YES...this nation is evolving into Fascism brought about by the Republican Bund. Compare today in the US to Shirer's Rise and Fall of the Third Reich. Trump/Hitler and his SS Waffen followers are leading toward anti Semitism, anti Black, anti all people of color, elimination of a free media, dissolving the banks, dissolving public schools in favor of For Profit education, eliminating taxation for the rich, doing away with the public good services like Social Security and Medicare, and make all public services like the post office, fire dept, etc, all Free Market enterprises....on and on. I am a 92 retired professor of public policy who lived through many wars and market crashes, and I find today the worst situation in my lifetime.
I fully agree with one comment: the Republican Party has been “devolving” and not “evolving” into a fascist and criminal organization for decades. In 1980 when Ronald Reagan declared that “government IS the problem”, he pounded the first significant nail in the coffin of democracy in America! Our institutions have been under attack ever since. In 2000, we allowed a co-equal branch of the government, the Supreme Court, to essentially appoint a president with a technicality! Is it any wonder that today the same Supreme Court has completely run amuck, believing itself to be a unitary power and completely untouchable?!? We are now becoming a country of men and no longer a country of laws!
Shaf ; There is so much going on that is not reported, and much that is reported, is not fully disclosed. How can voters know enough to vote in their interests or the common good?
Did you ever look out over a pristine mountainside in the winter and think to yourself what a beautiful sight? Nature in all of its wintery glory resting silently, waiting. Storm after storm has deposited layer after layer of seemingly innocent powder upon the mountainous terrain. Unseen by most, the system is being strained under the tremendous weight of the accumulated snow. As time affords itself the point of collapse will eventually happen and the term avalanche will make its presents known. It will start in a very inauspicious manner. A slight crack in the surface crust or an undetectable vibration from far below coming up from the heart of the mountain. The cause is unimportant it's the result that attracts our attention. The power of the event can change the overall appearance of the entire area. And to think it all transpired because of a simple initial seismic event. Odd to think avalanches don't always involve mountainsides of cascading ice and snow. Take for example the topography of Tennessee. At first glance, it seems quiet enough but under the surface, a rumbling can be detected. An avalanche of public opinion is on the move. Three young Democrats stood up and voiced their displeasure with gun control and as a result, the vibrations they started began an avalanche in ideology we are confronting today. Their efforts will hopefully change the landscape in the thinking of the people in their state and just maybe it will affect the entire country as well. The avalanche has begun, now do we clammer to get out of its way or do we allow our society to be engulfed by the relevance of the event? Gloria Johnson, Justin Pearson, and Justin Jones stood up because they had heard enough of the rhetoric spewed by gun lobbyists. Two of the three were expelled from the chambers for taking a stand that should have been started long ago. Maybe Mr. Pearson and Mr. Jones have stated "the" avalanche "Justin" time. To further exemplify the need for change our hearts go out to the people of Louisville, KY as they become the latest in the long line of cities that mourn the innocent lives lost in the latest mass shoot in our country. Do you hear the rumble?
I am sorry to read this. Apparently she did not appreciate you being smarter than her. You were most eloquent in your post. Brainy people do not threaten me!
Veronica--It doesn't matter as to the distance, glad to make your acquaintance. I never have banking issues, as far as money goes once in a while I have "common" sense. or is that cents.
History is supposed to be a great teacher. In order to gain relevance from it, all we have to do is pay attention. The mistakes the past teaches us to avoid should be lessons well learned. However, today we are again exploring paths through the same old jungle we have previously learned to avoid. Once you've watched someone disappear in a pool of quicksand, you would think others would want to avoid the same unpleasant fate and make the decision to go around. History's lesson concerning fascism is vert blunt. Those who refuse to remember the horrors' associated with that time need a jolt of culture shock. Small minded men with warped ambitions have proven to be poor leaders in the past. Tyrannical thought will never end in a positive manner. Hitler died because he was stupid, and anyone following in his footsteps will discover hatred divides, it never joins.
Precisely right Don. Trust, if you will that I actually have pondered much (too much perhaps) all that's goin' on, history parallels, etc. - for decades now. I have some 'facts in evidence' certitude, what precisely is goin' on. Small i, have little control, voice, or celebrity to affect hearts and minds, nor outcomes. Keep the faith friend..
Hitler made all of Nazi Germany complicit in spreading unprecedented evil to much of the world. But Germany had at least one point in their defense that the United States lacks: they did not have the precautionary example of Nazi Germany.
ESclasses---I was raised in a family of 5 women, my mother, my two older sisters, and my two younger ones. I have the deepest respect for the sanctity of women. I do, from time to time, take exception to members of the group that act in a manner unbecoming to their half of the population. In no way am I a misogynist. I'm sorry you feel that way.
Esclasses- Misogynist, is a blanket term given to men like Trump. I do ridicule women who are exceptions the rule. MTG, Boebert, Lake, and Sidney Powell are prime examples of women I don't respect. I may say things that are a bit harsh but my remarks are directed at a select few who deserve everything I have to say and more. The women who bear the brunt of my remarks are morally repugnant stooges that offer little in the way of redeeming qualities. If you feel what I said about them was mentioned in a demeaning manner so be it, that's exactly how it was meant to sound. I use sexually explicit remakes to make a point, it has nothing to do with any position that reflects my feelings toward women. Hell, I hit Lindsey Graham with the same belittling thoughts I extend toward the women who down grade our country. That is just me. To me, the meaning of misogyny is what happens when you rub your patella.
Jeanne--The comment was heart felt, it came easy. I only wish the solution to the problem could be found using the same amount of effort. Thanks for the thought.
If voters don't know their history, what and how much is reported or disclosed won't matter. This happened a mere 90 years ago in Germany, yet 75,000,000 are merrily going along for the ride.
You've really nailed it here, Thomas! To paraphrase with a modern twist, "Those who don't KNOW history will repeat the mistakes of the past." The GOP well knows that a dumbed-down populace is much to be desired for its purposes.
Someone (perhaps you?) recently remarked in another thread that it's no coincidence that the rise of right-wing movements in many places coincides with the deaths of the last of those who lived through WWII as teenagers or adults.
It isn't fascism that worries me in this country as much as it is rogue judges that can set presidents by simply waving their gavels. The Texas judge, Matthew Kacsmaryk, took it upon himself to hand down a decision that upheld his anti-abortion position, by trying to outlaw the abortion pill. The heavy resistance he is facing from the pro-choice people won't go away. How is it possible a single man from the state of Texas can dictate policy to an entire nation? A simple stopgap should be set in place that allows judges to hand down policies that deal strictly with issues that affect their own state. What would happen if a handful of federal judges went on a rogue mission to eviscerate this country through a well-coordinated effort orchestrated by a power-hungry moron. Specifics are not necessary. Alice never fell through a hole that had no bottom, even though the other side does have a few Mad-Hatters. There could be a federal judges council that would consider motions presented by its members, this effort would put an end to the one-man rule philosophy. Heck, the way things are why have a president? Everything should have accepted steps that apply to everyone in the system. What would happen in the military if sergeants set policy for the generals? If Crockett could see what the Texans are doing today he just might rethink the sacrifice he made back in 1836
As in Florida? He's already got his super majority, so he is set. It'll be interesting to see how draconian he gets and what happens in their next election. "light Fascism." I like that term-may have to try it myself...NOT! :>)
Miriam Jordan, NYT author: "The bills would expose people to felony charges for sheltering, hiring and transporting immigrants who are in the country without legal permission; require hospitals to ask patients their immigration status and report to the state; invalidate out-of-state driver’s licenses issued to immigrants in the country without legal permission; and direct the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to provide assistance to federal authorities in enforcing the nation’s immigration laws." Being a Floridian, I will probably find myself charged with a Class 3 felony because if an immigrant needs an abode, my home will welcome him/her/them.
This is the party supposedly taking government interference out of people's lives. Now drivers, medical providers, shelters and law enforcement need to perform their job duties AND become unpaid employees of INS. If they don't harass random people about their immigration status and those folks are undocumented? Jail.
Every time Ron DoucheSantis announces one of his laws, I'm surprised at how much more foolish it is than the last one.
You can help them by informing them of the ubiquity and dangers of confirmation bias. This bias is the bane of humankind. You can also inform yourself and others about the importance of having priorities. Only willful ignorance can render you blind to the dangers of nuclear war, climate change, authoritarianism. Remember: Hitler started WWII, and when he realized that he lost it, he decided to destroy Germany also.
Read the non-mainstream independent online newspapers such as Pro Publica. Follow the money that puts people in office by consulting Ballotpedia and Open Secrets.
DON'T VOTE REPUBLICAN! Dems are wimpy and far from perfect, but they generally want to help America and the voters. Keep reading. "The Scheme" by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse is a good one. Also "It's OK to be Angry at Capitalism" by Bernie Sanders is excellent. Don't give up.
Laurie Blair: And some of what is reported isn't actually happening at all . . . Unfortunately, as individuals, I don't think we can gain, process, and evaluate all the info we need. But we can start by being activists locally and getting to know the candidates, and support them as they move up to larger spheres of influence. That way we will know who has integrity, competence, and the broad/deep knowledge base essential to understanding events and acting in our best interests. Plus, by starting locally, we are assured to eventually have a listening ear and voice in Federal government.
Shaf - True. But if you look at facts, CNN and MSNBC and the NYT and WAPo never pushed the administration about WMD's and never fought the governments decision to bail out bank share holders and executive bonuses over home owners in distress.
Yes FOX et all have mislead their viewers. But many of those viewers have seen the same from the liberal media as well.. Sadly FOX being dishonest does not make CNN et all honest.
Exactly. If we had the Fairness Doctrine, it wouldn't be possible for any medium to lie with impunity, but they still are able to suppress news stories and journalists by simply ignoring them. Right now we depend on a few NGOs that serve us diligently as watchers. The fact that you are commenting here is proof that you are looking for truth. There are a few others that I like: FAIR (Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting), Media Matters, The Intercept, and more. I'm sure you have your own along with Robert Reich's fabulous effort. The big trouble now is social media that claim to use algorithms to tailor content to your tastes. What that means is you can be boxed into some group and never, ever see other views of events. We need a national medium, financed 100% by the federal government in perpetuity by which we can see news feed of statements of events, which is discussed by experts who are required to have evidence for their POV. We will all be dead from climate change before it happens, I'm afraid.
Agreed 100% ... Especially on us dying before this happens. But Americans have died fighting for change and i choose to be one of them. From universal suffrage to civil rights progress has always and will always come from organizing, protesting and voting.
I would also recommend NEVER EVER voting for the incumbent. Always vote in the primary for the opponent of the incumbent. That is the only way to keep law makers honest. Don't re elect them... No the Republican wont win the General election. Most districts are far to gerrymandered for that to happen.
The elimination of the "Fairness Doctrine has allowed the proliferation of information and journalism that we would never have under the old rules. It seems the Left is more concerned about stifling the free flow of information than any interest in 'democracy'. Isn't the common 'soapbox' the true bastion of democracy and if so, why would you ever wish to stifle and hinder it. Under the 'Fairness Doctrine' the media was entirely controlled by a rather small number of oligarchies who controlled what you saw and listened to.
Here you are on a free and open Substack platform enjoying what the Fairness Doctrine opposed. You rail against one media outlet but say nothing of the outlets favorable to your ideological persuasion, whatever that might be.
"You lie" - here you are twisting and manipulating truths spoken LSnC and 'Appropriating' to your own design. To wit: "It seems the Left is more concerned about stifling the free flow of information than any interest in 'democracy'. " ... Hey dummie, here we are tolerating your bias ! It's 'you' who presume to be 'smarter, superior, and 'the only right' - the very stone you cast boomeranging back at 'you'. ** ..And btw, why exactly are you trolling about herein ? Shouldn't you be busy watching "Faux Variety Show", where all of your 'apparent' ilk commune, espouse, whine, and worst - broadcast your pathetic collective will and demands upon the real majority ? Just an humble question...
So you are all in on eliminating free speech and civil discourse. As for "we", you don't have any say in this matter on Substack, unfortunately for you. Someone else might, but you don't.
Manipulation attempts again LSnC ? You thing, are a coward and a fraud. ....** ..And btw, why exactly are you trolling about herein ? Shouldn't you be busy watching "Faux Variety Show", where all of your 'apparent' ilk commune, espouse, whine, and worst - broadcast your pathetic collective will and demands upon the real majority ? Just an humble question... I got you all day every day coward.
Your 'next trick' will be attempts to subvert and make all the good conversation "yours and all about your pitiful bias' and woes'. Your string should rightly end right here, but I'll watch, while I find your I.P. address, so you can be "Known and revealed" - coward behind the hiding screen. ** You have no 'right' to possess 'all the oxygen' in any room. Who do you think you are.. _rump ?
The inconvenient truth is that Al Gore is responsible at least in part for rolling over in 2000 instead of fighting back. The right has grown stronger since then while the Democrats have only dithered and postured.
Greg, My memory of that period is that Gore and his legal team had exhausted every recourse, and, despite disagreeing with the ruling of the High Court, Gore understood the institution superseded any one individual. If anyone were remiss, it was the Democratic Party that for decades, contrary to Republicans, paid far too little attention to the Court.
Mark, While you’re right, that unlike Republicans, Democrats historically have failed to organize to fill state and local positions, I would note my reply to Greg focused exclusively on the High Court’s 2000 ruling in Bush v. Gore.
Sad truth Joyce. Maybe sadder still that broadcast media then didn't champion all the truths inherent or, perhaps 'carry the water' for him like today's broadcast media 'carries water' for some supposed "right wing" ? Just a legitimate question Joyce, don'tcha think ?
And let’s not forget Ralph Nader’s ego trip. The nation went along for the ride in Ralph’s Corvair and that trip alone cost us the election and Bush’s private war in Iraq. There’s a huge price to be paid for “the big tent.”
Not an ego trip. It eventually led to Bernie, which is the only way we have energized the current democratic party. The party of Mr. Clinton, Ms. Clinton, Gore, Kerry, etc. is a desiccated hull, unable to offer a full-throated, proud alternative to oligopoly "capitalism".
Just like a Bernie-ite, jousting at windmills and not getting that the perfect is the enemy of the good. Reducing childhood poverty in half, low unemployment, wages up, badly needed infrastructure and big (not big enough, granted) money to begin to address climate change, lowest number of uninsured people through the ACA.. these are a start. People who benefit from these programs will vote to expand them and move us, sadly, ever so slowly, but it does move us in a social democratic direction.
I hope your frustration, while totally justified, doesn’t keep you on the sidelines of the fight or push you in a Bernie direction risking another spoiler situation like Nader giving us W.
Unlike Nader, he urged his followers (myself included)to vote for HRC. With over 74% of Sanders followers taking Bernie's lead to vote for Hillary Clinton in 2016, Sanders voters contributed mightily to Clinton's popular vote win, and he urged us to vote for Biden, too.
"Bernie stands for what I believe is best for America..."
And yet, you dismiss him. That mindset is what gives us the situation we have today: more drilling in fragile ecosystems; no prospect of single-payer; a stagnant minimum wage; no codification of abortion rights; an ever-increasing military budget; failure to enact Elizabeth Warren's sensible financial policies; and so on.
I do not dismiss him. He has been important to laying out a social democratic agenda, but may well have given us Trump, (26% of Bernie primary voters went AWOL, a significant number voted for Trump out of pique, and Hillary lost the blue wall states of WI, MI, and PA by a very few thousand votes,
Bernie’s endorsement was very very late and weak. His ego got the better of him. On 35!years of public service he has not sponsored and shepherded any significant legislation.
Elsewhere I lay out-lowest uninsured % in history (moving toward single payer) wages up across the board and many states and cities are at $15 or higher. The reservation where I live is at $16; for the first time Black and white unemployment are even; the largest investment in addressing climate change; and I’m a Conscientious Objector from the Viet Nam era, but support our support of Ukraine strongly. But like us progressives usually do, we let the perfect be the enemy of the good. By any standards, under Biden, we have seen much progress. But we continue to gripe about progress in our system that requires compromise and evolutionary change….dammit, wish it wasn’t so.
If it was "good" in this country, I wouldn't be complaining. But it's not. I can't speak to your stats about the voting in the 2016, because I don't know the source. But Hillary sabotaged her own campaign; Bernie didn't force her to ignore large sections of the country in her election efforts. He had nothing to do with the leaked emails, and so on. If she'd been a compelling candidate, she would have won.
We're not anywhere near single-payer. Premiums under the ACA are increasing every year. Medicare is becoming ever more privatized. Medical and prescription costs are skyrocketing, with higher and higher out-of-pocket maximums for those who are insured. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.
The unemployment stats don't take into account the under-employed, those who've fallen off the rolls, those who've had to take drastic pay cuts, who've lost benefits, and on and on.
Some of Biden's "green" legislation will result in giveaways to climate bad actors.
Not to mention that the U.S. military---slated for yet another huge and unnecessary budget increase---is the single biggest polluter.
Then there is the Willow project and the new drilling permits in the Gulf of Mexico, as I mentioned earlier.
In short, this isn't Progressive quibbling and demands for perfection. It's justified outrage over Dem failures to right some key wrongs that they had it in their power to fix.
Howie Anderson: Yes. Exactly. The political process isn't a binary debate--i.e., Bernie's high integrity and good values vs the craven (pragmatic) self-promoters. It's a finely nuanced and messily negotiated massive compromise where the result sometimes benefits more people than it damages. Going for the "perfect" rather than the "possible" is a luxury enjoyed by the privileged, idealistic few who enjoy the comfort that we compromisers made possible.
Considering Biden's approval of the Willow project and his even more recent opening of a huge area in the Gulf of Mexico to drilling, I think we might be able to dispense with the "lite" qualifier, sadly.
I'd say they have to cave a LOT. Look at how Manchin and Sinema (arguably right-wingers, both in thrall to Big Corp) were able to extract enormous concessions for Biden to get his big bills passed. They were greatly watered down in their final forms.
Suzanne: 1. I don't see the equivalency. Being on an ego trip wouldn't have negated Nader's alleged leading to Bernie. 2. How did Nader lead to Bernie?3. What does Nader's impact on Gore's votes have to do with the "desiccated hull"? 4. Are you saying that the Dem Party's current flash of energy is the result of Independent, Democratic Socialist, Bernie?
I don't know what you mean by an equivalency. My belief is that the democratic party's response to the Reagan revolution was to move to the right. Many bad policies were pursued in this rightward swing. Free trade was particularly devastating for the middle class in this country. When people formerly in middle class, who had slowly (or quickly) fallen into the lower class, saw that both parties had signed on to the neoliberal model, including the multinational corporations' sweetheart "free trade" agreements, they threw up their hands and determined that no one cared about them. This made them ripe for a populist of the authoritarian/racist type. Mr. Clinton's ending welfare as we know it, echoing Reagan's talking points of the government as the problem, also set the Democrats on an apologetic and backpedaling path. In an effort to mirror the ideas of "small government" there was an erosion of stable incomes and benefits from civil service government jobs, further eroding the middle class. Tax rates on the wealthy continued to plummet. There was no pushback by the Democrats as antitrust legislation was not enforced. Small business owners couldn't compete with the increasing concentration that was going on in most sectors of the economy. As small and medium sized businesses went under, so too did small towns. Again and again, the Democrats offered no alternative vision, and did not speak up on behalf of regular working people. Democrats moved the center of politics to the right. If you don't believe me, consider that Justice Stevens, by the end, represented the left wing of the court. We have desperately needed a reset button in this country, to reset the center back to where it was when the Democrats were at least some counterweight to the trickle down economics of the right. People thought they were getting that reset with Obama, but he gave us Larry Summers. (Who is a slimy apologist for the ultra-wealthy.) People finally hoped, and they were failed. It confirmed for them that there was no hope for them in the Democratic party. So, yes, Clinton and Obama brought us Trump. They failed us spectacularly. And yes, Bernie was able to wake up a nation. He gave people true hope. Unfortunately, some who supported him, made it only about him. Unfortunately, some who supported him were purists, and when they saw the shenanigans of the Democratic establishment, they were heartbroken and angry and turned away from everything. But just look at where the Progressive caucus is now. It's heartening. For myself, I am angry that the Democratic establishment still primaries good progressive candidates and fails to see what people are hungry for. And most Democrats don't understand Trumpism and people who support Trump. I live in Trump territory. These are my neighbors. It is complex. I do believe, however, that Trump is a product of the Democratic party and their failings.
So true. What are the duties of the DNC? Does it have any power over candidates' decisions to run? And on the rare occasion when there are good candidates, why do they run against each other? In CA, Porter and Schiff. In Las Vegas, 2 excellent candidates are running against each other for mayor. Why is the obvious so elusive?
The DNC determines who will be nominated, long and short. It denies funding to those candidates who won't toe the corporate-Dem line. It requires all candidates to raise $XXX for the party, in addition to raising money for their own campaigns. The DNC, IMO, is why Bernie wasn't inaugurated in January, 2017.
Thanks, Denise, for your informative response. So is it funding both Porter and Schiff?? If yes, how does that make sense? Not only did the Dems sabotage Bernie, but they also sabotaged Al Franken under the guise of virtue signaling. Reminds me of my first strike as a teacher in 1968, with my baby in a stroller on the picket line, because with no income, I couldn't afford daycare. The union financially subsidized male teachers but not females teachers, because males were categorized as "heads of households" (The men's wives provided them with lovely picnic lunches). When those who are supposed to protect us become our enemies either deliberately or through incompetence. More echoes of wise Pogo.
I don't see any current dollar figures, but my guess would be that all four current candidates are getting some kind of stipend. Pelosi immediately endorsed Schiff, so he's got the edge with wealthy donors. CA Progressives think Schiff is too moderate, but I'd bet the DNC goes with him 'cause he can be counted on not to rock the boat.
Ralph did NOT give us W. The inept Florida Democratic Party (approval of the butterfly ballot), the "win at all costs" Brooks Brothers riot in Miami and the SCOTUS gave us W even though Gore actually won a tiny plurality (100+ votes) in Florida .
At the time Ralph was researching the Corvair, he was right, but by the time his book was published in 1965, the Corvair's rear suspension issues had been corrected in the '65 Vair. But it was the Mustang (hitting the market in early '64) that killed the Corvair. Ralph helped, but Lee Iaccoca and Hal Sperlich found the formula that doomed the Corvair.
Ralph Nader is why Gore did not become President, not SCOTUS. Both recounts after the election showed that Gore lacked the votes and that is because they were sitting in Nader's bucket.
Whenever I mention this to a Naderite, they respond that this isn't true because Nader didn't have enough votes to make that kind of difference. I'd appreciate a documentable rejoinder--thx
That would not have had any impact on a statewide vote in Florida. The winner in that state receives all the electoral votes in a Presidential election.
So if the large numbers of votes for Nader would not have had a statewide impact in Florida, is it accurate to assert that Nader wrecked Gore's chances in Florida? thx
That was precisely what happened. It can accurately be said that Nader denied Gore the Presidency. We can say the same thing regarding Ross Perot and George H.W. Bush in 1992. Bill Clinton became President with a plurality of the vote because of Perot's "vengeance" against Bush.
On the other hand, if Bill Clinton had resigned rather than subject the office of the presidency to scandal and impeachment, Al Gore would have gone into the 2000 race as the incumbent.
As a committed neoliberal, closely aligned with Reagan and Clinton on economic policies. Gore's campaign did not demonstrate ANY significant variation from Clinton's disastrous neoliberal plutocracy.
The 1968 election demonstrated that being associated as VP to a generally disliked Pres does not bode well for the VP running in the next election.
I really don't want to address you as much as other readers who might buy your word salad as served. I have no idea how much of a "committed neoliberal" Al Gore was or is. I DO know that during his campaign, he harped on using the actual and projected budget surpluses to shore up Social Security and Medicare. Perhaps Norm does not consider Social Security and Medicare to be part of the traditional New Deal / Great Society programs. I do.
In my history, 1988 came after 1968. Reagan had his own dealings with scandal and unpopularity. So again, I would suggest "let the reader beware." My impression of Gore was that he was more technically and scientifically sophisticated than Clinton, and believed that regulation and government policy needed to be used to address the environmental challenges that we face -- definitely tarnishing his credentials as a "committed neoliberal." But hey, people can believe anything they want.
