Posts by: Jack Altschuler

20%


POST 1095

First, Existential Reality

In a stunning wake-up call to Americans, as reported by Jamie Gangel and Gregory Krieg of CNN, Constitutional scholar and retired U.S. Appellate Court Judge J. Michael Luttig, who has never, ever voted for a Democrat, wrote,

“In the presidential election of 2024 there is only one political party and one candidate for the presidency that can claim the mantle of defender and protector of America’s Democracy, the Constitution, and the Rule of Law,” Luttig wrote in a statement [read this] obtained exclusively by CNN. “As a result, I will unhesitatingly vote for the Democratic Party’s candidate for the Presidency of the United States, Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris.”

They go on to report Luttig writing,

“In voting for Vice President Harris, I assume that her public policy views are vastly different from my own, but I am indifferent in this election as to her policy views on any issues other than America’s Democracy, the Constitution, and the Rule of Law, as I believe all Americans should be.”

Get your mind right. It’s time for just one thing: to protect and defend. That is what Luttig is telling us.

However heartfelt, until November 5, every single issue, no matter how critically important, is nothing more than wistful self-indulgence. Keep your eye on the prize, because without it, all of the critically important things will never be ours.

Read the linked source articles and watch reporter Gangel’s short video recounting a bit of her conversation with Luttig.

Now, 20%

Anthropologist Margaret Mead wrote,

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

Thom Hartmann has quoted Mead often, claiming that it would take roughly 20% of the population to make the changes we need to get back to sanity, changes that have been so vitally needed since Reagan began to strip our country bare. That 20% notion was the logic and the strategy.

Hartmann’s math was about right, but sadly, the destination now is far different from what he imagined. A small minority of Bible thumping, Bible misusing, manipulative White extremists has secured minority control over large swaths of our American government and of our citizens.

That’s right: the restoration of sanity that we hoped for has instead gone 180° wrong. I guess the experts are right, that hope is not a strategy.

Critical Quote

From Vanderbilt University Professor Jon Meacham’s Reflections of History podcast for January 13, 2023:

The vote in the House on a single article of incitement to insurrection was 232 to 197. Trump would be acquitted in the Senate a month later, with 57 senators voting for his guilt and 43 against. The tally failed to reach the Constitutional threshold of two-thirds.

The farther we move in time from the terrible events of January 6, 2021 the harder it can be to recall just how close the United States came to overturning a free and fair election.

I raise this today because, as the 18th and 19th century trope had it, “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.” It would be a mistake, one that I fear many Republicans are making or are at risk of making, to see the insurrection and its aftermath as exculpatory instances of American resilience.

Yes, the republic is resilient and the republic did survive, but only barely. And the forces that brought us to the brink, the forces that broke into the Capitol and threatened the lives of our elected representatives, including the Speaker of the House and the Vice President of the United States, are still very much abroad in the land. [They are the 20%.]

Representative Liz Cheney put things succinctly 6 days after the insurrection. She said,

“The President of the United States summoned this mob, assembled the mob and lit the flame of this attack. Everything that followed was his doing. None of this would have happened without the president. The president could have immediately and forcefully intervened to stop the violence. He did not. There never has been a greater betrayal by a President of the United States of his office and his oath of office and to the Constitution. I will vote to impeach the president.”

The question for all of us moving forward is whether a single person or a single party’s dominion is worth undoing the constitutional order that has served us for nearly two and a half centuries. There is nothing inevitable about American democracy. We’re the exception in world history, not the rule, and when the interests of the strong willed are allowed to overcome the rule of law, the end is near.

For now, we stand. But we must stand with our eyes and our hearts open.

There are very dangerous and unpatriotic things going on in an effort to overthrow our government, to end our democracy and our way of life. It has only taken about 20% of our citizenry to put us in such peril. It’s the collection of political bullies and the angry, disaffected citizens who comprise MAGA and who want retribution for whatever disrespect and suffering they believe has befallen them. They want to tear down all that we hold dear. The bullies and fascists are coming to take away the promise of America. They are coming to take away your freedom and every hope you have for your children.

So, put a lantern in the belfry-arch of the Old North Church. Listen and you’ll hear the hooves of Paul Revere’s horse clacking the cobblestone in Concord once again. We’re being warned. We must be eternally vigilant and always ready to fight for our liberty. Today, right now, is the time for that fight. Stand up and stand fast.

“We Must Say No”

From Steve Schmidt’s post on August 15:

Trump has made a hideous deal with a hypocritical wack pack of theocrats and weirdos who want to impose control and take what they want, when they want in the name of God and the state. It’s a terrifying proposition, and every American woman should appreciate the degree to which their freedom is on the line.

When the freedom of one American is threatened, the freedom of all Americans is in danger.

This is why Trump must be defeated.

He tried to take something that wasn’t his to take.

He tried to steal something that wasn’t his, but rather belonged to 330 million Americans.

Trump tried to steal our present by betraying our past and taking our future.

We must say, “NO!”

We need a new 20%. It starts with you and me.

_______________________________________________

* We are at a choice point:

“The rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened.” ― John F. Kennedy

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Are you registered to vote? Check it out here:
.

https://www.vote.org/am-i-registered-to-vote/

https://www.usa.gov/confirm-voter-registration

https://www.rockthevote.org/how-to-vote/am-i-registered-to-vote/

“Friends do not let friends vote for con artists.”
  • – Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), 2016.


  • Did someone forward this post to you? Welcome! Please subscribe – use the simple form above on the right. And pass this along to three others, encouraging them to subscribe, too. (IT’S A FREEBIE!) It’s going to take ALL OF US to get the job done.

    And add your comments below to help us all to be better informed.

    Thanks!

    The Fine Print:

    1. Writings quoted or linked from my posts reflect a point I want to make, at least in part. That does not mean that I endorse or agree with everything in such writings.
    2. There are lots of smart, well-informed people. Sometimes we agree; sometimes we don’t. Search for others’ views and decide for yourself.
    3. Errors in fact, grammar, spelling and punctuation are all embarrassingly mine. Glad to have your corrections.
    4. Responsibility for the content of these posts is unequivocally, totally, unavoidably mine.
    5. Book links to Amazon are provided for reference only. Please purchase your books through your local mom & pop bookstore. Keep them and your town or neighborhood vibrant.
    6. Clicking on most pics in these posts will take you to the source information.

    Click me

    JA


Copyright 2024 by Jack Altschuler
Reproduction and sharing are encouraged, providing proper attribution is given.

Juicy


POST 1094

This Is Juicy

In a stunning piece in the Washington Post, writer Marc A. Thiessen says, “Walz is Harris’s first unforced error — and an opportunity for Trump.” That’s the headline.

Thiessen writes “.  .  .   most Americans are more comfortable with the MAGA agenda than they are with the democratic socialism of the Harris-Walz ticket.” Hmmm .  .  .

