Imagine what the cultist reaction of the GOP would be if a former Democratic president had been convicted of 34 felonies. Just imagine that. Roll that thought around in your mind for 10 seconds. We know what these fools would be saying.
A signficant fraction of this country has gone mad. Their leaders know that what the party wants (getting rid of Social Security, installing a dictator, jettisoning the rule of law) is so out of the mainstream that they will gaslight and hoodwink their fellow Americans seven days a week.
This is not the America of my youth or even most of my adult years, and I turn 80 in a few days. This is Germany of the 1930s. I love the Germans. I served in the Army there. But Germany lost its day in the 1930s, and at least some of us fear the U.S. is going down the same path.
The narrative already is being heard that the 2024 presidnetial election will be crooked and poor little Donnie will be "robbed again."
It is virtually impossible to reason with the cultists. Any so-called political leader wanting to respresent these louts is mad.
I may or may not live to see democracy and the rule of law jettisoned or saved. Those of you who survive me must keep fighting for them, keep pushing back against the true "Big Steal," the one seeking to turn our nation into a 1930s Germany. We are in very big trouble.
The governor of Virginia, an educated man who knows better, just trashed the New York verdict. He just disqualified himself for public office. He has a lot of company on that count.
Pardon my weighing in again. But there is something fundamentally wrong when a convicted felon can be a presidential nominee and serve as president of the United States. Yet a convicted felon in many states is unable to vote in a presidential election. Any party that would nominate a felon for a position of public trust should be cast out of the public square and shamed in recorded history. Forever. Looking at you, GOP!
All true. And if we want our candidates to win in November our messaging should recognize that all Republicans are not MAGA supporters. The opportunity is to speak to “normal”, non-MAGA Republicans and make our case.
They've been setting norms since Reagan was elected. Underreported is a reminder that the NY DA's office has been working on this case against Trump for almost 20 years. Of course, the billionaire class is supporting him as it's much easier than admitting they don't want a judiciary capable of prosecuting white collar crime.
General Mattis was right. I was naive to be surprised by the speed of the poison he has spewed, the division he has sown and profited from. His “witch hunt” cries succeed to the point of his donor site crashing from the weight of tributes. Now nothing can surprise. I hear my mothers voice from the grave: “Horrors!”
Well said We're having a re-enactment of the Civil War or "The War of Northern Aggression" as long time Tar Heels prefer to call it. However, the political parties have changed sides.
Every time we are given a glint of hope that the ship can be righted our hopes suffer a setback from the Republicans, the MAGA people, the oligarchs living here in the US. They are vermin.
I keep hoping that some enlightenment will set in.
We all need to keep working to defeat Republicans and so called third party candidates who, in truth, are R’s in disguise.
Well said, Thomas. Even Trump's WH counsel Ty Cobb says Trump's convictions, or most of them, will probably hold up on appeal. Disturbingly, Trump's most fanatical supporters are calling for riots and violent retribution on social media
Trump may try to intimidate with a big crowd at the July 11 sentencing and exhort them to "fight like hell, or you won't have a country anymore," like he did for 1/6/2021.
I recently gave a lecture on the prospects of violent conflict in the U.S. soon, and ways we might help calm tensions. An outline and a recording are available on my Substack. https://jimbuie.substack.com/p/violent-conflict-in-us-soon
I don’t think it’s useful any more to ask, “What is wrong with these people?” The question implies an assumption that “good character” would stop people behaving in the ways that they are behaving.
Good character is not the [only] fundamental underlying reality that motivated the Founders to come up with democracy as our system of governance, with its associated checks and balances, and the separation of church and state. I’m sure they were characters. Men of character. Strong men. Opinionated. Willing to get into the fray and work something out. In rebellion to the king, I believe they did astonishingly well.
There are a LOT of people in this country that identify as “Republican” or “conservative.” They all stand against socialism and communism, it seems. Without any shared agreement on what those political philosophies even mean on the ground.
The GOP political aims, their project, involves “returning” the nation to a better, more sensible form. The American people could work in concert if shared goals can be extracted from the divisive rhetoric: safe schools, educated kids, affordable housing, decent pay. Childcare. Elder care. Jobs. Healthcare. Home insurance. Transportation that works. Schools, bridges, airports, roads, hospitals. Internet. Cell towers.
Precisely. Thank you for this column.
Imagine what the cultist reaction of the GOP would be if a former Democratic president had been convicted of 34 felonies. Just imagine that. Roll that thought around in your mind for 10 seconds. We know what these fools would be saying.