Reagan's scandals did not significantly diminish his popularity in 1988 and, unfortunately, has not really done so still.
Gore's public support for environmental actions came well after his run for the WH. He did not meaningfully address the environmental crisis while in public office. He did some investigating about toxic spills, etc. but not about climate change as such.
Promoting Soc Sec and Medicare via a budget surplus is/was antithetical to the very public promotion of them because they are funded directly by the ultimate beneficiaries and NOT by federal taxes/general "fund". The Great Society was a part of the New Deal era. But that did not make LBJ a popular president, which his domestic policies, largely built on JFK's rapidly evolving domestic policies and would have made him immensely popular were it not for his reversal of JFK's executive order to begin to withdraw from Vietnam and escalated instead, the unpopularity of which caused him to not seek re-election.
Gore was VERY prominently outspoken about "The end of big government". Gore had a very long history in the House and the Senate as being fairly conservative, definitely NOT as conservative as TN is today, but still quite conservative, or if you prefer, quite cautious and not prone to rock the boat.
Quoting Norm here: "Gore's public support for environmental actions came well after his run for the WH. He did not meaningfully address the environmental crisis while in public office."
Senator Al Gore's book -- published in 1992, when he was hanging around folks like Barry Commoner. Title: "Earth in the Balance: Ecology and the Human Spirit."
Norm, you've got more horsepower than brains -- and I pity the fool who can't see that.
I have always been told I am 'too nice' and never thought that was possible. But it is possible when you allow anyone to do something that is patently unfair or evil.
Interesting choice of words, but unless Gore did what trump wanted Pence to do, or what trump called on his mob to do, Gore was between the proverbial rock and a hard place. There is no question, however, that the Dems have never learned to speak powerfully enough or directly enough to knock the GOP down. If ever there was a time for Americans to be in the streets, it was then. Where were you?
It’s funny how some people’s solution to facists is to fight them harder and use their own tactics. The mainstream D’s have been delivering to the American public for decades. In a honest election, they will win. The solution has never been for Gore to fight on after losing at the USSC or for Bernie to complain he was jobbed. Politics can be a full body contact sport. But once the election is over, we must all make sure that the process remains fair and honest. That is where the focus needs to be. Most States have an initative process that can be used to overturn the blantantly unfair stuff the R’s are doing. Its a lot of work, but it is what is worth fight for.
I still hold hope that the criminal justice system will do its job and out Congressional insurrectionists.
IMHO the House Gym Jordan Committee on the Judiciary overstepped its bounds when it attacked Bragg and could be prosecuted under NY statutes. 10th Amendment.
New York Consolidated Laws, Penal Law - PEN § 195.05 Obstructing governmental administration in the second degree
A person is guilty of obstructing governmental administration when he intentionally obstructs, impairs or perverts the administration of law or other governmental function or prevents or attempts to prevent a public servant from performing an official function, by means of intimidation, physical force or interference, or by means of any independently unlawful act, or by means of interfering, whether or not physical force is involved, with radio, telephone, television or other telecommunications systems owned or operated by the state, or a county, city, town, village, fire district or emergency medical service or by means of releasing a dangerous animal under circumstances evincing the actor's intent that the animal obstruct governmental administration.
Obstructing governmental administration is a class A misdemeanor.
Harry, I live in a red state that has a citizen’s initiative process. The GOP chip away at it every chance they get. Once again, there is a bill proposed to make the process harder. Unfortunately, most citizens do not pay enough attention to know what’s going on. Regarding the citizens initiative, we need a federal one too!
I fully agree and I add that Hillary lost her election unfairly also. It was stolen swing states. Again the Democrats didn’t have the balls to do anything about it or even imagination to realize that it happened.
He fought it all the way to SCOTUS and lost both the court battle and the final popular vote by 537 votes. It was a very close election and the end result of it was that Gore became a bitter man latching on to an opportunistic scam called 'AGW'. He is now the butt of every AGW joke you can think of.
Hindsight. That was the much-lauded principle of peaceful transition. A certain assumption was made about the basic integrity and goodness of any candidate to be seriously considered by the nation for the presidency. We had not yet come to recognize the extent of the rot reshaping the Republican Party.
I felt that way too Greg. I felt that Gore didn’t really want the job as he seemed to roll over too fast.
He was however, prescient in understanding our delicate universe. For that I will always be thanking him.
As Albert Einstein noted...”everyone can be a genius. But if you want a fish to dance, it will always feel like a failure”.....That is not the actual quote, but the idea is close.
Greg--I've always wondered about the degree to which he "rolled over," vs the degree to which he didn't have choice--and the degree to which the DNC was ineffectual.
Don’t give up. Progressive Democrats in my bright red, Trumpian rural area took over 2 township boards and a county Commission and we have been able, like the Republicans started to do 50 years ago to gerrymander districts and take over state legislatures and the courts, to stop a pipe line, Wild West gun laws, and elected a State Senator that gave MN the trifecta gaining state senate control by one vote.
Fer sure I'm not giving up. Yeah "hostages" probably a poor choice of words.I was reading a Missouri history mag and it talked about the Republicans in Missouri 50 years ago were in the same place Dems are today in the state. How this guy went about organizing Repub clubs around the state until they gained traction. I am beginning to see some faint signs the tide might be turning slighly in Missouri but our supermajority Repub Assembly is as crazy as the worse.
Yes, now we know how the good people of Germany must have felt when their democracy was overrun and taken over by nazis. They eventually prevailed but at a huge cost to themselves and the world.
Reagan continued the "Southern Strategy" of attracting racist without sounding racist as implicated by an Advisor, Lee Atwater- https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/exclusive-lee-atwaters-infamous-1981-interview-southern-strategy/. By marketing government as giving handouts to undeserving negros (welfare queens, and crack addicts and dealers, super predators), they were able to get white voters to cut off their noses to spite their own faces, or abandon government benefits after they had prospered from them, following the Great Depression and WWII (New Deal, GI Bill). Now none of us are able to benefit from them because the benefits now go to the wealthy and corporations. The same strategy allows the GOP to chip away at voting rights amendments and other Civil Rights Era programs designed to give opportunity to minorities, the result being the diminished voting power of what has traditionally been a loyal voting block for the Democrat Party, further enabling the GOP to institute minority rule over all of us, via GERRYMANDERING (enabling control of state legislatures and many Congressional seats by picking their voters- any elected position for which they can create the districts for, Or impeach or dismiss any official that disagrees with them and stands in their way), the FILIBUSTER (to block legislation when they don't have control of congress and the white house), and the COURTS, including a Supreme Court 'super-majority' (where, by keeping congress from passing laws, they can enact laws they like and end laws they dislike and they can disable the power of the Federal Government, and thus the power of voters, to hold them accountable). Ultimately giving themselves the unchallenged power to give more wealth and power to the Wealthy few- koch, Thiel, Mercer, Uihlein, Crow, etc. They don't want us "woke" because ignorance (willful and otherwise) has allowed them to hoodwink and bamboozle their way into minority rule over us all. Gerrymandering wasn't the goal, it was a step in the process of reaching their ultimate goal of minority rule and ultimate power.
True that! Gerrymandering wasn’t the goal, one party rule was and still is the goal and they’re so close, they can taste it. If they can’t achieve it via political means, they will do at the point of an AR-15. It’s not the Second Amendment they’re protecting, it’s the goal of fascism. And it’s long overdue that we call them what they are: The American Fascist Party. If they won’t tell the truth, we must!!!
The Rethuglicans seek to take complete control of the country and render those who don't agree with their increasingly fascist leanings principles voiceless. That means any one of color, or not of their pseudo Christian faith, or of the LGBTQIA community, or, yes, female should have no say in the running of our government or, even, control over our own bodies. I find it highly unconscionable that they would choose to "save" the fetus at all cost leaving the woman with no control or rights over her own bodily integrity and, yet, with their next breath do nothing to protect the populace against continually escalating random gun violence including rampant mass shooting events that are the direct result of relaxed or even NO gun safety laws. A concept I, and many others I'm sure, find impossible to understand. On one hand, they'll fight to the death for random fetuses. But then turn around and have no seeming care for those very fetuses once they become children in our schools. To me, it's a contradiction in terms. They "love" the fetus but they have no concerns for our children. To me, that has nothing to do with Democratic principles or Republican priciples but more to do with what is right versus what is not only wrong but what is also evil. And the Republican party tilts increasingly more towards evil in the face of all else.
Perhaps the most significant two words in Lisbeth's note are these: "we allowed..." Ultimately, it's Americans who voted for - and continue to vote for - the long succession of fascists who are responsible for where we are today. As a lifelong liberal living in a deep red state - a state where the public education system is under constant bombardment and where Civics is no longer taught - it's eternally maddening that nothing seems powerful enough to stop fascism from running roughshod over those of us who seek to resist.
This is the key point: "We have a Democratic Party, which — notwithstanding a few glaring counter-examples such as what the Democratic National Committee did to Bernie in 2016 — is still largely committed to democracy."
This was not merely a "glaring example," it was an abandonment of democracy within the party. Look, the fascists are always with us. They are about 20-30% of population, and they can be exploited through their collective racism, at a time of economic regression. Most of Trump's base is fascist - whether they know it or not - given their support of dictatorial leaders and of insurrection.
You cannot overcome this in a democracy by abandoning democratic principles. What the DNC did to Sanders in 2016 was political malpractice. They took the only political candidate who could give the 70% what they wanted - and they sandbagged him. THEY are responsible for Trump.
We will see if they have finally learned their lesson when the next charismatic liberal steps up.
My words and feelings exactly. I even registered as a Dem to vote for Bernie in the Floriduh Primary. I have gone back to Independent ever since. Yeah, I still vote for whatever Dem they put in the General Election, but consider it the lesser of 2 evils.
So you consider a traitorous pedophile the lesser of two evils? You do know that Hunter’s laptop has been verified and so has Ashley’s diary? You think a man who thinks he’s a woman should be allowed into a bathroom with little girls? Or that males who identify as females (no operations or hormones ) should be allowed into teenage girls dressing rooms and compete against them? Do you think men can have babies? These are all sincere questions because that is what the Biden Whitehouse is pushing and all the other dem voters I’ve asked never answers me back. I’m truly astounded this is NOT the Democratic Party of yesteryear. Do you even know about the Twitter files? You know Russia collusion was all a lie right? I can’t imagine any decent American who knows all this info would consider voting dem again. Drag Queen story time is ok with you? What about kids as young as 4 transitioning from boy to girl (surgically)! Looking forward to your opinion on these subjects.
My opinion is based on fact, not outlandish conjecture that you have written here. Yes, I believe in Trans Rights. You twice mentioned trans women (whom you refer to as MEN) using facilities with LITTLE GIRLS. Do you see what twisted propaganda that is? Please Google “Buck Angel” images. He is a decent Trans Man. These anti-trans laws will legally force him to use the LITTLE GIRLS room. It works both ways. One point before ending this reply.
WTF IS A RIGHT-WING NUTCASE LIKE YOU DOING TROLLING THIS FORUM?
The DNC abandoned us in Ohio, as well. And because of their malpractice, we now have jd vance as A SENATOR (!!!), rather than Tim Ryan. And it should have been a very winnable Senate seat, with even just a little work by the DNC.
YES! It was actions (or inactions, as the case may be) like what happened to Tim that continues my resolve to give my measly little (I am on a fixed income) to individual candidates instead of the DNC
Ohio voters are responsible, I do NOT think that any well-informed voter is using the junk mail or media ads to make their selections. People need to stop being lazy and do some real research on all candidates at every level.
Yes, we are. But, your term "well-informed voter" is key. With the media being the for-profit enterprise it has morphed into today, money has become the driving force of virtually all elections. Where does one go for viable, reliable information? Sure, some of us reach out to
sources such as this for truth and reason, but SO many of my Ohio neighbors don't, or can't.
And, what little information they do get is skewed heavily to the right by the people who DID
spend money here. The DNC DIDN"T!! Many of us saw what was happening, and BEGGED them
to please put forth the needed effort to help Rep. Ryan. Even when they saw tfg come in and
campaign with vance, we were still ignored. I get that there is only so much money available,
my own wallet is testament to that, but this should not have happened. Now, having said all
that, Ohio has, for whatever reason, turned a hideous shade of red over the past 20 years or so.
What was once an industrial, blue state has been burned by NAFTA, and the loss of the steel
industry. So many of the working-class folks blamed the Democrats (Clinton), and have flat-out
refused to come back. Which is why I say, we desperately need the DNC to work with us, and
help convince these people of the dangers of the present-day republican party. And we could
I was not a fan of Bill Clinton. NAFTA, Defense of Marriage Act, Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell - all misguided policies that set us back and caused real damage to people.
Does all that expensive junk mail have any positive impact? How much of it goes directly from the mail box to the recycling bin? Same thing with all the time, energy, and expense that goes into those endless post cards. How many people read and are influenced by them?
And that's EXACTLY what I'm talking about. Things like bobo and 3names and FL's Putz have NO place in the People's House. We need the DNC to recognize the "Oh no you don't's", and go after them with all We've got.
I agree; he was really the first to really mobilize the younger voters. when the dnc canceled him, a huge number of kids said screw this, just business as usual. a lot of those kids knew why 2008 happened - it was clinton's banking deregulation, and his wife supported it.
Bernie is an Independent. I can understand why the Democratic party wanted an actual Democrat to be their standard-bearer. I have a lot of respect for Bernie and his message but being an effective president takes an enormous amount of political skill. Compromise has become a dirty word to some but that is how things get done in a divided country.
Excellent point--Bernie has great values, but lacks the political savvy to know that being an Independent and Democratic Socialist would neither gain him enough votes nor the backing of the DNC. I was so frustrated wondering, "If he's so smart, how come he doesn't see this?" I think someone in this conversation said something about, "Perfection is the enemy of the good."
Joe was an electable and temporary choice for a calming-the-waters candidate. He's done a good job in an impossible situation. Why, in 4 years, haven't the Dems come up with a good candidate so Joe can gracefully decline to run?
there are good Dem candidates. None want to get out there and challenge the frontrunner so they don't get the viz. But Biden needs to quit pussyfooting around, IMO. I would rather see him not run, BTW.
In my opinion they have numerous excellent prospects: Elizabeth Warren, Jeff Merkley, Sheldon Whitehouse, Cory Booker, Jay Inslee, Brian Schatz, Raul Grijalva, Rashida Tlaib, Pramila Jayapal, AOC, Adam Schiff, Julian/Joaquin Castro, Jamie Raskin (a really popular guy & rising star), & I'm even beginning to warm up to Gavin Newsom.
Jamie Raskin (my state-mate) is fabulous1 I checked on AOC in Wikipedia, and sure enough, she is eligible: her 35th birthday will be Oct. 13, 2024, about 3 weeks before the election.
Hoping Katie Porter will make it to the Senate, another great candidate. Unfortunately, Barbara Lee, another otherwise great progressive, decided to run against her, which gives a boost to the more corporate-oriented Schiff. Running multiple progressives against each other gives a big - and unnecessary! - boost to moderats.
We would make more progress if, say, Porter and Lee would have talked (colluded? LOL) in advance and flipped a coin or otherwise agreed on a different path. Why not? Policy differences, political power considerations, or just egos?
In a sense, Barbara Lee has earned it. She has been a progressive leader for so long, sometimes the only one to stand for or against something & turning out to be right.
Katie Porter is quite impressive & she's in a tough to win swing district, unlike her opponents. She's still relatively young, but I'd hate for her to be out of a job. I'd hate for any of them to lose & be out of a congressional seat.
Schiff has boasted not taking corporate money. He has gained the status of a senator, but his voice of conscience in the House would be missed.
Yet another good progressive candidate was considering running, Ro Khanna. Not sure he still is.
I'm rooting for all of them, actually, even though only 1 of them can win.
I believe Porter was first to announce. She may have the hardest district to keep. Lee announced some time later. My only concern about her is that she repeatedly said (I don’t remember where) that if elected to the Senate she would only stay one term. I have only seen that once and don’t know for sure if it’s true. IMO that’s too much effort to spend on only having the seat for one term.
Both Porter and Lee are more progressive than Schiff.
I think I saw recently that Khanna endorsed Lee and wasn’t running for Senate himself.
I fear that Porter snd Lee will split the progressive vote in the primary and give a win to Schiff (only my 3rd choice).
By the way, I do think there is value i¹n a good servant of the people staying in office for a fair amount of time. With experience knowing how to run a government & deal with other politicians, the office holder can improve performance. I think Obama would've been superb in a 3rd term, & I really don't understand why a President is limited to only 2 terms. The constitutional limits happened after FDR's 4th term. The irony is that he's considered the best President we've had since Lincoln.
Barbara Lee has already had a long career in Congress, & if she wants just 1 term, good for her! 6 years is long enough to get a lot done. Then Porter (or Schiff or Khanna) can succeed her. I wish Biden was satisfied with just 1 term at his age.
In my opinion, it's a win for California if any of those fine people become Senator, but a loss if we lose any of them from Congress.
Totally agree. He is NOT senile. As you might know, he stutters and when flustered, makes errors in his speech. For his age, he is doing extremely well and could pull off a second term with a little help from his friends!
Fear of being outcompeted by younger members of the party seems to have left the old farts (I was going to say "leaders" but I think this is more accurate) circling the wagons against them, instead of trying to build a stronger bench. (Add 2 metaphors. Mix.)
So for example the DCCC would rather support powerful DINOs like Cuellar (anti-choice!) than new voices like Jessica Cisneros. Add into that collusion with the likes of scumbags like AIPAC and DMFI against candidates like Nina Turner (lost) and Summer Lee (won despite them), and you have a party that is dying of ossification at the upper levels.
It's not hopeless (yet): we did have a few good wins in the midterms, Lee and Florida's Max Frost, to name a few. Not to mention the recovering John Fetterman.
If Bernie wants to have a say in how the Democratic Party runs, he should make a commitment to a the Democratic Party instead of just caucusing with them and running as a Democrat every four years. In my opinion, it is not unreasonable for a party to expect its standard bearer to actually belong to the party,
Debra, you make a good point, and I've wondered about it myself from time to time. My guess is that the DNC don't even talk to him, because they're corporate, and probably would not support him as a Democratic candidate for Senator. It may also have something to do with issues of local electability in Vermont. If the former is the case, it explains why Bernie is wildly popular in that ruby red state of Ohio, which used to be reliably blue until the Clintons shipped their jobs to Mexico.....
One thing though, I do wish Bernie would stop describing himself as a democratic socialist. I know socialism, I grew up with socialism, and Bernie is no socialist. Why scare people?
Maybe the DNC doesn’t talk to Bernie (frankly I am a member of my local Democratic committee and I will not give money to the DNC, the DCCC, the DSCC or the DLCC) but I think Democrats talk to him and he has been able to nudge the party toward some of his priorities
Greg, can you explain the Gavin Newsome "darling of the crypto bros" comment? Genuinely ignorant and curious about the meaning and the implications. Thanks.
"Gov. Gavin Newsom has vetoed crypto regulations and spearheaded industry spin pieces for the benefit of his friends and donors in Big Tech."
"This past September, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) vetoed a bill that overwhelmingly passed both chambers of the California legislature and would have delivered rules and transparency to the state’s burgeoning and largely unregulated cryptocurrency industry.
The move came after the crypto industry spent more than $400,000 on lobbying efforts and representatives from the Bay Area tech giant Salesforce lobbied Newsom directly on blockchain technology and other industry matters and treated him to a swanky dinner, according to lobbying disclosures."
IMHO if he is going to be the enabler of these scam artists, he has no business whatsoever in government. CA should recall him and we should make sure he never gets anywhere near the White HOuse, not even for a "swanky dinner."
And I wonder about the judgement of someone that would marry Kimberly Guilfoyle. I guess we all make mistakes. But regarding crypto, when we can’t say where it originally came from and it’s perfect for criminal activity, I’m skeptical.
You may know that they divorced. We all make mistakes. Many people believe in crypto, ( not me,) and some have become quite rich....The whole idea of it has smelled from day one.
And what it did in 2020 by running a slew of candidates, specifically intended to peel off specific portions of his supporters, who quickly endorsed Biden at the first sign of any significant support for Uncle Joe.
The real problem of the US and other Anglophone countries is our majoritarian electoral systems (known as "First Past The Post" in the UK). This produces not democratic government, but "elective dictatorship" of majority governments typically elected on a minority vote of less than 50%.
They typically foster a two-party system at the expense of minority parties, forcing people to vote tactically for a least-worst option, for their vote to have any meaning at all.
Real democracy requires proportional representation.
The two young members of the Tennessee House who stood up for what is right over the concern for their own political futures are the key to opening the door to gun control in their state. Finally, voices from the silent majority stating they have had enough echoed from the chamber where they have been elected to represent the people who need social change. To punish these two young men is basically an attempt to punish every freedom loving member of our society. They had the courage to make a stand for what is right, we must show them and everyone else that gun violence in this country needs to become a thing our children only read about in history books not experience first hand.
I wouldn't say nothing, but it seems at times more concern for losing corporate $ than constituents needs. They must concentrate on living wages, affordable housing, healthcare, abortion issue, and yes, fascism. But mostly living wages. They just never seem to do this even tho we tell them year after year THAT is what people vote for, That is what motivates people to vote. It's worse now than ever. If they don't this time, it's over.
They are mostly there for the sense of power. The ones who really fight for the people are few and far between. They just worry about getting re-elected. The Democrats can forget about courting the rethuglicans and should instead concentrate on the independents. Thats who makes or breaks an election.
I agree we must concentrate , tragically, just on the independents. I have come to the realization that I can’t penetrate through the absolutism of the current Republican beliefs.
It takes voters to vote Republicans out of office. That simple act would permit all sorts of legislation to prevent the worst of global warming, empower girls and women around the world, slow or stop the mass extinctions going on right now.
Democracy doesn't just happen once every 4 years, or even every 2. Without a mass movement behind it, your vote is all but powerless. Don't just vote. Organize! (And agitate! my specialty.)
"Even voting for the right is doing nothing for it. It is only expressing to men feebly your desire that it should prevail."
I think politicians shouldn't be able to just make promises. They need to give detail on what they would cut, improve and how they would accomplish. They should have some skills and experience, not just ideas. I think they should debate on CSPAN and should have an unbiased watchdog. Bernie got the shaft from his own party. Citizens United ruling is a disaster. Corporations can't give a living wage because the officers take what profits are left over after buying the politicians.
When you promise to do something for someone, with no intention of doing it, and you do so for personal gain, that is called FRAUD. It is against the law.
Bernie’s an Independent, so are you saying that the Independent party shafted him? Some in the Democratic party felt that he didn’t adequately support the Democratic party.
Some Democrats are wolves in sheep's clothing. Soon they switch parties and canoodle with the right. E.G. Shelby, Sinema, Manchin et al. No such thing as Blue Dog Democrat who is True Blue. Democratic national party MUST SEEK AND GROOM leaders with good govt skills.
** See UTube videos of Lee Kwan Yew, R.I.P., past prime Minister of Singapore, on how he envisioned & persuaded others to work for the people, not to build nest eggs, paid-for trips, investment tips, etc.
"They just never seem to do this even tho we tell them year after year THAT is what people vote for...."
To your comment, seajay, I'd respond by paraphrasing the old adage attributed to Upton Sinclair:
“It is difficult to get [an elected official] to understand something, when [his/her election coffers] depend upon....not understanding it!” Big Corp pays both parties to keep living wages low. Corporate Dems want to keep the gravy train coming as much as their GOP counterparts do.
Information and communication are the way we win. As Michael Moore often reminds us, "there are more of us than there are of them." We have lost our local newspapers and most of the investigative reporting that we used to benefit from. I support sub stacks and donate twenty dollars to ProPublica every time they do fabulous work, just like the recent reporting on Clarence Thomas. They have investigated and informed concerning Child Protective Services, Hospices, working conditions, etc. We need to keep on with the tactics of getting people to the polls and volunteer to be election judges and poll watchers. The Tennessee Three have an organized effort against gun control. And persistent civil disobedience always works.
Jennifer: How about sending Federal troops and military doctors to distribute mifepristone in states that are overreaching their authority by attempting to ban it?
