.
For instance Israelis and Palestinians (or Muslims) with citizenship in America and Palesine. Though Palestine is not a recognized country, the Palestinian Authority does issue passports, Thus Palestinian Americans and Israeli Americans, Just like American Australians.
As an example, Russian Americans and Iranian Americans are routinely arrested as spies or foreign agents in Russia and Iran.
One would reconsider one’s duality should that situation arise. I need my US citizenship as my Social Security payment keeps me going. Luckily US and Oz are on good terms.
Then you should be obligated and loyal to the entity that keeps you alive, fed , clothed and warm.
Well we gots our "freedoms". We'll cry like a baby if you take its ice cream away, if you takes its "freedoms". I got an attitude problem with the American public: they want but they aren't willing to give; ask not what your country.....
Thank you for this post, Dear Robert, you've said almost everything that needs to be said. The only thing I would add to the list: Patriots don't put adulation and loyalty to themselves as the most important part of their agenda. Thank you for all your thought provoking messages.
Fay Reid, thanks for reminding me of something that made me laugh. You noted they require adulation. When some of the nutty House Reps were blathering outside the NYC Courthouse, people were standing behind them with a very large, long sign that said, "Bootlickers". It made me laugh and feel proud!
"lawbreakers"
steve reed, or "liars, cheaters, thieves"
losers
I would have held up a sign with much worse than that behind those sniveling, shaking in abject fear, cowardly, prostrated before their king and putrid orange POS fuehrer, acquiescent little worm MAGANAZI quislings! ;)
Do they even realize just how ridiculously ASININE they appear (even dressing like their beloved SHITler!) to anyone even semi-sane, or aware of anything at all?!?!
I guess that they are counting on a vast majority of this land (or at least a vast majority of the ones in the effing 'swing states' that matter at all, thanks to the evil POS Electoral College) NOT being even semi-sane, let alone aware of even their own existence. :(
I must say, Mr. Reich, you are a superb writer. I greatly appreciate not only your thoughts, but the clear, concise way you express them.
Thanks so much for this post and for all of your posts.
God bless you now and forever and please have a safe and happy Memorial Day.
Thank You Professor Reich for this outstanding depiction of what it is to be a patriotic American 🇺🇸.
Robert,
Thank you.
Brent.
Thank you so much for your writing. ALL OF IT. Your Substack is highly needed, especially now! You already know how I'll be voting come November!
Maybe you should put this excellent material into a book 'On patriotism'. Maybe you'll get past leaders such as people like yourself would know, to collaborate.
Good luck with preventing fascism in November.
Profiles of Patriotism
Excellent thoughtful and comprehensive essay on the true meaning of patriotism. May these words permeate like the dew everywhere. Thank you.
Sir, this is a succinct summary of what modern democracy is about. It also works pretty well here in the UK, despite some constitutional differences. There is a good chance that we will, after least for now, turn the tide back here, where a general election has been called for July 4. All the Independence Day jokes have already been cracked!
Meanwhile in Iran (From Daily Chatter).
The funeral for Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who died along with the Iranian foreign minister and other officials on May 19 in a helicopter crash near Azerbaijan, was muted compared with the procession for Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani, killed by an American drone strike in 2020.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the theocracy’s head of state, for example, wept openly for Soleimani – but was “composed” for Raisi’s service, the Associated Press reported.
Many ordinary Iranians were less than sorry over Raisi’s death, too. The Guardian reported that there was cheering and even fireworks after his death was announced along with an official five-day mourning period.
“Many military agents have been stationed in the streets and even small squares since last night,” one witness told the newspaper. “The police have repeatedly warned that people who are happy about the death of the president will be prosecuted. People were lighting fireworks, listening and dancing to music, and those in the traffic kept honking in solidarity with those celebrating.”
That’s because the hard-line cleric and stalwart regime figure symbolized the worst elements of the country’s Islamic leadership,” noted the Washington Post.
Raisi has long been the face of regime repression through his posts as a prosecutor, chief justice of the supreme court, and his seat on a committee to judge the loyalty of prisoners to the regime when as many as 5,000 were disappeared or extrajudicially executed, according to Amnesty International. His critics say he’s responsible for thousands of other executions.
