Today’s big news is an eye-popping $1.6 billion donation to a right-wing nonprofit organized in May 2020. This is the largest known single donation made to a political influence organization. The money came from Barre Seid, a 90-year-old electronics company executive, and the new organization, Marble Freedom Trust, is controlled by Leonard A. Leo, the co-chair of the Federalist Society, who has been behind the right-wing takeover of the Supreme Court. Leo has also been prominent in challenges to abortion rights, voting rights, climate change action, and so on. He announced in early 2020 that he was stepping back from the Federalist Society to remake politics at every level, but information about the massive grant and the new organization was broken today by Kenneth P. Vogel and Shane Goldmacher of the
Just FYI Leo also has time for local small time corruption.
This evening I participated in a protest in NorthEast Harbor outside the estate of Leonard Leo. I painted graffiti in chalk paint on the public road. It read "google Leonard Leo = Corrupt Courts and a drawing imagined how Leo turns dark money into corrupt courts. Pretty tame stuff.
I just (9pm) got off the phone with the NEH Police. Who gave me the option of going out to NEH now and removing the chalk painting or being served to appear before the court on charges of Criminal Mischief Title 17A sub. 806 of the Maine Criminal Code He informed me that he had already consulted with the ADA and they are ready to serve me. I said that was interesting. And it might be interesting to have Leo put me in jail for chalk paint graffiti.
Well we got Leo's attention. And he moves fast. As you may know, Leo has already had a local 21 year old arrested on charges of Disorderly Conduct for shouting an obscenity out of a moving car. But I am surprised that between 6pm and 9:00pm he already had the police and the DA on this. I told the sergeant that saddling a 21 year old with an arrest record at the start of his adult life is very different from threatening a 73 year old with less at stake.
Part of the background. Before protesting and 'tagging' I consulted with the Bar Harbor Police (who are a joint force with NEH) to find out the rules. I was told that using chalk paint on public property is allowed. They got a complaint one day, found me in the act. And agreed I was in compliance with the law. So there we are.
And an interesting point. The officer said he had hosed the road and it did not remove the chalk paint. He said he did that because it is part of the police's job to protect public property. I explained the composition of the chalk paint, and while it is not permanent, it may be water resistant for a while. Although other graffiti with it has washed away with rain and worn away with foot traffic. In my opinion, my chalk paint graffiti did not damage the tarmac materially or hinder normal use of the road. But Sgt. Sundberg told me my opinion does not matter. So there we are.
As soon as I started reading today’s LFAA, I remembered your earlier postings about Leonard Leo, Iin. From what Heather describes and how Leo is over-reacting to your attention-getting chalk messaging, he appears even more powerfully corrupt than what you had portrayed! So sorry to read about what he’s putting you through. Equally troubling is that he seems to have enough buying power to acquisition his own “public” police force!
Wishing you the best, Iin, and a just resolution to your “to be continued.”
Really, I find it somewhat comical for me - but such a tragedy playing out in our police and judicial system here.
BH is a little blue dot. Even Leo's wealthy neighbors are mostly cheering the protests. But Ellsworth where the DA is, is a hotbed of Trumpism and the DA is up for re election.
“Hotbed of Trumpiam,” a phrase that makes my blood run cold. A cult of MAGAts and the master manipulators who are rich beyond belief and evil to the core.
I think it is good news that LL rattles so easily. His M.O. for years has been secretive and definitive of the word "dark." I deeply appreciate the light you and others are shining on him, lin. I REALLY appreciate the humorous aspects of your protests. Go get 'em!
I've been involved in many protests - for almost 60 years. I always check the rules. And have never been threatened with arrest. This seems almost comical. The charge is a Class D offense which also includes Domestic Violence and a lot of really bad stuff. Up to a year in jail and up to $2000 in fines. Just curious how chalk graffiti would be sentenced.
It washes away the connection between conscience and action. Maybe Leo, and for that matter Susan Collins, get so upset about legal chalk reproaches because the protesters prick their consciences.
I was just thinking how thin skinned these destroyers of our democracy and ordinary people are. Can't protest them on public property or even in speech out a car window. If money is free speech protected by the 1st Amendment, then so are the things Lin has described.
HaHa! Your good cheer is enough. It is pouring rain and the sample graffiti in my driveway is washing away. I may go out a photo the crime scene tomorrow. Criminals always return ...
Good idea to document for yourself. Even a conviction is looking for a form of restitution to the purported victim individual or public. So showing that the chalk on the public road has faded would help you. Good luck!
Smiling, smiling, smiling!! Leo is downright evil. His medieval control-the-world for Jesus fascism, combined with the $$$ he controls, rank him alongside Hitler. That a 73 year old chalk paint artist can rankle him so deeply is pure joy for this activist!! Sending great energy your way; keep us updated and seriously, if you need help with bail or an attorney, let us know. Go fund me for lin the resister will appear. Thank you for all that you do!
You ROCK! I hope someone took photos or created a video of you explaining why and his corruption. They can be sent to local press for more awareness. You are my Super Heroine of this day.💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕
If you're squarely within the law, you should expect to be vindicated in court. And, you can counter-sue on grounds of harrassment, violation of free speech perhaps. Maybe, just maybe, you'll get your legal expenses covered by the defense in the judgement. Mr. Leo can spend a tiny bit of his 1.6 billion on legal representation, along with some negative press. And, your record at age 73 is truly unlikely to effect your prospects for much of anything, I suspect. Goodonya for using means at your disposal to ruffle his feathers a bit.
Kudos for getting Leo's name out there. He is like a vampire, hiding during the light of day. He is obviously very committed to a political path and a way of thinking. Why does he feel the need to act under the cloak of secrecy? Why is he afraid of publicly discussing his deeds? Could it be that he is acting for "Satan"? (cue Dana Carvey)
I have such mixed emotions about my former state of Maine. I love the unspoiled beauty of it. The rugged coastline and the many fine people who work really hard to survive and are generous neighbors. But it is also appreciated by an extremely wealthy elite from "away". Many of whom consider the locals to be their servants. (including the cops?) There is a sense of feudalism. Nobles and peasants.
As more and more of the affluent move in, property values have exploded and the housing shortage for "normal" folks is a harsh reality. Portland, which has legitimately achieved a reputation as a mecca for fine food, is witnessing restaurant closings - the staff have no place to live. Nobles and peasants. It's not sustainable.
Alas, similar scenarios are playing out in much of the USA. Housing and rentals are out-of-sight and unobtainable for 3/5 of the population. The rich keep raising the ante so the lesser folk keep far away.
We are headed to our house on the island. We don’t know where Mr Leo lives, but maybe remnants of your chalk painting will still be visible? Kudos to you for having the guts to exercise your 1st amendment rights and call out this corrupt man.
Ha! I hope the pouring rain may have settled that - although that may not change the decision to summons me on the evidence of last night. Even if there is no longer any evidence of "damage and destruction" in sight. Oh brave new world;)
Thanks for your acts, your response to the Police and delightful description of the venality of Leo who converts Free Speech to Criminal Acts.
His harassment of passive comments on a pavement summarizes the current Republican Party (AKA Federalist Society) with shrunken ideals and diminished value to the future. Their platform, a personality cult, cannot survive close examination nor criticism.
If you are arrested let me know. I will get my creaky old body down there to camp in protest.
The story that Heather covered today is huge!!! Twitter is on fire as we speak. All eyes are on Leonard Leo and his inglorious past. You have been thrown a fat pitch lin. It's up to you if you want to take a swing and knock it out of the park.
You were not served nor were you arrested. Everything that has happened so far would be considered hearsay in a court - he said, she said without proof. That's OK - you don't need proof. The chances of any legal action is almost nil but if you become proactive, I suspect that this will be another cover-up operation by the police, ADA and Leonard. It could get ugly.
The NEH police and allegedly the ADA have put themselves in a very compromising situation. You were threatened and you have the ultimate defense - your First Amendment rights. The court of public opinion is the only court you should care about because this is not going to trial. It would be political suicide!!
At this point, you need to decide if you want to turn this around and bring national exposure to the police department, the ADA and Leonard Leo by extension. Simply, think and act like a Republican who thrives on baseless innuendoes. Go on the offense and claim your 1st Amendment rights were being threatened by Gestapo-like tactics who were taking direction from a member of Opus Dei, Leonard Leo. You know Leonard Leo does not want this kind of national exposure. He doesn't want to be accused of threatening a 73-year-old woman who speaks the truth. Especially now!
If you ever wanted to damage Leonard Leo, this is your chance. I have to believe there is more than one Democrat who would love to see this story reach the national news. I would contact some political heads. Sara Gideon comes to mind, and it would be worth a phone call to her to ask for her thoughts. Lynell suggested Sheldon Whitehouse as a good contact. I agree and hopefully his team can make constructive suggestions and possibly provide direct help. Depending upon the advice of the political people, step 2 is to get in contact with Lawrence O'Donnell, Chris Hayes or Ari Melber. Tell your story and let them run with it. My point is simply, Leonard Leo, the vain and petty sociopath that he is, may have stepped into it, if you get my drift.
