It’s on AG Garland now, he must realize that failure to indict Trump may very well destroy American Democracy. I understand that there are risks (political, personal and societal) but they must be taken. If they aren’t, this country as we know it will be gone.
Garland has shown us repeatedly that he's not equal to the job. He doesn't want to indict a sitting president, his lofty rhetoric notwithstanding. He's risk-averse to a pathological degree. Instead of taking immediate steps to safeguard the 2022 elections, Garland spent his time: 1) reading litigation memos of his attorneys, 2) refusing to reopen viable cases against Trump's circle opened by Mueller, 3) dismissing or defending Trump against a variety of issues (including inexplicably against a defamation case brought by EJean Carroll), 4) refusing to investigate the coup plotters until the 1/6 Committee embarrassed him on an international stage, 5) botching a straightforward classified documents case by allowing Trump to choose venue and jurisdiction and a special master, allowing Trump to cement a 2nd 'big lie' about the search, 6) refusing to push for additional searches despite overwhelming evidence of obstruction and missing documents (allowing our national security to erode by the day).
Garland is not only NOT going to protect the country, he's caused actual damage with his delays and decisions, refusal to prosecute Gaetz, waiting months to even make a decision on Bannon's clear contempt of Congress, refusing to protect election workers despite vowing to do so, refusing to pursue a vigorous investigation of the Uvalde debacle despite vowing to do so, refusing to investigate the FBI's infiltration by Maga supporters and lack of preparation for 1/6 despite actionable intelligence, refusal to investigate Secret Service despite their unbelievably obstructionist and partisan activities before and during 1/6. In Garland's 2 years, trust in DOJ is at an all-time low.
tRump is a 'one man crime wave' , but SOMETHING should have been done long ago, even if it involved Special Forces'. It has been done before against enemies of the state. I guess there are so many worshipping the Golden Calf (and beholden to same) that we are in this fix now
There are also a large number of people who don't understand the grave stakes of this election. The DNC, DCCC, Democratic leadership have failed to paint a vivid picture of life under 1-party autocratic rule. Many people on both sides believe that democracy is a default setting. They cannot imagine how grim daily life will become...it will happen very quickly. The media has chosen to pretend it's just another horse race. Historians and fascist scholars have sounded the alarms, but few are listening.
Is the fact that Jeff Bezos now owns The Washington Post a reason for what I perceive as The Post's lean toward the Right? Maybe it always leaned rightward, only now I am noticing it with alarm on the opinion pages. I appreciate Robert Reich's columns, political historian Heather Cox Richardson's, and the Intercept's coverage. A recent Intercept interview with the coauthors of a new book about the Democrats' failure to "seize the Impeachment moments," and why the failure, in their view, increases disgust with both parties. And as we all know, the Democrats like the Republicans are beholden to their wealthy donors, which affects the decisions their politicians make in a very significant way.
The Republican party have always received the lion's share of Corporate 'donations'. While I do not personally know Jeff Bezos, I have the strong impression that he is anti union, and I would bet that he is also opposed to taxes going in his direction, on his 'income' or certainly his wealth. I saw a post somewhere that said he collected a $4000 child tax credit for his daughter not long ago. All legal, no doubt. 'Conservative' articles in WaPo under his ownership? not too surprising to me. Musk at the helm of Twitter will do similar leaning 'Right'ward, I bet.
I think so. But the NY Times seems to be going in the same direction. Who owns them? Most major networks, newspapers & social media are now owned by right-wing billionaires, which is why they favor the conservative, corporatist & fascist points of view.
On this post I will agree whole heartedly. Especially the DNC, who stupidly chose to fund Republican candidates on the pretext they'd be 'easier to beat' in the fall. Instead of going all out to promote and defend democracy.
Perhaps you see the last nail in our democratic coffin and have lost hope. It’s not that few are listening about the warning of fascism, most don’t understand the danger of it because we isolate ourselves. We’ve never experienced it. Since the industrial revolution we consider ourselves “exceptional” and we are not. By geography we are isolated and tend to see the world through eyes of the media and other people. It’s a big mistake for a democratic country this large and diverse not to be educated in the truth. Since the Civil War we’ve only experienced the effects of war at Pearl Harbor and on 9/11 so we’ve escaped the ravages of war at home for generations. Nevertheless I can’t help but hope.
I agree, Sue, but will add that few people in the US understand the tenets of fascism. They have never lived under fascism, Europe is far away. We really need to teach students the true function of political systems - not the stupid, crowd pleasing "We Hate" fill in the blank. People need to understand what even a representative republic means, not in pedantic terms. but simplified. The same with socialism, fascism. dictatorship. Communism is a dirty, scary word - but it doesn't exist any more than ghosts exist. Look at the idiotic term 'antifa' The ignorant MAGA's picked it up and flung it like insults at the liberals. Hell, if such an organization existed I'd be honored to be founding member.
If we want to avoid fascism we have to offer voters something better than what they have now.
Trump supporters HATE Democrats.
The majority of voters think Democrats have zero to offer them based on policy after policy Democrats have supported or, today at least, simply ignore.
We should focus on what we can control. We can't control what some long time unemployed white dude and his wife think of Obama and Clinton. But we can control whether we keep elected leaders like Clinton and Obama who screwed most Americans and start elected leaders like Sanders and Warren who will truly improve the lives of the poor and middle class...
The people that don't understand the grave stakes of the election are no different than the voters that support Trump...
Both groups feel, with merit in my view, that the Democratic party has entirely abandoned them. From Clinton getting NAFTA passed with zero provisions to help the people who's lives were crushed by this policy. To Obama's brilliant economic team deciding to bail out banks, share holders and executive bonuses while letting homeowners descend into bankruptcy.
The problem is with the current leaders of the Democratic party. Not with the people who's lives have been destroyed due to the NeoLiberal policies these law makers supported.
Yes Trump is a train wreck and worse that what we have now. But until we stop electing people like Biden and Hillary this problem will just get worse and worse. Change DEMO leadership and people will listen. It is as easy as that.
I agree with your comments on Bill Clinton. Obama's big mistake was keeping the same economic advisors that George W. had, his second mistake was to listen to them. I don't think economics was Obama's strong suit, I also don't think he had any trusted economic adviasors on his team. The jury is still out on Biden, but overall I think he's doing better than either Bill Clinton or Obama. Hillary cannot be fairly judged because she was never given the chance. She did okay as Secretary of State - not great, but ok. As to trump, my cat Caliope would have been a better President.
Agree 100%... Obama did not understand economics and kept the Bush type people. I don't think he was willful in his mistakes, he is, however 100% responsible.
Agree on Biden... He is not good enough to earn the trust of the American citizens that real change will occur under him, but he is NOT making the same mistakes of Clinton and Obama.
Laurie, I like your image of "worshipping the golden calf." Trump is like a golden calf because he seems to be worth a lot of money, causes trouble, and is really hard to remove from the scene because people just love it/him. They want to make him their messiah even though he is actually an appalling human being that people should ignore, OK, put in jail for his many crimes against this nation and our people.
At this point, it would be truly great to see him in a proper facility where he could not do any more damage. At the very least, blocked from running for government offices ever again. If you can't be trusted to run a charity, there is no place in a government caretaking the common good.
Mr.Velten, 14th Amendment, Sec.3 Text: “No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.
It doesn’t say “After being found guilty in a court of law.” Trump himself jeopardized his “Constitutional right to freedom” by conspiring, planning & participating in an insurrection. Likewise re “his Constitutional right to run for office.” Trump took an oath to support and defend the Constitution. Near the end of his term of office he personally planned and participated in an insurrection. He’s therefore ineligible to hold office in the U.S. government.
Trump’s “Constitutional right to freedom” will be decided based on federal criminal statutes. Nowhere does the Constitution say “if you don’t like him” Liking him or not liking him is irrelevant.
You accuse Darci and “liberals” of only liking the Constitution when it helps liberals- without any basis or factual support, so it’s just your opinion. I disagree with your opinion.
You say “Not giving him his rights will guarantee him his freedom” No one has taken Trump’s “rights.” His rights can only be taken away if he’s guilty of a crime.
With respect Tom, that sounds like a republican diatribe of half-truths. Our current inflation is worldwide. President Biden did nothing to cause it and republicans voted against legislation that would have eased it just because they want to make democrats look bad before the election.
I lived through inflation in the 1970’s and it was much worse than what we’re experiencing now. Besides, Inflation isn’t the end of the world. It will get better and there isn’t a thing Trump could do to change it either, except maybe get republicans to pass the legislation that would’ve eased it.
Are you seriously saying Covid was no worse than the flu?? Over a million Americans died from Covid and more are still dying every day.
I have no idea why you say our military is being destroyed.
Inflation is a problem in other nations too, this administration doesn't have anything to do with them. You and all the other GQP nutso voters have been conned into believing the blatant lies that the Rethugs spew on a daily basis. You are the one that is insane for believing the steady stream of lies they tell to con. And Covid 19 is NOT the flu. It has caused millions of deaths around the world. And you use projection just like the other Rethug leaders use to project their lies on the Dems. The Rethugs are the ones that are really insane. TUMP didn't make anything great, he made things worse. TUMP is the worst leader we have ever had. He is a incompetent, lying, racisist, corrupt life long criminal that was behind the Jan 6 insurrection at the Capitol building resulting in 5 deaths and numerous injuries and cost millions of dollars damage. You call that great? I don't, that was a horrible at an attempted coup... there is nothing great about that..
I would challenge pretty much all of your conclusions. These are all just talking points that are based o; lies. You have been flimflammed. I hope you really want to know the truth. I challenge you to watch jon stewart on apple, and google every thing you have said and see what other reliable sources are saying. Or you can continue to let the snake oil salesmen gin up your emotions and lead you by the nose to support the needs of sociopaths. I hope you choose yourself, and what is best for your needs, and see that you have been. conned. You deserve better.
Name one thing Trump did to ‘keep our country great.’ You talk about the price of food & gas, mortgage rates, etc, and ask if we like it, implying that inflation can be fixed. Robin points out that inflation is worldwide & therefore can’t be fixed by the U.S. because we don’t control the world.
Then you respond that you never said inflation is only in the U.S. and we need to stay on point. You’re engaging in circular arguments, implying something is the case then pointing out you never said it. People who use arguments in this way are usually trained propagandists and not the least bit sincere. You and Jack Velten engage with others on this website for the purpose of confusing us and wasting our time. We know what you’re doing and it’s not going to work with the people on this website.
HW, I have been willing to give our AG the benefit of the doubt because I keep hearing how methodical and careful he is before bringing charges to make sure he has all the "ducks in a row." Well, there are now so many ducks in a row that it is getting ridiculous. Garland has waited so long to act that the election is coming up and there are rules about doing specific things before an election. Trump is not in the election, so it should have nothing to do with him. I know that rule only works when the FBI head is not a misogynist as Comey was in 2016 when at the last minute introduced innuendo that Clinton was somehow guilty of something. This time, Trump really is guilty and it is time the charges are formally brought against him and his enablers. Republicans believe they only have to wait until after November8th when they win and all efforts against Trump will stop or they will impeach whoever they don't like and whoever doesn't like their baby Donnie and is willing to Kiss his a** as often as he needs it. So, I am with you on this one. Your evidence is there and clear.
some of the evidence youre seeing in Jan 6 hearing may not be admissible in a criminal trial because its hearsay. Yeah we all know the truth but that's not the same as convincing a fed jury. If Trump is acquitted hell crow about how it was all a witch hunt and he was vindicated.....
Don't be too sure. My fear is he will be convicted, appeal, conviction upheld, appeal to the current Supreme Court where the 5 'Injustices' will overturn. The DOJ's case must be so watertight that even those 5 idiots on the Supreme Court will lack the guts to overturn.
Let's be clear; Donald Trump is not a "sitting" president- he's a former President and as such he is just like you and me and doesn't deserve special consideration under the law. Either all men and women are equal under the law or they aren't.
That's accurate, but it's a time for choosing. Nicolle Wallace manages to clearly articulate the dangers of election deniers, yet Chuck Todd consistently platforms those who spew propaganda. Many/most pronto journalists have written books during the last 6 years...they could easily quit or refuse to publish GOP talking points (without fact-checking or context)...it's a choice.
Janet, you need to check your email and probably change your password. Two junk mails piggybacked into my email when you sent a response to me. One from Leaf Filter gutter protection and one from thecheaperlife.com for housecleaning. Good luck.
Excellent comment & 100% correct. What people who assure us that Trump will be arrested & prosecuted when the DOJ has all the evidence they need for an airtight case (how do they not have one by now?) and/or the midterm elections have passed (which should not be a consideration in the first place & why should we withhold from voters what could be a crucial factor in their decision making, anyway?), are forgetting or ignoring is all the previous decisions Garland has made showing his disinterest in holding Trump & other authority figures on the right accountable, & that Trump & his cohorts are still actively plotting against our democracy & rule of law, showing him to be a clear & present danger to our national security, making it imperative that he be detained while awaiting trial as any other national security risk would be.
Garland is more responsible for undermining the Democrats' chances in the upcoming elections than just about anyone else by boosting Republican claims that there must not be anything Trump has done wrong because he hasn't been indicted yet despite all these accusations, so it must all be a hoax & a witch hunt & Trump is being mercilessly & wrongfully attacked by the left, while the left & middle feel increasingly deflated & discouraged because no matter who is in charge, people at the top, especially the right, continually get away with serious crimes for which ordinary people would be jailed immediately, further imperiling our democracy.
Absolutely. I'm beginning to think the best that could happen is for Biden to FIRE Garland and replace him with someone like Letitia James who won't let political considerations stand in the way of the pursuit of justice
John Thompson ; I agree and would add that at this point, Political considerations be damned ; If someone is standing on your neck it does not matter how it 'looks' when you fight them off! " life, liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" does not include draconian denials of long fought for and won rights! It is unjustifiable to take away freedoms that have already been established! It is Unconstitutional to defy the Constitution ; especially when you can't even honestly take an oath of office to uphold the Constitution! If Merrick Garland cannot do his job he should be dismissed!
Garland is what he is. I'm sure he has done quite well in other situations, but like most of us, he is not not wired for getting into a cage to subdue a rabid guerilla. I think Biden should replace him with someone who is. Very smart , tough as nails, steel backbone, honest, and an incestuous desire to bring cases to just conclusions before the next comet appearance. We are at such a critical crossroad in our society that we need to fill public positions with the best suited for the difficulties we are facing. This is war, not chess.
