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:
- 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.
- There are lots of smart, well-informed people. Sometimes we agree; sometimes we don’t. Search for others’ views and decide for yourself.
- Errors in fact, grammar, spelling and punctuation are all embarrassingly mine. Glad to have your corrections.
- Responsibility for the content of these posts is unequivocally, totally, unavoidably mine.
- 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.
- 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.