The Leonard Leo story is a huge story a few weeks out from the mid-terms and your story could significantly fan the flames of the Republicans Gestapo-like tactics of threats of criminal behavior and punishment over your right of freedom of speech. Think like the Republicans and how they blow up the tiniest actions of Democrats. Impeach Biden, investigate Garland, defund the FBI - talk about overreaction! Only you can decide if you really want the wrath of the Republicans on your doorstep. If you go down this road you should demand protection. If you don't go down this road, then I and everyone will understand. The Republicans have made this a dangerous world and if somebody doesn't stand up to them (looking at you Garland) it is only going to get worse.
Check out Sen Shelton Whitehouse’s videos about how republicans bought their Court, as in Supreme. Quite interesting. He’s all over Mr Leo’s activities and the Supreme Court.
This is what is so confusing. The Bar Harbor Police said chalk and chalk paint on public sidewalks/roads is fine. A BH officer watched me painting, asked about the paint, and said it was OK. But the Mount Desert Police and the Hancock County ADA are ready to serve me on charges.
In my limited experience the BH Police are fine. This is my first experience with the Mount Desert Police. Although it is supposed to be a unified district, they seem to be operating under different rules.
The DA is a Republican running for reelection. Hancock County, and particularly Ellsworth where the Court is, has some very deep pocketed and active Trump supporters. They are building a movement - including daily/weekly family bible and politics events - at essentially a 'Trump Liberty Temple' in a local mall. In previous elections the DA presented himself as a community minded moderate. But I wonder whether he's being influenced by extremists or by Leo?
My kids just got back from MDI. Said it's changed since their childhood. They said it's moving toward basic NJ shore tourist. So sad.
I worked a full summer for the Maine Seacoast Mission back in the early 2000's, living in the maid's room of the mansion, and spent time as a summer pastor on Islesford, where I met new friends (Anna Fernald, among others) and a retired pastor who, as a young theology student, had a German knocking on his door late at night to go over his option of staying at Union Theological Seminary (my seminary) or going home to die. We know his decision - Dietrich Bonhoeffer was hanged a few days before the war ended. Bonhoeffer's decision changed my life.
Yes. Bar Harbor, always touristy, from the days of steamboats, is in the throws of how much to cater to big - really big - cruise ships. Year round sustainable local businesses vs seasonal t-shirt shops. It has gotten very out of balance. And if it becomes primarily a cruise ship venue - it might even lose its appeal to cruise ship tourists. The park is also suffering growing pains.
The Mission has moved, and the mansion was bought by the Bar Harbor Historical Society (rich auntie's attic sort of place.) The serious custodial, preservation, and research entity is The Mount Desert Island Historical Society. Truly wonderful operation! https://mdihistory.org/
I attended Summer Institutes at JTS. We were neighbors. I used your library a few times. ThankYou. I am truly humbled by your even mentioning Dietrich Bonhoeffer in the same comment as my tiny protest. Although, although I have spent my life objecting to too easy comparisons with Nazism ... it is fair to compare it with today's Republican Party.
In 1946, 13 year old Ruth Bader published an essay in our East Midwood Jewish Center synagogue bulletin:
"we must try hard to understand that for righteous people hate and prejudice are neither good occupations nor fit companions. Rabbi Alfred Bettleheim once said: “Prejudice saves us a painful trouble, the trouble of thinking.”
I have been comparing republican thug tactics to Nazism for longer than most, but Karl Rove used some of Goebbels’s favorite dirty tricks way back there. Seems that every fear I had has been realized as the rank-and-file republicans have sunk lower and lower. As W Bush reportedly said. “You can fool some of the people all of the time, and those are the ones you want to concentrate on.” Chump did just that…
Thank you, lin*. I was brought back to "church" by a Jewish friend at the Met Opera where I was working: he had joined All Souls UU on Lexington Ave. I passed an orthodox Bet Din, and was about to apply at JTS cantorial program. I finally decided to put my lot in with the small-town Jewish rabbi and study Social Ethics with Gary Dorrien at UTS. Still felt the pull
every time I looked across the street. Did you know that Thomas Merton was baptized at Corpus Christi church on 121st east of Bway? Lots of social justice vibes in that small space - you included!
I would suggest a 'leak' to the Ellsworth American. Discerning citizens will want to know about the DA candidate 's behavior. I was just down on the island, too bad I didn't get to see your work. Thank you for calling attention where it is due!
This is awful! I guess it's a good thing it's a little more out in the open. I appreciate beyond measure your protesting. But back to Heather's reveal, is there nothing we can do about this? Is it all legal?
It saddens me that Dr. Fauci has to see comments like Scalise made. Decisions were made as we all learned more about COVID-19. We’re still learning about this “novel” virus. Mr. Trump said it would “just disappear”, remember? I will be forever grateful for all Dr. Fauci has done.
Dr. Anthony Fauci saved millions of lives from Covid. I include my own. Dr. Fauci also saved millions of lives from HIV-AIDS. He is a a hero by any standards. I am certain he will continue to contribute until the end of his life, may it be long and healthy!
Exactly Howlin Wolfe. Scalise is such a poser with a constant smirk on his face. Blah, blah, blah. He and Stefanik must confer as to who can come up with stupider bait-laden comments than McCarthy.
To the woodshed for a whoop-ass for all three. Perhaps Fauci can wield the paddle. 😜
Just to say that Dr. Fauci was quite adamant about the fact that he is NOT retiring. He seemed to not want to use that word. He is moving on to "other things" that interest him. In other words, he is quitting his job...Good for him!!!
Me too. There is a large group of politicians in the US who seem to have no sense of the important work that career civil servants carry out to mitigate the risks the American people face. NIH is one, but others include DOE (managing nations massive nuclear waste stockpile, managing the move to renewable energy), the USDA (tracking and monitoring agriculture output, critical to safe and reliable food supply), EPA, and Dept of Commerce (with NOAA and out nation’s complex system of sensors for detection of weather events). The last administration either tried to or succeeded in closing down or hampering these efforts of experts, or attempted to privatize to for profit entities. People like Scalise who openly mock experts trying to do their jobs are undermining important institutions that protect Americans and plan much farther out into the future than private enterprise is able.
Rachel interviewed Dr. Fauci about 26 minute 40 seconds into Monday's show. Good job. How about a female scientist & persuasive communicator on board before November in an appropriate capacity to start making a difference now on multiple national infectious disease issues. Canidates?
Republicans have to blame Fauci when chump made such a debacle of the problem. To paraphrase a chump quote. If you make a mistake, never admit it, Always blame someone else. My Mama would have taken me and my sibs to the woodshed for such a comment. Of course, his parents never considered such. Nor did the parents of MAGAts, it seems…
Similarly Rand Paul plays one in Senate committees when he wants to criticize a real doctor. Wait a minute..., Rand Paul IS a real doctor. He imitates a boob when he wants to criticize a real doctor. Or maybe just is a boob.
Say hello to plutocracy and oligarchy, folks. There it is in all its glory. And now we know why the GOP has been so incensed about $80 billion going to the IRS. Yet another blow to democracy. All the more reason to vote the bastards out.
Thank you, Heather, for leading with the story I thought was one of the most frightening things I've heard in a long time. Chris Hayes of MSNBC talked about Leonard Leo, head of the Federalist Society, as the person who most threatens democracy perhaps excepting DT. This $1.6B campaign fund for his ultra conservative beliefs could be catastrophic. It is now time to assure the Senate is as blue as possible so the Voting Rights Act can be restored along with campaign finance reform overturning Citizens United. Citizens United has made corruption of our politicians legal. WolfPAC is a nonpartisan organization that is working on getting money out of politics through an amendment to the Constitution through a Convention of States which works for each state to pass the same resolution in order to call a limited Convention of States to address this one issue. It is time to fulfill John Lewis's Dream of equal voting rights and equal rights. We, the People, all of us with equal rights this time.
I just have to say, I am so pleased that Leonard Leo is getting so much attention here and on MSNBC. He absolutely deserves the adverse attention, because he is a clear threat.
Not being cantankerous here but just my thoughts. Isn’t capitalism an ideological construct? So as humans that constructed it, isn’t it what we make of it? We can change it. I would argue that it’s the folks doing the constructing that have evil (or at least, limited and antisocial) intentions? Bullies will bully. How do we prevent bullies?
Take away their power. Impose consequences. We waited waaaaay too long and allowed atrocious behaviors from republican goons for decades. Justice is the the calmer way to solve the problem, but we allowed the cult to rise. We allowed buying weapons of mass destruction in the hands of citizens. We are paying a high price for long term apathy. We let mitch get away with being a traitor to democracy for too long. We think others will be trustworthy which is essential for a democracy to work. Repubs changed their minds and decided they wanted it all for themselves before the death knell of the patriarchy occurs. Obama and other black men rising as well as women scares the bejeezus out of scared, small-minded white men who want to maintain PRIVILEGE over all others. That is why we are ratcheting backward so far as to losing our rights. But, I trust when we ratchet forward it will be tremendously far. And we need to ready ourselves with new ways of being and doing most things in this country. Change and Birth is bumpy and feels chaotic and painful, but we have a good system that needs to be tweaked little for this century lets go of the old patriarchal ways.
Love, love love this🙏❤️❤️🙏 our brains get stuck in the old neural pathways. Exploring new ways of thinking/feeling/being can be frightening when both feet aren’t firmly planted.
I have been reading Thom Hartmann lately, which has helped me to make more sense of financial info that I’ve always struggled to wrap my brain around. I wonder how he is perceived by financial experts.