What are you doing to see that high schools in your area are getting eligible students registered to vote? Either through the League of Women Voters or in-house activities on the part of the high school
That is probably why DeathSantis has targeted schools to eliminate any books, organizations, etc. that would allow critical thinking skills to be disseminated.
Btw, if you are a podcast listener, the League of Women Voters in KC produces a podcast called “Talk, Talk, Vote” that reviews Missouri legislature activity.
The public libraries were also registering people to vote but I don’t know if that’s still so. Please donate to your local League of Women’s Voters. They do great work.
I just donated to Lucas Kunce’s campaign for senate. However, on a more local level, the proposed budget from the MO House try’s to defund public libraries, education programs, the I-70 project and more. They also have a bill to make the citizen’s initiative harder (I t’s already difficult enough).
There is such danger in the false equivalence’s that you lay out! You are doing Foxs work for them. There is a massive and crucial differences between the GOP/fascists and Democrats and not just in policy. Democrats as others here have pointed out, are a party in the democratic tradition.
I could pull my hair out over how so many progressives let the perfect be the enemy of the good! Where is the pragmatism needed to hold our political system together (thanks a bunch “Founders” of this crazy system of ours) and to try, at least, to govern?
True. Most Dems have bought into the corruption that they created with Citizens United and similar SCOTUS rulings. There is only one way out of this nightmare and it’s at movetoamend.org Check it out. Sign on. Get your organizations to sign on too: movetoamend.org And get your orgs involved to help out!
Here's one people may not notice: bitcoin-- a currency with no real basis that's untraceable or difficult to track-- rots civilization from within even as it accelerates global warming.
The claim of libertarians everywhere. Not before those at the top of the scheme get rich and leave-- with everyday people holding the bag.
Any currency that accelerates global warming is a non-starter. But there's more: Any currency that is not traceable-- or is difficult to trace-- permits transactions outside of the public sphere: you know, taxes! Hardly equitable, and with its ongoing acceleration of global warming-- we could only it "currency for thee, but not for me".
I'd like to hear a compelling reason to believe in crypto too. A currency that hardly anyone on earth accepts when you want to buy goods or services, doesn't seem like much of a currency to me at all.
It takes lots of energy to mine. Other than its own proliferation, it doesn't seem to produce anything valuable when it is mined. The value it does have is driven by people trading for it with central bank issued currencies, hoping crypto will continue to rise while they hold it. It seems to behave more like a speculative commodity than a currency.
I agree that there are significant similarities between what happened in 1930s Germany and the US today. However, both parties are currently at fault for the current situation. In Germany, the Nazi party had the ability to dissolve the Reichstag once they achieved a majority, but in our two party system, both parties have been pushing for power. It’s just that the Rs were more effective in doing so. For example, look at what the DNC did to Bernie in 2016. In 2020, I believe Bernie was on track to win the nomination, when the DNC appeared to convince other candidates (Harris and Buttgeig) to drop out and support Biden.
Neither party really supports the people of the US, as can be seen by the majority of Independents and Unaffiliated voters (24-28% registered R and D, 44+% independent), but the RNC and DNC both only do what they view as best for their party to remain in power. We need to rebuild our party system and allow minor parties to have just as much chance to win, rather than keep the 2 party stranglehold. If we don’t, then we’ll soon devolve into a one party dictatorship where the people have no control over their own destiny.
I believe that will work, as long as our election rules and laws were edited to allow 3rd parties as much of a right to be on the ballot. In my state (CT), 3rd parties have to get a TON of signatures to be on the ballot. CT doesn’t even allow write in voting unless the person written in gets a bunch of signatures. CT has some of the most restrictive voting laws in the country, but no one ever mentions that, probably because of the dominance of the D party in the state.
In 1980 I was a co-founder of the Citizens Party of DE. We had to sue the state for ballot access. It took a few years, but we eventually succeeded.
Even before that, we organized (with the help of Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters!) the Newark Voters Coalition to contest the (officially non-partisan) mayor-council elections. It was a big push to register UD students. Our candidates included a local artist, an honors poli-sci student/TA, and an ex-Weatherman. Of course we were excluded from registration and the ballot in spite of picketing City Hall, aka "the "Tomb of the Unregistered Voter," on election day (one member even chained himself to the front doors).
But we made enough of a stink that the Council spent the summer (with students and NVC organizers at every Council meeting) to get the laws changed so students could register and vote thereafter. We also got our poli-sci student elected to the Council.
The nation is not evolving toward Fascism any more than it was in the '30s. The Republican Party is, at least far too many of its elected "representatives" are, moving rapidly toward Fascism. They have been doing so for decades as IMO they recognized that most Americans have been moving in the opposite direction toward a fully democratic republic and are leaving them in a perpetual minority. They realized half a century ago that their ONLY hold on power is to use the economic power of their relatively small numbers of obscenely wealthy plutocrats to control the information spewed forth over the populace and to control the political process by any and every means necessary. Lisbeth Applefield is quite right about Reagan and Shaf is quite right about the Fairness Doctrine. Both missed the regulatory switch that then allowed media to charge candidates the highest rates for political ads during prime time which led Democrats to also kowtow to BIG MONEY in order to pay for their campaigns.
But Reagan became the pawn of plutocrats at General Electric almost 30 years before he even become governor of California. And the current process really got rolling, via the Powell Memo when Détente and Ping-Pong diplomacy erased the fear among plutocrats that the Soviet Union would radicalize labor demands leading to the collapse of the management-labor consensus. It's at that point when they moved beyond the John Birch Society and launched their "think tanks" and lobbying "law" firms.
While it is comfortable among Democrats to use 1980 and Reagan's election as the jumping off point for this current Republican Party move toward Fascism, it began long before Reagan's treason enabled him to grab the White House. In the face of a solid movement by most Americans toward a more meaningful democratic republic, BIG MONEY went all in during the early '70s to lie, cheat and steal their way to perpetual domination over the majority of Americans.
Ellen - What role has 40yrs declining wealth and income played in convincing Americans that the government is not going to improve their circumstances? Can you identify any other 40yr period in the history of this country where incomes for so many Americans have been in decline while incomes for the top 1% have been growing wildly fast.
You mention Hitler and Germany... Why was Hitler able to mobilize the Germans as incomes for the poor and middle class were in permanent decline there as well? What role has the Democratic party played in the 40yr decline of wages to poor and middle class Americans and how has that impacts many Americans willingness to identify with, much less vote for, Democratic leaders?
Pro Fascists have always lurked in the background, waiting for their moment. They surged during McCarthyism, and have now emerged, stronger than ever. These are dangerous times. What works in our favor now is the availability of instant and universal sharing of information. Social media has it's own dangers, but the upside is that we all have access to news which in older times would have taken weeks to disseminate.
The Citizens United Supreme Court decision is destroying our democracy. It said that “Corporations are people and Money is speech”…WHAT?! HJR46 proposes an amendment to reverse this and must pass ASAP to stop the deterioration of democracy.
We’re living in fascist times. It’s here. Trump has emboldened these people, millions of them, to rewrite history, burn books (bans), take away rights of women, voters, minorities (anti trans laws) and oust their opponents who are elected by the voters. What’s not fascist about them?
Yes. This civilization is going in reverse. And Faster and Faster all the time. Guess where this all ends if someone does not wake up? And it has to be a LOT of someones.
But what is the answer to causing them to wake up? Seems that humans only do so when they are backed into a very tight corner. Fingers crossed.
I would say ending the voting rights act in 2013 was the most dangerous thing that has been done. What we are witnessing today are the direct effects of removing that law.
the shameful SCt decision upholding a fugitive slave law was at least made on constitutional grounds, de jure, and as such it was upholding the constitutional status quo, whereas the SCt decision that a corporation is a "person" or association of persons with the 1st A. right to make unlimited campaign donations was not upholding the law, it was not the status quo that was upheld, it was not the law that corporations are within the meaning of the 1st A., it was just a blatant, shameful de facto revision of the 1st A. and for this reason I expect that it will be reversed eventually.
Keith Olbermann called Citizens United the Dred Scott of the Twenty First Century on his podcast today. It would be interesting to compare and contrast the two decisions concerning the "why" and what resulted.
I totally agree with you. And the Democrats have done nothing to undo this ruling by SCOTUS. They have not even introduced a bill since 2010. All of politicians now have found a cash cow in the American people. asking for donations non stop. We must get money out of our politics.
Money rules. Watch last night’s 60 minutes episode on Saudi Arabia and how they are dumping millions upon billions upon trillions of dollars/riyals into sports and sports teams for their country. Buying the best and trying to shut up the rest (i.e. those speaking out against their atrocities). All that is going on in our own country is about money, which equals power. We must change our thinking about money and power, otherwise we all lose.
I still propose that our form of Capitalism is meant to allow a small circle of oligarchs to run the government without a democratic process. And those oligarchs aren't required to be American citizens. Nor are the owners or any of the Board members.
I continue to believe that a business federation modeled after the Mondragon organization would be a better economic format. And allow for a more equitable tax structure.
Agree, agree!! And Mondragon organization business format is stellar tool to address equity & climate rescue. Need to (re)find succinct story on it in 1980's Co-Evolution Quarterly.
Corporations as persons goes back centuries. But corporations with the CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS of We the People goes back to the Santa Clara Railroads SCOTUS case in 1886. That case used the 14th Amendment to grant constitutional rights to corporations. It opened the flood gates. Money as speech came from the mid '70s SCOTUS decisions -- Buckley in '76 and Bellotti in '78. CU merely further widened the rabbit hole by giving corporations the ability to spend unlimited amounts by supposedly independent PACs during election season. If any of us truly want to undo this calamity, we MUST get our "representatives" to co-sponsor House Joint Resolution 48, which is the ONLY one that undoes the legal doctrines arising from Santa Clara, Buckley and Bellotti which set the ground work for CU.
I hadn't been following the SCOTUS when they eventually agreed to Citizens United. But the moment I heard what they had done I thought, "What the HELL were they thinking?". Now I know they were NOT "thinking". They were letting the puppeteers behind dark money "inform" them.
I will say this. The Republicans in Congress who refused to honor the presidential election of 2020, and who gave aid and comfort to the treasonous rioters on January 6, 2021 - these are the legislators who should have been expelled. We continue to appease or ignore the thugs who invade our statehouses or occupy our federal preserves, and we continue our spiral into a repeat of the Weimar Republic.
I’m afraid you’re right... we had ample time to correct the problems when Obama was President. Being a scholar at Harvard Obama knew exactly of the atrocities the Republicans were doing - most notably Citizens United. We have zero chance of further advancement in ridding us of those committed to turning our Nation into a Plutocracy unless we overturn Citizens United. Obama had the chance, an open road to correct the satanic Citizens United decision handed down by our equally corrupt Supreme Court.
Today our Congress members fear even mentioning Citizens United as it brings the Dark Side right out their chairs. Only a few ... an honest brave few who put the Nation before their wallet or next election will stand in Congress and ask for help in the task in ridding us of what is decimating our Democracy.
God help us as apathy now runs deep in our Democratic Party.
The Dems have had several opportunities to completely overturn the disasters of Reagan's time in the WH and those of Poppy and W Bush. But they have NEVER tried to do more than nibble around the edges even when they held the trifecta of House, Senate and White House. Dem leadership was purely neoliberal and let economic issues alone while concentrating solely on social issues. Thus the old corporate Dem self-characterization "Socially liberal but fiscally conservative" let the GOP drive toward Fascist plutocracy continue just as the appalling bumper sticker on many liberal cars, etc. rationalizes this half-vast and incompetent approach to politics -- "We aren't perfect, But they're Nuts" (Crazy) and creates absolutely ZERO reason to vote for Democrats. All these leaders can do is negative politics, praying for a GOP screw up, since they have little to offer We the People economically, which is why so many rural Americans have deserted the Democrats as Democrats have deserted and refused to update and expand the New Deal approach to governing.
The Republican Party is not careening into fascism — the ship has already sailed. Fascism is not too strong a word; the GOP amply fulfills all 14 Characteristics of Fascism, as noted by Lawrence Britt at https://ratical.org/ratville/CAH/fasci14chars.html
As noted by every writer/thinker/analyst who writes about it, from Timothy
Snyder to Madeline Albright and many great minds in between, not to mention George Orwell (and a brilliant "fan" of Orwell, the late, great Christopher Hitchens). et al.
The question that keeps troubling me is: how is it possible that any Americans, let alone apparently in the millions, actually want a fascist government, a crime syndicate-fascist state, installed, displacing what we have all known and lived in all of our lives? We have to assume that most attended similar schools, read similar books, experienced similar life events to those of us who are in a state of high alarm about the rise of fascism in America - and yet, they seem to desire it. How is this even possible? Do they have no knowledge about fascism in the history of the world? How can any American actually want to destroy - America?! It is beyond belief!
It's not what it should be because neoliberal governors and statehouses have dramatically cut funding for public ed beginning in the mid-'70s. And funding has continued to slide ever since, even in Democratically run blue states.
Shivers along my spine: how is it possible? The writers you mention are clear enough, like history. The U.S. is far from peacefull, but democracy is in high regard. Trump and his friend Putin are rather similar in their position. Is it time to design a new electoral system? Is it time to analyse the fears of the millions normal Republicans, who don't control their leaders? Is it time to change the relations between campaign financing, elections of judges ans so on?
Part of the problem is the, "Democracy for me, but not necessarily for others," mindset. Many Americans can't even define, "democracy." They might say it means freedom, and then equate that freedom with the unlimited license to own guns and to force their religion on others, for example.
If I'm understanding your question, Tom, it would take a sea change across the country to change the "me" attitude that has mushroomed seemingly everywhere. When MAGA voters were only some 11 million behind Biden voters in 2020, the situation is dire.
"We have to assume that most attended similar schools, read similar books, experienced similar life events to those of us". IMHO, this is no longer true. With the rise of social media and the availability of hundreds of websites with different viewpoints, everyone has their own bubble and echo chamber. Many people will only associate with others of similar views. What is truth to me is a lie to others. Misinformation and disinformation are rampant!
Totally agree! "Follow the money" is an important tool when evaluating what's happening in our world. When I encounter new information, I always attempt to find out who paid to obtain this information, and who is benefiting (moneywise and increase in power) from it.
Agree Tim. With so much of our media having so little shared consensus how could the public not be polarized ? I don't see how democracy gets healthy with such a sick media landscape.But much of that is untoucable because of "freedom" of speech" or economic bromides that cut off discussion and legislation.
Annie Cross ; Their pockets are full of money and they are on the side that's 'winning' (at all costs!); since they seem unaware of the costs, because it doesn't affect them, plus they are ignorant of history, they feel empowered and are fine with it all! See Krysten Sinema and MTG, among others, like George Santos. They just don't care about justice or Democracy!
I agree; it ithat "the sorry state of our public education system" is a huge part, BUT that is part of my point: the GOP has had a "long-game" strategy of profound, deep changes to our country - it is a real coup, I am saying, and it didn't happen in 2016 or 2020 or January 6, 2021 and one major result of their long-term tactically cunning slow-coup is the sabotaging and ultimate destruction of our public school system! They've worked for that result. It's been decades in the making, a tactical, strategized realigning of everything and schools are a huge part of that cunning strategy. Schools and courts, the Postal Service, the tax system, everything. Not "everything everywhere all at once" but everything, everywhere, slowly but surely, and the racist, woman-subjugating, anti-intellectual, anti-science, un-democratic, un-American GOP push (a real"putsch") is coming to fruition. Many decent, sane Americans went along like naive Gomers thinking "fascism? Yeah, Italy...German Third Reich....Soviets/PutinRussia....North Korea....." etc. and meanwhile the "GOP" was thinking "fascism? Yeah, we can make that happen here. That will work here if we play our cards right." Schools have been part of their "front" for decades.
Think of how public education has been handled for decades:
Segregation was shown to be, stating the obvious, unConstitutional and, ostensibly, ended (or its ending was enforced). But segregation in other ways did not end, has not ended.
Think of the myriad ways in which public education has been undermined, sabotaged, and all but destroyed, most especially in urban areas where, in addition, the maneuverings around housing issues have also fed into the destruction of "inner city" public schools. Urban schools are underfunded, poorly maintained in neighborhoods that may be very dangerous for kids to walk through and thus the eagerness to attend school is diminished and attitudes about educating ALL of America's children well and equally get transmitted to less-affluent neighborhood: you are worth less. Then over the years add in other degradations and obstacles to a good learning environment: gangs, guns, drugs, crime, police IN the schools, fights, diminished respect for teachers and teachers' respect for students and their families. Economic ups and downs but with poorer families maybe not intact or struggling in the many ways of American struggles, all of which affect students' involvement in learning and development. Add in media reports of inappropriate (to put it mildly) behavior from teachers with minors. Moving forward now we have crazed violent killers entering schools and shooting down students, teachers, anyone present. Preparatory drills in case of, not tornadoes or fire, but attackers with weapons of war. What begins as a novel education concept soon gets co-opted by right-wingers: charter schools. (Follow the money - applies there, too). Who LOVES and supports charter schools? A dedicated HATER of public schools, someone who has NEVER attended any public school ever and who was put in charge (by education con-man Trump) of the United States Dep't of EDUCATION: Betsy DeVos! (Sister of Eric Prince, he of Blackwater "fame" - infamy - and under new moniker as a Trump era mercenary paramilitary? contract military? "army" reportedly did some dirty work for the Trump mob and his Ukraine pressure...) She of inherited wealth and marital wealth from a business that many considered a pyramid scheme. That money and influence is behind a lot of the organized undermining and sabotaging of American public education. The family is deep in Dutch Reform religion that, until not so long ago, was overtly anti-Black in its beliefs and policies.
The assaults on American public education are myriad, complex and of decades-long implementation, but the main point is that they have been strategic, planned and executed. They have successfully promoted the destructive, negative ideas that schools are bad, teachers are bad, teachers unions are bad, schools are dangerous, kids are dangerous, kids are IN danger, schools are too expensive, teachers are too expensive, schools are paid for with gambling receipts, lottery receipts, property taxes - so move away and take the taxes with you, moving those taxes to affluent suburbs, leave urban schools to "bad neighborhoods" with no tax support, let those schools molder and rot, insert gangs and violence, proclaim the "wonders" of charter schools, call them "choice" "options", tell people they are cleaner, safer, freer, more respectful, tailored to 'your' child, don't use the word "segregated" for the obviously segregated schools; now add in the trend of home-schooling and then the pandemic-forced "home-schooling" where homes often don't have a computer or maybe an adult who can read, write or calculate well themselves or maybe has plenty of personal problems themselves, but call that "home-schooling" and make it seem like a thing real "patriots" would do, freedom-lovers.....
I'm tired of my own thoughts and you good folks must be tired of them, too, but I desperately want to emphasize that what we call the "GOP" is doing now has been in the works for decades: the judges, the schools, the system of taxation, guns, drugs..... and more. The whole megillah, folks, the coup. They're about to wrap up this marvelous national experiment, our country, in horrific fascism. And our Attorney General won't even arrest a criminal mob-boss traitor with endless evidence of his crimes.
Failure of education, yes, but planned failure. Failure of institutional courage from the ultimate law enforcement, the Department of JUSTICE, yes. Failure of all of us to see that we are pawns in a self-destructive sociopolitical chess game and the ones moving the pieces are destroyers of all that made America one of the wonders of human history.
Think of it: our country - all of us, we all paid for it because we believed in it -our country provided free public education to EVERYBODY. We built and filled marvelous free public libraries. We built and maintained safe, good. free roadways. We even put free, clean always open public restrooms and picnic areas along those roadways. We, all of us, provided clean, safe public drinking water to citizens. We, all of us, paid into a pension system when we were young and working so that when we or our loved ones were old they had some income and could have a foundation of safety and security. We had soil and water, woods and water in abundance and acknowledged to be the best on this miraculous planet.
And what have "we" done to all of it? Follow the money. Consider the acts of those who hate and destroy. Ponder the mentalities of those who cannot bear to imagine that "all people are created equal and endowed by their creator with inalienable rights..." ALL people.
Time to sing with Joni Mitchell:
"Don't it always go to show, you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone...."
That's a long post, Laurie , but there's so much substance & truth in it! I can feel your frustration, as I feel the same. And as you obviously have, I have been watching & noticing this happen for decades with this inevitable path to fascism without any intervention, & unfortunately there has been no intervention by the good people of this country. We've been like a frog in water slowly heating to a boil. Well, it's starting to boil now. Many people are finally waking up. But is it enough or too little too late?
My answer is that a large part of any electorate are latent authoritarian in their beliefs and impulses. Add to this their being subjected to our broken media landscape which misinforms and inflames such impulses , along with too many whose lives are not good,and you get the answer. Of course this is the Cliff Notes version. I don’t think many citizens have any idea of what government is for. They have Amazon.
They haven't thought about the consequences for themselves when they have given up their power to people who don't give a crap about them. When they figure it out, it'll be too late.
Fascism has phases, which may explain how some can embrace it. The early phases can seem very desirable and attractive to those looking for solutions to society’s ills.
A good (since deceased) friend, who grew up during the 3rd Reich, explained what he saw as four phases.
In the first phase grievances are addressed and a fascist leader is seen as a hero. This happened in Germany with several increases in welfare benefits in the early 1930s and a “full employment” scheme made possible by a program of reducing high earners’ salaries and requiring companies to employ more workers.
Phase 2 seems to be one of building monuments and showpieces while removing opposition in the government and society. This is all meant to make the fascist approach seem to work and was around the late 1930s in Germany. Remember the debut of the VW Beetle? It was an example of a shining technology, which was never produced before the end of WW II.
Phase 3, as described to me, was then the beginning of broader elimination of enemies and “undesirables” in society. Some of the sick things that went on in Germany were the “elimination” of disabled people from the population because caring for them was “too expensive.” By this time resistance is too weak and democracy is gone. Because the economy is often again in free fall, solutions like a war are often used to prop up a ruling structure with mobilization and war time production.
In Phase 4 one starts to see a reign of terror designed to keep the ruling parties in power at any cost. This is a move from fascism to totalitarianism.
Societal knowledge of these phases gets lost after about 4 generations and there is then an opening for the next generation of fascists to move in. Those embracing fascism only see Phase 1 and have no idea what will come there way in later phases.
Thank you for that link. Everything mentioned in that link is/ has happened to describe our nation TODAY. Now, the question is: will enough of us literally wake up to combat this ugly fascism? I, myself, am going to keep on resisting the political “cancer” plaguing our democracy.
Those who believe fascism is label too extreme don't live in Florida. I'd estimate only 10% of #DeSantis fascist moves are headlined. Last step is funding his personal army which he admits he'll use in other states. Can't protest without his board's approval of subject. Those who could afford to move already have escaped.
Oddly I don't see this group as political, only criminal grifters siphoning excess $ from the growing international fascist movement. I think that movement uses this Repub mobsters for their own means. I'm not educated enough to understand the third party here - maniac corporate CEO's except they provide $ and dictate policies. How can we afford Democracy when we can't afford food, shelter, or healthcare?
Florida has been flipped from most affordable to least affordable overnight, and from purple to blackish red. Last minute unconstitutional extreme gerrymandering last election got DeSantis reelected. What are the solutions? Where are the Democratic fighters? We need to hear exact plans in this battle. No more vague platitudes. GOP has declared war and Dem's still playing by peacetime rules.
DeSantis bought the election. As of Nov., DeSantis received $134,367,665 million from donors, compared to Crist, who received $27 million. DeSantis got 59.4% of the vote as an incumbent. Democrats, especially in the Black community failed to show up.
DeSantis' allies include the Batistianos who have been working to get a fascist dictator since they relocated here, and we have had voter preclusion since Nixon. In effect, Florida elected GWB in 2000 by theft. BLM did not do us any favors last year by identifying with the Cuban regime.
Because of the shenanigans, approximately 2 million people otherwise eligible are not registered to vote. The physics and math show it's still possible to outregister and and outvote them. Here in Baghdad By the Sea we still have a Democratic county mayor and Broward and Palm Beach counties are solid.
Wow. You need some old-fashioned door to door voter registration going on. We all do. From up north here, it appears that they intimidated black voters by threatening to arrest them for voting illegally. We saw it on the news.