"Incestuous desire?" Hmmmm..... :D But well said. I agree, Biden should replace Garland unless he acts quickly and decisively, like TODAY, and he should not wait until after the Midterms. We don't convict people in the court of public opinion, supposedly, but to use his own metaphor, Trump has literally shot someone in the middle of Times Square, and the entire nation has seen it. Just his possession of those classified documents is sufficient to prosecute him. There is no way to pass Garland's inaction off as prosecutorial thoroughness. It's coming to look more like prosecutorial cowardice, or perhaps even co-conspiracy.
Dear Sherm. I think you meant "hot wired", "gorilla" and "incessant", or at least I hope that's what you had in mind. Merrick Garland is two things, an excellent lawyer and a judge. There is no need to indict Trump before the midterms. I am aware that you, and a lot of our fellow Substackers, are impatient, but there are procedures that have to be followed in our legal system. First you have to gather sufficient legally qualified evidence of guilt to present to a Grand Jury for and indictment - no indictment, no trial. Secondly, you need airtight legal evidence, a number of reliable, believable witnesses, and a great prosecution team. Then and only then, you are ready to go to a Superior Court to request a trial by jury date. The January 6th Committee presented a good and compelling show to compel a lot of Americans to see just how guilty the trumpster and his minions were in treason (attempting to disrupt the electoral vote count) inciting an assault on the Nation's Capitol, and attempting to illegally overturn a fair and just election. I listened to each of the public hearings. They presented a convincing scenario, but too much of the presentation was hearsay which must be backed up with rock solid evidence. If you want examples of how NOT to go to court, just look at the trumpster's legal team - they went to court 62 times, often before judges who were appointed by the trumpter himself. They lost 61 cases and won one technicality which got them nothing. When Merrick Garland, goes to the Grand Jury he will get an indictment. When his prosecutorial team goes to court they will get a conviction, when they go to the Appellate court they will win the appeal - all because they made damned sure they had admissible evidence. solid, believable witnesses, and the best prosecutorial team
I disagree. Democrats trust in the DOJ must have been lower throughout the "trumpster's" reign of terror, Barr better than Garland? I don't think so. Garland is slow and methodical, yes. The wheels of justice turn slowly, yes. But why go full steam ahead before you've collected sufficient, legally undeniable evidence to get a conviction.
The MAL documents case required unlawful retention of documents and knowledge that the documents were government property. There is literally video proof of the former, and a subpoena that proves the latter. Unless Garland is waiting for a confession written in a particular blood type, he has what he needed. Instead, he once again allowed Trump to create a PR defense that gave air cover to partisan judges. The Mueller obstruction cases were tied up in a bow...facts, case law, defense arguments, rebuttals, statutory precedent...and Garland ignored everything. Garland was a highly risk-averse judge and he's even worse as a prosecutor.
I agree wholeheartedly HE with ur fine summary of AG Garland’s lack of action to put tRump in his rightful place once and for all. I am so disappointed in him, he seems afraid to confront the conman & prosecute him like other prosecutors have stated should be done sooner rather than later. He would be more suited for the Supreme Court rather than active prosecution. I think Pres Biden should appoint someone tough on crime, white collar crime of the worst variety.
Thank you for reminding us all in actual list form of all the things Garland has failed to do despite vowing to do so. I have listened to all sorts of liberal pundits urging patience as in “Garland is, in fact, investigating,” and “Garland has to make sure it’s an airtight case,” etc. And is is true that the case(s) is(are) getting tighter and tighter, but when is enough enough? We cannot wait and let trump decide our midterms. Arrest and hold him for trial without his phone. NOW.
HW [and RS] I think your righteous indignation and impatience with Garland is probably due to the fact that you assume that Merrick Garland, AG, is all knowing and that DOJ and the state AGS are more powerful than is actually the case.
Re the Jan 6 debacle, the DOJ website lists the DOJ prosecutions to date. In those cases the evidence was in and so those prosecutions were ripe. Prosecuting the higher ups depends on harder to obtain evidence. AG Garland will probably do more with the further evidence gathered by the Hearings in Congress--- and there will probably be the threat of a presidential pardon that could undo all that.
I don't think an AG is all knowing, but DOJ has massive resources and far-reaching I investigatory powers. Garland is allowing the Mueller obstruction cases to expire, bungling the documents case, via leaks from his own department, he didn't seriously begin to look at the multiple efforts to overturn the 2020 election until Cassidy Hutchinson's testimony. He's ignored obstruction by the USSS and FBI. He promised and failed to protect election workers. He promised and failed to vigorously investigate the Uvalde debacle. The majority of low level 1/6 cases were prosecuted as misdemeanors. I could go on and on, but his poor performance speaks for itself.
Having worked with DOJ for decades and a state AG I know for a fact that neither enjoys "massive resources". Your expectations are leading you into frustration.
Well Garland himself (via Congressional testimony) said he had all the resources he needed to conduct his investigations. Was he lying? The 1/6 Committee tackled a tremendous amount of information, and repeatedly stated that they had far fewer resources than DOJ. I'm frustrated because Garland has done a poor job, and he understood the stakes when he fought for the position. He's now allowed 2 big lies to be cemented into the consciousness of the country: election fraud and an illegitimate MAL search. There's plenty of blame to go around: apathetic voters, cynical media, an authoritarian GOP, lackluster Democratic leadership opposition, but Garland's passivity and errors are glaring.
Ive already said I think Garland is proceeding on the Jan 6 prosecutions and ongoing investigations matters as well as anyone probably can under the circumstances. There is alot of process underway as Trump and his GOP pals like Sen Graham have the money to exhaust their legal rights - and it could all be preempted by pardons. You mentioned lots of ongoing messes, eg election fraud - this is one of the GOPs favorite claims in many states any of which have been investigated,- generally its been found to be an unsupported, false allegation. I think poorly educated US citizens are really getting screwed by all this lying by both parties and by the general right wing nature of MSM. The uneducated are frustrated because they cannot begin to figure this stuff out, they cant assess whats thrown at them n in MSM, and as a result they are unfortunately the big losers in all this.
wrong-clearly you know nothing about federal criminal probes. I would argue trust in DOJ was low when you had career prosecutors quitting under Barr because of blatant politicization
Open corruption nd blatant partisanship under Barr was rampant, but I didn't see a rash of resignations by DOJ attorneys. I still recall the DOJ attorney who argued that soap and toothpaste weren't 'necessities' for refugees caged by Trump's DHS. That said, ineffective actions and placing 'optics' over 'justice' is equally corrosive to the rule of law. And yes, I'm an attorney.
My question is, why do we allow a high-crime criminal to roam around the US after inciting a deadly attack on it! Trump should not be eligible! He must be arrested not participating in the Democracy he continues to try to destroy! Had a Democrat attacked the capital, they’d have been long gone by any means. But Republicans get the red carpet.
Derek is correct, failure to indict is a helping hand to fascism. Failure to indict before elections looks like collusion, not justice!
Seeking Reason, you are right about the message of not indicting Trump as well as needing to restrict Trump from his ridiculous "rallies" that are just lie fests to keep his crazies in line. Our DOJ should know this and get indictments going no matter whether Trump testifies before the January 6th Committee or not. It is time!
indicting trump is like indicting a mob boss who never gets his hands dirty-its complicated and difficult to prove in fed court, especially when all the criminals used encrypted apps, shred documents, and refuse to testify, or like Anthony Ornato and Chadd Wolfe who destroyed evidence-I want those criminals in jail but alas that would take cooperating SS agents.
Good point about the poor timing. And about how Dems would have been out long ago had the roles been reversed. I am trying to gather psychologists who will talk to me for a book about how the U.S. political system has the same dynamics as any toxic system: At the untouchable top of the system are abusers, enablers, and flying monkeys (deniers who spread the toxicity like the ones in The Wizard of Oz.) At the bottom are Peacemakers and Scapegoats. I’m sure you can see where Democrats sit in this intransigent system. Intransigent because Democrats keep unwittingly playing their roles.
To start with about 30% of the voters in this country will never believe he is a criminal regardless of what evidence you produce and another 19% will vote for him as President because despite his criminal behavior they see him as a better choice than the alternative.
We need to stop blaming others for this problems. We go ourselves in this position electing leaders like Clinton and Obama who totally screwed the poor and middle class in this country (NAFTA and leaving those effected hight and dry with nothing and the companies that took advantage of NAFTA made fortunes AND lets not forget Obama who bailed out Banks, Share holders and the bonuses of the Executives and left home owners to file for bankruptcy...).
Lets focus on what we can control and what we have done to get us in this spot.
30% of American voters don't agree with you on this and another 19% simply don't care and will vote for him anyway..
You can't have laws that people respect if that many people don't see him as guilty. (Yes of course he is guilty as hell, that is not what i am talking about).
Just saying. Dems got ourselves in this spot. the leaders we elected to office have been so TERRIBLE to so many Americans that even a criminal like Trump looks better in their eyes...
(Clinton pushed NAFTA with zero assistance to people and communities devastated by this policy and Obama bailed out banks, share holders and banker bonuses but left homeowners to file for bankruptcy so bankers could reposes their homes.
Maybe we need to focus on why our own leaders are so ODIOS to so many Americans.../
A criminal is a criminal. A convicted criminal is a convict. You are not real smart are you??? You pal Trump is a rapist and a liar, if you believe one word him or any of the idiots who worship him then you may be missing the grey matter called a brain. Do some actual research friend it is far better to be thought a fool then to open your mouth and remove all doubt.
None the less Trump has 42% favorability with voters.. Not saying that doe snot make him a criminal. Just saying that something he is doing works with a large number of voters...
And my guess is that saying those voters are "missing the grey mater called a brain" just makes them more loyal to Trump and less open minded to the truth...
Here is my question, what is your view on how the Dems can get Trump supporters to move away from him?
The people on this board are no different than the right wingers that watch Fox and listen to Ben Shapiro..
They see only one side of the story. A crafted narrative that tells you HATE the other side enough and things will be okay.... People that live in glass houses aught not throw rocks... right?
I agree! "making sweeping generalizations about hundreds of people...." is not a good idea.
My commentary is based on their comments which is informed by reading their comments with regularity. The consistency of assumptions and truths that are actually half truths or flat out wrong is not surprising. As i have noted, i see similar errors on boards that cater to Fox news watchers. I know nothing about any of these people personally nor have i made personal comments on them. I assume the people on both types of boards are, for the most part, sweet.
Do you not agree that is it helpful to have your assumptions challenged, especially when they are coming from media, not Prof Reich, that tends to give only one side of most stories and that ignores many massively important stories for fear of reproachment from sponsors (Universal Health Care and Monopolies are two topics the MSM tries to avoid and certainly does almost no investigation and deep research on)
If i am rude please call me out. No excuse for being rude.. But if you are not willing to have your opinions challenged then why are you posting them publicly? Right?
If you can't stand the heat ; get out of the kitchen. Why should someone not getting a job done be paid? Whether it is a Congressman, Senator or the United States Attorney General and his staff? Enough already. We, the people should be able to say "you're fired!".
you are a troll. Obvious that you are not human or intelligent. I’ll just call you Schadenfreude Queen who behaves like the stereotype of every high school mean girl bully movie. You are a little little person who has no concept of humor. I would like to believe that you are not lost, but I believe your brain is wired and there is no hope for you.
If Garland can't convict a crime that literally only requires unlawful possession of documents, it's beyond pathetic. The DOJ has an open and shut case, yet they allowed invalid venue, a partisan judge, a special master...sheer incompetence. At any rate, Garland has failed in so many ways that any action he takes is irrelevant. Fascism is firmly rooted, the 'Big Lie' is gospel. Meanwhile, Fani Willis, with 1/10th of DOJ resources in a highly political environment has shown what a competent prosecutor can do.
The wheels of justice with this particular case need to turn slowly in order for it to be rock solid...especially dealing with this narcissist and his cult.
I'm sorry, but just the opposite is true. You don't stop a cult by slow-walking justice. You act quickly to minimize the damage, and disrupt the hold over his followers. Garland misread the situation and acted accordingly (poor judgment, poor decisions, and no accountabulity since Garland refuses to talk to Congress or the people), thus cementing Trump's power, and further eroding trust in the rule of law.
You can never guarantee a conviction..especially against a cult leader, who constantly claims he is being treated unfairly. Remember...it only takes ONE juror to set a guilty perp free.
You just explained very succinctly why you are a tRump supporter. Or are you just a republican in general? Whichever. The 40k coffee maker and the maid to operate it says it all
Just how much of your $$$ can you take to your grave? Most of us barely manage to make ends meet. We eat as cheaply as we can and scrounge to pay the bills. We avoid going to a doctor when we’re sick while privileged ppl like you just stack up $ and don’t give a crap if the maid goes hungry or takes home scraps to feed the kids. You speak of your maid like a piece of property. Is that how you see working ppl? What will you do when one of the 1/2 of 1% decide to take what you have? What will you do then? Who will you turn to for help? Another of the 1%? They eat their young.
Actually, he would have been a good justice. He is a judge. Unfortunately we don't need an overly thotful judge in the position of Attorney General, we need an aggressive PROSECUTOR. Ultimately it falls on that nice old man in the White House who plays by the rules with ppl who don't give a shit about fairness.
Hunter Biden's worst business practices would be pale, sad, insignificant things compared to the massive Machiavellian machinations of the Trump organization.
Oh Tom, I am not sure where you get your information, but even if Republicans go about the farce of impeaching Garland, he won't be removed and he will be able to give information about Trump to the world that Republicans won't be happy with because they, deep in their hearts know Trump is a hazard to our democracy, but love being part of something, just a little bit nefarious. The smart ones know Qanon is nuts as are the other conspiracy theories. The people who latch onto them want to be close to something daring believing none of it will really impact them. It is like a movie they are participating in, as extras. If our democracy fails, they will have themselves to blame, but they won't; they will blame Democrats. Fantasyland!
Why is everyone so dissing on fascism? we seem to be doing fine. gotta gov't, got heat, water, lectricity, got food and drink, gotta car, got elections and lotsa cops. what's to not like?
Habeas Corpus? Freedom to choose whether you will be a parent? Truth in education? Education? Freedom of and from religion, (you choose). A living wage? Healthy and safe environment? Health care that is affordable for everyone? Free and fair elections ? Actual justice? Equal protection under the law? The right not to be robbed, attacked, threatened beaten raped or lynched, murdered or slandered or abused ? The right to truth in advertising/ reporting truthfully? Sustainability? Free speech as long as it is truthful. Equality in the workplace/ opportunity for humans regardless of race/faith-religion sex, or orientation.
Paul Cesmat ; All I want ; is.... Life Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. If you have that, you're good, but if you think the present 'Right' under tRump will allow Liberty for even the working people, you are sadly uninformed. He is known to stiff his workers by not paying contractors. He loves Kim Jong Un. Check out how he treats the workers in North Korea. Even white collar people are routinely put before firing squads if they don't deliver what he wants. His family members too.