That democratic socialism thing – the vast majority of Americans actually want

access to legal abortions – over 62% –  5 of 8 Americans – that means both men and women

common sense gun safety legislation (to the extent that we have any common sense left) – 77 – 87%, depending on the specific action

some version of Medicare for all – 57% of Americans

affordable healthcare insurance – about 63% of Americans favor the Affordable Care Act. Nevertheless, Republicans have challenged it in courts and held votes to kill it over 2,000 times.

Social Security. Some of us remember that before Social Security it was common for Americans to live their last years in miserable, abject poverty. Memo to revisionist history Republicans: We’re not going back.

overhaul of our immigration system – about 74% of Americans

About that last, Thiessen says Harris wants “open borders,” a common MAGA claim that they use for the the purpose of sliming Democrats, even though no Democrat wants that. It makes for a fine bumper sticker. Doesn’t matter: It’s still a lie.

These are just a handful of issues that the majority of Americans support and want – there are more. Can we please stop saying that this is a center-right country and acknowledge that, labels aside, the majority of us have shifted to a far more progressive position? Can we admit that majorities of We The People want things that only government can provide? Can we agree that the MAGA agenda will get us none of what we want?* (see Project 2025)

Can we put aside fantasies and falsities and instead deal with the reality that democracy means rule by the people? That means that our elected representatives should be working to get us what we want, rather than just covering their asses and sucking up to “the base.” Crazy idea, I know, and it’s hard to keep things sorted out while living in our Through the Looking Glass political world, where the real is fake, bad is good and lies are truth.

But as John Adams said,

“Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.”

So, nice try, Mr. Thiessen. You are entitled to your opinions, but the facts say you’re wrong.

This Is Juicy, Too – and With Far More Impact

From Prof. Heather Cox Richardson on August 8, the anniversary of the resignation of Richard Nixon from the presidency. The issue here regards the audio tape recordings of his conversations with aides as he schemed to cover up events surrounding the Watergate break-in.

Nixon fought the subpoenas [for audio recordings] on the grounds of executive privilege. On July 24, 1974, in U.S. v. Nixon, the Supreme Court sided unanimously with the prosecutor, saying that executive privilege “must be considered in light of our historic commitment to the rule of law. This is nowhere more profoundly manifest than in our view that ‘the twofold aim (of criminal justice) is that guilt shall not escape or innocence suffer.’… The very integrity of the judicial system and public confidence in the system depend on full disclosure of all the facts….”

That’s a breathtaking unanimous statement from the Supreme Court that clearly supports “our historic commitment to the rule of law.” They were nine justices marching in lock step to protect the rule of law and “The very integrity of the judicial system and public confidence in the system .  .  .” Stunning. And proper.

Compare that to today’s presidential immunity decision. Six Republican appointed justices decided that one man is above the law, that we no longer have a “commitment to the rule of law.” Six justices declared that they care not a whit about “The very integrity of the judicial system.” They did this with no substantiation from the Constitution or settled law. These activist, Republican appointed justices simply made up new law.

Recall that Section 1 of the Constitution instructs that, “All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States . . . ” Today’s six justices of the Court usurped that legislative power and ended 248 years of our belief and practice that nobody is above the law.

Recall that President Washington stepped down, in part because he would not be a king, which were anathema to We The People. They still should be. Read his Farewell Address.

Washington said of political parties,

“…they are likely, in the course of time and things, to become potent engines by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government…”

Do any names come to mind?

The granting of immunity to a president is a most perilous step toward our being dominated by a dictator, as Washington warned. Following the dictates of their extremist Republican overlords, the six justices on this Supreme Court have invited into our republic the first fascist dictator who promises to end our republic.

That is driving the “Republicans for Kamala” movement.

That is why people who had never before voted for a Democrat are lining up to do that formerly unthinkable act.

That is why people who had believed that this is a center-right country are attending “restore Roe” demonstrations, declaring they won’t go back and demanding a referendum in their states to make abortions legal.

That is why people are signing petitions for gun safety.

That is why President Biden and Senate Majority Leader Schumer proposed significant changes to the Court.

That is why we will vote to reject overwhelmingly every candidate who stands in opposition to our democracy.

Use the links below to make sure you’re registered to vote. Then do a search for “early voting in [name of your state]” and then vote.

_______________________________________________

* From Paul Krugman:

. . .  my hackles rise whenever people call MAGA a populist movement. The people who will almost certainly make policy if Trump wins are as committed as ever to a right-wing economic agenda of cutting taxes on the wealthy while slashing programs that help Americans in need — including programs that help children.

In addition to being cruel, this agenda tends to be unpopular.

Ya think?

Are you registered to vote? Check it out here:
.

https://www.vote.org/am-i-registered-to-vote/

https://www.usa.gov/confirm-voter-registration

https://www.rockthevote.org/how-to-vote/am-i-registered-to-vote/

“Friends do not let friends vote for con artists.”
  • – Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), 2016.


  • Did someone forward this post to you? Welcome! Please subscribe – use the simple form above on the right. And pass this along to three others, encouraging them to subscribe, too. (IT’S A FREEBIE!) It’s going to take ALL OF US to get the job done.

    And add your comments below to help us all to be better informed.

    Thanks!

    The Fine Print:

    1. Writings quoted or linked from my posts reflect a point I want to make, at least in part. That does not mean that I endorse or agree with everything in such writings.
    2. There are lots of smart, well-informed people. Sometimes we agree; sometimes we don’t. Search for others’ views and decide for yourself.
    3. Errors in fact, grammar, spelling and punctuation are all embarrassingly mine. Glad to have your corrections.
    4. Responsibility for the content of these posts is unequivocally, totally, unavoidably mine.
    5. Book links to Amazon are provided for reference only. Please purchase your books through your local mom & pop bookstore. Keep them and your town or neighborhood vibrant.
    6. Clicking on most pics in these posts will take you to the source information.

    Click me

    JA


Copyright 2024 by Jack Altschuler
Reproduction and sharing are encouraged, providing proper attribution is given.

People Are Saying


POST 1093

And They’re Saying A Lot

Here’s former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) on August 4 about the upcoming election, what’s at stake and what to do about it:

I believe in democracy; Donald Trump does not. I believe in the constitution; Donald Trump does not.

There is nothing more conservative than standing for the constitution and standing for democracy. Donald Trump only believes in gaining power no matter the cost to the constitution and the cost to  democracy.

That is why I’m endorsing Kamala Harris. That is why I will do everything in my power to ensure Donald Trump does not win this election.

Here’s what Prof. Heather Cox Richardson has to say about those who would throw our Constitution into the garbage (today’s Republicans – the ones who don’t believe in this republic), just as the enslavers and oligarchs wanted to do in Lincoln’s time:

When Democrats [i.e. today’s Republicans] tried to call those coming together as Republicans [today’s lefties] “radicals,” rising politician Abraham Lincoln turned the tables by standing firm on the Declaration of Independence. “[Y]ou say you are conservative—eminently conservative—while we are revolutionary, destructive, or something of the sort,” he said, addressing the Democrats who remained determined to base the United States in enslavement.

