A good example of the outright "win at all cost" immorality of the right you talk about here ... The Heritage Foundation just started running this ad today (1/11) in North Carolina. It's far more inflammatory than any of the commercials I saw during the campaign and is hair-thin close to a call for violence. If you've seen any Nazi-era film propaganda, it will remind you of that.
This has been running on YouTube; I'm wondering if they're also running it on broadcast outlets and if it raised any eyebrows with legal staff or standards and practices at tv stations.
Agree with you wholeheartedly on this. One good example of how the left isn't fighting where it needs to is ProPublica's recent piece on the former militia member that gave them a bunch of leaked chats, documents, and recordings on the movement. The entire stash of material - 200 GBs worth - is available and supposedly includes evidence concerning "friendly" sheriffs and public official around the country that have helped or would help members of the movement. Where's the investigative reporters or activists diving into this? The time to do that is now, not a year or two or four in the future after a NC sheriff or public official is providing safe harbor to terrorists during or after some tragedy.
Thomas, you are the voice for our fear and discontent. You nailed the former Republicans, like Vance, who has, apparently, sold his soul. I am still in shock over what I imagine is coming -- vitriol, retribution (for imagined slights), and the use of the entire US government for Trump's personal gain.
I am terrified by Musk's proximity to presidential power. He must flatter the sh1t out of Trump!
We qre in for an unimaginable four years of chaos and grift. I'm not sure we won't inflict permanent harm intentionally perpetrated by those who understand how to manipulate the one-dimensional scumbag Donald J Trump is and always has been. His reelection says a lot about the ignorance of his MAGA base, but says even more about the voters who chose him over Kamala simply because they don't understand economics and don't care about America's role in the world.
You're a fighter, Thomas. We need you. I hope you see the value to the rest of us for you to keep shining a light on Trump. You need a podcast, brother!
I seriously doubt the GOP will see the current situation or make a change in leadership or policy direction. Nixon’s shenanigans hurt them badly in future elections. But they were able to recover by appealing to the base instincts of some voters and taking Jesus as their savior. Donald Trump, however, presents what may be an insurmountable challenge.
Donald Trump is now officially convicted of a crime involving fraud. Generally considered a crime of moral turpitude. Moral turpitude refers to conduct that is inherently dishonest, base, vile, or depraved, and goes against society's accepted standards of morality and ethics. Since fraud involves deceit and intentional misrepresentation, it falls under this category. As such, he faces restrictions and limitations in the US, some of which may vary from state to state:
Voting Rights: In many states, felons lose their right to vote while incarcerated. Even after release, some states have additional conditions to restore voting rights. Only a few states like Maine and Vermont allow felons to vote even while in jail.
Gun Ownership: Federal law prohibits felons from owning or possessing firearms.
Travel: While felons can apply for a passport, having a felony can make international travel difficult as many countries restrict or prohibit entry to those with felony convictions.
Employment: Certain jobs, especially those requiring professional licenses, can be off-limits for felons. This often includes positions in fields like law, education, healthcare, and finance.
Public Office: Many states prevent convicted felons from holding public office, although federal law does not bar them from serving in national-level positions. He can be commander and chief of the military but may be disqualified from holding a commission.
Jury Duty: Felons are typically disqualified from serving on juries.
Public Assistance and Housing: Felons may be ineligible for public housing and certain forms of public assistance, such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and food stamps.
Parental Rights: In some cases, especially in custody battles, felons can lose some of their parental rights.
The convicted felon Donald J Trump stated he planned to appeal his conviction. For those of you who believe this, I call your attention to the recent 5/4 decision by the US supreme court addressed his appeal based on the evidence and denied it.
Sorry Donald, there is nowhere to run. You own it. Of course, he could do the pardon thing. But that would entail an "admission: to having committed the crime.
For those of you in North Carolina I recently wrote to Senator Thom Tillis asking if he opposed any moves to attack our allies, seizing lands as suggested by the incoming administration. He wrote that he looks forward to working with Trump on security needs for the country. See his response below. Please North Carolinians, work to defeat this man.
Dear Mr. Campbell:
Thank you for contacting me regarding the potential acquisition of new territory by the United States. I appreciate hearing from you.
To deter and overcome increasing threats from our adversaries, it is crucial that the United States continuously examines our global posture. The most effective deterrent to our adversaries is a continued demonstration of U.S. strength, resolve, and willingness to engage in bold new initiatives.
