We know Trump is Putin's lapdog. We know he is a fanboy of dictators everywhere, because he wants to be one of them. He is on record as admiring the iron boot that Xi Jinping uses to grind down the Chinese people. He has dictator envy.
We know he is rude. We know he is a bully. And a chronic liar. And a seditionist.
So why — why, why, why — would disgusting display in the Oval Office Friday, bullying and berating Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, still come as a shock? To anybody? Why is our intellectual barometer still set so it expects humanity? Why is that still our default?
That's a sincere question: why? Residual hope? Have we not yet taken Dante's stern warning to heart? Lasciate ogni speranza voi ch'entrate.
"Abandon all hope, ye who enter here."
"Abandon all hope, ye who enter here."
Hope is not a strategy. It's a distraction. One that I have indulged in. No more. I adjure hope. No more.
Maybe because it's so horrible, we can't get used to it. That sounds closer to the mark. There are tens of thousands of murders in this country every year, but each new one is unexpected. Nobody yawns and says, "Oh, another murder." Cops maybe.
Perhaps that's it. We've become cynical observers of a crime that happens continually. We've allowed ourselves to be numbed so much, we never seem to truly grasp it. Not really. I was listening to someone on NPR marvel that during the election Trump denied any connection to Project 2025, and yet he has Project 2025 staffers pulling the government apart with both hands, straight out of the Project 2025 playbook. How could that be?
They speculated. They mused. Never approaching the truth of the matter: the man is a chronic liar who lies continually. Why is that so hard to accept? It isn't as if it flies in the face of human nature. It's as common as dirt, though the 47th president's special genius. He is a virtuoso of prevarication.
Maybe the problem isn't that Trump lies — and why not; those lies certainly are working for him. Maybe the blame belongs to us, to Democrats, to liberal, for our continual gullibility. Our passivity. Maybe that's why we can't change. Because we don't see it's our fault. We don't take this shit seriously. Maybe we never will.
Maybe the problem isn't that Trump lies — and why not; those lies certainly are working for him. Maybe the blame belongs to us, to Democrats, to liberal, for our continual gullibility. Our passivity. Maybe that's why we can't change. Because we don't see it's our fault. We don't take this shit seriously. Maybe we never will.
Maybe the problem is that, taking a cue from Anne Frank, we like to think people are good at heart.
That didn't work out so well for her, did it?
So if optimism is a dead end, then what's left? If it's not going to get better, then why even monitor what Trump is doing? Why keep track? The time to push back effectively is past. It passed Nov. 5. Now is the time to put our heads in the sand. Or else to grieve and suffer. And wait.
That sounds an awful lot like surrender. And I am not a big fan of surrender. As I used to tell my boys when they were growing up, "You can't quit your way to the top."
A half dozen Republican congressmen could stop this. The country was created to have co-equal branches of government, the executive balanced by Congress and the courts. Congress has just a few too many lackeys, and the Supreme Court was force-fed Trump devotees.
So it's up to he people to ... what? Protest? Raise our voices to the deaf? That sounds like providing a floor show for the callous. Something for them to sneer and smirk at. Lawsuits? They have been slowing things down, but they eventually get to Team Trump, aka the U.S. Supreme Court.
Drag our feet? Write essays?
I have no idea.
That didn't work out so well for her, did it?
So if optimism is a dead end, then what's left? If it's not going to get better, then why even monitor what Trump is doing? Why keep track? The time to push back effectively is past. It passed Nov. 5. Now is the time to put our heads in the sand. Or else to grieve and suffer. And wait.
That sounds an awful lot like surrender. And I am not a big fan of surrender. As I used to tell my boys when they were growing up, "You can't quit your way to the top."
A half dozen Republican congressmen could stop this. The country was created to have co-equal branches of government, the executive balanced by Congress and the courts. Congress has just a few too many lackeys, and the Supreme Court was force-fed Trump devotees.
So it's up to he people to ... what? Protest? Raise our voices to the deaf? That sounds like providing a floor show for the callous. Something for them to sneer and smirk at. Lawsuits? They have been slowing things down, but they eventually get to Team Trump, aka the U.S. Supreme Court.
Drag our feet? Write essays?
I have no idea.
That's it. No neat ending today. Talk among yourselves. I'm open to suggestions. Otherwise, I got nothing.
I saw a post by James Carville guessing what I've believed for some time now. That he has tertiary syphilis dementia!
