Charlie, re "Republicans should be careful what they wish for" they don't have to worry. It won't be their churches, or Hillsdale College or the Heritage Foundation that will be destroyed. I'm sure you know the line about tyranny. Q: What do you think about tyranny? A: Depends on who the tyrant is.
I think if the administration keeps targeting universities and blue states, they should band together and refuse to pay taxes to the federal government. If they all band together they can’t enforce it!
It came up in your interview with Mr. Zelizer, Charlie, that it really is up to the American electorate to put a halt to the Trump administration’s attack on our democratic institutions. As I recall, that was one of the interview’s conclusions as to what power the Judicial Branch and the Supreme Court have in the face of Trump’s control of the Justice Department and Federal Marshalls. At the very end of your conversation, though, you kind of left hanging the unasked question of whether our two party system is capable of correcting the fact that we’ve let the Presidency get way too powerful. A question came up earlier, too, as to whether either party wanted to reduce this power when it would affect what their own party could do when it sat in the Oval Office.
My answer to these questions is that there’s tremendous opportunity for the moderate, democratic middle of the American electorate to assert the heretofore silent force that demands that the very principles of democracy be held sacred. I don’t hear this term much any more, but I think April 5th’s Hands Off demonstrations showed that the Silent Majority has been awakened. It is no longer silent! It has the potential to overwhelm not only the angry and fearful voices of the radical right, but also the screeches of the radical left and bring American government back to the democratic ideals embodied in, not so much our Constitution, but the Declaration of Independence.
While I do believe in this ideal, I also understand that it may constitute a unicorn that I’ve pulled out of my ass. Americans have demonstrated time and time again in election after election that we need a single dominant issue paraded about by an iconic personality to take the office of President on our behalf. I don’t know how to package the principles of democracy in bright paper and shiny ribbons or which pretty face should carry it around to capture the devotion of the voters. This points to a flaw of our country in that we generally lack the depth and attention span to pay tribute to what really matters, …democracy by and of itself. This failure, my dear sir, is how we’ve arrived at this dark and dangerous place.
Before she met Bezos, Lauren Sanchez resembled an actual human being. Now? Now you can look at her and know how twisted and sick her permanent incel "fiance" really is. And what a trophy bimbo will do to get her trophies. She looks like a character out of "Brazil."
You can’t stop scientific research and still be a leader of the world! Trump wants to produce things here, but he is stopping the best minds in academia from the work that he wants! What a dump ass he is!
While he was enduring his "Vietnam" experience in his youth...there were serious students and professors doing their best to learn and teach important subjects & things. It's just so WRONG for this attack the universities shix to be going down, but for it to be by Trump makes it especially excruciating.
Get into some "good trouble" - March, Protest, Vote, Write letters, Stay engaged with others (as you are now), Go where Repubs "fear to tread" - Town Halls, Never show fear, Never give up.
Looks like Indivisible.org is looking at May 1 for the next nationwide protest. Join Indivisible.org, Mobilize.us and your local Democratic Party who help us to keep up to date on actions and ways to volunteer.
It would take a Democratic majority in the House to pass the bill of impeachment, and 66 senators worthy of their positions to convict him.
Patrick Henry was right back in 1788 when he told James Madison he was a fool not to put a mechanism in the Constitution to get rid of a "bad man" in the presidency, rather than naively believing only good men would run for office and that impeachment would ever work.
I loved the quote from Steve Inskeep. So spot on. Except he should have used the word impotent instead of powerless. Nothing riles up Krasnov more than being called impotent.
And nothing says astronaut more than sending women into space in a giant penis. You'd almost think Mel Brooks had thought that one up.
We need to remember how FDR dealt with constraints on his attempts to use the power of the executive branch to deal with the greatest economic threat to our nation: he accepted every one of them. he battled with the Dixiecrats on his agenda for economic recovery. He accepted Supreme Court rulings against his "New Deal" programs and fought it out in the arena of public opinion. His worst confrontation with Constitutional values came from accepting the recommendation form the military to round up Japanese Americans but at least we were actually at War (declared by the Congress) and he didn't send anyone out of the country and tell the Supreme Court and the nation "Oopsie...too late."
Charlie, re "Republicans should be careful what they wish for" they don't have to worry. It won't be their churches, or Hillsdale College or the Heritage Foundation that will be destroyed. I'm sure you know the line about tyranny. Q: What do you think about tyranny? A: Depends on who the tyrant is.
I think if the administration keeps targeting universities and blue states, they should band together and refuse to pay taxes to the federal government. If they all band together they can’t enforce it!
Excellent conversation, thanks so much! Charlie, you are now this liberal Democrat’s favorite podcaster! (And your intro music is THE BEST!😂)
Have Republican reps taken a loyalty pledge to Trump? Has Speaker Mike Johnson?
3 months down, 45 to go. Having fun yet?
