In 2016, he was asked if there would be a peaceful transition. People were already getting the measure of this dude. His answer was “Peaceful, if I win.”
>Exactly<! Bill Maher banged on about it throughout ol' Tweey's term in office. ol' Tweety knew since November of '16! That it came to pass 4 years later is beside the point. It was premeditated.
Many thanks for this superb WaPo Oct. 2016 editorial warning U.S. voters about evil Trump’s intent to completely destroy the U.S. democratic republic. It’s obviously a huge tragedy that so many voters completely disregarded or were completely oblivious to Trump’s fascist & authoritarian character.
Omg, October 2016! Thank you for that. My blood ran cold watching it. I place the blame squarely on the GOP. THEY KNEW WHO HE WAS and so did the NY power brokers and no one sounded the alarm to voters. I do know that Trump met with the Tea Party in 2013 to plan his run. The Tea Party is a Koch Bros. subsidiary. The elite ruling class is perpetrating these crimes against America and financing the militias. Just read this morning that tomorrow's hearing are postponed with the Justice Dept people. The conspiracy to make this a fascist country, (happening rapidly in many GOP states) is huge, it's the plutocratic Republicans and some Democrats too.
Put this in your thinking cap. We never got to know if Trump was serious about causing trouble in 2016 if he lost. But if he drafted ANYTHING in 2016, especially if it followed his actions in 2020, there’s hard-baked INTENT of criminal behavior reaching to 2016.
Trump didn't care about the truth, it didn't matter to him in the least. His goal was to remain in power and to amass as much money as he could get from his gullible followers to pad his pockets. CNN aired the last episode of "Watergate" last night and it brought back the disturbing memories of the 1970's. It also revealed that Trumps insurrection and attempted coup against our country was by far more dangerous. Let's hope AG Garland is paying very close attention. Whereas Ford's pardon put Nixons criminality to rest for the nation, he opened the door for the likes of Trump. It's time to prosecute, we can never allow this to happen again.
I hope our nation is never put through the kind of travesty that Donald J Trump represents. When we elect an individual to public service, we expect that individual to seek the Truth i all instances and to adhere to the solemn oath of office taken. Until Trump, we had elected officers who varied considerably in expertise, experience, and education but, in the main, we were fortunate in that most of them took their oath seriously and tried to fulfill their proscribed duties. Until Trump took office. There was only one thing that concerned (and still concerns) Trump and that was his personal well-being and what he regarded as his success (increasing his wealth and power). He lied when he took the oath of office as he had absolutely no intention of supporting the rule of law and protecting and defending the citizens and residents of our country. He constantly put all of us at risk and in danger and he knew it all along, he simply did not care and does not care at this moment. It was the responsibility of the Congress and the Department of Justice to step in (long ago) but those who could have acted and made a difference were either scared stiff (cowardly) or in it for themselves alone. It is also my hope that Donald J Trump receive his own full measure of justice and that these hearings will serve as cautionary tales and measures to prevent us from ever electing another individual so incompetent and so utterly devoid of basic human decency and a concern for finding and upholding the Truth.
Lanae, I certainly want your hope to come true. The problem is, he framers of the Constitution could not conceive of a person so vicious, and totally lacking in character as trump. So the only expectations of the President are that he/she be 35 years of age and born in the United States.
Quite the opposite; the framers anticipated this situation *exactly*: the requirements are as simple as can be so that the idea of *who* is qualified is never the subject of an arcane debate regarding credentials and is forever a question of character!
PS: Truth be told, reading these comments is a bit disheartening; there was surely an informed American public saying these *same* things when someone like Warren Harding left office in disgrace (it's only been 100 years!)...
You are absolutely right, Lanae, about never electing someone such as Donald Trump again. There are things that should be codified into law. Anyone who gave up information like tRump did in the Oval Office with the Russians would have gone to jail. Is there not a procedure for declassification? Just think the POTUS intentionally gave away our secrets!!! There are so many things that need to be turned into legal guardrails to prevent dangerous actions by the president. We have seen how good character is a flimsy foundation for a country.
I disagree with your last statement just a bit. In a democracy, who we elect for the leader of our country is not based on the "flimsy foundation" of character but on our astute judgment of the character of a given candidate. If in 2016 we had seriously considered the character of Donald J Trump (or lack of same) we would be having an entirely different conversation as, with his deceit and incompetence, Donald J Trump would never have made it out of the first round. (We would never have had to deal with Trump's advisors whose moral compass was apparently stuck where his was. They never once made an effort to stand up to a man hell-bent on destroying his entire country if it meant victory (wealth and power) for him.) The case of the nation of Ukraine also plays into the issue of character: President Zelenskyy knew that the writing was on the wall as far as the conflict with Russia was concerned and he repeatedly approached Trump for financial and other involvements. However--given Trump's character (lack of same)--Trump had decided that Zelenskyy was a light-weight, an airhead, from a small inconsequential nation he never heard of, so he gave Zelenskyy the time of day until he decided that Zelenskyy could be coerced into helping his own political campaign for re-election, at which point he blatantly attempted to force (extort) Zelenskyy into digging up dirt on Biden. What Trump never got (as he was incapable of even imagining the possibility of integrity, honesty, and plain-dealing (and signing over the funds promised to Zelenskyy by Congress) was the possibility that Zelenskyy was the modern-day equivalent of CHurchill and that a humble, sincere, small man had the character and integrity that he himself did not understand and lacked. Yes, character matters a lot, as the hearings are revealing. What is appalling is that Trump supporters were more than willing to ignore that fact in order to still support the Grifter-in-Chief. The situation with Ukraine might very possibly be much different if Trump had been able to recognize the severity of Ukraine's crisis and act to render the funds and materiel already promised to the Ukrainians. Lives might have been saved. Yes! Character is not flimsy, it's the thing when you're running for public office.
I agree that character is important in an elected official, or anyone else for that matter. Trump proved that importance beyond doubt. However, the norms and traditions that have been thought to be restraining on a chief executive do not have the power of law. There should be laws in place to govern the presidency besides being a 35 yr.old citizen. For the welfare of the country to be dependent on a person’s willingness to to what’s right is simply too dangerous.
I do not believe it is possible to craft legislation that ensures beyond a doubt that an individual running for public office will be beyond reproach and do his duty and fulfill the demands of his office. No matter how hard our legislative bodies might try, they cannot pass laws that require that an individual be aware of his/her duty and seek to carry out the laws on the books and be of sterling character and beyond reproach. It falls to the duty of each citizen to choose wisely and to keep an eye and close watch on those chosen to govern. That is what George Washington had in mind when he noted that democracy was fragile, that is, it was dependent on a vigilant, informed citizenry who never dropped the ball but kept the pressure on. And that is where some of us have failed: we have assumed that Trump had character and integrity and, in face of all concrete evidence to the contrary, we have taken him at his word when, in fact, he was devoid of any character or sense of responsibility for the 330 million people to whom he owed his election. The fact that there are no laws requiring character, a sense of ethical values and history is in fact the beauty of the thing as well as its curse: it is beautiful to recognize that each citizen has the freedom (or, theoretically, the freedom) to choose, to weigh the facts and find the information required to make a considered choice that will impact the future for many; and it is a curse in that it places responsibility and accountability on citizens for their own future. An autocracy is easier as a single individual makes all the decisions and choices but can shift the responsibility downward if his/her choices prove flawed and, if those down the pyramid, neglect their own vigilance for a moment, he or she might be home free. Too many of us took Trump at his word, gave him free rein and that is on us, I'm afraid. We can't pass laws that will cover every public servant to act responsibly in every case and we can't rely on citizens to remain alert and informed in all instances, so we have to try to do the best we can and steer clear of those without the experience, knowledge, and past record to merit public offices. It's on us to keep our democracy and that can't be done without vigilance and wise choices.
The biggest difference between Nixon and Trump, Nixon was guilty of lying and (stupidly) covering up as Dr. Reich put it a 'third rate burglary'. He was guilty of stupidity. Not that I liked Nixon or ever voted for him. Trump on the other hand is guilty of treason against the United States of America. At one time in our history, he would have faced a firing squad. Siccing his creepy minions on the Capitol, while Congress was in session, and the votes were being counted, in an effort to stop the count, was and is treason.
And yet there's still more to come... I'm hoping to get a clearer picture of who left the DC and Metropolitan Police officers out to dry that day. That in and of itself was absolutely criminal.
It was The Donald's Acting Sect of Defense who wrote a memo a few days before the insurrection that the DC National Guard was not allowed to provide any weapons, surveillance, or people unless approved by the ASOD. And it is now clear that that ASOD was in on the plot.
Check out Michael Flynn and brother Charles, who was at the capitol on J6. Jim Stewartson's substack goes into a lot of detail (I think no pay wall); read Jim's background; he has a very interesting four-part series about this, foreign interference, defanging the USAID dept, tRump's EO; sounds almost too crazy to be true...but, but, but -- Also, the Insurrection was apparently Plan B
Jim, absolutely. I have believed since this happened that there are still many Trump loyalist in our government and I do fault Biden for not cleaning out the government. I believe Trump gave the orders for them to stand back and not interfere. We know the Secret Service was compromised, parts of the military definitely were. We still don't know about the FBI, NSA, CIA. We're in a very dangerous country now. Even entire police departments are being threatened by the militias. (this past weekend, in Iowa, I think there was an LBGTQ rally and the police arrested a militia group, now the department is being targeted for violence) We need the rule of law in this country and the first place it needs to be applied is to the GOP and TRUMP. TRUMP neutered the agencies that should have protected the Capitol.