I was under the impression, Cathhy, that a Convention of States could be very dangerous as once started on this issue, it can by itself choose to address any issue it feels like attacking......and the Republicans control more states than the Democrats at present!
Stuart, The short answer is that anything coming out of a Convention of States must be ratified by 3/4s of the states -- 38 states -- before it can be added to the Constitution. Yes, there has been controversy about this for decades. I'm going to have to go dig up my research on this. I believe in the 70s the Congress did come up with some rules/laws for a Convention of States that curtail a rogue convention. The League of Women Voters does not condone Convention of States. One of the few things I, as a very active member of the LWV, disagree with them on. My argument is that a Constitutional right should not be taken away from the People. What usually happens is that when there is enough political pressure for an amendment by a number of states passing a resolution for it the Congress will finally decide it is to their political benefit to pass a resolution on the amendment and then let the state decide to ratify or not. In this particular, the amendment on curbing campaign financing is like asking the fox to put a lock on the chicken coop. Not very likely ... although we are seeing the Democrats in their proposed voting rights act do address campaign financing.
I was of the impression that such a convention could move beyond a single constitutional issue (say, defining a right or reversing a Supreme Court decision) and propose sweeping revisions the the constitution (e.g., imbedding revisionist interpretations of some of the authors of the 1787 version). Perhaps, my old memory is confused.
The thing to remember is the last time delegates came together to “fix” the Articles of Confederation, it was entirely thrown out and a whole new form of government came out of it. A Constitutional Convention means everything can get tossed. Republicans have been working o for one for over 30 years.
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse created several videos titled The Scheme 1, The Scheme 2, etc. highlighting the role Leo played in capturing the Court over the last several years. He needs to be credited for zeroing in on this man when hardly anyone was listening.
This link is just an example of the Senator's work.
During the Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett confirmation hearings, Sen. Whitehouse was also great with his whiteboards educating us about how dark money/Federalist Society plants court cases and funds far right judges who rise to the top, just as happened with the Dobbs case and SCOTUS.
Whitehouse videos are the absolute gold standard for outlining the many and significant corruptions on the Federal Level.
The best one, for me, was his expose of Kavanaugh's lack of vetting by the FBI and also the money that went in to getting Kavanaugh on the bench.
However, I would like to point out: Everything this guy Leanard Leo is doing:?
Perfectly legal today in these United States. And, if we are honest with ourselves, it has always been legal for rich white guys to sort of, well, do whatever they want.
Louis Menand in the New Yorker agrees with you, writing that “America’s partisan redistricting tactics aren’t merely flaws in the system, …they are the system.”
Ellie, yes, what we, in our ignorance of our history often feel outraged about now, is just what America really is that we never saw because, at least in my case, I was working so hard, and so long, that I never had time to notice the real America I lived in.
I did notice, along the way, of the hundreds of engineers in the three big corporations I worked in, I only ever saw three black guys and no black women. All white guys. Including me (well, light skinned) although I have a minority last name and my Dad was from Mexico.
I did notice, along the way, the MANY white guys hired because their parents or a friend hired them (without competitive review).
I did notice Harvard's "Legacy" policy (36% just last year). Which, since Harvard was all white until yesterday means that 36% of the incoming class was low performing white people whose parents got them in.
Can't even heart this, Jeri. Just so atrocious what humans do to one another for revenge, power and feeling superior. Little men. Very little men with empty hearts for the Greater Whole.
Um, if you are talking about Trump, he didn't win a majority of the vote nationally, either. Only in a few carefully targeted states with lots of seats in the electoral college.
Hey, Mike. Can't say I have a favorite...all of them are great IMO. It's been a while since I watched the series, but I think the senator is, or was, trying to get the law changed so that "rich white guys can't do whatever they want." Yeah, I know, not likely to happen. But I applaud his efforts nonetheless!
I greatly respect and applaud Senator Whitehouse and consider the fact that he has not been arrested one of the positive things about America, at least he has not been arrested yet for "unAmerican" activity.
These guys like Leonard Leo operate very quietly, so they can get their dirty work done before the rest of us know what he’s doing. The intent is power to steal legally.
I am finally exhausted. I get tons of “desperate” emails every day. I give through Act Blue. I tallied up my giving and it is more than $100 per month, by $20. Now, that’s a lot for two retired people who have to be subsidized by family to get by, but it is sea foam in comparison to $1.6B. So, on top of giving some family subsidy away to help democracy, I have the constant dribble of guilt from emails that aren’t honest about why they are “desperate”, and for all I know, their administrative costs out way anything I can actually give. So . . . Now . . . How do I “be brave” . . . “To hold the line” . . . ?
I keep remembering everyone laughing about Hillary Clinton referring to a “vast, right-wing conspiracy”. Well, i wasn’t laughing then, and I’m not laughing now!
Patricia, You might check out the States Project and their Giving Circles. The States Project looks at where our dollars can be most effective. The Giving Circles allow people to pool their donations so they can have a greater impact where it is most effective. Check out the Tending to Democracy Giving Circle put together by a few of the subscribers to this newsletter. https://www.grapevine.org/giving-circle/1XQhnyD/Tending-to-Democracy We, the People, all of us this time!
I can just imagine Jesus Christ silently weeping over how his example and teaching have been so twisted into this sordid philosophy of hegemony of the few over the many
Rob and persecute the poor, worship wealth and the very rich, murder your enemies? I'm sure it wouldn't sit well, especially when labeled "Christianity".
Citizens United is a disastrous decision based on jurisprudentially weak ideological right wing premises. It is not harmless, it is yet another of many harmful right wing attempts to skew our country right.
"How Can Reformers Address the Consequences of Citizens United?
In the short term, a Supreme Court reversal or constitutional amendment to undo Citizens United is extremely unlikely, and regardless, it would leave many of the problems of big money in politics unsolved. But even without a full reversal of Citizens United in the near future, there are policy solutions to help combat the dominance of big money in politics and the lack of transparency in the U.S. campaign finance system.
First, publicly funded elections would help counter the influence of the extremely wealthy by empowering small donors. Specifically, a system that matches small-dollar donations with public funds would expand the role of small donors and help candidates rely less on big checks and special interests. In recent years, public financing has gained support across the United States. As of 2018, 24 municipalities and 14 states have enacted some form of public financing, and at least 124 winning congressional candidates voiced support for public financing during the 2018 midterm election cycle.
Lawmakers on the national, state, and local level can also push to increase transparency in election spending. For example, the DISCLOSE Act, which has been introduced several times in Congress, would strengthen disclosure and disclaimer requirements, enabling voters to know who is trying to influence their votes. Congress could also pass stricter rules to prevent super PACs and other outside groups from coordinating directly with campaigns and political parties.
Fixing the U.S. elections system will also require fixing the FEC.
Long dysfunctional thanks to partisan gridlock, the FEC is out of touch with today’s election landscape and has failed to update campaign finance safeguards to reflect current challenges. For example, FEC rules do not even include the term “super PAC,” and it has declined to find violations or even open an investigation in high-profile allegations of coordination. The agency’s failure to enforce federal disclosure laws helped allow dark money to pour into U.S. federal elections since 2010.
In an April 2019 report, the Brennan Center outlined a number of structural reforms that Congress can pursue to help tackle dysfunction in the FEC.
Finally, addressing the impacts of Citizens United requires building a movement in favor of campaign finance reform. There’s public support for such reforms. In recent polls, 94 percent of Americans blamed wealthy political donors for political dysfunction, and 77 percent of registered voters said that “reducing the influence of special interests and corruption in Washington” was either the “single most” or a “very important” factor in deciding their vote for Congress.
Citizens United was a blow to democracy — but it doesn’t have to be the final word. Politicians can listen to what the vast majority of the public wants, even if big donors don’t like it."
He also states: "An election system that is skewed heavily toward wealthy donors also sustains racial bias and reinforces the racial wealth gap. Citizens United also unleashed political spending from special interest groups (and hides foreign monies to try to control outcomes...)."
And: "Finally, because they can hide the identities of their donors, dark money groups also provide a way for foreign countries to hide their activity from U.S. voters and law enforcement agencies. This increases the vulnerability of U.S. elections to international interference."
I hate that. How can we make it so cool to not accept donations from huge monied people and corporations? We have seen candidates doing it, but it has to rise exponentially...Boycotting education, educating young people who are media experts. I think they are the ticket. People like Greta, unafraid to try despite the great odds.
This is a problem that we have to fund the country plus the politicians! The whole thing is out of whack and must be designed for All The People and not break our bank accounts. I have never given to so many people running all around the nation, and they are not big dollars, but trying to spread it out. Then one has to spend time deleting the next gazillion pleas for more donations...I really do not like this design.
Kevin Priola must be on some damned strong hallucinogens. Maybe he'll climb a 14er and fall off. In re the latest 1.6B cash infusion into the R machine - I can't even begin to address - my head will explode.
Yesterday, I had the pleasure of meeting not one but two nut cases living in Mérida who are doing the chlorine dioxide cure for what ails ya. I excused myself from the conversation because I just knew that they were going to extol the virtues of TFG any minute. There are "unreachables" everywhere. Best wishes to Dr Fauci...he will be missed.