Tks - I didn't understand the Cuban Fl vote before. And Dems forcing Crist on us again was inexcusable. And when it came to resources including funding. Baghdad By the Sea lol. There Are paths but Dems need to take them all 2024.
Most Cubans and many other Hispanics should, by rights trend heavily Democratic. But our national leaders (and apparently Crist) do not understand anything about the electorate, the history and especially voting patterns. Here we had a series of protests against repression by the Cuban government that were mostly unreported elsewhere. IMHO this is our biggest issue! We also have a huge Haitian community that needs attention. There are currently more Cubans at the southern border than came during Mariel. Haitians! Venezuelans! One size does not fit all. E.G. many Puerto Ricans in central Florida, who are not "immigrants" vote against their own interests also not for the same reasons as Cubans, Venezuelans, etc.
Nobody at the DNC is willing to listen.
DeSantis is a full fledged tyrant. Today in the NYT, he wants to expose people to felony charges for sheltering, hiring and transporting undocumented immigrants; require hospitals to ask patients their immigration status and report to the state; invalidate out-of-state driver’s licenses issued to undocumented immigrants; and "direct the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to provide assistance to federal authorities in enforcing the nation’s immigration laws."
"Mr. DeSantis has separately proposed eliminating in-state college tuition for undocumented students and beneficiaries of the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, known as DACA, who were brought to the United States as young children."
I can’t defend the DNC . They should be having weekly or monthly zoom meetings with all state chairs to work strategy , fundings, execution, all of it.
According to the folklore, even among "independents" (based on some unfortunate comments by Bernie and Biden) we are all commies until proven otherwise.
Well said. Fascism is very hard to fight against because they don't play fair and they present serious danger to vulnerable citizens, at least initially.. and ultimately to all of us. We have no alternative though.. if we don't fight now there will be no one left to fight for our rights and common good, and for the very lives of our children. These examples are specific and absolutely chilling.
⬆️ This. I remember being so frustrated and angry when McConnell blocked Garland's confirmation hearing for the open Justice seat before the presidential election. Now that he's the AG, his languid pace pursuing high-speed criminals makes me doubt Obama chose the right guy at all.
I expect him to be thorough and bring solid cases forward, but one can be thorough and do so speedily. He's shown no urgency, as democracy and freedom itself are under attack. I doubt he would have had the intestinal fortitude to write the strong legal opinions needed to protect reproductive rights, voting rights or the right of states to decide their own firearm restrictions.
"We have nothing to fear, but fear itself!" Is the DOJ afraid? I know I am. Imagine all the small children and older ones who must have drills against the lethal attacks in schools ; fear being inculcated into them, into all of US with the out of control worship of a second amendment that had been ,misinterpreted and , well, weaponized? The short sighted greedheads can't grasp what they are /have created! Terror that can eventually affect them and their families too. To say nothing of climate destruction ignored.
Yes, WTF is he doing in his job? Anything? His appointment was Biden’s “f*** you” to McConnell for blocking MG’s earlier appointment to the Extreme Court (which in turn was revenge for Bork being borked). Pure symbolism.
I think a couple of the Oaf Creepers were indicted. The Loud Noise trials should wrap up soon, see AP this morning.
The rise of Republican facism in America is terrifying Robert. For every step forward the Democrats make we take two steps back because of the GOP. I don't even recognize my country anymore. These facist terrorists have taken over all normalcy in our day to day lives. They're like weeds choking out the flowers in your garden.
I’m afraid you’re right .... the billionaires have little thought of creating new industries. They’ve decided to avoid the risk and initial cost. They’ve found a way to double their wealth every two years just by turning the screw that raises profits in every corner of America. The home and apartment realty is being bought up through the US. My friend put his house up for sale and the first prospective buyer paid cash and slapped another ten thousand on his offer above the asking price. I live in Kansas ... when asked why he was so generous with his offer he said he was with a big Corporation out of California and they plan to rent all the homes they purchase. Later I read where one Corporation in California owned 29 thousand homes! I also read where these realty Corporations expect to own one-third of the homes in the US by 2030.
We know these things. We see these things happening. My whole community is owned by corporate ghost owners. The neighborhood is full of renters who never know one another.... no community, no empathy, no keep up your property. How can we keep functioning through and above this debilitation reality?
One thing is that “grassroots” money comes from those of us who simply can’t keep up supporting election costs.
If we do not stop the billions of dollars going to pay for Fascists to take over our country then sit back and enjoy “the end”!
Oh boy, depression in any form does not breed moving forward with hope.
Yes - the republicans have definitely morphed into a cult that will stop at nothing and aims to install a dictatorship. The rule of law doesn’t exist in their eyes. I don’t understand how it is so easy for Tennessee to remove two Democrats for protesting but we can’t remove the traitors who supported the insurrection from congress? They should have immediately been removed. Then trump would have been impeached and they would not be destroying our country
Amendment 14, Section 3, in fact, requires their removal. To get rid of the likes of MTG, Gosar, Boebert, Jordan & Gaetz would improve Congress immensely.
Jaime , It would not only “ improve Congress immensely “, but it would improve our entire psyche. When children see that a bully gets away with hurting time and time again and no adult steps in to stop that behavior the good child slips into a fairly remorseful mode. No trust and therefore little energy left to relax and enjoy life knowing the rules mean their safety. No rules , no safety.
That’s how many of us feel... childlike and hopeless.
Just remember that Hitler was jailed after the Beer Hall Putsch (look it up) but IIRC only was required to serve 9 months of a 10-year sentence. Keep the pressure on the DOJ.
I lived in South Carolina for 5 months as a news director for a radio station back in 1979. It was in a city called Chester. There is a confederate war memorial erected by the daughters of the confederacy in the middle of town. It still stands there today. I was threatened by the KKK for airing a story that they didn't like, they called the station and said, "tell her we know where she lives". I knew what that meant. They wanted to kill me. I was 22 and wanted to live so I quickly found a job at another radio station in North Carolina which was better because Jacksonville is where Camp LeJuene is located and it was at least more metropolitan. What I discovered by living down there is that they never stopped fighting the Civil War. In 1979 I could not be seen talking to a black person on the street. The reason I was threatened is because I interviewed Golden Frinks, from The Southern Christian Leadership Conference on my news show. Back then you had to live down there to experience this level of in your face racism. I grew up in NY and went to college in Manhattan where I had friends from all walks of life and was never told not to.
I guess the point of my story is that racism never went away. Its always been there. The difference is now that people like trump, desantis and abbott in texas have made it ok to be flagrantly racist. Outlets like Fox have made it their goal to gin up the already existing racists, homophobes and fascists to the point where they think a fascist authoritarian government is a good thing and better than a democracy. Its the goal of the fascists to take away rights from lgbtq+, black & brown people and women because they are the base of the democratic party. I've lived on LI for 17 yrs and have made very few friends because I'm a democrat. I'm living in a maga cesspool. I'm scared as hell about what is going on in this country. Its a repeat of Germany in 1939, and just like then no one is doing anything to stop it. The democrats have to get tough and take down the rethuglicans or this country is doomed. You can't rely on the media for this. As citizens we need to scream this from the rafters, flood social media about how bad the fascist rethuglicans are and create a real strategy to beat them at their own game. Its time to get down and dirty.
I believe Germany 1933 would be slightly more accurate (but I'm nitpicking - apologies). I have dual US/UK nationality and was brought up in NYC in the 60s. My mother was White British and my father was African American (can you imagine how taboo that was at the height of the civil rights movement!) I was told from an early age "never go down south - they're crazy!"
Sorry to say that Fascism, in layman’s terms, is the marriage of business and government and you and I missed the wedding. With monopolies controlling every industry, leaving the billionaires to make twice their wealth in 2-3 years with their absolute control of our Congress, thanks to the Citizens United decision by our Republican led corrupt Supreme Court, nothing will stop this unless we protest as do the French. I hate violence but the French begin peaceful protest that, if their protests are ignored, they result in violence.
This is what we may have to do.
Expecting our government to do anything will first take the permission of the billionaires!
I fully agree, Robert. In Florida it is now illegal to demonstrate. The first amendment is subject to state government approval. Nikki Fried and two other women were recently arrested for demonstrating.
The Republican party has, for some time now, been a cause for real concern. Party policies & positions can be, & should be debated, but the GOP's wholesale purchase of this mania (which superceded Trump), poses an existential threat to the American idea. Few republics can survive this onslaught......If the people don't demand it's eradication, can America survive? I hope so, the world needs honest brokers, not perfect partners, but a people who understand the value of the collective & a commitment to preserving democratic institutions & free society.
I live in a very red county in a very red state. In local elections, there are no Democrats on the ballot because they've just stopped running. I have thought about running for political office if for no other reason to get a different point of view in the field. The unfortunate thing is, I can sit in the local coffee shop and hear various local 'old-timers' seriously discuss the benefits of dictatorship. These are non-elected 'community leaders' who would disavow the democracy that facilitated their success, and claim the racism and sexism, aka 'values,' that drove their business model was the true measure of their worth. The Old South is alive and well here, which can be seen in the demographics of the county, few people of color live here for good reason. On the other side of demographics, the socio-economic divide is huge, and those who live in grinding poverty willingly and enthusiastically support the fascist moves of the Republican Party because for them, they may be poor, but at least they aren't black, and the Republicans play that card over and over with impunity. The question becomes, how does any movement penetrate a fear-induced hate that is fed the people from cradle to grave? It is prevalent in every pulpit with few exceptions. It is the dominant force in local politics, and is expected in the classroom from k through community college. And they see it daily on Fox News, OAN, Real News, all the collections of 'batsh*t crazy' these media empires can throw at people. Media outlets have always been about profit, but they generally supported a democratic system. Now, they would overthrow the democratic system that allowed them to succeed for even more profits they assume a dictatorship would usher in. There seems to be little awareness, at any level, that freedom of speech and the press end when the democracy is thrown out the door. It's like Texas secessionists who are shocked to hear that seceding from the Union would terminate their Social Security and Medicare benefits. The short-term maximization of profit has long-term political repercussions, and as long as power is white, male and christian, the populace here has little concern over the form it takes. I don't think this is an outlier as far as rural to semi-rural areas are concerned. There are Democrats in the hinterlands. Probably more than are realized. We're just quiet out of necessity. For the moment. A gay, atheist candidate for a local office may be what this deep red, bigoted county needs. The only freedoms we truly have are the ones we fight for. It's time for all of us to stand up and fight, to be vocal in our opposition to the incipient fascism in this country, and call out the Old South ideology of 'men are not created equal' for the social evil it is. The battle for the soul of America has become a full-scale war and there is no quarter offered from the fascists. There should be no quarter asked, either. We are at that moment where it is all or nothing. Either they win or we do because each side has defined the other as evil and there is no middle ground. How can you negotiate with a party who categorically denies your fundamental rights? You can't. You have to become politically active, running for office, campaigning, organizing, and protesting the injustices these people are perpetrating. Posting in comment sections and social media is no longer enough.
Over the last 6 years I have felt a growing urgency about the conditions in this country and how ALL OF IT has been festering inside the historical Southern "cause." It has been making me psychologically and emotionally sick! What you have pointed out CANNOT wait to dissipate or "work itself out." NOW is the time for action BEFORE it is too late - the search for "middle ground" has done nothing but entrenched and emboldened the process of Fascism that is taking place in FLA, etc! The window of opportunity is closing FAST...
I'm pretty sure that's an identity that makes the half-life of Actinide series elements look long-lived. Like most Republicans, his(?) chameleon politics will get the better of him(?) in mixed groups of 'really out there' and 'outright batshit crazy.' It will be interesting to see what comes about when he(?) becomes background noise.
You’re not alone.... I, politically, have the misfortune to live in Kansas.
Upon becoming involved in the 2016 election in about 2014, I spent many hours a week and thousands of dollars toward Bernie’s success.... he was very successful in his primary.
I once asked a well know Democratic leader in our area what is done about knocking on doors in Western Kansas.
My response was that they don’t travel into Western Kansas - nothing West of interstate 35.
I suggested we buy an old bus and renovate it and fill it with all kinds of Democratic information.... the kind where you go in the back door and out the front?
Then hit the road nearly every weekend and assure those living in the many small towns that ‘yes’ there is a Democratic Party in Kansas.
I only received smirks from those who could help promote this idea.... but I think it is sorely needed as the Republicans are Lord in Western Kansas. Few Democrats even run against the Republicans ....
After that day I paid special attention to those who would occasionally pop up on Facebook and I found there’s complete segregation out in Western Kansas.
The Republican hold in that area makes what few Democrats live there remain quiet .... they fear what could happen if they even as much, put a political sign in their yard. Their homes would be adorned with paint spray and other terrible actions.
I think the Democratic Party has a bad case of group-think. Your idea is the right one. There are Democrats who need to know they are supported and if our ideas never find expression in a political field like Western Kansas or North Texas, those who agree with our platform never have a chance to hear their view reinforced in context. Get the bus and go West. Debate the Red Red Right on their own turf. There may be more blue coats than red when it is all said and done.
BIG MONEY is the problem EVERYWHERE. The media morphed into its current state in the aftermath of two federal events at the FCC, namely the redefinition of the Fairness Doctrine to a guideline only and the elimination of the advertising cost at the lowest ad rate on their rate sheet to the highest rate for candidate advertising.
We live in a plutocracy that is corrupting EVERYTHING, not merely politics.
see if you can have a hand in spreading healthy informed media. Like https://statesnewsroom.com/ there are newsrooms covering state affairs in a number of states. Maybe yours. Others are doing podcasts and streaming radio interviews from rural areas on internet radio.Others have started websites covering local news. Support whatever you have that's healthy that is struggling.Otherwise Musk may own it all, to take things to the extreme.
Seriously? The chosen one [Beware of False Prophets]
The following is (By Greg O’Lear )
The FPOTUS is the polar opposite of Jesus. Trump is a racist; Jesus welcomed everyone. Trump is a rapist; Jesus was a celibate and a friend to sex workers. Trump is a thief; Jesus forgave the thieves crucified alongside Him, but was blameless himself. Trump is completely ignorant of Scripture; Jesus engaged in scholarly debates with holy men when he was a kid. Trump has no moral compass whatsoever; Jesus is the moral compass for millions of humans around the world. Jesus hated money changers in the temple; what would He have made of money launderers like Trump? The difference is perhaps best summed up thus: is it not fundamentally un-Christian for a wealthy man to use loopholes to avoid paying taxes—Jesus loved the poor. Trump’s attitude is, “Fuck the poor.” And yet for millions of Americans, Trump is Him.
I must tell of the Sunday services’ Trump partook in at, I believe, St. Patrick’s Cathedral in NY city.
Of course it was just a total promo, the camera was usually on him.
In his boisterous way he exclaimed into the camera how religious he was!! Of course!
The communion ceremony started and as usual, Trump leaped to the front. The ceremony consists of grape juice and a wafer representing the bread and wine.
Trump took no time ... before his offering he quickly snatched up a wafer at in full view he popped the wafer in his mouth and chewed and said ‘ Hmm, I like these little cookies’ !
So I guess his boasting of his knowledge of religion was proven ... he liked the little cookies!
He is not solely responsible no, these people are who they always were.
But I have to wonder would they have come out of the woodwork if he wasn’t elected president and made it normal for their brand of corrupted politics to become okay to say out loud?
GOP is already a fascist party.. like the other Conservative Party s in EU .. ÖVP CDU CSU Macron .. ADF FPÖ are NAZI party’s like SS under Hitler .. they will execute.. Spindelegger Nehammer Kurz bild w Austrian Taxpayers money Prisons !!! For Migrants!!! In Croatia ..!! It is insane what the Thiel Musk Koch brothers and many more .. do .. it is insane
YES...this nation is evolving into Fascism brought about by the Republican Bund. Compare today in the US to Shirer's Rise and Fall of the Third Reich. Trump/Hitler and his SS Waffen followers are leading toward anti Semitism, anti Black, anti all people of color, elimination of a free media, dissolving the banks, dissolving public schools in favor of For Profit education, eliminating taxation for the rich, doing away with the public good services like Social Security and Medicare, and make all public services like the post office, fire dept, etc, all Free Market enterprises....on and on. I am a 92 retired professor of public policy who lived through many wars and market crashes, and I find today the worst situation in my lifetime.
I fully agree with one comment: the Republican Party has been “devolving” and not “evolving” into a fascist and criminal organization for decades. In 1980 when Ronald Reagan declared that “government IS the problem”, he pounded the first significant nail in the coffin of democracy in America! Our institutions have been under attack ever since. In 2000, we allowed a co-equal branch of the government, the Supreme Court, to essentially appoint a president with a technicality! Is it any wonder that today the same Supreme Court has completely run amuck, believing itself to be a unitary power and completely untouchable?!? We are now becoming a country of men and no longer a country of laws!
Notably too, it was Reagan under whom we lost the Fairness Doctrine, the absence of which made FOX and its ilk possible.
Shaf ; There is so much going on that is not reported, and much that is reported, is not fully disclosed. How can voters know enough to vote in their interests or the common good?
A voice of discontent..
Donald Hodgins <silencenotbad@gmail.com>
11:01 AM (0 minutes ago)
Did you ever look out over a pristine mountainside in the winter and think to yourself what a beautiful sight? Nature in all of its wintery glory resting silently, waiting. Storm after storm has deposited layer after layer of seemingly innocent powder upon the mountainous terrain. Unseen by most, the system is being strained under the tremendous weight of the accumulated snow. As time affords itself the point of collapse will eventually happen and the term avalanche will make its presents known. It will start in a very inauspicious manner. A slight crack in the surface crust or an undetectable vibration from far below coming up from the heart of the mountain. The cause is unimportant it's the result that attracts our attention. The power of the event can change the overall appearance of the entire area. And to think it all transpired because of a simple initial seismic event. Odd to think avalanches don't always involve mountainsides of cascading ice and snow. Take for example the topography of Tennessee. At first glance, it seems quiet enough but under the surface, a rumbling can be detected. An avalanche of public opinion is on the move. Three young Democrats stood up and voiced their displeasure with gun control and as a result, the vibrations they started began an avalanche in ideology we are confronting today. Their efforts will hopefully change the landscape in the thinking of the people in their state and just maybe it will affect the entire country as well. The avalanche has begun, now do we clammer to get out of its way or do we allow our society to be engulfed by the relevance of the event? Gloria Johnson, Justin Pearson, and Justin Jones stood up because they had heard enough of the rhetoric spewed by gun lobbyists. Two of the three were expelled from the chambers for taking a stand that should have been started long ago. Maybe Mr. Pearson and Mr. Jones have stated "the" avalanche "Justin" time. To further exemplify the need for change our hearts go out to the people of Louisville, KY as they become the latest in the long line of cities that mourn the innocent lives lost in the latest mass shoot in our country. Do you hear the rumble?
So well stated. Great analogy.
Veronica-- Thanks for the like. When ever someone of the female persuasion gives me a compliment I know it didn't come from my Ex-wife. LOL
I am sorry to read this. Apparently she did not appreciate you being smarter than her. You were most eloquent in your post. Brainy people do not threaten me!
Veronica--That makes us friends. Except for the brainy part, still debatable. LOL
Still chasing women online?
Watch out for the Russian ones lol.
GandalfGrey-- HI old friend, it's the Europeans that always beat me to the bathroom. The Finish are great, they're done already.
I have zero doubts about it. 5:00 am here. I was up solving banking issues in the US. Now I need some zzzzzs.
Have a great day, wherever you are I am a solo nomad in DaLat, Vietnam right now ..
Veronica--It doesn't matter as to the distance, glad to make your acquaintance. I never have banking issues, as far as money goes once in a while I have "common" sense. or is that cents.
lol
So very well said.. thank you so much Donald ~
D4N--It would be so nice to think someone that could make a difference could read it.
History is supposed to be a great teacher. In order to gain relevance from it, all we have to do is pay attention. The mistakes the past teaches us to avoid should be lessons well learned. However, today we are again exploring paths through the same old jungle we have previously learned to avoid. Once you've watched someone disappear in a pool of quicksand, you would think others would want to avoid the same unpleasant fate and make the decision to go around. History's lesson concerning fascism is vert blunt. Those who refuse to remember the horrors' associated with that time need a jolt of culture shock. Small minded men with warped ambitions have proven to be poor leaders in the past. Tyrannical thought will never end in a positive manner. Hitler died because he was stupid, and anyone following in his footsteps will discover hatred divides, it never joins.
As Gore Vidal said about thirty years ago, "we are the United States of Amnesia."
MJ--I forgot what that means. LOL
Shanna--Good eye, you caught that.
ooo, I really like recalling that quote MJ. Thx
Precisely right Don. Trust, if you will that I actually have pondered much (too much perhaps) all that's goin' on, history parallels, etc. - for decades now. I have some 'facts in evidence' certitude, what precisely is goin' on. Small i, have little control, voice, or celebrity to affect hearts and minds, nor outcomes. Keep the faith friend..
Dan--You as well.
Hitler made all of Nazi Germany complicit in spreading unprecedented evil to much of the world. But Germany had at least one point in their defense that the United States lacks: they did not have the precautionary example of Nazi Germany.
John--Correct to a point. Hitler had the entire history of the world to learn from, world domination was a fools errand.
Donald, your analogy is well taken.
You are a poet.
But really, was the sexist remark really necessary? By being a mysogynist you undermine and dilute anything beneficial you may say.
ESclasses---I was raised in a family of 5 women, my mother, my two older sisters, and my two younger ones. I have the deepest respect for the sanctity of women. I do, from time to time, take exception to members of the group that act in a manner unbecoming to their half of the population. In no way am I a misogynist. I'm sorry you feel that way.
Esclasses- Misogynist, is a blanket term given to men like Trump. I do ridicule women who are exceptions the rule. MTG, Boebert, Lake, and Sidney Powell are prime examples of women I don't respect. I may say things that are a bit harsh but my remarks are directed at a select few who deserve everything I have to say and more. The women who bear the brunt of my remarks are morally repugnant stooges that offer little in the way of redeeming qualities. If you feel what I said about them was mentioned in a demeaning manner so be it, that's exactly how it was meant to sound. I use sexually explicit remakes to make a point, it has nothing to do with any position that reflects my feelings toward women. Hell, I hit Lindsey Graham with the same belittling thoughts I extend toward the women who down grade our country. That is just me. To me, the meaning of misogyny is what happens when you rub your patella.
Thank you for your brilliant comment - It is terrifying where this is all leading....
Jeanne--The comment was heart felt, it came easy. I only wish the solution to the problem could be found using the same amount of effort. Thanks for the thought.
(can't post the image)..."thumbs up"!
D.--Appreciation comes in many forms, thanks.
If voters don't know their history, what and how much is reported or disclosed won't matter. This happened a mere 90 years ago in Germany, yet 75,000,000 are merrily going along for the ride.
You've really nailed it here, Thomas! To paraphrase with a modern twist, "Those who don't KNOW history will repeat the mistakes of the past." The GOP well knows that a dumbed-down populace is much to be desired for its purposes.
Someone (perhaps you?) recently remarked in another thread that it's no coincidence that the rise of right-wing movements in many places coincides with the deaths of the last of those who lived through WWII as teenagers or adults.
Not right.
Donald Hodgins <silencenotbad@gmail.com>
7:26 PM (3 minutes ago)
It isn't fascism that worries me in this country as much as it is rogue judges that can set presidents by simply waving their gavels. The Texas judge, Matthew Kacsmaryk, took it upon himself to hand down a decision that upheld his anti-abortion position, by trying to outlaw the abortion pill. The heavy resistance he is facing from the pro-choice people won't go away. How is it possible a single man from the state of Texas can dictate policy to an entire nation? A simple stopgap should be set in place that allows judges to hand down policies that deal strictly with issues that affect their own state. What would happen if a handful of federal judges went on a rogue mission to eviscerate this country through a well-coordinated effort orchestrated by a power-hungry moron. Specifics are not necessary. Alice never fell through a hole that had no bottom, even though the other side does have a few Mad-Hatters. There could be a federal judges council that would consider motions presented by its members, this effort would put an end to the one-man rule philosophy. Heck, the way things are why have a president? Everything should have accepted steps that apply to everyone in the system. What would happen in the military if sergeants set policy for the generals? If Crockett could see what the Texans are doing today he just might rethink the sacrifice he made back in 1836
Those rogue judges ARE fascists!