I look forward to working with the incoming Trump Administration in this area and with my Senate colleagues to provide the appropriate advice and consent to bolster and secure the interests of the United States and the American people.
Again, thank you for taking the time to contact me. Please do not hesitate to get back in touch with me about other important issues.
That response reminds me of the old saying about trying to fit ten pounds into a five-pound bag. Tillis has never been known for his intellectual abilities, and it seems he surrounds himself with staff who mirror his own shortcomings to respond to his consultants.
I remember when Republicans railed against government waste. I used to make a living as an investigative journalist from them exposing fraud and corruption in government. I remember when they said nice things about the "loyal opposition" and delivered eulogies at their funerals. Now, I look forward to pissing on the grave of Newt Gingrich, architect of the culture wars.
Thomas, thank you for cheering me up. (sarcasm). I agree 100% except for one thing. We need to start calling those against women's rights as Forced Birthers. They are hardly pro-life or they'd care about the lives of women, children in need, and LGBTQ people.
I remember when we thought Atwood's __The Handmaid's Tale__, 1985, was futuristic, even hardly probable. Now with women's reproductive rights foregone and other basic freedoms--the list growing longer by the day, depending upon the disaster--a person goes about with a heavy heart.
I think the answer is to deal with your own shortcomings rather than spend a lot of time railing at the terribleness of your opposition.
I see to some degree this site and most of the Dem forums, as primarily a hooray for our side, and dumping on the enemy - preaching to the choir.
The way the Dems will win is to examine and correct their weaknesses and where they are out of sync with the public. It is clear in polls - immigration, crime, and the Identarian issues.
You did a refreshing piece a few weeks back "Perceptions Matter" which pointed out how out of touch Dems are with the voting public. I think that if we dont address why we are so unpopular and spend all our time just castigating the GOP we wont gain any ground.
Let the smart Republican Never Trumpers deal with their own insanity. I spend time at the Dispatch and they do a better job of it. If Dems are known as the party that is weak on the border, weak on crime, and obsessed with every aggrieved minority and sexual orientation du jour rather than the average American, we will remain the minority. The Dem brand used to be foremost caring for the working people.
If you look at Trump's adds you will see exactly what he chose to frame the Democrats on record illegal immigration, crime, taxpayer funded gender affirming surgery for prisoners. It is not that Harris campaigned on any of that, but she and the party did not reject it, so they bought it.
Thing is, border crossings are lower now than at the end of Trump's 1st term. Violent crime is way down. The transgender population in the US is something like .17%, while a recent poll showed that people believed it to be 21% (lol). The economy is booming. Biden is the only president to have positive job growth every month of his tenure.
Right wing authoritarian parties are on the upswing worldwide. I don't mean to say that Dems couldn't improve their focus on the working class, but the message is going to have to be pointing out how the MAGA rank and file is hurt with every action the Trump administration takes against their interests-Social Security, ACA, deficit spending, etc., while Biden's successes will continue to provide benefits for years to come-CHIPS Act, Infrastructure Act, Medicare drug price caps, etc.
Trump lost the House and the Senate by the end of his first term. We can make that happen again. It won't be easy, but if domestic, pocketbook issues are what wins elections, then Dems will have a story to tell as tariffs, reduced healthcare, lost immigrant labor and general civil unrest over policy kick in.
Trump and the right wing media cabal-Fox, Newsmax, OANN along with widespread videos like the Heritage Foundation listed above by Mr Riddle are difficult to counter, but reality has a way of settling in. Hopefully it will start in 2 or 4 years, not the 40 mentioned in Thomas' article.
David, border crossings might be lower now, actually about the same, but that was only after the June 2024 remain in Mexico policy was started, where there were record numbers from 2021 -2024. Given that few Democrats questioned the previous policy, they bought it, and I dont think that anybody considered the change anything but political expediency. People associate the Dems with an open border and Trump with being for border security. And Harris refused to distance herself in any way from the Biden policy that caused the big surges from 2021-2024. It is not like she campaigned on more border security, Trump did, and that is what Americans want, by 60-40 margin.
Violent crime is not "way down". It spiked during Covid and then declined since and is now about what it was pre Covid, so a wash.
