Welcome to the end of yet another stupefying week in which Donald Trump tried to distract us from a national security FUBAR by plunging us into an economic fiasco.
I just wanted to say thank you. Your no-nonsense, and often, humorous take on politics keeps me going. In the climate we are now in it would be easy for voices to retreat and lay low. When people like you stay in the fight it gives me hope that all is not lost. We will only have the country we are willing to stand for. God bless you!
One reason I like your columns and podcasts is because I hear new words to describe the experiences we are going through as our democracy is being attacked. They are words that I already know, such as “stupefying”, but my mind is so blunted from rage that my vocabulary has crashed along with our Constitution.
How about stupid and malicious. Signal-gate was exactly like what I experienced as a teacher over three decades ago. The rule of law and expertise were missing in action and administrators were doing very dumb and harmful things. As hard as I’ve tried, the truth about our K-12 schools is virtually unknown because teachers must keep their mouths shut or lose their jobs and the few of us who speak out anyway, are not believed as we’re so few.
Action to protect democracy must start at the root cause of its lack. It’s our schools that brought us down yet the Democrats and media are still listening to union leader Randi Weingarten who’s afraid to admit that fascists took our schools over; the unions have been appeasing fascist administrators for years.
The Democrats can’t fix our schools by ignoring whistleblowing teachers like those at WhiteChalkCrime.com and EndTeacherAbuse.org. Yet, they ignore us, while promising great schools with no clue what’s going on. We the people must educate our media that continually feature Randi Weingarten as if she’s the answer for saving democracy when her silence contributed to losing it.
We know if our government is a joke we’re in trouble but totally missed this point: if our schools are a joke they’re the source of the big trouble. Trust me. They are a joke. Citizens must look into this since the media hasn’t.
The video of the woman grad student being abducted off the street has been eating at me, not least because, in a wider-angle version I saw, at least two people walked by while it was going on, and neither of them stopped or even slowed down. They just. kept. walking. I'm not sure I could do that. So what can a bystander legally do? Any legal types here that could help formulate a strategy that would be effective and not lead to being hauled away in chains as well?
On a hunch, I asked Google about Denmark and military aid for Ukraine. Surprise! Surprise! Denmark has been at the top of European countries in the generosity of their military aid. Last month, it announced it was sending its entire stock of artillery and ammunition to Ukraine. In proportion to its size, it's giving more than the U.S.
If that doesn't explain why Putin's sock puppets are spouting their drooling nonsense reminiscent of 19th century mythology of "Manifest Destiny", I don't have any other theories. The only counter argument I see is that surely the genius PsychOps experts in the Kremlin would come up with a more persuasive line than what we've heard. It just makes people wonder, What on earth is the matter with these guys?
So the infirm law firm of Skid Marks et fluxus will drain 100k of their resources & refrain from DEI practices to placate (or not) Trump.
Man, this goes way beyond the level of kissing the ring to being abject surrender & cooperation (before a shot was fired) akin to Vichy or Quisling cooperation.
Speaking of Greenland, I saw a PR photo of Vance and his little vigilantes speaking to their own US crew because no one in Greenland wanted to talk to them or even open their doors to them. They were all gussied up in camouflage and military costumes.
So I must ask . . . J.D., why aren't you wearing a suit? You're making a freaking state visit. What hypocrites, after mocking Zelensky in the Oval Office. And we're not even at war, for god's sake.
PM Mette Frederiksen could invite him, but chances are she wouldn't. If he invited himself, they'd likely lock all the doors and hang out a sign saying "Sorry. No One Home."
Trump really hates getting challenged by a female foreign leader. The matriarchy, it burns . . .
True, but that wouldn't be a state visit because the King is the head of state. The PM is the head of government. That's why Keir Starmer's visits to the White House aren't state visits, but King Charles's are.
Stranger things have happened! President Bill Clinton was such good friends with Tony Blair that he called an official dinner for him a "state dinner" even though it wasn't:
I doubt the palace was happy about that. But he wasn't quite treated as the Queen would have been. NY Times:
"Technically, tonight's event was not quite a state dinner: Mr. Blair is only the head of the British Government, not head of state. So he rated only a 19-gun salute, instead of the 21 shots Queen Elizabeth II would have been given. But no one was counting."