Lisbeth--I don't know about fascists but it's evident they couldn't judge a pie contest.
Well, they could “judge” it, but only corruptly and with the consent of their owners! 😉
Lisbeth-- Those people I would love to meet.
Those rogue judges are fascists!!
Lisbeth--That's why Trump appointed them.
It is horrifying.
"but it's just a little light Fascism!
they hate the same folks we do!
whatever could go Wrong?!"
.
Germany was Kicking ASS
till it twasn't. Overreach
is the Fascists' worst
Enemy. but watch
OUT for a smart
one.
As in Florida? He's already got his super majority, so he is set. It'll be interesting to see how draconian he gets and what happens in their next election. "light Fascism." I like that term-may have to try it myself...NOT! :>)
Miriam Jordan, NYT author: "The bills would expose people to felony charges for sheltering, hiring and transporting immigrants who are in the country without legal permission; require hospitals to ask patients their immigration status and report to the state; invalidate out-of-state driver’s licenses issued to immigrants in the country without legal permission; and direct the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to provide assistance to federal authorities in enforcing the nation’s immigration laws." Being a Floridian, I will probably find myself charged with a Class 3 felony because if an immigrant needs an abode, my home will welcome him/her/them.
This is the party supposedly taking government interference out of people's lives. Now drivers, medical providers, shelters and law enforcement need to perform their job duties AND become unpaid employees of INS. If they don't harass random people about their immigration status and those folks are undocumented? Jail.
Every time Ron DoucheSantis announces one of his laws, I'm surprised at how much more foolish it is than the last one.
Why doesn't the Justice Dept. step in,amendment rights are being horribly trampled!
I wouldn't call it "light Fascism" at all. It's burgeoning full-on Fascism.
.... AND in Italy.
You can help them by informing them of the ubiquity and dangers of confirmation bias. This bias is the bane of humankind. You can also inform yourself and others about the importance of having priorities. Only willful ignorance can render you blind to the dangers of nuclear war, climate change, authoritarianism. Remember: Hitler started WWII, and when he realized that he lost it, he decided to destroy Germany also.
Read the non-mainstream independent online newspapers such as Pro Publica. Follow the money that puts people in office by consulting Ballotpedia and Open Secrets.
DON'T VOTE REPUBLICAN! Dems are wimpy and far from perfect, but they generally want to help America and the voters. Keep reading. "The Scheme" by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse is a good one. Also "It's OK to be Angry at Capitalism" by Bernie Sanders is excellent. Don't give up.
Ruthie Butz ; Thank you for these ideas!
YEP, YEP, and YEP to all Laurie ! Preach sister !
Laurie Blair: And some of what is reported isn't actually happening at all . . . Unfortunately, as individuals, I don't think we can gain, process, and evaluate all the info we need. But we can start by being activists locally and getting to know the candidates, and support them as they move up to larger spheres of influence. That way we will know who has integrity, competence, and the broad/deep knowledge base essential to understanding events and acting in our best interests. Plus, by starting locally, we are assured to eventually have a listening ear and voice in Federal government.
Shaf - True. But if you look at facts, CNN and MSNBC and the NYT and WAPo never pushed the administration about WMD's and never fought the governments decision to bail out bank share holders and executive bonuses over home owners in distress.
Yes FOX et all have mislead their viewers. But many of those viewers have seen the same from the liberal media as well.. Sadly FOX being dishonest does not make CNN et all honest.
Liberal media, indeed. 💩
Exactly. If we had the Fairness Doctrine, it wouldn't be possible for any medium to lie with impunity, but they still are able to suppress news stories and journalists by simply ignoring them. Right now we depend on a few NGOs that serve us diligently as watchers. The fact that you are commenting here is proof that you are looking for truth. There are a few others that I like: FAIR (Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting), Media Matters, The Intercept, and more. I'm sure you have your own along with Robert Reich's fabulous effort. The big trouble now is social media that claim to use algorithms to tailor content to your tastes. What that means is you can be boxed into some group and never, ever see other views of events. We need a national medium, financed 100% by the federal government in perpetuity by which we can see news feed of statements of events, which is discussed by experts who are required to have evidence for their POV. We will all be dead from climate change before it happens, I'm afraid.
Shaf -
Agreed 100% ... Especially on us dying before this happens. But Americans have died fighting for change and i choose to be one of them. From universal suffrage to civil rights progress has always and will always come from organizing, protesting and voting.
I would also recommend NEVER EVER voting for the incumbent. Always vote in the primary for the opponent of the incumbent. That is the only way to keep law makers honest. Don't re elect them... No the Republican wont win the General election. Most districts are far to gerrymandered for that to happen.
The elimination of the "Fairness Doctrine has allowed the proliferation of information and journalism that we would never have under the old rules. It seems the Left is more concerned about stifling the free flow of information than any interest in 'democracy'. Isn't the common 'soapbox' the true bastion of democracy and if so, why would you ever wish to stifle and hinder it. Under the 'Fairness Doctrine' the media was entirely controlled by a rather small number of oligarchies who controlled what you saw and listened to.
Here you are on a free and open Substack platform enjoying what the Fairness Doctrine opposed. You rail against one media outlet but say nothing of the outlets favorable to your ideological persuasion, whatever that might be.
"You lie" - here you are twisting and manipulating truths spoken LSnC and 'Appropriating' to your own design. To wit: "It seems the Left is more concerned about stifling the free flow of information than any interest in 'democracy'. " ... Hey dummie, here we are tolerating your bias ! It's 'you' who presume to be 'smarter, superior, and 'the only right' - the very stone you cast boomeranging back at 'you'. ** ..And btw, why exactly are you trolling about herein ? Shouldn't you be busy watching "Faux Variety Show", where all of your 'apparent' ilk commune, espouse, whine, and worst - broadcast your pathetic collective will and demands upon the real majority ? Just an humble question...
So you are all in on eliminating free speech and civil discourse. As for "we", you don't have any say in this matter on Substack, unfortunately for you. Someone else might, but you don't.
Manipulation attempts again LSnC ? You thing, are a coward and a fraud. ....** ..And btw, why exactly are you trolling about herein ? Shouldn't you be busy watching "Faux Variety Show", where all of your 'apparent' ilk commune, espouse, whine, and worst - broadcast your pathetic collective will and demands upon the real majority ? Just an humble question... I got you all day every day coward.
“In every American community, there are varying shades of political opinion. One of the shadiest of these is the liberals….” (Phil Ochs)
Your 'next trick' will be attempts to subvert and make all the good conversation "yours and all about your pitiful bias' and woes'. Your string should rightly end right here, but I'll watch, while I find your I.P. address, so you can be "Known and revealed" - coward behind the hiding screen. ** You have no 'right' to possess 'all the oxygen' in any room. Who do you think you are.. _rump ?
:)
WRONG!!!!!!!
What specifically is wrong?
The inconvenient truth is that Al Gore is responsible at least in part for rolling over in 2000 instead of fighting back. The right has grown stronger since then while the Democrats have only dithered and postured.
Greg, My memory of that period is that Gore and his legal team had exhausted every recourse, and, despite disagreeing with the ruling of the High Court, Gore understood the institution superseded any one individual. If anyone were remiss, it was the Democratic Party that for decades, contrary to Republicans, paid far too little attention to the Court.
...and to State governments.
Mark, While you’re right, that unlike Republicans, Democrats historically have failed to organize to fill state and local positions, I would note my reply to Greg focused exclusively on the High Court’s 2000 ruling in Bush v. Gore.
You just can't fool BJK, nor get away with partial truths. Thanks sistuh !
He did it to be democratic and keep peace in the country. No good deed goes unpunished.
Sad truth Joyce. Maybe sadder still that broadcast media then didn't champion all the truths inherent or, perhaps 'carry the water' for him like today's broadcast media 'carries water' for some supposed "right wing" ? Just a legitimate question Joyce, don'tcha think ?
Truth does not sit well for americans
And let’s not forget Ralph Nader’s ego trip. The nation went along for the ride in Ralph’s Corvair and that trip alone cost us the election and Bush’s private war in Iraq. There’s a huge price to be paid for “the big tent.”
Not an ego trip. It eventually led to Bernie, which is the only way we have energized the current democratic party. The party of Mr. Clinton, Ms. Clinton, Gore, Kerry, etc. is a desiccated hull, unable to offer a full-throated, proud alternative to oligopoly "capitalism".
Just like a Bernie-ite, jousting at windmills and not getting that the perfect is the enemy of the good. Reducing childhood poverty in half, low unemployment, wages up, badly needed infrastructure and big (not big enough, granted) money to begin to address climate change, lowest number of uninsured people through the ACA.. these are a start. People who benefit from these programs will vote to expand them and move us, sadly, ever so slowly, but it does move us in a social democratic direction.
I hope your frustration, while totally justified, doesn’t keep you on the sidelines of the fight or push you in a Bernie direction risking another spoiler situation like Nader giving us W.
Bernie stands for what I believe is best for America, but like Nader, he is just a spoiler.
If I remember correctly, Bernie’s candidacy in the primary election pushed Biden leftwards a bit.
Unlike Nader, he urged his followers (myself included)to vote for HRC. With over 74% of Sanders followers taking Bernie's lead to vote for Hillary Clinton in 2016, Sanders voters contributed mightily to Clinton's popular vote win, and he urged us to vote for Biden, too.
"Bernie stands for what I believe is best for America..."
And yet, you dismiss him. That mindset is what gives us the situation we have today: more drilling in fragile ecosystems; no prospect of single-payer; a stagnant minimum wage; no codification of abortion rights; an ever-increasing military budget; failure to enact Elizabeth Warren's sensible financial policies; and so on.
I do not dismiss him. He has been important to laying out a social democratic agenda, but may well have given us Trump, (26% of Bernie primary voters went AWOL, a significant number voted for Trump out of pique, and Hillary lost the blue wall states of WI, MI, and PA by a very few thousand votes,
Bernie’s endorsement was very very late and weak. His ego got the better of him. On 35!years of public service he has not sponsored and shepherded any significant legislation.
Elsewhere I lay out-lowest uninsured % in history (moving toward single payer) wages up across the board and many states and cities are at $15 or higher. The reservation where I live is at $16; for the first time Black and white unemployment are even; the largest investment in addressing climate change; and I’m a Conscientious Objector from the Viet Nam era, but support our support of Ukraine strongly. But like us progressives usually do, we let the perfect be the enemy of the good. By any standards, under Biden, we have seen much progress. But we continue to gripe about progress in our system that requires compromise and evolutionary change….dammit, wish it wasn’t so.
If it was "good" in this country, I wouldn't be complaining. But it's not. I can't speak to your stats about the voting in the 2016, because I don't know the source. But Hillary sabotaged her own campaign; Bernie didn't force her to ignore large sections of the country in her election efforts. He had nothing to do with the leaked emails, and so on. If she'd been a compelling candidate, she would have won.
We're not anywhere near single-payer. Premiums under the ACA are increasing every year. Medicare is becoming ever more privatized. Medical and prescription costs are skyrocketing, with higher and higher out-of-pocket maximums for those who are insured. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.
The unemployment stats don't take into account the under-employed, those who've fallen off the rolls, those who've had to take drastic pay cuts, who've lost benefits, and on and on.
Some of Biden's "green" legislation will result in giveaways to climate bad actors.
https://time.com/6087933/biden-infrastructure-bill-climate-change/
Not to mention that the U.S. military---slated for yet another huge and unnecessary budget increase---is the single biggest polluter.
Then there is the Willow project and the new drilling permits in the Gulf of Mexico, as I mentioned earlier.
In short, this isn't Progressive quibbling and demands for perfection. It's justified outrage over Dem failures to right some key wrongs that they had it in their power to fix.
Tragically, the Dems do have a special talent for wresting defeat from the jaws of victory...
They seem to make a determined effort at it!
Howie Anderson: Yes. Exactly. The political process isn't a binary debate--i.e., Bernie's high integrity and good values vs the craven (pragmatic) self-promoters. It's a finely nuanced and messily negotiated massive compromise where the result sometimes benefits more people than it damages. Going for the "perfect" rather than the "possible" is a luxury enjoyed by the privileged, idealistic few who enjoy the comfort that we compromisers made possible.
Well said. Ain’t easy this democracy thing!
It eventually led to Bernie, because, thankfully, GW Bush was no Donald Trump. Imagine him in office after 9/11!
You are forgetting Iraq? You are kidding.
Suzanne : They sold out!
They certainly did! The establishment Dems (aka, the likes of the Clintons) are the bane of the party.
Denise Donaldson: yes, Sadly, I have heard the establishment Dems called 'Republican lite'.
Considering Biden's approval of the Willow project and his even more recent opening of a huge area in the Gulf of Mexico to drilling, I think we might be able to dispense with the "lite" qualifier, sadly.
It seems that Democrats, in order to have any power, have to cave to the 'Right' somewhat.
I'd say they have to cave a LOT. Look at how Manchin and Sinema (arguably right-wingers, both in thrall to Big Corp) were able to extract enormous concessions for Biden to get his big bills passed. They were greatly watered down in their final forms.
And what was up with Debbie Wasserman?
At the very least, she wasn't interested in letting the best candidate win.
yeah and
they're both
Still selling out
.
To Democracy.
Suzanne: 1. I don't see the equivalency. Being on an ego trip wouldn't have negated Nader's alleged leading to Bernie. 2. How did Nader lead to Bernie?3. What does Nader's impact on Gore's votes have to do with the "desiccated hull"? 4. Are you saying that the Dem Party's current flash of energy is the result of Independent, Democratic Socialist, Bernie?
I don't know what you mean by an equivalency. My belief is that the democratic party's response to the Reagan revolution was to move to the right. Many bad policies were pursued in this rightward swing. Free trade was particularly devastating for the middle class in this country. When people formerly in middle class, who had slowly (or quickly) fallen into the lower class, saw that both parties had signed on to the neoliberal model, including the multinational corporations' sweetheart "free trade" agreements, they threw up their hands and determined that no one cared about them. This made them ripe for a populist of the authoritarian/racist type. Mr. Clinton's ending welfare as we know it, echoing Reagan's talking points of the government as the problem, also set the Democrats on an apologetic and backpedaling path. In an effort to mirror the ideas of "small government" there was an erosion of stable incomes and benefits from civil service government jobs, further eroding the middle class. Tax rates on the wealthy continued to plummet. There was no pushback by the Democrats as antitrust legislation was not enforced. Small business owners couldn't compete with the increasing concentration that was going on in most sectors of the economy. As small and medium sized businesses went under, so too did small towns. Again and again, the Democrats offered no alternative vision, and did not speak up on behalf of regular working people. Democrats moved the center of politics to the right. If you don't believe me, consider that Justice Stevens, by the end, represented the left wing of the court. We have desperately needed a reset button in this country, to reset the center back to where it was when the Democrats were at least some counterweight to the trickle down economics of the right. People thought they were getting that reset with Obama, but he gave us Larry Summers. (Who is a slimy apologist for the ultra-wealthy.) People finally hoped, and they were failed. It confirmed for them that there was no hope for them in the Democratic party. So, yes, Clinton and Obama brought us Trump. They failed us spectacularly. And yes, Bernie was able to wake up a nation. He gave people true hope. Unfortunately, some who supported him, made it only about him. Unfortunately, some who supported him were purists, and when they saw the shenanigans of the Democratic establishment, they were heartbroken and angry and turned away from everything. But just look at where the Progressive caucus is now. It's heartening. For myself, I am angry that the Democratic establishment still primaries good progressive candidates and fails to see what people are hungry for. And most Democrats don't understand Trumpism and people who support Trump. I live in Trump territory. These are my neighbors. It is complex. I do believe, however, that Trump is a product of the Democratic party and their failings.
William:
Hogwash. Do the math.
If the DNC can't come up with viable candidates that people will vote for, it's not Nader's fault.
"If God had wanted us to vote, She would have given us candidates." (Terry Leonino)
So true. What are the duties of the DNC? Does it have any power over candidates' decisions to run? And on the rare occasion when there are good candidates, why do they run against each other? In CA, Porter and Schiff. In Las Vegas, 2 excellent candidates are running against each other for mayor. Why is the obvious so elusive?
The DNC determines who will be nominated, long and short. It denies funding to those candidates who won't toe the corporate-Dem line. It requires all candidates to raise $XXX for the party, in addition to raising money for their own campaigns. The DNC, IMO, is why Bernie wasn't inaugurated in January, 2017.
Thanks, Denise, for your informative response. So is it funding both Porter and Schiff?? If yes, how does that make sense? Not only did the Dems sabotage Bernie, but they also sabotaged Al Franken under the guise of virtue signaling. Reminds me of my first strike as a teacher in 1968, with my baby in a stroller on the picket line, because with no income, I couldn't afford daycare. The union financially subsidized male teachers but not females teachers, because males were categorized as "heads of households" (The men's wives provided them with lovely picnic lunches). When those who are supposed to protect us become our enemies either deliberately or through incompetence. More echoes of wise Pogo.
I don't see any current dollar figures, but my guess would be that all four current candidates are getting some kind of stipend. Pelosi immediately endorsed Schiff, so he's got the edge with wealthy donors. CA Progressives think Schiff is too moderate, but I'd bet the DNC goes with him 'cause he can be counted on not to rock the boat.
Rep. Barbara Lee is in that race too: a long-serving and principled progressive and peace activist.
I worry that Porter and Lee will split the progressive vote and give the nomination to the corporate/“moderate” Schiff.
Greg DeCowsky: Why does the DNC allow good candidates to run against each other?
Yes! I love Katie Porter and Adam Schiff. We need both of them in our government!
So did the DNC approve this match up??
Sorry, idk. I’m not a CA resident, so haven’t heard details.
So how do we find good candidates?
National Organization for Women!
I will check that out. Thanks. I wish Michigan Gov. Whitmer would come to my state and teach the democrats how to turn this red state around!
God only knows. Better ask Her.
Could not agree more, Greg. Spot on!
I’m not interested in rehashing old news. What can we do to stop this fascism wave?
Rose:
Study history and learn from it.
Ralph did NOT give us W. The inept Florida Democratic Party (approval of the butterfly ballot), the "win at all costs" Brooks Brothers riot in Miami and the SCOTUS gave us W even though Gore actually won a tiny plurality (100+ votes) in Florida .
At the time Ralph was researching the Corvair, he was right, but by the time his book was published in 1965, the Corvair's rear suspension issues had been corrected in the '65 Vair. But it was the Mustang (hitting the market in early '64) that killed the Corvair. Ralph helped, but Lee Iaccoca and Hal Sperlich found the formula that doomed the Corvair.
Gore lost the popular vote in Florida by 537 votes. Nader received 97,488 votes. You can do the math.
Ralph Nader is why Gore did not become President, not SCOTUS. Both recounts after the election showed that Gore lacked the votes and that is because they were sitting in Nader's bucket.
Whenever I mention this to a Naderite, they respond that this isn't true because Nader didn't have enough votes to make that kind of difference. I'd appreciate a documentable rejoinder--thx
In the 2000 Florida election for President, each of the major candidates received the following final vote tallies.
Bush (R) 2,912,790
Gore (D) 2,912,253
Nader (I) 97,488
Buchanan (I) 17,484
Browne (L) 16,415
Assuming Buchanan siphoned votes from Bush and the Libertarian candidate split the vote, it is clear that Nader was the spoiler for Gore.
Thanks for your informative response. Would gerrymandering or electoral college votes have affected the impact of these numbers?
That would not have had any impact on a statewide vote in Florida. The winner in that state receives all the electoral votes in a Presidential election.
So if the large numbers of votes for Nader would not have had a statewide impact in Florida, is it accurate to assert that Nader wrecked Gore's chances in Florida? thx
That was precisely what happened. It can accurately be said that Nader denied Gore the Presidency. We can say the same thing regarding Ross Perot and George H.W. Bush in 1992. Bill Clinton became President with a plurality of the vote because of Perot's "vengeance" against Bush.
On the other hand, if Bill Clinton had resigned rather than subject the office of the presidency to scandal and impeachment, Al Gore would have gone into the 2000 race as the incumbent.
As a committed neoliberal, closely aligned with Reagan and Clinton on economic policies. Gore's campaign did not demonstrate ANY significant variation from Clinton's disastrous neoliberal plutocracy.
The 1968 election demonstrated that being associated as VP to a generally disliked Pres does not bode well for the VP running in the next election.
I really don't want to address you as much as other readers who might buy your word salad as served. I have no idea how much of a "committed neoliberal" Al Gore was or is. I DO know that during his campaign, he harped on using the actual and projected budget surpluses to shore up Social Security and Medicare. Perhaps Norm does not consider Social Security and Medicare to be part of the traditional New Deal / Great Society programs. I do.
In my history, 1988 came after 1968. Reagan had his own dealings with scandal and unpopularity. So again, I would suggest "let the reader beware." My impression of Gore was that he was more technically and scientifically sophisticated than Clinton, and believed that regulation and government policy needed to be used to address the environmental challenges that we face -- definitely tarnishing his credentials as a "committed neoliberal." But hey, people can believe anything they want.
Reagan's scandals did not significantly diminish his popularity in 1988 and, unfortunately, has not really done so still.
Gore's public support for environmental actions came well after his run for the WH. He did not meaningfully address the environmental crisis while in public office. He did some investigating about toxic spills, etc. but not about climate change as such.
Promoting Soc Sec and Medicare via a budget surplus is/was antithetical to the very public promotion of them because they are funded directly by the ultimate beneficiaries and NOT by federal taxes/general "fund". The Great Society was a part of the New Deal era. But that did not make LBJ a popular president, which his domestic policies, largely built on JFK's rapidly evolving domestic policies and would have made him immensely popular were it not for his reversal of JFK's executive order to begin to withdraw from Vietnam and escalated instead, the unpopularity of which caused him to not seek re-election.
Gore was VERY prominently outspoken about "The end of big government". Gore had a very long history in the House and the Senate as being fairly conservative, definitely NOT as conservative as TN is today, but still quite conservative, or if you prefer, quite cautious and not prone to rock the boat.
Quoting Norm here: "Gore's public support for environmental actions came well after his run for the WH. He did not meaningfully address the environmental crisis while in public office."
Senator Al Gore's book -- published in 1992, when he was hanging around folks like Barry Commoner. Title: "Earth in the Balance: Ecology and the Human Spirit."
Norm, you've got more horsepower than brains -- and I pity the fool who can't see that.
You got me on that point. Congratulations. Thanks for the reference to his book.
Hmmm… Never thought of that. Good point.
I agree. I was shocked when that happened.
I have always been told I am 'too nice' and never thought that was possible. But it is possible when you allow anyone to do something that is patently unfair or evil.
Interesting choice of words, but unless Gore did what trump wanted Pence to do, or what trump called on his mob to do, Gore was between the proverbial rock and a hard place. There is no question, however, that the Dems have never learned to speak powerfully enough or directly enough to knock the GOP down. If ever there was a time for Americans to be in the streets, it was then. Where were you?
It’s funny how some people’s solution to facists is to fight them harder and use their own tactics. The mainstream D’s have been delivering to the American public for decades. In a honest election, they will win. The solution has never been for Gore to fight on after losing at the USSC or for Bernie to complain he was jobbed. Politics can be a full body contact sport. But once the election is over, we must all make sure that the process remains fair and honest. That is where the focus needs to be. Most States have an initative process that can be used to overturn the blantantly unfair stuff the R’s are doing. Its a lot of work, but it is what is worth fight for.
I still hold hope that the criminal justice system will do its job and out Congressional insurrectionists.
IMHO the House Gym Jordan Committee on the Judiciary overstepped its bounds when it attacked Bragg and could be prosecuted under NY statutes. 10th Amendment.
New York Consolidated Laws, Penal Law - PEN § 195.05 Obstructing governmental administration in the second degree
A person is guilty of obstructing governmental administration when he intentionally obstructs, impairs or perverts the administration of law or other governmental function or prevents or attempts to prevent a public servant from performing an official function, by means of intimidation, physical force or interference, or by means of any independently unlawful act, or by means of interfering, whether or not physical force is involved, with radio, telephone, television or other telecommunications systems owned or operated by the state, or a county, city, town, village, fire district or emergency medical service or by means of releasing a dangerous animal under circumstances evincing the actor's intent that the animal obstruct governmental administration.
