As a retired American Government teacher I am losing my f&@king mind. Christian nation? President above the law?... Has Trump ever read the Constitution? It really isn’t too long. Perhaps, Steven Miller can read it to him. To me, swearing an oath to uphold the Constitution means something. Trump should be in prison now. Personally I believe that if his core group of followers become violent we need to be prepared to see them immediately arrested. We can’t be afraid of their threats. Let them break the law and pay the consequence.
We have to remember that the U.S. was an "experiment" in democracy. As Ben Franklin said: "a republic if you can keep it." Obviously, some huge cracks are appearing in the foundation.
In my lifetime, I began noticing the change and lack of confidence in our government as corporations and special interest groups poured money into politics and the will of the majority was usurped by the wealthy elite.
"January 21, 2020 will mark a decade since the Supreme Court’s ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, a controversial decision that reversed century-old campaign finance restrictions and enabled corporations and other outside groups to spend unlimited funds on elections.
Someone wisely noted that the U.S. has a very old constitution for such a young country. The devastation of WWII caused much of Europe to rewrite their constitutions when they rebuilt. We're still shackled to an artifact from the 18th century and it took the assassination of JFK to get enough of a coalition to pass any meaningful Constitutional amendments since then. One can only wonder what calamity must befall us today to agree upon a new Constitutional Convention. We are a disaster waiting to happen with half our population eager to facilitate our collective demise. If Trump and his minions are the answer, we're surely doomed.
Right on Mrs Jeff!!! FYI-fascinating viewing this week on PBS American Experience series-mislabled as “The Zoot Suit Riots” was actually the story of the German American Bund, the earliest American Nazis of the 1920’s & 30’s right out in the open, before the Klan, before WWII even started, before the citizenry began its way too slow dawning of the problem. Only the Bund’s own over confidence & hubris (plus a little grift by its long time leader that landed him in prison) kept them from establishing a political party. No SM then of course so it took Pearl fucking Harbor being bombed by Nazi collaborators before the entire country galvanized against fascism and Nazism. 20+ years of them indoctrinating children, holding meetings and parades, raising money, taking over entire blocks of NYC, rubbing right up against everyday Americans. And here we are 100 years later not one lesson learned from history.
I used to drive through western Kansas and the only radio stations were right wing crazy stuff. That's all they hear. They are scared. It makes them feel they MUST fight.
Brilliant and terrifying! Appreciate your efforts to peel back the leprosy-ridden skin of this nation. We must hold ourselves accountable and keep on keeping on. Be well.
"Starting in the 1970s, Rush Limbaugh made billions simply by stroking the egos of weak men searching for someone to blame for their failure to achieve the greatness they were sure they deserved, by way of being born white men in America."
Don’t forget, many thanks to the NRA for making boys and men feel inadequate, inferior without weapons of war. Assault rifles, hundreds of millions in the hands of Trumps anarchists.
Good lord, I do not know what happened in America... other than all of the above.
When that pudgy a-hole Nwet Gingrich decided the other half of the aisle was the "enemy " and decided Congress was his cause to $$ like a casino?, yeah THAT was probably the decided line in the $ sand, beginning. The rest of, what FOX,Limbaugh etc just signed on for whoever they thought would pay out. Because, of course what was the penalty?
Outstanding. Thank you. Might I suggest the vicious cycle of diminishing education and expanding religulosity? Less education makes it ever easier to swallow and regurgitate the delusions on the pinnings of religion. No Uneducated Zealot Left Behind. Thanks Shrub, and Dianne Feinstein, but the latter is a longer, even more pathetic story....
As a retired American Government teacher I am losing my f&@king mind. Christian nation? President above the law?... Has Trump ever read the Constitution? It really isn’t too long. Perhaps, Steven Miller can read it to him. To me, swearing an oath to uphold the Constitution means something. Trump should be in prison now. Personally I believe that if his core group of followers become violent we need to be prepared to see them immediately arrested. We can’t be afraid of their threats. Let them break the law and pay the consequence.
Thank you for quoting George Orwell.
Thank you for your articulate, honest newsletter.