Stupidity vs Malice: I think there are different adjectives that apply here, although the basis for applying them may be stupidity. I offer up contempt. I offer up disdain. These are attitudes that may be wielded by smart people as well, which is why I think they’re a better characterization of what Hegseth’s SignalGate crew did. These are not stupid people. They had surely been briefed on proper security protocols, but have such contempt for every aspect of the American government that they ignored them and went on to do what was easy and satisfying, consequences be damned. No. They should not get off the hook claiming they just made a mistake. They intentionally disregarded protocols and maliciously acted on their contempt for American government.
Charlie cross-posted Jim Acosta's Substack column, 'The Signal Trump is Sending." Acosta ends his post by noting that "fear is meeting hope." On that note, here are two clips from old movies that have inspired me during tough times.
The first is Bette Davis's "I am not afraid" scene in one of my favorite movies, Now, Voyager. (Start about 2:00 and go to 3:00
So many see parallels between the Trump regime and 1930’s Germany. Some people don’t have a problem with it, but no one wants us to have the ending Germany had - a world war they lost.
Signalgate has revealed how dangerous for us our National Security team is. This is far more than a scandal over phones, secrets, and mistakes in who was included (how many more such groups are there and how many more people included who don’t belong …mistresses. Friends, relatives, spies, podcasters).
This is a NATIONAL SECURITY EMERGENCY. Make Republicans face this moment. It will end the Trump steamrolling.
I find it interesting to note that my regular daily missive from you since starting as a founding member, today arrived in my SPAM folder and not with my normal mail. This occurred through Earthlink. I'd like to be able to dismiss it as an accident, but I don't. Such are these times.
Dogs make it all bearable❤️
Has anyone asked why DT was not on the Signal chat?
I just wanted to say thank you. Your no-nonsense, and often, humorous take on politics keeps me going. In the climate we are now in it would be easy for voices to retreat and lay low. When people like you stay in the fight it gives me hope that all is not lost. We will only have the country we are willing to stand for. God bless you!
One reason I like your columns and podcasts is because I hear new words to describe the experiences we are going through as our democracy is being attacked. They are words that I already know, such as “stupefying”, but my mind is so blunted from rage that my vocabulary has crashed along with our Constitution.
“yet another stupefying week” … which is exactly why we need photos of Auggie!! ❤️👍
How about stupid and malicious. Signal-gate was exactly like what I experienced as a teacher over three decades ago. The rule of law and expertise were missing in action and administrators were doing very dumb and harmful things. As hard as I’ve tried, the truth about our K-12 schools is virtually unknown because teachers must keep their mouths shut or lose their jobs and the few of us who speak out anyway, are not believed as we’re so few.
Action to protect democracy must start at the root cause of its lack. It’s our schools that brought us down yet the Democrats and media are still listening to union leader Randi Weingarten who’s afraid to admit that fascists took our schools over; the unions have been appeasing fascist administrators for years.
The Democrats can’t fix our schools by ignoring whistleblowing teachers like those at WhiteChalkCrime.com and EndTeacherAbuse.org. Yet, they ignore us, while promising great schools with no clue what’s going on. We the people must educate our media that continually feature Randi Weingarten as if she’s the answer for saving democracy when her silence contributed to losing it.
We know if our government is a joke we’re in trouble but totally missed this point: if our schools are a joke they’re the source of the big trouble. Trust me. They are a joke. Citizens must look into this since the media hasn’t.
.
The video of the woman grad student being abducted off the street has been eating at me, not least because, in a wider-angle version I saw, at least two people walked by while it was going on, and neither of them stopped or even slowed down. They just. kept. walking. I'm not sure I could do that. So what can a bystander legally do? Any legal types here that could help formulate a strategy that would be effective and not lead to being hauled away in chains as well?
You know what they say, "Never try to mud wrestle with a pig, you just get dirty and the pig enjoys it."
On a hunch, I asked Google about Denmark and military aid for Ukraine. Surprise! Surprise! Denmark has been at the top of European countries in the generosity of their military aid. Last month, it announced it was sending its entire stock of artillery and ammunition to Ukraine. In proportion to its size, it's giving more than the U.S.