Laurie, I'm sorry facetious statements don't translate well on this forum. If you've read any of my posts, you'll know that I am in complete agreement with most of our progressive compatriots, and of course with Dr. Reich. So lighten up!
do you understand what fascism is? Hitler is the best example. Can you in good conscience say the atrocities, cruelty, horrific suffering caused by this ideology is ng you support?
You could also add "break down the barriers between church and state",as seen in the recent Supreme Court decisions regarding Maine funding of schools and Coach leading prayers on the football field. I went to picnic yesterday of Americans United for separation of church and state where the former Chief Justice of the Missouri Supreme Court Mike Wolff spoke on this issue.
Steve, you are right about concerns about the encroaching on the separation of church and state, something written and implied in our Constitution. Since most of the conservative justices on the SC are Roman Catholic, their aim is not democracy, but a theocracy of Catholicism. They are only temporarily joined with conservative evangelicals because it is convenient. I think this whole thing is just so strange when it was the people who are now into this were the ones who scorned John Kennedy as being controlled by the Pope to bring about exactly what Republicans/conservatives are looking for now with their allowing business people to discriminate against people they claim not to like religiously and their pronouncements against women's bodily autonomy and birth control because somehow, the white men in charge of the church don't want it. It is interesting the way attitudes change and sacrifices of beliefs happen when one chooses to follow people who spew just the right kind of hate toward just the right kind of people and claim it is in the name of god.
It’s weird, as “mainstream Catholics” tend to be pretty open-minded and liberal. It’s the Cult-o-Catholics oddballs who have created the astroturfing baloney. Like the Baptists and the Republican Party, it’s like they’ve been invaded and parasitised by foreign ideas. 😒
Why is there so little coverage of the huge issues that affect elders in particular: sunsetting of social security & medicare and lost of lower prices on drugs? If DSCC, DNC, AARP and others began a drive, even at this late date to cover this, urging folks to register and VOTE [for Dems], it could make a difference in all of the tight races. Otherwise, old folks, the disabled, and those who care about them are going to wake up in October and say, "what?? I didn't know THAT was on the ballot."
Mauimom, I, too am concerned about the way older Americans have been pretty much ignored in this election while Republicans pop into their oral if not written agenda that they want to stop Social Security payments when someone turns 90. They also don't particularly want folks to be able to collect SS at all. Then, there's Medicare and Medicaid, despised by a lot of Republican leaders despite the fact that so many of their constituents and even those who vote for them are supported by it. The hypocrisy is astounding. I wish Dems were talking more about the hypocrisy and pushing older folks to step back a minute and see what Republicans want to do that will impact them. Maybe those conservative older people should drop their hatred of abortion for a bit and vote to stop the people who would try to mess with their Social Security et al. Even though Republican leadership is mostly old, they are getting powerfully big pensions we the people pay for, so don't care about the rest of us.
I bet those with generational wealth don't worry much about the golden years. But they make sure they have every power and a lot of wealth to not have to think about it too. So it stays that way for them. The 'I got mine' crowd.
Keith, you truly got the crux of the Republican agenda. I might add, *screw immigrants, asylum-seekers, and refugees, *foster more violence in cities so their racism will seem justified, *open all our public lands to whatever destruction rich white corporations want to perpetrate leaving their messes for the American people to clean up (oh wait, that's what they have been working on for decades), *make the USA a pseudo-Christian nation led by Catholic and extreme evangelical leaders who are looking for a place in the heights of heaven.
I think the dictionary should add a new definition for the phrase "to trump" someone - to con and deceive with malice and complete disregard for anyone else's welfare.
Seeking Reason, I do like the addition of "deadly" to Dee Long's Trump definition. The actual Trump would be pleased if a lot of people ended up dying on either side of any conflict that could arise from his bad behavior.
Dee, I like your definition for the verb "to trump" Maybe if enough of us use it, the various dictionaries will pick it up. Maybe we need the capital "T" for this definition. The sentence going along with the definition might be "In the 2022 midterm election a lot of Republican candidates tried to Trump the American people."
Just as we require truth in commercial advertising (under threat of judicial sanctions), similar guardrails must now be re-established for journalism (written and televised), social media and political campaigning. Free speech, at least in the public domain, should not be a license to lie, cheat, defraud or endanger others by inciting bigotry, hate or violence.
Hate speech gets you thrown in jail in Europe, and the EU is working on extending similar controls to social media platforms as well. Britain is now struggling with the aftermath of their Brexit, which was “sold” to them through totally dishonest claims, by another flawed conman, Boris Johnson….
It is time to put and end to this extreme “anything goes” public discourse, and return to responsable, fact-based public expression - our democracy is in the balance.
Jane Hardy ;You are right ; I have been concerned about having a modern 'Fairness Doctrine' like the one that policed our 'airwaves' back when radio television, along with newspapers were our only communications. It was not perfect, but it helped provide some guardrails.
Jane, I believe Putin helped Brexit lies too. I fully agree with you that, intentional lies, conspiracies etc have been dangerous. Deadly actually. That is NOT covered by free speech, those are terrorist threats and illegal. We have so much to revamp and we must hold our politicians feet to the fire after we elect them in in a couple of weeks.
Jane, I am with you on the idea that if "truth in advertising" is required related to products and services, it should be required in journalism too. If one claims to be reporting "news" then there should be actual guidelines and penalties related to speech. I believe in free speech, but when your right to free speech infringes on my right to live without fear of attack because of something you have said (as many people's lives have been threatened through "free speech" these days) your speech needs to be curbed and there should be penalties based on any harm or serious possible damages that could arise. If you threaten my life and I need to leave a job or get medical help because of the real stress from the "real" threat, there must be fair penalties.
We're all so sick of the TRUMP SHOW - making everything all about him, his persecution, his people, his being robbed of the election. The American government MUST stand up to this potential Napoleon (perhaps worse) before we have a Waterloo!
There is more than enough evidence to indict him. I believe that after the midterms he will be indicted,. So, too, should all those politicians who sided with him.
George, November 4 and November 14 are key dates. The election is November 8. If he refuses to testify before the Jan 6 committee, I am not sure what the next steps would be. Arrest him?
Daniel Solomon ; Instead of the 1/6 Committee subpoena, why not the DOJ subpoena? Why is the justice system so weak and ineffective? So easily gamed? How many sycophants did he install?
IMHO 1/6 is too complicated by issues like sovereign immunity, executive privilege, Electoral Count Act of 1887, etc. To get started I would charge all of the conspirators except Trump. Fake electors. Green Bay sweep. Willard war room. Roughly 10 members of Congress, none who were questioned by the 1/6 committee. Most will seek plea deals.
Re Trump. I like starting with Mar a Lago Send him a target letter. A grand jury in DC has been taking testimony. His lawyers, other witnesses have testified. On June 19, 2022, Trump sent a letter to the National Archives naming Kash Patel and John Solomon as "representatives for access to Presidential records of my administration". Patel was spotted at the grand jury last week. After the contentious November 2020 election, Patel reportedly blocked some Department of Defense officials from helping the Biden administration transition, according to NBC.. If he was exposed to stolen docs, he is jailbait. So are several of Trump's lawyers.
The Georgia state case is farther along than the 1/6 case.
I believe that the Georgia state case is farther along than 1/6. The inefficiency of our courts will do us in. tRump and his criminal lawyers have it figured out. I would like to see a 'sea change' happen , but wishes do not always come true! Why does he get such latitude?
Hmm. Where to start? Personally, I think Trump should be indicted and taken into custody yesterday, or last week, or last year. Trump is a growing menace to all that we hold dear. As we’ve seen, his influence on America only gets worse, especially now that he’s been backed into a corner legally over the top secret docs he refused to turn over to the National Archives.
No matter what happens or when it happens, there will be violence. Our government can deal with it on their terms by making the first move, or our government can wait until Trump & his cult decide to attack...and be surprised and unready. Those are the choices.
Having just done a little research on the subject, there are two important aspects of a government overthrow that should be addressed. First, our democratically elected leader must be confident of the military’s loyalty to him and to democracy. “Democracies often fail when their military sides with anti-democratic insurgents.” The chief prerequisite for a coup is control of all or part of the armed forces, the police, and other military elements.” (Brookings.edu)
There’s reason to believe Pres.Biden may not have their loyalty and that must be addressed. I don’t have any hard data on the subject, but there have been signs that our military, local police forces, state police forces and possibly the National Guard have been infiltrated by white supremacists. Those people must be weeded out quickly. If people balk at weeding them out, withhold federal funds. This is serious. We are at war—not like WWII, but still a war. Trump & Putin are working together to destroy our government.
In addition, it should be kept in mind that Trump successfully converted some of the Secret Service into doing his bidding and we now have reason to believe that Christopher Wray and some fbi aren’t exactly supportive of democracy or Biden. Wray must be replaced asap. But, first things first—President Biden needs solid reassurances that all law enforcement agencies are loyal to American democracy—and not just “lip service,” reassurance, real, tangible reassurance.
Next, the president must be confident in the Courts and their judges. One of the hallmarks of failing democracies is a weak judicial system under heavy political control. (Brookings Inst.)The buck always stops at the Supreme Court, but I’m not confident at all that our current conservative justices can be trusted to uphold stare decisis or the rule of law, or our democratic norms. My suggestion is to expand the Supreme Court ‘tout suite.’ It’s really vitally important. In fact it’s so important that I can’t emphasize it enough. I’m not trying to be melodramatic, we get enough melodrama from magas. I’m trying to convey the seriousness of the situation.
I think the key to getting back to normalcy is by making sure corporate ceos, cfos or in other words “bigwigs” understand the economic consequences of a Trump rebellion and the authoritarian/fascism Trump stands for. Fascism = tyranny. No one thrives under tyranny, no one and no businesses except fascist leaders. (Brookings.edu)
“In a recent Harvard Business Review article headlined “Business Can’t Take Democracy for granted,” Rebecca Henderson argues,
American business needs American democracy. Free markets cannot survive without the support of the kind of capable, accountable government that can set the rules of the game that keep markets genuinely free and fair. And ONLY democracy can ensure that governments are held accountable, that they are viewed as legitimate, and that they don’t devolve into the rule of the many by the few and the kind of crony capitalism we see emerging…”
It would be very helpful for Pres.Biden to convene corporate bigwigs for the purpose of having outside speakers with expertise in tyranny explain exactly why they shouldn’t want Trump or any other fascist regime running our government. Honestly, I don’t think many corporate CEOs give much serious thought to the subject. They’re happy when Trump and republicans generally are in charge because they give corporations hefty tax breaks. After working that out mentally they literally stop thinking about long term consequences.
Dr. Timothy Snyder has written books on the subject and he probably knows of other speakers on the subject. If President Biden does all the talking I’ll bet these CEOs just mentally check out, because in their minds Pres.Biden represents a political party that wants to raise their taxes. So, although President Biden’s presence is key—they have to hear what the consequences would be from speakers with expertise who don’t necessarily have strong political bias. They need to understand the folly and the financial impact of supporting fascist tyranny.
The military will do its job. it's when you get to state or some local levels I am less certain about in certain areas of the country.I disagree tht there's reason to believe Wray doesn't support democracy and Biden. But he and others should be fired over the January 6th failures of intelligence.
Thank you! Everything absolutely true... and our planet is nearing extinction. These truths are what allow the public to put their minds on hold. Too much terror( mental and physical).
When a society keeps denying the facts then only the ugliest of consequences will awaken it.
I know I am literally sick worrying about when our so called legal system actually supports the so called laws they supposedly learned about in law school. Sick and terrified!
I watch while driving the 9 out of 10 cars that do not use a signal ( the law), I watch at intersections when at least 1 car runs a full on red light. I watch as people in cars drive at least 10 miles over the speed limit. I watch in stores when people open boxes and handle or re-arrange the product.
These symptoms of a lawless society only get worse when our attention is diverted by the vulgarity( trump)of lawlessness at the top.
We the American people who stand behind holding those accountable for their actions demand action now. Not tomorrow, not next year, not right after the “ morning show”. Not right after the mid terms or right after another gun toting degenerate hurts many of us, AGAIn!
Start supporting goodness and kindness and lawfulness. Start celebrating good wages and work opportunities and scientific support of our planet.
Can you imagine making a vulgar, low information individual more important than that?????
I thought I would not see the day... or better yet I could not even imagine being so out of touch with reality that we continue to ask for nothing from our selves or from our government.
Jean, I’ve noticed it too and I can’t explain it either. It may have something to do with all Americans taking our democracy for granted while corporations and republicans gradually widened the gap between the middle class and the wealthy. Some people may have been feeling that gap and thought they were being treated badly. So to “get back” at the establishment they indulged themselves in breaking minor laws or lying, etc. That’s just a guess.
I think it’s important to keep in mind that many years ago (my best guess is at least 10-12 years ago) Putin sent Russian operatives to America to disrupt our peaceful society. And that’s exactly what they did. Some joined the NRA and pushed members to oppose all gun control legislation, some joined extremist religions & pro-life groups, to encourage violence and manipulate Americans to believe they were being left out of the so-called ‘American dream.’ But mostly, they manipulated people to be unhappy and blame the government.
Look at the blatant ( flip the finger) to all of us from the Supreme Court flunkies. As Glen Kirshner said last night, the whole world is watching us!
The sad truth is that President Biden helped get Thomas on the court and slapped Anita Hill in the face with that decision. Lindsey Graham and Thomas just made us all the laughing stock.
I can’t imagine that without heavy digging equipment we can lower the bar “ lower”!
In door-knocking white, working class Independents in Pennsylvania, I was struck by how cataclysmic this round of inflation and higher housing costs has been for them. People who were already vulnerable before the pandemic are now desperate. They don’t feel democracy is worth saving. They mistakenly believe Republicans are better on the economy and are in a “throw the elites out” mood regarding Democrats. In this situation, our advocacy for pronouns looks ridiculously out of touch. (Maslow’s hierarchy of needs has shelter and food at the bottom.) Let us not forget that Trump and our wobbly democracy are a symptom of Democrats’ inability to stand up to price gouging, historic income inequality, and to care about the white working class. For too long, we have not put their concerns front and center. Biden has begun this work but it’s too little too late. The media environment is also terrible, baiting Democrats to talk about cultural issues instead of kitchen table issues. Too many Democrats take this bait. We should talk of nothing else but economics.
It's always comical that they believe the "elites" are Democrats when in reality they are the GOP backed corporations. If "elites" means those with an education then so be it but the people doing the harm to them and keeping them dirt poor are the GOP.