My dad - who fought in WWII - has been spinning in his grave since this nazi craze began.
The Bible teaches "Jesus said, put away your sword", but all the angry MAGAts hear is "...and pick up your assault rifle"
Each and every one thinks that he, personally, could have stopped the entire German Army in 1942...
Excellent article, Claudia. This needs to be restacked far and wide. 100% agree!
A terrifying overview of our National nightmare. Well done. Vote, register new voters. We must do everything in our power to save our democracy.
We have to remember that the U.S. was an "experiment" in democracy. As Ben Franklin said: "a republic if you can keep it." Obviously, some huge cracks are appearing in the foundation.
In my lifetime, I began noticing the change and lack of confidence in our government as corporations and special interest groups poured money into politics and the will of the majority was usurped by the wealthy elite.
"January 21, 2020 will mark a decade since the Supreme Court’s ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, a controversial decision that reversed century-old campaign finance restrictions and enabled corporations and other outside groups to spend unlimited funds on elections.
While wealthy donors, corporations, and special interest groups have long had an outsized influence in elections, that sway has dramatically expanded since the Citizens United decision, with negative repercussions for American democracy and the fight against political corruption." https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/citizens-united-explained?ref=foreverwars.ghost.io
Someone wisely noted that the U.S. has a very old constitution for such a young country. The devastation of WWII caused much of Europe to rewrite their constitutions when they rebuilt. We're still shackled to an artifact from the 18th century and it took the assassination of JFK to get enough of a coalition to pass any meaningful Constitutional amendments since then. One can only wonder what calamity must befall us today to agree upon a new Constitutional Convention. We are a disaster waiting to happen with half our population eager to facilitate our collective demise. If Trump and his minions are the answer, we're surely doomed.
Eloquently, forcefully, truthfully put. Thank you for your post.
Right on Mrs Jeff!!! FYI-fascinating viewing this week on PBS American Experience series-mislabled as “The Zoot Suit Riots” was actually the story of the German American Bund, the earliest American Nazis of the 1920’s & 30’s right out in the open, before the Klan, before WWII even started, before the citizenry began its way too slow dawning of the problem. Only the Bund’s own over confidence & hubris (plus a little grift by its long time leader that landed him in prison) kept them from establishing a political party. No SM then of course so it took Pearl fucking Harbor being bombed by Nazi collaborators before the entire country galvanized against fascism and Nazism. 20+ years of them indoctrinating children, holding meetings and parades, raising money, taking over entire blocks of NYC, rubbing right up against everyday Americans. And here we are 100 years later not one lesson learned from history.
I used to drive through western Kansas and the only radio stations were right wing crazy stuff. That's all they hear. They are scared. It makes them feel they MUST fight.
this was fabulous. Sharing this one far and wide.
Thank you for showing up in my email. I am your audience and may pay.
Brilliant and terrifying! Appreciate your efforts to peel back the leprosy-ridden skin of this nation. We must hold ourselves accountable and keep on keeping on. Be well.
"Starting in the 1970s, Rush Limbaugh made billions simply by stroking the egos of weak men searching for someone to blame for their failure to achieve the greatness they were sure they deserved, by way of being born white men in America."
Exactly
Don’t forget, many thanks to the NRA for making boys and men feel inadequate, inferior without weapons of war. Assault rifles, hundreds of millions in the hands of Trumps anarchists.
Good lord, I do not know what happened in America... other than all of the above.
When that pudgy a-hole Nwet Gingrich decided the other half of the aisle was the "enemy " and decided Congress was his cause to $$ like a casino?, yeah THAT was probably the decided line in the $ sand, beginning. The rest of, what FOX,Limbaugh etc just signed on for whoever they thought would pay out. Because, of course what was the penalty?
Outstanding. Thank you. Might I suggest the vicious cycle of diminishing education and expanding religulosity? Less education makes it ever easier to swallow and regurgitate the delusions on the pinnings of religion. No Uneducated Zealot Left Behind. Thanks Shrub, and Dianne Feinstein, but the latter is a longer, even more pathetic story....