I PRAY AG Garland remembers this above all, as one's OWN fortune is the best motivator: he COULD have had a cushy, lifetime appointment as a supreme court justice, lazing around until they get a case a few times a year. Bunkerboy STOLE THAT FROM HIM. KICK HIS ASS!
You are correct, Linda. But I doubt trump has ever read the Constitution, and if anyone has read any part of it to him, he is only twisting what is there to his advantage.
The Constitution is being trampled by the GOP. Only leaders in authority, AG, can enforce the laws that the Constitution protects. It was a deliberate act by the GOP not to impeach Trump so he can run again counting on national militia violence to stop any indictment. Terrify our leaders away from action for fear of more violence. This is why there is endless talk of Trump running again (blows my brain out every time I hear it), softening the public to it's inevitability publicly, loudly, defanging law enforcement to protect our democracy. Our laws protect us from Trump and his enforcers. Where are they?
The Constitution is being trampled by the GOP. Only leaders in authority, AG, can enforce the laws that the Constitution protects. It was a deliberate act by the GOP not to impeach Trump so he can run again counting on national militia violence to stop any indictment. Terrify our leaders away from action for fear of more violence. This is why there is endless talk of Trump running again (blows my brain out every time I hear it), softening the public to it's inevitability publicly, loudly, defanging law enforcement to protect our democracy. Our laws protect us from Trump and his enforcers. Where are they?
The Constitution is being trampled by the GOP. Only leaders in authority, AG, can enforce the laws that the Constitution protects. It was a deliberate act by the GOP not to impeach Trump so he can run again counting on national militia violence to stop any indictment. Terrify our leaders away from action for fear of more violence. This is why there is endless talk of Trump running again (blows my brain out every time I hear it), softening the public to it's inevitability publicly, loudly, defanging law enforcement to protect our democracy. Our laws protect us from Trump and his enforcers. Where are they?
The Constitution is being trampled by the GOP. Only leaders in authority, AG, can enforce the laws that the Constitution protects. It was a deliberate act by the GOP not to impeach Trump so he can run again counting on national militia violence to stop any indictment. Terrify our leaders away from action for fear of more violence. This is why there is endless talk of Trump running again (blows my brain out every time I hear it), softening the public to it's inevitability publicly, loudly, defanging law enforcement to protect our democracy. Our laws protect us from Trump and his enforcers. Where are they?
The Constitution is being trampled by the GOP. Only leaders in authority, AG, can enforce the laws that the Constitution protects. It was a deliberate act by the GOP not to impeach Trump so he can run again counting on national militia violence to stop any indictment. Terrify our leaders away from action for fear of more violence. This is why there is endless talk of Trump running again (blows my brain out every time I hear it), softening the public to it's inevitability publicly, loudly, defanging law enforcement to protect our democracy. Our laws protect us from Trump and his enforcers. Where are they?
The Constitution is being trampled by the GOP. Only leaders in authority, AG, can enforce the laws that the Constitution protects. It was a deliberate act by the GOP not to impeach Trump so he can run again counting on national militia violence to stop any indictment. Terrify our leaders away from action for fear of more violence. This is why there is endless talk of Trump running again (blows my brain out every time I hear it), softening the public to it's inevitability publicly, loudly, defanging law enforcement to protect our democracy. Our laws protect us from Trump and his enforcers. Where are they?
The Constitution is being trampled by the GOP. Only leaders in authority, AG, can enforce the laws that the Constitution protects. It was a deliberate act by the GOP not to impeach Trump so he can run again counting on national militia violence to stop any indictment. Terrify our leaders away from action for fear of more violence. This is why there is endless talk of Trump running again (blows my brain out every time I hear it), softening the public to it's inevitability publicly, loudly, defanging law enforcement to protect our democracy. Our laws protect us from Trump and his enforcers. Where are they?
The Constitution is being trampled by the GOP. Only leaders in authority, AG, can enforce the laws that the Constitution protects. It was a deliberate act by the GOP not to impeach Trump so he can run again counting on national militia violence to stop any indictment. Terrify our leaders away from action for fear of more violence. This is why there is endless talk of Trump running again (blows my brain out every time I hear it), softening the public to it's inevitability publicly, loudly, defanging law enforcement to protect our democracy. Our laws protect us from Trump and his enforcers. Where are they?
The Constitution is being trampled by the GOP. Only leaders in authority, AG, can enforce the laws that the Constitution protects. It was a deliberate act by the GOP not to impeach Trump so he can run again counting on national militia violence to stop any indictment. Terrify our leaders away from action for fear of more violence. This is why there is endless talk of Trump running again (blows my brain out every time I hear it), softening the public to it's inevitability publicly, loudly, defanging law enforcement to protect our democracy. Our laws protect us from Trump and his enforcers. Where are they?
The Constitution is being trampled by the GOP. Only leaders in authority, AG, can enforce the laws that the Constitution protects. It was a deliberate act by the GOP not to impeach Trump so he can run again counting on national militia violence to stop any indictment. Terrify our leaders away from action for fear of more violence. This is why there is endless talk of Trump running again (blows my brain out every time I hear it), softening the public to it's inevitability publicly, loudly, defanging law enforcement to protect our democracy. Our laws protect us from Trump and his enforcers. Where are they?
The Constitution is being trampled by the GOP. Only leaders in authority, AG, can enforce the laws that the Constitution protects. It was a deliberate act by the GOP not to impeach Trump so he can run again counting on national militia violence to stop any indictment. Terrify our leaders away from action for fear of more violence. This is why there is endless talk of Trump running again (blows my brain out every time I hear it), softening the public to it's inevitability publicly, loudly, defanging law enforcement to protect our democracy. Our laws protect us from Trump and his enforcers. Where are they?
My concern thru all this is if there is no accountability or personal consequences. Then all hell will break loose. No government, no control,civil war.
Exact same sentiment in The Guardian opinion page this morning. I think not civil war but horrible shootings and civil disobedience by the same stripe fools from January 6.
As long as Washington politicians of both parties continue their failure to make progress in addressing our nation’s most serious problems, and as long as economic conditions for ordinary American citizens continue to decline year by year, circumstances will remain ripe for the emergence of other demagogues like Donald Trump who offer false promises of easy solutions. Trumpism is a symptom of a society which has lost its bearings and a political system which continues to move at a glacial pace in an era of rapid change.
Which is precisely why McConnell and his disciples (including Manchin/Sinema) won't allow Biden any successes. And why big Corporations are intentionally driving up inflation -- to get the house back so they can immediately kill the filibuster and start installing their autocratic crowd of greedy, power mad thugs in offices where they can control the whole landscape.
And profit from it at the expense of everyone else.
It would be wonderful if the Jan. 6 Committee (or the DOJ) could expose the whole conspiracy.
Oh give me a break! Both parties are not at fault! Whenever I hear this I think soft repugnicans rhetoric! The state of our democracy can in large part be laid at the conservatives doorstep,! Nixon and Ronnie started this bullshit parade!
Both parties get their funding from the same sources to which they remain equally obligated. Democrats haven’t delivered anything approaching the progressive policies and programs they’ve promised for many years. They’re clearly intimidated by the Republicans because every time there’s a showdown, Republicans wind up on top. Just look at the Supreme Court today, and wait to see what happens in the upcoming midterm elections.
The reason they get funding from some of the same donors is that there are so few billionaires to draw from! Besides, so what? Dems and repugnicans do quite different things with the money! To say that democrats are as corrupt as repugnicans is a mistake! Not perfect but more perfect than corrupticans! This kind of half information and cynicism is not constructive !
I never stated Democrats are as corrupt as Republicans; I simply pointed out that they get their funding from the same sources and are equally influenced by big money donors. Furthermore, I pointed out that Democrats haven’t lived up to the progressive platforms they’ve proposed over the years. I’m a lifelong Democrat but it’s difficult to escape the conclusion the party leadership is equally satisfied with doing nothing significant for Americans while pointing fingers at the Republicans and using GOP opposition as an excuse.
Ok sorry I kind of went off on you! The last 25 odd years have been frustrating for us because of the conservative lockstep behavior and agenda! We have not been able to get much done because the country had been ronnified! The government has never been the problem!
Hear, hear! Mr. Dundas. You are correct. I think Barack Obama was one of the most decent persons in recent history to inhabit the White House, but even he lacked the courage to make 'Wall Street' pay for scamming America. The cut throats who, in 2008, perpetrated this theft of people's savings were never prosecuted and were allowed to retain their loot. We even gave them an addtional, $900,000,000 to "tide them over' They used the money to throw parties, and give themselves obscene bonuses. Not a penny was given to the millions of seniors who faced bankruptcy. So yes, neither major party is without guilt.
Kamala Harris had a chance to indict the "king of foreclosures" Steve Manuchin...did she do it? no! "too much paper to deal with" said the DA of California, at that time...later, she got a 50k check from the king during her senatorial campaign...
William Dundas ; Don't forget the electoral college and the filibuster. Minority rule is oppressive and lately nothing gets through legislatively, or very little. This is not how Democracy is supposed to work. When rethugs say they will block everything the Democrats try, they are blocking the Democratic process. They are not doing their jobs. Money plays an outsized role, and things get worse all the time! Now we have elementary schools getting shot up and children being obliterated! it takes millions marching to get the rethugs to even consider modest reforms.
