She is 100% correct in saying that the current affliction is like a noxious, pus filled boil on the posterior of this nation, as well as identifying the appalling like of spine and grit in current old fart democrats in government. We MUST make way for a new generation of leaders. Continuing to elevate the gerontocracy and repeating the same measures that have’t been working is called insanity; repeating the same non working option and expecting different results. I’m a child of these sixties. WE NEED THE AOC, Jasmine Crockett, Maxwell Frost Generation of leaders with new ideas and a strong grasp of the new platforms of communication that 70 and 80 year olds do t know anything about.
This is not really about age bashing. This is about knowing when to step down and knowing what the nation needs. Nancy Pelosi‘s bully tactics are going to backfire and hopefully push forward a new generation of leaders.
Pat, it wasn't and isn't policies. This inflation discussion is a media creation.
Establishment politicians, in the Democratic party wasted their time telling us how we should feel because Biden gave us so much.
First there is transactional analysis of which the democratic party is stone deaf,
The people didn't vote their pocketbook, they voted their anger, angst, fears.
Some wanted and are now celebrating owing the libs, the coast elites, the college educated whom they feel has been telling them how they should feel, and what to do, when all they want to do is use politically incorrect language, discriminate and keep queers of all kinds out of the public discourse and sight.
The Democrats once again blew it, by making Gerry Connolly the Democrat on the House all powerful oversight committee, passing over AOC.
Proving yet again the Democratic party is reverse of the obverse of the political coin.
So long as the Democratic party continues to delude itself we are screwed, in fact it might be too late.
The Republicans, Musk-Trump, have the means to take total control, and have said that is their intent.
It was the culture war, not economics that led the charge, and that includes the Muslims of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennyslvnia, that didn't vote for Harris in 2024, but voted in 2020. Their vote would have won it for her
It's Like He's Going on Zionist Overdrive' |
Trump's pro-Israel Cabinet Picks Upset Muslims Who Voted for Him
'Trump won because of us,' said one of the founders of Muslims for Trump, 'and we're not happy with his Secretary of State pick and others'
President-elect Donald Trump does not herald the advent of fascism. He heralds the collapse of the veneer that masked the corruption within the ruling class and their pretense of democracy. He is the symptom, not the disease. The loss of basic democratic norms began long before Trump, which paved the road to an American totalitarianism. Deindustrialization, deregulation, austerity, unchecked predatory corporations, including the health-care industry, wholesale surveillance of every American, social inequality, an electoral system that is plagued by legalized bribery, endless and futile wars, the largest prison population in the world, but most of all feelings of betrayal, stagnation and despair, are a toxic brew that culminate in an inchoate hatred of the ruling class and the institutions they have deformed to exclusively serve the rich and the powerful. The Democrats are as guilty as the Republicans.
They are using such old playbooks, divide and conquer, misinform, etc. And we always buy it. Maybe not a few of us personally, but we just got Trump. Again.
The Democrats are 100% useless at this point. They have been bought by corporations and we will never get rid of Citizens United. For much of recorded history, civilizations have been totalitarian monarchies with most of us drastically poor. MOST OF RECORDED HISTORY. Democracy is a blip on the screen.
We have been made aware of the inequity, the Republicans got Trump and we should've had Bernie but the Democrats stopped that. TWICE. I hate them. They're still whining and finger-pointing, when I think their incompetence matches the insurance companies accidentally not paying your claim. They make millions off their "mistake - oops!" when most of the consumers don't call and instead, just pay the bill assuming it must not be covered. The democrats are living off of their previous reputation, but their incompetence keeps their wealthy overlords happy and makes them look like they tried. And they are always sooo sorry. They tried? It makes me want to puke. Politicians retire a million times richer than when they started. It's a total scam, the counter-elites have us all riled up, and whatever happens, we will take the hit like we always do.
They throw out culture issues to distract us while they siphon off more money, and thus, more power for themselves. Do you think they care about any of these issues that they are completely above? They're laughing all the way to the bank. Money = Power.
I see a Bronze-Age style collapse looming. With global warming, constant disasters, there's no money when the .01% are too busy having 500M weddings. They way they game the system and we all pay for it is beyond greedy. I don't understand how they sleep. They will pull us all down with their complete lack of recognition that what made this country so great was the creation of the middle class.
I totally agree with you Gillian, only I see a 6th mass extinction, the collapse of the anthropocene because of global warming, and it is coming sooner than expected.
We have committed mammalcide, not just a bronze age collapse,
If any survivors they will be in Tazmania, New Zealand the south coast of Australia. best chances are in the Tropic of Capricorn.
There is much truth to what you say, William. This is why many Trump supporters paradoxically see him as a defender of democracy. As long as We the People remain divided, we shall be victims of the divide-and-rule formula. Project 2025 is a project for the taekeover of the United States of America by a united, Christian nationalist, oligarchy.
You make many good points, William, Victor and Gillian with which I agree. The question looming over us is when and how do we react when we all feel that ‘enough is enough’? Do we take to the streets? Do we cash in our investments causing a run on the banks? Do we flat out refuse to cooperate with any mandates handed down by this coming fascist government?
William, lots of divisiveness here. Ageism, class warfare with college educated vs. Uneds, coastal elites etc. Generalities that can divide us. The last thing we need.
Time for Congress to have a mandatory retirement age. Strom Thurmond was elected into his 90’s and had to be propped up in his chair, so he would look like he was alive. ENOUGH!!!!!!!!!!
Chuck Schumer and Charles Grassley have served too long. For that matter, so have Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley, and Tom Cotton. Not because of their age, but because they are despicable, corrupt, cowardly, and totally self serving, country be damned.
They rejected the Constitution. The question is: can they be brought back into the constitutional order by means of economic incentives? Unlikely as long as they fear for their social status. We must address this fear, which was systematically fueled by Fox News and conservative media and churches. Elon Musk is now adding fuel to the fire. Putin has done his share also. Can reason and true patriotism finally prevail in Congress?
The Democrats are indifferent to the massive problems we face; the Republicans are actively working to make matters worse. To me, the choice is obvious.
The system is rigged against alternative parties. As someone wrote elsewhere, we need a new generation of Democrats who will work for the 90% who are in big trouble, not the top 1% who are doing just fine thank you.
Yes, a 74 year old man who is battling cancer too. Don't care that it's said he is otherwise in good shape for his age. Battling cancer is not easy and there will be times he won't be able to attend to his duties. He was a horrible choice, especially since AOC was right there and one of the best communicators in D.C. She states problems with clarity and in words all people can understand. She is known for fighting for her cconstituents and is very high profile. Think most people have never heard of Gerry Connolly. Dems need 'names' to counter all of the high profile GOP who are always sticking their faces in front of the camera every chance they get. Name recognition is how people get re-elected and get things done. Huge mistake to put Connolly in over AOC!
yes we do need a new generation. Sadly there are many who decline taking over the Party, not wanting to partake of all the ugliness. But the ugliness will come after them all the same.
I do NOT support a mandatory AGE retirement, but I might support term limits. You point out that it is the quality of representation that matters, tho!!
Remember Aunt Edna in National Lampoon's "Vacation"? We don't need politicians who have to be wrapped in a tarp and taken away in a chair tied to the top of a station wagon.
It would be better to have term limits for party leadership positions e.g. speaker, committee chairs. ranking members etc. The GOP is much better at keeping an up to date leadership cadre than the Dems.
True Mark, but look at the losers the GOP continue to promote into their leadership positions. My late father's words still hold true... "when it comes to helping the working folks of this country, the worst Democrat is usually better than the best Republican."
And then there's the GOP rep who was absent for six months and was just found in a home that takes care of people with Alzheimer's. No one missed her? WTH?!
Jenn SH from NC : I bet they violated their oaths of office, too. They should not be in their seats of power. We need a restored. Capable Honorable Supreme Court.
It isn’t because they’re old that they need to be replaced. It’s because they’re so-called centrists, or rather corporate suck-ups. They’re not wholeheartedly working for the average citizen. That should be the main requirement for who we support and vote for as their replacements.
P. Kaye, I 100% agree with the points you have brought forward and I agree with Robert Reich’s friend who works at the soup kitchen. However, looking to our two party system to somehow spring back is like wishing an old model T can be rebuilt so as to compete with the speed and recklessness we find on today’s superhighways.However what caused the boil and that allowed the pus to accumulate to the point where the body can no longer sit down or fully function?
The pus is the inconceivable amount of wealth collected by the ultra rich 1 % of our population, and the cause of the boil is a system that permits, and even encourages the accumulation of so much wealth that the wealthy are gaining absolute control of our semi-functional governmental system.
The Model T automobile was a technological leap forward that changed the way we all lived and made fast and reliable transportation a possibility for millions. However, it is now a relic. Our Constitution was also a leap forward, but now the billionaire class is turning it in to a relic that can no longer compete with the speed or evil intentions of the wealth accumulating billionaires. While our government will be further torn apart in the next few years, we need to develop and begin to adopt a more modern economic and governmental system that will ensure everyone has access to the necessities of life and the possibility of regaining the American dream.
I agree with Robert Reich’s recent post asserting that.Economic Democracy will create an economic and political system. That will no longer allow a boil full of pus to accumulate on America’s posterior..
The Constitution has become a holy totem and no longer fits the purpose or the time, even if it means well. We must cease to worship any idols, flags, ideas or gods that intellect or experience have proven are no longer applicable or beneficial. As far as I can see 'Do unto others…' is the only bit of advice on which to build a rule for society…..and that appears in all the major socio-religious teachings, because it works. (Unless you are a masochist, of course. ) Kindness and care for your fellows should do it.
I'm not ready to throw out the Constitution, but I would like to see Constitutional scholars like Jaimie Raskin have more say in how we can adapt it to our own time. Everyone in government has to vow to protect and support it, and yet we can see that too many are actually working to subvert it. That is grounds for dismissal. They are blatantly breaking the oath they took! That can be seen as treason. Am I wrong?
Paula, well said. The Constitution may need modernizing, but there are rules that have been ignored by the corrupt sycophant 6. Rules that, had they been applied, would have prevented much that is wrong happening now.
It has HAD overhauls, and continues to be brought more into the modern age. BUT, like many an ancient edifice, it’s foundation holds, and we would ditch that to our peril …
You put references to the crap in your criticism, and we have already gotten rid of the “enshrined slavery” thing, as well as the “no women voting thing,” and the universal {as opposed to landed and monied gentry} thing, and protected speech and religion, and a lot more. SURE more needs doing. But we don’t need a lot of fascists dickering with our foundation in this day and age …
Imo I am being real, Pat. The Const has amendments, but as long as the amendments aren’t part of the basic doc, you’ll have originalists cherry-picking it.
I agree about not dicking with the foundations. But if you can see the phrase 3/5, it’s not gone.
A Const isn’t made of stones. It’s made of words, and what they encompass isn’t static. It evolves.
Susan Heath : The 14th amendment section 3 would clean up the courts and the Congess. Our entire government. The rules should be applied and enforced, if necessary. Dark money should be banned. When it is discovered, those taking it should face consequences. The laws have been ignored for those with money and power. The courts are played like violins. Like a slow dirge.
That sounds sensible….l guess the Constitution is like the Bible…they quote and apply the bits that suit their purposes….the PicknMix, or Looseleaf Versions!
Jan C : if there is anything about anyone being 3/5ths of a person,it should be removed. Ditto any archaic laws about morality, especially as applied to women . The Comstock Act should be on the trasheap of history. For example.
Susan, there can be no kindness and care without a constitutional government. Our Constitution has worked well over the past centuries, and only a fool would discard it.