“What is conservatism? Is it not adherence to the old and tried, against the new and untried? We stick to, contend for, the identical old policy on the point in controversy which was adopted by ‘our fathers who framed the Government under which we live’; while you with one accord .  .  . spit upon that old policy, and insist upon substituting something new . . . Not one of all your various plans can show a precedent or an advocate in the century within which our Government originated.” [emphasis mine]

We fight the same fight today against those who would enslave us. Now they aren’t slave owners and they aren’t called conservatives. They are called Republicans or MAGAs or Project 2025 schemers. Sometimes they’re called minority tyrants, vote stealers, liars and .  .  .  aw, don’t get me started.

During an interview of Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer she was asked about how Trump is doing with Harris as his opponent:

I think Kamala Harris is [Trump’s] worst nightmare: a strong woman of color who was formerly in law enforcement.

What JD Vance Is Saying

Immediately after the Walz pick for VP was announced the Trump-Vance Lying Machine was running at top speed. Here’s Vance, verbatim, on August 7:

Click me

My view on it is it just highlights how radical Kamala Harris is.This is a person who listened to the Hamas wing of her own party in selecting a nominee. This is a guy who’s proposed shipping more manufacturing jobs to China, who wants to make the American people more reliant on garbage energy instead of good American energy and has proposed defunding the police just as Kamala Harris does. I think it’s interesting – actually, they make an interesting tag team – because, of course, Tim Walz allowed rioters to burn down Minneapolis in the summer of 2020, and then the few who got caught, Kamala Harris helped bail them out of jail. So, it is more instructive for what it says about Kamala Harris that she doesn’t care about the border, she doesn’t care about crime, she doesn’t care about American energy, and most of importantly, she doesn’t care about the Americans who have been made to suffer under those policies.

What Jax Is Saying
.

EVERYTHING VANCE SAID IS FALSE! ALL OF IT!

.

Right: That isn’t news. Either he is gobsmackingly ignorant and doesn’t have the sense to keep his ignorant mouth shut, or he is a liar. You decide.

Not so much for Vance

Vance (a “faux-billy” from non-Appalachia, per Maureen Dowd) is a political and amoral match for the psychopath Trump. Vance is the guy who called Trump America’s Hitler and was an enthusiastic never-Trumper right, until it was more politically advantageous to him to reverse himself in a spineless jellyfish whiplash. Expect more from him like this.

Can’t wait for the VP debate, assuming the ex-Marine paper pusher, the one whose lies violate Semper Fi (“Always Faithful”)  has the spine to show up.

Speaking of Debates
I have been wondering when Harris would call Trump a coward for refusing to debate per agreement without his open mic and his home boys primed to cheer for him. He’s finally agreed to a September 10 debate, the one he “committed” to, but I have my doubts whether he’ll show up. What to do to encourage him? So many possibilities .  .  .

“Kamala Harris’s Laugh Is a Campaign Issue. Our Comedy Critic Weighs in. The Trump campaign sees Harris’s laugh as a vulnerability to exploit. But far from a liability, it is one of her most effective weapons.” Click the pic

.
What’s the matter, Donald? Are you too chicken to come out of your Mar-a-Lago hidey-hole? It’s just me, a Black, Asian woman who’s a former prosecutor. That too scary for you?
.
If you don’t have what it takes to face me, you don’t have what it takes to face world leaders. C’mon, show us what you got. Gimme your best shot.
.

Paraphrased from Ronald Reagan’s take down of Walter Mondale in their 1984 debate:

I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent’s obvious mental decline, his criminal convictions, his many indictments, his history of violence toward women or his vast ignorance.

Can’t you just see her saying that and then laughing the Kamala laugh?

Wash, rinse, repeat through November 5.

The point is to belittle him – challenge his fake masculinity. Make his weakness and lack of courage plain for all to see. I want verbal blood on the floor – arterial gushing.

Trump is stumbling around trying to find a nasty name to call Harris. The current one is “Kambala.” So, here’s something for Harris and Walz to use at rallies and the debates:

Name calling? All you have is name calling like a brat on the playground, Donald? That just isn’t enough. This country needs clear headed adults, not childish bullies having temper tantrums.

Prebuttal

Harris and Walz are getting a lot of air time now and you’re seeing very little of Trump and Vance. I can almost hear Trump whining about how unfair that is, how he’s being victimized by the fake media, poor baby. These and more are his standard victim wailings, as at his press conference on August 8.

Did you notice how reporters’ questions weren’t mic-ed so you didn’t know what the questions were and that reporters were not allowed follow up questions? That let him ramble incoherently and you didn’t know that he never addressed the questions.

Many of his rallies were broadcast in full in 2016 by what he calls the “fake media.” I’ve seen estimates of the value of free media time for Trump ranging from $1 – 2 billion during that campaign. Funny thing, we didn’t hear him complain about how unfair that free air time was.

His whining, his temper tantrums and made up s**t about being victimized by the fake media are on the way. Brace yourself for the coming Trumpocalypse. It will be in all caps on his Untruth Social rage machine.

Trump Must Never Get His Hands On Any Power Greater Than The Flush Handle Of A Prison Toilet.
Are you registered to vote? Check it out here:
.

https://www.vote.org/am-i-registered-to-vote/

https://www.usa.gov/confirm-voter-registration

https://www.rockthevote.org/how-to-vote/am-i-registered-to-vote/

“Friends do not let friends vote for con artists.”
  • – Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), 2016.


  • Did someone forward this post to you? Welcome! Please subscribe – use the simple form above on the right. And pass this along to three others, encouraging them to subscribe, too. (IT’S A FREEBIE!) It’s going to take ALL OF US to get the job done.

    And add your comments below to help us all to be better informed.

    Thanks!

    The Fine Print:

    1. Writings quoted or linked from my posts reflect a point I want to make, at least in part. That does not mean that I endorse or agree with everything in such writings.
    2. There are lots of smart, well-informed people. Sometimes we agree; sometimes we don’t. Search for others’ views and decide for yourself.
    3. Errors in fact, grammar, spelling and punctuation are all embarrassingly mine. Glad to have your corrections.
    4. Responsibility for the content of these posts is unequivocally, totally, unavoidably mine.
    5. Book links to Amazon are provided for reference only. Please purchase your books through your local mom & pop bookstore. Keep them and your town or neighborhood vibrant.
    6. Clicking on most pics in these posts will take you to the source information.

    Click me

    JA


Copyright 2024 by Jack Altschuler
Reproduction and sharing are encouraged, providing proper attribution is given.

“Mind Your Own Damn Business”


POST 1092

The Democratic VP Rollout

The best secret pick in politics kept the focus off Trump and Vance for a week or two and kept us energized and filled with hope. Then we found out Harris’ VP pick was Tim Walz and much of the country sang out a heartfelt chorus of, “Who?”

If you watched the rollout of this campaign duo, introduced by Gov. Josh Shapiro, you now know who. After VP Harris took to the podium to introduce him, Walz gave the fiery speech of an impassioned Midwesterner, a former teacher, high school football coach, Command Sergeant Major of the Army National Guard, congressman and governor. If you watched, you felt the heat, you saw the light and you became fired up with hope. That is what has been sorely lacking. Having hope once again feels so good.