As usual, Laurie, you and I are in total agreement. Money does play an outsized role, mainly because we let it. Not all of us, but far too many, worship money, and those who possess it. Part of the problem is fewer and fewer of us read newspapers. Too many of us have very short attention spans. We need to convince our politicians than if they cease spending billions on TV blurbs, we will attend their town-hall meetings, their speeches, and read their platform, basing that on our vote.
Fay Reid ; It's ironic : I still get the local newspaper, but it is printed in another county, so it comes late and I can't bring it to work. Sometimes it is a day late. I missed a town hall featuring Jeremy Raskin and Jim McGovern, because it was in the paper the same day of the town hall and I did not get it in time. Our progressive area is becoming a 'news desert.' I do not have wifi at work, and most of my customers are not online. I pay $200/year for this paper, and it's half the paper it used to be, and is often not there on time! Still cheaper than WIFI though.
I empathize with you, Our local paper is a smidgen of what it was a few years ago. Also the news, as it appears, is stuff I've already read, or heard on line. I am now retired so don't have work obligations, but I only retired January 2021 so the memory is fresh. I still think honest politicians could cut down on the TV ads (which are the costliest part of campaigning) My Congressman, Dr, Ami Bera, is great. He always responds to my e-mails, and if he disagrees with me, he explains why. For that reason alone he will always have my vote. But, times being what they are his home page is full of what he is doing for his constituents, but not much of his plans for future. I think, once elected, politicians begin to realize just how self-centered and selfish their constituents are, and how disinterested in the "Communal Good" They are afraid to tell us what they are or plan to do for the good of the Nation. I'm sorry your wifi is so expensive. That is something politicians should be fixing, the high cost of WiFi. I live in a Senior living facility now and mine is free so I can't complain.
I think we should ask ourselves what the odds are that a truly democratic government ever would naturally become so equally divided that nearly every major policy decision comes down to a matter of only a few votes. Money definitely plays an outsized role because it wields the power to create political deadlock and thereby to thwart necessary changes.
There can NEVER be a pardon for a traitor. And make NO mistake: Donald Trump & the current Republican elected leadership ARE traitors to our Constitution & our democracy. They are domestic traitors, aiding & abetting the destruction of our very core definition as America. They ARE the PERPETRATORS & CONSPIRATORS of these traitorous - AND MURDEROUS - attacks against our government, our elected representatives, our governmental law enforcement & our citizens. They MUST be held accountable & punished UNDER OUR ESTABLISHED & MANDATED LAWS for their heinous crimes. There can be NO COMPROMISE, NO MITIGATION. PROSECUTE, IMPOSE & IMPLEMENT the fullest penalties - with NO DIMINISHMENT! If we do not, OUR NATION IS LOST. It takes a certain amount of COURAGE to define, to CHOOSE, & to STAND UP for your nation, your chosen method of governance, & your nation's defined laws. THESE CRIMES are the very bottom line. If our democracy does not uphold THIS standard, we have NO GOVERNANCE, NO DEMOCRACY, NO DEFINITION, NO INTEGRITY & NO INTELLIGENCE. We will not have, & we will not deserve, a nation. Stand Up, Regardless. REGARDLESS, AMERICA, STAND UP!!
Sh*tmouth Trump must be held accountable. A Ford-like pardon in this case would not serve our Constitution and our democracy. In other civilized nations, politicians, even presidents and prime ministers, whose crimes have been much less serious, have been punished, even imprisoned. Those our judicial system have found to be traitors (e.g., the Rosenbergs) have been imprisoned, even executed. Trump sought to achieve a coup, trampling our Constitution and imperilling our democratic institutions by weakening their legitimacy. He must be punished to the full extent of the law.
Ironically, it goes to show how mentally challenged he truly is, he could have made SIGNICANTLY more money running more scams like _ump Steaks! Instead he got greedy and lost it all! Sad! (There is a 0% chance he'll be president again. Even IF a berder-based heart attack doesn't off him. ENJOY!)
My thoughts exactly!!! That morbidly obese dope is one double berder away from the end. (Seriously though: has he ever given us reason to believe he is NOT "exceptional???")
Absolutely, he has given us every reason to believe he is just an average grifter, He has filed bankruptcy repeatedly to relieve himself from having to pay trades persons who were dumb enough to business with him. That is NOT exceptional. He calls himself a 'stable genius' but frankly my cat has more intelligence than the trumpster. Unless you think he is an exceptional ham actor. Hugging flags, draping his blubber across the dais, and over-emoting every line.
Letting the rich and powerful get away with pardons, while the rest of us suffer in harsh prisons if WE break the law, does not allow the vast majority of WE THE PEOPLE to have it "behind us." It ANGERS us that we have a two tiered justice system. J6 is an example of the pot that is already boiling in this country due to the "elites" having it all, including not being subject to our laws. Yes it will be historic to jail a POTUS, but Trump's crimes are also historically numerous and cost people their lives!
This and the failure of our government to protect citizens from greed of banks, cell companies, hospitals, bad ingredients in food and consumer products. All of this makes a case for political unrest and precedes Trump by decades. At the moment this country needs a dictator for exactly twelve months to sort out all that is wrong.
I would happily volunteer if at least 50% of my own projects had done well :)
Human nature is such that it would be a great risk. On the other hand I would think with hardened rules it may work. Peggy I am just desperate to clean up the mess in out country. Do you think the media is portraying the January 6 committee as they should?
The media doesn't report the facts for the gas prices and inflation, so how they handle the J6 reporting is not going to be their best efforts. The media had better ratings and sales under T45 so their owners crave the crazy for profit.
I don't think J6 want us to honestly know how far the corruption and depravity exists in Congress, but IMHO, everyone part of the coup must go.
Honestly, if we could trust voters to vote people out after serving 1 term, then we could have voter-imposed term limits.
That is a hard NO. The (to quote TCinLA) "the over-educated...otherwise unemployable" pundits of the bloated press corps (and most other media as well) are lazy; they like nothing better than to affirm their already formulated narrative--it's easy and pleases the corporate ownership.
It is infuriating and immensely frustrating for those us who wish to be more fully informed--but media bottom line is about the "ratings" which enables the money flow....and corporate ownership of the media is always and forever about chasing that flow of money.
Joel and I both have relatives in Germany, and so Reuters is a news source that is our go-to. One can learn more about the USA through Reuters than one does though American's corporate news.
Yes, the founders were racists and sexists. They were also men of the Enlightenment movement which highlighted reason and freedom of thought. At the founding they were talking about freeing the slaves but the South would not go along with it, and they were needed to keep the French, Spanish, and the English at bay. Many of the slaves were made free upon the death of the founders according to their wills. They also made our Constitution amendable, knowing humanity would progress further to become better versions of itself. It is sad we haven't bettered ourselves fast enough.
True trumpians are a lost cause. Hopefully, independents and moderate Republicans, to the extent there are any left, are the groups who will be influenced by the hearings.
Years ago, my best friend moved south. We're meeting next week in VA then visiting DC. She's concerned about more riots there by Antifa. What Trump has done can be heartbreaking.
Antifa means Anti-fascist, I am proud to pronounce myself as anti-fascist. The alt-right invented the non-existent group as a tag for liberal/progressives. The general population has no idea of the principles of fascism, It was a movement in the 1920's, 1930's, and 1940's(revered by many in the wealthier classes of Europe and even had followers in the US) The general idea of fascism is the industrialists and the 'landed gentry' were a superior class and therefor deserved all the wealth and power. The 'working classes' existed only to serve the important folk at the top. To ensure the grubby working classes would support them the Nazis fixated on Jews, homosexuals, Slavs, 'mentally feeble, and Communists as the bane of WHITE MEN. In this manner Hitler was able to commence World War II and murder 6 million Jewish people (men, women, and children). First he also attacked illegitimate children, then decided it was the duty of all good white women to bear offspring from German soldiers. He also enslaved members of the 'outcasts' to work in German munitions factories. trump, of course greatly admires Nazis because they were "real men". Like Putin.
I always wondered who Antifa was. i would be labelled one, most likely, but have been unaware of any 'movement' or any group with that name, and I live in the bluest pocket of southern New England. I know of the horrible story of Hitler and the 6 miilion Jewish people. When I was 5 years old, we were visiting our paternal grandfather's home. Mu mother seemed very upset. We were shown films my retired Marine granddad had showing the death camps. Treblinka, Dachau and another name I can't recall. There were people placed on conveyer belt like device (hay loader?) going up into an oven, bodies loaded into concrete compartments with forklift type things. pictures of 'shower rooms' where people were packed in to get a shower. It was not a shower of water. the ceiling had places where it was marked by fingernails of the taller victims. Gold was taken from teeth. My grandfather wanted us to know the truth. Later that year my Catholic school had a Halloween event, We were in a school grades K through 12 . the Kindergartners would parade through the classes in costumes. I chose to wear my father's Marine jacket which went to my ankles. I put coal on my face to make it look dirty like a soldier in war. I was not smiling and felt very grim. No ballerina, or witch or fairy. I am antifascist, but not a member of any group. the right wingers make up lies. I remember their 'Femi-Nazis' . Ridiculous!
You are right, there is no such organization as antifa, it doesn't exist. I love your Halloween costume. You are much younger than me. (I'm 89) I was a 6 ear old Canadian when WWII started and 12 when it ended. o me it was the only justifiable war from the Allied point of view.