Unfortunately...I think we have more "Could it get any worse?" barriers to crash through.
It came up in your interview with Mr. Zelizer, Charlie, that it really is up to the American electorate to put a halt to the Trump administration’s attack on our democratic institutions. As I recall, that was one of the interview’s conclusions as to what power the Judicial Branch and the Supreme Court have in the face of Trump’s control of the Justice Department and Federal Marshalls. At the very end of your conversation, though, you kind of left hanging the unasked question of whether our two party system is capable of correcting the fact that we’ve let the Presidency get way too powerful. A question came up earlier, too, as to whether either party wanted to reduce this power when it would affect what their own party could do when it sat in the Oval Office.
My answer to these questions is that there’s tremendous opportunity for the moderate, democratic middle of the American electorate to assert the heretofore silent force that demands that the very principles of democracy be held sacred. I don’t hear this term much any more, but I think April 5th’s Hands Off demonstrations showed that the Silent Majority has been awakened. It is no longer silent! It has the potential to overwhelm not only the angry and fearful voices of the radical right, but also the screeches of the radical left and bring American government back to the democratic ideals embodied in, not so much our Constitution, but the Declaration of Independence.
While I do believe in this ideal, I also understand that it may constitute a unicorn that I’ve pulled out of my ass. Americans have demonstrated time and time again in election after election that we need a single dominant issue paraded about by an iconic personality to take the office of President on our behalf. I don’t know how to package the principles of democracy in bright paper and shiny ribbons or which pretty face should carry it around to capture the devotion of the voters. This points to a flaw of our country in that we generally lack the depth and attention span to pay tribute to what really matters, …democracy by and of itself. This failure, my dear sir, is how we’ve arrived at this dark and dangerous place.
Don’t think there is a road “back”
It doesn't get any better, does it? When are the majority of voters getting awake?
Before she met Bezos, Lauren Sanchez resembled an actual human being. Now? Now you can look at her and know how twisted and sick her permanent incel "fiance" really is. And what a trophy bimbo will do to get her trophies. She looks like a character out of "Brazil."
The Brazil reference is terrific. Most men used to marry women instead of Mega Lips.
"My complication had a little complication, but Dr. Jaffe says I'll soon be up and bounding about like a young gazelle!"
You can’t stop scientific research and still be a leader of the world! Trump wants to produce things here, but he is stopping the best minds in academia from the work that he wants! What a dump ass he is!
While he was enduring his "Vietnam" experience in his youth...there were serious students and professors doing their best to learn and teach important subjects & things. It's just so WRONG for this attack the universities shix to be going down, but for it to be by Trump makes it especially excruciating.
Charlie misses the point.
Evidence is only what Trump says.
So don’t waste time being disappointed that it’s not provided.
The Trump Administration has moved past that.
When can he removed from office? Really what would it take?
Get into some "good trouble" - March, Protest, Vote, Write letters, Stay engaged with others (as you are now), Go where Repubs "fear to tread" - Town Halls, Never show fear, Never give up.
Looks like Indivisible.org is looking at May 1 for the next nationwide protest. Join Indivisible.org, Mobilize.us and your local Democratic Party who help us to keep up to date on actions and ways to volunteer.
Thank you. Attending a rally this Sat. in TX
Same in NYC. Glad to know there is a possible May 1 protest coming!
It would take a Democratic majority in the House to pass the bill of impeachment, and 66 senators worthy of their positions to convict him.
Patrick Henry was right back in 1788 when he told James Madison he was a fool not to put a mechanism in the Constitution to get rid of a "bad man" in the presidency, rather than naively believing only good men would run for office and that impeachment would ever work.
Congress is an accomplice in creating/allowing one constitutional crisis after another.
The dogs calm me. Could Auggie go to Washington and retrieve our democracy?
As always, loved the dog pics.
I loved the quote from Steve Inskeep. So spot on. Except he should have used the word impotent instead of powerless. Nothing riles up Krasnov more than being called impotent.
And nothing says astronaut more than sending women into space in a giant penis. You'd almost think Mel Brooks had thought that one up.
Rise, peeps and make trouble.
“Choose confrontation wisely, but when it is your time don't be afraid to stand up, speak up, and speak out against injustice.” - John Lewis
https://albellenchia.substack.com/p/all-rise?r=7wk5d
We need to remember how FDR dealt with constraints on his attempts to use the power of the executive branch to deal with the greatest economic threat to our nation: he accepted every one of them. he battled with the Dixiecrats on his agenda for economic recovery. He accepted Supreme Court rulings against his "New Deal" programs and fought it out in the arena of public opinion. His worst confrontation with Constitutional values came from accepting the recommendation form the military to round up Japanese Americans but at least we were actually at War (declared by the Congress) and he didn't send anyone out of the country and tell the Supreme Court and the nation "Oopsie...too late."
Not only at war, but had been the victim of a sneak attack.