Among my hopes for the midterms and 2024 is that many of these fools have died due to their stupidity. This goes against my morality and "love for humanity" but........I guess it is the expression of my evil twin.
Thanks for this! There is a meme suggesting that if they want to find more documents, they should dig up Ivana. A grim and gruesome thought, but when it comes to Trump, nothing seems off limits. As for the political spending, it is grotesque in its own right. It is time to reinstate some limits so that that the playing field can be levelled, or at least shaved down a bit to allow some justice and even-handedness to re-enter the political arena.
Several hundred more top-secret documents? Weapons confiscated at the Ellipse magnetometers? Artifacts stolen from the Congress on January 6? 30 years of Trump Organization tax returns? The interpreter at the Helsinki press conference? One of Trump’s former bodyguards or personal assistants who knows too much?
Read Tim Miller's Why We Did It: The Republican Road to Hell. As a former Republican operative he reveals just how bad things have gotten. Truth doesn't matter. He worked closely with Steve Bannon of Breitbart and got sucked into the idea that "they will really think I am smart if I say this--not that." Democratic values do not matter at all. It is all about promoting whatever lies will result in an anti-immigration, white supremacy, grievance-filled mindset that was bolstered perfectly in the person of Donald Trump.
Read it, after hearing Miller interviewed by Meghna Chakrabarti on WBUR, Boston's NPR station. It is amazing how so many GOP operatives got sucked into Trump's orbit, and couldn't or wouldn't escape it even after he lost the election.
Thank you, Heather. You nailed and concisely explained the important breaking news stories of the day. It is so comforting to see the walls closing in on Trump at last.
It's certainly a stab in the back of the Constitution. But the whole "Reagan Revolution" of putting absolutely everything up for sale; elections, legislation, the Nation's future, souls, is corrupt as hell and needs to be highlighted as the one crime to unleash them all.
This type of ‘donation’ destabilizes the entire world. We must rescind Crooks United, oops meant Citizens United, and god help us we need to retain and increase the control of the House and Senate by the Democrats!
Wow. Just wow. Incredible that these things come to light day after day. Thank you Heather for keeping us informed and helping me understand what's going on.
thanks, Heather. I emailed you last May 1st about the nonprofit I founded called Capitalists for Shared Income, or C4SI. C4SI was founded to consolidate wealth from successful capitalists, create an endowment (like Alaska Permanent Fund, or Norway Oil Fund) and use the earnings/income to pay out cash supplements to those living in poverty via pre-funded debit cards. The endowment would be a legacy to the capitalist system, and show that Capitalism can self-regulate its inequities. We distribute these cards to other charities working with people living in poverty. Today's news is just more proof that too much money exists in too few hands. We are hopeful that some of that money exists in hands that want to give back, and help people -- that is why C4SI was founded.
Thanks, Lynell. Interesting article. Going to give it more attention after I take my load to the transfer station. I am always leery of people who think they can solve social solutions with this kind of thing. Every one I have seen has gone off track in one way or another. Maybe after I give this article some additional attention, I'll think differently. Or not. First run at it left me feeling as ambivalent as ever.
Seems EA goes a ways back (2013), so there's some history there. My simplistic take is at least there are some billionaires out there who are on the liberal side of the road, and willing to put their $$ in the pot.
Just FYI Leo also has time for local small time corruption.
This evening I participated in a protest in NorthEast Harbor outside the estate of Leonard Leo. I painted graffiti in chalk paint on the public road. It read "google Leonard Leo = Corrupt Courts and a drawing imagined how Leo turns dark money into corrupt courts. Pretty tame stuff.
I just (9pm) got off the phone with the NEH Police. Who gave me the option of going out to NEH now and removing the chalk painting or being served to appear before the court on charges of Criminal Mischief Title 17A sub. 806 of the Maine Criminal Code He informed me that he had already consulted with the ADA and they are ready to serve me. I said that was interesting. And it might be interesting to have Leo put me in jail for chalk paint graffiti.
Well we got Leo's attention. And he moves fast. As you may know, Leo has already had a local 21 year old arrested on charges of Disorderly Conduct for shouting an obscenity out of a moving car. But I am surprised that between 6pm and 9:00pm he already had the police and the DA on this. I told the sergeant that saddling a 21 year old with an arrest record at the start of his adult life is very different from threatening a 73 year old with less at stake.
Part of the background. Before protesting and 'tagging' I consulted with the Bar Harbor Police (who are a joint force with NEH) to find out the rules. I was told that using chalk paint on public property is allowed. They got a complaint one day, found me in the act. And agreed I was in compliance with the law. So there we are.
And an interesting point. The officer said he had hosed the road and it did not remove the chalk paint. He said he did that because it is part of the police's job to protect public property. I explained the composition of the chalk paint, and while it is not permanent, it may be water resistant for a while. Although other graffiti with it has washed away with rain and worn away with foot traffic. In my opinion, my chalk paint graffiti did not damage the tarmac materially or hinder normal use of the road. But Sgt. Sundberg told me my opinion does not matter. So there we are.
To be cont'd ; )
As soon as I started reading today’s LFAA, I remembered your earlier postings about Leonard Leo, Iin. From what Heather describes and how Leo is over-reacting to your attention-getting chalk messaging, he appears even more powerfully corrupt than what you had portrayed! So sorry to read about what he’s putting you through. Equally troubling is that he seems to have enough buying power to acquisition his own “public” police force!
Wishing you the best, Iin, and a just resolution to your “to be continued.”
Really, I find it somewhat comical for me - but such a tragedy playing out in our police and judicial system here.
BH is a little blue dot. Even Leo's wealthy neighbors are mostly cheering the protests. But Ellsworth where the DA is, is a hotbed of Trumpism and the DA is up for re election.
Lin! To save you from having endless email notifications to delete, I'm virtually hearting your every comment on this thread!
Thanks from lin (MDI by way of MD & DC & VA & Bklyn before it was hip. And some other places:)
Morning, Lynell! And Lin! Good for you! And thanks for still being "out there" with the chalk paint!
Morning, Alexander! Ahh, New Englanders; can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em!
“Hotbed of Trumpiam,” a phrase that makes my blood run cold. A cult of MAGAts and the master manipulators who are rich beyond belief and evil to the core.
Lin Might Medicare cover your court appearance? Sounds like you have a chronic , chalky medical condition. Chalk this up to an exemplary child hood.
🤣🤣🤣❤️
Hey lin,
I recommend you be careful and maybe let the old boy alone.
You don't want real trouble, and, he can definitely pay for you to have some real trouble.
What exactly do you think the old boy will do? I really want to know. What do you predict? Forewarned is fore-armed..
I think it is good news that LL rattles so easily. His M.O. for years has been secretive and definitive of the word "dark." I deeply appreciate the light you and others are shining on him, lin. I REALLY appreciate the humorous aspects of your protests. Go get 'em!
Isn't Leo. member of Opus Dei, the Catholic cops?
Attempted like
And the courts....that include the Supreme Court!
Thank you for your service lin•
Waiting to read the next installment. Good luck.
Thanks.
I've been involved in many protests - for almost 60 years. I always check the rules. And have never been threatened with arrest. This seems almost comical. The charge is a Class D offense which also includes Domestic Violence and a lot of really bad stuff. Up to a year in jail and up to $2000 in fines. Just curious how chalk graffiti would be sentenced.
Odd, how people who seem just fine with massively ruining other people’s lives can be so touchy about a bit of chalk protest.
All that money washes away any semblance of a conscience
It washes away the connection between conscience and action. Maybe Leo, and for that matter Susan Collins, get so upset about legal chalk reproaches because the protesters prick their consciences.
I was just thinking how thin skinned these destroyers of our democracy and ordinary people are. Can't protest them on public property or even in speech out a car window. If money is free speech protected by the 1st Amendment, then so are the things Lin has described.
We can send money.
HaHa! Your good cheer is enough. It is pouring rain and the sample graffiti in my driveway is washing away. I may go out a photo the crime scene tomorrow. Criminals always return ...
Good idea to document for yourself. Even a conviction is looking for a form of restitution to the purported victim individual or public. So showing that the chalk on the public road has faded would help you. Good luck!
ThankYou. If it is pouring on the other side of the island as it is here. It will resolve itself.
"O that this too too solid flesh would melt,
Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew!"
Ha! To Hamlet.
Smiling, smiling, smiling!! Leo is downright evil. His medieval control-the-world for Jesus fascism, combined with the $$$ he controls, rank him alongside Hitler. That a 73 year old chalk paint artist can rankle him so deeply is pure joy for this activist!! Sending great energy your way; keep us updated and seriously, if you need help with bail or an attorney, let us know. Go fund me for lin the resister will appear. Thank you for all that you do!
ThankYou!
In perspective, this is for the yucks;)
But Leo's little bullyings and perversions of the law speak to his larger depredations.
Please post the photo if it won't add fuel to the fire.
Jaw-Drop! Good grief.
Peaceful protest is SO inspiring, Lin! You started my day right!
Agreed
You ROCK! I hope someone took photos or created a video of you explaining why and his corruption. They can be sent to local press for more awareness. You are my Super Heroine of this day.💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕
HaHa. I just spoke to him on the phone. We will see what tomorrow brings:)
So PROUD of you!!!!!
Endless respect to you.