True Trumpians worship the man and are as crazy as the man they worship. A Christian Cult since he uses the Bible to hold them accountable. Remember Jim Jones and David Koresh?
Also, people have been brainwashed with the help of social media, etc. From all I've read about Michael Flynn et al, we have a weaponized PsyOp going on in our country and based & Flynn seems to be the driver, it's his training, expertise (Afghanistan, Iraq -- he ran PsyOps on local populations apparently); not to forget his coziness with Russia. See Jim Stewartson substack
A scholar of American Christianity presents a seventy-five-year history of evangelicalism that identifies the forces that have turned x-POTUS-t into a hero of the Religious Right. How did a libertine who lacks even the most basic knowledge of the Christian faith win 81 percent of the white evangelical vote in 2016? And why have white evangelicals become a presidential reprobate’s staunchest supporters? These are among the questions acclaimed historian Kristin Kobes Du Mez asks in _Jesus and John Wayne_, which delves beyond facile headlines to explain how white evangelicals have brought us to our fractured political moment. X-POTUS-t is hardly the first flashy celebrity to capture evangelicals’ hearts and minds, nor is he the first strongman to promise evangelicals protection and power. Indeed, the values and viewpoints at the heart of white evangelicalism today―patriarchy, authoritarian rule, aggressive foreign policy, fear of Islam, ambivalence toward #MeToo, and opposition to Black Lives Matter and the LGBTQ community―are likely to persist long after t has left office. A much-needed reexamination, Jesus and John Wayne explains why evangelicals have rallied behind the least-Christian president in American history and how they have transformed their faith in the process, with enduring consequences for all of us.
'One Nation Under God' does a great job of summarizing the de-secularization of public office at the hands of the "radical right"... but perhaps there's nothing so complicated about majoritarianism taking a wrong turn: Karl Rove & Co. exploited evangelicals because they allowed themselves to be exploited; after the fact, they are left grasping no differently than any other similar group...(?)
That's all well and good - but (if the popular vote is any guide) at least half of America was raised acknowledging those facts & aspiring towards some secular narrative of an all-inclusive America (can we honestly believe so many low-grade copies of Thomas & Scalia resulted from the same process?); even if they *were* Christians where did the rest of it go wrong? (The spreading of fear as a political methodology - or something else?)
When you really sit and think this through, down to where it cannot be broken down anymore, the US Constitution does not demand the vetting that should be done for those seeking the presidency of the United States…the leader of the free world. If an evaluation of a potential candidate’s medical, psychological, social, business, financial and legal backgrounds were added to the sorely inadequate requirements of citizenry and age, perhaps there never would have been a Trump. The step right above vetting is the fact that republicans allowed Trump to happen because that vetting wasn’t LAW! We MUST amend the constitution to better vet candidates or we’ll continue to swirl down the bowl.
Ideally, we need complete DNA sequences (more damning than tax returns) of all politicians and those running for office. Add that to published backgrounds. Devise a good AI algorithm to determine which ones are suitable for the intended positions.
Unfortunately, I'm not sure that Trump HAS any DNA ...
Each politician should undergo an fMRI to determine whether the empathy center of the frontal cortex exhibits any activity. In psychopaths, this area shows no activity.
Love it, Diana! Actually, though, I doubt that Trump, McConnell, McCarthy, Cruz, etc. have frontal cortexes ... And they'd have to do the scan somewhere below L5.
Some use the terms interchangeably. Robert Hare, Ph.D. is considered an expert on psychopathology, and he refers to individuals without a sense of empathy as psychopaths. Most who have been convicted of crimes feel guilt for their actions. But there are some that don't, and those are the true psychopaths. Of course, there are blue and white collar psychopaths who are never convicted of anything, but they leave destroyed lives and careers in their wake. Snakes in Suits, another book written by Dr. Hare, discusses this.
From my readings I understood that the difference is you're born a psychopath, and you become a sociopath. The latter has some kind of remorse for his actions, while the first none whatsoever. They both lack any kind of empathy. Thanks for the reference.
So sociopaths also lack empathy? If that's true, then a sociopath also would not have much or any activity in the empathy center of the brain, which seems genetic.
Right on! Mr. Ouder. In addition to your suggestions I would add that all persons seeking any elective office in the United States MUST have read the Constitution, know the three branches of Government, the duties of each branch, and any limitations. Incidentally, per the Constitution, a person does not only have to be a US Citizen, the Presidency (and vice-Presidency by inference) is the only office requiring the candidate to have been born in the United States.
My humble guess is the fear of not having a strong enough case yet, which he doesn't want to jeopardize by not being fully prepared. But at some point, you have to make that tough call where you forge ahead with what you've got. Unfortunately, the longer he waits, it seems the greater the risk to our nation as we now know it.
Jim Tedford ; I think the timing might be good. These hearings are stirring up some dirt, and clearing some air afterwards, Those who have been duped may finally see how they have been misled. Humans are known to have idols on pedestals, then they glee
Jim Tedford. I was taught to look for the "least point of resistance." Easiest would be a consumer fraud case. Bilked his loyal supporters out of $250,000,000. .No "Trump Defense Fund" exists. Money went directly into his pockets. This is a continuing violation as he is still trying to "market" the big lie. No presidential immunity. No "insanity" or "defense of counsel" defenses available to him.
I'm trying to figure out why Merrick Garland was given the Attorney General job, other than in compensation for not been given a chance at justice hearings? My impression is that he is too mellow for it, especially during times like this. I think the best for the job would've been Adam Schiff.
Dorothy Knudson ; Maybe he wants an airtight case, tRump's specialty is getting around the law and appealing appealing and delaying. He may be nearing the end of his career.
The evidence via witnesses, videos, interviews & documents have clearly shown that Trump & his coconspirators had planned the Big Lie, Used it to sell the idea to his supporters that their election was stolen & it was their “patriotic” duty to defend the country and claim the presidency for Trump. He used the Proud Boys & Oath Keepers to lead the charge on Our Capitol with violence to stop the certification of the rightful president Biden- knowing he had lost the election. He used the Big Lie & is still using the Big Lie to steal money from his followers to add insult to injury. The Seditious Conspiracy was directed and ordered by Trump.
While our elected officials feared for their lives & Capitol Police engaged in hand to hand combat to protect the Capitol , Trump watched it all on TV and did Nothing to stop it!
Democracy was in Trump’s way & he did everything to destroy all the pillars of Democracy attacking Free Press, Academia, Legal Justice System..
Without Democracy we will not have Human, Civil Rights or a Habitable Planet!
While the 1/6 Commission has done a masterful job present the evidence of Trump’s crimes- our country needs legal accountability for our country to protect Democracy & prevent 1/6 from becoming standard practice in a new Authoritarian Gov. which we will inherit!
We are at a turning point in our country which will require each of us the media, the DOJ, our elected officials & we the people to unite to end this nightmare in America & protect Democracy which may slip away without United action!
The committee is arguing that Trump not only knew he lost after the election, he contrived a plot to overturn the election beforehand. He instructed his followers to vote in person on election day, claiming vote by mail is not safe, even though he routinely votes by mail. He knew that the in-person election day votes would be counted before the mail ballots in many states, creating what they called the red mirage: Trump would initially appear to be ahead. He would then claim that the mail ballots, which were counted for several days afterward and favored Biden, were fraudulent.
I saw a video clip of Merrick Garland saying that his prosecutors were watching the hearing.
If they chose to prosecute, his true believers will load their guns and come to Washington DC for a "Showdown". Their Mesia must be saved at any cost. They may just choose to let him stay in Mar a Largo and just not let him ever run again. Anybody who was unlawfully in the Capital Building on January 6 ,2021, should have their guns taken away from them as being mentally unfit.
Carolyn: Red Mirage. He has 3 possible defenses. Otherwise it's a jury question
1. Immunity. Will argue that a president has a 1st Amendment right to say anything unless it meets one of the exceptions like slander or "fighting words".
2. Operating under advice of counsel. Underlings take the fall.
In 2016, he was asked if there would be a peaceful transition. People were already getting the measure of this dude. His answer was “Peaceful, if I win.”
>Exactly<! Bill Maher banged on about it throughout ol' Tweey's term in office. ol' Tweety knew since November of '16! That it came to pass 4 years later is beside the point. It was premeditated.
WaPo 10/17/16 https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/trump-poses-an-unprecedented-threat-to-the-peaceful-transition-of-power/2016/10/17/f97f8f82-947f-11e6-bb29-bf2701dbe0a3_story.html
I remember trump planting the seeds of doubt very early on. Fascism 101.
Many thanks for this superb WaPo Oct. 2016 editorial warning U.S. voters about evil Trump’s intent to completely destroy the U.S. democratic republic. It’s obviously a huge tragedy that so many voters completely disregarded or were completely oblivious to Trump’s fascist & authoritarian character.
Omg, October 2016! Thank you for that. My blood ran cold watching it. I place the blame squarely on the GOP. THEY KNEW WHO HE WAS and so did the NY power brokers and no one sounded the alarm to voters. I do know that Trump met with the Tea Party in 2013 to plan his run. The Tea Party is a Koch Bros. subsidiary. The elite ruling class is perpetrating these crimes against America and financing the militias. Just read this morning that tomorrow's hearing are postponed with the Justice Dept people. The conspiracy to make this a fascist country, (happening rapidly in many GOP states) is huge, it's the plutocratic Republicans and some Democrats too.