I’m a lifelong Democrat. I agree with you. I’m just reporting my “findings” after talking to people and empathizing with them. They are desperate. Desperate people do desperate things that are not always rational. Democrats can blame the victim, or we can loudly, aggressively and always champion against the forces creating their desperation, w/o mentioning divisive cultural issues (except for abortion rights - the only talking point I was making that “landed” was abortion rights.)
Desperation isn't a right wing phenomenon. Everyone is struggling except the wealthy in this country. I am not a life long Dem or Rep. I have never been a Democrat and I am an independent. From what I have seen in this country I see a bunch of people being conned to believe that the Biden administration is causing their pain when research has proven that it's the GOP and past administrations/Congress/SC rulings thats causing it. Why they are so brainwashed is because the current GOP are the biggest liars we have ever seen in this country. EVER!! Corporations are the real killers in this country and until the Dems start telling the truth and stop being corporate shills as well this country is doomed. The truth needs to be told but corporate owned media and corporate owned politicians are spineless.
The media, in order to be seen as evenhanded, presents the lies equally with the truth and that's the main steam media. The right wing media, such as fox, presents the lies as the truth.
thats a pretty good general swipe at whats wrong -- from a liberal perspective. I have not read anyone who knows how to fix it -- from a liberal perspective. The Left or the Liberal perspective I think is the reasonable approach but frankly its not what the Constitution and the laws provide for in some or even many cases. To put it another way, I do not think Liberals are correct in assuming that the US is a liberal democracy under the Constitution or the laws. The US is actually a very right wing oligarchy as many people point out. It would be helpful if Prof. Reich would face this instead of looking the other way.
A liberal is someone who believes in liberty. What the founding fathers wanted and the Constitution was written for.
Getting rid of the right wing oligarchs is what needs to happen. They are not for a United States. They don’t believe in separation of church and state.
You must not be too bright of you don’t know what the solution is. Getting rid of Citizens United and the GOP is a start.
during the Revolutionary era "Liberty" meant freedom from British oppression and controls. The federal government was founded later, not "to get rid of the right wing oligarchs", but to protect their property.
I think after talking to people we should refrain from calling them stupid. They’re just “not political.” The stunts and subterfuges we see so plainly just don’t register with them as being more than what “all politicians” do. Fetterman is breaking through this death spiral because he seems like them and talks like a normal person. Democrats who don’t talk much about kitchen table issues aren’t breaking through to these folks no matter how much better they really are. To someone who sat in the back of the class in high dchoool instead of the front, it just seems like another elite posture to be sanctimonious and out of touch. And these are the voters we need to win. Please don’t shoot the messenger. They’re not stupid, they just have different priorities.
I totally agree with you about partisan Republicans. But wow, I'm struck by the vehemence of your comments in referring to the persuadable, swing voters I was door knocking. As I've described, DEMOCRATS NEED SWING VOTERS TO WIN, SO THINKING OF THEM AS SCUM FOR VOTING FOR REPUBLICANS WILL NOT ADVANCE THE CAUSE OF DEMOCRACY. Who would want to vote for someone who thinks you're stupid? Please put yourself - just for a moment - in the minds of the 80% of our population who consider themselves "not political" and don't follow politics closely. They think about politics the week before the election. They don't know the ins and outs of the toxic political landscape like you do. They are too busy surviving and working 2 jobs to pay attention to who started all the fighting in Congress. They just know they don't like it and wish everyone would stop fighting and pay attention to the fact that they are having trouble feeding their family, paying for health care and housing. Biden's policies have not yet benefitted them. They are worried they could end up homeless if inflation keeps going. It is into this landscape that they feel that maybe it's time for a change. Do they realize that it will lead to the end of Democracy? No, they don't. They don't know what that means or the implications of it. If it happens - heaven help us - it will be like Brexit, where voters find out too late what the implications are for the policy they voted for as a knee-jerk reaction against out-of-touch liberal elites. We claim to be empathetic people in the Democratic party, but if we don't get empathy for the catastrophe that working class families are facing due to inflation we are no better than the Marie Antoinette said let them eat cake, but in this case we are saying to vote for Democrats and then we'll care about you..
We are vehemently agreeing. But what to do when we Democrats need persuadable Independent voters to win elections? Keep calling them losers for voting for Trump, but being open to the Democratic message, too? I know you think these folks are like unicorns, but I met hundreds of them. They are just “not political.” They are “gettable” for Democrats. If you conceive of them as stupid or the enemy, and never try to understand what motivates them, Democrats will continue to lose. The stakes are waaay too high. If understanding persuadable swing voters’ lives and motivations is what it takes to save Democracy, shouldn’t we at least try? Even if they voted tor Trump, but might be “gettable”?
Republicans are terrible for the economy! The last 3 republican presidents racked up huge deficits and left it to democratic presidents to deal with. President Clinton actually balanced the budget. President G.W. Bush presided over the worst economy since the Great Depression and President Obama had to fix it. Then Trump messed it up again because of how he handled the pandemic. Now President Biden is slowly but surely putting our economy back on track. If he hadn’t been elected we would be in a much bigger economic hole than we are. Biden immediately began stimulating the economy by making cash available to every household in America. There’s no way republicans would have done that. Unemployment is at record lows. The opposition scoffs at Biden’s economic fixes by pointing out the pandemic put tons of people out of work, therefore his “jobs created numbers” aren’t “real.” But if you look back at statistics from every president since Reagan, it’s very clear that republican presidents are abysmal when it comes to the economy. I’ll try to get that info and put it here for others to see.
It feels like "waiting for the other shoe to drop", as if there is just ONE more piece of evidence, or a witness, or an opinion from a respected elder that AG Garland wants, or needs before he acts. Unfortunately, since we don't hear anything from him, all we do is speculate and lose patience. It's very worrisome to this member of the peanut gallery.
It is absolutely amazing to see how, what used to be an exemplary American democracy seems to be incapable to effectively and decisively fight off an internal attack sofar and seems unable to vote out the enemy from within. This only is possible when a large part of the American population support the attack The fact the GOP from initially merely condoning the attack, now seems to be actively supporting it , just shows the level of support there appears to be. Whilst it is pretty obvious what is driving Trump and MAGA, it is totally beyond me as an outsider to understand why the GOP is supporting this. Are they so obsessed by greed, liberalism and socialism?? Do they not realise that dictators not only eliminate the political opponents but also do not hesitate to eliminate those who supported them to get into power because there is no room for politics in a dictatorship. MAGA attacking GOP Rhinos is just one of the warning signals... All these (GOP ) people who now shout that their individual rights and freedom are under threat from the Democrats and democracy , wait till MAGA regains power. You soon will find out that you can only live "freely" in a dictatorship if you think, say and do exactly what the government wants.
How large the current support for the attack on democracy is will soon be become clear but even if democracy survives in November , a long and hard battle remains to restore what appears to be the broken integrity of the democracy........and it is not just in America........
The part supporting the attack probably amounts to 30% but we allowed the orange idiot to fill the Supreme Court and federal judge positions with like-lunatics. Positions of power are overriding the will of 70% of the nation.
Hello again, Hans. My answer to your question goes back to the founding of the 13 colonies. I strongly recommend reading White Trash by Nancy Isenberg. The political disaffection of the extreme right is hardly a new thing. The hardcore Trumpers feel as they do because they and their ancestors have been abused, insulted, lied to, ignored and used since the first half of the 17th century. They are rather skeptical about the whole idea of democracy since, in their experience, it has not done much for them; to them it is just another lie, another carrot that is dangled in front of them only to be snatched away time and time again. They need good jobs, financial security, education, respect and to be included in the conversation, and they are right to be angry and distrustful. We can hardly expect them to feel the opposite of what their experience has taught them.
We can’t afford to look away, nor can we be apathetic about voting. We like minded folks who cherish democracy with all its flaws, must vote AND get others to vote and vote blue. As Michael Moore has pointed out, we out number the haters, but we must vote in numbers too huge to dispute. To borrow his phrase, a “blue tsunami.” May it be so!
I believe AG Garland will indict. I also believe there is more than a good chance that there will be a lot of serious violence in this country when that happens. Who do you think owns all those AK 47 weapons that the republicans refuse to help ban? And more terrifying weapons of war as well? Anyone saying 'I told you so' at this point would be correct, but we are way beyond that now. I hope President Biden does not cower, if and when that happens. He holds tremendous power to enable our country to withstand this concerted attack on our democracy. This upcoming election will be significant. We must hold the line to prevent destroying freedom in this great nation. To those who would pray, save your breath. This problem will take action from good men and women everywhere, including those who live elsewhere in the world who believe in democracy.
He comes across meek, compassionate to many, opposite Trump but that’s why I like him. He is humble too. The country, I believe, may not be used to his demeanor but he is doing a good job. The whole world suffers our same problems especially inflation. Can’t blame him . The pandemic is a major cause as well as other factors. Plus he has to wither the storm with the Catholic Church concerning his concerns on abortion. He is a politician as JFK, the first 2 Presidents to be Catholic and both had differing *repercussions. I think the GOP discredit him for everything. If Biden would say black is black they would dispute him on that. Jealousy, and the desire to have Trump in power(for their political gain). Just my thoughts. * evangelicals
Oh, don't I agree, Janet! I wholeheartedly agree! Biden is such a consummate politician that he makes everything appear very smooth, very unruffled, no matter what gargantuan struggles have gone on behind the scenes. I feel very grateful that he is in charge during this very dangerous time. He is grounded, seasoned, and very effective.
I am reading The Oppermans written in Germany in the spring to fall (real time) of 1933 by Lion Feuchtwanger. It tells the story of several Jewish families in Berlin and the effects on them as the political winds changed in that very short period of time during which the author - almost as a journalist in a sense.
It never names 'the name' referring only to 'the leader' but everything else is factual, and every word is a mirror of present day news reports. It is chilling..
This is very alarming. His rally in Texas,per the video was sickening. Invoking the Angel of Death to his enemies. I pray that God will intervene at this point in our country, our world for that matter. The summary in this post speaks true. All of it. The rhetoric of the politicians, not all, are horrible. Pinning people against each other using religion as their sword. One’s own faith to prove their righteousness against one another for personal power. Hell has unleashed itself and what happens is happening now.
Winnie, the Abrahamic faiths have caused much grief, death and suffering all over this world. Your god didn’t intercede on the Holocaust nor the daily starvation of children today. It is up to us…people to make things happen. Not a fictional character.
We have to make the effort ourselves, through persuasion, through voting with knowledge of the people & issues we're voting for, through being civic leaders, through volunteering, through kindness, through generosity, through conscientious actions, through helping people in trouble, through caring for nature & the environment, through giving ourselves to others, through community action....
It’s on AG Garland now, he must realize that failure to indict Trump may very well destroy American Democracy. I understand that there are risks (political, personal and societal) but they must be taken. If they aren’t, this country as we know it will be gone.
Garland has shown us repeatedly that he's not equal to the job. He doesn't want to indict a sitting president, his lofty rhetoric notwithstanding. He's risk-averse to a pathological degree. Instead of taking immediate steps to safeguard the 2022 elections, Garland spent his time: 1) reading litigation memos of his attorneys, 2) refusing to reopen viable cases against Trump's circle opened by Mueller, 3) dismissing or defending Trump against a variety of issues (including inexplicably against a defamation case brought by EJean Carroll), 4) refusing to investigate the coup plotters until the 1/6 Committee embarrassed him on an international stage, 5) botching a straightforward classified documents case by allowing Trump to choose venue and jurisdiction and a special master, allowing Trump to cement a 2nd 'big lie' about the search, 6) refusing to push for additional searches despite overwhelming evidence of obstruction and missing documents (allowing our national security to erode by the day).
Garland is not only NOT going to protect the country, he's caused actual damage with his delays and decisions, refusal to prosecute Gaetz, waiting months to even make a decision on Bannon's clear contempt of Congress, refusing to protect election workers despite vowing to do so, refusing to pursue a vigorous investigation of the Uvalde debacle despite vowing to do so, refusing to investigate the FBI's infiltration by Maga supporters and lack of preparation for 1/6 despite actionable intelligence, refusal to investigate Secret Service despite their unbelievably obstructionist and partisan activities before and during 1/6. In Garland's 2 years, trust in DOJ is at an all-time low.
tRump is a 'one man crime wave' , but SOMETHING should have been done long ago, even if it involved Special Forces'. It has been done before against enemies of the state. I guess there are so many worshipping the Golden Calf (and beholden to same) that we are in this fix now
There are also a large number of people who don't understand the grave stakes of this election. The DNC, DCCC, Democratic leadership have failed to paint a vivid picture of life under 1-party autocratic rule. Many people on both sides believe that democracy is a default setting. They cannot imagine how grim daily life will become...it will happen very quickly. The media has chosen to pretend it's just another horse race. Historians and fascist scholars have sounded the alarms, but few are listening.
The media are owned by very wealthy interests who benefit by not naming those behind 'inflation'.
Is the fact that Jeff Bezos now owns The Washington Post a reason for what I perceive as The Post's lean toward the Right? Maybe it always leaned rightward, only now I am noticing it with alarm on the opinion pages. I appreciate Robert Reich's columns, political historian Heather Cox Richardson's, and the Intercept's coverage. A recent Intercept interview with the coauthors of a new book about the Democrats' failure to "seize the Impeachment moments," and why the failure, in their view, increases disgust with both parties. And as we all know, the Democrats like the Republicans are beholden to their wealthy donors, which affects the decisions their politicians make in a very significant way.
The Republican party have always received the lion's share of Corporate 'donations'. While I do not personally know Jeff Bezos, I have the strong impression that he is anti union, and I would bet that he is also opposed to taxes going in his direction, on his 'income' or certainly his wealth. I saw a post somewhere that said he collected a $4000 child tax credit for his daughter not long ago. All legal, no doubt. 'Conservative' articles in WaPo under his ownership? not too surprising to me. Musk at the helm of Twitter will do similar leaning 'Right'ward, I bet.
I think so. But the NY Times seems to be going in the same direction. Who owns them? Most major networks, newspapers & social media are now owned by right-wing billionaires, which is why they favor the conservative, corporatist & fascist points of view.
On this post I will agree whole heartedly. Especially the DNC, who stupidly chose to fund Republican candidates on the pretext they'd be 'easier to beat' in the fall. Instead of going all out to promote and defend democracy.
FR
Totally agree!!
Perhaps you see the last nail in our democratic coffin and have lost hope. It’s not that few are listening about the warning of fascism, most don’t understand the danger of it because we isolate ourselves. We’ve never experienced it. Since the industrial revolution we consider ourselves “exceptional” and we are not. By geography we are isolated and tend to see the world through eyes of the media and other people. It’s a big mistake for a democratic country this large and diverse not to be educated in the truth. Since the Civil War we’ve only experienced the effects of war at Pearl Harbor and on 9/11 so we’ve escaped the ravages of war at home for generations. Nevertheless I can’t help but hope.