A signficant fraction of this country has gone mad. Their leaders know that what the party wants (getting rid of Social Security, installing a dictator, jettisoning the rule of law) is so out of the mainstream that they will gaslight and hoodwink their fellow Americans seven days a week.
This is not the America of my youth or even most of my adult years, and I turn 80 in a few days. This is Germany of the 1930s. I love the Germans. I served in the Army there. But Germany lost its day in the 1930s, and at least some of us fear the U.S. is going down the same path.
The narrative already is being heard that the 2024 presidnetial election will be crooked and poor little Donnie will be "robbed again."
It is virtually impossible to reason with the cultists. Any so-called political leader wanting to respresent these louts is mad.
I may or may not live to see democracy and the rule of law jettisoned or saved. Those of you who survive me must keep fighting for them, keep pushing back against the true "Big Steal," the one seeking to turn our nation into a 1930s Germany. We are in very big trouble.
The governor of Virginia, an educated man who knows better, just trashed the New York verdict. He just disqualified himself for public office. He has a lot of company on that count.
Pardon my weighing in again. But there is something fundamentally wrong when a convicted felon can be a presidential nominee and serve as president of the United States. Yet a convicted felon in many states is unable to vote in a presidential election. Any party that would nominate a felon for a position of public trust should be cast out of the public square and shamed in recorded history. Forever. Looking at you, GOP!
All true. And if we want our candidates to win in November our messaging should recognize that all Republicans are not MAGA supporters. The opportunity is to speak to “normal”, non-MAGA Republicans and make our case.
They've been setting norms since Reagan was elected. Underreported is a reminder that the NY DA's office has been working on this case against Trump for almost 20 years. Of course, the billionaire class is supporting him as it's much easier than admitting they don't want a judiciary capable of prosecuting white collar crime.
General Mattis was right. I was naive to be surprised by the speed of the poison he has spewed, the division he has sown and profited from. His “witch hunt” cries succeed to the point of his donor site crashing from the weight of tributes. Now nothing can surprise. I hear my mothers voice from the grave: “Horrors!”
Well said We're having a re-enactment of the Civil War or "The War of Northern Aggression" as long time Tar Heels prefer to call it. However, the political parties have changed sides.
Every time we are given a glint of hope that the ship can be righted our hopes suffer a setback from the Republicans, the MAGA people, the oligarchs living here in the US. They are vermin.
I keep hoping that some enlightenment will set in.
We all need to keep working to defeat Republicans and so called third party candidates who, in truth, are R’s in disguise.
Thanks for keeping us focused.
Wake up. Get out and help.
Aman! Awoman!
Your observation and reflection are very helpful, however a warning.
Well said, Thomas. Even Trump's WH counsel Ty Cobb says Trump's convictions, or most of them, will probably hold up on appeal. Disturbingly, Trump's most fanatical supporters are calling for riots and violent retribution on social media
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-supporters-call-riots-violent-retribution-after-verdict-2024-05-31/
and even civil war. https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-hush-money-verdict-maga-civil-war-1906671
Trump may try to intimidate with a big crowd at the July 11 sentencing and exhort them to "fight like hell, or you won't have a country anymore," like he did for 1/6/2021.
I recently gave a lecture on the prospects of violent conflict in the U.S. soon, and ways we might help calm tensions. An outline and a recording are available on my Substack. https://jimbuie.substack.com/p/violent-conflict-in-us-soon
I don’t think it’s useful any more to ask, “What is wrong with these people?” The question implies an assumption that “good character” would stop people behaving in the ways that they are behaving.
Good character is not the [only] fundamental underlying reality that motivated the Founders to come up with democracy as our system of governance, with its associated checks and balances, and the separation of church and state. I’m sure they were characters. Men of character. Strong men. Opinionated. Willing to get into the fray and work something out. In rebellion to the king, I believe they did astonishingly well.
There are a LOT of people in this country that identify as “Republican” or “conservative.” They all stand against socialism and communism, it seems. Without any shared agreement on what those political philosophies even mean on the ground.
The GOP political aims, their project, involves “returning” the nation to a better, more sensible form. The American people could work in concert if shared goals can be extracted from the divisive rhetoric: safe schools, educated kids, affordable housing, decent pay. Childcare. Elder care. Jobs. Healthcare. Home insurance. Transportation that works. Schools, bridges, airports, roads, hospitals. Internet. Cell towers.