Gov. Tim Walz told us the Golden Rule in small towns like where he was raised. It’s “Mind your own damn business.” The crowd cheered him as he connected that to:

Republicans sticking their noses into your doctor’s office as you are in a hospital gown being examined.

Republicans, mind your own damn business.

When extremist parents and extremist elected officials tell you what books your children may not read.

Republicans, mind your own damn business.

BTW: Here’s the newest – a statewide book ban in Utah. I guess the geniuses in Salt Lake City think they know better than all the moms and dads in the state. I think they should mind their own damn business.

When extremist politicians tell you that you may not bring water to people keeping the faith on a hot day, standing in long lines so they can vote

Republicans, mind your own damn business.

Republicans came up with the term “nanny state” years ago and have long used it to rail with phony indignation and self-certain puffery over programs designed to help people. They thought we should take responsibility for ourselves and that the government should butt out of our lives. Instead, now they intrude into our lives with the idiocies listed above and more. It’s crazy, I know, weird, even, but it’s possible that they might be hypocritical. I think they should

Mind their own damn business and get the hell out of ours!

You do, too.

Quotes From The Night Of The VP Rollout

From David Hogg, survivor of the Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School (Parkland, FL) mass shooting and co-founder of Never Again and Leaders We Deserve:

Young people are fired up like I’ve never seen to vote in this election, and Governor Walz is turbocharging that.

More from Hogg .  .  .

It’s such a breath of fresh air to feel hope.

Yes, he feels it and millions more of us do, too, including our X-ers, Ys, Millennials and Gen-Zs. That’s very good, because we look to them for the courage to see and make the repairs this nation needs. The starting point is to banish the fascists.

Hey, “Banish the Fascists” – pretty good election slogan. Not as good as “Mind your own damn business,” but still pretty good.

Fighting Back Against the Fascists

Kirk Bangstad is an activist and the owner of Minoqua Brewing Company in Northern Wisconsin. He is fighting an ongoing battle against far right wingnuts who are trying to put him out of business, this solely because of his activism. Like Trump and MAGAs everywhere, they are using our system of democracy to destroy freedom and democracy itself.

Bangstad is a prolific chronicler of it all and recently offered an interesting perspective. Here it is, slightly edited for brevity.

I’ve tried a couple of Kirk’s brews and they’re terrific. A portion of the proceeds of beer sales goes to fighting those who would destroy our democracy. You know: the fascists. So, if you’d like to help Kirk fight the good fight, then get into some good trouble, as John Lewis advised. You can raise your fist against fascism and raise your beer stein in a fine toast at the same time. Click here.

To the right is one of Kirk’s activist efforts, this one in Milwaukee. He spends the money from beer sales wisely.

Document of the Week

You know about Project 2025, Trump’s users guide to demolish democracy and institute fascism in America with him as dictator. Because it’s 922 pages are too long there have been quite a few offerings to simplify its horrors – here’s one.

Now we have this document. The affected population counts and a few other things in it are particular to Florida, but if you are in one of those states controlled by MAGA psychopathic legislators, the principles apply to you, too.

Florida is a special case of citizen abuse by authoritarian wannabees. Indeed, clarity about this was ignited by Gov. Ron DeSantis’ extremist mania, including some of the “Mind your own damn business” abuses listed above. That prompted me last year to declare that Florida is the canary in the democracy mine. It’s only a half step ahead of our entire nation if the fascists get their hands on the controls.

Read the 2-page document. You won’t like what it says. Then ponder what to do about it.

If you’re in Florida, contact Floridians For Democracy and you’ll find a bunch of clear-headed folks like you. They know what to do about what those dreadful documents threaten. FFD is a fine place to get into good trouble.

Smack Down

For an explanation of Tim Walz’ military retirement and a smack down of JD Vance and his reprehensible attack on Walz’ service, take a listen to what Lt. Col. (Ret.) Adam Kinzinger has to say. Vance’s dishonor makes the possibility of his having influence on policy or exercising national power absolutely unthinkable.

Are you registered to vote? Check it out here:
.

https://www.vote.org/am-i-registered-to-vote/

https://www.usa.gov/confirm-voter-registration

https://www.rockthevote.org/how-to-vote/am-i-registered-to-vote/

“Friends do not let friends vote for con artists.”
  • – Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), 2016.


  • Did someone forward this post to you? Welcome! Please subscribe – use the simple form above on the right. And pass this along to three others, encouraging them to subscribe, too. (IT’S A FREEBIE!) It’s going to take ALL OF US to get the job done.

    And add your comments below to help us all to be better informed.

    Thanks!

    The Fine Print:

    1. Writings quoted or linked from my posts reflect a point I want to make, at least in part. That does not mean that I endorse or agree with everything in such writings.
    2. There are lots of smart, well-informed people. Sometimes we agree; sometimes we don’t. Search for others’ views and decide for yourself.
    3. Errors in fact, grammar, spelling and punctuation are all embarrassingly mine. Glad to have your corrections.
    4. Responsibility for the content of these posts is unequivocally, totally, unavoidably mine.
    5. Book links to Amazon are provided for reference only. Please purchase your books through your local mom & pop bookstore. Keep them and your town or neighborhood vibrant.
    6. Clicking on most pics in these posts will take you to the source information.

    Click me

    JA

 


Copyright 2024 by Jack Altschuler
Reproduction and sharing are encouraged, providing proper attribution is given.

Havin’ a Li’l Fun


POST 1091

From The Onion, of course. Click the pic for the story.

About 12 prisoners, wrongly incarcerated, have been swapped for several Russian thugs. Among those freed is Paul Whelan – at last. And Trump told us only he could do that. Now, that’s fun! Click the pic for the story.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I like “YES WE KAM” better.

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Trump’s speech at a rally in Philadelphia, June 22, 2024, confirmed by Snopes:

No water in your faucets. You ever tried buying a new home and you turn it on? They have restrictors in there. You want to wash your hair. You want to wash your hands. You turn on the water and it goes drip, drip. The soap, you can’t get it off your hand. So you keep it running for about ten times longer. You’re trying. The worst is your hair. I have this beautiful, luxuriant hair, and I put stuff on. I put it in. Lather. I like lots of lather because I like it to come out extremely dry because it seems to be slightly thicker that way. And I lather up and then you turn on this crazy shower and the thing drip, drip, and you say, ‘I’m gonna be here for 45 minutes. What?’ They put restrictors and they put them on in places like here where there’s so much water you don’t know what to do with it. You know, it’s called rain. It rains a lot in certain places. But, now their idea, you know, did you see the other day? They just, I opened it up and they closed it again. I opened it, they close it, washing machines to wash your dishes. There is a problem. They don’t want you to have any water. They want no water.

There’s a strong similarity between this psychopathic idiocy and Trump’s “sharks vs. batteries” dementia demonstration. View the video here, but only if you have time and life to waste.