I had never seen that! Thank you Mr. O'Cally! I shall file this away . . .
Put this in your thinking cap. We never got to know if Trump was serious about causing trouble in 2016 if he lost. But if he drafted ANYTHING in 2016, especially if it followed his actions in 2020, there’s hard-baked INTENT of criminal behavior reaching to 2016.
I agree. The DOJ should follow up on that very thing, if any of this is to be anything but political theater.
Trump didn't care about the truth, it didn't matter to him in the least. His goal was to remain in power and to amass as much money as he could get from his gullible followers to pad his pockets. CNN aired the last episode of "Watergate" last night and it brought back the disturbing memories of the 1970's. It also revealed that Trumps insurrection and attempted coup against our country was by far more dangerous. Let's hope AG Garland is paying very close attention. Whereas Ford's pardon put Nixons criminality to rest for the nation, he opened the door for the likes of Trump. It's time to prosecute, we can never allow this to happen again.
I hope our nation is never put through the kind of travesty that Donald J Trump represents. When we elect an individual to public service, we expect that individual to seek the Truth i all instances and to adhere to the solemn oath of office taken. Until Trump, we had elected officers who varied considerably in expertise, experience, and education but, in the main, we were fortunate in that most of them took their oath seriously and tried to fulfill their proscribed duties. Until Trump took office. There was only one thing that concerned (and still concerns) Trump and that was his personal well-being and what he regarded as his success (increasing his wealth and power). He lied when he took the oath of office as he had absolutely no intention of supporting the rule of law and protecting and defending the citizens and residents of our country. He constantly put all of us at risk and in danger and he knew it all along, he simply did not care and does not care at this moment. It was the responsibility of the Congress and the Department of Justice to step in (long ago) but those who could have acted and made a difference were either scared stiff (cowardly) or in it for themselves alone. It is also my hope that Donald J Trump receive his own full measure of justice and that these hearings will serve as cautionary tales and measures to prevent us from ever electing another individual so incompetent and so utterly devoid of basic human decency and a concern for finding and upholding the Truth.
Lanae, I certainly want your hope to come true. The problem is, he framers of the Constitution could not conceive of a person so vicious, and totally lacking in character as trump. So the only expectations of the President are that he/she be 35 years of age and born in the United States.
Quite the opposite; the framers anticipated this situation *exactly*: the requirements are as simple as can be so that the idea of *who* is qualified is never the subject of an arcane debate regarding credentials and is forever a question of character!
PS: Truth be told, reading these comments is a bit disheartening; there was surely an informed American public saying these *same* things when someone like Warren Harding left office in disgrace (it's only been 100 years!)...
You are absolutely right, Lanae, about never electing someone such as Donald Trump again. There are things that should be codified into law. Anyone who gave up information like tRump did in the Oval Office with the Russians would have gone to jail. Is there not a procedure for declassification? Just think the POTUS intentionally gave away our secrets!!! There are so many things that need to be turned into legal guardrails to prevent dangerous actions by the president. We have seen how good character is a flimsy foundation for a country.
I disagree with your last statement just a bit. In a democracy, who we elect for the leader of our country is not based on the "flimsy foundation" of character but on our astute judgment of the character of a given candidate. If in 2016 we had seriously considered the character of Donald J Trump (or lack of same) we would be having an entirely different conversation as, with his deceit and incompetence, Donald J Trump would never have made it out of the first round. (We would never have had to deal with Trump's advisors whose moral compass was apparently stuck where his was. They never once made an effort to stand up to a man hell-bent on destroying his entire country if it meant victory (wealth and power) for him.) The case of the nation of Ukraine also plays into the issue of character: President Zelenskyy knew that the writing was on the wall as far as the conflict with Russia was concerned and he repeatedly approached Trump for financial and other involvements. However--given Trump's character (lack of same)--Trump had decided that Zelenskyy was a light-weight, an airhead, from a small inconsequential nation he never heard of, so he gave Zelenskyy the time of day until he decided that Zelenskyy could be coerced into helping his own political campaign for re-election, at which point he blatantly attempted to force (extort) Zelenskyy into digging up dirt on Biden. What Trump never got (as he was incapable of even imagining the possibility of integrity, honesty, and plain-dealing (and signing over the funds promised to Zelenskyy by Congress) was the possibility that Zelenskyy was the modern-day equivalent of CHurchill and that a humble, sincere, small man had the character and integrity that he himself did not understand and lacked. Yes, character matters a lot, as the hearings are revealing. What is appalling is that Trump supporters were more than willing to ignore that fact in order to still support the Grifter-in-Chief. The situation with Ukraine might very possibly be much different if Trump had been able to recognize the severity of Ukraine's crisis and act to render the funds and materiel already promised to the Ukrainians. Lives might have been saved. Yes! Character is not flimsy, it's the thing when you're running for public office.
I agree that character is important in an elected official, or anyone else for that matter. Trump proved that importance beyond doubt. However, the norms and traditions that have been thought to be restraining on a chief executive do not have the power of law. There should be laws in place to govern the presidency besides being a 35 yr.old citizen. For the welfare of the country to be dependent on a person’s willingness to to what’s right is simply too dangerous.
I do not believe it is possible to craft legislation that ensures beyond a doubt that an individual running for public office will be beyond reproach and do his duty and fulfill the demands of his office. No matter how hard our legislative bodies might try, they cannot pass laws that require that an individual be aware of his/her duty and seek to carry out the laws on the books and be of sterling character and beyond reproach. It falls to the duty of each citizen to choose wisely and to keep an eye and close watch on those chosen to govern. That is what George Washington had in mind when he noted that democracy was fragile, that is, it was dependent on a vigilant, informed citizenry who never dropped the ball but kept the pressure on. And that is where some of us have failed: we have assumed that Trump had character and integrity and, in face of all concrete evidence to the contrary, we have taken him at his word when, in fact, he was devoid of any character or sense of responsibility for the 330 million people to whom he owed his election. The fact that there are no laws requiring character, a sense of ethical values and history is in fact the beauty of the thing as well as its curse: it is beautiful to recognize that each citizen has the freedom (or, theoretically, the freedom) to choose, to weigh the facts and find the information required to make a considered choice that will impact the future for many; and it is a curse in that it places responsibility and accountability on citizens for their own future. An autocracy is easier as a single individual makes all the decisions and choices but can shift the responsibility downward if his/her choices prove flawed and, if those down the pyramid, neglect their own vigilance for a moment, he or she might be home free. Too many of us took Trump at his word, gave him free rein and that is on us, I'm afraid. We can't pass laws that will cover every public servant to act responsibly in every case and we can't rely on citizens to remain alert and informed in all instances, so we have to try to do the best we can and steer clear of those without the experience, knowledge, and past record to merit public offices. It's on us to keep our democracy and that can't be done without vigilance and wise choices.
The biggest difference between Nixon and Trump, Nixon was guilty of lying and (stupidly) covering up as Dr. Reich put it a 'third rate burglary'. He was guilty of stupidity. Not that I liked Nixon or ever voted for him. Trump on the other hand is guilty of treason against the United States of America. At one time in our history, he would have faced a firing squad. Siccing his creepy minions on the Capitol, while Congress was in session, and the votes were being counted, in an effort to stop the count, was and is treason.
And yet there's still more to come... I'm hoping to get a clearer picture of who left the DC and Metropolitan Police officers out to dry that day. That in and of itself was absolutely criminal.
It was The Donald's Acting Sect of Defense who wrote a memo a few days before the insurrection that the DC National Guard was not allowed to provide any weapons, surveillance, or people unless approved by the ASOD. And it is now clear that that ASOD was in on the plot.
Check out Michael Flynn and brother Charles, who was at the capitol on J6. Jim Stewartson's substack goes into a lot of detail (I think no pay wall); read Jim's background; he has a very interesting four-part series about this, foreign interference, defanging the USAID dept, tRump's EO; sounds almost too crazy to be true...but, but, but -- Also, the Insurrection was apparently Plan B
CHARLES FLYNN STILL HAS HIS JOB!
Jim, absolutely. I have believed since this happened that there are still many Trump loyalist in our government and I do fault Biden for not cleaning out the government. I believe Trump gave the orders for them to stand back and not interfere. We know the Secret Service was compromised, parts of the military definitely were. We still don't know about the FBI, NSA, CIA. We're in a very dangerous country now. Even entire police departments are being threatened by the militias. (this past weekend, in Iowa, I think there was an LBGTQ rally and the police arrested a militia group, now the department is being targeted for violence) We need the rule of law in this country and the first place it needs to be applied is to the GOP and TRUMP. TRUMP neutered the agencies that should have protected the Capitol.
I PRAY AG Garland remembers this above all, as one's OWN fortune is the best motivator: he COULD have had a cushy, lifetime appointment as a supreme court justice, lazing around until they get a case a few times a year. Bunkerboy STOLE THAT FROM HIM. KICK HIS ASS!
I'd lay that at Mitch's doorstep ..
Indictments and prosecution is the only way out of this.
Section 3 of the 14th amendment lays the basis for ensuring that Trump can never again run for a political office.
You are correct, Linda. But I doubt trump has ever read the Constitution, and if anyone has read any part of it to him, he is only twisting what is there to his advantage.
