Last week’s court filing in the Dominion Voting Systems case proved that Fox News Channel personalities knew full well that Joe Biden had won the 2020 presidential election. They pushed Trump’s Big Lie of voter fraud anyway, afraid they would lose viewers to right-wing networks that were willing to parrot that lie.
And yet. Democracy continues to prevail. Good and fair laws are being passed. The fake election extremists were soundly defeated in the 2022 midterms. Our President let the World know who's in charge. We are in wildly better shape than we were in 2017-2020. What the grim parts of the past teaches is that there is nothing new that is occurring today that can't be overcome. For hundreds of years Democracy keeps prevailing.
Walking around frightened is no way to persevere. I refuse to do that.
I listened to Jennifer Rubin today on a podcast today talking on several issues, but what really convinced me we can overcome GOP nonsense again and again is the voter response in the midterms to the end of abortion rights. She is convinced that issue woke up the country to start participating at every level, in every state contest, in both parties, to protect that right. It’s the women who decide who wins, not the angry white male. And we keep winning! And the GOP (angry white males) keeps doubling down on ending abortion rights. They can’t read the room!
Nor can angry white females in the GOP. Take MTG’s comments about voting rights, and state divorce , and her display at the State of the Union. It is beyond disturbing if it didn’t sound like satire, suggesting people moving to red states from blue states shouldn’t be allowed to vote for five years. Really. She and Mc Carthy are the Bonnie and Clyde of the House and willing to burn it down.
In 1776 (that's right) our Independence year, Adam Smith published Wealth of Nations. The founder of modern economics clearly warned about vested interests and public policy in his conclusions on the Rent of Land, here is what he states about capitalists [he calls them "dealers in any particular branch of trade or manufactures"]: "But the rate of profit does not, like rent and wages, rise with the prosperity, and fall with the declension, of a society. On the contrary, it is naturally low in rich, and high in poor countries, and it is always highest in the countries which are going fastest to ruin.....".
"The proposal of any new law or regulation of commerce which comes from this order, ought always to be listened to with great precaution, and ought never to be adopted till after having been long and carefully examined, not only with the most scrupulous, but with the most suspicious attention. It comes from an order of men, whose interest is never exactly the same with that of the public, who have generally an interest to deceive and even to oppress the public, and who accordingly have, upon many occasions, both deceived and oppressed it." [from pages 249-251 in The Modern Library edition1937].
And here we are today with more trickery and deceit to further cut into American health care (already so expensive) and retirement incomes. (And OK, Adam Smith was a man of his time in some attitudes but he saw the trap of unbridled capital clearly.)
The rules that call for only one man to inspect a two-mile-long train (due to the undoing of the Obama-Biden rule by TFG that required a two-person crew) may well have resulted in the hot journal bearing that supposedly caused the derailment. Lack of newer rail brakes on those cars carrying hazardous materials (also removed by the former administration) might have mitigated the accident. And there’s TFG saying that only he was looking out for the “forgotten people” of Palestine when he celebrated the removal of safety regulations of railroads a few years ago. This is what railroad deregulation often looks like—the railroad executives and shareholders get richer while the people who live close to the hazards (often poor people) get a homestead that’s more dangerous.
Thank you, Professor. Once more, the chilling truth shows that the GOP will stop at NOTHING to grab money and power, including destroying our democratic Republic. I realize I’m stating the obvious-I’m just constantly amazed that I’m still constantly amazed at how brazen, shameless, and soulless they truly are. It seems like an endless abyss of evil greed. ***Sighs of exhaustion***
“ McCarthy is fundraising off his release of the videos to Carlson, claiming he is delivering “truth and transparency over partisan games” and asking “patriots” to “chip…in” to help House Republicans”
The security issue regarding the release of the tapes is huge, but the selective release to Carlson just magnifies the problem since he is free to spin it as he sees fit if he has sole access to it.
Someone has to file an injunction against the release of the tapes--preferably a bipartisan group of Senators and Representatives. requesting in interests of the security of the members. Mitch Romney might do it to polish his "savior of the real (old) Republican Party" persona.
Not sure if there is a problem here because the Architect of the Capitol was dismissed so there are now two acting members out of 3 on the Capitol Police Board and it appears to be dysfunctional. Somehow McCarthy canoodled Manger, the Chief of the Capitol Police who is an ex Officio member of the Board into the release.