Click me for The Union

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is no spoof – it’s real.
Click the pic for the Washington Post story.

.


“Hannibal Lector is not
the guy you want
running your country.”
Click the pic and READ THE POST!

Quotes of the Week

From What This Comedian Said Will Shock You. by Bill Maher:

“The average American doesn’t think that we have to completely tear down the system and remake it. There are a lot of persuadable voters and  .  .  .  a lot of Democrats  .  .  .  who just want to see things make sense. They just don’t want to see the crazy stuff.”

And from the unstoppable voice of John Lewis, our national conscience. His voice is still echoing in the Capitol Building and in our ears. From July 17, 2021:

“Speak up, speak out, get in the way. Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and help redeem the soul of America.”

.
.
Many thanks to all contributors!
“Friends do not let friends vote for con artists.”
  • – Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), 2016.


  • Did someone forward this post to you? Welcome! Please subscribe – use the simple form above on the right. And pass this along to three others, encouraging them to subscribe, too. (IT’S A FREEBIE!) It’s going to take ALL OF US to get the job done.

    And add your comments below to help us all to be better informed.

    Thanks!

    The Fine Print:

    1. Writings quoted or linked from my posts reflect a point I want to make, at least in part. That does not mean that I endorse or agree with everything in such writings.
    2. There are lots of smart, well-informed people. Sometimes we agree; sometimes we don’t. Search for others’ views and decide for yourself.
    3. Errors in fact, grammar, spelling and punctuation are all embarrassingly mine. Glad to have your corrections.
    4. Responsibility for the content of these posts is unequivocally, totally, unavoidably mine.
    5. Book links to Amazon are provided for reference only. Please purchase your books through your local mom & pop bookstore. Keep them and your town or neighborhood vibrant.
    6. Clicking on most pics in these posts will take you to the source information.

    Click me

    JA


Copyright 2024 by Jack Altschuler
Reproduction and sharing are encouraged, providing proper attribution is given.

Let There Be No Doubt


POST 1090

Trump Must Never Get His Hands On Any Power Greater Than The Flush Handle Of A Prison Toilet.

_____________________________________________________

Stop The Steal

Don’t let the semi-coherent and fraudulent Republican rants and their phony patriotism mislead you. Any reasonably conscious person with only minimal critical thinking skills can interpret their corrupt, unscrupulous, anti-patriotism claptrap and then label it what it actually is.

We have been informed and cautioned about what these extremists are promising. There are many exposés of the diabolical Project 2025 plan to end our democracy and clues come directly from Trump at most of his rallies. Here’s an example from July 26.

“Christians, get out and vote! Just this time. You won’t have to do it anymore. Four more years. You know what? It’ll be fixed! It’ll be fine! You won’t have to vote anymore, my beautiful Christians. I love you, Christians! I’m a Christian.”

When you have stopped gagging over Trump’s stumbling awkwardness and sickening faux-religious fervor, you’ll recognize that that isn’t just a clue. It’s a plain language announcement that if he wins the November election it will be the last free and fair election in America. Democracy will be over. Dead.

That is what Trump and the extremist right wing schemers of the Republican Party are promising you. It’s a plan of destruction and robbery that is in plain sight.

So, let there be no doubt. This un-American, anti-Constitutional cabal of thieves is planning to take away all of your freedom and your rights. Not just your right to vote for your leaders – as in: democracy, rule by the people – but all of your rights, because voting is our check, our protection for all of our other rights. Plus, of course, their detailed plan to destroy our democracy lays out plainly how you will be subjugated into powerlessness.

This is not satire. There is nothing exaggerated in my words. There is no hyperbole. It’s all in the open, in plain language, from Trump promising no more elections to the 922 pages of Project 2025 that provide detailed steps for the legalized neutering of your rights and your freedom.

Should you do anything they don’t like, the organized crime ring planning to run the future dictatorship won’t promise your safety in any way. They would be sad to see you suffer, they would tell you, so you better get in line. That’s what organized crime does as a first step. You would not like step 2.

We have only 96 days to stop the grand larceny, the theft of all you hold dear.

From David Frum in The Atlantic:

If [Harris] does secure the Democratic presidential nomination, then she becomes the only hope to keep Trump out of the White House for a second term. She becomes the only hope for Ukraine, for NATO, for open international trade, for American democracy, for a society founded on the equal worth and dignity of all its people. Anyone committed to those principles and ideals, whatever his or her past or future political affiliation, now has everything riding on the chances of the nominee chosen by some 4,700 Democratic delegates in Chicago next month.

Did I mention that we only have 96 days to stop the grand larceny? We only have those same 96 days to keep alive our hopes, our ideals, our principles and the promise of the American dream, your vision for your children and their children.

Let there be no doubt.

Resources Of The Week

I always thrill to people’s brilliance of clarity and communication and we have a pair of “don’t miss” offerings here.

Heather Cox Richardson is a professor of history at Boston College, much to the benefit of her students. This week she lays out the record of the ongoing fight for democracy – the “protect and defend” thing – that puts our present moment into brilliantly clear focus.

Next, do you have any idea what Christian nationalism really is? It turns out that the labeling is grossly dishonest in ways you might not yet fully appreciate. Put on your Sunday best and listen to James Tallarico’s sermon. I promise you’ll get a lesson about the dangers we face and the rank deceit of those who want to twist religion to benefit themselves.

Thanks go to Dave Lindgren for pointing me to this talk.

Quote Of The Week

From Steve Schmidt:

Trump tried to hang his last vice president, and now his new choice for VP is going to hang him in November.

Just For Fun

Here is a demonstration of why Pete Buttigieg is always the smartest person in the room.

And .  .  .

Me, too.

Pic by PY

“Friends do not let friends vote for con artists.”
  • – Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), 2016.


  • Did someone forward this post to you? Welcome! Please subscribe – use the simple form above on the right. And pass this along to three others, encouraging them to subscribe, too. (IT’S A FREEBIE!) It’s going to take ALL OF US to get the job done.

    And add your comments below to help us all to be better informed.

    Thanks!

    The Fine Print:

    1. Writings quoted or linked from my posts reflect a point I want to make, at least in part. That does not mean that I endorse or agree with everything in such writings.
    2. There are lots of smart, well-informed people. Sometimes we agree; sometimes we don’t. Search for others’ views and decide for yourself.
    3. Errors in fact, grammar, spelling and punctuation are all embarrassingly mine. Glad to have your corrections.
    4. Responsibility for the content of these posts is unequivocally, totally, unavoidably mine.
    5. Book links to Amazon are provided for reference only. Please purchase your books through your local mom & pop bookstore. Keep them and your town or neighborhood vibrant.
    6. Clicking on most pics in these posts will take you to the source information.

    Click me

    JA


Copyright 2024 by Jack Altschuler
Reproduction and sharing are encouraged, providing proper attribution is given.

Why JD Vance?


POST 1089

Trump Must Never Get His Hands On Any Power Greater Than The Flush Handle Of A Prison Toilet
.