The Constitution is being trampled by the GOP. Only leaders in authority, AG, can enforce the laws that the Constitution protects. It was a deliberate act by the GOP not to impeach Trump so he can run again counting on national militia violence to stop any indictment. Terrify our leaders away from action for fear of more violence. This is why there is endless talk of Trump running again (blows my brain out every time I hear it), softening the public to it's inevitability publicly, loudly, defanging law enforcement to protect our democracy. Our laws protect us from Trump and his enforcers. Where are they?
good question!!!
The Constitution is being trampled by the GOP. Only leaders in authority, AG, can enforce the laws that the Constitution protects. It was a deliberate act by the GOP not to impeach Trump so he can run again counting on national militia violence to stop any indictment. Terrify our leaders away from action for fear of more violence. This is why there is endless talk of Trump running again (blows my brain out every time I hear it), softening the public to it's inevitability publicly, loudly, defanging law enforcement to protect our democracy. Our laws protect us from Trump and his enforcers. Where are they?
The Constitution is being trampled by the GOP. Only leaders in authority, AG, can enforce the laws that the Constitution protects. It was a deliberate act by the GOP not to impeach Trump so he can run again counting on national militia violence to stop any indictment. Terrify our leaders away from action for fear of more violence. This is why there is endless talk of Trump running again (blows my brain out every time I hear it), softening the public to it's inevitability publicly, loudly, defanging law enforcement to protect our democracy. Our laws protect us from Trump and his enforcers. Where are they?
The Constitution is being trampled by the GOP. Only leaders in authority, AG, can enforce the laws that the Constitution protects. It was a deliberate act by the GOP not to impeach Trump so he can run again counting on national militia violence to stop any indictment. Terrify our leaders away from action for fear of more violence. This is why there is endless talk of Trump running again (blows my brain out every time I hear it), softening the public to it's inevitability publicly, loudly, defanging law enforcement to protect our democracy. Our laws protect us from Trump and his enforcers. Where are they?
The Constitution is being trampled by the GOP. Only leaders in authority, AG, can enforce the laws that the Constitution protects. It was a deliberate act by the GOP not to impeach Trump so he can run again counting on national militia violence to stop any indictment. Terrify our leaders away from action for fear of more violence. This is why there is endless talk of Trump running again (blows my brain out every time I hear it), softening the public to it's inevitability publicly, loudly, defanging law enforcement to protect our democracy. Our laws protect us from Trump and his enforcers. Where are they?
The Constitution is being trampled by the GOP. Only leaders in authority, AG, can enforce the laws that the Constitution protects. It was a deliberate act by the GOP not to impeach Trump so he can run again counting on national militia violence to stop any indictment. Terrify our leaders away from action for fear of more violence. This is why there is endless talk of Trump running again (blows my brain out every time I hear it), softening the public to it's inevitability publicly, loudly, defanging law enforcement to protect our democracy. Our laws protect us from Trump and his enforcers. Where are they?
The Constitution is being trampled by the GOP. Only leaders in authority, AG, can enforce the laws that the Constitution protects. It was a deliberate act by the GOP not to impeach Trump so he can run again counting on national militia violence to stop any indictment. Terrify our leaders away from action for fear of more violence. This is why there is endless talk of Trump running again (blows my brain out every time I hear it), softening the public to it's inevitability publicly, loudly, defanging law enforcement to protect our democracy. Our laws protect us from Trump and his enforcers. Where are they?
The Constitution is being trampled by the GOP. Only leaders in authority, AG, can enforce the laws that the Constitution protects. It was a deliberate act by the GOP not to impeach Trump so he can run again counting on national militia violence to stop any indictment. Terrify our leaders away from action for fear of more violence. This is why there is endless talk of Trump running again (blows my brain out every time I hear it), softening the public to it's inevitability publicly, loudly, defanging law enforcement to protect our democracy. Our laws protect us from Trump and his enforcers. Where are they?
The Constitution is being trampled by the GOP. Only leaders in authority, AG, can enforce the laws that the Constitution protects. It was a deliberate act by the GOP not to impeach Trump so he can run again counting on national militia violence to stop any indictment. Terrify our leaders away from action for fear of more violence. This is why there is endless talk of Trump running again (blows my brain out every time I hear it), softening the public to it's inevitability publicly, loudly, defanging law enforcement to protect our democracy. Our laws protect us from Trump and his enforcers. Where are they?
The Constitution is being trampled by the GOP. Only leaders in authority, AG, can enforce the laws that the Constitution protects. It was a deliberate act by the GOP not to impeach Trump so he can run again counting on national militia violence to stop any indictment. Terrify our leaders away from action for fear of more violence. This is why there is endless talk of Trump running again (blows my brain out every time I hear it), softening the public to it's inevitability publicly, loudly, defanging law enforcement to protect our democracy. Our laws protect us from Trump and his enforcers. Where are they?
The Constitution is being trampled by the GOP. Only leaders in authority, AG, can enforce the laws that the Constitution protects. It was a deliberate act by the GOP not to impeach Trump so he can run again counting on national militia violence to stop any indictment. Terrify our leaders away from action for fear of more violence. This is why there is endless talk of Trump running again (blows my brain out every time I hear it), softening the public to it's inevitability publicly, loudly, defanging law enforcement to protect our democracy. Our laws protect us from Trump and his enforcers. Where are they?
My concern thru all this is if there is no accountability or personal consequences. Then all hell will break loose. No government, no control,civil war.
Exact same sentiment in The Guardian opinion page this morning. I think not civil war but horrible shootings and civil disobedience by the same stripe fools from January 6.
As long as Washington politicians of both parties continue their failure to make progress in addressing our nation’s most serious problems, and as long as economic conditions for ordinary American citizens continue to decline year by year, circumstances will remain ripe for the emergence of other demagogues like Donald Trump who offer false promises of easy solutions. Trumpism is a symptom of a society which has lost its bearings and a political system which continues to move at a glacial pace in an era of rapid change.
Which is precisely why McConnell and his disciples (including Manchin/Sinema) won't allow Biden any successes. And why big Corporations are intentionally driving up inflation -- to get the house back so they can immediately kill the filibuster and start installing their autocratic crowd of greedy, power mad thugs in offices where they can control the whole landscape.
And profit from it at the expense of everyone else.
It would be wonderful if the Jan. 6 Committee (or the DOJ) could expose the whole conspiracy.
[OOPS! Did I say "conspiracy?"]
Oh give me a break! Both parties are not at fault! Whenever I hear this I think soft repugnicans rhetoric! The state of our democracy can in large part be laid at the conservatives doorstep,! Nixon and Ronnie started this bullshit parade!
Both parties get their funding from the same sources to which they remain equally obligated. Democrats haven’t delivered anything approaching the progressive policies and programs they’ve promised for many years. They’re clearly intimidated by the Republicans because every time there’s a showdown, Republicans wind up on top. Just look at the Supreme Court today, and wait to see what happens in the upcoming midterm elections.
The reason they get funding from some of the same donors is that there are so few billionaires to draw from! Besides, so what? Dems and repugnicans do quite different things with the money! To say that democrats are as corrupt as repugnicans is a mistake! Not perfect but more perfect than corrupticans! This kind of half information and cynicism is not constructive !
I never stated Democrats are as corrupt as Republicans; I simply pointed out that they get their funding from the same sources and are equally influenced by big money donors. Furthermore, I pointed out that Democrats haven’t lived up to the progressive platforms they’ve proposed over the years. I’m a lifelong Democrat but it’s difficult to escape the conclusion the party leadership is equally satisfied with doing nothing significant for Americans while pointing fingers at the Republicans and using GOP opposition as an excuse.
Ok sorry I kind of went off on you! The last 25 odd years have been frustrating for us because of the conservative lockstep behavior and agenda! We have not been able to get much done because the country had been ronnified! The government has never been the problem!
No, but just a few 'people' who buy the government.
The filibuster is real.
Hear, hear! Mr. Dundas. You are correct. I think Barack Obama was one of the most decent persons in recent history to inhabit the White House, but even he lacked the courage to make 'Wall Street' pay for scamming America. The cut throats who, in 2008, perpetrated this theft of people's savings were never prosecuted and were allowed to retain their loot. We even gave them an addtional, $900,000,000 to "tide them over' They used the money to throw parties, and give themselves obscene bonuses. Not a penny was given to the millions of seniors who faced bankruptcy. So yes, neither major party is without guilt.
Kamala Harris had a chance to indict the "king of foreclosures" Steve Manuchin...did she do it? no! "too much paper to deal with" said the DA of California, at that time...later, she got a 50k check from the king during her senatorial campaign...
William Dundas ; Don't forget the electoral college and the filibuster. Minority rule is oppressive and lately nothing gets through legislatively, or very little. This is not how Democracy is supposed to work. When rethugs say they will block everything the Democrats try, they are blocking the Democratic process. They are not doing their jobs. Money plays an outsized role, and things get worse all the time! Now we have elementary schools getting shot up and children being obliterated! it takes millions marching to get the rethugs to even consider modest reforms.
As usual, Laurie, you and I are in total agreement. Money does play an outsized role, mainly because we let it. Not all of us, but far too many, worship money, and those who possess it. Part of the problem is fewer and fewer of us read newspapers. Too many of us have very short attention spans. We need to convince our politicians than if they cease spending billions on TV blurbs, we will attend their town-hall meetings, their speeches, and read their platform, basing that on our vote.