If we were talking these points last century, before the advent of the surveillance state, AI, and the financial industry, i would agree that we have a chance to remedy this pox on humanity. But i just don't see it. I know everyone wants to point to all the misteps of the dems in losing this election, but i believe that the techbroligarchs, with 4 years and willing accomplices in the election infrastructures in red/swing states, essentially replaced those states' election infrastructure with their own, which will in dumpster's words "you won't have to vote anymore".
think of the sadistic vindictiveness of J. Edgar Hoover on technosteroids. the oligarchs won. it won't be so bad. 400 million middle class chinese (our total population is 330 million) say everything will be fine with your new fascist regime.
sorry, i want to see the light, but i don't see any cracks in the juggernaut hurtling towards us, due to strike jan. 20
Good points Paul. I wish Hoovers name would be ripped off the FBI building. Every time I see a picture of that building with his name on it I get sick. GH
Wikipedia has a fairly accurate description of “Economic Democracy” and the”Crisis and Transition “ Substack has a number of good essays on this topic.
Marc Nevas, and all readers herein, while I applaud the dreams of you and others; plus, recognize the goodness of most people, we cannot resolve poor governance in America until we tackle the tough root causes: Money financing elections, legalized/dark money to lawmakers and agencies via lobbyist, enabling stock insider trading by elected members of Congress as well as reforming term limits for Congress and our Court system. So until this gets done, well, the oncoming Administration can make things worse for sometime but this gives us the opportunity to ready the-ship- of-state. Meanwhile, one cannot expect much for 'the people'. Let's get to work on tackling the difficult work now and be prepared to launch it!
Maine has become quite good at these citizens referendums which pass hugely! But, every time, the Corporate money sues to stop. There will have to be a Citizen STRIKE against these abuses long listed for anything to push against this entrenched power. Anything less is like a flyswatter against a tyronnasouraus.
I agree Marc. How do we get to a new system- a new political economy? I'm not for revolution but evolution. In my view, how do we get agreement on basic principles, or "a new myth" for an economic democracy (or progressive democracy) that the public will embrace to steer away from the free market neoliberalism myth and policies of the last 40 plus years that have brought us where we are today? The progressive democracy policies that are contrary to neoliberalism are enumerated in Stiglitz's The Road To Freedom.
We don't start with trying to change the Constitution to get the economic system we want. We start with changes to our economic policies and laws to generate changes that make possible changes to the Constitution (amendments, re-interpretation of law).
Trump's truth was that the system is rigged against the little guy, something little guys everywhere could agree with. But crooked Trump never talks about HOW the system is economically rigged so he is not so readily seen as a threat to corporate interests, esp among many in the corporate leaning media. Yeah, Trump's faux populism is not a threat.
In the past I might have said the way forward is all about educating the public. But we have entered an era of what promises to be ever harsher consequences providing a masterclass for the public. We are likely "beyond" words as the chief remedy. Hence, the boil that will break.
I am grateful to Robert Reich and others like him that have worked to alter public consciousness of how the economic system has been rigged against them. It all helps to make a difference possible. I am reduced, apart from my own efforts to make a difference, to hoping a charismatic leader(big daddy will fix it)/group can seize the popular imagination with populist economic truths. Given the corporate media landscape this seems a hard task. Maybe Reich and others will be successful in helping to elevate sane leaders. Keep trying!
I fear this madness will run its course, so no, --no joy here in Mudville.
I don't want to be totally pessismistic. It has amazed me how quickly things can turn around some times against my expectations. The problem is, we are out of time w/r/t climate and its increasing challenges to governance. Even if we get complete Democratic control of all 3 branches in 2026, we have moved outside of our ability to avoid massive disruption, to put it kindly.
A large part of it is the long term effects of the COLONIALISM that was how this country was founded. Native Americans, Native Hawaiians, the horror and open wound of slavery have all created a pressing need to admit to and atone for these grave sins and ills against humanity. The word LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY for these actions come to mind. There has been so much hypocrisy in the lofty words this country was founded in, vs how people without perceived power or value were treated. All of those issues, and the consistent denial of culpability and refusal to admit wrong doing have brought us to where we are now. At this point we’re are in a scenario where a billionaire class is in charge after January 20, and that billionaire class will make laws and policies to enrich themselves at the expense of We The People, 48% of who voted for them to do just that unless we stand up and fight back.
Marc, this is no time for dreaming. The Constitution, despite its shortcomings, still provides for due process to resolve disputes and grievances. The only real alternative at the moment is one-man rule at the head of Project 2025 zealots. Are you OK with that?
Yes ! ➡️ “ WE NEED THE AOC, Jasmine Crockett, Maxwell Frost Generation of leaders with new ideas and a strong grasp of the new platforms of communication that 70 and 80 year olds do t know anything about.”
Go Maxwell !!!!💙
…Musk also threatened to take out Democratic Rep. Maxwell Frost in the next election after Frost trolled him: “The people of central Florida will kick this jackass out in 2 years.” Musk knows absolutely zero about politics in central FL. … Rep. Frost responded by posting a form for candidates to file to run for Congress with this caption: “OK, Elon. Here’s the candidate form for your run against me. The people of Central Florida don’t really like corrupt rich guys though.”
AGREE, agree, agree!!!!! Yes, let the first class benchwarmers loose and retire the boomer gen that has the DNC and too many elected Dems firmly in their aging grip (I'm over 70 myself and I have acknowledged that I am too forgetful and achy for stand-up paid physical labor any more--I still do plenty of that here, but I can take breaks whenever I wish)--those boomers who have been filling elective office since the 70's need to do the same.
Release AOC, Buttigieg, Raskin, Goldman, Frost and all those other fabulous up and coming younger Dems to do what they do best.
There really is a point where the mind isn’t as sharp. People can still have intelligent conversations and have great advice, but major decisions for a Superpower should not be overwhelmingly in the hands of 80-90 year olds. Just as most of us must retire, so must they.
Representative Kay Granger of Texas has been living in an assisted living facility since July and no one in the MSM is reporting on this. Can you imagine any other profession that would allow this? If not an age limit, then a check on mental and physical capacity to do your Fn job is in order. ENOUGH!
I know you meant LACK of spine and grit. Spinelessness seems to be a requirement of elected officials in Congress. Frightened by the billionaire’s threat to “primary” them and suddenly their beliefs and values (at least what they say they believe in) are dust in the wind.
Baloney on the age bashing. To be sure, the torch needs to be passed to new generations whose world this will be when we olders are gone, but there’s PLENTY of good ideas and judgement and counsel resident in our elders!
I’m 78 and I’m not one of the Old Guard Democrats who fell for the Democratic Leadership Council bullsh*t that Clinton was selling in his administration … And Bernie has a clear vision of what’s up, too. You can criticize the entrenched leadership, and the too-many years they’ve held sway. But it ain’t their actual birthdays that’s the problem {see on these very threads all the geezers and li’l ol’ ladies who weigh in to support the changes we need!!}.
So knock it off with the age bashing … How old do you think Prof. Reich is!!??
Just go after the lousy policies we’ve been dealing with, and the lackadaisical entrenched Dem leadership, and enough with age bashing.
Prof Reich isn't in Gvt and has given up active teaching. He has the time and energy to still THINK for us! Age doesn't mean your brain capabilities diminish…..we've only just been discussing the innate Stupidity of much of the younger voting public, but being in the job can be very exhausting. Bernie is great, despite age, some younger ones aren’t. Term limits may stop excellent people who joined young keeping on giving great service. Surely the voters and supporters can work out when someone is past their Sell-By Date or it is time to give others a chance?
Maybe it is all to do with MONEY!! Who holds the purse strings rules!
But let's not exclude the older folks. Some of us are all for the "up and comers" to lead us out of the doldrums of business as usual. First mistake already made by not elevating AOC to Dem's Oversight head.
P Kaye Brundidge ; , your term ; gerontocracy , suggests that all elders are wealthy aristocrats. You would target all people of a certain age, without actually knowing them. this is working in tandem with those who would divide and conquer US. Unhelpful.
I've been thinking a lot about what Trump voters can be forgiven for: what they don't know; what their "handlers" make sure they never hear. But I keep coming back to what they did know. When they cast their vote, they knew it meant, if successful, that women would die for the sin of becoming pregnant. We know this because of the series of votes for abortion rights in states that then voted for Trump. The Trump voters know abortion rights save women's lives. They knowingly voted to kill women. I find that hard to forgive.
You are correct...their behavior and actions are unforgettable, unforgivable, and representative of the majority today's society in the US to comprehend the long lasting and wide spread consequences of their actions and inaction. They purposely didn't vote, they purposely voted against Democracy, some voted purposely to disrupt and destroy the government. Some refused to review all the data before deciding. Some or I would say most didn't care about the consequences only about the money they were promised and their selfish needs.
America has had 3 somewhat great periods in our history, the revolutionary war, the civil war, and WWII. The gilded age is definitely not one of them...yet that's what our citizens voted for despite the negative history associated with that time.
I don't know of any time in our country's short history wherein we re-lected a twice impeached, felon of 43+ felony counts, under-educated, incompetent rapist, financial fraudster, liar, philanderer, racist, Hitler admiring, Putin loving, bully, still under indictment in differing states...who has openly accepted bribes of 100's of millions of dollars and in some cases billions of dollars by proxy from other criminals and non criminals both foreign and domestic.
We the public majority have decided this is the country we want to be by our actions and in-actions...This is the reality....this is who the majority of adults have chosen to be.
Look Henry, You are on the right side of history, You are right and the majority of American voters are wrong, because they don't agree with your warped view of history. The combination of TDS and The Woke Mind Virus is a bitch, considering there is no cure.
Try this: "Kamala really won." "America will be destroyed in due course." "Woke, DEI, CRT and Cultural Marxism will find a way." Everything is fine. Your reality is the real reality. I hope that you continue to find peace in your delusional, parallel universe. Welcome to Earth. A bit of Xanax might help.
Me thinks your age and ability to structure prose in a most entertaining light perhaps colors your actual underlying concern for the future of our country and the Earth. I appreciate your input and suggestions and see myself possibly becoming you and becoming more accepting of sizing up others somewhat differently in the future. I have many older friends who are of the same mind as yourself and I respect their opinions as I respect their life long behaviors and experiences. They had the options to go up or down and chose paths that we quite diverse but fit there personal needs at that time. Wisdom of the ages. I am where I am and perhaps, one day, will find myself where you are now. I lament wasted opportunities to do the right thing when the option exists. Perhaps I can make a difference by offering up some suggestion and insights, most likely not. And such is life. Some move forward, some back and others acknowledge realities that fit their needs at certain times in the life. I appreciate yours.
I read that there were 30 million evangelicals voted, and 80% of them voted for Trump. Do the math:
The final tally was about 76 million for Trump, and 75 million for Harris. 151 million total.
80% of 30 is 24 million for Trump, and 6 million for Harris.
First assume that it should have been 15 million each for the Evangelicals. That means Trump would get 9 million less, and Harris 9 million more, bringing this assumption to 84 million for Harris, and 67 million for Trump.
But that indicates that the general population was not split 50-50, but more in favor of Harris at about 55% Harris and 45% Trump. So if the evangelicals voted with the same ratio as everybody else, the 30 million evangelicals would have been more like 16 million Harris vs 14 million Trump. So with this more refined calculation, the result would be 91 millioh for Harris vs. 62 million for Trump.
We could continue to refine the math, but this gives the idea: The 30 million Evangelical vote was no where near how the rest of the nation voted, and pushed the result in Trump's favor enough to barely capture the swing states.
Faith based voting may destroy our democracy and nation.
I suppose though that Trump supporters could argue that there is some minority bleeding liberal coalition that voted heavily in favor of Harris, and the Evangelicals barely saved the day for Trump. But for that to be true, they would have to be located in the swing states. Arn't the woke supposed to be located in the big cities along the coasts? Only the swing states matter when it comes to minority voting. It is easy to believe that many evangelicals are located in the swing states, not the other way around.
Ted, this is one of the many reasons I would love to see the electoral college abolished. All of us should have a say in who the leader of our country will be not just a few states. Hopefully, in the near future, we will have our president elected by popular vote!