But the point is perception. It was the Democrats who advocated for "Defund the Police" and post George Floyd, seemed to care more about the rights of the incarcerated than public safety. I have no doubt if you asked the question who is tough on crime, Ds or Rs, the vast majority would say Rs. It was the Dems who pushed the reductions in shoplifting sentencing in CA that was overturned by a referendum led from the right with vast public support, and it is the Dems who favor tolerance for homeless encampments where the public is angry that their public spaces have been taken from them. All that politics of caring more about the incarcerated than crime, and leniency to the homeless comes from the Left. Yes, moderate Democrats, like myself don't support it, but the people on the further left push the other way, so unless a candidate outright clarifies himself, the Dems are seen as soft on crime, pro homeless encampments.
And, again, that the economy is doing well, I know, but job growth never trumps inflation in peoples minds. I keep hearing from Democrats, but the economy is great, but 100% of people buy groceries, and that is what is most important to them, ask the ghost of Jimmy Carter.
And blaming the media is a cop out. It was the same media we had in 2020 and 2008 and 2012.
Yes, the amount of transgenders is over estimated, it still does not change what people care about. Trump only campaigned on it because it worked. That Harris was on record for Taxpayer funded transgender surgery for prisoners, is a lot about her being from California where that sounds reasonable. It doesn't sound reasonable to most people.
I agree that Trump will likely screw up and we might come back in 2020. but that doesn't assuage the fact that we lost an election against a very unpopular Republican, or change what we need to go mainstream on crime, immigration, and woke. The right wing is harder to counter, if your positions are disliked by the public.
Your summary here is brilliant and I hope you share it on FB and other social media. We must keep educating the misinformed and fighting back....good job.
Sorry to say that I've been where you are for a while now. Also sorry to say that I've come to believe that you have to fight fire with fire. (Probably not the right thing to say under the circumstances of Los Angeles). I'm totally agreement with Timothy Snyder that we need a shadow government of loyal opposition. We need to be shouting from the rooftops and publicly opposing at every turn.
A good example of the outright "win at all cost" immorality of the right you talk about here ... The Heritage Foundation just started running this ad today (1/11) in North Carolina. It's far more inflammatory than any of the commercials I saw during the campaign and is hair-thin close to a call for violence. If you've seen any Nazi-era film propaganda, it will remind you of that.
This has been running on YouTube; I'm wondering if they're also running it on broadcast outlets and if it raised any eyebrows with legal staff or standards and practices at tv stations.
https://youtu.be/AyZuHddShT0?si=LyMtyUPmeAbBpBc5
Copy on BlueSky, in case Heritage deletes it from YouTube:
https://bsky.app/profile/coolcatdaddy.bsky.social/post/3lficvdj2mc2n
Agree with you wholeheartedly on this. One good example of how the left isn't fighting where it needs to is ProPublica's recent piece on the former militia member that gave them a bunch of leaked chats, documents, and recordings on the movement. The entire stash of material - 200 GBs worth - is available and supposedly includes evidence concerning "friendly" sheriffs and public official around the country that have helped or would help members of the movement. Where's the investigative reporters or activists diving into this? The time to do that is now, not a year or two or four in the future after a NC sheriff or public official is providing safe harbor to terrorists during or after some tragedy.
I cannot disagree with you Thomas, especially about the grift and disenfranchisement
Thomas, you are the voice for our fear and discontent. You nailed the former Republicans, like Vance, who has, apparently, sold his soul. I am still in shock over what I imagine is coming -- vitriol, retribution (for imagined slights), and the use of the entire US government for Trump's personal gain.
I am terrified by Musk's proximity to presidential power. He must flatter the sh1t out of Trump!
We qre in for an unimaginable four years of chaos and grift. I'm not sure we won't inflict permanent harm intentionally perpetrated by those who understand how to manipulate the one-dimensional scumbag Donald J Trump is and always has been. His reelection says a lot about the ignorance of his MAGA base, but says even more about the voters who chose him over Kamala simply because they don't understand economics and don't care about America's role in the world.
You're a fighter, Thomas. We need you. I hope you see the value to the rest of us for you to keep shining a light on Trump. You need a podcast, brother!
I seriously doubt the GOP will see the current situation or make a change in leadership or policy direction. Nixon’s shenanigans hurt them badly in future elections. But they were able to recover by appealing to the base instincts of some voters and taking Jesus as their savior. Donald Trump, however, presents what may be an insurmountable challenge.