Check the clock below. There are just 99 days until the November 5 election. There is so much work to do and your democracy and your love of freedom are calling out to your hands, your mind, your heart and your feet to get in the game. For direction on that, click here and review the action list in the Rhymes of the Week section. Today is a very good day for that. Think: Paul Revere’s Ride.

Lebanon and Middletown

Click me

We were in the southwest corner of Ohio in the town of Lebanon, where we joined local Democrats to watch and then agonize over the debate last month. The next day the sun was blindingly bright and the temperature and humidity were impressively high by noon, when Witt’s Frozen Custard opened. We got a couple of crazy delicious frozen custard cones and went to work on them, attempting to keep pace with the melting and dripping. It was messy and glorious.

Continuing on our trip brought us to Middletown, Ohio. It’s a charming Midwest town, a suburb of Cincinnati, a fact which now raises eyebrows. JD Vance is from Middletown. But he proclaims his connection to poor Appalachia, seemingly wanting us to believe he’s an everyman.

Except Middletown is across the state from anything that might even remotely be described as Appalachia. The nearest thing he can claim is that his grandparents came from there. He didn’t.

Who is this guy? Just how stupid does he think we are?

A Stunning Moment Of “Huh?“

JD Vance has done nothing during his 1.5 years in the Senate other than to fill a seat with his butt. He has no governing experience and has a terrible work record in nearly all the jobs into which billionaire Peter Thiel provided him a red carpet. His auto-biography sort of honors the poor Whites of his imagined Appalachian upbringing.* At the same time he demeans them and has advocated for ending every program that can help these people. His attitude seems to be, “I got mine. Too bad for you – you’re on your own.”

Click the pic for the Lincoln Project video. Thanks JN for the pointer.

He has expressed great criticism of and disaffection from Trump, having proclaimed himself a Never Trumper.** Click the pic to the left for clarity on that.

More recently he has prostrated himself before Trump and abandoned whatever integrity he had remaining. He is where he is only by virtue of massive support from billionaire elites and some demonic, self-aggrandizing scheme from Trump’s evil imagination.

He is against most things that the vast majority of Americans support. He argues for the end of our republic and says he would have done the great betrayal. It’s what Mike Pence refused to do: Disenfranchise all Americans and subvert the Constitution.

So much for integrity.

That’s a long way from the oath he swore when entering the Marines and the oath of office for Congress to which he swore, hand on Bible. The list of Vance’s disqualifiers is long and inglorious.

About that oath .  .  .

The Presidential, Vice Presidential, Congressional and military oaths are essentially the same.

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.

JD Vance swore to that oath twice and is not obeying it. Indeed, both Trump and Vance want to terminate our Constitution.

From Every Town for Gun Safety

Note that none of the above deals with Vance’s profound weirdness – like”childless cat ladies” – and this. This guy is Sarah Palin, only worse.

Hypocrisy? Cowardice? Moral bankruptcy? Dishonesty? You pick.

So, about that stunning moment of “Huh?” – Why did Trump pick Vance?

Rather than offering my own deciphering, Rachel Maddow’s is, unsurprisingly, far better, offering a clear explanation of why Trump picked shape-shifter Vance. As you listen, keep in mind that Trump is just two Big Macs away from a coronary. If he were to be elected, that would give us President Vance in short order. The purple majesty of the mountains quakes in fear.

Watch and listen to Rachel’s explanation. Then “Once more unto the breach, dear friends.” Our call to duty is clear.

Shock

From the New York Times:

A new book by Trump’s nephew says the former president suggested some disabled people “should just die.”

  • Did that shock you? After 8 years of Trump’s non-stop shaking of our national tectonic plates, I’m wondering if we are beyond the ability to be shocked. Whether we are or not, all that upheaval is reason enough to reject Trump and everything MAGA. It’s time to invite all MAGAs to un-clench their fists and to come back into the fold of caring, patriotic Americans. Perhaps we can be friendly neighbors again.
Just For Fun
.

Not sure, but I think it’s real.

_____________________________________________________

* I like Maureen Dowd’s term for Vance: faux-billy.

** Vance’s wife Usha says Trump appalls her – but now she’s on the team. I guess spinelessness runs in the family.

“Friends do not let friends vote for con artists.”
  • – Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), 2016.


  • Did someone forward this post to you? Welcome! Please subscribe – use the simple form above on the right. And pass this along to three others, encouraging them to subscribe, too. (IT’S A FREEBIE!) It’s going to take ALL OF US to get the job done.

    And add your comments below to help us all to be better informed.

    Thanks!

    The Fine Print:

    1. Writings quoted or linked from my posts reflect a point I want to make, at least in part. That does not mean that I endorse or agree with everything in such writings.
    2. There are lots of smart, well-informed people. Sometimes we agree; sometimes we don’t. Search for others’ views and decide for yourself.
    3. Errors in fact, grammar, spelling and punctuation are all embarrassingly mine. Glad to have your corrections.
    4. Responsibility for the content of these posts is unequivocally, totally, unavoidably mine.
    5. Book links to Amazon are provided for reference only. Please purchase your books through your local mom & pop bookstore. Keep them and your town or neighborhood vibrant.
    6. Clicking on most pics in these posts will take you to the source information.

    Click me

    JA

 


Copyright 2024 by Jack Altschuler
Reproduction and sharing are encouraged, providing proper attribution is given.

Freedom and Dr. Seuss


POST 1088

Reality Check

Since Trump was shot, the Republicans/MAGAs are making noises about being kinder, losing the divisiveness and their cruelty. These are the people whose convention featured presenter after presenter engaging in world class divisiveness, faux masculinity, accusing Democrats of exactly the awful things righties have been doing. They had giant piles of MUGS (Made Up Gross S**t) designed for divisiveness and cruelty that had attendees foaming at the mouth.

Still, they made noise about how after the shooting Trump had torn up his speech in order to craft one designed for unity. That triggers a

POP QUIZ!
.

1. Try to remember the 2016 campaign, as Trump was making blisteringly phony accusations, taking credit for things he couldn’t even spell, much less create, telling lies and inciting hatred everywhere he went. We were assured by pundits that Trump would pivot and become presidential once in office and the gravity of presidential reality settled upon him. Check all that apply.

[  ] A. Trump “fixed” our immigration challenges by ripping thousands of infants and children from their mothers, caging the little ones without the staffing or supplies to care for them and with absolutely no way to reunite children with their parents. He explained that the cruelty was the point.

[  ] B. Trump knew more than the generals and people in the Intelligence agencies and ignored the President’s Daily Brief, blew off allies, embraced dictators and imperiled our safety by showing our top secrets to enemies. He promised our middle class great benefits, including massive new job opportunities and increased wages. Instead, he gave away $2 trillion, 87% of which went to already rich people and corporations. No new jobs were created and middle class income remained stagnant.

[  ] C. Trump did a turnaround and grew into the job of president, becoming a promoter of the Constitution and our democracy and transitioning into a world class statesman.