Obstructing governmental administration is a class A misdemeanor.
Harry, I live in a red state that has a citizen’s initiative process. The GOP chip away at it every chance they get. Once again, there is a bill proposed to make the process harder. Unfortunately, most citizens do not pay enough attention to know what’s going on. Regarding the citizens initiative, we need a federal one too!
Rose: Yes, so tragically true that, "Unfortunately, most citizens do not pay enough attention to know what’s going on."
I fully agree and I add that Hillary lost her election unfairly also. It was stolen swing states. Again the Democrats didn’t have the balls to do anything about it or even imagination to realize that it happened.
Victim blaming? Really?
Gore had exhausted his legal remedies. There is no appealing past the Supreme Court. What would you have him do? Rally a mob and storm the Court?
He fought it all the way to SCOTUS and lost both the court battle and the final popular vote by 537 votes. It was a very close election and the end result of it was that Gore became a bitter man latching on to an opportunistic scam called 'AGW'. He is now the butt of every AGW joke you can think of.
Can you say 3rd party? Ralph Nader?
Been there, done that. It’s a tough row to hoe.
“We don’t need a New Deal. We need a New Deck!” (Citizens Party, 1980)
An unfortunate truth Greg. 23 years later, the dithering continues.
Dithering at windmills . . .
Meh
Hindsight. That was the much-lauded principle of peaceful transition. A certain assumption was made about the basic integrity and goodness of any candidate to be seriously considered by the nation for the presidency. We had not yet come to recognize the extent of the rot reshaping the Republican Party.
I felt that way too Greg. I felt that Gore didn’t really want the job as he seemed to roll over too fast.
He was however, prescient in understanding our delicate universe. For that I will always be thanking him.
As Albert Einstein noted...”everyone can be a genius. But if you want a fish to dance, it will always feel like a failure”.....That is not the actual quote, but the idea is close.
Greg--I've always wondered about the degree to which he "rolled over," vs the degree to which he didn't have choice--and the degree to which the DNC was ineffectual.
Court Runamuck. We’re like hostages in this camp.
Don’t give up. Progressive Democrats in my bright red, Trumpian rural area took over 2 township boards and a county Commission and we have been able, like the Republicans started to do 50 years ago to gerrymander districts and take over state legislatures and the courts, to stop a pipe line, Wild West gun laws, and elected a State Senator that gave MN the trifecta gaining state senate control by one vote.
Don’t give up!
Howie: Kudos! How did they do it?
Fer sure I'm not giving up. Yeah "hostages" probably a poor choice of words.I was reading a Missouri history mag and it talked about the Republicans in Missouri 50 years ago were in the same place Dems are today in the state. How this guy went about organizing Repub clubs around the state until they gained traction. I am beginning to see some faint signs the tide might be turning slighly in Missouri but our supermajority Repub Assembly is as crazy as the worse.
We shall overcome!
We shall undermine!
Yes, now we know how the good people of Germany must have felt when their democracy was overrun and taken over by nazis. They eventually prevailed but at a huge cost to themselves and the world.
Reagan continued the "Southern Strategy" of attracting racist without sounding racist as implicated by an Advisor, Lee Atwater- https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/exclusive-lee-atwaters-infamous-1981-interview-southern-strategy/. By marketing government as giving handouts to undeserving negros (welfare queens, and crack addicts and dealers, super predators), they were able to get white voters to cut off their noses to spite their own faces, or abandon government benefits after they had prospered from them, following the Great Depression and WWII (New Deal, GI Bill). Now none of us are able to benefit from them because the benefits now go to the wealthy and corporations. The same strategy allows the GOP to chip away at voting rights amendments and other Civil Rights Era programs designed to give opportunity to minorities, the result being the diminished voting power of what has traditionally been a loyal voting block for the Democrat Party, further enabling the GOP to institute minority rule over all of us, via GERRYMANDERING (enabling control of state legislatures and many Congressional seats by picking their voters- any elected position for which they can create the districts for, Or impeach or dismiss any official that disagrees with them and stands in their way), the FILIBUSTER (to block legislation when they don't have control of congress and the white house), and the COURTS, including a Supreme Court 'super-majority' (where, by keeping congress from passing laws, they can enact laws they like and end laws they dislike and they can disable the power of the Federal Government, and thus the power of voters, to hold them accountable). Ultimately giving themselves the unchallenged power to give more wealth and power to the Wealthy few- koch, Thiel, Mercer, Uihlein, Crow, etc. They don't want us "woke" because ignorance (willful and otherwise) has allowed them to hoodwink and bamboozle their way into minority rule over us all. Gerrymandering wasn't the goal, it was a step in the process of reaching their ultimate goal of minority rule and ultimate power.
True that! Gerrymandering wasn’t the goal, one party rule was and still is the goal and they’re so close, they can taste it. If they can’t achieve it via political means, they will do at the point of an AR-15. It’s not the Second Amendment they’re protecting, it’s the goal of fascism. And it’s long overdue that we call them what they are: The American Fascist Party. If they won’t tell the truth, we must!!!
Absolutely 💯
The solution can be found at movetoamend.org, but only if we are actively engaged! It takes work to stop the Fascists long term!!!
The Rethuglicans seek to take complete control of the country and render those who don't agree with their increasingly fascist leanings principles voiceless. That means any one of color, or not of their pseudo Christian faith, or of the LGBTQIA community, or, yes, female should have no say in the running of our government or, even, control over our own bodies. I find it highly unconscionable that they would choose to "save" the fetus at all cost leaving the woman with no control or rights over her own bodily integrity and, yet, with their next breath do nothing to protect the populace against continually escalating random gun violence including rampant mass shooting events that are the direct result of relaxed or even NO gun safety laws. A concept I, and many others I'm sure, find impossible to understand. On one hand, they'll fight to the death for random fetuses. But then turn around and have no seeming care for those very fetuses once they become children in our schools. To me, it's a contradiction in terms. They "love" the fetus but they have no concerns for our children. To me, that has nothing to do with Democratic principles or Republican priciples but more to do with what is right versus what is not only wrong but what is also evil. And the Republican party tilts increasingly more towards evil in the face of all else.
“Country of men” is the problem,
Bingo!
Thank you Lisbeth ! Again, so perfectly expressed... thank you. Yes, devolving vs growing is the essence.. the life fundamental. You've nailed it.
Lawrence, can you say more about that? Thanks
Thank you! I so appreciate your kind words🤗
YEP !
Perhaps the most significant two words in Lisbeth's note are these: "we allowed..." Ultimately, it's Americans who voted for - and continue to vote for - the long succession of fascists who are responsible for where we are today. As a lifelong liberal living in a deep red state - a state where the public education system is under constant bombardment and where Civics is no longer taught - it's eternally maddening that nothing seems powerful enough to stop fascism from running roughshod over those of us who seek to resist.
This is the key point: "We have a Democratic Party, which — notwithstanding a few glaring counter-examples such as what the Democratic National Committee did to Bernie in 2016 — is still largely committed to democracy."
This was not merely a "glaring example," it was an abandonment of democracy within the party. Look, the fascists are always with us. They are about 20-30% of population, and they can be exploited through their collective racism, at a time of economic regression. Most of Trump's base is fascist - whether they know it or not - given their support of dictatorial leaders and of insurrection.
You cannot overcome this in a democracy by abandoning democratic principles. What the DNC did to Sanders in 2016 was political malpractice. They took the only political candidate who could give the 70% what they wanted - and they sandbagged him. THEY are responsible for Trump.
We will see if they have finally learned their lesson when the next charismatic liberal steps up.
My words and feelings exactly. I even registered as a Dem to vote for Bernie in the Floriduh Primary. I have gone back to Independent ever since. Yeah, I still vote for whatever Dem they put in the General Election, but consider it the lesser of 2 evils.
Rob: Weevils!
Thanks to Russell Crowe
So you consider a traitorous pedophile the lesser of two evils? You do know that Hunter’s laptop has been verified and so has Ashley’s diary? You think a man who thinks he’s a woman should be allowed into a bathroom with little girls? Or that males who identify as females (no operations or hormones ) should be allowed into teenage girls dressing rooms and compete against them? Do you think men can have babies? These are all sincere questions because that is what the Biden Whitehouse is pushing and all the other dem voters I’ve asked never answers me back. I’m truly astounded this is NOT the Democratic Party of yesteryear. Do you even know about the Twitter files? You know Russia collusion was all a lie right? I can’t imagine any decent American who knows all this info would consider voting dem again. Drag Queen story time is ok with you? What about kids as young as 4 transitioning from boy to girl (surgically)! Looking forward to your opinion on these subjects.
My opinion is based on fact, not outlandish conjecture that you have written here. Yes, I believe in Trans Rights. You twice mentioned trans women (whom you refer to as MEN) using facilities with LITTLE GIRLS. Do you see what twisted propaganda that is? Please Google “Buck Angel” images. He is a decent Trans Man. These anti-trans laws will legally force him to use the LITTLE GIRLS room. It works both ways. One point before ending this reply.
WTF IS A RIGHT-WING NUTCASE LIKE YOU DOING TROLLING THIS FORUM?
The DNC abandoned us in Ohio, as well. And because of their malpractice, we now have jd vance as A SENATOR (!!!), rather than Tim Ryan. And it should have been a very winnable Senate seat, with even just a little work by the DNC.
Yes. As Pogo told us: "We have met the enemy and he is us."
Yes!! Vance is an idiot, and if the Dems had helped Ryan structure his campaign more intelligently, Vance wouldn't have had a chance.
YES! It was actions (or inactions, as the case may be) like what happened to Tim that continues my resolve to give my measly little (I am on a fixed income) to individual candidates instead of the DNC
Ohio voters are responsible, I do NOT think that any well-informed voter is using the junk mail or media ads to make their selections. People need to stop being lazy and do some real research on all candidates at every level.
Yes, we are. But, your term "well-informed voter" is key. With the media being the for-profit enterprise it has morphed into today, money has become the driving force of virtually all elections. Where does one go for viable, reliable information? Sure, some of us reach out to
sources such as this for truth and reason, but SO many of my Ohio neighbors don't, or can't.
And, what little information they do get is skewed heavily to the right by the people who DID
spend money here. The DNC DIDN"T!! Many of us saw what was happening, and BEGGED them
to please put forth the needed effort to help Rep. Ryan. Even when they saw tfg come in and
campaign with vance, we were still ignored. I get that there is only so much money available,
my own wallet is testament to that, but this should not have happened. Now, having said all
that, Ohio has, for whatever reason, turned a hideous shade of red over the past 20 years or so.
What was once an industrial, blue state has been burned by NAFTA, and the loss of the steel
industry. So many of the working-class folks blamed the Democrats (Clinton), and have flat-out
refused to come back. Which is why I say, we desperately need the DNC to work with us, and
help convince these people of the dangers of the present-day republican party. And we could
use your help too, A E F.
Yeah I don’t get it, the DNC inaction I mean.
I was not a fan of Bill Clinton. NAFTA, Defense of Marriage Act, Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell - all misguided policies that set us back and caused real damage to people.
Does all that expensive junk mail have any positive impact? How much of it goes directly from the mail box to the recycling bin? Same thing with all the time, energy, and expense that goes into those endless post cards. How many people read and are influenced by them?
I agree, maybe they could have 'town halls to introduce themselves.
And that's EXACTLY what I'm talking about. Things like bobo and 3names and FL's Putz have NO place in the People's House. We need the DNC to recognize the "Oh no you don't's", and go after them with all We've got.
the DNC also stops progressives from primarying right wing dems like Cuellar in texas. he's as republican as sinema
Don't know of Cuellar. Will have to look into it. Thx, Paul.
I agree; he was really the first to really mobilize the younger voters. when the dnc canceled him, a huge number of kids said screw this, just business as usual. a lot of those kids knew why 2008 happened - it was clinton's banking deregulation, and his wife supported it.
Bernie is an Independent. I can understand why the Democratic party wanted an actual Democrat to be their standard-bearer. I have a lot of respect for Bernie and his message but being an effective president takes an enormous amount of political skill. Compromise has become a dirty word to some but that is how things get done in a divided country.
Excellent point--Bernie has great values, but lacks the political savvy to know that being an Independent and Democratic Socialist would neither gain him enough votes nor the backing of the DNC. I was so frustrated wondering, "If he's so smart, how come he doesn't see this?" I think someone in this conversation said something about, "Perfection is the enemy of the good."
I'm afraid they will stick with Biden & tilt the election in his favor like last time regardless.
Joe was an electable and temporary choice for a calming-the-waters candidate. He's done a good job in an impossible situation. Why, in 4 years, haven't the Dems come up with a good candidate so Joe can gracefully decline to run?
there are good Dem candidates. None want to get out there and challenge the frontrunner so they don't get the viz. But Biden needs to quit pussyfooting around, IMO. I would rather see him not run, BTW.
In my opinion they have numerous excellent prospects: Elizabeth Warren, Jeff Merkley, Sheldon Whitehouse, Cory Booker, Jay Inslee, Brian Schatz, Raul Grijalva, Rashida Tlaib, Pramila Jayapal, AOC, Adam Schiff, Julian/Joaquin Castro, Jamie Raskin (a really popular guy & rising star), & I'm even beginning to warm up to Gavin Newsom.
Jamie Raskin (my state-mate) is fabulous1 I checked on AOC in Wikipedia, and sure enough, she is eligible: her 35th birthday will be Oct. 13, 2024, about 3 weeks before the election.
Hoping Katie Porter will make it to the Senate, another great candidate. Unfortunately, Barbara Lee, another otherwise great progressive, decided to run against her, which gives a boost to the more corporate-oriented Schiff. Running multiple progressives against each other gives a big - and unnecessary! - boost to moderats.
We would make more progress if, say, Porter and Lee would have talked (colluded? LOL) in advance and flipped a coin or otherwise agreed on a different path. Why not? Policy differences, political power considerations, or just egos?
In a sense, Barbara Lee has earned it. She has been a progressive leader for so long, sometimes the only one to stand for or against something & turning out to be right.
Katie Porter is quite impressive & she's in a tough to win swing district, unlike her opponents. She's still relatively young, but I'd hate for her to be out of a job. I'd hate for any of them to lose & be out of a congressional seat.
Schiff has boasted not taking corporate money. He has gained the status of a senator, but his voice of conscience in the House would be missed.
Yet another good progressive candidate was considering running, Ro Khanna. Not sure he still is.
I'm rooting for all of them, actually, even though only 1 of them can win.
Jaime:
I believe Porter was first to announce. She may have the hardest district to keep. Lee announced some time later. My only concern about her is that she repeatedly said (I don’t remember where) that if elected to the Senate she would only stay one term. I have only seen that once and don’t know for sure if it’s true. IMO that’s too much effort to spend on only having the seat for one term.
Both Porter and Lee are more progressive than Schiff.
I think I saw recently that Khanna endorsed Lee and wasn’t running for Senate himself.
I fear that Porter snd Lee will split the progressive vote in the primary and give a win to Schiff (only my 3rd choice).
Sorry! I typed “repeatedly” when I meant “reportedly.” I only saw that report once, and I don’t remember where.
Apologies to Rep. Lee as well.
By the way, I do think there is value i¹n a good servant of the people staying in office for a fair amount of time. With experience knowing how to run a government & deal with other politicians, the office holder can improve performance. I think Obama would've been superb in a 3rd term, & I really don't understand why a President is limited to only 2 terms. The constitutional limits happened after FDR's 4th term. The irony is that he's considered the best President we've had since Lincoln.
Barbara Lee has already had a long career in Congress, & if she wants just 1 term, good for her! 6 years is long enough to get a lot done. Then Porter (or Schiff or Khanna) can succeed her. I wish Biden was satisfied with just 1 term at his age.
In my opinion, it's a win for California if any of those fine people become Senator, but a loss if we lose any of them from Congress.
Greg--I finally found your post! Why do wonderful candidates run against each other?
Biden has done a pretty decent job cleaning up the mess that Trump left us. We could do a lot worse than having a second Biden term.
more like the mess of 50 years that was handed to him
Totally agree. He is NOT senile. As you might know, he stutters and when flustered, makes errors in his speech. For his age, he is doing extremely well and could pull off a second term with a little help from his friends!
Amen,amen,amen
Fear of being outcompeted by younger members of the party seems to have left the old farts (I was going to say "leaders" but I think this is more accurate) circling the wagons against them, instead of trying to build a stronger bench. (Add 2 metaphors. Mix.)
So for example the DCCC would rather support powerful DINOs like Cuellar (anti-choice!) than new voices like Jessica Cisneros. Add into that collusion with the likes of scumbags like AIPAC and DMFI against candidates like Nina Turner (lost) and Summer Lee (won despite them), and you have a party that is dying of ossification at the upper levels.
It's not hopeless (yet): we did have a few good wins in the midterms, Lee and Florida's Max Frost, to name a few. Not to mention the recovering John Fetterman.
Not to be ageist or anything: at 71 I'm a bit of an OF myself. Age is just a number, but farthood is a state of mind.
If Bernie wants to have a say in how the Democratic Party runs, he should make a commitment to a the Democratic Party instead of just caucusing with them and running as a Democrat every four years. In my opinion, it is not unreasonable for a party to expect its standard bearer to actually belong to the party,
Debra, you make a good point, and I've wondered about it myself from time to time. My guess is that the DNC don't even talk to him, because they're corporate, and probably would not support him as a Democratic candidate for Senator. It may also have something to do with issues of local electability in Vermont. If the former is the case, it explains why Bernie is wildly popular in that ruby red state of Ohio, which used to be reliably blue until the Clintons shipped their jobs to Mexico.....
One thing though, I do wish Bernie would stop describing himself as a democratic socialist. I know socialism, I grew up with socialism, and Bernie is no socialist. Why scare people?
Maybe the DNC doesn’t talk to Bernie (frankly I am a member of my local Democratic committee and I will not give money to the DNC, the DCCC, the DSCC or the DLCC) but I think Democrats talk to him and he has been able to nudge the party toward some of his priorities
Michael Hutchinson: Yes. Exactly. Thanks for your post!
Yes. "What the DNC did to Sanders in 2016 was political malpractice." Why would DNC members have finally learned their lesson?
Michael: Gavin Newsom, for example: the darling of the crypto bros.
Greg, can you explain the Gavin Newsome "darling of the crypto bros" comment? Genuinely ignorant and curious about the meaning and the implications. Thanks.
Exposed in the Lever last week: https://www.levernews.com/californias-crypto-champion/
"Gov. Gavin Newsom has vetoed crypto regulations and spearheaded industry spin pieces for the benefit of his friends and donors in Big Tech."
"This past September, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) vetoed a bill that overwhelmingly passed both chambers of the California legislature and would have delivered rules and transparency to the state’s burgeoning and largely unregulated cryptocurrency industry.
The move came after the crypto industry spent more than $400,000 on lobbying efforts and representatives from the Bay Area tech giant Salesforce lobbied Newsom directly on blockchain technology and other industry matters and treated him to a swanky dinner, according to lobbying disclosures."
IMHO if he is going to be the enabler of these scam artists, he has no business whatsoever in government. CA should recall him and we should make sure he never gets anywhere near the White HOuse, not even for a "swanky dinner."
Wow. If true, this is very depressing. I thought all the steam had gone out of the crypto Ponzi scheme. Let's hear how Newson defends himself.
Thanks so much for clarifying that. I will continue to try to stay informed by way of substack and excellent comments by people in the know.
And I wonder about the judgement of someone that would marry Kimberly Guilfoyle. I guess we all make mistakes. But regarding crypto, when we can’t say where it originally came from and it’s perfect for criminal activity, I’m skeptical.
You may know that they divorced. We all make mistakes. Many people believe in crypto, ( not me,) and some have become quite rich....The whole idea of it has smelled from day one.
And what it did in 2020 by running a slew of candidates, specifically intended to peel off specific portions of his supporters, who quickly endorsed Biden at the first sign of any significant support for Uncle Joe.
The real problem of the US and other Anglophone countries is our majoritarian electoral systems (known as "First Past The Post" in the UK). This produces not democratic government, but "elective dictatorship" of majority governments typically elected on a minority vote of less than 50%.
They typically foster a two-party system at the expense of minority parties, forcing people to vote tactically for a least-worst option, for their vote to have any meaning at all.
Real democracy requires proportional representation.
BRAVO, Michael! Superbly well said!. Glad to see a like mind making a post like this.
And just like in 1939 Germany the democrats are doing nothing to stop them.
The two young members of the Tennessee House who stood up for what is right over the concern for their own political futures are the key to opening the door to gun control in their state. Finally, voices from the silent majority stating they have had enough echoed from the chamber where they have been elected to represent the people who need social change. To punish these two young men is basically an attempt to punish every freedom loving member of our society. They had the courage to make a stand for what is right, we must show them and everyone else that gun violence in this country needs to become a thing our children only read about in history books not experience first hand.
Donald:
One was voted back in yesterday. The other will probably be voted back tomorrow. Justin Time!
In your face, TN Repooplickins!
Greg-- Never too soon.
Justin Pearson was voted back in unanimously today. ✊🏻
Greg-- I saw that now the good people of Tennessee have both of their young men back. Lesson learned.
I wouldn't say nothing, but it seems at times more concern for losing corporate $ than constituents needs. They must concentrate on living wages, affordable housing, healthcare, abortion issue, and yes, fascism. But mostly living wages. They just never seem to do this even tho we tell them year after year THAT is what people vote for, That is what motivates people to vote. It's worse now than ever. If they don't this time, it's over.
They are mostly there for the sense of power. The ones who really fight for the people are few and far between. They just worry about getting re-elected. The Democrats can forget about courting the rethuglicans and should instead concentrate on the independents. Thats who makes or breaks an election.
I agree we must concentrate , tragically, just on the independents. I have come to the realization that I can’t penetrate through the absolutism of the current Republican beliefs.
They are fascists now and are beyond saving. Instead they need to be squashed like a dangerous bug.
And younger voters , who trend independent.Do not waste energy with most Rs unless you know some individuals who are still persuadable.
IT Takes BOTH PARTIES. STOP VOTING FOR AUTOCRACY And FASCISM
It takes voters to vote Republicans out of office. That simple act would permit all sorts of legislation to prevent the worst of global warming, empower girls and women around the world, slow or stop the mass extinctions going on right now.
Kathy:
Democracy doesn't just happen once every 4 years, or even every 2. Without a mass movement behind it, your vote is all but powerless. Don't just vote. Organize! (And agitate! my specialty.)
"Even voting for the right is doing nothing for it. It is only expressing to men feebly your desire that it should prevail."
—Henry David Thoreau, Civil Disobedience
I think politicians shouldn't be able to just make promises. They need to give detail on what they would cut, improve and how they would accomplish. They should have some skills and experience, not just ideas. I think they should debate on CSPAN and should have an unbiased watchdog. Bernie got the shaft from his own party. Citizens United ruling is a disaster. Corporations can't give a living wage because the officers take what profits are left over after buying the politicians.
Sharon:
When you promise to do something for someone, with no intention of doing it, and you do so for personal gain, that is called FRAUD. It is against the law.
Campaign promises should be legally enforceable.
Bernie’s an Independent, so are you saying that the Independent party shafted him? Some in the Democratic party felt that he didn’t adequately support the Democratic party.
The Ds are in a bind. Not taking corporate money is usually a loser for them. System bad.
And corporations and the GOP make sure the majority of the people cannot afford to give much in donations.
Some Democrats are wolves in sheep's clothing. Soon they switch parties and canoodle with the right. E.G. Shelby, Sinema, Manchin et al. No such thing as Blue Dog Democrat who is True Blue. Democratic national party MUST SEEK AND GROOM leaders with good govt skills.
** See UTube videos of Lee Kwan Yew, R.I.P., past prime Minister of Singapore, on how he envisioned & persuaded others to work for the people, not to build nest eggs, paid-for trips, investment tips, etc.
"They just never seem to do this even tho we tell them year after year THAT is what people vote for...."