When you think of what people have suffered for getting into 'good trouble' this is such a tiny little blip of protest.
That Leo is so thin skinned is not surprising. Bullies often are.
But I am truly surprised that the police and DA are so readily cowed and so ready to so patently twist the law to bend to Leo's wishes.
If you're squarely within the law, you should expect to be vindicated in court. And, you can counter-sue on grounds of harrassment, violation of free speech perhaps. Maybe, just maybe, you'll get your legal expenses covered by the defense in the judgement. Mr. Leo can spend a tiny bit of his 1.6 billion on legal representation, along with some negative press. And, your record at age 73 is truly unlikely to effect your prospects for much of anything, I suspect. Goodonya for using means at your disposal to ruffle his feathers a bit.
Yes. I've been thinking that.
Thanks for reinforcing that.
HEART.
❤️
Leo's law will be lambasted to bits now that Donald is day old news.
Me, too
Kudos for getting Leo's name out there. He is like a vampire, hiding during the light of day. He is obviously very committed to a political path and a way of thinking. Why does he feel the need to act under the cloak of secrecy? Why is he afraid of publicly discussing his deeds? Could it be that he is acting for "Satan"? (cue Dana Carvey)
I have such mixed emotions about my former state of Maine. I love the unspoiled beauty of it. The rugged coastline and the many fine people who work really hard to survive and are generous neighbors. But it is also appreciated by an extremely wealthy elite from "away". Many of whom consider the locals to be their servants. (including the cops?) There is a sense of feudalism. Nobles and peasants.
As more and more of the affluent move in, property values have exploded and the housing shortage for "normal" folks is a harsh reality. Portland, which has legitimately achieved a reputation as a mecca for fine food, is witnessing restaurant closings - the staff have no place to live. Nobles and peasants. It's not sustainable.
They always kill the golden goose don’t they!
Two minutes:
Watch "Cobra vs. Mongoose | National Geographic" on YouTube
https://youtu.be/vdg9gkmWsEA
Wait, Bill. In feudal times, the lord of the manor was obliged to provide homes for the vassals. Even some food, too. Bring it on!
Hope And the lord of the manor had ‘droit de monsieur,’ [translation—first crack at young girls.]
Alas, similar scenarios are playing out in much of the USA. Housing and rentals are out-of-sight and unobtainable for 3/5 of the population. The rich keep raising the ante so the lesser folk keep far away.
Don't want to 'Like' this but definitely don't disagree.
Love you lin ❤️❤️❤️❤️
We are headed to our house on the island. We don’t know where Mr Leo lives, but maybe remnants of your chalk painting will still be visible? Kudos to you for having the guts to exercise your 1st amendment rights and call out this corrupt man.
iin posted this earlier:
Edge Cove
46 S South Shore Rd,
Northeast Harbor
Mount Desert, ME 04662
Thanks, we have been by that place by mistake on our way to the breathtakingly beautiful Sergeant Drive, which is in Acadia!
Someone needs to order unpleasant “things” get sent to that address
Ha! I hope the pouring rain may have settled that - although that may not change the decision to summons me on the evidence of last night. Even if there is no longer any evidence of "damage and destruction" in sight. Oh brave new world;)
Thanks for your acts, your response to the Police and delightful description of the venality of Leo who converts Free Speech to Criminal Acts.
His harassment of passive comments on a pavement summarizes the current Republican Party (AKA Federalist Society) with shrunken ideals and diminished value to the future. Their platform, a personality cult, cannot survive close examination nor criticism.
If you are arrested let me know. I will get my creaky old body down there to camp in protest.
HaHa. You guys have kept me up laughing all night. Speaking of creaky old bodies ; )
I hope Lin doesn't get arrested but what a great idea! I would join you!
Alright!!!!!
Good trouble 💪🏻
Lin, do not discount the possible involvement of another Chalk Hawk, Sen Collins. (Tongue firmly in Cheek.)
Ha! Forgot about that. Got a lot of national play. Hmm...
The story that Heather covered today is huge!!! Twitter is on fire as we speak. All eyes are on Leonard Leo and his inglorious past. You have been thrown a fat pitch lin. It's up to you if you want to take a swing and knock it out of the park.
You were not served nor were you arrested. Everything that has happened so far would be considered hearsay in a court - he said, she said without proof. That's OK - you don't need proof. The chances of any legal action is almost nil but if you become proactive, I suspect that this will be another cover-up operation by the police, ADA and Leonard. It could get ugly.
The NEH police and allegedly the ADA have put themselves in a very compromising situation. You were threatened and you have the ultimate defense - your First Amendment rights. The court of public opinion is the only court you should care about because this is not going to trial. It would be political suicide!!
At this point, you need to decide if you want to turn this around and bring national exposure to the police department, the ADA and Leonard Leo by extension. Simply, think and act like a Republican who thrives on baseless innuendoes. Go on the offense and claim your 1st Amendment rights were being threatened by Gestapo-like tactics who were taking direction from a member of Opus Dei, Leonard Leo. You know Leonard Leo does not want this kind of national exposure. He doesn't want to be accused of threatening a 73-year-old woman who speaks the truth. Especially now!
If you ever wanted to damage Leonard Leo, this is your chance. I have to believe there is more than one Democrat who would love to see this story reach the national news. I would contact some political heads. Sara Gideon comes to mind, and it would be worth a phone call to her to ask for her thoughts. Lynell suggested Sheldon Whitehouse as a good contact. I agree and hopefully his team can make constructive suggestions and possibly provide direct help. Depending upon the advice of the political people, step 2 is to get in contact with Lawrence O'Donnell, Chris Hayes or Ari Melber. Tell your story and let them run with it. My point is simply, Leonard Leo, the vain and petty sociopath that he is, may have stepped into it, if you get my drift.
The Leonard Leo story is a huge story a few weeks out from the mid-terms and your story could significantly fan the flames of the Republicans Gestapo-like tactics of threats of criminal behavior and punishment over your right of freedom of speech. Think like the Republicans and how they blow up the tiniest actions of Democrats. Impeach Biden, investigate Garland, defund the FBI - talk about overreaction! Only you can decide if you really want the wrath of the Republicans on your doorstep. If you go down this road you should demand protection. If you don't go down this road, then I and everyone will understand. The Republicans have made this a dangerous world and if somebody doesn't stand up to them (looking at you Garland) it is only going to get worse.
Rachel Maddow discussed Leo last night on her Monday night show. That was the first I had heard of this guy! You have my vote, lin!
Check out Sen Shelton Whitehouse’s videos about how republicans bought their Court, as in Supreme. Quite interesting. He’s all over Mr Leo’s activities and the Supreme Court.
Lin, good for you! If you incur expenses, please let us all know.
Say, do you mind sharing the address of “the scene of the crime?” 😉
Thanks : )
There are more worthy and extreme needs in this world.
Edge Cove
46 S South Shore Rd,
Northeast Harbor
Mount Desert, ME 04662
https://www.centralmaine.com/2019/08/18/why-did-trumps-judge-whisperer-buy-a-house-on-the-maine-coast/
Wow - after a lifetime of summers on MDI, I thought the police were offshoots of the Mayberry police. What a disappointment...
This is what is so confusing. The Bar Harbor Police said chalk and chalk paint on public sidewalks/roads is fine. A BH officer watched me painting, asked about the paint, and said it was OK. But the Mount Desert Police and the Hancock County ADA are ready to serve me on charges.
In my limited experience the BH Police are fine. This is my first experience with the Mount Desert Police. Although it is supposed to be a unified district, they seem to be operating under different rules.
The DA is a Republican running for reelection. Hancock County, and particularly Ellsworth where the Court is, has some very deep pocketed and active Trump supporters. They are building a movement - including daily/weekly family bible and politics events - at essentially a 'Trump Liberty Temple' in a local mall. In previous elections the DA presented himself as a community minded moderate. But I wonder whether he's being influenced by extremists or by Leo?
My kids just got back from MDI. Said it's changed since their childhood. They said it's moving toward basic NJ shore tourist. So sad.
I worked a full summer for the Maine Seacoast Mission back in the early 2000's, living in the maid's room of the mansion, and spent time as a summer pastor on Islesford, where I met new friends (Anna Fernald, among others) and a retired pastor who, as a young theology student, had a German knocking on his door late at night to go over his option of staying at Union Theological Seminary (my seminary) or going home to die. We know his decision - Dietrich Bonhoeffer was hanged a few days before the war ended. Bonhoeffer's decision changed my life.
Yes. Bar Harbor, always touristy, from the days of steamboats, is in the throws of how much to cater to big - really big - cruise ships. Year round sustainable local businesses vs seasonal t-shirt shops. It has gotten very out of balance. And if it becomes primarily a cruise ship venue - it might even lose its appeal to cruise ship tourists. The park is also suffering growing pains.
The Mission has moved, and the mansion was bought by the Bar Harbor Historical Society (rich auntie's attic sort of place.) The serious custodial, preservation, and research entity is The Mount Desert Island Historical Society. Truly wonderful operation! https://mdihistory.org/
I attended Summer Institutes at JTS. We were neighbors. I used your library a few times. ThankYou. I am truly humbled by your even mentioning Dietrich Bonhoeffer in the same comment as my tiny protest. Although, although I have spent my life objecting to too easy comparisons with Nazism ... it is fair to compare it with today's Republican Party.