[  ] D. Trump can’t be believed when he says things like “kinder and gentler” or “unity,” nor when he denounces violence. That’s because if he is breathing, he is lying. Unity? From Trump, the Retribution King? Seriously?

Answer key: A, B, D. Trump couldn’t even understand answer C.

His aggrieved followers willingly support terminating the Constitution and then call themselves patriots. They’re easy marks for sales of Trump’s snake oil.

From Adam Kinzinger, June 26, 2024:

Today, we face an election about a singular, monumental issue: the very essence of our democracy. The question before us is clear—which of the two Candidates will stand unyielding in their commitment to preserve, protect, and defend our Constitution and strengthen our Democracy?

Kinzinger is right about the essence of the election. The answer to his question is: Anyone But Trump. As boyhood pal and occasional commenter to these posts Kirk Landers said, he’d sooner vote for Biden’s dogs, either the mean one or the nice one, or even a pet rock than for Trump. Kirk is a smart fellow.

Trump must never get his hands on any power greater than the flush handle of a prison toilet.

Up and down your November ballot,

Every one of the Democratic candidates will be on the right side of gun safety.
No Republican will.
.
Every one of the Democratic candidates will be on the right side of healthcare.
No Republican will.
.
Every one of the Democratic candidates will be on the right side of Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and forgiveness of crushing student debt.
No Republican will.
.
Every one of the Democratic candidates will be on the right side of supporting our allies and opposing our adversaries..
No Republican will.
.
Every one of the Democratic candidates will be on the right side of the rule of law.
No Republican will.
.

The Republicans, the ones who hurl racist slurs at Kamala Harris, the ones who spew bizarre Biblical quotations that nobody understands, the ones who criticize her over plastic soda straws as though she is killing kittens and puppies – those Republicans – at night they come out from under the bridge where they live just to be cruel. They intend to be our overlords. That’s all they offer our country.

Yes, this election is that dangerously binary because

Freedom is Under Attack!

.

Other than strong nominees, our job is to defeat tyranny and preserve your rights, including your right to women’s healthcare; protection of things you already paid for, like Social Security and Medicare; plus the right not be be shot to death by a homicidal maniac brandishing combat weapons.

We must energize the electorate to vote for our country. I’m thinking of the 40% who don’t bother to show up on election day. Recently, I wrote about the need to light a fire under them. Insightful opinion writer Steve Sheffey agreed with me in his July 7 post. He must be very smart.

That energizing of the stay-at-homes requires our feet on the street to motivate and mobilize them. That way we get to keep our democracy and have a free and fair election in 2026. And another in 2028. Plus, we get to not get shot.

See Note #5 below.

Rhymes Of The Week

From Oh, The Places You’ll Go! by Dr. Seuss:

  • You have brains in your head
  • You have feet in your shoes.
  • You can steer yourself
  • Any direction you choose.

So, steer yourself to:

  • register voters
  • canvas in a swing state
  • write post cards reminding people to vote
  • phone voters with wake up calls about the threats to their rights and their freedom
  • donate to candidates who will preserve our democracy (Democrats only, because Republicans are extremists or suck ups to extremists)
  • invite neighbors to a discussion about what they want and how they’ll get it
  • post a sign on your lawn
  • volunteer as a poll watcher.

Steer yourself to action, because,

  • You have brains in your head,
  • You have feet in your shoes.
  • You don’t want to go cry
  • Lost Democracy Blues.

Passivity just won’t do if you want rights, freedom and safety. So, get going.

“Friends do not let friends vote for con artists.”

  • – Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), 2016

Our governance and electoral corruption and dysfunction and our ongoing mass murders are all of a piece, all the same problem with the same solution:

  • Fire the bastards!


  • Did someone forward this post to you? Welcome! Please subscribe – use the simple form above on the right. And pass this along to three others, encouraging them to subscribe, too. (IT’S A FREEBIE!) It’s going to take ALL OF US to get the job done.

    And add your comments below to help us all to be better informed.

    Thanks!

    The Fine Print:

    1. Writings quoted or linked from my posts reflect a point I want to make, at least in part. That does not mean that I endorse or agree with everything in such writings.
    2. There are lots of smart, well-informed people. Sometimes we agree; sometimes we don’t. Search for others’ views and decide for yourself.
    3. Errors in fact, grammar, spelling and punctuation are all embarrassingly mine. Glad to have your corrections.
    4. Responsibility for the content of these posts is unequivocally, totally, unavoidably mine.
    5. Book links to Amazon are provided for reference only. Please purchase your books through your local mom & pop bookstore. Keep them and your town or neighborhood vibrant.
    6. Clicking on most pics in these posts will take you to the source information.

    Click me

    JA


Copyright 2024 by Jack Altschuler
Reproduction and sharing are encouraged, providing proper attribution is given.

BOOM!


POST 1087

Definitions
IED:
An improvised explosive device (IED) attack is the use of a “homemade bomb and/or destructive device to destroy, incapacitate, harass, or distract.” IEDs are used by criminals, vandals, terrorists, suicide bombers, and insurgents.
Judicial IED:
A Judicial IED (J-IED) is a judicial decision that is a Constitutionally unmoored attack, a “court-made bomb and/or accountability ravaging decision designed to destroy, incapacitate, harass, or distract the rule of law.” J-IEDs are used by judges and justices to eliminate equal justice under law and are aided and abetted by lawyers, extremist activists, politicians, insurgents and demagogues, often to support, allow or encourage illegal activity and/or the elimination of rights and freedom.
JaxPolitix Judicial Review

Living in a Judicial Crisis

J-IEDs

Embedded in the Trump stay-out-of-jail-free Court decision guaranteeing immunity from prosecution for his breaking the law while president is a provision saying that in “dividing official from unofficial conduct, courts may not inquire into the President’s motives.” In other words, in any action against Trump for presidential criminality, like sending SEAL Team 6 to murder his opponents, Trump’s motives for his criminal action cannot be examined. Effectively, that prevents prosecution for nearly every obvious crime. Very handy for a presidential felon to make our legal constraints go

BOOM!

And there’s more.

Trump-appointed Judge  Aileen “Sitting on the Scales of Justice” Cannon dismissed the case against Trump for his refusing a subpoena, lying to federal agents, theft of classified documents, showing them to unauthorized persons and other various and obvious violations of the Espionage Act.

Lemming

Judge Cannon lemmingly agreed with Trump’s lawyers in their claim that Jack Smith was improperly appointed, saying that means that he has no power to indict. Claims like this have repeatedly been thrown out of court, but that didn’t deter plucky Judge Cannon from jabbing a stick in the spokes of justice.

BOOM!

The case is dissolved for now and Trump gets away with it – temporarily. He didn’t even need the immunity thing. Stand by for Jack Smith’s appeal and a reprise of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeal’s smack down of incompetent Judge Cannon.* That will then be appealed to the Supreme Court by Trump’s lawyers, where obstructionist Chief Justice Roberts will sit on it until next summer.

That’s in follow up to the six black robed, black-hearted, Republican appointed justices conspiring to declare that Trump has immunity from justice for the crimes he committed as president. It’s great to be the king where “above the law” has real meaning. For the rest of us it’s

BOOM!