The teachings of Christianity which they and all the Evangelicals profess so loudly to follow…is so antithetical to MAGAtism that I cannot get my head round how they can support it. Hypocrisy rules. It is male power, not Love that is their guiding principle.
Possibly because he’s male. They are very conservative and modern things like televisions, radios and cars, maybe even electricity are not allowed. I’m actually surprised they vote. They work hard and have a simple life.
I guess the same way voters learned about George Washington (or Julius Caesar for that matter). There's actually a very modern market owned and run by the Amish from Lancaster where I live. Perhaps things aren't the way they used to be for them...
If you want to look at this strictly statistically: around 90% of Americans believe in God. That's about 300 million people. So, the Evangelicals who voted for Trump would account for 10% them. And, it would be my bet that a lot of the others voted for Harris (including Joe Biden & Jimmy Carter).
The flaws in this model is tge electoral college. How are tge Christian Right votes aopirtionwd by state? Does ab wvangical in hopelessly red Missouri country as much as one in biddable Arizona or Nevada?
Lies, damn lies and statistics. Slice, dice, run the numbers any way you like. You lost. Get a grip on reality. When did you arrive on Earth? Post game statistics are for losers, both in sports and politics.
Over the last 20 years, Americans have had easy access to information, due to the ever-evolving and expanding age of technology…so MAGATS chose to ignore the truth about tRump being published and broadcast throughout mainstream and independent media platforms, and I won’t forgive them for that.
This is true for some of them but not all...some just see an opportunity to profit from the situation and move to do that. Some profit from the chaos and destruction by praying on the weaker of the species. Others profit from the continued support of overall corruption and unethical behavior that secures their daily lives.
Mmerose, They listened to felon trump literally threaten individuals, spew hatred for an entire political party. They saw the same thing on tv we did! On J6 we had a violent seditionist act that went unpunished. There is ZERO forgiveness from me, never will forgive or forget.
You can't legislate against Stupidity. Ignorance CAN BE dealt with if the motivation is there, but I see Stupidity as endemic based on what is happening. Sorry.
I think you can legislate against stupidity...it just requires the will that is now wholly lacking within our business and government institutions...which is why we are where we are today.
Requirements and permission to gain access to positions of power and influence is a real thing. Giving permission to a 6 year old child to have access to the keys of a 5,000lb vehicle and telling them to drive to a store to pick up a pack of smokes... is against, not only common sense but the law in most states. Our leaders often just choose not to enforce it.
As a man you have NO right to dictate what women should do with their bodies. Neither does your kooky corrupt MAGAt Party. Beyond that you have no right to make women carry a seriously deformed fetus full term that threatens the life of the mother.
Unless MAGA decides to support these babies from birth through high school then shut the hell up. Put your wallet where your mouth is, Dude. That support includes parent and child welfare, and basic health insurance.You will be responsible for making sure these babies aren't abused or later on become a burden to our already over-populated penal system. Yes, while you're delivering ultimatums to women get out your credit cards and pay for these babies. I dare you.
Really? Some women are already doing this because they fear living in an increasingly dystopian society. Will MAGA send out their squads to find and sterilize women? Troll.
The foetuses, not the babies…..once they are born they can starve. These people are not interested in improving the lives of the poor, the sick, the inadequate. That, sir, is SOCIALISM. God forbid!
100%. The voted for perpetuation of their hate and fear of the other, and against giving POC access to health care, rights, and. Voice. They voted for the fear. The fact that some of them who voted this way are POC themselves actually shows how they bought into the “Them vs us” divisive thought that was used to great effect by the MAGATS and the demagogue made for this moment. It’s disgusting.
Hey Mmerose, 6% of all abortions occur for rape, incest or threat to the mother's life. 94% of all abortions are done for discretionary reasons like "my boyfriend left me." or "it is an inconvenient time in my life." You get it.
Of the 6%, about 2.3% are for rape and about 2.2% are for incest. That leaves about 1.5% for a threat to the mother's life. 1.5%. This does not include cancer or ectopic pregnancies.
So, you are making your argument of 1.5% versus 98.5% for other reasons. Trying to use the exception to make the rule. Sorry, not valid. It's just what the Left does. Good try.
........."abortion rights save women's lives. They knowingly voted to kill women." A total lie. Did you vote to kill unborn children? Did I get that right? Especially Black children. 27.7 million since 1973. Doesn't that go against some Democrat mantra.? You know, the Black thing.
You do not surprise. The good people of Substack understand that you refuse to accept the fact that people exist who have opinions that are different than yours, and that your response, as is the response of The Left, is to suppress those inconvenient opinions. Why is it that folks like you are unable to just put your opinions out there in the market place of free thinking and see if anyone agrees with you?
Be aware, that the suppression of Free Speech that you advocate, and that which comes from The Left, is now dead with the coming of the new administration. Delete what you like. I will continue to speak. I will be heard.
Suppression is DEAD! Ad Hominem attacks are a clear indicator that a Leftie has lost an argument.
Considering your posts, I guess that you also believe women who have abortions should be punished is some fashion? DT does. These are the laws in almost half of our states now. It is interesting though, they haven't passed any laws punishing the MEN who got them pregnant!
What for them? Prison, fines, castration, shaming? Men are half the problem it seems to me. There is total silence from the state houses in place like Texas, Idaho and the rest on this subject.
How about the men who lead the so-called "Christian" churches. Are they in favor of punishing "the man-half" of an unwanted or dying pregnancy?
What about the Catholic Church? It has been run for 2000 years by a bunch of MEN who chose not to be married or have children or have to deal day to day with family life or problems. But, for sure they have their opinions about those subjects and try to push them on the rest of us..
What about it Pope Francis? Punishment for men? Your church has certainly burned thousand of women at the stake for perceived wrongs over the centuries. Maybe it's time to light up a few men!
By the way Robert, how many unwanted children have you adopted?
On any given day in the St. Louis area there are about 4,200 children available for adoption. Why is that? If you self-righteous folks are as pro-children as you claim there shouldn't be one child in this country looking for a family and home.
Hypocrisy is the guiding light for folks like you. Mind your own business.
Totally in favor of free speech. You seem to have plenty of it... GH
Hey Gary, I respect that you have your opinions, that you believe strongly. Your post is a bit of a rant, such that you are all over the place. However, I appreciate that you took the time to respond and I will try to provide some responding comments. I appreciate the dialogue between two American adults.
No one on either side of the aisle believes that any woman should be punished. President Trump has never even alluded to that, never. Before Roe v. Wade each state had their own policies and laws. With the federal repeal of that law, once again each state will set their own standards for abortion. President Trump has stated dozens of times that he opposes any federal ban on abortions.
Yes, men should share the blame for unwanted children. Unfortunately, and realistically women are the gate keepers. Men will have sex with a pile of wood if they think that a snake resides there. Men are fundamentally pigs. Women are the ones who say "Yes' or "No" Men have learned to abdicate their responsibilities. Black families are the archetype example. Black families: 74% out of wedlock births. Black women make up 6% of the population, yet have 42% of all abortions. Black genocide? LBJ's War on Poverty and the doubling down by Progressives has destroyed the Black nuclear family.
The Catholic Church is not a good example of anything good. We share the same opinion of those hypocrites. It took them until 1961, not 1661, to declare that Jews were not responsible for the death of Christ. I can think of nothing good to say about The Catholic Church or the Pope.
It is not the responsibility of you or I to adopt any children. Opposing the killing of unborn children does not require that those that are born must be adopted by these same Pro-Life people. There is no logic there. If I happen to save your life, by not allowing a thief to rob and maybe kill you, does that mean I must feed, clothe and house you for the rest of your life. Of course not. What a silly logic chain.
Your hypocrisy comment is banal and silly. No, we will not be silent and mind our own business. This is America and Freedom of Speech exists. Unfortunately, it is typical of the Left and apparently you, that anyone who has different opinions than you must be silenced. The Dems are the main purveyors of censorship. Sorry, we will speak, We will be heard.
I would be interested in continuing a dialogue with you, if you keep the personal attacks and the ranting to a minimum.
And they want to stop Birth Control too!? If what you say is true and people are that careless it should be vastly encouraged. Every child a wanted one.
Thank you for this. Seeing how people are already getting prepared to fight back and prove that Trump and his ghouls are not invincible gives me more hope than anything I had in November.
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.
Mmerose, The only real thing that you need to fear is to remember to keep your legs together and not have unprotected sex with a guy who is going to bang you and dump you. It might be something to consider first, rather than focusing on what is the most convenient way to murder an unborn child. Try looking in the mirror for a change.
Bob, if I’d been in today’s Texas when I needed my abortion, I’d probably have died. Fourth and very wanted pregnancy complicated, and disastrously so. We were devastated. But I did not have to leave my husband and children. I did not have to nearly die, or actually die. (I’m 76 now but I worry about the women who are harmed by the Texas law)
Rivka, thank you for trying, but there's really no point. People like Robert P. have their minds shut tightly against information that doesn't fit their world view. I have learned the hard way: Don't Feed the Trolls!
Hi Rivka, I am very sorry to hear about your loss and the tragedy that you and your family went though.
I had one older sister who died in September. When I was about 5 years old, my Mom had a miscarriage and I lost the chance to have a brother. Something I have missed in my life. But it was not meant to be.
You are doing what many folks on the Left do. You are using the exception to try to make the rule. 6% of all abortions are done for rape, incest or a direct threat to the mother’s life. 94% of all abortions are done for discretionary reason like “my boyfriend left me” or “it is an inconvenient time in my life.”
Of the 6% only 1.5% of abortions are done for a threat to the mother’s life. So, you are trying to use 1.5% of the cases to make your argument. Sorry, it doesn’t work. The 96% discretionary number carries the day and the argument. Abortion should not be a method of birth control because of inconvenience.
Again, sorry for your loss. Merry Christmas. Happy Holidays.
What saddens me, living in the UK, is the readiness of our PM to appease and suck up to a criminal like Trump. I hear today that there are already comments from MPs about Starmer not being being our next PM. At least that is a good indication. But how much damage will be done by his indifference to the issues e.g. global warming that are in desperate need to be tackled?
You are still living in a world that began to cease to exist c.1963. Starmer, like many recent political placements in the US and the UK, is a mere corporate shill. He will do whatever his transnational oligarch owners via friend of ‘Epstein’, political and financial fixer, Lord Mandelson, tells him to.
Denis, it seems that a lot of countries are battling problems with their leaders. Here's to hoping the future will become brighter and better for all of us!
this is a great one and I love this woman.,..the boil on the collective ass...that may be the first thing to compare these horrible creatures to that isn't insulting to what's being compared to...lol
Imposing religious views on others is the hallmark of evangelical voting. Using money to effectuate their policies has given us the 3 Trump appointees to the Supreme Court. The last Presidential election saw 1/4 of a billion dollars spent by one man, Elon Musk, to elect Trump. Blame the SCOTUS decision in the Citizens United case that allows unregulated corporate and generational wealth to elect a candidate. The Court needs to be reformed and Citizens United reversed. Short of that gets us ruled by oligarchs.
Thanks George. Imposing ones religious beliefs on others is one of the basic tenants of fascism. By forming a "national" religion the fascist state can then begin to pick off the non-conforming folks or force them to convert.
Conversion is a slippery slope though. Ask the Muslims and Jews who converted to Catholicism just before the Spanish Inquisition started about 1400 AD. The "Church" rolled back the clock and came after them in the end anyway.
The current GOP has sewed themselves to the Fascist Right Wing Christian Nationalist and this could well be part of the downfall of our country if it continues. Cheers... GH
Mr Reich, I hope your friend is right, and we will ultimately prevail, but in the meantime..........I still can't accept the fact that Americans who have ancestors and family members who lost their lives fighting against fascism and tyranny actually voted to put a wannabe strongman dictator(and his monstrous favorite billionaire) in power in the United States of America .