In fairness, Trump's hilarious comments aren't even that extreme, if you look at context. I remember when Glenn Beck first moved to Fox in early 2009, I watched his program several times. No matter the day, Glenn could--with the best of televangelist preachers--work himself into a a verge-of-tears soliloquy-lather about how Obama had us "on the brink of total socialism." I found it amusing that his loyal followers hadn't long since pondered, "Well, if every day we're on the brink of doomsday, why hasn't it, y'know, actually happened yet?" But hey, that surge of unquestioned, righteous fervor is too damned good to question (or risk losing--I need to have my uneducated biases confirmed!), right?
Keep focused, people. DO NOT RELAX. Yes, 2020 was a seminal election. 2022 was too. Wait, are we crying wolf here--doing the Boomer thing of making everything a priority even if it isn't (sorry, couldn't resist. Wear it, Boomers)? NO. 2024 might be even MORE important. Beatings will continue until morale improves. Do not let up one tiny bit.
Of all the horrific doings of the Republicans listed here, the one that hit me hardest was David Eastman’s view on the plight of abused children. Am I misunderstanding this? Save the state money by letting children die of abuse? How can anyone support a politician who has views like these?
I really like the way Biden does not let a day pass before confronting a lie or affront even when in Europe visiting Kiev or meeting with NATO members. I used to spend a lot of time wondering why Obama, who I loved, did not respond this way or that to the crap coming from the right. I don't feel the need to that these days.
Heather Digby Parton at salon.com provides context & repeats KYLE CHENEY's Twitter post that Fox-Carlson have not yet "OBTAINED" the footage after watching at a Capitol terminal. McCarthy may have received footage in his roles as Speaker & as a Goebbels sycophant. As active criminal prosecutions are pending DOJ may step in to seek a TRO. Kyle Cheney was àt the Proud Boys trial today but, will be back on the Politico platform Thursday.
I want to say that there is now a school district in Northern CA whose parents are demanding books to be banned. It’s unconscionable to me that this is happening here. The school district represents kids from affluent families. My fear is that the district will cave. I hope not. It would be a travesty.
I don’t understand how Speaker Kevin McCarthy has authority over archived US government security records to the degree he can unilaterally allow unfettered access to those records by a private citizen, especially a publicly established Russian sympathizer like Tucker Carlson, for personal use, editing, and possible publication.
Could Speaker McCarthy do the same with the security records of, say, a US guided missile facility?
And yet. Democracy continues to prevail. Good and fair laws are being passed. The fake election extremists were soundly defeated in the 2022 midterms. Our President let the World know who's in charge. We are in wildly better shape than we were in 2017-2020. What the grim parts of the past teaches is that there is nothing new that is occurring today that can't be overcome. For hundreds of years Democracy keeps prevailing.
Walking around frightened is no way to persevere. I refuse to do that.
“Representative Barry Moore (R-AL) this week introduced a bill to make the AR-15 the “National Gun of America.”
Question: How stupid can you get?
Excellent letter. Frightening but excellent. Be sure to read the Pro Publica piece on Norfolk Southern. It’s eye-opening. https://www.propublica.org/article/norfolk-southern-policy-safety-alerts-east-palestine-derailment
Biden needs to use the word dictatorship rather than autocracy..It’s a better description.
Everyone knows what a dictatorship is.
Autocracy is a vague word.
I listened to Jennifer Rubin today on a podcast today talking on several issues, but what really convinced me we can overcome GOP nonsense again and again is the voter response in the midterms to the end of abortion rights. She is convinced that issue woke up the country to start participating at every level, in every state contest, in both parties, to protect that right. It’s the women who decide who wins, not the angry white male. And we keep winning! And the GOP (angry white males) keeps doubling down on ending abortion rights. They can’t read the room!
Nor can angry white females in the GOP. Take MTG’s comments about voting rights, and state divorce , and her display at the State of the Union. It is beyond disturbing if it didn’t sound like satire, suggesting people moving to red states from blue states shouldn’t be allowed to vote for five years. Really. She and Mc Carthy are the Bonnie and Clyde of the House and willing to burn it down.
In 1776 (that's right) our Independence year, Adam Smith published Wealth of Nations. The founder of modern economics clearly warned about vested interests and public policy in his conclusions on the Rent of Land, here is what he states about capitalists [he calls them "dealers in any particular branch of trade or manufactures"]: "But the rate of profit does not, like rent and wages, rise with the prosperity, and fall with the declension, of a society. On the contrary, it is naturally low in rich, and high in poor countries, and it is always highest in the countries which are going fastest to ruin.....".
"The proposal of any new law or regulation of commerce which comes from this order, ought always to be listened to with great precaution, and ought never to be adopted till after having been long and carefully examined, not only with the most scrupulous, but with the most suspicious attention. It comes from an order of men, whose interest is never exactly the same with that of the public, who have generally an interest to deceive and even to oppress the public, and who accordingly have, upon many occasions, both deceived and oppressed it." [from pages 249-251 in The Modern Library edition1937].