I agree, Sue, but will add that few people in the US understand the tenets of fascism. They have never lived under fascism, Europe is far away. We really need to teach students the true function of political systems - not the stupid, crowd pleasing "We Hate" fill in the blank. People need to understand what even a representative republic means, not in pedantic terms. but simplified. The same with socialism, fascism. dictatorship. Communism is a dirty, scary word - but it doesn't exist any more than ghosts exist. Look at the idiotic term 'antifa' The ignorant MAGA's picked it up and flung it like insults at the liberals. Hell, if such an organization existed I'd be honored to be founding member.
Fay...
If we want to avoid fascism we have to offer voters something better than what they have now.
Trump supporters HATE Democrats.
The majority of voters think Democrats have zero to offer them based on policy after policy Democrats have supported or, today at least, simply ignore.
We should focus on what we can control. We can't control what some long time unemployed white dude and his wife think of Obama and Clinton. But we can control whether we keep elected leaders like Clinton and Obama who screwed most Americans and start elected leaders like Sanders and Warren who will truly improve the lives of the poor and middle class...
I agree, thank you for the thoughtful comment.
I wholeheartedly agree with you.
The people that don't understand the grave stakes of the election are no different than the voters that support Trump...
Both groups feel, with merit in my view, that the Democratic party has entirely abandoned them. From Clinton getting NAFTA passed with zero provisions to help the people who's lives were crushed by this policy. To Obama's brilliant economic team deciding to bail out banks, share holders and executive bonuses while letting homeowners descend into bankruptcy.
The problem is with the current leaders of the Democratic party. Not with the people who's lives have been destroyed due to the NeoLiberal policies these law makers supported.
Yes Trump is a train wreck and worse that what we have now. But until we stop electing people like Biden and Hillary this problem will just get worse and worse. Change DEMO leadership and people will listen. It is as easy as that.
I agree with your comments on Bill Clinton. Obama's big mistake was keeping the same economic advisors that George W. had, his second mistake was to listen to them. I don't think economics was Obama's strong suit, I also don't think he had any trusted economic adviasors on his team. The jury is still out on Biden, but overall I think he's doing better than either Bill Clinton or Obama. Hillary cannot be fairly judged because she was never given the chance. She did okay as Secretary of State - not great, but ok. As to trump, my cat Caliope would have been a better President.
FR
Agree 100%... Obama did not understand economics and kept the Bush type people. I don't think he was willful in his mistakes, he is, however 100% responsible.
Agree on Biden... He is not good enough to earn the trust of the American citizens that real change will occur under him, but he is NOT making the same mistakes of Clinton and Obama.
Laurie, I like your image of "worshipping the golden calf." Trump is like a golden calf because he seems to be worth a lot of money, causes trouble, and is really hard to remove from the scene because people just love it/him. They want to make him their messiah even though he is actually an appalling human being that people should ignore, OK, put in jail for his many crimes against this nation and our people.
At this point, it would be truly great to see him in a proper facility where he could not do any more damage. At the very least, blocked from running for government offices ever again. If you can't be trusted to run a charity, there is no place in a government caretaking the common good.
Good point and at least one fact that the dems should use
Well said, Laurie
Thank you, Fay. tRump should stick to running Casinos and Beauty Contests.
Someone let a trump lover in!
Mr.Velten, 14th Amendment, Sec.3 Text: “No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.
It doesn’t say “After being found guilty in a court of law.” Trump himself jeopardized his “Constitutional right to freedom” by conspiring, planning & participating in an insurrection. Likewise re “his Constitutional right to run for office.” Trump took an oath to support and defend the Constitution. Near the end of his term of office he personally planned and participated in an insurrection. He’s therefore ineligible to hold office in the U.S. government.
Trump’s “Constitutional right to freedom” will be decided based on federal criminal statutes. Nowhere does the Constitution say “if you don’t like him” Liking him or not liking him is irrelevant.
You accuse Darci and “liberals” of only liking the Constitution when it helps liberals- without any basis or factual support, so it’s just your opinion. I disagree with your opinion.
You say “Not giving him his rights will guarantee him his freedom” No one has taken Trump’s “rights.” His rights can only be taken away if he’s guilty of a crime.
LMAO! You watch Fox News and spew every single lie that they brainwashed you with.
Gas isn't 3x what it was. If you think inflation is only in the US you really need to get out of the trailer park more often.
With respect Tom, that sounds like a republican diatribe of half-truths. Our current inflation is worldwide. President Biden did nothing to cause it and republicans voted against legislation that would have eased it just because they want to make democrats look bad before the election.
I lived through inflation in the 1970’s and it was much worse than what we’re experiencing now. Besides, Inflation isn’t the end of the world. It will get better and there isn’t a thing Trump could do to change it either, except maybe get republicans to pass the legislation that would’ve eased it.
Are you seriously saying Covid was no worse than the flu?? Over a million Americans died from Covid and more are still dying every day.
I have no idea why you say our military is being destroyed.
Inflation is a problem in other nations too, this administration doesn't have anything to do with them. You and all the other GQP nutso voters have been conned into believing the blatant lies that the Rethugs spew on a daily basis. You are the one that is insane for believing the steady stream of lies they tell to con. And Covid 19 is NOT the flu. It has caused millions of deaths around the world. And you use projection just like the other Rethug leaders use to project their lies on the Dems. The Rethugs are the ones that are really insane. TUMP didn't make anything great, he made things worse. TUMP is the worst leader we have ever had. He is a incompetent, lying, racisist, corrupt life long criminal that was behind the Jan 6 insurrection at the Capitol building resulting in 5 deaths and numerous injuries and cost millions of dollars damage. You call that great? I don't, that was a horrible at an attempted coup... there is nothing great about that..
I would challenge pretty much all of your conclusions. These are all just talking points that are based o; lies. You have been flimflammed. I hope you really want to know the truth. I challenge you to watch jon stewart on apple, and google every thing you have said and see what other reliable sources are saying. Or you can continue to let the snake oil salesmen gin up your emotions and lead you by the nose to support the needs of sociopaths. I hope you choose yourself, and what is best for your needs, and see that you have been. conned. You deserve better.
Tom deserves whatever karma throws at him!
Name one thing Trump did to ‘keep our country great.’ You talk about the price of food & gas, mortgage rates, etc, and ask if we like it, implying that inflation can be fixed. Robin points out that inflation is worldwide & therefore can’t be fixed by the U.S. because we don’t control the world.
Then you respond that you never said inflation is only in the U.S. and we need to stay on point. You’re engaging in circular arguments, implying something is the case then pointing out you never said it. People who use arguments in this way are usually trained propagandists and not the least bit sincere. You and Jack Velten engage with others on this website for the purpose of confusing us and wasting our time. We know what you’re doing and it’s not going to work with the people on this website.
I don’t engage with simpleton anymore. He’s just on here as a troll.
I rest my case.
HW, I have been willing to give our AG the benefit of the doubt because I keep hearing how methodical and careful he is before bringing charges to make sure he has all the "ducks in a row." Well, there are now so many ducks in a row that it is getting ridiculous. Garland has waited so long to act that the election is coming up and there are rules about doing specific things before an election. Trump is not in the election, so it should have nothing to do with him. I know that rule only works when the FBI head is not a misogynist as Comey was in 2016 when at the last minute introduced innuendo that Clinton was somehow guilty of something. This time, Trump really is guilty and it is time the charges are formally brought against him and his enablers. Republicans believe they only have to wait until after November8th when they win and all efforts against Trump will stop or they will impeach whoever they don't like and whoever doesn't like their baby Donnie and is willing to Kiss his a** as often as he needs it. So, I am with you on this one. Your evidence is there and clear.
The repugnant party make up rules they themselves choose not to follow. They make up rules that favor their agenda as time goes on.
Sorry the hearts stopped working. Totally agree!
some of the evidence youre seeing in Jan 6 hearing may not be admissible in a criminal trial because its hearsay. Yeah we all know the truth but that's not the same as convincing a fed jury. If Trump is acquitted hell crow about how it was all a witch hunt and he was vindicated.....
He’s not gonna be acquitted.
He can't be acquitted if he's not even tried.
Don't be too sure. My fear is he will be convicted, appeal, conviction upheld, appeal to the current Supreme Court where the 5 'Injustices' will overturn. The DOJ's case must be so watertight that even those 5 idiots on the Supreme Court will lack the guts to overturn.
Very true, HHm. I fully agree with your statement.
Let's be clear; Donald Trump is not a "sitting" president- he's a former President and as such he is just like you and me and doesn't deserve special consideration under the law. Either all men and women are equal under the law or they aren't.
Hw ; I believe that most media, especially main stream media are owned by those who do not have the voter's best interests in mind.
That's accurate, but it's a time for choosing. Nicolle Wallace manages to clearly articulate the dangers of election deniers, yet Chuck Todd consistently platforms those who spew propaganda. Many/most pronto journalists have written books during the last 6 years...they could easily quit or refuse to publish GOP talking points (without fact-checking or context)...it's a choice.
Janet, you need to check your email and probably change your password. Two junk mails piggybacked into my email when you sent a response to me. One from Leaf Filter gutter protection and one from thecheaperlife.com for housecleaning. Good luck.
Excellent comment & 100% correct. What people who assure us that Trump will be arrested & prosecuted when the DOJ has all the evidence they need for an airtight case (how do they not have one by now?) and/or the midterm elections have passed (which should not be a consideration in the first place & why should we withhold from voters what could be a crucial factor in their decision making, anyway?), are forgetting or ignoring is all the previous decisions Garland has made showing his disinterest in holding Trump & other authority figures on the right accountable, & that Trump & his cohorts are still actively plotting against our democracy & rule of law, showing him to be a clear & present danger to our national security, making it imperative that he be detained while awaiting trial as any other national security risk would be.
Garland is more responsible for undermining the Democrats' chances in the upcoming elections than just about anyone else by boosting Republican claims that there must not be anything Trump has done wrong because he hasn't been indicted yet despite all these accusations, so it must all be a hoax & a witch hunt & Trump is being mercilessly & wrongfully attacked by the left, while the left & middle feel increasingly deflated & discouraged because no matter who is in charge, people at the top, especially the right, continually get away with serious crimes for which ordinary people would be jailed immediately, further imperiling our democracy.
Absolutely. I'm beginning to think the best that could happen is for Biden to FIRE Garland and replace him with someone like Letitia James who won't let political considerations stand in the way of the pursuit of justice
John Thompson ; I agree and would add that at this point, Political considerations be damned ; If someone is standing on your neck it does not matter how it 'looks' when you fight them off! " life, liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" does not include draconian denials of long fought for and won rights! It is unjustifiable to take away freedoms that have already been established! It is Unconstitutional to defy the Constitution ; especially when you can't even honestly take an oath of office to uphold the Constitution! If Merrick Garland cannot do his job he should be dismissed!
Garland is what he is. I'm sure he has done quite well in other situations, but like most of us, he is not not wired for getting into a cage to subdue a rabid guerilla. I think Biden should replace him with someone who is. Very smart , tough as nails, steel backbone, honest, and an incestuous desire to bring cases to just conclusions before the next comet appearance. We are at such a critical crossroad in our society that we need to fill public positions with the best suited for the difficulties we are facing. This is war, not chess.
"Incestuous desire?" Hmmmm..... :D But well said. I agree, Biden should replace Garland unless he acts quickly and decisively, like TODAY, and he should not wait until after the Midterms. We don't convict people in the court of public opinion, supposedly, but to use his own metaphor, Trump has literally shot someone in the middle of Times Square, and the entire nation has seen it. Just his possession of those classified documents is sufficient to prosecute him. There is no way to pass Garland's inaction off as prosecutorial thoroughness. It's coming to look more like prosecutorial cowardice, or perhaps even co-conspiracy.
My thoughts exactly. Trump needs to be charged BEFORE he announced his candidacy.
Dear Sherm. I think you meant "hot wired", "gorilla" and "incessant", or at least I hope that's what you had in mind. Merrick Garland is two things, an excellent lawyer and a judge. There is no need to indict Trump before the midterms. I am aware that you, and a lot of our fellow Substackers, are impatient, but there are procedures that have to be followed in our legal system. First you have to gather sufficient legally qualified evidence of guilt to present to a Grand Jury for and indictment - no indictment, no trial. Secondly, you need airtight legal evidence, a number of reliable, believable witnesses, and a great prosecution team. Then and only then, you are ready to go to a Superior Court to request a trial by jury date. The January 6th Committee presented a good and compelling show to compel a lot of Americans to see just how guilty the trumpster and his minions were in treason (attempting to disrupt the electoral vote count) inciting an assault on the Nation's Capitol, and attempting to illegally overturn a fair and just election. I listened to each of the public hearings. They presented a convincing scenario, but too much of the presentation was hearsay which must be backed up with rock solid evidence. If you want examples of how NOT to go to court, just look at the trumpster's legal team - they went to court 62 times, often before judges who were appointed by the trumpter himself. They lost 61 cases and won one technicality which got them nothing. When Merrick Garland, goes to the Grand Jury he will get an indictment. When his prosecutorial team goes to court they will get a conviction, when they go to the Appellate court they will win the appeal - all because they made damned sure they had admissible evidence. solid, believable witnesses, and the best prosecutorial team
sherm gallay ; Well said!
I disagree. Democrats trust in the DOJ must have been lower throughout the "trumpster's" reign of terror, Barr better than Garland? I don't think so. Garland is slow and methodical, yes. The wheels of justice turn slowly, yes. But why go full steam ahead before you've collected sufficient, legally undeniable evidence to get a conviction.
The MAL documents case required unlawful retention of documents and knowledge that the documents were government property. There is literally video proof of the former, and a subpoena that proves the latter. Unless Garland is waiting for a confession written in a particular blood type, he has what he needed. Instead, he once again allowed Trump to create a PR defense that gave air cover to partisan judges. The Mueller obstruction cases were tied up in a bow...facts, case law, defense arguments, rebuttals, statutory precedent...and Garland ignored everything. Garland was a highly risk-averse judge and he's even worse as a prosecutor.
I agree wholeheartedly HE with ur fine summary of AG Garland’s lack of action to put tRump in his rightful place once and for all. I am so disappointed in him, he seems afraid to confront the conman & prosecute him like other prosecutors have stated should be done sooner rather than later. He would be more suited for the Supreme Court rather than active prosecution. I think Pres Biden should appoint someone tough on crime, white collar crime of the worst variety.