I love Pres. Biden and his family. I despise Trump, Musk, their families. No kind words will change how I feel. I love the Kennedy Center Honors. No religion. So much creativity.
Wise woman. It is time to move hard to a true "for the people" government. This means eliminating a lot of things that bad centralized governments do, like executing people (Biden just did the right thing here), criminalizing people for non-violent offenses, deporting innocent people for just wanting a better life, free from gangs and guns (most of which are supplied by us), and denying people health care. Then we must support things that some make sound bad; redistributing wealth through a fair, graduated income and wealth tax (something communists, Marxists and fascists never do), protecting people and the environment, and so much more. It may be that the only way to move people this way is to have a government, for a short while, that does the opposite and lies about it. Unfortunately the same people who want bad government also own the media (think Washington Post and LA Times as good papers owned bad, or Fox Media, just plain bad), and there is a lot of pus to drain before moving the other way.
The election was obviously hacked! President Biden CAN do something about it. Romania’s election was annulled due to Russian interference. We just need to have a hand recount in the swing states where there appears to be an algorithmic hack.
This is an excellent video summary of the Smart Elections data findings, (smartelections.us) for those that may be having difficulty wrapping their head around it:
Marlo, Reality is a bitch. It's kinda like when your boyfriend dumps you for another bimbo and you simply will not accept that fact for an extended period of time. Living in an alternate universe make perfect sense, Just understand that it is all a part of TDS and The Woke Mind Virus, both of which have no cure. When did you arrive on Earth?
Let me take a wild guess. You still believe in The Steel Dossier and The Russian Collusion Hoax. Or maybe you still believe in The Fine People Hoax. Flat Earth? Big Foot? So, in your delusional, parallel universe, I work for who? I guess Putin, right?
Unbelievable, but not surprising. Reality is a bitch.
Try this, "Kamala really won", "Everything is fine" "America will be destroyed in due course." "Woke, DEI, CRT, Cultural Marxism will find a way."
Feeling better.
"Troll" Have you ever had even one original thought in your entire life?
BTW: You do have a seriously impressive resume: No Substack posts. No Substack original notes. No original comments. Is it one follower?
"Senior Citizen Earthling of the 'United States' of America, and a woman who is an independent, caucusing with Democrats and Progressives. 84 college credits, with no 'degree'. Still thinking and watching."
Wow impressive word salad. "Earthling" who hates The "United States" 84 and not 83. Impressive. Still thinking. That may be a good thing. Something Progressives usually don't do. At least the "Useful Idiots" don't. Likely divorced. It was his fault, right?
I appreciate the effort and the story but the truth is I am unmoved.
I am, in part, held up by the unsolved mystery of the election result -- in particular, given what just about everyone now gets (if they somehow didn't before) was riding on it, why so very little effort has been devoted to the factual verification of the vote, especially with an assortment of red flags flying. Clearly, if it means so much to *us* -- this stake in the heart of liberal democracy -- it concomitantly means just as much to *them*, the oligarchs and authoritarians it put in control, whose ethics fall somewhere between Iago's and Macbeth's.
I mean, just looking at Trump and Musk (leaving aside Rove, Manafort, Stone, Putin & Co., and the whole dubious history of elections in the computerized voting era), you've got one guy who *compulsively cheats at everything*, from business to finance to marriage and golf (covering his tracks with lies and projection -- e.g., "They're stealing Pennsylvania!" and Stop the Steal more generally), and another guy who knows how to make even hardened computers sing and dance for him. And an election system Def Con demonstrated that middle-schoolers can penetrate. And *everything* at stake. So what could possibly go wrong??
And yet there were zero calls from the adult table for even the most basic systematic verifications. Just an acceptance that the whole world could fall off the cliff because of a couple of percent margin and what might well be a magician's trick, a mirage. It's devilishly difficult to prove, and the burden of proof is -- rationally or not -- squarely on those questioning legitimacy, but I have some pretty troubling forensic receipts.
So you can see how I might be stuck -- because I've analyzed enough dodgy elections to know just how futile that work is (and now probably dangerous to boot). But without that, I can't think or write about this brave new world of ours as *real*. It is *fact*. But so is an AI photo of, say, a bound and gagged Joe Biden. We can work all we want - a pendulum in the grip of a rigger's fist won't swing. Our blind faith and refusal to *go there* is exactly what such a bad actor counts on.
Due to the uproar by trump and company in 2020 the Democrats were hardly in a position to do the same. And then every election would become suspect. I don’t know if Trump planned it or not but that’s where we are. Personally I’m sick about it and I have to limit what I read now or I get a panic attacks. My daughter and I are financially vulnerable and it’s not hard to fear the worst.
Exactly. If Trump didn't plan it, it's history's greatest lucky break. Look, I'm Trump in Nov. 2020 and I know I just lost and, that being intolerable, already have my eyes on 2024. I know Stop the Steal isn't going to reverse 2020 but what it will do is keep me in the game, rally the MAGAs to my banner, and clear the way for me to steal 2024 with not a peep from the Dems or media. What's not to like in that?
Fwiw, there seemed to be a heavy thumb on the scale for Republicans in 2020 (see: https://codered2014.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/TheRealSteal-IntroAnalysisCombinedUpdated-js8_WWW-2.pdf) but whoever might have put it there evidently was interested in the survival of the GOP, not a second Trump term). By 2024, however, Trump's capture of the GOP was complete and ratified and their interests fully aligned. So now the thumb was FBO Trump and, of course, Stop the Steal would preclude all challenge. We reached a place where our elections could be challenged without being rigged and rigged without being challenged -- and, of course, the warfare is spectacularly asymmetrical.
Jonathan, I agree with you about the election being "rigged". However, the boil analogy is still what works for me. This effort on the part of the oligarchs will never cease until they achieve the results they think they want. They won't be happy with the win for long, how could they be? They are about to experience the King Midas tragedy first hand, and despite their plan B of having a fallback underground bunker or planet Mars, I don't think they really want to take it that far. Their greed will be their undoing. I hope we can survive it and rebuild on the ashes, and that what we build will be based upon the hard lessons we learn. History has cycles of civilizations rising and falling. Guess where we are now...
I was once more wishing that the oldest man elected to the office of president would disappear somehow...you know...get sick and die a horrid death. I wasn't feeling too good about those thoughts actually. Thoughts of 'schadenfreude'. SO, I've redirected my thinking. Now I continually wish that the old man will wake up, develop a conscious, feel empathy. The story of the Christmas Carol and Scrooge is a meaningful tale of transformation. I have no expectations.
I had none when I was wishing him harm. Wishing someone else harm is like raising baby vipers in your pocket. It will do you harm too. So I have lifted those dark thoughts of harm off of me and it feels lighter in more ways than one. May this story be helpful to people out there like me.
Dee, I know what you mean. Every time in my life when things were happening that upset and angered me, my mom would say "This is just a glitch, it's not a catastrophe!" She was right because usually everything worked out for the best. The orange man's time will not last forever. Until he is gone, we must hang together, work hard together and fight for our country! May you have a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
You could wish he just doesn't wake up one day very soon. It would be a boon to the country and to him. He must be really miserable every day of his so called life.
It would seem that Hogwarts has taken over the Republicans home base while Trump and Gaetz have opened up shops in Diagon alley. These two bad boys continue to claim a witch hunt is currently underway and they are the targets of Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall. Their assertion that there is a secret agenda underway to punish them, is about as far-fetched as the beloved movie series itself. Perhaps the nefarious worlds these men live in is largely to blame for their current woes.
She is 100% correct in saying that the current affliction is like a noxious, pus filled boil on the posterior of this nation, as well as identifying the appalling like of spine and grit in current old fart democrats in government. We MUST make way for a new generation of leaders. Continuing to elevate the gerontocracy and repeating the same measures that have’t been working is called insanity; repeating the same non working option and expecting different results. I’m a child of these sixties. WE NEED THE AOC, Jasmine Crockett, Maxwell Frost Generation of leaders with new ideas and a strong grasp of the new platforms of communication that 70 and 80 year olds do t know anything about.
With the exception of Bernie Sanders.the man is a treasure. I see him on TikTok and YouTube telling it like it is.
Totally…..the voice of Sanity and kindness.
He’s wonderful, and he’s NOT an exception to who is old and who is wonderful.
How old do you think Prof. Reich is? No more age bashing. Let’s worry about policies!
Im 71, hardly an agist
This is not really about age bashing. This is about knowing when to step down and knowing what the nation needs. Nancy Pelosi‘s bully tactics are going to backfire and hopefully push forward a new generation of leaders.
Pat, it wasn't and isn't policies. This inflation discussion is a media creation.
Establishment politicians, in the Democratic party wasted their time telling us how we should feel because Biden gave us so much.
First there is transactional analysis of which the democratic party is stone deaf,
The people didn't vote their pocketbook, they voted their anger, angst, fears.
Some wanted and are now celebrating owing the libs, the coast elites, the college educated whom they feel has been telling them how they should feel, and what to do, when all they want to do is use politically incorrect language, discriminate and keep queers of all kinds out of the public discourse and sight.
The Democrats once again blew it, by making Gerry Connolly the Democrat on the House all powerful oversight committee, passing over AOC.
Proving yet again the Democratic party is reverse of the obverse of the political coin.
So long as the Democratic party continues to delude itself we are screwed, in fact it might be too late.
The Republicans, Musk-Trump, have the means to take total control, and have said that is their intent.
It was the culture war, not economics that led the charge, and that includes the Muslims of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennyslvnia, that didn't vote for Harris in 2024, but voted in 2020. Their vote would have won it for her
It's Like He's Going on Zionist Overdrive' |
Trump's pro-Israel Cabinet Picks Upset Muslims Who Voted for Him
'Trump won because of us,' said one of the founders of Muslims for Trump, 'and we're not happy with his Secretary of State pick and others'
https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/2024-11-17/ty-article/trumps-pro-israel-cabinet-picks-upset-muslims-who-voted-for-him/00000193-39b4-dcd3-a3b7-bdbfa2250000?utm_source=mailchimp&utm_medium=Content&utm_campaign=daily-brief&utm_content=ef36d27152
And then there is this
From:
https://chrishedges.substack.com/p/how-fascism-came
President-elect Donald Trump does not herald the advent of fascism. He heralds the collapse of the veneer that masked the corruption within the ruling class and their pretense of democracy. He is the symptom, not the disease. The loss of basic democratic norms began long before Trump, which paved the road to an American totalitarianism. Deindustrialization, deregulation, austerity, unchecked predatory corporations, including the health-care industry, wholesale surveillance of every American, social inequality, an electoral system that is plagued by legalized bribery, endless and futile wars, the largest prison population in the world, but most of all feelings of betrayal, stagnation and despair, are a toxic brew that culminate in an inchoate hatred of the ruling class and the institutions they have deformed to exclusively serve the rich and the powerful. The Democrats are as guilty as the Republicans.
They are using such old playbooks, divide and conquer, misinform, etc. And we always buy it. Maybe not a few of us personally, but we just got Trump. Again.
The Democrats are 100% useless at this point. They have been bought by corporations and we will never get rid of Citizens United. For much of recorded history, civilizations have been totalitarian monarchies with most of us drastically poor. MOST OF RECORDED HISTORY. Democracy is a blip on the screen.
We have been made aware of the inequity, the Republicans got Trump and we should've had Bernie but the Democrats stopped that. TWICE. I hate them. They're still whining and finger-pointing, when I think their incompetence matches the insurance companies accidentally not paying your claim. They make millions off their "mistake - oops!" when most of the consumers don't call and instead, just pay the bill assuming it must not be covered. The democrats are living off of their previous reputation, but their incompetence keeps their wealthy overlords happy and makes them look like they tried. And they are always sooo sorry. They tried? It makes me want to puke. Politicians retire a million times richer than when they started. It's a total scam, the counter-elites have us all riled up, and whatever happens, we will take the hit like we always do.