In 1946, 13 year old Ruth Bader published an essay in our East Midwood Jewish Center synagogue bulletin:
"we must try hard to understand that for righteous people hate and prejudice are neither good occupations nor fit companions. Rabbi Alfred Bettleheim once said: “Prejudice saves us a painful trouble, the trouble of thinking.”
http://www.emjc.org/13-year-old-ruth-bader-ginsburgs-essay-1946-emjc-bulletin/
I have been comparing republican thug tactics to Nazism for longer than most, but Karl Rove used some of Goebbels’s favorite dirty tricks way back there. Seems that every fear I had has been realized as the rank-and-file republicans have sunk lower and lower. As W Bush reportedly said. “You can fool some of the people all of the time, and those are the ones you want to concentrate on.” Chump did just that…
Thank you, lin*. I was brought back to "church" by a Jewish friend at the Met Opera where I was working: he had joined All Souls UU on Lexington Ave. I passed an orthodox Bet Din, and was about to apply at JTS cantorial program. I finally decided to put my lot in with the small-town Jewish rabbi and study Social Ethics with Gary Dorrien at UTS. Still felt the pull
every time I looked across the street. Did you know that Thomas Merton was baptized at Corpus Christi church on 121st east of Bway? Lots of social justice vibes in that small space - you included!
Yes, thinking can be painful. RIP, RBG. Thank you for this
Wow. That makes me tear and remember all the references my childhood through young adulthood minister made to Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
Thank you for the reference to Bonhoeffer. You make it so real! I continue to learn so much from these threads.
Attempted like
Amazing how money buys people. Lin your actions give me hope. You have shedded light on the level of corruption Thank you for your brave move.
I would suggest a 'leak' to the Ellsworth American. Discerning citizens will want to know about the DA candidate 's behavior. I was just down on the island, too bad I didn't get to see your work. Thank you for calling attention where it is due!
ThankYou. I will mute the thread - Thank Y'all. Takk Fyrir - get some sleep and see what comes next.
Excellent idea.
This is awful! I guess it's a good thing it's a little more out in the open. I appreciate beyond measure your protesting. But back to Heather's reveal, is there nothing we can do about this? Is it all legal?
Could we help by calling the Ellsworth DA office and complaining about your treatment?
Not yet. I need to speak with people here on the island. Especially the Bar Harbor police who ok'd my activity.
But please keep writing Letters to the Editor in support of your Democratic candidates and Democratic legislation : )
It saddens me that Dr. Fauci has to see comments like Scalise made. Decisions were made as we all learned more about COVID-19. We’re still learning about this “novel” virus. Mr. Trump said it would “just disappear”, remember? I will be forever grateful for all Dr. Fauci has done.
Dr. Anthony Fauci saved millions of lives from Covid. I include my own. Dr. Fauci also saved millions of lives from HIV-AIDS. He is a a hero by any standards. I am certain he will continue to contribute until the end of his life, may it be long and healthy!
And Scalise has saved zero lives and probably killed or endangered thousands by supporting the reckless COVID policies of the Trump Maladministration.
Exactly Howlin Wolfe. Scalise is such a poser with a constant smirk on his face. Blah, blah, blah. He and Stefanik must confer as to who can come up with stupider bait-laden comments than McCarthy.
To the woodshed for a whoop-ass for all three. Perhaps Fauci can wield the paddle. 😜
🗽
Just to say that Dr. Fauci was quite adamant about the fact that he is NOT retiring. He seemed to not want to use that word. He is moving on to "other things" that interest him. In other words, he is quitting his job...Good for him!!!
Me too. There is a large group of politicians in the US who seem to have no sense of the important work that career civil servants carry out to mitigate the risks the American people face. NIH is one, but others include DOE (managing nations massive nuclear waste stockpile, managing the move to renewable energy), the USDA (tracking and monitoring agriculture output, critical to safe and reliable food supply), EPA, and Dept of Commerce (with NOAA and out nation’s complex system of sensors for detection of weather events). The last administration either tried to or succeeded in closing down or hampering these efforts of experts, or attempted to privatize to for profit entities. People like Scalise who openly mock experts trying to do their jobs are undermining important institutions that protect Americans and plan much farther out into the future than private enterprise is able.
Scalise has always been a spokesmodel for the worse republican impulses
The lies about Fauci are beyond vile; they kill, and not always just the fools that believe them.
Rachel interviewed Dr. Fauci about 26 minute 40 seconds into Monday's show. Good job. How about a female scientist & persuasive communicator on board before November in an appropriate capacity to start making a difference now on multiple national infectious disease issues. Canidates?
Suggest asking Rachel. She or her staff will know who to ask.
Republicans have to blame Fauci when chump made such a debacle of the problem. To paraphrase a chump quote. If you make a mistake, never admit it, Always blame someone else. My Mama would have taken me and my sibs to the woodshed for such a comment. Of course, his parents never considered such. Nor did the parents of MAGAts, it seems…
💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕
Steve Scalise: I’m not a real doctor, I just play one on the House floor when I want to criticize a real doctor.
Similarly Rand Paul plays one in Senate committees when he wants to criticize a real doctor. Wait a minute..., Rand Paul IS a real doctor. He imitates a boob when he wants to criticize a real doctor. Or maybe just is a boob.
Watch it! You’re insulting Boobs all over the world.
Say hello to plutocracy and oligarchy, folks. There it is in all its glory. And now we know why the GOP has been so incensed about $80 billion going to the IRS. Yet another blow to democracy. All the more reason to vote the bastards out.
What the Grand Obstructionist Party doesn’t say is that a lot of those agents will man the phones and get the refund checks out the door.
As Schiller and Beethoven said, SEID umschlungen. Milionen. Bilionen.
Thank you, Heather, for leading with the story I thought was one of the most frightening things I've heard in a long time. Chris Hayes of MSNBC talked about Leonard Leo, head of the Federalist Society, as the person who most threatens democracy perhaps excepting DT. This $1.6B campaign fund for his ultra conservative beliefs could be catastrophic. It is now time to assure the Senate is as blue as possible so the Voting Rights Act can be restored along with campaign finance reform overturning Citizens United. Citizens United has made corruption of our politicians legal. WolfPAC is a nonpartisan organization that is working on getting money out of politics through an amendment to the Constitution through a Convention of States which works for each state to pass the same resolution in order to call a limited Convention of States to address this one issue. It is time to fulfill John Lewis's Dream of equal voting rights and equal rights. We, the People, all of us with equal rights this time.
I just have to say, I am so pleased that Leonard Leo is getting so much attention here and on MSNBC. He absolutely deserves the adverse attention, because he is a clear threat.
Along with the whole concept of buying political outcomes. Time was that was known as "corruption".
Still is, despite John Roberts
How many Leo's are there here and abroad funding the end of our democracy? Capitalism gone so far awry to being evil—against that what allowed it.
Sorry-- just corrected that second word typo above!
Not being cantankerous here but just my thoughts. Isn’t capitalism an ideological construct? So as humans that constructed it, isn’t it what we make of it? We can change it. I would argue that it’s the folks doing the constructing that have evil (or at least, limited and antisocial) intentions? Bullies will bully. How do we prevent bullies?
Take away their power. Impose consequences. We waited waaaaay too long and allowed atrocious behaviors from republican goons for decades. Justice is the the calmer way to solve the problem, but we allowed the cult to rise. We allowed buying weapons of mass destruction in the hands of citizens. We are paying a high price for long term apathy. We let mitch get away with being a traitor to democracy for too long. We think others will be trustworthy which is essential for a democracy to work. Repubs changed their minds and decided they wanted it all for themselves before the death knell of the patriarchy occurs. Obama and other black men rising as well as women scares the bejeezus out of scared, small-minded white men who want to maintain PRIVILEGE over all others. That is why we are ratcheting backward so far as to losing our rights. But, I trust when we ratchet forward it will be tremendously far. And we need to ready ourselves with new ways of being and doing most things in this country. Change and Birth is bumpy and feels chaotic and painful, but we have a good system that needs to be tweaked little for this century lets go of the old patriarchal ways.
Love, love love this🙏❤️❤️🙏 our brains get stuck in the old neural pathways. Exploring new ways of thinking/feeling/being can be frightening when both feet aren’t firmly planted.
I have been reading Thom Hartmann lately, which has helped me to make more sense of financial info that I’ve always struggled to wrap my brain around. I wonder how he is perceived by financial experts.
https://hartmannreport.com/p/the-claws-of-the-morbidly-rich-are/comments
I was under the impression, Cathhy, that a Convention of States could be very dangerous as once started on this issue, it can by itself choose to address any issue it feels like attacking......and the Republicans control more states than the Democrats at present!
Stuart, The short answer is that anything coming out of a Convention of States must be ratified by 3/4s of the states -- 38 states -- before it can be added to the Constitution. Yes, there has been controversy about this for decades. I'm going to have to go dig up my research on this. I believe in the 70s the Congress did come up with some rules/laws for a Convention of States that curtail a rogue convention. The League of Women Voters does not condone Convention of States. One of the few things I, as a very active member of the LWV, disagree with them on. My argument is that a Constitutional right should not be taken away from the People. What usually happens is that when there is enough political pressure for an amendment by a number of states passing a resolution for it the Congress will finally decide it is to their political benefit to pass a resolution on the amendment and then let the state decide to ratify or not. In this particular, the amendment on curbing campaign financing is like asking the fox to put a lock on the chicken coop. Not very likely ... although we are seeing the Democrats in their proposed voting rights act do address campaign financing.