Fay Reid ; It's ironic : I still get the local newspaper, but it is printed in another county, so it comes late and I can't bring it to work. Sometimes it is a day late. I missed a town hall featuring Jeremy Raskin and Jim McGovern, because it was in the paper the same day of the town hall and I did not get it in time. Our progressive area is becoming a 'news desert.' I do not have wifi at work, and most of my customers are not online. I pay $200/year for this paper, and it's half the paper it used to be, and is often not there on time! Still cheaper than WIFI though.
I empathize with you, Our local paper is a smidgen of what it was a few years ago. Also the news, as it appears, is stuff I've already read, or heard on line. I am now retired so don't have work obligations, but I only retired January 2021 so the memory is fresh. I still think honest politicians could cut down on the TV ads (which are the costliest part of campaigning) My Congressman, Dr, Ami Bera, is great. He always responds to my e-mails, and if he disagrees with me, he explains why. For that reason alone he will always have my vote. But, times being what they are his home page is full of what he is doing for his constituents, but not much of his plans for future. I think, once elected, politicians begin to realize just how self-centered and selfish their constituents are, and how disinterested in the "Communal Good" They are afraid to tell us what they are or plan to do for the good of the Nation. I'm sorry your wifi is so expensive. That is something politicians should be fixing, the high cost of WiFi. I live in a Senior living facility now and mine is free so I can't complain.
I think we should ask ourselves what the odds are that a truly democratic government ever would naturally become so equally divided that nearly every major policy decision comes down to a matter of only a few votes. Money definitely plays an outsized role because it wields the power to create political deadlock and thereby to thwart necessary changes.
William Dundas ; well said!
There can NEVER be a pardon for a traitor. And make NO mistake: Donald Trump & the current Republican elected leadership ARE traitors to our Constitution & our democracy. They are domestic traitors, aiding & abetting the destruction of our very core definition as America. They ARE the PERPETRATORS & CONSPIRATORS of these traitorous - AND MURDEROUS - attacks against our government, our elected representatives, our governmental law enforcement & our citizens. They MUST be held accountable & punished UNDER OUR ESTABLISHED & MANDATED LAWS for their heinous crimes. There can be NO COMPROMISE, NO MITIGATION. PROSECUTE, IMPOSE & IMPLEMENT the fullest penalties - with NO DIMINISHMENT! If we do not, OUR NATION IS LOST. It takes a certain amount of COURAGE to define, to CHOOSE, & to STAND UP for your nation, your chosen method of governance, & your nation's defined laws. THESE CRIMES are the very bottom line. If our democracy does not uphold THIS standard, we have NO GOVERNANCE, NO DEMOCRACY, NO DEFINITION, NO INTEGRITY & NO INTELLIGENCE. We will not have, & we will not deserve, a nation. Stand Up, Regardless. REGARDLESS, AMERICA, STAND UP!!
If this were 1800 or before, donny would had been HANGED. >sigh<
Sh*tmouth Trump must be held accountable. A Ford-like pardon in this case would not serve our Constitution and our democracy. In other civilized nations, politicians, even presidents and prime ministers, whose crimes have been much less serious, have been punished, even imprisoned. Those our judicial system have found to be traitors (e.g., the Rosenbergs) have been imprisoned, even executed. Trump sought to achieve a coup, trampling our Constitution and imperilling our democratic institutions by weakening their legitimacy. He must be punished to the full extent of the law.
Ironically, it goes to show how mentally challenged he truly is, he could have made SIGNICANTLY more money running more scams like _ump Steaks! Instead he got greedy and lost it all! Sad! (There is a 0% chance he'll be president again. Even IF a berder-based heart attack doesn't off him. ENJOY!)
We can always hope for the intercession of the Grim Reaper.
My thoughts exactly!!! That morbidly obese dope is one double berder away from the end. (Seriously though: has he ever given us reason to believe he is NOT "exceptional???")
Absolutely, he has given us every reason to believe he is just an average grifter, He has filed bankruptcy repeatedly to relieve himself from having to pay trades persons who were dumb enough to business with him. That is NOT exceptional. He calls himself a 'stable genius' but frankly my cat has more intelligence than the trumpster. Unless you think he is an exceptional ham actor. Hugging flags, draping his blubber across the dais, and over-emoting every line.
Letting the rich and powerful get away with pardons, while the rest of us suffer in harsh prisons if WE break the law, does not allow the vast majority of WE THE PEOPLE to have it "behind us." It ANGERS us that we have a two tiered justice system. J6 is an example of the pot that is already boiling in this country due to the "elites" having it all, including not being subject to our laws. Yes it will be historic to jail a POTUS, but Trump's crimes are also historically numerous and cost people their lives!
This and the failure of our government to protect citizens from greed of banks, cell companies, hospitals, bad ingredients in food and consumer products. All of this makes a case for political unrest and precedes Trump by decades. At the moment this country needs a dictator for exactly twelve months to sort out all that is wrong.
I would happily volunteer if at least 50% of my own projects had done well :)
Once a dictatorship is established, it take a lot of blood to unseat him or her and to clean up all the laws in the aftermath.
Human nature is such that it would be a great risk. On the other hand I would think with hardened rules it may work. Peggy I am just desperate to clean up the mess in out country. Do you think the media is portraying the January 6 committee as they should?
The media doesn't report the facts for the gas prices and inflation, so how they handle the J6 reporting is not going to be their best efforts. The media had better ratings and sales under T45 so their owners crave the crazy for profit.
I don't think J6 want us to honestly know how far the corruption and depravity exists in Congress, but IMHO, everyone part of the coup must go.
Honestly, if we could trust voters to vote people out after serving 1 term, then we could have voter-imposed term limits.
That is a hard NO. The (to quote TCinLA) "the over-educated...otherwise unemployable" pundits of the bloated press corps (and most other media as well) are lazy; they like nothing better than to affirm their already formulated narrative--it's easy and pleases the corporate ownership.
It is infuriating and immensely frustrating for those us who wish to be more fully informed--but media bottom line is about the "ratings" which enables the money flow....and corporate ownership of the media is always and forever about chasing that flow of money.
Joel and I both have relatives in Germany, and so Reuters is a news source that is our go-to. One can learn more about the USA through Reuters than one does though American's corporate news.
Sadly, that is very true.
Yes, the founders were racists and sexists. They were also men of the Enlightenment movement which highlighted reason and freedom of thought. At the founding they were talking about freeing the slaves but the South would not go along with it, and they were needed to keep the French, Spanish, and the English at bay. Many of the slaves were made free upon the death of the founders according to their wills. They also made our Constitution amendable, knowing humanity would progress further to become better versions of itself. It is sad we haven't bettered ourselves fast enough.
I agree Peggy, and would add that the hope for Freedom, was a foundation.
Of course he knew, & spurred on the protestors!
And finally, finally, finally, actual testimony as to what was going on behind the curtains and how it came about.
That's Deadbeat Trump's MO
We can only hope that the TRUTH finally gets through to all trumpians!
True trumpians are a lost cause. Hopefully, independents and moderate Republicans, to the extent there are any left, are the groups who will be influenced by the hearings.
Years ago, my best friend moved south. We're meeting next week in VA then visiting DC. She's concerned about more riots there by Antifa. What Trump has done can be heartbreaking.
Does she even know what fascism is?
I must live in a bubble. Just who and what is Antifa?
Antifa means Anti-fascist, I am proud to pronounce myself as anti-fascist. The alt-right invented the non-existent group as a tag for liberal/progressives. The general population has no idea of the principles of fascism, It was a movement in the 1920's, 1930's, and 1940's(revered by many in the wealthier classes of Europe and even had followers in the US) The general idea of fascism is the industrialists and the 'landed gentry' were a superior class and therefor deserved all the wealth and power. The 'working classes' existed only to serve the important folk at the top. To ensure the grubby working classes would support them the Nazis fixated on Jews, homosexuals, Slavs, 'mentally feeble, and Communists as the bane of WHITE MEN. In this manner Hitler was able to commence World War II and murder 6 million Jewish people (men, women, and children). First he also attacked illegitimate children, then decided it was the duty of all good white women to bear offspring from German soldiers. He also enslaved members of the 'outcasts' to work in German munitions factories. trump, of course greatly admires Nazis because they were "real men". Like Putin.
I always wondered who Antifa was. i would be labelled one, most likely, but have been unaware of any 'movement' or any group with that name, and I live in the bluest pocket of southern New England. I know of the horrible story of Hitler and the 6 miilion Jewish people. When I was 5 years old, we were visiting our paternal grandfather's home. Mu mother seemed very upset. We were shown films my retired Marine granddad had showing the death camps. Treblinka, Dachau and another name I can't recall. There were people placed on conveyer belt like device (hay loader?) going up into an oven, bodies loaded into concrete compartments with forklift type things. pictures of 'shower rooms' where people were packed in to get a shower. It was not a shower of water. the ceiling had places where it was marked by fingernails of the taller victims. Gold was taken from teeth. My grandfather wanted us to know the truth. Later that year my Catholic school had a Halloween event, We were in a school grades K through 12 . the Kindergartners would parade through the classes in costumes. I chose to wear my father's Marine jacket which went to my ankles. I put coal on my face to make it look dirty like a soldier in war. I was not smiling and felt very grim. No ballerina, or witch or fairy. I am antifascist, but not a member of any group. the right wingers make up lies. I remember their 'Femi-Nazis' . Ridiculous!