And here we are today with more trickery and deceit to further cut into American health care (already so expensive) and retirement incomes. (And OK, Adam Smith was a man of his time in some attitudes but he saw the trap of unbridled capital clearly.)
The rules that call for only one man to inspect a two-mile-long train (due to the undoing of the Obama-Biden rule by TFG that required a two-person crew) may well have resulted in the hot journal bearing that supposedly caused the derailment. Lack of newer rail brakes on those cars carrying hazardous materials (also removed by the former administration) might have mitigated the accident. And there’s TFG saying that only he was looking out for the “forgotten people” of Palestine when he celebrated the removal of safety regulations of railroads a few years ago. This is what railroad deregulation often looks like—the railroad executives and shareholders get richer while the people who live close to the hazards (often poor people) get a homestead that’s more dangerous.
https://newrepublic.com/post/170658/biden-officials-hesitate-update-rail-brake-guidelines-fear-pushback
Thank you, Professor. Once more, the chilling truth shows that the GOP will stop at NOTHING to grab money and power, including destroying our democratic Republic. I realize I’m stating the obvious-I’m just constantly amazed that I’m still constantly amazed at how brazen, shameless, and soulless they truly are. It seems like an endless abyss of evil greed. ***Sighs of exhaustion***
“ McCarthy is fundraising off his release of the videos to Carlson, claiming he is delivering “truth and transparency over partisan games” and asking “patriots” to “chip…in” to help House Republicans”
A fool and his money are soon parted.
The security issue regarding the release of the tapes is huge, but the selective release to Carlson just magnifies the problem since he is free to spin it as he sees fit if he has sole access to it.
Someone has to file an injunction against the release of the tapes--preferably a bipartisan group of Senators and Representatives. requesting in interests of the security of the members. Mitch Romney might do it to polish his "savior of the real (old) Republican Party" persona.
Not sure if there is a problem here because the Architect of the Capitol was dismissed so there are now two acting members out of 3 on the Capitol Police Board and it appears to be dysfunctional. Somehow McCarthy canoodled Manger, the Chief of the Capitol Police who is an ex Officio member of the Board into the release.
In fairness, Trump's hilarious comments aren't even that extreme, if you look at context. I remember when Glenn Beck first moved to Fox in early 2009, I watched his program several times. No matter the day, Glenn could--with the best of televangelist preachers--work himself into a a verge-of-tears soliloquy-lather about how Obama had us "on the brink of total socialism." I found it amusing that his loyal followers hadn't long since pondered, "Well, if every day we're on the brink of doomsday, why hasn't it, y'know, actually happened yet?" But hey, that surge of unquestioned, righteous fervor is too damned good to question (or risk losing--I need to have my uneducated biases confirmed!), right?
Keep focused, people. DO NOT RELAX. Yes, 2020 was a seminal election. 2022 was too. Wait, are we crying wolf here--doing the Boomer thing of making everything a priority even if it isn't (sorry, couldn't resist. Wear it, Boomers)? NO. 2024 might be even MORE important. Beatings will continue until morale improves. Do not let up one tiny bit.
Of all the horrific doings of the Republicans listed here, the one that hit me hardest was David Eastman’s view on the plight of abused children. Am I misunderstanding this? Save the state money by letting children die of abuse? How can anyone support a politician who has views like these?
I really like the way Biden does not let a day pass before confronting a lie or affront even when in Europe visiting Kiev or meeting with NATO members. I used to spend a lot of time wondering why Obama, who I loved, did not respond this way or that to the crap coming from the right. I don't feel the need to that these days.
Heather Digby Parton at salon.com provides context & repeats KYLE CHENEY's Twitter post that Fox-Carlson have not yet "OBTAINED" the footage after watching at a Capitol terminal. McCarthy may have received footage in his roles as Speaker & as a Goebbels sycophant. As active criminal prosecutions are pending DOJ may step in to seek a TRO. Kyle Cheney was àt the Proud Boys trial today but, will be back on the Politico platform Thursday.
I want to say that there is now a school district in Northern CA whose parents are demanding books to be banned. It’s unconscionable to me that this is happening here. The school district represents kids from affluent families. My fear is that the district will cave. I hope not. It would be a travesty.
I don’t understand how Speaker Kevin McCarthy has authority over archived US government security records to the degree he can unilaterally allow unfettered access to those records by a private citizen, especially a publicly established Russian sympathizer like Tucker Carlson, for personal use, editing, and possible publication.
Could Speaker McCarthy do the same with the security records of, say, a US guided missile facility?