To your comment, seajay, I'd respond by paraphrasing the old adage attributed to Upton Sinclair:
“It is difficult to get [an elected official] to understand something, when [his/her election coffers] depend upon....not understanding it!” Big Corp pays both parties to keep living wages low. Corporate Dems want to keep the gravy train coming as much as their GOP counterparts do.
The year is not correct: should be 1932
Tom:
It certailnly seems like it.
But with the GOP super majorities, what can the democrats do?
Information and communication are the way we win. As Michael Moore often reminds us, "there are more of us than there are of them." We have lost our local newspapers and most of the investigative reporting that we used to benefit from. I support sub stacks and donate twenty dollars to ProPublica every time they do fabulous work, just like the recent reporting on Clarence Thomas. They have investigated and informed concerning Child Protective Services, Hospices, working conditions, etc. We need to keep on with the tactics of getting people to the polls and volunteer to be election judges and poll watchers. The Tennessee Three have an organized effort against gun control. And persistent civil disobedience always works.
We need to get some charismatic old folks on TikTok to educate and warn the younger people about this GOP.
VOTE BLUE
VOTE every election
I will if they let us. It’s scary how they have kept many from voting, too.
“Never be deceived that the rich will permit you to vote away their wealth.”
- Lucy Parsons, IWW founding convention, 1905
Jennifer: How about sending Federal troops and military doctors to distribute mifepristone in states that are overreaching their authority by attempting to ban it?
What are you doing to see that high schools in your area are getting eligible students registered to vote? Either through the League of Women Voters or in-house activities on the part of the high school
That is probably why DeathSantis has targeted schools to eliminate any books, organizations, etc. that would allow critical thinking skills to be disseminated.
Btw, if you are a podcast listener, the League of Women Voters in KC produces a podcast called “Talk, Talk, Vote” that reviews Missouri legislature activity.
The public libraries were also registering people to vote but I don’t know if that’s still so. Please donate to your local League of Women’s Voters. They do great work.
In MO we’re getting closer to eliminating their super majority. We have to work to get the Democrats elected.
I just donated to Lucas Kunce’s campaign for senate. However, on a more local level, the proposed budget from the MO House try’s to defund public libraries, education programs, the I-70 project and more. They also have a bill to make the citizen’s initiative harder (I t’s already difficult enough).
There is such danger in the false equivalence’s that you lay out! You are doing Foxs work for them. There is a massive and crucial differences between the GOP/fascists and Democrats and not just in policy. Democrats as others here have pointed out, are a party in the democratic tradition.
I could pull my hair out over how so many progressives let the perfect be the enemy of the good! Where is the pragmatism needed to hold our political system together (thanks a bunch “Founders” of this crazy system of ours) and to try, at least, to govern?
True. Most Dems have bought into the corruption that they created with Citizens United and similar SCOTUS rulings. There is only one way out of this nightmare and it’s at movetoamend.org Check it out. Sign on. Get your organizations to sign on too: movetoamend.org And get your orgs involved to help out!
By they, I mean the Fascists.
What can we do? Seeking advice, not an argument.
Here's one people may not notice: bitcoin-- a currency with no real basis that's untraceable or difficult to track-- rots civilization from within even as it accelerates global warming.
Maryk:
You can track it by the reports of massive fraud and theft that accompany it and other Computer-Assisted Fraud pseudocurrencies.
Government printed money has not resulted in an "Equitable Distribution of Value" maybe untraceble but fully accountable (blockchain) money will.
The people in need of greater equity will have difficulty spending bitcoin at the local am/pm. It’s a ponzi scheme.
The claim of libertarians everywhere. Not before those at the top of the scheme get rich and leave-- with everyday people holding the bag.
Any currency that accelerates global warming is a non-starter. But there's more: Any currency that is not traceable-- or is difficult to trace-- permits transactions outside of the public sphere: you know, taxes! Hardly equitable, and with its ongoing acceleration of global warming-- we could only it "currency for thee, but not for me".
And the reason for believing bitcoin will lead to a more equitable distribution of wealth, is what Christopher?
I'd like to hear a compelling reason to believe in crypto too. A currency that hardly anyone on earth accepts when you want to buy goods or services, doesn't seem like much of a currency to me at all.
It takes lots of energy to mine. Other than its own proliferation, it doesn't seem to produce anything valuable when it is mined. The value it does have is driven by people trading for it with central bank issued currencies, hoping crypto will continue to rise while they hold it. It seems to behave more like a speculative commodity than a currency.
Christopher:
If you sit in on a poker game and don’t see a sucker, get up. You’re the sucker.
I agree that there are significant similarities between what happened in 1930s Germany and the US today. However, both parties are currently at fault for the current situation. In Germany, the Nazi party had the ability to dissolve the Reichstag once they achieved a majority, but in our two party system, both parties have been pushing for power. It’s just that the Rs were more effective in doing so. For example, look at what the DNC did to Bernie in 2016. In 2020, I believe Bernie was on track to win the nomination, when the DNC appeared to convince other candidates (Harris and Buttgeig) to drop out and support Biden.
Neither party really supports the people of the US, as can be seen by the majority of Independents and Unaffiliated voters (24-28% registered R and D, 44+% independent), but the RNC and DNC both only do what they view as best for their party to remain in power. We need to rebuild our party system and allow minor parties to have just as much chance to win, rather than keep the 2 party stranglehold. If we don’t, then we’ll soon devolve into a one party dictatorship where the people have no control over their own destiny.
I feel that rank choice voting will help build a system where even unaffiliated people can have a chance. What do you think?
I believe that will work, as long as our election rules and laws were edited to allow 3rd parties as much of a right to be on the ballot. In my state (CT), 3rd parties have to get a TON of signatures to be on the ballot. CT doesn’t even allow write in voting unless the person written in gets a bunch of signatures. CT has some of the most restrictive voting laws in the country, but no one ever mentions that, probably because of the dominance of the D party in the state.
In 1980 I was a co-founder of the Citizens Party of DE. We had to sue the state for ballot access. It took a few years, but we eventually succeeded.
Even before that, we organized (with the help of Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters!) the Newark Voters Coalition to contest the (officially non-partisan) mayor-council elections. It was a big push to register UD students. Our candidates included a local artist, an honors poli-sci student/TA, and an ex-Weatherman. Of course we were excluded from registration and the ballot in spite of picketing City Hall, aka "the "Tomb of the Unregistered Voter," on election day (one member even chained himself to the front doors).
But we made enough of a stink that the Council spent the summer (with students and NVC organizers at every Council meeting) to get the laws changed so students could register and vote thereafter. We also got our poli-sci student elected to the Council.
The nation is not evolving toward Fascism any more than it was in the '30s. The Republican Party is, at least far too many of its elected "representatives" are, moving rapidly toward Fascism. They have been doing so for decades as IMO they recognized that most Americans have been moving in the opposite direction toward a fully democratic republic and are leaving them in a perpetual minority. They realized half a century ago that their ONLY hold on power is to use the economic power of their relatively small numbers of obscenely wealthy plutocrats to control the information spewed forth over the populace and to control the political process by any and every means necessary. Lisbeth Applefield is quite right about Reagan and Shaf is quite right about the Fairness Doctrine. Both missed the regulatory switch that then allowed media to charge candidates the highest rates for political ads during prime time which led Democrats to also kowtow to BIG MONEY in order to pay for their campaigns.
But Reagan became the pawn of plutocrats at General Electric almost 30 years before he even become governor of California. And the current process really got rolling, via the Powell Memo when Détente and Ping-Pong diplomacy erased the fear among plutocrats that the Soviet Union would radicalize labor demands leading to the collapse of the management-labor consensus. It's at that point when they moved beyond the John Birch Society and launched their "think tanks" and lobbying "law" firms.
While it is comfortable among Democrats to use 1980 and Reagan's election as the jumping off point for this current Republican Party move toward Fascism, it began long before Reagan's treason enabled him to grab the White House. In the face of a solid movement by most Americans toward a more meaningful democratic republic, BIG MONEY went all in during the early '70s to lie, cheat and steal their way to perpetual domination over the majority of Americans.
I agree we should not have in this country a party that has no respect for honesty and respect for workers and retired workers.
Enchantment with Fascism is the harbinger of declining civilizations.
Ellen - What role has 40yrs declining wealth and income played in convincing Americans that the government is not going to improve their circumstances? Can you identify any other 40yr period in the history of this country where incomes for so many Americans have been in decline while incomes for the top 1% have been growing wildly fast.
You mention Hitler and Germany... Why was Hitler able to mobilize the Germans as incomes for the poor and middle class were in permanent decline there as well? What role has the Democratic party played in the 40yr decline of wages to poor and middle class Americans and how has that impacts many Americans willingness to identify with, much less vote for, Democratic leaders?
Pro Fascists have always lurked in the background, waiting for their moment. They surged during McCarthyism, and have now emerged, stronger than ever. These are dangerous times. What works in our favor now is the availability of instant and universal sharing of information. Social media has it's own dangers, but the upside is that we all have access to news which in older times would have taken weeks to disseminate.
'rump at one time wanted only Swedish immigrants,blond hair and blue eyes,sound familiar?
Perfectly expressed Ellen.. Thank you so much !
YEP !
I feel your pain. I am 75 , living abroad, in SE Asia. Here ì I can remain, I can live with dignity.
Ellen Lubic ; it is very concerning; We need real justice and we need it now!
The Citizens United Supreme Court decision is destroying our democracy. It said that “Corporations are people and Money is speech”…WHAT?! HJR46 proposes an amendment to reverse this and must pass ASAP to stop the deterioration of democracy.
Worst thing the supreme less court has ever done!
We’re living in fascist times. It’s here. Trump has emboldened these people, millions of them, to rewrite history, burn books (bans), take away rights of women, voters, minorities (anti trans laws) and oust their opponents who are elected by the voters. What’s not fascist about them?
Yes. This civilization is going in reverse. And Faster and Faster all the time. Guess where this all ends if someone does not wake up? And it has to be a LOT of someones.
But what is the answer to causing them to wake up? Seems that humans only do so when they are backed into a very tight corner. Fingers crossed.
I would say ending the voting rights act in 2013 was the most dangerous thing that has been done. What we are witnessing today are the direct effects of removing that law.
Except for handing the presidency to Bush. Think of how different things would be if we had Gore instead.
Also think of the hundreds of thousands of lives which had not been lost in Iraq if Gore had become president instead.
We likely would have avoided the attack on 9/11.
We'd also be in much better shape regarding climate & the environment.
Jaime: Gutless Gore deserted his position and ran from the fight.
Clinton/Lieberman lost the election for Gore. In reality, he won. A full count in Florid proved it. But it took years to determine it.
Gore decided to do the honarable thimg and not divide the nation any further.
Honorable, but in the end, it turned out to be disastrous for America & the world.
TRue, good intentions do not always bring good reults. Maybe someone thretened his family? Conspiracy theories are easy to start and hard to stop.
The Dred Scott v. Sanford decision was probably worse. But Citizen's United is doing serious damage.
the shameful SCt decision upholding a fugitive slave law was at least made on constitutional grounds, de jure, and as such it was upholding the constitutional status quo, whereas the SCt decision that a corporation is a "person" or association of persons with the 1st A. right to make unlimited campaign donations was not upholding the law, it was not the status quo that was upheld, it was not the law that corporations are within the meaning of the 1st A., it was just a blatant, shameful de facto revision of the 1st A. and for this reason I expect that it will be reversed eventually.
Keith Olbermann called Citizens United the Dred Scott of the Twenty First Century on his podcast today. It would be interesting to compare and contrast the two decisions concerning the "why" and what resulted.
it appears KO never bothered to read either of those 2 SCt decisions or he'd know they have nothing in common.
But they do. They are both very wrong with disastrous results.
Plessy v. Ferguson (I knew those 3 months in law school would pay off some day!) was not exactly the epitome of democracy either
George:
Worse than Dred Scott?
Worst thing so far.
I agree! Have a good day.
I totally agree with you. And the Democrats have done nothing to undo this ruling by SCOTUS. They have not even introduced a bill since 2010. All of politicians now have found a cash cow in the American people. asking for donations non stop. We must get money out of our politics.
Truscha Quatrone ; That's easy, we have very little money to give!
Rather difficult sometimes to distinguish between the authoritarian Democratic Party and Republican one. Can’t say I am fond of either.
Money rules. Watch last night’s 60 minutes episode on Saudi Arabia and how they are dumping millions upon billions upon trillions of dollars/riyals into sports and sports teams for their country. Buying the best and trying to shut up the rest (i.e. those speaking out against their atrocities). All that is going on in our own country is about money, which equals power. We must change our thinking about money and power, otherwise we all lose.
I still propose that our form of Capitalism is meant to allow a small circle of oligarchs to run the government without a democratic process. And those oligarchs aren't required to be American citizens. Nor are the owners or any of the Board members.
I continue to believe that a business federation modeled after the Mondragon organization would be a better economic format. And allow for a more equitable tax structure.
Agree, agree!! And Mondragon organization business format is stellar tool to address equity & climate rescue. Need to (re)find succinct story on it in 1980's Co-Evolution Quarterly.
I have a CQ here, Spring 1980. But I don't see anything on Mondragon in the ToC. Light Rail, Sail Cargo, Shramadana...
What issue?
What a great publication! I wish someone would revive it or put out something comparable. I learned a lot from it.
Corporations as persons goes back centuries. But corporations with the CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS of We the People goes back to the Santa Clara Railroads SCOTUS case in 1886. That case used the 14th Amendment to grant constitutional rights to corporations. It opened the flood gates. Money as speech came from the mid '70s SCOTUS decisions -- Buckley in '76 and Bellotti in '78. CU merely further widened the rabbit hole by giving corporations the ability to spend unlimited amounts by supposedly independent PACs during election season. If any of us truly want to undo this calamity, we MUST get our "representatives" to co-sponsor House Joint Resolution 48, which is the ONLY one that undoes the legal doctrines arising from Santa Clara, Buckley and Bellotti which set the ground work for CU.
I hadn't been following the SCOTUS when they eventually agreed to Citizens United. But the moment I heard what they had done I thought, "What the HELL were they thinking?". Now I know they were NOT "thinking". They were letting the puppeteers behind dark money "inform" them.
I will say this. The Republicans in Congress who refused to honor the presidential election of 2020, and who gave aid and comfort to the treasonous rioters on January 6, 2021 - these are the legislators who should have been expelled. We continue to appease or ignore the thugs who invade our statehouses or occupy our federal preserves, and we continue our spiral into a repeat of the Weimar Republic.
When the Democrats had the majority they should have gotten rid of them instead of wasting time with that committee.
I’m afraid you’re right... we had ample time to correct the problems when Obama was President. Being a scholar at Harvard Obama knew exactly of the atrocities the Republicans were doing - most notably Citizens United. We have zero chance of further advancement in ridding us of those committed to turning our Nation into a Plutocracy unless we overturn Citizens United. Obama had the chance, an open road to correct the satanic Citizens United decision handed down by our equally corrupt Supreme Court.
Today our Congress members fear even mentioning Citizens United as it brings the Dark Side right out their chairs. Only a few ... an honest brave few who put the Nation before their wallet or next election will stand in Congress and ask for help in the task in ridding us of what is decimating our Democracy.
God help us as apathy now runs deep in our Democratic Party.
Obama had the chance to do many things he didn't do. Getting single-payer passed, for instance.
4-party system, coming soon.
Ron: Apathy? Or corruption?
The Dems have had several opportunities to completely overturn the disasters of Reagan's time in the WH and those of Poppy and W Bush. But they have NEVER tried to do more than nibble around the edges even when they held the trifecta of House, Senate and White House. Dem leadership was purely neoliberal and let economic issues alone while concentrating solely on social issues. Thus the old corporate Dem self-characterization "Socially liberal but fiscally conservative" let the GOP drive toward Fascist plutocracy continue just as the appalling bumper sticker on many liberal cars, etc. rationalizes this half-vast and incompetent approach to politics -- "We aren't perfect, But they're Nuts" (Crazy) and creates absolutely ZERO reason to vote for Democrats. All these leaders can do is negative politics, praying for a GOP screw up, since they have little to offer We the People economically, which is why so many rural Americans have deserted the Democrats as Democrats have deserted and refused to update and expand the New Deal approach to governing.
So sad, and we all just sit and watch.
The Republican Party is not careening into fascism — the ship has already sailed. Fascism is not too strong a word; the GOP amply fulfills all 14 Characteristics of Fascism, as noted by Lawrence Britt at https://ratical.org/ratville/CAH/fasci14chars.html
As noted by every writer/thinker/analyst who writes about it, from Timothy
Snyder to Madeline Albright and many great minds in between, not to mention George Orwell (and a brilliant "fan" of Orwell, the late, great Christopher Hitchens). et al.
The question that keeps troubling me is: how is it possible that any Americans, let alone apparently in the millions, actually want a fascist government, a crime syndicate-fascist state, installed, displacing what we have all known and lived in all of our lives? We have to assume that most attended similar schools, read similar books, experienced similar life events to those of us who are in a state of high alarm about the rise of fascism in America - and yet, they seem to desire it. How is this even possible? Do they have no knowledge about fascism in the history of the world? How can any American actually want to destroy - America?! It is beyond belief!
No they don't because US Education is awful.
It's not what it should be because neoliberal governors and statehouses have dramatically cut funding for public ed beginning in the mid-'70s. And funding has continued to slide ever since, even in Democratically run blue states.
Shivers along my spine: how is it possible? The writers you mention are clear enough, like history. The U.S. is far from peacefull, but democracy is in high regard. Trump and his friend Putin are rather similar in their position. Is it time to design a new electoral system? Is it time to analyse the fears of the millions normal Republicans, who don't control their leaders? Is it time to change the relations between campaign financing, elections of judges ans so on?
Part of the problem is the, "Democracy for me, but not necessarily for others," mindset. Many Americans can't even define, "democracy." They might say it means freedom, and then equate that freedom with the unlimited license to own guns and to force their religion on others, for example.
Point taken. But how coke and ho to changement it? In NY country the problem is similar: individuals, not we, but me…
If I'm understanding your question, Tom, it would take a sea change across the country to change the "me" attitude that has mushroomed seemingly everywhere. When MAGA voters were only some 11 million behind Biden voters in 2020, the situation is dire.
Past Time
You mean, is it to late?
"We have to assume that most attended similar schools, read similar books, experienced similar life events to those of us". IMHO, this is no longer true. With the rise of social media and the availability of hundreds of websites with different viewpoints, everyone has their own bubble and echo chamber. Many people will only associate with others of similar views. What is truth to me is a lie to others. Misinformation and disinformation are rampant!
Tim Baldwin ; Also, follow the money! Who is profiting off of all this oppression and power grabbing?
Totally agree! "Follow the money" is an important tool when evaluating what's happening in our world. When I encounter new information, I always attempt to find out who paid to obtain this information, and who is benefiting (moneywise and increase in power) from it.
Agree Tim. With so much of our media having so little shared consensus how could the public not be polarized ? I don't see how democracy gets healthy with such a sick media landscape.But much of that is untoucable because of "freedom" of speech" or economic bromides that cut off discussion and legislation.
Annie Cross ; Their pockets are full of money and they are on the side that's 'winning' (at all costs!); since they seem unaware of the costs, because it doesn't affect them, plus they are ignorant of history, they feel empowered and are fine with it all! See Krysten Sinema and MTG, among others, like George Santos. They just don't care about justice or Democracy!
I think part of the answer has to do with the sorry state of our public education system.
I agree; it ithat "the sorry state of our public education system" is a huge part, BUT that is part of my point: the GOP has had a "long-game" strategy of profound, deep changes to our country - it is a real coup, I am saying, and it didn't happen in 2016 or 2020 or January 6, 2021 and one major result of their long-term tactically cunning slow-coup is the sabotaging and ultimate destruction of our public school system! They've worked for that result. It's been decades in the making, a tactical, strategized realigning of everything and schools are a huge part of that cunning strategy. Schools and courts, the Postal Service, the tax system, everything. Not "everything everywhere all at once" but everything, everywhere, slowly but surely, and the racist, woman-subjugating, anti-intellectual, anti-science, un-democratic, un-American GOP push (a real"putsch") is coming to fruition. Many decent, sane Americans went along like naive Gomers thinking "fascism? Yeah, Italy...German Third Reich....Soviets/PutinRussia....North Korea....." etc. and meanwhile the "GOP" was thinking "fascism? Yeah, we can make that happen here. That will work here if we play our cards right." Schools have been part of their "front" for decades.
Think of how public education has been handled for decades:
Segregation was shown to be, stating the obvious, unConstitutional and, ostensibly, ended (or its ending was enforced). But segregation in other ways did not end, has not ended.
Think of the myriad ways in which public education has been undermined, sabotaged, and all but destroyed, most especially in urban areas where, in addition, the maneuverings around housing issues have also fed into the destruction of "inner city" public schools. Urban schools are underfunded, poorly maintained in neighborhoods that may be very dangerous for kids to walk through and thus the eagerness to attend school is diminished and attitudes about educating ALL of America's children well and equally get transmitted to less-affluent neighborhood: you are worth less. Then over the years add in other degradations and obstacles to a good learning environment: gangs, guns, drugs, crime, police IN the schools, fights, diminished respect for teachers and teachers' respect for students and their families. Economic ups and downs but with poorer families maybe not intact or struggling in the many ways of American struggles, all of which affect students' involvement in learning and development. Add in media reports of inappropriate (to put it mildly) behavior from teachers with minors. Moving forward now we have crazed violent killers entering schools and shooting down students, teachers, anyone present. Preparatory drills in case of, not tornadoes or fire, but attackers with weapons of war. What begins as a novel education concept soon gets co-opted by right-wingers: charter schools. (Follow the money - applies there, too). Who LOVES and supports charter schools? A dedicated HATER of public schools, someone who has NEVER attended any public school ever and who was put in charge (by education con-man Trump) of the United States Dep't of EDUCATION: Betsy DeVos! (Sister of Eric Prince, he of Blackwater "fame" - infamy - and under new moniker as a Trump era mercenary paramilitary? contract military? "army" reportedly did some dirty work for the Trump mob and his Ukraine pressure...) She of inherited wealth and marital wealth from a business that many considered a pyramid scheme. That money and influence is behind a lot of the organized undermining and sabotaging of American public education. The family is deep in Dutch Reform religion that, until not so long ago, was overtly anti-Black in its beliefs and policies.
The assaults on American public education are myriad, complex and of decades-long implementation, but the main point is that they have been strategic, planned and executed. They have successfully promoted the destructive, negative ideas that schools are bad, teachers are bad, teachers unions are bad, schools are dangerous, kids are dangerous, kids are IN danger, schools are too expensive, teachers are too expensive, schools are paid for with gambling receipts, lottery receipts, property taxes - so move away and take the taxes with you, moving those taxes to affluent suburbs, leave urban schools to "bad neighborhoods" with no tax support, let those schools molder and rot, insert gangs and violence, proclaim the "wonders" of charter schools, call them "choice" "options", tell people they are cleaner, safer, freer, more respectful, tailored to 'your' child, don't use the word "segregated" for the obviously segregated schools; now add in the trend of home-schooling and then the pandemic-forced "home-schooling" where homes often don't have a computer or maybe an adult who can read, write or calculate well themselves or maybe has plenty of personal problems themselves, but call that "home-schooling" and make it seem like a thing real "patriots" would do, freedom-lovers.....
I'm tired of my own thoughts and you good folks must be tired of them, too, but I desperately want to emphasize that what we call the "GOP" is doing now has been in the works for decades: the judges, the schools, the system of taxation, guns, drugs..... and more. The whole megillah, folks, the coup. They're about to wrap up this marvelous national experiment, our country, in horrific fascism. And our Attorney General won't even arrest a criminal mob-boss traitor with endless evidence of his crimes.
Failure of education, yes, but planned failure. Failure of institutional courage from the ultimate law enforcement, the Department of JUSTICE, yes. Failure of all of us to see that we are pawns in a self-destructive sociopolitical chess game and the ones moving the pieces are destroyers of all that made America one of the wonders of human history.