If that doesn't explain why Putin's sock puppets are spouting their drooling nonsense reminiscent of 19th century mythology of "Manifest Destiny", I don't have any other theories. The only counter argument I see is that surely the genius PsychOps experts in the Kremlin would come up with a more persuasive line than what we've heard. It just makes people wonder, What on earth is the matter with these guys?
Just read this
A recent poll shows 85% of Greenlanders do not want to be part of the United States.
I bet one after JustDumb's visit would show 95%
So the infirm law firm of Skid Marks et fluxus will drain 100k of their resources & refrain from DEI practices to placate (or not) Trump.
Man, this goes way beyond the level of kissing the ring to being abject surrender & cooperation (before a shot was fired) akin to Vichy or Quisling cooperation.
Speaking of Greenland, I saw a PR photo of Vance and his little vigilantes speaking to their own US crew because no one in Greenland wanted to talk to them or even open their doors to them. They were all gussied up in camouflage and military costumes.
So I must ask . . . J.D., why aren't you wearing a suit? You're making a freaking state visit. What hypocrites, after mocking Zelensky in the Oval Office. And we're not even at war, for god's sake.
All on our tax dime . . .
He can never make a state visit as he will never be invited by the King of Denmark.
PM Mette Frederiksen could invite him, but chances are she wouldn't. If he invited himself, they'd likely lock all the doors and hang out a sign saying "Sorry. No One Home."
Trump really hates getting challenged by a female foreign leader. The matriarchy, it burns . . .
True, but that wouldn't be a state visit because the King is the head of state. The PM is the head of government. That's why Keir Starmer's visits to the White House aren't state visits, but King Charles's are.
Interesting. Thank you for the "checkmate." I concede. 😏
Stranger things have happened! President Bill Clinton was such good friends with Tony Blair that he called an official dinner for him a "state dinner" even though it wasn't:
https://clinton.presidentiallibraries.us/items/show/57472
I doubt the palace was happy about that. But he wasn't quite treated as the Queen would have been. NY Times:
"Technically, tonight's event was not quite a state dinner: Mr. Blair is only the head of the British Government, not head of state. So he rated only a 19-gun salute, instead of the 21 shots Queen Elizabeth II would have been given. But no one was counting."
Gift link:
https://www.nytimes.com/1998/02/06/world/politics-scandal-no-just-big-ben-cookies-etc.html?smid=url-share
Stupidity vs Malice: I think there are different adjectives that apply here, although the basis for applying them may be stupidity. I offer up contempt. I offer up disdain. These are attitudes that may be wielded by smart people as well, which is why I think they’re a better characterization of what Hegseth’s SignalGate crew did. These are not stupid people. They had surely been briefed on proper security protocols, but have such contempt for every aspect of the American government that they ignored them and went on to do what was easy and satisfying, consequences be damned. No. They should not get off the hook claiming they just made a mistake. They intentionally disregarded protocols and maliciously acted on their contempt for American government.
Charlie cross-posted Jim Acosta's Substack column, 'The Signal Trump is Sending." Acosta ends his post by noting that "fear is meeting hope." On that note, here are two clips from old movies that have inspired me during tough times.
The first is Bette Davis's "I am not afraid" scene in one of my favorite movies, Now, Voyager. (Start about 2:00 and go to 3:00
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IP1H-kCTYqM
The second is Katherine Hepburn's scene in Hollywood Canteen, "we've got to win this war." (Start at 1:40). It's a bit hokey, but fits the moment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9aSmyytDM8
So many see parallels between the Trump regime and 1930’s Germany. Some people don’t have a problem with it, but no one wants us to have the ending Germany had - a world war they lost.
Signalgate has revealed how dangerous for us our National Security team is. This is far more than a scandal over phones, secrets, and mistakes in who was included (how many more such groups are there and how many more people included who don’t belong …mistresses. Friends, relatives, spies, podcasters).
This is a NATIONAL SECURITY EMERGENCY. Make Republicans face this moment. It will end the Trump steamrolling.
MAKE AMERICA SECURE AGAIN. .
I find it interesting to note that my regular daily missive from you since starting as a founding member, today arrived in my SPAM folder and not with my normal mail. This occurred through Earthlink. I'd like to be able to dismiss it as an accident, but I don't. Such are these times.
Same thing happened to me, and I am not a founding member.