You are right, there is no such organization as antifa, it doesn't exist. I love your Halloween costume. You are much younger than me. (I'm 89) I was a 6 ear old Canadian when WWII started and 12 when it ended. o me it was the only justifiable war from the Allied point of view.
True Trumpians worship the man and are as crazy as the man they worship. A Christian Cult since he uses the Bible to hold them accountable. Remember Jim Jones and David Koresh?
Also, people have been brainwashed with the help of social media, etc. From all I've read about Michael Flynn et al, we have a weaponized PsyOp going on in our country and based & Flynn seems to be the driver, it's his training, expertise (Afghanistan, Iraq -- he ran PsyOps on local populations apparently); not to forget his coziness with Russia. See Jim Stewartson substack
A scholar of American Christianity presents a seventy-five-year history of evangelicalism that identifies the forces that have turned x-POTUS-t into a hero of the Religious Right. How did a libertine who lacks even the most basic knowledge of the Christian faith win 81 percent of the white evangelical vote in 2016? And why have white evangelicals become a presidential reprobate’s staunchest supporters? These are among the questions acclaimed historian Kristin Kobes Du Mez asks in _Jesus and John Wayne_, which delves beyond facile headlines to explain how white evangelicals have brought us to our fractured political moment. X-POTUS-t is hardly the first flashy celebrity to capture evangelicals’ hearts and minds, nor is he the first strongman to promise evangelicals protection and power. Indeed, the values and viewpoints at the heart of white evangelicalism today―patriarchy, authoritarian rule, aggressive foreign policy, fear of Islam, ambivalence toward #MeToo, and opposition to Black Lives Matter and the LGBTQ community―are likely to persist long after t has left office. A much-needed reexamination, Jesus and John Wayne explains why evangelicals have rallied behind the least-Christian president in American history and how they have transformed their faith in the process, with enduring consequences for all of us.
'One Nation Under God' does a great job of summarizing the de-secularization of public office at the hands of the "radical right"... but perhaps there's nothing so complicated about majoritarianism taking a wrong turn: Karl Rove & Co. exploited evangelicals because they allowed themselves to be exploited; after the fact, they are left grasping no differently than any other similar group...(?)
A kindler, gentler world that- (don't forget about Marshall Applewhite!)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heaven%27s_Gate_(religious_group)
That's all well and good - but (if the popular vote is any guide) at least half of America was raised acknowledging those facts & aspiring towards some secular narrative of an all-inclusive America (can we honestly believe so many low-grade copies of Thomas & Scalia resulted from the same process?); even if they *were* Christians where did the rest of it go wrong? (The spreading of fear as a political methodology - or something else?)
He scammed his followers to send in money to him, personally. I wonder if they will believe that he is a grifter.
Hope to see more by the press in the near future about what is happening with all the loot, which is probably still flowing in.
Most goes to tRump, no doubt.
Some of it is going to winger groups.
It’s so obvious it is not funny….Trump is unfit as Mike Bloomberg said a year ago
Some people moved out of the country before he even took office.
When you really sit and think this through, down to where it cannot be broken down anymore, the US Constitution does not demand the vetting that should be done for those seeking the presidency of the United States…the leader of the free world. If an evaluation of a potential candidate’s medical, psychological, social, business, financial and legal backgrounds were added to the sorely inadequate requirements of citizenry and age, perhaps there never would have been a Trump. The step right above vetting is the fact that republicans allowed Trump to happen because that vetting wasn’t LAW! We MUST amend the constitution to better vet candidates or we’ll continue to swirl down the bowl.
Ideally, we need complete DNA sequences (more damning than tax returns) of all politicians and those running for office. Add that to published backgrounds. Devise a good AI algorithm to determine which ones are suitable for the intended positions.
Unfortunately, I'm not sure that Trump HAS any DNA ...
Now THAT would be proper vetting!
Each politician should undergo an fMRI to determine whether the empathy center of the frontal cortex exhibits any activity. In psychopaths, this area shows no activity.
Love it, Diana! Actually, though, I doubt that Trump, McConnell, McCarthy, Cruz, etc. have frontal cortexes ... And they'd have to do the scan somewhere below L5.
You're absolutely right!
Your comment gave me a good laugh!
same for the sociopaths? :-)
Some use the terms interchangeably. Robert Hare, Ph.D. is considered an expert on psychopathology, and he refers to individuals without a sense of empathy as psychopaths. Most who have been convicted of crimes feel guilt for their actions. But there are some that don't, and those are the true psychopaths. Of course, there are blue and white collar psychopaths who are never convicted of anything, but they leave destroyed lives and careers in their wake. Snakes in Suits, another book written by Dr. Hare, discusses this.
From my readings I understood that the difference is you're born a psychopath, and you become a sociopath. The latter has some kind of remorse for his actions, while the first none whatsoever. They both lack any kind of empathy. Thanks for the reference.
So sociopaths also lack empathy? If that's true, then a sociopath also would not have much or any activity in the empathy center of the brain, which seems genetic.
Gary D. ; Yes, a snake in the grass has DNA.
Oh, thank you, DW. You're correct -- I had forgotten about the microbiome... 🤣
Right on! Mr. Ouder. In addition to your suggestions I would add that all persons seeking any elective office in the United States MUST have read the Constitution, know the three branches of Government, the duties of each branch, and any limitations. Incidentally, per the Constitution, a person does not only have to be a US Citizen, the Presidency (and vice-Presidency by inference) is the only office requiring the candidate to have been born in the United States.
I am trying to figure out what Merrick Garland is scared of. More riots ?fear for his family Fear of assignation of Dems? What?
My humble guess is the fear of not having a strong enough case yet, which he doesn't want to jeopardize by not being fully prepared. But at some point, you have to make that tough call where you forge ahead with what you've got. Unfortunately, the longer he waits, it seems the greater the risk to our nation as we now know it.
Jim Tedford ; I think the timing might be good. These hearings are stirring up some dirt, and clearing some air afterwards, Those who have been duped may finally see how they have been misled. Humans are known to have idols on pedestals, then they glee
fully smash 'em down.
Can they handle being wrong about him? Most people won't admit that they were duped.
Patrice C. ; We shall see.
Jim Tedford. I was taught to look for the "least point of resistance." Easiest would be a consumer fraud case. Bilked his loyal supporters out of $250,000,000. .No "Trump Defense Fund" exists. Money went directly into his pockets. This is a continuing violation as he is still trying to "market" the big lie. No presidential immunity. No "insanity" or "defense of counsel" defenses available to him.
I'm trying to figure out why Merrick Garland was given the Attorney General job, other than in compensation for not been given a chance at justice hearings? My impression is that he is too mellow for it, especially during times like this. I think the best for the job would've been Adam Schiff.
Wow! He sounds perfect!
Dorothy Knudson ; Maybe he wants an airtight case, tRump's specialty is getting around the law and appealing appealing and delaying. He may be nearing the end of his career.
That’s true. It sounds pretty tight to me.
All of the above. Merrick Garland was chosen because he is mild, and there you have it. He is mild.
The evidence via witnesses, videos, interviews & documents have clearly shown that Trump & his coconspirators had planned the Big Lie, Used it to sell the idea to his supporters that their election was stolen & it was their “patriotic” duty to defend the country and claim the presidency for Trump. He used the Proud Boys & Oath Keepers to lead the charge on Our Capitol with violence to stop the certification of the rightful president Biden- knowing he had lost the election. He used the Big Lie & is still using the Big Lie to steal money from his followers to add insult to injury. The Seditious Conspiracy was directed and ordered by Trump.
While our elected officials feared for their lives & Capitol Police engaged in hand to hand combat to protect the Capitol , Trump watched it all on TV and did Nothing to stop it!
Democracy was in Trump’s way & he did everything to destroy all the pillars of Democracy attacking Free Press, Academia, Legal Justice System..
Without Democracy we will not have Human, Civil Rights or a Habitable Planet!
While the 1/6 Commission has done a masterful job present the evidence of Trump’s crimes- our country needs legal accountability for our country to protect Democracy & prevent 1/6 from becoming standard practice in a new Authoritarian Gov. which we will inherit!
We are at a turning point in our country which will require each of us the media, the DOJ, our elected officials & we the people to unite to end this nightmare in America & protect Democracy which may slip away without United action!
The committee is arguing that Trump not only knew he lost after the election, he contrived a plot to overturn the election beforehand. He instructed his followers to vote in person on election day, claiming vote by mail is not safe, even though he routinely votes by mail. He knew that the in-person election day votes would be counted before the mail ballots in many states, creating what they called the red mirage: Trump would initially appear to be ahead. He would then claim that the mail ballots, which were counted for several days afterward and favored Biden, were fraudulent.
I saw a video clip of Merrick Garland saying that his prosecutors were watching the hearing.
If they chose to prosecute, his true believers will load their guns and come to Washington DC for a "Showdown". Their Mesia must be saved at any cost. They may just choose to let him stay in Mar a Largo and just not let him ever run again. Anybody who was unlawfully in the Capital Building on January 6 ,2021, should have their guns taken away from them as being mentally unfit.
... but he didn't pardon *any* of the rioters? (Would they follow his marching orders?)
Carolyn: Red Mirage. He has 3 possible defenses. Otherwise it's a jury question
1. Immunity. Will argue that a president has a 1st Amendment right to say anything unless it meets one of the exceptions like slander or "fighting words".
2. Operating under advice of counsel. Underlings take the fall.
3. Insanity.