They throw out culture issues to distract us while they siphon off more money, and thus, more power for themselves. Do you think they care about any of these issues that they are completely above? They're laughing all the way to the bank. Money = Power.
I see a Bronze-Age style collapse looming. With global warming, constant disasters, there's no money when the .01% are too busy having 500M weddings. They way they game the system and we all pay for it is beyond greedy. I don't understand how they sleep. They will pull us all down with their complete lack of recognition that what made this country so great was the creation of the middle class.
I totally agree with you Gillian, only I see a 6th mass extinction, the collapse of the anthropocene because of global warming, and it is coming sooner than expected.
We have committed mammalcide, not just a bronze age collapse,
If any survivors they will be in Tazmania, New Zealand the south coast of Australia. best chances are in the Tropic of Capricorn.
There is much truth to what you say, William. This is why many Trump supporters paradoxically see him as a defender of democracy. As long as We the People remain divided, we shall be victims of the divide-and-rule formula. Project 2025 is a project for the taekeover of the United States of America by a united, Christian nationalist, oligarchy.
I know Vic and it scares the shit out of me.
You make many good points, William, Victor and Gillian with which I agree. The question looming over us is when and how do we react when we all feel that ‘enough is enough’? Do we take to the streets? Do we cash in our investments causing a run on the banks? Do we flat out refuse to cooperate with any mandates handed down by this coming fascist government?
VictorKamendrowski, how could anyone see tRUMP as " a defender of Democracy? " Surely you jest.
William, lots of divisiveness here. Ageism, class warfare with college educated vs. Uneds, coastal elites etc. Generalities that can divide us. The last thing we need.
I agree Laurie, but that is how the Republicans win elections, and why Trump will be president on Jan 20th.
We need effective counters to their unrelenting class warfare.
He's 78.
So what? Division is division. Rupert Murdoch is 94 or so, last I saw. He will use any rhetoric to divide.
We need better media that gives us information that helps us to vote intelligently, not against our best interests.
Time for Congress to have a mandatory retirement age. Strom Thurmond was elected into his 90’s and had to be propped up in his chair, so he would look like he was alive. ENOUGH!!!!!!!!!!
Chuck Schumer and Charles Grassley have served too long. For that matter, so have Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley, and Tom Cotton. Not because of their age, but because they are despicable, corrupt, cowardly, and totally self serving, country be damned.
People voted for Thurmond — there’s the kicker. He wasn’t foisted upon the electorate.
We need to do better.
On November 5, Americans chose:
Lies over truth,
Ignorance over knowledge,
Chaos over order,
Malice over good will,
Division over unity,
Cowardice over courage,
Sleaze over character,
The criminal over the law,
And billionaires over ordinary people.
Proud to be a liberal woman, more than ever!
Proud to wear this totally unhinged radical liberal t-shirt in front of Republicans 👇
https://libtees-2.creator-spring.com/listing/radlib
Trump and co want to make the government NO longer functional!
That's it, Heather. Best concise summary of this entire MAGA apocalypse. Well done.
those who voted for thurmond are the same types who vote for dumpster, hawley, cotton, grassley, cruz. basically unreconstructed racists.
How about the millions who didn’t vote, Paul?
They rejected the Constitution. The question is: can they be brought back into the constitutional order by means of economic incentives? Unlikely as long as they fear for their social status. We must address this fear, which was systematically fueled by Fox News and conservative media and churches. Elon Musk is now adding fuel to the fire. Putin has done his share also. Can reason and true patriotism finally prevail in Congress?
They may have voted for him, but what choices did they have? Did the party offer any alternative?
The Democrats are indifferent to the massive problems we face; the Republicans are actively working to make matters worse. To me, the choice is obvious.
The system is rigged against alternative parties. As someone wrote elsewhere, we need a new generation of Democrats who will work for the 90% who are in big trouble, not the top 1% who are doing just fine thank you.
Check out David Hogg (Parkland shooting) & “Leaders We Deserve.” He’s running for Vice-Chair of the DNC.
Imo it’s a bad signal that AOC was beaten out for a key committee position by a 74-yo man. Cong Dems apparently didn’t learn a darned thing.
Yes, a 74 year old man who is battling cancer too. Don't care that it's said he is otherwise in good shape for his age. Battling cancer is not easy and there will be times he won't be able to attend to his duties. He was a horrible choice, especially since AOC was right there and one of the best communicators in D.C. She states problems with clarity and in words all people can understand. She is known for fighting for her cconstituents and is very high profile. Think most people have never heard of Gerry Connolly. Dems need 'names' to counter all of the high profile GOP who are always sticking their faces in front of the camera every chance they get. Name recognition is how people get re-elected and get things done. Huge mistake to put Connolly in over AOC!
This is real inside baseball stuff. Perhaps it was the best choice they made, but I agree it's not a good sign. AOC keeps getting smarter.
And Pelosi had a hand in making that happen. What the hell?
yes we do need a new generation. Sadly there are many who decline taking over the Party, not wanting to partake of all the ugliness. But the ugliness will come after them all the same.
I do NOT support a mandatory AGE retirement, but I might support term limits. You point out that it is the quality of representation that matters, tho!!
This is a problem. Quality is not necessarily linked to age, but can be. Clearly, Diane Feinstein was in office too long too.
Remember Aunt Edna in National Lampoon's "Vacation"? We don't need politicians who have to be wrapped in a tarp and taken away in a chair tied to the top of a station wagon.
It would be better to have term limits for party leadership positions e.g. speaker, committee chairs. ranking members etc. The GOP is much better at keeping an up to date leadership cadre than the Dems.
True Mark, but look at the losers the GOP continue to promote into their leadership positions. My late father's words still hold true... "when it comes to helping the working folks of this country, the worst Democrat is usually better than the best Republican."
Cheers & Happy Holidays to all... GH
Term limits for SCOTUS?
Don’t forget to add Elon Musk….
Nobody voted for Musk for
Anything.
And then there's the GOP rep who was absent for six months and was just found in a home that takes care of people with Alzheimer's. No one missed her? WTH?!
Hard to talk about those guys and not include Rep. Kay Granger.
Jenn SH from NC : I bet they violated their oaths of office, too. They should not be in their seats of power. We need a restored. Capable Honorable Supreme Court.
Do you think that Bernie Sanders should be forced to resign too?
It isn’t because they’re old that they need to be replaced. It’s because they’re so-called centrists, or rather corporate suck-ups. They’re not wholeheartedly working for the average citizen. That should be the main requirement for who we support and vote for as their replacements.
Elizabeth, there is a point. Know any 90 year old surgeons?
Purely mechanical, not because the 90-year-old surgeon has a withered brain.
P. Kaye, I 100% agree with the points you have brought forward and I agree with Robert Reich’s friend who works at the soup kitchen. However, looking to our two party system to somehow spring back is like wishing an old model T can be rebuilt so as to compete with the speed and recklessness we find on today’s superhighways.However what caused the boil and that allowed the pus to accumulate to the point where the body can no longer sit down or fully function?
The pus is the inconceivable amount of wealth collected by the ultra rich 1 % of our population, and the cause of the boil is a system that permits, and even encourages the accumulation of so much wealth that the wealthy are gaining absolute control of our semi-functional governmental system.
The Model T automobile was a technological leap forward that changed the way we all lived and made fast and reliable transportation a possibility for millions. However, it is now a relic. Our Constitution was also a leap forward, but now the billionaire class is turning it in to a relic that can no longer compete with the speed or evil intentions of the wealth accumulating billionaires. While our government will be further torn apart in the next few years, we need to develop and begin to adopt a more modern economic and governmental system that will ensure everyone has access to the necessities of life and the possibility of regaining the American dream.
I agree with Robert Reich’s recent post asserting that.Economic Democracy will create an economic and political system. That will no longer allow a boil full of pus to accumulate on America’s posterior..
The Constitution has become a holy totem and no longer fits the purpose or the time, even if it means well. We must cease to worship any idols, flags, ideas or gods that intellect or experience have proven are no longer applicable or beneficial. As far as I can see 'Do unto others…' is the only bit of advice on which to build a rule for society…..and that appears in all the major socio-religious teachings, because it works. (Unless you are a masochist, of course. ) Kindness and care for your fellows should do it.
I'm not ready to throw out the Constitution, but I would like to see Constitutional scholars like Jaimie Raskin have more say in how we can adapt it to our own time. Everyone in government has to vow to protect and support it, and yet we can see that too many are actually working to subvert it. That is grounds for dismissal. They are blatantly breaking the oath they took! That can be seen as treason. Am I wrong?
Paula, well said. The Constitution may need modernizing, but there are rules that have been ignored by the corrupt sycophant 6. Rules that, had they been applied, would have prevented much that is wrong happening now.
Zackly
Ditto. Totally agree.
Me, too
Paula, a 250 yo doc written by the white male oligarchs of their day that enshrined slavery needs an overhaul.
It has HAD overhauls, and continues to be brought more into the modern age. BUT, like many an ancient edifice, it’s foundation holds, and we would ditch that to our peril …
You put references to the crap in your criticism, and we have already gotten rid of the “enshrined slavery” thing, as well as the “no women voting thing,” and the universal {as opposed to landed and monied gentry} thing, and protected speech and religion, and a lot more. SURE more needs doing. But we don’t need a lot of fascists dickering with our foundation in this day and age …
GET REAL.
Imo I am being real, Pat. The Const has amendments, but as long as the amendments aren’t part of the basic doc, you’ll have originalists cherry-picking it.
I agree about not dicking with the foundations. But if you can see the phrase 3/5, it’s not gone.
A Const isn’t made of stones. It’s made of words, and what they encompass isn’t static. It evolves.
Well said, Pat!
It got the overhaul. Don’t we have 27 amendments changing our Constitution for the better?
Susan Heath : The 14th amendment section 3 would clean up the courts and the Congess. Our entire government. The rules should be applied and enforced, if necessary. Dark money should be banned. When it is discovered, those taking it should face consequences. The laws have been ignored for those with money and power. The courts are played like violins. Like a slow dirge.
That sounds sensible….l guess the Constitution is like the Bible…they quote and apply the bits that suit their purposes….the PicknMix, or Looseleaf Versions!
Susan Heath : then there is interpretation. Semantics and all.
That’s the crux, Laurie — applying and enforcing the rules.
Anyone threatening a judge' s clerk or family should be evaluated and investigated.
Jan C : if there is anything about anyone being 3/5ths of a person,it should be removed. Ditto any archaic laws about morality, especially as applied to women . The Comstock Act should be on the trasheap of history. For example.
14th Amendment: Project 2025 could nullify it. Bear that in mind!
Susan, there can be no kindness and care without a constitutional government. Our Constitution has worked well over the past centuries, and only a fool would discard it.
Et moi!!
If we were talking these points last century, before the advent of the surveillance state, AI, and the financial industry, i would agree that we have a chance to remedy this pox on humanity. But i just don't see it. I know everyone wants to point to all the misteps of the dems in losing this election, but i believe that the techbroligarchs, with 4 years and willing accomplices in the election infrastructures in red/swing states, essentially replaced those states' election infrastructure with their own, which will in dumpster's words "you won't have to vote anymore".
think of the sadistic vindictiveness of J. Edgar Hoover on technosteroids. the oligarchs won. it won't be so bad. 400 million middle class chinese (our total population is 330 million) say everything will be fine with your new fascist regime.
sorry, i want to see the light, but i don't see any cracks in the juggernaut hurtling towards us, due to strike jan. 20
Good points Paul. I wish Hoovers name would be ripped off the FBI building. Every time I see a picture of that building with his name on it I get sick. GH
And get rid of Citizens United as it is.