Donald Trump is now officially convicted of a crime involving fraud. Generally considered a crime of moral turpitude. Moral turpitude refers to conduct that is inherently dishonest, base, vile, or depraved, and goes against society's accepted standards of morality and ethics. Since fraud involves deceit and intentional misrepresentation, it falls under this category. As such, he faces restrictions and limitations in the US, some of which may vary from state to state:
Voting Rights: In many states, felons lose their right to vote while incarcerated. Even after release, some states have additional conditions to restore voting rights. Only a few states like Maine and Vermont allow felons to vote even while in jail.
Gun Ownership: Federal law prohibits felons from owning or possessing firearms.
Travel: While felons can apply for a passport, having a felony can make international travel difficult as many countries restrict or prohibit entry to those with felony convictions.
Employment: Certain jobs, especially those requiring professional licenses, can be off-limits for felons. This often includes positions in fields like law, education, healthcare, and finance.
Public Office: Many states prevent convicted felons from holding public office, although federal law does not bar them from serving in national-level positions. He can be commander and chief of the military but may be disqualified from holding a commission.
Jury Duty: Felons are typically disqualified from serving on juries.
Public Assistance and Housing: Felons may be ineligible for public housing and certain forms of public assistance, such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and food stamps.
Parental Rights: In some cases, especially in custody battles, felons can lose some of their parental rights.
The convicted felon Donald J Trump stated he planned to appeal his conviction. For those of you who believe this, I call your attention to the recent 5/4 decision by the US supreme court addressed his appeal based on the evidence and denied it.
Sorry Donald, there is nowhere to run. You own it. Of course, he could do the pardon thing. But that would entail an "admission: to having committed the crime.
"I suspect you could include those who are willing to win at any cost, whether through immoral or unlawful means."
For those of you in North Carolina I recently wrote to Senator Thom Tillis asking if he opposed any moves to attack our allies, seizing lands as suggested by the incoming administration. He wrote that he looks forward to working with Trump on security needs for the country. See his response below. Please North Carolinians, work to defeat this man.
Dear Mr. Campbell:
Thank you for contacting me regarding the potential acquisition of new territory by the United States. I appreciate hearing from you.
To deter and overcome increasing threats from our adversaries, it is crucial that the United States continuously examines our global posture. The most effective deterrent to our adversaries is a continued demonstration of U.S. strength, resolve, and willingness to engage in bold new initiatives.
I look forward to working with the incoming Trump Administration in this area and with my Senate colleagues to provide the appropriate advice and consent to bolster and secure the interests of the United States and the American people.
Again, thank you for taking the time to contact me. Please do not hesitate to get back in touch with me about other important issues.
That response reminds me of the old saying about trying to fit ten pounds into a five-pound bag. Tillis has never been known for his intellectual abilities, and it seems he surrounds himself with staff who mirror his own shortcomings to respond to his consultants.
I remember when Republicans railed against government waste. I used to make a living as an investigative journalist from them exposing fraud and corruption in government. I remember when they said nice things about the "loyal opposition" and delivered eulogies at their funerals. Now, I look forward to pissing on the grave of Newt Gingrich, architect of the culture wars.
Gingrich is who I had in mind as I read this. He was the early version of the Gaetz test and they failed it too.
Thomas, thank you for cheering me up. (sarcasm). I agree 100% except for one thing. We need to start calling those against women's rights as Forced Birthers. They are hardly pro-life or they'd care about the lives of women, children in need, and LGBTQ people.
I remember when we thought Atwood's __The Handmaid's Tale__, 1985, was futuristic, even hardly probable. Now with women's reproductive rights foregone and other basic freedoms--the list growing longer by the day, depending upon the disaster--a person goes about with a heavy heart.
I think the answer is to deal with your own shortcomings rather than spend a lot of time railing at the terribleness of your opposition.
I see to some degree this site and most of the Dem forums, as primarily a hooray for our side, and dumping on the enemy - preaching to the choir.
The way the Dems will win is to examine and correct their weaknesses and where they are out of sync with the public. It is clear in polls - immigration, crime, and the Identarian issues.
You did a refreshing piece a few weeks back "Perceptions Matter" which pointed out how out of touch Dems are with the voting public. I think that if we dont address why we are so unpopular and spend all our time just castigating the GOP we wont gain any ground.