Think of it: our country - all of us, we all paid for it because we believed in it -our country provided free public education to EVERYBODY. We built and filled marvelous free public libraries. We built and maintained safe, good. free roadways. We even put free, clean always open public restrooms and picnic areas along those roadways. We, all of us, provided clean, safe public drinking water to citizens. We, all of us, paid into a pension system when we were young and working so that when we or our loved ones were old they had some income and could have a foundation of safety and security. We had soil and water, woods and water in abundance and acknowledged to be the best on this miraculous planet.
And what have "we" done to all of it? Follow the money. Consider the acts of those who hate and destroy. Ponder the mentalities of those who cannot bear to imagine that "all people are created equal and endowed by their creator with inalienable rights..." ALL people.
Time to sing with Joni Mitchell:
"Don't it always go to show, you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone...."
Oh, my apologies, Annie. I thought this very fine post was by Laurie Blair, but it's from you!
That's a long post, Laurie , but there's so much substance & truth in it! I can feel your frustration, as I feel the same. And as you obviously have, I have been watching & noticing this happen for decades with this inevitable path to fascism without any intervention, & unfortunately there has been no intervention by the good people of this country. We've been like a frog in water slowly heating to a boil. Well, it's starting to boil now. Many people are finally waking up. But is it enough or too little too late?
My answer is that a large part of any electorate are latent authoritarian in their beliefs and impulses. Add to this their being subjected to our broken media landscape which misinforms and inflames such impulses , along with too many whose lives are not good,and you get the answer. Of course this is the Cliff Notes version. I don’t think many citizens have any idea of what government is for. They have Amazon.
FOX “News”
That has perplexed me, too.
American Oligarchy
They haven't thought about the consequences for themselves when they have given up their power to people who don't give a crap about them. When they figure it out, it'll be too late.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer_Hall_Putsch
This is what happens when people are brainwashed! They can no longer think or see things clearly. Sad but true.
Fascism has phases, which may explain how some can embrace it. The early phases can seem very desirable and attractive to those looking for solutions to society’s ills.
A good (since deceased) friend, who grew up during the 3rd Reich, explained what he saw as four phases.
In the first phase grievances are addressed and a fascist leader is seen as a hero. This happened in Germany with several increases in welfare benefits in the early 1930s and a “full employment” scheme made possible by a program of reducing high earners’ salaries and requiring companies to employ more workers.
Phase 2 seems to be one of building monuments and showpieces while removing opposition in the government and society. This is all meant to make the fascist approach seem to work and was around the late 1930s in Germany. Remember the debut of the VW Beetle? It was an example of a shining technology, which was never produced before the end of WW II.
Phase 3, as described to me, was then the beginning of broader elimination of enemies and “undesirables” in society. Some of the sick things that went on in Germany were the “elimination” of disabled people from the population because caring for them was “too expensive.” By this time resistance is too weak and democracy is gone. Because the economy is often again in free fall, solutions like a war are often used to prop up a ruling structure with mobilization and war time production.
In Phase 4 one starts to see a reign of terror designed to keep the ruling parties in power at any cost. This is a move from fascism to totalitarianism.
Societal knowledge of these phases gets lost after about 4 generations and there is then an opening for the next generation of fascists to move in. Those embracing fascism only see Phase 1 and have no idea what will come there way in later phases.
Dr. Doug Gilbert
; In today's fascism scenario, we see the climate destruction adding even more peril!
I would encourage all to read Britt's 14 Chars of Fascism provided here by Jane Grey. We ignore the signs at our own peril.
Thank you for that link. Everything mentioned in that link is/ has happened to describe our nation TODAY. Now, the question is: will enough of us literally wake up to combat this ugly fascism? I, myself, am going to keep on resisting the political “cancer” plaguing our democracy.
Those who believe fascism is label too extreme don't live in Florida. I'd estimate only 10% of #DeSantis fascist moves are headlined. Last step is funding his personal army which he admits he'll use in other states. Can't protest without his board's approval of subject. Those who could afford to move already have escaped.
Oddly I don't see this group as political, only criminal grifters siphoning excess $ from the growing international fascist movement. I think that movement uses this Repub mobsters for their own means. I'm not educated enough to understand the third party here - maniac corporate CEO's except they provide $ and dictate policies. How can we afford Democracy when we can't afford food, shelter, or healthcare?
Florida has been flipped from most affordable to least affordable overnight, and from purple to blackish red. Last minute unconstitutional extreme gerrymandering last election got DeSantis reelected. What are the solutions? Where are the Democratic fighters? We need to hear exact plans in this battle. No more vague platitudes. GOP has declared war and Dem's still playing by peacetime rules.
DeSantis bought the election. As of Nov., DeSantis received $134,367,665 million from donors, compared to Crist, who received $27 million. DeSantis got 59.4% of the vote as an incumbent. Democrats, especially in the Black community failed to show up.
The Seminole tribe contributed $2 million to DeSantis. https://www.opensecrets.org/officeholders/ron-desantis/contributors?cycle=2022&id=17657831
DeSantis' allies include the Batistianos who have been working to get a fascist dictator since they relocated here, and we have had voter preclusion since Nixon. In effect, Florida elected GWB in 2000 by theft. BLM did not do us any favors last year by identifying with the Cuban regime.
Because of the shenanigans, approximately 2 million people otherwise eligible are not registered to vote. The physics and math show it's still possible to outregister and and outvote them. Here in Baghdad By the Sea we still have a Democratic county mayor and Broward and Palm Beach counties are solid.
Wow. You need some old-fashioned door to door voter registration going on. We all do. From up north here, it appears that they intimidated black voters by threatening to arrest them for voting illegally. We saw it on the news.
Daniel:
One happy note: electing young progressive Max Frost to Congress in FL-10. Presidential material IMHO… if he lives long enough.
I don’t see DeSantis going anywhere nationally. I just don’t see it.
Rhonda has become a caricature of herself. I think it was the boots. Do people still say “jump the shark “?
Re that Seminole tribe donation. I can’t take things at face value. Is it really the Seminoles? Is it really citizens United etc. just a caveat
In Miami, Miccosukees hooked up with the Republicans years ago. DeSantis is their man. I noticed he also got a hefty donation from Debartolo. They have a Youngstown connection. https://wusfnews.wusf.usf.edu/politics-issues/2021-05-02/seminole-tribe-gambling-deal-signed-by-desantis-faces-legal-questions
Their connection to Trump predates that. https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1998/06/18/trump-supports-indian-casinos/
Well I'll be damned. Thanks Daniel for this information.
Casinos. Of course! Now the question is whether this is happening in other states.
Tks - I didn't understand the Cuban Fl vote before. And Dems forcing Crist on us again was inexcusable. And when it came to resources including funding. Baghdad By the Sea lol. There Are paths but Dems need to take them all 2024.
Most Cubans and many other Hispanics should, by rights trend heavily Democratic. But our national leaders (and apparently Crist) do not understand anything about the electorate, the history and especially voting patterns. Here we had a series of protests against repression by the Cuban government that were mostly unreported elsewhere. IMHO this is our biggest issue! We also have a huge Haitian community that needs attention. There are currently more Cubans at the southern border than came during Mariel. Haitians! Venezuelans! One size does not fit all. E.G. many Puerto Ricans in central Florida, who are not "immigrants" vote against their own interests also not for the same reasons as Cubans, Venezuelans, etc.
Nobody at the DNC is willing to listen.
DeSantis is a full fledged tyrant. Today in the NYT, he wants to expose people to felony charges for sheltering, hiring and transporting undocumented immigrants; require hospitals to ask patients their immigration status and report to the state; invalidate out-of-state driver’s licenses issued to undocumented immigrants; and "direct the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to provide assistance to federal authorities in enforcing the nation’s immigration laws."
"Mr. DeSantis has separately proposed eliminating in-state college tuition for undocumented students and beneficiaries of the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, known as DACA, who were brought to the United States as young children."
Gestapo anyone?
I can’t defend the DNC . They should be having weekly or monthly zoom meetings with all state chairs to work strategy , fundings, execution, all of it.
Our state chair was asleep at the switch. Resigned.
I read about it. Not sure where the blame goes. He says he got fed up, no team work, infighting etc.Things like this usually have multiple causes.
Former Cuban American mayor of Miami. It could be he was offended by those comments I mentioned, BLM.
Dem’s still playing by peacetime rules…this is the issue.
Sounds like the Democratic Party in Florida has been practically outlawed, at least rendered impotent.
Jaime: Max Frost did something (many things) right. Why not ask him?
According to the folklore, even among "independents" (based on some unfortunate comments by Bernie and Biden) we are all commies until proven otherwise.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/florida-republicans-bill-ban-state-democratic-party-rcna72917
Well said. Fascism is very hard to fight against because they don't play fair and they present serious danger to vulnerable citizens, at least initially.. and ultimately to all of us. We have no alternative though.. if we don't fight now there will be no one left to fight for our rights and common good, and for the very lives of our children. These examples are specific and absolutely chilling.
Its time to fight fire with fire as they say.
Just enforcing the rule of law would be enough. Garland is doing it gar to slow if at all. No insurrection leader has been indicted (yet?).
I don't know what he's afraid of. He's a very bad attorney general in my opinion.
⬆️ This. I remember being so frustrated and angry when McConnell blocked Garland's confirmation hearing for the open Justice seat before the presidential election. Now that he's the AG, his languid pace pursuing high-speed criminals makes me doubt Obama chose the right guy at all.
I expect him to be thorough and bring solid cases forward, but one can be thorough and do so speedily. He's shown no urgency, as democracy and freedom itself are under attack. I doubt he would have had the intestinal fortitude to write the strong legal opinions needed to protect reproductive rights, voting rights or the right of states to decide their own firearm restrictions.
I agree
"We have nothing to fear, but fear itself!" Is the DOJ afraid? I know I am. Imagine all the small children and older ones who must have drills against the lethal attacks in schools ; fear being inculcated into them, into all of US with the out of control worship of a second amendment that had been ,misinterpreted and , well, weaponized? The short sighted greedheads can't grasp what they are /have created! Terror that can eventually affect them and their families too. To say nothing of climate destruction ignored.
Yes, WTF is he doing in his job? Anything? His appointment was Biden’s “f*** you” to McConnell for blocking MG’s earlier appointment to the Extreme Court (which in turn was revenge for Bork being borked). Pure symbolism.
I think a couple of the Oaf Creepers were indicted. The Loud Noise trials should wrap up soon, see AP this morning.
The rise of Republican facism in America is terrifying Robert. For every step forward the Democrats make we take two steps back because of the GOP. I don't even recognize my country anymore. These facist terrorists have taken over all normalcy in our day to day lives. They're like weeds choking out the flowers in your garden.
I’m afraid you’re right .... the billionaires have little thought of creating new industries. They’ve decided to avoid the risk and initial cost. They’ve found a way to double their wealth every two years just by turning the screw that raises profits in every corner of America. The home and apartment realty is being bought up through the US. My friend put his house up for sale and the first prospective buyer paid cash and slapped another ten thousand on his offer above the asking price. I live in Kansas ... when asked why he was so generous with his offer he said he was with a big Corporation out of California and they plan to rent all the homes they purchase. Later I read where one Corporation in California owned 29 thousand homes! I also read where these realty Corporations expect to own one-third of the homes in the US by 2030.
Very bad news.....
We know these things. We see these things happening. My whole community is owned by corporate ghost owners. The neighborhood is full of renters who never know one another.... no community, no empathy, no keep up your property. How can we keep functioning through and above this debilitation reality?
One thing is that “grassroots” money comes from those of us who simply can’t keep up supporting election costs.
If we do not stop the billions of dollars going to pay for Fascists to take over our country then sit back and enjoy “the end”!
Oh boy, depression in any form does not breed moving forward with hope.
Yes - the republicans have definitely morphed into a cult that will stop at nothing and aims to install a dictatorship. The rule of law doesn’t exist in their eyes. I don’t understand how it is so easy for Tennessee to remove two Democrats for protesting but we can’t remove the traitors who supported the insurrection from congress? They should have immediately been removed. Then trump would have been impeached and they would not be destroying our country
Amendment 14, Section 3, in fact, requires their removal. To get rid of the likes of MTG, Gosar, Boebert, Jordan & Gaetz would improve Congress immensely.
Jaime , It would not only “ improve Congress immensely “, but it would improve our entire psyche. When children see that a bully gets away with hurting time and time again and no adult steps in to stop that behavior the good child slips into a fairly remorseful mode. No trust and therefore little energy left to relax and enjoy life knowing the rules mean their safety. No rules , no safety.
That’s how many of us feel... childlike and hopeless.
Jeanmuriel: Sounds like the biography of DJT.
Excellent point, Jean!
Thanks for the article. Trump certainly fits the image of a cult leader.
Gloria: The Mango Mussolini.
But tRump never made the trains run on time (or safely).
William:
Just remember that Hitler was jailed after the Beer Hall Putsch (look it up) but IIRC only was required to serve 9 months of a 10-year sentence. Keep the pressure on the DOJ.
I lived in South Carolina for 5 months as a news director for a radio station back in 1979. It was in a city called Chester. There is a confederate war memorial erected by the daughters of the confederacy in the middle of town. It still stands there today. I was threatened by the KKK for airing a story that they didn't like, they called the station and said, "tell her we know where she lives". I knew what that meant. They wanted to kill me. I was 22 and wanted to live so I quickly found a job at another radio station in North Carolina which was better because Jacksonville is where Camp LeJuene is located and it was at least more metropolitan. What I discovered by living down there is that they never stopped fighting the Civil War. In 1979 I could not be seen talking to a black person on the street. The reason I was threatened is because I interviewed Golden Frinks, from The Southern Christian Leadership Conference on my news show. Back then you had to live down there to experience this level of in your face racism. I grew up in NY and went to college in Manhattan where I had friends from all walks of life and was never told not to.
I guess the point of my story is that racism never went away. Its always been there. The difference is now that people like trump, desantis and abbott in texas have made it ok to be flagrantly racist. Outlets like Fox have made it their goal to gin up the already existing racists, homophobes and fascists to the point where they think a fascist authoritarian government is a good thing and better than a democracy. Its the goal of the fascists to take away rights from lgbtq+, black & brown people and women because they are the base of the democratic party. I've lived on LI for 17 yrs and have made very few friends because I'm a democrat. I'm living in a maga cesspool. I'm scared as hell about what is going on in this country. Its a repeat of Germany in 1939, and just like then no one is doing anything to stop it. The democrats have to get tough and take down the rethuglicans or this country is doomed. You can't rely on the media for this. As citizens we need to scream this from the rafters, flood social media about how bad the fascist rethuglicans are and create a real strategy to beat them at their own game. Its time to get down and dirty.
I believe Germany 1933 would be slightly more accurate (but I'm nitpicking - apologies). I have dual US/UK nationality and was brought up in NYC in the 60s. My mother was White British and my father was African American (can you imagine how taboo that was at the height of the civil rights movement!) I was told from an early age "never go down south - they're crazy!"
The people should be on the streets now!
Why are people so passive in Florida in the face of so much fascism?
I would think they are scared?
they don't see it at best, support it at worse
So the next question is what can the federal government do about it? What he's doing sounds to me anticonstitutional & anti-American.
Sorry to say that Fascism, in layman’s terms, is the marriage of business and government and you and I missed the wedding. With monopolies controlling every industry, leaving the billionaires to make twice their wealth in 2-3 years with their absolute control of our Congress, thanks to the Citizens United decision by our Republican led corrupt Supreme Court, nothing will stop this unless we protest as do the French. I hate violence but the French begin peaceful protest that, if their protests are ignored, they result in violence.
This is what we may have to do.
Expecting our government to do anything will first take the permission of the billionaires!
You are so right, Ron!
I fully agree, Robert. In Florida it is now illegal to demonstrate. The first amendment is subject to state government approval. Nikki Fried and two other women were recently arrested for demonstrating.
Sounds unconstitutional to me. Can't the federal government intervene?
How, I say, can a state override a constitutional amendment?
This is equivalent to throwing out the Constitution of the United States isn’t it?
A Constitutional Amendment is subject to state government approval?
Where’s our Federal Government on this matter?
The Republican party has, for some time now, been a cause for real concern. Party policies & positions can be, & should be debated, but the GOP's wholesale purchase of this mania (which superceded Trump), poses an existential threat to the American idea. Few republics can survive this onslaught......If the people don't demand it's eradication, can America survive? I hope so, the world needs honest brokers, not perfect partners, but a people who understand the value of the collective & a commitment to preserving democratic institutions & free society.
I live in a very red county in a very red state. In local elections, there are no Democrats on the ballot because they've just stopped running. I have thought about running for political office if for no other reason to get a different point of view in the field. The unfortunate thing is, I can sit in the local coffee shop and hear various local 'old-timers' seriously discuss the benefits of dictatorship. These are non-elected 'community leaders' who would disavow the democracy that facilitated their success, and claim the racism and sexism, aka 'values,' that drove their business model was the true measure of their worth. The Old South is alive and well here, which can be seen in the demographics of the county, few people of color live here for good reason. On the other side of demographics, the socio-economic divide is huge, and those who live in grinding poverty willingly and enthusiastically support the fascist moves of the Republican Party because for them, they may be poor, but at least they aren't black, and the Republicans play that card over and over with impunity. The question becomes, how does any movement penetrate a fear-induced hate that is fed the people from cradle to grave? It is prevalent in every pulpit with few exceptions. It is the dominant force in local politics, and is expected in the classroom from k through community college. And they see it daily on Fox News, OAN, Real News, all the collections of 'batsh*t crazy' these media empires can throw at people. Media outlets have always been about profit, but they generally supported a democratic system. Now, they would overthrow the democratic system that allowed them to succeed for even more profits they assume a dictatorship would usher in. There seems to be little awareness, at any level, that freedom of speech and the press end when the democracy is thrown out the door. It's like Texas secessionists who are shocked to hear that seceding from the Union would terminate their Social Security and Medicare benefits. The short-term maximization of profit has long-term political repercussions, and as long as power is white, male and christian, the populace here has little concern over the form it takes. I don't think this is an outlier as far as rural to semi-rural areas are concerned. There are Democrats in the hinterlands. Probably more than are realized. We're just quiet out of necessity. For the moment. A gay, atheist candidate for a local office may be what this deep red, bigoted county needs. The only freedoms we truly have are the ones we fight for. It's time for all of us to stand up and fight, to be vocal in our opposition to the incipient fascism in this country, and call out the Old South ideology of 'men are not created equal' for the social evil it is. The battle for the soul of America has become a full-scale war and there is no quarter offered from the fascists. There should be no quarter asked, either. We are at that moment where it is all or nothing. Either they win or we do because each side has defined the other as evil and there is no middle ground. How can you negotiate with a party who categorically denies your fundamental rights? You can't. You have to become politically active, running for office, campaigning, organizing, and protesting the injustices these people are perpetrating. Posting in comment sections and social media is no longer enough.
Thank you so much for sharing...
Over the last 6 years I have felt a growing urgency about the conditions in this country and how ALL OF IT has been festering inside the historical Southern "cause." It has been making me psychologically and emotionally sick! What you have pointed out CANNOT wait to dissipate or "work itself out." NOW is the time for action BEFORE it is too late - the search for "middle ground" has done nothing but entrenched and emboldened the process of Fascism that is taking place in FLA, etc! The window of opportunity is closing FAST...
Lee: You need a gay, atheist Republican... like George Santos.
I'm pretty sure that's an identity that makes the half-life of Actinide series elements look long-lived. Like most Republicans, his(?) chameleon politics will get the better of him(?) in mixed groups of 'really out there' and 'outright batshit crazy.' It will be interesting to see what comes about when he(?) becomes background noise.
You’re not alone.... I, politically, have the misfortune to live in Kansas.
Upon becoming involved in the 2016 election in about 2014, I spent many hours a week and thousands of dollars toward Bernie’s success.... he was very successful in his primary.
I once asked a well know Democratic leader in our area what is done about knocking on doors in Western Kansas.
My response was that they don’t travel into Western Kansas - nothing West of interstate 35.
I suggested we buy an old bus and renovate it and fill it with all kinds of Democratic information.... the kind where you go in the back door and out the front?
Then hit the road nearly every weekend and assure those living in the many small towns that ‘yes’ there is a Democratic Party in Kansas.
I only received smirks from those who could help promote this idea.... but I think it is sorely needed as the Republicans are Lord in Western Kansas. Few Democrats even run against the Republicans ....
After that day I paid special attention to those who would occasionally pop up on Facebook and I found there’s complete segregation out in Western Kansas.
The Republican hold in that area makes what few Democrats live there remain quiet .... they fear what could happen if they even as much, put a political sign in their yard. Their homes would be adorned with paint spray and other terrible actions.
I’m not happy about that....
I think the Democratic Party has a bad case of group-think. Your idea is the right one. There are Democrats who need to know they are supported and if our ideas never find expression in a political field like Western Kansas or North Texas, those who agree with our platform never have a chance to hear their view reinforced in context. Get the bus and go West. Debate the Red Red Right on their own turf. There may be more blue coats than red when it is all said and done.
BIG MONEY is the problem EVERYWHERE. The media morphed into its current state in the aftermath of two federal events at the FCC, namely the redefinition of the Fairness Doctrine to a guideline only and the elimination of the advertising cost at the lowest ad rate on their rate sheet to the highest rate for candidate advertising.
We live in a plutocracy that is corrupting EVERYTHING, not merely politics.
see if you can have a hand in spreading healthy informed media. Like https://statesnewsroom.com/ there are newsrooms covering state affairs in a number of states. Maybe yours. Others are doing podcasts and streaming radio interviews from rural areas on internet radio.Others have started websites covering local news. Support whatever you have that's healthy that is struggling.Otherwise Musk may own it all, to take things to the extreme.
I was getting their emails but they suddenly stopped.
If you signed up to the newsroom for your state you should be getting them. Might be in a social or promo inbox ILO your regular inbox.
Seriously? The chosen one [Beware of False Prophets]
The following is (By Greg O’Lear )
The FPOTUS is the polar opposite of Jesus. Trump is a racist; Jesus welcomed everyone. Trump is a rapist; Jesus was a celibate and a friend to sex workers. Trump is a thief; Jesus forgave the thieves crucified alongside Him, but was blameless himself. Trump is completely ignorant of Scripture; Jesus engaged in scholarly debates with holy men when he was a kid. Trump has no moral compass whatsoever; Jesus is the moral compass for millions of humans around the world. Jesus hated money changers in the temple; what would He have made of money launderers like Trump? The difference is perhaps best summed up thus: is it not fundamentally un-Christian for a wealthy man to use loopholes to avoid paying taxes—Jesus loved the poor. Trump’s attitude is, “Fuck the poor.” And yet for millions of Americans, Trump is Him.
The allure of the Orange Antichrist to so many cultists is mindboggling!
I must tell of the Sunday services’ Trump partook in at, I believe, St. Patrick’s Cathedral in NY city.
Of course it was just a total promo, the camera was usually on him.
In his boisterous way he exclaimed into the camera how religious he was!! Of course!
The communion ceremony started and as usual, Trump leaped to the front. The ceremony consists of grape juice and a wafer representing the bread and wine.
Trump took no time ... before his offering he quickly snatched up a wafer at in full view he popped the wafer in his mouth and chewed and said ‘ Hmm, I like these little cookies’ !
So I guess his boasting of his knowledge of religion was proven ... he liked the little cookies!
He is not solely responsible no, these people are who they always were.
But I have to wonder would they have come out of the woodwork if he wasn’t elected president and made it normal for their brand of corrupted politics to become okay to say out loud?
“Is the GOP becoming the American Fascists Party?”
Becoming??!!
Is Ukraine BECOMING an invaded nation? Is Donald Trump BECOMING a person with an arrest record? Is UConn BECOMING the NCAA champion team?
Nope. Every fact of reality shows they’ve ALREADY BECOME those things.
GOP is already a fascist party.. like the other Conservative Party s in EU .. ÖVP CDU CSU Macron .. ADF FPÖ are NAZI party’s like SS under Hitler .. they will execute.. Spindelegger Nehammer Kurz bild w Austrian Taxpayers money Prisons !!! For Migrants!!! In Croatia ..!! It is insane what the Thiel Musk Koch brothers and many more .. do .. it is insane