If the Dem's ever get in again it should be their first priority. GH
Wikipedia has a fairly accurate description of “Economic Democracy” and the”Crisis and Transition “ Substack has a number of good essays on this topic.
Marc Nevas, and all readers herein, while I applaud the dreams of you and others; plus, recognize the goodness of most people, we cannot resolve poor governance in America until we tackle the tough root causes: Money financing elections, legalized/dark money to lawmakers and agencies via lobbyist, enabling stock insider trading by elected members of Congress as well as reforming term limits for Congress and our Court system. So until this gets done, well, the oncoming Administration can make things worse for sometime but this gives us the opportunity to ready the-ship- of-state. Meanwhile, one cannot expect much for 'the people'. Let's get to work on tackling the difficult work now and be prepared to launch it!
The lawsuit challenge to the new Maine law to limit donations to superpacs has begun. Will go likely to the Supreme Court.
https://apnews.com/article/maine-super-pac-donation-limits-lawsuit-49cf34be8ae6aaf96c0b92ad09615abb
Maine has become quite good at these citizens referendums which pass hugely! But, every time, the Corporate money sues to stop. There will have to be a Citizen STRIKE against these abuses long listed for anything to push against this entrenched power. Anything less is like a flyswatter against a tyronnasouraus.
I agree Marc. How do we get to a new system- a new political economy? I'm not for revolution but evolution. In my view, how do we get agreement on basic principles, or "a new myth" for an economic democracy (or progressive democracy) that the public will embrace to steer away from the free market neoliberalism myth and policies of the last 40 plus years that have brought us where we are today? The progressive democracy policies that are contrary to neoliberalism are enumerated in Stiglitz's The Road To Freedom.
We don't start with trying to change the Constitution to get the economic system we want. We start with changes to our economic policies and laws to generate changes that make possible changes to the Constitution (amendments, re-interpretation of law).
Trump's truth was that the system is rigged against the little guy, something little guys everywhere could agree with. But crooked Trump never talks about HOW the system is economically rigged so he is not so readily seen as a threat to corporate interests, esp among many in the corporate leaning media. Yeah, Trump's faux populism is not a threat.
In the past I might have said the way forward is all about educating the public. But we have entered an era of what promises to be ever harsher consequences providing a masterclass for the public. We are likely "beyond" words as the chief remedy. Hence, the boil that will break.
I am grateful to Robert Reich and others like him that have worked to alter public consciousness of how the economic system has been rigged against them. It all helps to make a difference possible. I am reduced, apart from my own efforts to make a difference, to hoping a charismatic leader(big daddy will fix it)/group can seize the popular imagination with populist economic truths. Given the corporate media landscape this seems a hard task. Maybe Reich and others will be successful in helping to elevate sane leaders. Keep trying!
I fear this madness will run its course, so no, --no joy here in Mudville.
I don't want to be totally pessismistic. It has amazed me how quickly things can turn around some times against my expectations. The problem is, we are out of time w/r/t climate and its increasing challenges to governance. Even if we get complete Democratic control of all 3 branches in 2026, we have moved outside of our ability to avoid massive disruption, to put it kindly.
"The pus is the inconceivable amount of wealth collected by the ultra rich"
While a PART of the infection, I could not disagree more. The REAL pus is something more deep-rooted that each of us carries.
A large part of it is the long term effects of the COLONIALISM that was how this country was founded. Native Americans, Native Hawaiians, the horror and open wound of slavery have all created a pressing need to admit to and atone for these grave sins and ills against humanity. The word LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY for these actions come to mind. There has been so much hypocrisy in the lofty words this country was founded in, vs how people without perceived power or value were treated. All of those issues, and the consistent denial of culpability and refusal to admit wrong doing have brought us to where we are now. At this point we’re are in a scenario where a billionaire class is in charge after January 20, and that billionaire class will make laws and policies to enrich themselves at the expense of We The People, 48% of who voted for them to do just that unless we stand up and fight back.
You nailed it, and got a whopping three "likes." That outta be an indicator!
I agree, Thomas, but “something” is a bit coy imo. What something are you thinking of? Or more than one.
Happy Hols.
Marc, this is no time for dreaming. The Constitution, despite its shortcomings, still provides for due process to resolve disputes and grievances. The only real alternative at the moment is one-man rule at the head of Project 2025 zealots. Are you OK with that?
Yes ! ➡️ “ WE NEED THE AOC, Jasmine Crockett, Maxwell Frost Generation of leaders with new ideas and a strong grasp of the new platforms of communication that 70 and 80 year olds do t know anything about.”
Go Maxwell !!!!💙
…Musk also threatened to take out Democratic Rep. Maxwell Frost in the next election after Frost trolled him: “The people of central Florida will kick this jackass out in 2 years.” Musk knows absolutely zero about politics in central FL. … Rep. Frost responded by posting a form for candidates to file to run for Congress with this caption: “OK, Elon. Here’s the candidate form for your run against me. The people of Central Florida don’t really like corrupt rich guys though.”
https://open.substack.com/pub/meidastouch/p/politics-today-bulletin-30-121924?r=fqsxl&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
AGREE, agree, agree!!!!! Yes, let the first class benchwarmers loose and retire the boomer gen that has the DNC and too many elected Dems firmly in their aging grip (I'm over 70 myself and I have acknowledged that I am too forgetful and achy for stand-up paid physical labor any more--I still do plenty of that here, but I can take breaks whenever I wish)--those boomers who have been filling elective office since the 70's need to do the same.
Release AOC, Buttigieg, Raskin, Goldman, Frost and all those other fabulous up and coming younger Dems to do what they do best.
This vintage 1953 boomer agrees with you 100%.
🎯 precisely
There really is a point where the mind isn’t as sharp. People can still have intelligent conversations and have great advice, but major decisions for a Superpower should not be overwhelmingly in the hands of 80-90 year olds. Just as most of us must retire, so must they.
Representative Kay Granger of Texas has been living in an assisted living facility since July and no one in the MSM is reporting on this. Can you imagine any other profession that would allow this? If not an age limit, then a check on mental and physical capacity to do your Fn job is in order. ENOUGH!
I know you meant LACK of spine and grit. Spinelessness seems to be a requirement of elected officials in Congress. Frightened by the billionaire’s threat to “primary” them and suddenly their beliefs and values (at least what they say they believe in) are dust in the wind.
That suggests their job and influence is of greater importance than what they purport to espouse
“Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. And those around the powerful also get corrupted.” Lord Acton
👏👏 Yes, Susan, that’s EXACTLY what it suggests.
Baloney on the age bashing. To be sure, the torch needs to be passed to new generations whose world this will be when we olders are gone, but there’s PLENTY of good ideas and judgement and counsel resident in our elders!
I’m 78 and I’m not one of the Old Guard Democrats who fell for the Democratic Leadership Council bullsh*t that Clinton was selling in his administration … And Bernie has a clear vision of what’s up, too. You can criticize the entrenched leadership, and the too-many years they’ve held sway. But it ain’t their actual birthdays that’s the problem {see on these very threads all the geezers and li’l ol’ ladies who weigh in to support the changes we need!!}.
So knock it off with the age bashing … How old do you think Prof. Reich is!!??
Just go after the lousy policies we’ve been dealing with, and the lackadaisical entrenched Dem leadership, and enough with age bashing.
Prof Reich isn't in Gvt and has given up active teaching. He has the time and energy to still THINK for us! Age doesn't mean your brain capabilities diminish…..we've only just been discussing the innate Stupidity of much of the younger voting public, but being in the job can be very exhausting. Bernie is great, despite age, some younger ones aren’t. Term limits may stop excellent people who joined young keeping on giving great service. Surely the voters and supporters can work out when someone is past their Sell-By Date or it is time to give others a chance?
Maybe it is all to do with MONEY!! Who holds the purse strings rules!
As for SCOTUS, a life tenure is crazy.
“Surely the voters and supporters can work out when someone is past their Sell-By Date…” 🤣
Imo they can’t, Susan. How many requests for money did you get in 2024 from PACs and candidates?
Add MSM’s hiding the truth and whitewashing DJT.
People can’t know what’s real or true if all they see is smoke and mirrors. Murdoch may own that, but Bezos, Sulzberger, et al caught up quickly.
True, Pat. But… 30 years ago you weren’t “Old Guard” by definition. 😊 Maybe a Young Turk?
But let's not exclude the older folks. Some of us are all for the "up and comers" to lead us out of the doldrums of business as usual. First mistake already made by not elevating AOC to Dem's Oversight head.
Never trust anyone over 70. Hah!
P Kaye Brundidge ; , your term ; gerontocracy , suggests that all elders are wealthy aristocrats. You would target all people of a certain age, without actually knowing them. this is working in tandem with those who would divide and conquer US. Unhelpful.
Yes I do not however know why AOC lost her leadership role.
Nancy Pelosi allegedly intervened. :(
Yes.. She sold out AOC.. and threw her support behind the other candidate. Worm in her brain?
That’s what I saw too, Dusty.
Spine and Soul..totally lacking. Grit? Shirley you jest, Shirley!!!
I've been thinking a lot about what Trump voters can be forgiven for: what they don't know; what their "handlers" make sure they never hear. But I keep coming back to what they did know. When they cast their vote, they knew it meant, if successful, that women would die for the sin of becoming pregnant. We know this because of the series of votes for abortion rights in states that then voted for Trump. The Trump voters know abortion rights save women's lives. They knowingly voted to kill women. I find that hard to forgive.
Don't forget their racism and hatred of Democrats.
You are correct...their behavior and actions are unforgettable, unforgivable, and representative of the majority today's society in the US to comprehend the long lasting and wide spread consequences of their actions and inaction. They purposely didn't vote, they purposely voted against Democracy, some voted purposely to disrupt and destroy the government. Some refused to review all the data before deciding. Some or I would say most didn't care about the consequences only about the money they were promised and their selfish needs.
America has had 3 somewhat great periods in our history, the revolutionary war, the civil war, and WWII. The gilded age is definitely not one of them...yet that's what our citizens voted for despite the negative history associated with that time.
I don't know of any time in our country's short history wherein we re-lected a twice impeached, felon of 43+ felony counts, under-educated, incompetent rapist, financial fraudster, liar, philanderer, racist, Hitler admiring, Putin loving, bully, still under indictment in differing states...who has openly accepted bribes of 100's of millions of dollars and in some cases billions of dollars by proxy from other criminals and non criminals both foreign and domestic.
We the public majority have decided this is the country we want to be by our actions and in-actions...This is the reality....this is who the majority of adults have chosen to be.
Look Henry, You are on the right side of history, You are right and the majority of American voters are wrong, because they don't agree with your warped view of history. The combination of TDS and The Woke Mind Virus is a bitch, considering there is no cure.
Try this: "Kamala really won." "America will be destroyed in due course." "Woke, DEI, CRT and Cultural Marxism will find a way." Everything is fine. Your reality is the real reality. I hope that you continue to find peace in your delusional, parallel universe. Welcome to Earth. A bit of Xanax might help.
Me thinks your age and ability to structure prose in a most entertaining light perhaps colors your actual underlying concern for the future of our country and the Earth. I appreciate your input and suggestions and see myself possibly becoming you and becoming more accepting of sizing up others somewhat differently in the future. I have many older friends who are of the same mind as yourself and I respect their opinions as I respect their life long behaviors and experiences. They had the options to go up or down and chose paths that we quite diverse but fit there personal needs at that time. Wisdom of the ages. I am where I am and perhaps, one day, will find myself where you are now. I lament wasted opportunities to do the right thing when the option exists. Perhaps I can make a difference by offering up some suggestion and insights, most likely not. And such is life. Some move forward, some back and others acknowledge realities that fit their needs at certain times in the life. I appreciate yours.
I read that there were 30 million evangelicals voted, and 80% of them voted for Trump. Do the math:
The final tally was about 76 million for Trump, and 75 million for Harris. 151 million total.