In 2021, he won Iran’s presidential election, marked by the lowest turnout in the country’s history and the disqualification of any significant opposition candidates. After a young woman died while in the custody of the “morality” police for violating the strict dress codes for women, he cracked down on the mass demonstrations that followed, with more than 550 killed and 60,000 people arrested. Twenty-five people have been given the death penalty for protesting, Human Rights Watch wrote.
Raisi didn’t appear willing to curry favor among the public, either. When only 41 percent of Iranian voters cast ballots in legislative elections in March, and many Iranians filed empty ballots to protest their government’s oppressive Islamic policies, wrote World Politics Review, the president described the turnout as “passionate.”
Now, Reuel Marc Gerecht, a resident scholar at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, and Ray Takeyh, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, argued in the New York Times that Raisi’s death is a bad omen for Iran and the world.
Iran has a complicated government where the president, who runs the government, has often been at odds with the country’s supreme leader, Khamenei, 85, who is also the country’s spiritual boss and leader of the armed forces. Contrary to other recent Iranian presidents, however, Raisi was close to Khamenei. He was widely believed to be one of two candidates in line to replace Khamenei when the supreme leader died, for example.
Now, however, Khamenei and other elites must figure out who will replace Raisi, a process that could trigger turmoil, Newsweek reported. In the meantime, First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber will assume the job until the presidential elections on June 28, NDTV explained.
Many observers think Khamenei’s son Mojtaba is now slated to become president. But Khamenei is not thrilled by the prospect of a monarchical transfer of power that might remind Iranians of the Shah who the Iranian Revolution deposed in 1979, wrote Reuters.
Writing in Politico, Takeyh and Suzanne Maloney of the Brookings Institution, contended that one outcome was clear. Whoever is the next Iranian president will likely be a hardliner eager to complete the country’s nuclear program, challenge the US, expand Iranian power throughout the region and beyond, and suppress any internal dissent to said agenda.
Still, much of the public lacks confidence in the regime and instead views it with contempt and fear. That’s a recipe for a certain faction to retain power, but might not be a plan for peace and prosperity:
“With waning legitimacy, a failing economy and struggles for power behind the scenes, Iran’s regime is more brittle than ever,” wrote the Economist. “Raisi’s rise to the presidency marked the end of the regime’s claim to have democratic credentials. If his death augurs a new stage in the regime’s decay, that could prove to be dangerous for Iranians – and their region.”
We live in a very dangerous world of revanchist countries, ethnic groups, and social movements. Iran, Russia, China, N. Korea, Serbia, much of the post-colonial world, and our own revanchist Confederates are part of this gathering storm. Some of these revanchists are armed with nuclear weapons. Climate change may exacerbate the dangers.
Iran clerics, the Ayatollahs, are also corrupt, they live large with many wives, and in splendor. The public propaganda is that he lives like the poor, a lower middle class life style and only ones one simple piece of property, however he controls a large swath of the Iran economy, and one does not need ownership when one controls everything, that is the secret of Trump and the Billionaires,the secret of Putin, the secret of Xi. Ownership puts a target on your back, control is superior to ownership.
https://iranwire.com/en/khameneicom/103191-fact-check-are-ali-khameneis-living-standards-below-average/
It was publicized that Mao received a monthly allowance of $300, but he had the entire country of china at his command and disposal.
The President of the U.S. doesn't have to own an Airplane, he has on demand use of a plush Boeing 747. And I am sure that Trump doesn't own the plane with his name on the side. That Putin doesn't own those many billion ruble dachas he keeps his mistresses in.
The Billionaires don't own anything,everything is held in trusts by foundations.
Charles Koch doesn't personally donate to parties and politicians, his foundation does.
When they own anything it is stock and a controlling interest in the corporations, and they don't pay taxes on the stock until it is sold
It is only we, the bourgeoisie, the middle class, that is fixated on ownership.