Let the smart Republican Never Trumpers deal with their own insanity. I spend time at the Dispatch and they do a better job of it. If Dems are known as the party that is weak on the border, weak on crime, and obsessed with every aggrieved minority and sexual orientation du jour rather than the average American, we will remain the minority. The Dem brand used to be foremost caring for the working people.
If you look at Trump's adds you will see exactly what he chose to frame the Democrats on record illegal immigration, crime, taxpayer funded gender affirming surgery for prisoners. It is not that Harris campaigned on any of that, but she and the party did not reject it, so they bought it.
Thing is, border crossings are lower now than at the end of Trump's 1st term. Violent crime is way down. The transgender population in the US is something like .17%, while a recent poll showed that people believed it to be 21% (lol). The economy is booming. Biden is the only president to have positive job growth every month of his tenure.
Right wing authoritarian parties are on the upswing worldwide. I don't mean to say that Dems couldn't improve their focus on the working class, but the message is going to have to be pointing out how the MAGA rank and file is hurt with every action the Trump administration takes against their interests-Social Security, ACA, deficit spending, etc., while Biden's successes will continue to provide benefits for years to come-CHIPS Act, Infrastructure Act, Medicare drug price caps, etc.
Trump lost the House and the Senate by the end of his first term. We can make that happen again. It won't be easy, but if domestic, pocketbook issues are what wins elections, then Dems will have a story to tell as tariffs, reduced healthcare, lost immigrant labor and general civil unrest over policy kick in.
Trump and the right wing media cabal-Fox, Newsmax, OANN along with widespread videos like the Heritage Foundation listed above by Mr Riddle are difficult to counter, but reality has a way of settling in. Hopefully it will start in 2 or 4 years, not the 40 mentioned in Thomas' article.
David, border crossings might be lower now, actually about the same, but that was only after the June 2024 remain in Mexico policy was started, where there were record numbers from 2021 -2024. Given that few Democrats questioned the previous policy, they bought it, and I dont think that anybody considered the change anything but political expediency. People associate the Dems with an open border and Trump with being for border security. And Harris refused to distance herself in any way from the Biden policy that caused the big surges from 2021-2024. It is not like she campaigned on more border security, Trump did, and that is what Americans want, by 60-40 margin.
Violent crime is not "way down". It spiked during Covid and then declined since and is now about what it was pre Covid, so a wash.
But the point is perception. It was the Democrats who advocated for "Defund the Police" and post George Floyd, seemed to care more about the rights of the incarcerated than public safety. I have no doubt if you asked the question who is tough on crime, Ds or Rs, the vast majority would say Rs. It was the Dems who pushed the reductions in shoplifting sentencing in CA that was overturned by a referendum led from the right with vast public support, and it is the Dems who favor tolerance for homeless encampments where the public is angry that their public spaces have been taken from them. All that politics of caring more about the incarcerated than crime, and leniency to the homeless comes from the Left. Yes, moderate Democrats, like myself don't support it, but the people on the further left push the other way, so unless a candidate outright clarifies himself, the Dems are seen as soft on crime, pro homeless encampments.
And, again, that the economy is doing well, I know, but job growth never trumps inflation in peoples minds. I keep hearing from Democrats, but the economy is great, but 100% of people buy groceries, and that is what is most important to them, ask the ghost of Jimmy Carter.
And blaming the media is a cop out. It was the same media we had in 2020 and 2008 and 2012.
Yes, the amount of transgenders is over estimated, it still does not change what people care about. Trump only campaigned on it because it worked. That Harris was on record for Taxpayer funded transgender surgery for prisoners, is a lot about her being from California where that sounds reasonable. It doesn't sound reasonable to most people.
I agree that Trump will likely screw up and we might come back in 2020. but that doesn't assuage the fact that we lost an election against a very unpopular Republican, or change what we need to go mainstream on crime, immigration, and woke. The right wing is harder to counter, if your positions are disliked by the public.
Your summary here is brilliant and I hope you share it on FB and other social media. We must keep educating the misinformed and fighting back....good job.
You are 100% correct. What do we do to try and stop it?
Sorry to say that I've been where you are for a while now. Also sorry to say that I've come to believe that you have to fight fire with fire. (Probably not the right thing to say under the circumstances of Los Angeles). I'm totally agreement with Timothy Snyder that we need a shadow government of loyal opposition. We need to be shouting from the rooftops and publicly opposing at every turn.
Wiley Nickel Suggested a shadow government as well.