80% of 30 is 24 million for Trump, and 6 million for Harris.
First assume that it should have been 15 million each for the Evangelicals. That means Trump would get 9 million less, and Harris 9 million more, bringing this assumption to 84 million for Harris, and 67 million for Trump.
But that indicates that the general population was not split 50-50, but more in favor of Harris at about 55% Harris and 45% Trump. So if the evangelicals voted with the same ratio as everybody else, the 30 million evangelicals would have been more like 16 million Harris vs 14 million Trump. So with this more refined calculation, the result would be 91 millioh for Harris vs. 62 million for Trump.
We could continue to refine the math, but this gives the idea: The 30 million Evangelical vote was no where near how the rest of the nation voted, and pushed the result in Trump's favor enough to barely capture the swing states.
Faith based voting may destroy our democracy and nation.
I suppose though that Trump supporters could argue that there is some minority bleeding liberal coalition that voted heavily in favor of Harris, and the Evangelicals barely saved the day for Trump. But for that to be true, they would have to be located in the swing states. Arn't the woke supposed to be located in the big cities along the coasts? Only the swing states matter when it comes to minority voting. It is easy to believe that many evangelicals are located in the swing states, not the other way around.
Ted, this is one of the many reasons I would love to see the electoral college abolished. All of us should have a say in who the leader of our country will be not just a few states. Hopefully, in the near future, we will have our president elected by popular vote!
Don't forget that the Amish (most of Lancaster, Pa.) went for Trump! I was really astonished when I read that...
The teachings of Christianity which they and all the Evangelicals profess so loudly to follow…is so antithetical to MAGAtism that I cannot get my head round how they can support it. Hypocrisy rules. It is male power, not Love that is their guiding principle.
I thought they didn’t vote.
Well the Amish don’t watch tv or listen to the radio so how much could they know about him?
So assuming they do not watch TV or take information from the radio, why did they pick Trump? Male/female?
Possibly because he’s male. They are very conservative and modern things like televisions, radios and cars, maybe even electricity are not allowed. I’m actually surprised they vote. They work hard and have a simple life.
And they know how to keep their women in their place. No wonder why DT appeals to them. Just saying.... GH
They voted for Trump because they love money. They’re all rich as Rockefeller, don’t let the horses and buggies fool you.
It seems it might have been a bit more complicated than that this time.
https://nypost.com/2024/11/12/us-news/how-donald-trump-won-pennsylvanias-amish-vote-with-the-help-of-missionaries-and-elon-musk/
I wouldn’t quote The Post 100%. Just saying.
I guess the same way voters learned about George Washington (or Julius Caesar for that matter). There's actually a very modern market owned and run by the Amish from Lancaster where I live. Perhaps things aren't the way they used to be for them...
If you want to look at this strictly statistically: around 90% of Americans believe in God. That's about 300 million people. So, the Evangelicals who voted for Trump would account for 10% them. And, it would be my bet that a lot of the others voted for Harris (including Joe Biden & Jimmy Carter).
The flaws in this model is tge electoral college. How are tge Christian Right votes aopirtionwd by state? Does ab wvangical in hopelessly red Missouri country as much as one in biddable Arizona or Nevada?
Lies, damn lies and statistics. Slice, dice, run the numbers any way you like. You lost. Get a grip on reality. When did you arrive on Earth? Post game statistics are for losers, both in sports and politics.
You mean like Trump in 2020?
Over the last 20 years, Americans have had easy access to information, due to the ever-evolving and expanding age of technology…so MAGATS chose to ignore the truth about tRump being published and broadcast throughout mainstream and independent media platforms, and I won’t forgive them for that.
No, they didn't ignore the Truth about tRump…..they LOVE it! If they tell you who they are, believe them.
This is true for some of them but not all...some just see an opportunity to profit from the situation and move to do that. Some profit from the chaos and destruction by praying on the weaker of the species. Others profit from the continued support of overall corruption and unethical behavior that secures their daily lives.
Neither will I.
Mmerose, They listened to felon trump literally threaten individuals, spew hatred for an entire political party. They saw the same thing on tv we did! On J6 we had a violent seditionist act that went unpunished. There is ZERO forgiveness from me, never will forgive or forget.
You can't legislate against Stupidity. Ignorance CAN BE dealt with if the motivation is there, but I see Stupidity as endemic based on what is happening. Sorry.
I think you can legislate against stupidity...it just requires the will that is now wholly lacking within our business and government institutions...which is why we are where we are today.
Requirements and permission to gain access to positions of power and influence is a real thing. Giving permission to a 6 year old child to have access to the keys of a 5,000lb vehicle and telling them to drive to a store to pick up a pack of smokes... is against, not only common sense but the law in most states. Our leaders often just choose not to enforce it.
Americans voted to save the lives of the babies.
As a man you have NO right to dictate what women should do with their bodies. Neither does your kooky corrupt MAGAt Party. Beyond that you have no right to make women carry a seriously deformed fetus full term that threatens the life of the mother.
Unless MAGA decides to support these babies from birth through high school then shut the hell up. Put your wallet where your mouth is, Dude. That support includes parent and child welfare, and basic health insurance.You will be responsible for making sure these babies aren't abused or later on become a burden to our already over-populated penal system. Yes, while you're delivering ultimatums to women get out your credit cards and pay for these babies. I dare you.
Trite nonsense you troll.
One issue voting is always deadly. These are not critical thinkers. @duncan
The increasingly obvious solution is for women to decide to not ever have a baby and have their tubes tied permanently.
It’s really very simple. If you are against abortion don’t get one. If you are a man and against abortion don’t have sex.
Make the men do it.
Really? Some women are already doing this because they fear living in an increasingly dystopian society. Will MAGA send out their squads to find and sterilize women? Troll.
The foetuses, not the babies…..once they are born they can starve. These people are not interested in improving the lives of the poor, the sick, the inadequate. That, sir, is SOCIALISM. God forbid!
In most miscarriages, the baby is dying, or dead.
But not the mothers.
💩🤬💩😡💩🤯
100%. The voted for perpetuation of their hate and fear of the other, and against giving POC access to health care, rights, and. Voice. They voted for the fear. The fact that some of them who voted this way are POC themselves actually shows how they bought into the “Them vs us” divisive thought that was used to great effect by the MAGATS and the demagogue made for this moment. It’s disgusting.
Hey Mmerose, 6% of all abortions occur for rape, incest or threat to the mother's life. 94% of all abortions are done for discretionary reasons like "my boyfriend left me." or "it is an inconvenient time in my life." You get it.
Of the 6%, about 2.3% are for rape and about 2.2% are for incest. That leaves about 1.5% for a threat to the mother's life. 1.5%. This does not include cancer or ectopic pregnancies.
So, you are making your argument of 1.5% versus 98.5% for other reasons. Trying to use the exception to make the rule. Sorry, not valid. It's just what the Left does. Good try.
........."abortion rights save women's lives. They knowingly voted to kill women." A total lie. Did you vote to kill unborn children? Did I get that right? Especially Black children. 27.7 million since 1973. Doesn't that go against some Democrat mantra.? You know, the Black thing.
Robert P. May YOU "GET IT" : by being re-incarnated as a woman. In the meantime, I delete your messages, troll.
Laurie,
You do not surprise. The good people of Substack understand that you refuse to accept the fact that people exist who have opinions that are different than yours, and that your response, as is the response of The Left, is to suppress those inconvenient opinions. Why is it that folks like you are unable to just put your opinions out there in the market place of free thinking and see if anyone agrees with you?
Be aware, that the suppression of Free Speech that you advocate, and that which comes from The Left, is now dead with the coming of the new administration. Delete what you like. I will continue to speak. I will be heard.
Suppression is DEAD! Ad Hominem attacks are a clear indicator that a Leftie has lost an argument.
Considering your posts, I guess that you also believe women who have abortions should be punished is some fashion? DT does. These are the laws in almost half of our states now. It is interesting though, they haven't passed any laws punishing the MEN who got them pregnant!
What for them? Prison, fines, castration, shaming? Men are half the problem it seems to me. There is total silence from the state houses in place like Texas, Idaho and the rest on this subject.
How about the men who lead the so-called "Christian" churches. Are they in favor of punishing "the man-half" of an unwanted or dying pregnancy?
What about the Catholic Church? It has been run for 2000 years by a bunch of MEN who chose not to be married or have children or have to deal day to day with family life or problems. But, for sure they have their opinions about those subjects and try to push them on the rest of us..
What about it Pope Francis? Punishment for men? Your church has certainly burned thousand of women at the stake for perceived wrongs over the centuries. Maybe it's time to light up a few men!
By the way Robert, how many unwanted children have you adopted?
On any given day in the St. Louis area there are about 4,200 children available for adoption. Why is that? If you self-righteous folks are as pro-children as you claim there shouldn't be one child in this country looking for a family and home.
Hypocrisy is the guiding light for folks like you. Mind your own business.
Totally in favor of free speech. You seem to have plenty of it... GH
Hey Gary, I respect that you have your opinions, that you believe strongly. Your post is a bit of a rant, such that you are all over the place. However, I appreciate that you took the time to respond and I will try to provide some responding comments. I appreciate the dialogue between two American adults.
No one on either side of the aisle believes that any woman should be punished. President Trump has never even alluded to that, never. Before Roe v. Wade each state had their own policies and laws. With the federal repeal of that law, once again each state will set their own standards for abortion. President Trump has stated dozens of times that he opposes any federal ban on abortions.
Yes, men should share the blame for unwanted children. Unfortunately, and realistically women are the gate keepers. Men will have sex with a pile of wood if they think that a snake resides there. Men are fundamentally pigs. Women are the ones who say "Yes' or "No" Men have learned to abdicate their responsibilities. Black families are the archetype example. Black families: 74% out of wedlock births. Black women make up 6% of the population, yet have 42% of all abortions. Black genocide? LBJ's War on Poverty and the doubling down by Progressives has destroyed the Black nuclear family.
The Catholic Church is not a good example of anything good. We share the same opinion of those hypocrites. It took them until 1961, not 1661, to declare that Jews were not responsible for the death of Christ. I can think of nothing good to say about The Catholic Church or the Pope.
It is not the responsibility of you or I to adopt any children. Opposing the killing of unborn children does not require that those that are born must be adopted by these same Pro-Life people. There is no logic there. If I happen to save your life, by not allowing a thief to rob and maybe kill you, does that mean I must feed, clothe and house you for the rest of your life. Of course not. What a silly logic chain.
Your hypocrisy comment is banal and silly. No, we will not be silent and mind our own business. This is America and Freedom of Speech exists. Unfortunately, it is typical of the Left and apparently you, that anyone who has different opinions than you must be silenced. The Dems are the main purveyors of censorship. Sorry, we will speak, We will be heard.
I would be interested in continuing a dialogue with you, if you keep the personal attacks and the ranting to a minimum.
Merry Christmas. Happy Holidays.
Bob P.
And they want to stop Birth Control too!? If what you say is true and people are that careless it should be vastly encouraged. Every child a wanted one.
Thank you for this. Seeing how people are already getting prepared to fight back and prove that Trump and his ghouls are not invincible gives me more hope than anything I had in November.
THIS IS OUR LAST CHANCE. Biden needs to step up.
The senate, still Dem, can act. Pass the amnesty bill.
what would that do? How can it pass both houses?
DOESN'T HAVE TO.
14th Amendment, Section 3
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.
“The only thing to fear is fear itself”, Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Merry Christmas and Happy holidays to all Americans.
The only thing to fear is becoming pregnant in Idaho or Texas.
Mmerose, The only real thing that you need to fear is to remember to keep your legs together and not have unprotected sex with a guy who is going to bang you and dump you. It might be something to consider first, rather than focusing on what is the most convenient way to murder an unborn child. Try looking in the mirror for a change.