I’ve been extremely frustrated too. We’re at what some would call an inflection point--I call it a turning point. Something’s got to give soon.
Thank you for reminding us all in actual list form of all the things Garland has failed to do despite vowing to do so. I have listened to all sorts of liberal pundits urging patience as in “Garland is, in fact, investigating,” and “Garland has to make sure it’s an airtight case,” etc. And is is true that the case(s) is(are) getting tighter and tighter, but when is enough enough? We cannot wait and let trump decide our midterms. Arrest and hold him for trial without his phone. NOW.
HW [and RS] I think your righteous indignation and impatience with Garland is probably due to the fact that you assume that Merrick Garland, AG, is all knowing and that DOJ and the state AGS are more powerful than is actually the case.
Re the Jan 6 debacle, the DOJ website lists the DOJ prosecutions to date. In those cases the evidence was in and so those prosecutions were ripe. Prosecuting the higher ups depends on harder to obtain evidence. AG Garland will probably do more with the further evidence gathered by the Hearings in Congress--- and there will probably be the threat of a presidential pardon that could undo all that.
I don't think an AG is all knowing, but DOJ has massive resources and far-reaching I investigatory powers. Garland is allowing the Mueller obstruction cases to expire, bungling the documents case, via leaks from his own department, he didn't seriously begin to look at the multiple efforts to overturn the 2020 election until Cassidy Hutchinson's testimony. He's ignored obstruction by the USSS and FBI. He promised and failed to protect election workers. He promised and failed to vigorously investigate the Uvalde debacle. The majority of low level 1/6 cases were prosecuted as misdemeanors. I could go on and on, but his poor performance speaks for itself.
Having worked with DOJ for decades and a state AG I know for a fact that neither enjoys "massive resources". Your expectations are leading you into frustration.
Well Garland himself (via Congressional testimony) said he had all the resources he needed to conduct his investigations. Was he lying? The 1/6 Committee tackled a tremendous amount of information, and repeatedly stated that they had far fewer resources than DOJ. I'm frustrated because Garland has done a poor job, and he understood the stakes when he fought for the position. He's now allowed 2 big lies to be cemented into the consciousness of the country: election fraud and an illegitimate MAL search. There's plenty of blame to go around: apathetic voters, cynical media, an authoritarian GOP, lackluster Democratic leadership opposition, but Garland's passivity and errors are glaring.
Ive already said I think Garland is proceeding on the Jan 6 prosecutions and ongoing investigations matters as well as anyone probably can under the circumstances. There is alot of process underway as Trump and his GOP pals like Sen Graham have the money to exhaust their legal rights - and it could all be preempted by pardons. You mentioned lots of ongoing messes, eg election fraud - this is one of the GOPs favorite claims in many states any of which have been investigated,- generally its been found to be an unsupported, false allegation. I think poorly educated US citizens are really getting screwed by all this lying by both parties and by the general right wing nature of MSM. The uneducated are frustrated because they cannot begin to figure this stuff out, they cant assess whats thrown at them n in MSM, and as a result they are unfortunately the big losers in all this.
Well said!
wrong-clearly you know nothing about federal criminal probes. I would argue trust in DOJ was low when you had career prosecutors quitting under Barr because of blatant politicization
Open corruption nd blatant partisanship under Barr was rampant, but I didn't see a rash of resignations by DOJ attorneys. I still recall the DOJ attorney who argued that soap and toothpaste weren't 'necessities' for refugees caged by Trump's DHS. That said, ineffective actions and placing 'optics' over 'justice' is equally corrosive to the rule of law. And yes, I'm an attorney.
i agree with optics over justice criticism 100%
Thanks for sharing your opinion based on whatever.
Debbie Downer
Sad but true
My question is, why do we allow a high-crime criminal to roam around the US after inciting a deadly attack on it! Trump should not be eligible! He must be arrested not participating in the Democracy he continues to try to destroy! Had a Democrat attacked the capital, they’d have been long gone by any means. But Republicans get the red carpet.
Derek is correct, failure to indict is a helping hand to fascism. Failure to indict before elections looks like collusion, not justice!
Seeking Reason, you are right about the message of not indicting Trump as well as needing to restrict Trump from his ridiculous "rallies" that are just lie fests to keep his crazies in line. Our DOJ should know this and get indictments going no matter whether Trump testifies before the January 6th Committee or not. It is time!
indicting trump is like indicting a mob boss who never gets his hands dirty-its complicated and difficult to prove in fed court, especially when all the criminals used encrypted apps, shred documents, and refuse to testify, or like Anthony Ornato and Chadd Wolfe who destroyed evidence-I want those criminals in jail but alas that would take cooperating SS agents.
Good point about the poor timing. And about how Dems would have been out long ago had the roles been reversed. I am trying to gather psychologists who will talk to me for a book about how the U.S. political system has the same dynamics as any toxic system: At the untouchable top of the system are abusers, enablers, and flying monkeys (deniers who spread the toxicity like the ones in The Wizard of Oz.) At the bottom are Peacemakers and Scapegoats. I’m sure you can see where Democrats sit in this intransigent system. Intransigent because Democrats keep unwittingly playing their roles.
SR
To start with about 30% of the voters in this country will never believe he is a criminal regardless of what evidence you produce and another 19% will vote for him as President because despite his criminal behavior they see him as a better choice than the alternative.
We need to stop blaming others for this problems. We go ourselves in this position electing leaders like Clinton and Obama who totally screwed the poor and middle class in this country (NAFTA and leaving those effected hight and dry with nothing and the companies that took advantage of NAFTA made fortunes AND lets not forget Obama who bailed out Banks, Share holders and the bonuses of the Executives and left home owners to file for bankruptcy...).
Lets focus on what we can control and what we have done to get us in this spot.
TS
Estimates... but directionally correct.
Trump has a 42% favorability rating.
https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/polls/favorability/donald-trump/
Janet
30% of American voters don't agree with you on this and another 19% simply don't care and will vote for him anyway..
You can't have laws that people respect if that many people don't see him as guilty. (Yes of course he is guilty as hell, that is not what i am talking about).
Just saying. Dems got ourselves in this spot. the leaders we elected to office have been so TERRIBLE to so many Americans that even a criminal like Trump looks better in their eyes...
(Clinton pushed NAFTA with zero assistance to people and communities devastated by this policy and Obama bailed out banks, share holders and banker bonuses but left homeowners to file for bankruptcy so bankers could reposes their homes.
Maybe we need to focus on why our own leaders are so ODIOS to so many Americans.../
Bernie 2020
A criminal is a criminal. A convicted criminal is a convict. You are not real smart are you??? You pal Trump is a rapist and a liar, if you believe one word him or any of the idiots who worship him then you may be missing the grey matter called a brain. Do some actual research friend it is far better to be thought a fool then to open your mouth and remove all doubt.
LM
None the less Trump has 42% favorability with voters.. Not saying that doe snot make him a criminal. Just saying that something he is doing works with a large number of voters...
And my guess is that saying those voters are "missing the grey mater called a brain" just makes them more loyal to Trump and less open minded to the truth...
Here is my question, what is your view on how the Dems can get Trump supporters to move away from him?
As did tommy get hurt feelers😜😘
Better dead than Red.
Yes that is true Tom...
The people on this board are no different than the right wingers that watch Fox and listen to Ben Shapiro..
They see only one side of the story. A crafted narrative that tells you HATE the other side enough and things will be okay.... People that live in glass houses aught not throw rocks... right?
Janet
I agree! "making sweeping generalizations about hundreds of people...." is not a good idea.
My commentary is based on their comments which is informed by reading their comments with regularity. The consistency of assumptions and truths that are actually half truths or flat out wrong is not surprising. As i have noted, i see similar errors on boards that cater to Fox news watchers. I know nothing about any of these people personally nor have i made personal comments on them. I assume the people on both types of boards are, for the most part, sweet.
Do you not agree that is it helpful to have your assumptions challenged, especially when they are coming from media, not Prof Reich, that tends to give only one side of most stories and that ignores many massively important stories for fear of reproachment from sponsors (Universal Health Care and Monopolies are two topics the MSM tries to avoid and certainly does almost no investigation and deep research on)
If i am rude please call me out. No excuse for being rude.. But if you are not willing to have your opinions challenged then why are you posting them publicly? Right?
Tom, you can’t seem to explain your thought. Typical.
Aww. Such a cute little attempt to sound like a 10 year old. Time to grow up snowflake.
If you can't stand the heat ; get out of the kitchen. Why should someone not getting a job done be paid? Whether it is a Congressman, Senator or the United States Attorney General and his staff? Enough already. We, the people should be able to say "you're fired!".
We should yes but unfortunately that’s a decision that would be out of our hands regardless.
If you don't have all the ingredients assembled, don't start cooking.
Buy, if you wait to long some of your ingredients will stale or rot. The final dish will still be disappointment.
With stale ingredients you are taking this metaphor too far. Evidence doesn't get stale
And we all vote blue!
I guess you do not believe in facts. Hopefully you will someday
you are a troll. Obvious that you are not human or intelligent. I’ll just call you Schadenfreude Queen who behaves like the stereotype of every high school mean girl bully movie. You are a little little person who has no concept of humor. I would like to believe that you are not lost, but I believe your brain is wired and there is no hope for you.
The only worse outcome than no indictment, is one that doesn't lead to a conviction. I believe that DOJ knows this.
If Garland can't convict a crime that literally only requires unlawful possession of documents, it's beyond pathetic. The DOJ has an open and shut case, yet they allowed invalid venue, a partisan judge, a special master...sheer incompetence. At any rate, Garland has failed in so many ways that any action he takes is irrelevant. Fascism is firmly rooted, the 'Big Lie' is gospel. Meanwhile, Fani Willis, with 1/10th of DOJ resources in a highly political environment has shown what a competent prosecutor can do.
The wheels of justice with this particular case need to turn slowly in order for it to be rock solid...especially dealing with this narcissist and his cult.
I'm sorry, but just the opposite is true. You don't stop a cult by slow-walking justice. You act quickly to minimize the damage, and disrupt the hold over his followers. Garland misread the situation and acted accordingly (poor judgment, poor decisions, and no accountabulity since Garland refuses to talk to Congress or the people), thus cementing Trump's power, and further eroding trust in the rule of law.
...until Agent Orange is indicted...then...the stakes are raised.
You can never guarantee a conviction..especially against a cult leader, who constantly claims he is being treated unfairly. Remember...it only takes ONE juror to set a guilty perp free.
When you grind fine for espresso, it takes a while. Be patient. Or go to Dunkin’ Donuts if you’re in a rush.
Tom Singleton: Who cares?
You just explained very succinctly why you are a tRump supporter. Or are you just a republican in general? Whichever. The 40k coffee maker and the maid to operate it says it all
thank you.
Just how much of your $$$ can you take to your grave? Most of us barely manage to make ends meet. We eat as cheaply as we can and scrounge to pay the bills. We avoid going to a doctor when we’re sick while privileged ppl like you just stack up $ and don’t give a crap if the maid goes hungry or takes home scraps to feed the kids. You speak of your maid like a piece of property. Is that how you see working ppl? What will you do when one of the 1/2 of 1% decide to take what you have? What will you do then? Who will you turn to for help? Another of the 1%? They eat their young.
One wonders if Garland is secretly in with the group pushing us toward fascism...
Or he has been threatened, which seems to be their M.O.
It’s not impossible, however the DOJ has made several other moves lately (unrelated to Trump) that goes against this theory.
I think he will have too for the sake of our democracy. It’s only right!!
Too soon to say Trump must be... trumped?
Actually, he would have been a good justice. He is a judge. Unfortunately we don't need an overly thotful judge in the position of Attorney General, we need an aggressive PROSECUTOR. Ultimately it falls on that nice old man in the White House who plays by the rules with ppl who don't give a shit about fairness.
Hunter Biden's worst business practices would be pale, sad, insignificant things compared to the massive Machiavellian machinations of the Trump organization.
I don't. If Hunter is guilty of something, I believe he should be prosecuted.
Oh Tom, I am not sure where you get your information, but even if Republicans go about the farce of impeaching Garland, he won't be removed and he will be able to give information about Trump to the world that Republicans won't be happy with because they, deep in their hearts know Trump is a hazard to our democracy, but love being part of something, just a little bit nefarious. The smart ones know Qanon is nuts as are the other conspiracy theories. The people who latch onto them want to be close to something daring believing none of it will really impact them. It is like a movie they are participating in, as extras. If our democracy fails, they will have themselves to blame, but they won't; they will blame Democrats. Fantasyland!
He would have been better at SCOTUS.
The Republican’s Agenda
* Congress - vote against whatever the Democrats vote for ( constructive teamwork )
* Economy - Trickle Down Economics, tax breaks for the rich
* Inflation - turn a blind eye to corporations raising prices on everyday Americans
* 2020 election - Denying the 2020 election results even though they have no evidence of voter fraud
* Healthcare - Republicans want to Sunset Medicare and eliminate Medicaid
* Abortion - SCOTUS Overturned Roe v Wade, also on the docket, eliminate contraception, same sex marriage, etc…
* Elderly - Sunset Social Security and repeal lowering drug prices
* Crime - arm teachers, open carry. MORE GUNS ( states with highest crime rate )RED
* Climate change - it’s all a hoax !!
There leader
PATHETIC HYPOCRITE Who are you voting for????
Thanks.
Fascism. Voter preclusion.
Ukraine. McCarthy says Republicans will stop funding. I think the polls are missing the fact that in the rust belt Trump has lost some of his most ardent supporters. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/10/23/vance-ukraine-war-ohio-senate/
Daniel Solomon ; Good!
Why is everyone so dissing on fascism? we seem to be doing fine. gotta gov't, got heat, water, lectricity, got food and drink, gotta car, got elections and lotsa cops. what's to not like?
Surely you jest. If you don't want your vote counted, that's OK.
yes, i jest. if i don't laugh i'll cry. i fear it's too late. and by any definition i've ever read, we've been living under fascism for a while now.
Well, they say “Don’t ask if the trains are on time, ask what the last stop is.”
Habeas Corpus? Freedom to choose whether you will be a parent? Truth in education? Education? Freedom of and from religion, (you choose). A living wage? Healthy and safe environment? Health care that is affordable for everyone? Free and fair elections ? Actual justice? Equal protection under the law? The right not to be robbed, attacked, threatened beaten raped or lynched, murdered or slandered or abused ? The right to truth in advertising/ reporting truthfully? Sustainability? Free speech as long as it is truthful. Equality in the workplace/ opportunity for humans regardless of race/faith-religion sex, or orientation.
Laurie, are you saying then that fascism isn't serving us well? well darn, did i say i got my pickup and my dog, too?