I was of the impression that such a convention could move beyond a single constitutional issue (say, defining a right or reversing a Supreme Court decision) and propose sweeping revisions the the constitution (e.g., imbedding revisionist interpretations of some of the authors of the 1787 version). Perhaps, my old memory is confused.
The thing to remember is the last time delegates came together to “fix” the Articles of Confederation, it was entirely thrown out and a whole new form of government came out of it. A Constitutional Convention means everything can get tossed. Republicans have been working o for one for over 30 years.
I heard the same, dangerous ground
👍🏻
Chris Hayes did a good job of highlighting this story about Leonard Leo:
https://twitter.com/allinwithchris/status/1561887949339250689?s=20&t=zg0nNqX3VqWhyWGoBDiwlw
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse created several videos titled The Scheme 1, The Scheme 2, etc. highlighting the role Leo played in capturing the Court over the last several years. He needs to be credited for zeroing in on this man when hardly anyone was listening.
This link is just an example of the Senator's work.
https://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/gavel-in-hand-whitehouse-presses-opm-for-leonard-leo-documents
I tried to find all the "schemes" in one place. Here's the best I could come up with.
https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?fr=yhs-fc-2212&ei=UTF-8&hsimp=yhs-2212&hspart=fc¶m1=7¶m2=eJw1i0sOgkAQBa%2FSS01M0z0fhHAMV4awGGHECQNDAIPx9LaJ7qrq5fWhq6vmcmUirY2uT80kLlYKficyxEqJtN%2FOAmEWsshFgaw0Kp1L7H2S%2BlwFn05oTO8Qo8ssEhz2MHVpX2HagAmpAgm5qeCVmyO4eY5%2B97chbJnVZ9Q5HIbHNsYTxDB46H07pCO0jyWNPmMySGiZFRYMq7u7Jfxvvut%2FO6tSozUfD0A%2Fpw%3D%3D&p=senator+whitehouse+scheme+1+video&type=fc_A30C76C6185_s58_g_e_d040122_n1009_c11#id=5&vid=845b2487a51d48053b9de913b140fc28&action=click
During the Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett confirmation hearings, Sen. Whitehouse was also great with his whiteboards educating us about how dark money/Federalist Society plants court cases and funds far right judges who rise to the top, just as happened with the Dobbs case and SCOTUS.
Thanks, Ellie!
Whitehouse videos are the absolute gold standard for outlining the many and significant corruptions on the Federal Level.
The best one, for me, was his expose of Kavanaugh's lack of vetting by the FBI and also the money that went in to getting Kavanaugh on the bench.
However, I would like to point out: Everything this guy Leanard Leo is doing:?
Perfectly legal today in these United States. And, if we are honest with ourselves, it has always been legal for rich white guys to sort of, well, do whatever they want.
Louis Menand in the New Yorker agrees with you, writing that “America’s partisan redistricting tactics aren’t merely flaws in the system, …they are the system.”
https://twitter.com/newyorker/status/1561128628594827265?s=21&t=cwJHN27TyfjLIh9LZ8xOtQ
Ellie, yes, what we, in our ignorance of our history often feel outraged about now, is just what America really is that we never saw because, at least in my case, I was working so hard, and so long, that I never had time to notice the real America I lived in.
I did notice, along the way, of the hundreds of engineers in the three big corporations I worked in, I only ever saw three black guys and no black women. All white guys. Including me (well, light skinned) although I have a minority last name and my Dad was from Mexico.
I did notice, along the way, the MANY white guys hired because their parents or a friend hired them (without competitive review).
I did notice Harvard's "Legacy" policy (36% just last year). Which, since Harvard was all white until yesterday means that 36% of the incoming class was low performing white people whose parents got them in.
So, I am awakening.
Operation RedMap for the Republicans in 2010. Democrats do it, too, but not as tightly organized or “surgical.”
Yes, reading that article was enlightening but sickening.
Everything Hitler did was legal in Nazi Germany
Can't even heart this, Jeri. Just so atrocious what humans do to one another for revenge, power and feeling superior. Little men. Very little men with empty hearts for the Greater Whole.
❤️
And Hitler never won a majority of the popular vote like someone else we know.
Um, if you are talking about Trump, he didn't win a majority of the vote nationally, either. Only in a few carefully targeted states with lots of seats in the electoral college.
Yes. Correct.
Same with Stalin in Russia.
38 million people starved and killed on collective farms from 1930 to 1938. Millions more killed in gulags.
Good one, Jeri!
Hey, Mike. Can't say I have a favorite...all of them are great IMO. It's been a while since I watched the series, but I think the senator is, or was, trying to get the law changed so that "rich white guys can't do whatever they want." Yeah, I know, not likely to happen. But I applaud his efforts nonetheless!
I greatly respect and applaud Senator Whitehouse and consider the fact that he has not been arrested one of the positive things about America, at least he has not been arrested yet for "unAmerican" activity.
Like calling out rich white guys. :-)
Alrighty, then!
These guys like Leonard Leo operate very quietly, so they can get their dirty work done before the rest of us know what he’s doing. The intent is power to steal legally.
And i revile Rupert, add Leonard to the list of traitors. He does to the rich what Rupert does to the magats
Senator Whitehouse is someone I would vote for for President.
Yes, me too!
Yes, me too!
Me too.
So agree, Lynell.
Sen Whitehouse is a force for Democracy. Also a force for ….”He’s like a dog with a juicy bone. There is no wearing him down into obscurity.”
🗽
That's two smiles you gave me today, Christine. Not counting, mind you; just sayin'!
Amendment to the constitution -what Koch’s have been advocating for decades, be very afraid.
I am finally exhausted. I get tons of “desperate” emails every day. I give through Act Blue. I tallied up my giving and it is more than $100 per month, by $20. Now, that’s a lot for two retired people who have to be subsidized by family to get by, but it is sea foam in comparison to $1.6B. So, on top of giving some family subsidy away to help democracy, I have the constant dribble of guilt from emails that aren’t honest about why they are “desperate”, and for all I know, their administrative costs out way anything I can actually give. So . . . Now . . . How do I “be brave” . . . “To hold the line” . . . ?
I keep remembering everyone laughing about Hillary Clinton referring to a “vast, right-wing conspiracy”. Well, i wasn’t laughing then, and I’m not laughing now!
Patricia, You might check out the States Project and their Giving Circles. The States Project looks at where our dollars can be most effective. The Giving Circles allow people to pool their donations so they can have a greater impact where it is most effective. Check out the Tending to Democracy Giving Circle put together by a few of the subscribers to this newsletter. https://www.grapevine.org/giving-circle/1XQhnyD/Tending-to-Democracy We, the People, all of us this time!
Thank you. I do target my donations to persons (actual Candidates) rather than organizations. I’ll look into this.
Leonard Leo, one of the key architects in trying to impose a Christofascist government on us. He basically gave us the SCOTUS we are stuck with.
I can just imagine Jesus Christ silently weeping over how his example and teaching have been so twisted into this sordid philosophy of hegemony of the few over the many
I think about this a lot. Barrabbas, an insurrectionist, was pardoned. The Truth was crucified. Now it is happening again.
Yep. (My "heart" keeps breaking).
Rob and persecute the poor, worship wealth and the very rich, murder your enemies? I'm sure it wouldn't sit well, especially when labeled "Christianity".
Christianity had been through a multitude of iterations…
They are crucifying Jesus all over again
See Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and Leonard Leo's Captured Court series he spent a couple of years working on.
Hopefully, the senator is heartened by all the publicity Leo is getting today.
We are going to find out how much Fascism costs to buy.
They are going to find out there’s no amount of money that will keep it in place for long in America.
I hope you are correct, but I fear that the harm of Citizens United will live on as long as there are billionaires among us.
Citizens United is a disastrous decision based on jurisprudentially weak ideological right wing premises. It is not harmless, it is yet another of many harmful right wing attempts to skew our country right.
The Brennan Center for Justice
Tim Lau Dec. 12, 2019
(a few abstracts from https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/citizens-united-explained)
"How Can Reformers Address the Consequences of Citizens United?
In the short term, a Supreme Court reversal or constitutional amendment to undo Citizens United is extremely unlikely, and regardless, it would leave many of the problems of big money in politics unsolved. But even without a full reversal of Citizens United in the near future, there are policy solutions to help combat the dominance of big money in politics and the lack of transparency in the U.S. campaign finance system.
First, publicly funded elections would help counter the influence of the extremely wealthy by empowering small donors. Specifically, a system that matches small-dollar donations with public funds would expand the role of small donors and help candidates rely less on big checks and special interests. In recent years, public financing has gained support across the United States. As of 2018, 24 municipalities and 14 states have enacted some form of public financing, and at least 124 winning congressional candidates voiced support for public financing during the 2018 midterm election cycle.
Lawmakers on the national, state, and local level can also push to increase transparency in election spending. For example, the DISCLOSE Act, which has been introduced several times in Congress, would strengthen disclosure and disclaimer requirements, enabling voters to know who is trying to influence their votes. Congress could also pass stricter rules to prevent super PACs and other outside groups from coordinating directly with campaigns and political parties.