Bob, if I’d been in today’s Texas when I needed my abortion, I’d probably have died. Fourth and very wanted pregnancy complicated, and disastrously so. We were devastated. But I did not have to leave my husband and children. I did not have to nearly die, or actually die. (I’m 76 now but I worry about the women who are harmed by the Texas law)
Rivka, thank you for trying, but there's really no point. People like Robert P. have their minds shut tightly against information that doesn't fit their world view. I have learned the hard way: Don't Feed the Trolls!
Hi Rivka, I am very sorry to hear about your loss and the tragedy that you and your family went though.
I had one older sister who died in September. When I was about 5 years old, my Mom had a miscarriage and I lost the chance to have a brother. Something I have missed in my life. But it was not meant to be.
You are doing what many folks on the Left do. You are using the exception to try to make the rule. 6% of all abortions are done for rape, incest or a direct threat to the mother’s life. 94% of all abortions are done for discretionary reason like “my boyfriend left me” or “it is an inconvenient time in my life.”
Of the 6% only 1.5% of abortions are done for a threat to the mother’s life. So, you are trying to use 1.5% of the cases to make your argument. Sorry, it doesn’t work. The 96% discretionary number carries the day and the argument. Abortion should not be a method of birth control because of inconvenience.
Again, sorry for your loss. Merry Christmas. Happy Holidays.
Bob
BTW: Happy Birthday, whenever. I am 77.
What saddens me, living in the UK, is the readiness of our PM to appease and suck up to a criminal like Trump. I hear today that there are already comments from MPs about Starmer not being being our next PM. At least that is a good indication. But how much damage will be done by his indifference to the issues e.g. global warming that are in desperate need to be tackled?
You are still living in a world that began to cease to exist c.1963. Starmer, like many recent political placements in the US and the UK, is a mere corporate shill. He will do whatever his transnational oligarch owners via friend of ‘Epstein’, political and financial fixer, Lord Mandelson, tells him to.
Denis, it seems that a lot of countries are battling problems with their leaders. Here's to hoping the future will become brighter and better for all of us!
Denis, has Elon Musk weighed in yet? We hear Elon is financially supporting Farage.
Right back at you, Keith! May your Christmas be filled with joy and happiness!
Not to an interesting Dutchie?
this is a great one and I love this woman.,..the boil on the collective ass...that may be the first thing to compare these horrible creatures to that isn't insulting to what's being compared to...lol
Imposing religious views on others is the hallmark of evangelical voting. Using money to effectuate their policies has given us the 3 Trump appointees to the Supreme Court. The last Presidential election saw 1/4 of a billion dollars spent by one man, Elon Musk, to elect Trump. Blame the SCOTUS decision in the Citizens United case that allows unregulated corporate and generational wealth to elect a candidate. The Court needs to be reformed and Citizens United reversed. Short of that gets us ruled by oligarchs.
ABSA-EFFING-LUTLEY!
Thanks George. Imposing ones religious beliefs on others is one of the basic tenants of fascism. By forming a "national" religion the fascist state can then begin to pick off the non-conforming folks or force them to convert.
Conversion is a slippery slope though. Ask the Muslims and Jews who converted to Catholicism just before the Spanish Inquisition started about 1400 AD. The "Church" rolled back the clock and came after them in the end anyway.
The current GOP has sewed themselves to the Fascist Right Wing Christian Nationalist and this could well be part of the downfall of our country if it continues. Cheers... GH
A. MEN.
I love this. Merry Christmas everyone. God Bless our families and God Bless our Country 🎄A pause is exactly what we need right now. Peace&Love
And to you, Jennifer! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Happy Holidays
Mr Reich, I hope your friend is right, and we will ultimately prevail, but in the meantime..........I still can't accept the fact that Americans who have ancestors and family members who lost their lives fighting against fascism and tyranny actually voted to put a wannabe strongman dictator(and his monstrous favorite billionaire) in power in the United States of America .
We need a recount and investigation! Smart elections.US.
I move that history no longer be taught in schools. It obviously has no impact.
I love Pres. Biden and his family. I despise Trump, Musk, their families. No kind words will change how I feel. I love the Kennedy Center Honors. No religion. So much creativity.
Wise woman. It is time to move hard to a true "for the people" government. This means eliminating a lot of things that bad centralized governments do, like executing people (Biden just did the right thing here), criminalizing people for non-violent offenses, deporting innocent people for just wanting a better life, free from gangs and guns (most of which are supplied by us), and denying people health care. Then we must support things that some make sound bad; redistributing wealth through a fair, graduated income and wealth tax (something communists, Marxists and fascists never do), protecting people and the environment, and so much more. It may be that the only way to move people this way is to have a government, for a short while, that does the opposite and lies about it. Unfortunately the same people who want bad government also own the media (think Washington Post and LA Times as good papers owned bad, or Fox Media, just plain bad), and there is a lot of pus to drain before moving the other way.
Well said, Wayne! 100% agree!
Ditto!
The election was obviously hacked! President Biden CAN do something about it. Romania’s election was annulled due to Russian interference. We just need to have a hand recount in the swing states where there appears to be an algorithmic hack.
This is an excellent video summary of the Smart Elections data findings, (smartelections.us) for those that may be having difficulty wrapping their head around it:
Watch on your computer with the volume on.
https://youtu.be/fF22jp2VBJg?
Marlo, Reality is a bitch. It's kinda like when your boyfriend dumps you for another bimbo and you simply will not accept that fact for an extended period of time. Living in an alternate universe make perfect sense, Just understand that it is all a part of TDS and The Woke Mind Virus, both of which have no cure. When did you arrive on Earth?
Robert P. It is obvious who you are working for. troll.
Laurie, I blocked him. You should too. Fondly, Paula
I just did, too. Thanks for the suggestion
I block them , after an honest reply. Every single one.
Let me take a wild guess. You still believe in The Steel Dossier and The Russian Collusion Hoax. Or maybe you still believe in The Fine People Hoax. Flat Earth? Big Foot? So, in your delusional, parallel universe, I work for who? I guess Putin, right?
Unbelievable, but not surprising. Reality is a bitch.
Try this, "Kamala really won", "Everything is fine" "America will be destroyed in due course." "Woke, DEI, CRT, Cultural Marxism will find a way."
Feeling better.
"Troll" Have you ever had even one original thought in your entire life?
BTW: You do have a seriously impressive resume: No Substack posts. No Substack original notes. No original comments. Is it one follower?
"Senior Citizen Earthling of the 'United States' of America, and a woman who is an independent, caucusing with Democrats and Progressives. 84 college credits, with no 'degree'. Still thinking and watching."
Wow impressive word salad. "Earthling" who hates The "United States" 84 and not 83. Impressive. Still thinking. That may be a good thing. Something Progressives usually don't do. At least the "Useful Idiots" don't. Likely divorced. It was his fault, right?
I appreciate the effort and the story but the truth is I am unmoved.
I am, in part, held up by the unsolved mystery of the election result -- in particular, given what just about everyone now gets (if they somehow didn't before) was riding on it, why so very little effort has been devoted to the factual verification of the vote, especially with an assortment of red flags flying. Clearly, if it means so much to *us* -- this stake in the heart of liberal democracy -- it concomitantly means just as much to *them*, the oligarchs and authoritarians it put in control, whose ethics fall somewhere between Iago's and Macbeth's.
I mean, just looking at Trump and Musk (leaving aside Rove, Manafort, Stone, Putin & Co., and the whole dubious history of elections in the computerized voting era), you've got one guy who *compulsively cheats at everything*, from business to finance to marriage and golf (covering his tracks with lies and projection -- e.g., "They're stealing Pennsylvania!" and Stop the Steal more generally), and another guy who knows how to make even hardened computers sing and dance for him. And an election system Def Con demonstrated that middle-schoolers can penetrate. And *everything* at stake. So what could possibly go wrong??
And yet there were zero calls from the adult table for even the most basic systematic verifications. Just an acceptance that the whole world could fall off the cliff because of a couple of percent margin and what might well be a magician's trick, a mirage. It's devilishly difficult to prove, and the burden of proof is -- rationally or not -- squarely on those questioning legitimacy, but I have some pretty troubling forensic receipts.
So you can see how I might be stuck -- because I've analyzed enough dodgy elections to know just how futile that work is (and now probably dangerous to boot). But without that, I can't think or write about this brave new world of ours as *real*. It is *fact*. But so is an AI photo of, say, a bound and gagged Joe Biden. We can work all we want - a pendulum in the grip of a rigger's fist won't swing. Our blind faith and refusal to *go there* is exactly what such a bad actor counts on.
Due to the uproar by trump and company in 2020 the Democrats were hardly in a position to do the same. And then every election would become suspect. I don’t know if Trump planned it or not but that’s where we are. Personally I’m sick about it and I have to limit what I read now or I get a panic attacks. My daughter and I are financially vulnerable and it’s not hard to fear the worst.
Exactly. If Trump didn't plan it, it's history's greatest lucky break. Look, I'm Trump in Nov. 2020 and I know I just lost and, that being intolerable, already have my eyes on 2024. I know Stop the Steal isn't going to reverse 2020 but what it will do is keep me in the game, rally the MAGAs to my banner, and clear the way for me to steal 2024 with not a peep from the Dems or media. What's not to like in that?
Fwiw, there seemed to be a heavy thumb on the scale for Republicans in 2020 (see: https://codered2014.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/TheRealSteal-IntroAnalysisCombinedUpdated-js8_WWW-2.pdf) but whoever might have put it there evidently was interested in the survival of the GOP, not a second Trump term). By 2024, however, Trump's capture of the GOP was complete and ratified and their interests fully aligned. So now the thumb was FBO Trump and, of course, Stop the Steal would preclude all challenge. We reached a place where our elections could be challenged without being rigged and rigged without being challenged -- and, of course, the warfare is spectacularly asymmetrical.
Jonathan, I agree with you about the election being "rigged". However, the boil analogy is still what works for me. This effort on the part of the oligarchs will never cease until they achieve the results they think they want. They won't be happy with the win for long, how could they be? They are about to experience the King Midas tragedy first hand, and despite their plan B of having a fallback underground bunker or planet Mars, I don't think they really want to take it that far. Their greed will be their undoing. I hope we can survive it and rebuild on the ashes, and that what we build will be based upon the hard lessons we learn. History has cycles of civilizations rising and falling. Guess where we are now...
I was once more wishing that the oldest man elected to the office of president would disappear somehow...you know...get sick and die a horrid death. I wasn't feeling too good about those thoughts actually. Thoughts of 'schadenfreude'. SO, I've redirected my thinking. Now I continually wish that the old man will wake up, develop a conscious, feel empathy. The story of the Christmas Carol and Scrooge is a meaningful tale of transformation. I have no expectations.
I had none when I was wishing him harm. Wishing someone else harm is like raising baby vipers in your pocket. It will do you harm too. So I have lifted those dark thoughts of harm off of me and it feels lighter in more ways than one. May this story be helpful to people out there like me.
Dee, I know what you mean. Every time in my life when things were happening that upset and angered me, my mom would say "This is just a glitch, it's not a catastrophe!" She was right because usually everything worked out for the best. The orange man's time will not last forever. Until he is gone, we must hang together, work hard together and fight for our country! May you have a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
You could wish he just doesn't wake up one day very soon. It would be a boon to the country and to him. He must be really miserable every day of his so called life.
It would seem that Hogwarts has taken over the Republicans home base while Trump and Gaetz have opened up shops in Diagon alley. These two bad boys continue to claim a witch hunt is currently underway and they are the targets of Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall. Their assertion that there is a secret agenda underway to punish them, is about as far-fetched as the beloved movie series itself. Perhaps the nefarious worlds these men live in is largely to blame for their current woes.
The house of Gryffindor, representing "We the People" will prevail.
I am feeling the same way she is, but with far less optimism. So thanks for this.
Amen!