Daniel, I suspect the various leadership members in Iran have been mulling over who will replace Ayatollah Ali Khamenei for years. Raisi has some problems for them. He did not connect with the people and killed plenty of them. That is not a particularly good way to carry on into the future and some people of Iran seem to be restless with what is going on. As you mentioned, that is not a good sign. It's true if they put certain people in charge, the world could be more at risk, but there will come a point where someone bigger than Iran will want to put them in their place, China maybe. It is not in China's interest to have Iran or any other nation gaining nuclear capabilities, particularly when they are run by religious fanatics who just might want to bring about armageddon. So now, the Ayatollah thinks he needs to keep the people from being too happy. Amazing! Not enough suffering? I am guessing he and his thugs will fix that.
45 years ago, the US and Israel were their closest allies. Their enemies were the Sunnis and Kurds, who still have a minor presence in Iran.
IMHO the Ayatollahs have little public support. Half the population are women, who universally oppose them. The latest lethal opposition group is a variation on the ISIS theme. The rockets from Hezbollah yesterday into Israel, are a signal Hezbollah craves attention and is afraid that they will be losing Iranian support. Hundreds of thousands of Arabs have been killed so far in Syria and Yemen by Moslem groups who oppose each other.
Whatever we or Israel do will be the wrong thing. The helicopter crash was like a scene from Homeland. Where's Carrie Mathieson when we need her? Moscow?
Hopefully, there will be internal problems that are more important than the Ayatollah hatred for the Great Satan,. Hopefully, Netanyahu will limit retaliation to Hezbollah targets in Lebanon and Syria.
Daniel, I can't help but think we need a drug or more that can be sprayed around men when they are plotting to hurt people. The drug would silence their orgasmic pleasure of anticipating the havoc they will cause. I am not sure of any other way to stop the male insanity. Thank God it is not all men, not even a large percentage of men who get their goodies from attacking other people and nations. But, there are enough of them that I think medical research is warranted.
LOL. funny but there is truth Ruth.
ISK or Islamic State of Khorasan is Sunni and a thorn in the side of Iran and the Sunni Taliban, it is responsible for the recent attack in Moscow. because of it's alliance with Iran.
Khorosan is the ancient name for northern Iran and Afghanistan.
To its chagrin the west, and America in particular is so chauvinist and ego centric, that it knows jack squat about the history, conflicts, cultures and religions of anything that doesn't speak English as a first language.
And even then, Americans are oblivious to other English speaking countries.
Since Iran is such a major player in world affairs, a book that everyone interested should read is Sandra Mackay's The Iranians.. Easy to read, well written, documented and enjoyable.
Thanks for sharing that information Daniel. When people complain about this country I want to remind them about places like that. My heart aches for their citizens.
Good luck in your elections, Robert!! I hope Democracy prevails!
I think the right to vote will prevail. Whether that's all there is to democracy is up for debate. Many people here are fed up with electing the largest minority, and would like a proportional representation system introduced. The only European nations who don't have this now are Russia and Belarus - not good company to keep.
That should be "at least for now ". Darned smelling chuckers.
Robert, can you post some jokes? Brit humo(u)r is the best.
Up the Rebels!
Ooooo! Robert, could you share some of them? I bet they are pretty good, knowing British humor!
Yes good luck Robert!!
https://www.blackhistory.com/2018/05/black-people-african-americans-invented-memorial-day-history.html?m=1
Excellent story, Bob, about the morality of politics.
At the same time I worry about the frame of the politcal debate. Indignation seems not to work. I'm thinking a lot about this, because a mobster and lap dog from Putin in the White House is a menace for my children too. (I live in the Netherlands)
I think that apart from morality we should also consider the practical side: the U.S. should know that the need for governing and coöperating can be defined in a very practical way.
In the "Lettres Persanes" of Montesquieu I found a story about the Troglodites. He tells all we talk and dispute about: the murder of the king, the necessity of coöperation, the control of ugly urges, the need for civility and coöperation. It hit me as very convincing. And practical...
I fits with the concerns about "The common good" too...
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it” George Santayana. I would venture to present an alternate idea to fit our times. How about, those who refuse to ACCEPT the past are condemning us all to regression, pointless turmoil, and depravity?
The first line of the oath of enlistment is "I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Too many soldiers fought and died for the freedoms and liberties ALL Americans should be enjoying today. May America not only recall its past but make the willful decision to turn from evil selfishness and honor the memory of the brave who gave it all up for the US.
Being a fan of teaching history, George is the Best