Paul Cesmat ; All I want ; is.... Life Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. If you have that, you're good, but if you think the present 'Right' under tRump will allow Liberty for even the working people, you are sadly uninformed. He is known to stiff his workers by not paying contractors. He loves Kim Jong Un. Check out how he treats the workers in North Korea. Even white collar people are routinely put before firing squads if they don't deliver what he wants. His family members too.
Laurie, I'm sorry facetious statements don't translate well on this forum. If you've read any of my posts, you'll know that I am in complete agreement with most of our progressive compatriots, and of course with Dr. Reich. So lighten up!
do you understand what fascism is? Hitler is the best example. Can you in good conscience say the atrocities, cruelty, horrific suffering caused by this ideology is ng you support?
He's being facetious.
If your grandfather or great grandfather is alive I dare you to ask him that question.
Don’t forget the lottery.
You could also add "break down the barriers between church and state",as seen in the recent Supreme Court decisions regarding Maine funding of schools and Coach leading prayers on the football field. I went to picnic yesterday of Americans United for separation of church and state where the former Chief Justice of the Missouri Supreme Court Mike Wolff spoke on this issue.
Steve, you are right about concerns about the encroaching on the separation of church and state, something written and implied in our Constitution. Since most of the conservative justices on the SC are Roman Catholic, their aim is not democracy, but a theocracy of Catholicism. They are only temporarily joined with conservative evangelicals because it is convenient. I think this whole thing is just so strange when it was the people who are now into this were the ones who scorned John Kennedy as being controlled by the Pope to bring about exactly what Republicans/conservatives are looking for now with their allowing business people to discriminate against people they claim not to like religiously and their pronouncements against women's bodily autonomy and birth control because somehow, the white men in charge of the church don't want it. It is interesting the way attitudes change and sacrifices of beliefs happen when one chooses to follow people who spew just the right kind of hate toward just the right kind of people and claim it is in the name of god.
It’s weird, as “mainstream Catholics” tend to be pretty open-minded and liberal. It’s the Cult-o-Catholics oddballs who have created the astroturfing baloney. Like the Baptists and the Republican Party, it’s like they’ve been invaded and parasitised by foreign ideas. 😒
Freedom from religion that is imposed.
Why is there so little coverage of the huge issues that affect elders in particular: sunsetting of social security & medicare and lost of lower prices on drugs? If DSCC, DNC, AARP and others began a drive, even at this late date to cover this, urging folks to register and VOTE [for Dems], it could make a difference in all of the tight races. Otherwise, old folks, the disabled, and those who care about them are going to wake up in October and say, "what?? I didn't know THAT was on the ballot."
Mauimom, I, too am concerned about the way older Americans have been pretty much ignored in this election while Republicans pop into their oral if not written agenda that they want to stop Social Security payments when someone turns 90. They also don't particularly want folks to be able to collect SS at all. Then, there's Medicare and Medicaid, despised by a lot of Republican leaders despite the fact that so many of their constituents and even those who vote for them are supported by it. The hypocrisy is astounding. I wish Dems were talking more about the hypocrisy and pushing older folks to step back a minute and see what Republicans want to do that will impact them. Maybe those conservative older people should drop their hatred of abortion for a bit and vote to stop the people who would try to mess with their Social Security et al. Even though Republican leadership is mostly old, they are getting powerfully big pensions we the people pay for, so don't care about the rest of us.
Folks aren't thinking about their parents and/or grandparents, nor envisioning themselves in their "golden" years.
I bet those with generational wealth don't worry much about the golden years. But they make sure they have every power and a lot of wealth to not have to think about it too. So it stays that way for them. The 'I got mine' crowd.
Age is wasted on them.
Don't forget that their leader is a criminal in chief
Keith, you truly got the crux of the Republican agenda. I might add, *screw immigrants, asylum-seekers, and refugees, *foster more violence in cities so their racism will seem justified, *open all our public lands to whatever destruction rich white corporations want to perpetrate leaving their messes for the American people to clean up (oh wait, that's what they have been working on for decades), *make the USA a pseudo-Christian nation led by Catholic and extreme evangelical leaders who are looking for a place in the heights of heaven.
Tim Hildebrandt; but only a few of those capitalists really thrive.
I think the dictionary should add a new definition for the phrase "to trump" someone - to con and deceive with malice and complete disregard for anyone else's welfare.
Dee, Sounds accurate to me. Maybe add, deadly…malice.
Seeking Reason, I do like the addition of "deadly" to Dee Long's Trump definition. The actual Trump would be pleased if a lot of people ended up dying on either side of any conflict that could arise from his bad behavior.
Dee, I like your definition for the verb "to trump" Maybe if enough of us use it, the various dictionaries will pick it up. Maybe we need the capital "T" for this definition. The sentence going along with the definition might be "In the 2022 midterm election a lot of Republican candidates tried to Trump the American people."
maybe throw back in
the original 'f' -- trumpf!
for Clarity and you may be onto something
.
but Def do
NOT Capitalize.
.
the tiny-handed man
will Always be djt to me.
Just as we require truth in commercial advertising (under threat of judicial sanctions), similar guardrails must now be re-established for journalism (written and televised), social media and political campaigning. Free speech, at least in the public domain, should not be a license to lie, cheat, defraud or endanger others by inciting bigotry, hate or violence.
Hate speech gets you thrown in jail in Europe, and the EU is working on extending similar controls to social media platforms as well. Britain is now struggling with the aftermath of their Brexit, which was “sold” to them through totally dishonest claims, by another flawed conman, Boris Johnson….
It is time to put and end to this extreme “anything goes” public discourse, and return to responsable, fact-based public expression - our democracy is in the balance.
Jane Hardy ;You are right ; I have been concerned about having a modern 'Fairness Doctrine' like the one that policed our 'airwaves' back when radio television, along with newspapers were our only communications. It was not perfect, but it helped provide some guardrails.
FOX being played on military bases brings young men to wrong conclusions as well as poorly educated followers.
Jane, I believe Putin helped Brexit lies too. I fully agree with you that, intentional lies, conspiracies etc have been dangerous. Deadly actually. That is NOT covered by free speech, those are terrorist threats and illegal. We have so much to revamp and we must hold our politicians feet to the fire after we elect them in in a couple of weeks.
Seeking Reason, yes about terroristic threats, they're not free speech and need to be treated as the crimes they are.
Jane, I am with you on the idea that if "truth in advertising" is required related to products and services, it should be required in journalism too. If one claims to be reporting "news" then there should be actual guidelines and penalties related to speech. I believe in free speech, but when your right to free speech infringes on my right to live without fear of attack because of something you have said (as many people's lives have been threatened through "free speech" these days) your speech needs to be curbed and there should be penalties based on any harm or serious possible damages that could arise. If you threaten my life and I need to leave a job or get medical help because of the real stress from the "real" threat, there must be fair penalties.
it was also sold by Russian social media manipulation
Hitler 2.0. Let’s not make the Chamberlain mistake. Enough already.
We're all so sick of the TRUMP SHOW - making everything all about him, his persecution, his people, his being robbed of the election. The American government MUST stand up to this potential Napoleon (perhaps worse) before we have a Waterloo!
Or ovens.
There is more than enough evidence to indict him. I believe that after the midterms he will be indicted,. So, too, should all those politicians who sided with him.
George, November 4 and November 14 are key dates. The election is November 8. If he refuses to testify before the Jan 6 committee, I am not sure what the next steps would be. Arrest him?
I think Mar a Lago docs case is a much greater risk to Trump than the 1/6 Committee subpoena.
He has a busy schedule. He was deposed twice last week in civil cases. His organization's trial starts today in NY.
Daniel Solomon ; Instead of the 1/6 Committee subpoena, why not the DOJ subpoena? Why is the justice system so weak and ineffective? So easily gamed? How many sycophants did he install?
IMHO 1/6 is too complicated by issues like sovereign immunity, executive privilege, Electoral Count Act of 1887, etc. To get started I would charge all of the conspirators except Trump. Fake electors. Green Bay sweep. Willard war room. Roughly 10 members of Congress, none who were questioned by the 1/6 committee. Most will seek plea deals.
Re Trump. I like starting with Mar a Lago Send him a target letter. A grand jury in DC has been taking testimony. His lawyers, other witnesses have testified. On June 19, 2022, Trump sent a letter to the National Archives naming Kash Patel and John Solomon as "representatives for access to Presidential records of my administration". Patel was spotted at the grand jury last week. After the contentious November 2020 election, Patel reportedly blocked some Department of Defense officials from helping the Biden administration transition, according to NBC.. If he was exposed to stolen docs, he is jailbait. So are several of Trump's lawyers.
The Georgia state case is farther along than the 1/6 case.
I believe that the Georgia state case is farther along than 1/6. The inefficiency of our courts will do us in. tRump and his criminal lawyers have it figured out. I would like to see a 'sea change' happen , but wishes do not always come true! Why does he get such latitude?
Great point Laurie. The DOJ has been handed the green light. But still it drags on.
But a big boost to Democrats would have been an Oct surprise arrest of trump.
October is not over yet. Dare we hope?
Hmm. Where to start? Personally, I think Trump should be indicted and taken into custody yesterday, or last week, or last year. Trump is a growing menace to all that we hold dear. As we’ve seen, his influence on America only gets worse, especially now that he’s been backed into a corner legally over the top secret docs he refused to turn over to the National Archives.
No matter what happens or when it happens, there will be violence. Our government can deal with it on their terms by making the first move, or our government can wait until Trump & his cult decide to attack...and be surprised and unready. Those are the choices.
Having just done a little research on the subject, there are two important aspects of a government overthrow that should be addressed. First, our democratically elected leader must be confident of the military’s loyalty to him and to democracy. “Democracies often fail when their military sides with anti-democratic insurgents.” The chief prerequisite for a coup is control of all or part of the armed forces, the police, and other military elements.” (Brookings.edu)
There’s reason to believe Pres.Biden may not have their loyalty and that must be addressed. I don’t have any hard data on the subject, but there have been signs that our military, local police forces, state police forces and possibly the National Guard have been infiltrated by white supremacists. Those people must be weeded out quickly. If people balk at weeding them out, withhold federal funds. This is serious. We are at war—not like WWII, but still a war. Trump & Putin are working together to destroy our government.
In addition, it should be kept in mind that Trump successfully converted some of the Secret Service into doing his bidding and we now have reason to believe that Christopher Wray and some fbi aren’t exactly supportive of democracy or Biden. Wray must be replaced asap. But, first things first—President Biden needs solid reassurances that all law enforcement agencies are loyal to American democracy—and not just “lip service,” reassurance, real, tangible reassurance.
Next, the president must be confident in the Courts and their judges. One of the hallmarks of failing democracies is a weak judicial system under heavy political control. (Brookings Inst.)The buck always stops at the Supreme Court, but I’m not confident at all that our current conservative justices can be trusted to uphold stare decisis or the rule of law, or our democratic norms. My suggestion is to expand the Supreme Court ‘tout suite.’ It’s really vitally important. In fact it’s so important that I can’t emphasize it enough. I’m not trying to be melodramatic, we get enough melodrama from magas. I’m trying to convey the seriousness of the situation.
I think the key to getting back to normalcy is by making sure corporate ceos, cfos or in other words “bigwigs” understand the economic consequences of a Trump rebellion and the authoritarian/fascism Trump stands for. Fascism = tyranny. No one thrives under tyranny, no one and no businesses except fascist leaders. (Brookings.edu)
“In a recent Harvard Business Review article headlined “Business Can’t Take Democracy for granted,” Rebecca Henderson argues,
American business needs American democracy. Free markets cannot survive without the support of the kind of capable, accountable government that can set the rules of the game that keep markets genuinely free and fair. And ONLY democracy can ensure that governments are held accountable, that they are viewed as legitimate, and that they don’t devolve into the rule of the many by the few and the kind of crony capitalism we see emerging…”
It would be very helpful for Pres.Biden to convene corporate bigwigs for the purpose of having outside speakers with expertise in tyranny explain exactly why they shouldn’t want Trump or any other fascist regime running our government. Honestly, I don’t think many corporate CEOs give much serious thought to the subject. They’re happy when Trump and republicans generally are in charge because they give corporations hefty tax breaks. After working that out mentally they literally stop thinking about long term consequences.
Dr. Timothy Snyder has written books on the subject and he probably knows of other speakers on the subject. If President Biden does all the talking I’ll bet these CEOs just mentally check out, because in their minds Pres.Biden represents a political party that wants to raise their taxes. So, although President Biden’s presence is key—they have to hear what the consequences would be from speakers with expertise who don’t necessarily have strong political bias. They need to understand the folly and the financial impact of supporting fascist tyranny.
The military will do its job. it's when you get to state or some local levels I am less certain about in certain areas of the country.I disagree tht there's reason to believe Wray doesn't support democracy and Biden. But he and others should be fired over the January 6th failures of intelligence.
Thank you! Everything absolutely true... and our planet is nearing extinction. These truths are what allow the public to put their minds on hold. Too much terror( mental and physical).
When a society keeps denying the facts then only the ugliest of consequences will awaken it.
I know I am literally sick worrying about when our so called legal system actually supports the so called laws they supposedly learned about in law school. Sick and terrified!
I watch while driving the 9 out of 10 cars that do not use a signal ( the law), I watch at intersections when at least 1 car runs a full on red light. I watch as people in cars drive at least 10 miles over the speed limit. I watch in stores when people open boxes and handle or re-arrange the product.
These symptoms of a lawless society only get worse when our attention is diverted by the vulgarity( trump)of lawlessness at the top.
We the American people who stand behind holding those accountable for their actions demand action now. Not tomorrow, not next year, not right after the “ morning show”. Not right after the mid terms or right after another gun toting degenerate hurts many of us, AGAIn!
Start supporting goodness and kindness and lawfulness. Start celebrating good wages and work opportunities and scientific support of our planet.
Can you imagine making a vulgar, low information individual more important than that?????
I thought I would not see the day... or better yet I could not even imagine being so out of touch with reality that we continue to ask for nothing from our selves or from our government.
Sob!😱
Jean, I’ve noticed it too and I can’t explain it either. It may have something to do with all Americans taking our democracy for granted while corporations and republicans gradually widened the gap between the middle class and the wealthy. Some people may have been feeling that gap and thought they were being treated badly. So to “get back” at the establishment they indulged themselves in breaking minor laws or lying, etc. That’s just a guess.
I think it’s important to keep in mind that many years ago (my best guess is at least 10-12 years ago) Putin sent Russian operatives to America to disrupt our peaceful society. And that’s exactly what they did. Some joined the NRA and pushed members to oppose all gun control legislation, some joined extremist religions & pro-life groups, to encourage violence and manipulate Americans to believe they were being left out of the so-called ‘American dream.’ But mostly, they manipulated people to be unhappy and blame the government.