Fixing the U.S. elections system will also require fixing the FEC.
Long dysfunctional thanks to partisan gridlock, the FEC is out of touch with today’s election landscape and has failed to update campaign finance safeguards to reflect current challenges. For example, FEC rules do not even include the term “super PAC,” and it has declined to find violations or even open an investigation in high-profile allegations of coordination. The agency’s failure to enforce federal disclosure laws helped allow dark money to pour into U.S. federal elections since 2010.
In an April 2019 report, the Brennan Center outlined a number of structural reforms that Congress can pursue to help tackle dysfunction in the FEC.
Finally, addressing the impacts of Citizens United requires building a movement in favor of campaign finance reform. There’s public support for such reforms. In recent polls, 94 percent of Americans blamed wealthy political donors for political dysfunction, and 77 percent of registered voters said that “reducing the influence of special interests and corruption in Washington” was either the “single most” or a “very important” factor in deciding their vote for Congress.
Citizens United was a blow to democracy — but it doesn’t have to be the final word. Politicians can listen to what the vast majority of the public wants, even if big donors don’t like it."
He also states: "An election system that is skewed heavily toward wealthy donors also sustains racial bias and reinforces the racial wealth gap. Citizens United also unleashed political spending from special interest groups (and hides foreign monies to try to control outcomes...)."
And: "Finally, because they can hide the identities of their donors, dark money groups also provide a way for foreign countries to hide their activity from U.S. voters and law enforcement agencies. This increases the vulnerability of U.S. elections to international interference."
I hate that. How can we make it so cool to not accept donations from huge monied people and corporations? We have seen candidates doing it, but it has to rise exponentially...Boycotting education, educating young people who are media experts. I think they are the ticket. People like Greta, unafraid to try despite the great odds.
Love public funding or matching funds, my retirement “largesse” is somewhat limited
This is a problem that we have to fund the country plus the politicians! The whole thing is out of whack and must be designed for All The People and not break our bank accounts. I have never given to so many people running all around the nation, and they are not big dollars, but trying to spread it out. Then one has to spend time deleting the next gazillion pleas for more donations...I really do not like this design.
Excerpts from Fritz Hollings' farewell speech got a lot of press at the time, but still worthy of more attention:
But the main culprit, the cancer on the body politic, is money: Money,
money, money. When I ran 6 years ago, in 1998, I raised $8.5 million.
That $8.5 million is $30,000 a week, every week, for 6 years. If you
miss Christmas week, you miss New Years week, you are $100,000 in the
hole and don't you think we don't know it and we start to work harder at
raising money.
As a result, the Senate doesn't work on Mondays and Fridays. We have
longer holidays. The policy committee is adjourned and we go over to the
campaign building because you can't call for money in the office. So we
go over to the building and call for money and obviously we only can
give attention to that. We don't have time for each other. We don't have
time for constituents, except for the givers. Somebody ought to tell the
truth about that."
"This increases the vulnerability of U.S. elections to international interference."
A major national security problem, no? Especially since our enemies want Republicans to win.
to replace democracy with plutocracy, where absolutely everything is for sale, but in which few can afford to live.
Mike Bloomberg tossed a ton of money into the 2020 election, to no avail. "'Cause I don't care too much for money, Money can't buy me love."
100, BUT, Bloomberg was throwing money into the Democratic process where people get to make a choice and they did.
Leo? He is not throwing money out there at processes for the people to ponder and choose.
He is throwing money out there at the institutions that do not require any of the people's votes.
Fab Four agrees. https://youtu.be/srwxJUXPHvE
Salud! 🗽
Today's news was a downer, but my friend Christine just lifted my spirits...she does that a lot free of charge!
Loved listening to the Beatles! Thanks, Christine!
To no avail, I may disagree
I hope you are right
💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕
Kevin Priola must be on some damned strong hallucinogens. Maybe he'll climb a 14er and fall off. In re the latest 1.6B cash infusion into the R machine - I can't even begin to address - my head will explode.
Yesterday, I had the pleasure of meeting not one but two nut cases living in Mérida who are doing the chlorine dioxide cure for what ails ya. I excused myself from the conversation because I just knew that they were going to extol the virtues of TFG any minute. There are "unreachables" everywhere. Best wishes to Dr Fauci...he will be missed.
Hopefully the two morons will raise the local IQ when they discover what the result is of doing that.
Yes indeed, suffering the consequences it would definitely enrich the community.
I don't think I've heard of chlorine dioxide so looked it up https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-1622/chlorine-dioxide
May they agonize in peace and the locals observe in wonder (about their stupidity).
Among my hopes for the midterms and 2024 is that many of these fools have died due to their stupidity. This goes against my morality and "love for humanity" but........I guess it is the expression of my evil twin.
My evil twin and your evil twin are simpatico.
These people demonstrated their unnecessariness.
Thanks for this! There is a meme suggesting that if they want to find more documents, they should dig up Ivana. A grim and gruesome thought, but when it comes to Trump, nothing seems off limits. As for the political spending, it is grotesque in its own right. It is time to reinstate some limits so that that the playing field can be levelled, or at least shaved down a bit to allow some justice and even-handedness to re-enter the political arena.
Given Ivana was cremated, what the hell is in a casket it took 10 men to move?
Several hundred more top-secret documents? Weapons confiscated at the Ellipse magnetometers? Artifacts stolen from the Congress on January 6? 30 years of Trump Organization tax returns? The interpreter at the Helsinki press conference? One of Trump’s former bodyguards or personal assistants who knows too much?
All of the above, Roland. And more....
🤣👏
My vote to what has been speculated is Saudi gold.
🗽
👍👍
All the above
❤️❤️❤️
“Boxes, Boris. Boxes”
That’s what the Gen Y and Z’s are asking on line—what’s in her coffin?
It's a thought a few of us have had. But I guess it would be sacrilegious to dig up a golf course.
Good idea, no way her demise was an accident..
Read Tim Miller's Why We Did It: The Republican Road to Hell. As a former Republican operative he reveals just how bad things have gotten. Truth doesn't matter. He worked closely with Steve Bannon of Breitbart and got sucked into the idea that "they will really think I am smart if I say this--not that." Democratic values do not matter at all. It is all about promoting whatever lies will result in an anti-immigration, white supremacy, grievance-filled mindset that was bolstered perfectly in the person of Donald Trump.
Read it, after hearing Miller interviewed by Meghna Chakrabarti on WBUR, Boston's NPR station. It is amazing how so many GOP operatives got sucked into Trump's orbit, and couldn't or wouldn't escape it even after he lost the election.
Read “The Adventurers of a Bystander,” by Peter Drucker, pages 164 and 165 if you want to know what republicans are thinking now.
Thank you, Heather. You nailed and concisely explained the important breaking news stories of the day. It is so comforting to see the walls closing in on Trump at last.
Faster. Faster.
Thanks for this excellent summary. Citizens United has to be the worst blow to democracy! We will never recover from its damage.
It's certainly a stab in the back of the Constitution. But the whole "Reagan Revolution" of putting absolutely everything up for sale; elections, legislation, the Nation's future, souls, is corrupt as hell and needs to be highlighted as the one crime to unleash them all.
This type of ‘donation’ destabilizes the entire world. We must rescind Crooks United, oops meant Citizens United, and god help us we need to retain and increase the control of the House and Senate by the Democrats!
Absolute corruption: end Citizens United!
Some things should never be for sale. Ever.
Wow. Just wow. Incredible that these things come to light day after day. Thank you Heather for keeping us informed and helping me understand what's going on.
We also owe gratitude to the NY Times reporters who broke the story, Kenneth P. Vogel and Shane Goldmacher.
https://twitter.com/mjs_DC/status/1561712921561939973?s=20&t=zg0nNqX3VqWhyWGoBDiwlw
thanks, Heather. I emailed you last May 1st about the nonprofit I founded called Capitalists for Shared Income, or C4SI. C4SI was founded to consolidate wealth from successful capitalists, create an endowment (like Alaska Permanent Fund, or Norway Oil Fund) and use the earnings/income to pay out cash supplements to those living in poverty via pre-funded debit cards. The endowment would be a legacy to the capitalist system, and show that Capitalism can self-regulate its inequities. We distribute these cards to other charities working with people living in poverty. Today's news is just more proof that too much money exists in too few hands. We are hopeful that some of that money exists in hands that want to give back, and help people -- that is why C4SI was founded.
You can learn more about C4SI @ https://www.capitalists4si.org/
Effective Altruism: https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2022/8/8/23150496/effective-altruism-sam-bankman-fried-dustin-moskovitz-billionaire-philanthropy-crytocurrency
Thanks, Lynell. Interesting article. Going to give it more attention after I take my load to the transfer station. I am always leery of people who think they can solve social solutions with this kind of thing. Every one I have seen has gone off track in one way or another. Maybe after I give this article some additional attention, I'll think differently. Or not. First run at it left me feeling as ambivalent as ever.
Seems EA goes a ways back (2013), so there's some history there. My simplistic take is at least there are some billionaires out there who are on the liberal side of the road, and willing to put their $$ in the pot.
As always, a plethora of fascinating information ranging from dark money to Dr. Fauci’s retirement! Thank you, Heather!