Now Trump can get away with anything and escape accountability, just as he’s done for most of his grifting life.

Do you see the pattern? Trump appoints judges. Trump commits crimes. The Trump judges stop prosecutions or delay them forever. Your country – your democracy your freedom and your rights – are being stolen from you and the crime is happening in plain sight.

The Future Looks Bright For Presidential Criminality

Trump asked for immunity via his lawsuit, Trump v. United States, his un-American bid to become The Orange Tyrant King, a despot, and he got it. That fascism generating decision will be the legal foundation for the Project 2025 authoritarian take down of our democracy (see this post) if Trump is re-elected. It will be the beginning of officially sanctioned tyranny in America. Watch Chris Hayes’ explanation of this Supreme Court July 1 take down of our democracy here.

This Court’s encouragement to Trump and his extremist right wing to pursue criminality stands and will continue to stand until Congress does something to erase it, a process which will require a Democrat in the White House and Democratic majorities in both the House and Senate and with fascists nowhere. We will all be at terrible risk if we don’t send Trump and all Republican extremists packing on November 5, because they will do the criminal things Trump has said he’ll do – and worse. Everything will go

BOOM!

We are at great risk.

IEDs blow up more than Humvees. They blow up your rights, your freedom and the Constitution. They kill people and they kill nations.

Apathy

There is a reason why I and so many others come back to a message urging voting and activist support. It is because we live in a nation beset by apathy over serious things.

We’re full of passion for our sports teams, the backyard barbecue and the next Netflix series. But for about 40% of us our eyes glaze over when the subject is how we decide to be governed and what we’ll tolerate.

Our government is legitimized only through the consent of the governed** – you and me. When we sit out the big game in November or tolerate the intolerable, we tacitly forfeit our voice, our hopes and dreams, and even our values to those who will not “protect and defend our Constitution and strengthen our Democracy.” Instead, they will steal everything from you and me and our apathy will have made us complicit in the theft.

The reason you and I will vote and get active to inspire others to vote is because we need to make sure nothing else goes

BOOM!

____________________________________________

* In a recent satire piece by Andy Borowitz he wrote,

In a positive development for Judge Cannon, a GoFindMe has been established to send her to law school.

Many thanks to JN for the pointer.

** From the Declaration of Independence:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed .  .  .” [emphasis mine]

“Friends do not let friends vote for con artists.”

  • – Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), 2016

Our governance and electoral corruption and dysfunction and our ongoing mass murders are all of a piece, all the same problem with the same solution:

  • Fire the bastards!


  • Did someone forward this post to you? Welcome! Please subscribe – use the simple form above on the right. And pass this along to three others, encouraging them to subscribe, too. (IT’S A FREEBIE!) It’s going to take ALL OF US to get the job done.

    And add your comments below to help us all to be better informed.

    Thanks!

    The Fine Print:

    1. Writings quoted or linked from my posts reflect a point I want to make, at least in part. That does not mean that I endorse or agree with everything in such writings.
    2. There are lots of smart, well-informed people. Sometimes we agree; sometimes we don’t. Search for others’ views and decide for yourself.
    3. Errors in fact, grammar, spelling and punctuation are all embarrassingly mine. Glad to have your corrections.
    4. Responsibility for the content of these posts is unequivocally, totally, unavoidably mine.
    5. Book links to Amazon are provided for reference only. Please purchase your books through your local mom & pop bookstore. Keep them and your town or neighborhood vibrant.
    6. Clicking on most pics in these posts will take you to the source information.

    Click me

    JA


Copyright 2024 by Jack Altschuler
Reproduction and sharing are encouraged, providing proper attribution is given.

Opportunity


POST 1086

Opportunity

The post that should have been in your Inbox last Friday was a proposed address by President Biden. In it he leaves the campaign, steps down from the presidency, turning over the Helm of State to Kamala Harris and fully endorsing her. He did two of the three and it will be enough. In fact, it’s a BFD.

President Biden has cemented his place in history, which will be seen as enormously positive. He will be  seen as transformational in making a national turn from autocracy and re-establishing democracy in the hearts of the American people.

Assuming that Vice-President Harris will be the carrier of the Democratic torch for this election, her choice for vice-president will be the obsessive focus of talk. That’s a very good thing.

Aaron Sorkin explained the foundational point of this choice in his movie The American President, having fictional President Andrew Shepherd saying,

I’ve been here 3 years and 3 days and I can tell you without hesitation being president of this country is entirely about character.

Character – backbone, grit, integrity – is what we need. We need it as the under-girding of leadership, both behind the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office and in the office of the Vice-President in the Executive Office Building.

Focus, focus, focus on the one and only imperative:

Protect and defend our Constitution and our democracy.

Lost Opportunity

Upon hearing that President Biden had bowed out of the race, the twice impeached, found liable for sexual assault and defamation, 34 times convicted, 88 times indicted felon of a former president had an easy opportunity for grace and respect for the presidency. Instead, he commented on CNN, saying,

“He is the worst president in the history of our country. He goes down as the single worst president by far in the history of our country.”

And he posted on un-Truth Social:

This temper tantrum is from the head of the MAGA Party, where he called for national unity – just once and for only a few minutes. Then he reverted to his standard bratty form.

This was a lost opportunity to be presidential. It’s much like his refusal to attend Biden’s inauguration, preferring instead to sneak out of town with his stash of top secret documents he had no right to possess.

As I said, character – backbone, grit, integrity – is what we need. We won’t find that anywhere in the cult of Trump. Instead, he never misses an opportunity to miss and opportunity.

“Friends do not let friends vote for con artists.”

  • – Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), 2016

  • Our governance and electoral corruption and dysfunction and our ongoing mass murders are all of a piece, all the same problem with the same solution:

  • Fire the bastards!

 


  • Did someone forward this post to you? Welcome! Please subscribe – use the simple form above on the right. And pass this along to three others, encouraging them to subscribe, too. (IT’S A FREEBIE!) It’s going to take ALL OF US to get the job done.

    And add your comments below to help us all to be better informed.

    Thanks!

    The Fine Print:

    1. Writings quoted or linked from my posts reflect a point I want to make, at least in part. That does not mean that I endorse or agree with everything in such writings.
    2. There are lots of smart, well-informed people. Sometimes we agree; sometimes we don’t. Search for others’ views and decide for yourself.
    3. Errors in fact, grammar, spelling and punctuation are all embarrassingly mine. Glad to have your corrections.
    4. Responsibility for the content of these posts is unequivocally, totally, unavoidably mine.
    5. Book links to Amazon are provided for reference only. Please purchase your books through your local mom & pop bookstore. Keep them and your town or neighborhood vibrant.
    6. Clicking on most pics in these posts will take you to the source information.

    Click me

    JA


Copyright 2024 by Jack Altschuler
Reproduction and sharing are encouraged, providing proper attribution is given.

1 2 3 4 5 6 … 80  Scroll to top