And it worked! If losing weight were that easy!! Lol
Susan,
Look at the blatant ( flip the finger) to all of us from the Supreme Court flunkies. As Glen Kirshner said last night, the whole world is watching us!
The sad truth is that President Biden helped get Thomas on the court and slapped Anita Hill in the face with that decision. Lindsey Graham and Thomas just made us all the laughing stock.
I can’t imagine that without heavy digging equipment we can lower the bar “ lower”!
Thanks for your facts. All true.
Well done!
In door-knocking white, working class Independents in Pennsylvania, I was struck by how cataclysmic this round of inflation and higher housing costs has been for them. People who were already vulnerable before the pandemic are now desperate. They don’t feel democracy is worth saving. They mistakenly believe Republicans are better on the economy and are in a “throw the elites out” mood regarding Democrats. In this situation, our advocacy for pronouns looks ridiculously out of touch. (Maslow’s hierarchy of needs has shelter and food at the bottom.) Let us not forget that Trump and our wobbly democracy are a symptom of Democrats’ inability to stand up to price gouging, historic income inequality, and to care about the white working class. For too long, we have not put their concerns front and center. Biden has begun this work but it’s too little too late. The media environment is also terrible, baiting Democrats to talk about cultural issues instead of kitchen table issues. Too many Democrats take this bait. We should talk of nothing else but economics.
It's always comical that they believe the "elites" are Democrats when in reality they are the GOP backed corporations. If "elites" means those with an education then so be it but the people doing the harm to them and keeping them dirt poor are the GOP.
I’m a lifelong Democrat. I agree with you. I’m just reporting my “findings” after talking to people and empathizing with them. They are desperate. Desperate people do desperate things that are not always rational. Democrats can blame the victim, or we can loudly, aggressively and always champion against the forces creating their desperation, w/o mentioning divisive cultural issues (except for abortion rights - the only talking point I was making that “landed” was abortion rights.)
Desperation isn't a right wing phenomenon. Everyone is struggling except the wealthy in this country. I am not a life long Dem or Rep. I have never been a Democrat and I am an independent. From what I have seen in this country I see a bunch of people being conned to believe that the Biden administration is causing their pain when research has proven that it's the GOP and past administrations/Congress/SC rulings thats causing it. Why they are so brainwashed is because the current GOP are the biggest liars we have ever seen in this country. EVER!! Corporations are the real killers in this country and until the Dems start telling the truth and stop being corporate shills as well this country is doomed. The truth needs to be told but corporate owned media and corporate owned politicians are spineless.
The media, in order to be seen as evenhanded, presents the lies equally with the truth and that's the main steam media. The right wing media, such as fox, presents the lies as the truth.
thats a pretty good general swipe at whats wrong -- from a liberal perspective. I have not read anyone who knows how to fix it -- from a liberal perspective. The Left or the Liberal perspective I think is the reasonable approach but frankly its not what the Constitution and the laws provide for in some or even many cases. To put it another way, I do not think Liberals are correct in assuming that the US is a liberal democracy under the Constitution or the laws. The US is actually a very right wing oligarchy as many people point out. It would be helpful if Prof. Reich would face this instead of looking the other way.
A liberal is someone who believes in liberty. What the founding fathers wanted and the Constitution was written for.
Getting rid of the right wing oligarchs is what needs to happen. They are not for a United States. They don’t believe in separation of church and state.
You must not be too bright of you don’t know what the solution is. Getting rid of Citizens United and the GOP is a start.
during the Revolutionary era "Liberty" meant freedom from British oppression and controls. The federal government was founded later, not "to get rid of the right wing oligarchs", but to protect their property.
You are right - Reich has also gone into all that. .
Ribin 🎯
Robin*
I think after talking to people we should refrain from calling them stupid. They’re just “not political.” The stunts and subterfuges we see so plainly just don’t register with them as being more than what “all politicians” do. Fetterman is breaking through this death spiral because he seems like them and talks like a normal person. Democrats who don’t talk much about kitchen table issues aren’t breaking through to these folks no matter how much better they really are. To someone who sat in the back of the class in high dchoool instead of the front, it just seems like another elite posture to be sanctimonious and out of touch. And these are the voters we need to win. Please don’t shoot the messenger. They’re not stupid, they just have different priorities.
It’s none of their business what other people do with their bodies but they make it theirs.
They don’t want the truth to be taught in school about the history of this country.
They want to be able to go play with their guns and be violent.
They want to drive gas guzzlers and cry about the cheapest gasoline in the world.
If they want to cry about inflation then they need to educate themselves why oligarchs and monopolies are price gouging but they don’t.
What other “kitchen table” topics are you speaking of?
I totally agree with you about partisan Republicans. But wow, I'm struck by the vehemence of your comments in referring to the persuadable, swing voters I was door knocking. As I've described, DEMOCRATS NEED SWING VOTERS TO WIN, SO THINKING OF THEM AS SCUM FOR VOTING FOR REPUBLICANS WILL NOT ADVANCE THE CAUSE OF DEMOCRACY. Who would want to vote for someone who thinks you're stupid? Please put yourself - just for a moment - in the minds of the 80% of our population who consider themselves "not political" and don't follow politics closely. They think about politics the week before the election. They don't know the ins and outs of the toxic political landscape like you do. They are too busy surviving and working 2 jobs to pay attention to who started all the fighting in Congress. They just know they don't like it and wish everyone would stop fighting and pay attention to the fact that they are having trouble feeding their family, paying for health care and housing. Biden's policies have not yet benefitted them. They are worried they could end up homeless if inflation keeps going. It is into this landscape that they feel that maybe it's time for a change. Do they realize that it will lead to the end of Democracy? No, they don't. They don't know what that means or the implications of it. If it happens - heaven help us - it will be like Brexit, where voters find out too late what the implications are for the policy they voted for as a knee-jerk reaction against out-of-touch liberal elites. We claim to be empathetic people in the Democratic party, but if we don't get empathy for the catastrophe that working class families are facing due to inflation we are no better than the Marie Antoinette said let them eat cake, but in this case we are saying to vote for Democrats and then we'll care about you..
But they accept ludicrous notions like "Democrats are pedophiles" or "Jews rule the world" & even more bizarre. No critical thinking whatsoever.
We are vehemently agreeing. But what to do when we Democrats need persuadable Independent voters to win elections? Keep calling them losers for voting for Trump, but being open to the Democratic message, too? I know you think these folks are like unicorns, but I met hundreds of them. They are just “not political.” They are “gettable” for Democrats. If you conceive of them as stupid or the enemy, and never try to understand what motivates them, Democrats will continue to lose. The stakes are waaay too high. If understanding persuadable swing voters’ lives and motivations is what it takes to save Democracy, shouldn’t we at least try? Even if they voted tor Trump, but might be “gettable”?
First off ask about benefits. Are they willing to risk Social Security, Medicare. VA? https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=667691028320125&set=p.667691028320125&type=3&__cft__[0]=AZUOTO4RowI-w0BffaL-Olv2_weeD-tf9evMPGwm8-ohLtOTm_UArzcp2dg1V4m2dG-Jwq7NxtHapS3HReTlI_wsVORAVaNTIKX7SataVGSc0g0W48DkEj2R3_s3PjmDxY-wNZ6DA3YvOt7bUe0kb0LZKxuJon8IMjmPGJNejP24wQ&__tn__=R]-R
Inflation is worldwide fired by oil prices.
Second. Republican candidates suck. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihRX-hXQjgo
Third, the Republicans in Pa aren't Fascists. .
you got it Faith.as to whether Biden's efforts are too little too late I fear that is the case. We'll see.
Republicans are terrible for the economy! The last 3 republican presidents racked up huge deficits and left it to democratic presidents to deal with. President Clinton actually balanced the budget. President G.W. Bush presided over the worst economy since the Great Depression and President Obama had to fix it. Then Trump messed it up again because of how he handled the pandemic. Now President Biden is slowly but surely putting our economy back on track. If he hadn’t been elected we would be in a much bigger economic hole than we are. Biden immediately began stimulating the economy by making cash available to every household in America. There’s no way republicans would have done that. Unemployment is at record lows. The opposition scoffs at Biden’s economic fixes by pointing out the pandemic put tons of people out of work, therefore his “jobs created numbers” aren’t “real.” But if you look back at statistics from every president since Reagan, it’s very clear that republican presidents are abysmal when it comes to the economy. I’ll try to get that info and put it here for others to see.
Professor Reich, WHY do YOU think Merrick Garland is not prosecuting 45? Time is a tickin’.....
It feels like "waiting for the other shoe to drop", as if there is just ONE more piece of evidence, or a witness, or an opinion from a respected elder that AG Garland wants, or needs before he acts. Unfortunately, since we don't hear anything from him, all we do is speculate and lose patience. It's very worrisome to this member of the peanut gallery.
It is absolutely amazing to see how, what used to be an exemplary American democracy seems to be incapable to effectively and decisively fight off an internal attack sofar and seems unable to vote out the enemy from within. This only is possible when a large part of the American population support the attack The fact the GOP from initially merely condoning the attack, now seems to be actively supporting it , just shows the level of support there appears to be. Whilst it is pretty obvious what is driving Trump and MAGA, it is totally beyond me as an outsider to understand why the GOP is supporting this. Are they so obsessed by greed, liberalism and socialism?? Do they not realise that dictators not only eliminate the political opponents but also do not hesitate to eliminate those who supported them to get into power because there is no room for politics in a dictatorship. MAGA attacking GOP Rhinos is just one of the warning signals... All these (GOP ) people who now shout that their individual rights and freedom are under threat from the Democrats and democracy , wait till MAGA regains power. You soon will find out that you can only live "freely" in a dictatorship if you think, say and do exactly what the government wants.
How large the current support for the attack on democracy is will soon be become clear but even if democracy survives in November , a long and hard battle remains to restore what appears to be the broken integrity of the democracy........and it is not just in America........
The part supporting the attack probably amounts to 30% but we allowed the orange idiot to fill the Supreme Court and federal judge positions with like-lunatics. Positions of power are overriding the will of 70% of the nation.
Hello again, Hans. My answer to your question goes back to the founding of the 13 colonies. I strongly recommend reading White Trash by Nancy Isenberg. The political disaffection of the extreme right is hardly a new thing. The hardcore Trumpers feel as they do because they and their ancestors have been abused, insulted, lied to, ignored and used since the first half of the 17th century. They are rather skeptical about the whole idea of democracy since, in their experience, it has not done much for them; to them it is just another lie, another carrot that is dangled in front of them only to be snatched away time and time again. They need good jobs, financial security, education, respect and to be included in the conversation, and they are right to be angry and distrustful. We can hardly expect them to feel the opposite of what their experience has taught them.
Very true Hans. Sadly, very true!
We can’t afford to look away, nor can we be apathetic about voting. We like minded folks who cherish democracy with all its flaws, must vote AND get others to vote and vote blue. As Michael Moore has pointed out, we out number the haters, but we must vote in numbers too huge to dispute. To borrow his phrase, a “blue tsunami.” May it be so!
I believe AG Garland will indict. I also believe there is more than a good chance that there will be a lot of serious violence in this country when that happens. Who do you think owns all those AK 47 weapons that the republicans refuse to help ban? And more terrifying weapons of war as well? Anyone saying 'I told you so' at this point would be correct, but we are way beyond that now. I hope President Biden does not cower, if and when that happens. He holds tremendous power to enable our country to withstand this concerted attack on our democracy. This upcoming election will be significant. We must hold the line to prevent destroying freedom in this great nation. To those who would pray, save your breath. This problem will take action from good men and women everywhere, including those who live elsewhere in the world who believe in democracy.
Celeste - I feel sure that Biden would stand his ground. He is made of stern stuff under that big smile.
I agree.
He comes across meek, compassionate to many, opposite Trump but that’s why I like him. He is humble too. The country, I believe, may not be used to his demeanor but he is doing a good job. The whole world suffers our same problems especially inflation. Can’t blame him . The pandemic is a major cause as well as other factors. Plus he has to wither the storm with the Catholic Church concerning his concerns on abortion. He is a politician as JFK, the first 2 Presidents to be Catholic and both had differing *repercussions. I think the GOP discredit him for everything. If Biden would say black is black they would dispute him on that. Jealousy, and the desire to have Trump in power(for their political gain). Just my thoughts. * evangelicals
As the great ones say, "speak softly and carry a big stick".
Oh, don't I agree, Janet! I wholeheartedly agree! Biden is such a consummate politician that he makes everything appear very smooth, very unruffled, no matter what gargantuan struggles have gone on behind the scenes. I feel very grateful that he is in charge during this very dangerous time. He is grounded, seasoned, and very effective.
🤞
I am reading The Oppermans written in Germany in the spring to fall (real time) of 1933 by Lion Feuchtwanger. It tells the story of several Jewish families in Berlin and the effects on them as the political winds changed in that very short period of time during which the author - almost as a journalist in a sense.
It never names 'the name' referring only to 'the leader' but everything else is factual, and every word is a mirror of present day news reports. It is chilling..
EVERY Democrat ad should have the few seconds of McCarth & McConnell saying Trump caused Jan 6 insurrection.
EVERY
SINGLE
ONE!!!
Republicans know to take a simple message and repeat it.
Democrats make the same mistake over and over of saying the message once and acting like they've dealt the death blow and won. WRONG!
REPEAT
REPEAT
REPEAT!
This is very alarming. His rally in Texas,per the video was sickening. Invoking the Angel of Death to his enemies. I pray that God will intervene at this point in our country, our world for that matter. The summary in this post speaks true. All of it. The rhetoric of the politicians, not all, are horrible. Pinning people against each other using religion as their sword. One’s own faith to prove their righteousness against one another for personal power. Hell has unleashed itself and what happens is happening now.
Winnie, the Abrahamic faiths have caused much grief, death and suffering all over this world. Your god didn’t intercede on the Holocaust nor the daily starvation of children today. It is up to us…people to make things happen. Not a fictional character.
Hear hear! Religious fundamentalism of whatever stripe will not save out civilization.
What is the answer..if u know. I know man will destroy it
People kill people.. it’s called free will. That’s why we need laws. Don’t blame God. Blame man
My God?
Who or what will save you or us?
We have to make the effort ourselves, through persuasion, through voting with knowledge of the people & issues we're voting for, through being civic leaders, through volunteering, through kindness, through generosity, through conscientious actions, through helping people in trouble, through caring for nature & the environment, through giving ourselves to others, through community action....
There are many of these kinds of Christians (& other religious groups) around, but we only hear from the boisterous, violent, bullying kind.