ReplyDeleteHis behavior is similar to what I saw in a drama about someone who had it. Extremely erratic, constantly contradicting himself. Than add that to his appalling narcissism & the fact that he's also unrelentingly stupid, so not surprising in the least.
Plus I'm genuinely appalled at all the Republicans in Congress that simply can't see he's a total disaster for this country.
Firing hundreds of meteorologist from the National Weather Service, when it was very short staffed before this. One article I read today said that they've totally gutted the tsunami warning centers in Hawaii & the West Coast. Many NWS employees were actually working overtime for free to keep us informed. They even got rid of the employees at the only shop they have, where broken equipment is sent to repair the NWS's electronics, so when a radar system breaks down, there won't be anyone to fix it!
Then firing a few thousand from the national parks, of our country's pride & joy, now even garbage pickup in those parks is at risk!
And the Democrats appear to be leaderless right now, so will they even be able to run a decent enough campaign to vote out enough Republicans to at least take back the House in almost two years?
I'm truly disgusted at those who sat out the election or worse, voted for some useless third party candidate, in a truly moronic protest vote, against sanity!
I don’t buy the syphilis explanation.He has always been like that. His behavior in the Zelensky meeting was staged. They purposely set him up. And that’s far worse than being off your rocker. AND would someone explain to me why it is that the Democrats are essentially leaderless?
DeleteNo, people that have known him for decades say he's totally different than the one they met 50 years ago.
DeleteI wasn't shocked at Trump and Vance's behavior but I was curious why Zelensky agreed to the meeting. He is intelligent. He had to believe he would benefit in some way. I'm just not smart enough to figure it out.
DeleteHe desperately needs the aid and support of the U.S., so there wasn't a lot of choice in the matter.
DeleteTrumpolini with tertiary syphilis dementia? A possibility, but not a probability. Chicago's Very Own...Alphonse Capone...had it by the time he was in his mid-thirties. Started showing symptoms while in Alcatraz. Became increasingly unstable and erratic, and could not hold a prison job.
DeleteEventually he was made a janitor, and his derisive nickname was "The Wop With The Mop." Quite a comedown. From king of the underworld, who could have you killed, to being a mush-minded inmate you could snicker and sneer at..
Capone was given an early release, after serving eight years of an 11-year stretch, and his last years were rough ones. Supposedly, "the Boys" stocked his Florida swimming pool, so he could fish in it, but I've also heard that the fish story is just another urban myth. He finally died, at 48.
Who is running our country anyway? Musk has been given power that no non-elected official should have. Why is our Supreme Court not doing something about all of this abuse of power? Why is Congress not doing something.? Are the Republications so afraid of him or under his spell? Are they afraid to lose their seats in the mid-term elections? More Republicans need to wake up, grow some b---s and vote with Democrats on bills that will reverse the damage he is doing to our country. They need to vote for his impeachment to remove him from office so that this madness could be stopped.
DeleteAs a Jew with family that escaped Stalin's iron hand over Russia and survived the Holocaust, I'm terrified. I have family in England & would emigrate heartbeat. I have too many family members that I will not abandon. I'm 80 and Immunocompromised. The fact that flu shots might be cancelled next season because of Kennedy's views on vaccines scares me. Is he going to stop cancer medication that keeps me alive? I also have a disabled grandson who could never support him self. What do we do if he loses his SSA benefits and Medicaid?
The people in the states that voted for him are losing jobs and benefits. They are complaining to their senators & Representatives who are not doing anything. We can only pray that the mid-terms change their control over both houses. What if that happens & he doesn't follow the laws they enact? He and the lackeys he has surrounded himself with threaten the existence of our democracy.
as anonymous said in the 1st entry, it was staged ahead of time, nothing more than sick kabuki theatrics. of course, i have yet to see eveen one press outlet report or pretend to even notice this, they're all too busy surrendering like the gutless fucks i've longed believed them to be (present company of course...).
Delete"only 12 republicans"? sorry, mr. s, but there aren't 12 good republicans in the entire country-they're all scum, it's a requirement.
welcome to russia, the intermediate stop on the way to 1930s germany.. the only solution, such as it is, is to exercise your 2nd amendment rights, at least you can make them pay a price when they come for you
christ, it's enough to make me want to burn my discharge papers and viet nam service medal.
Tertiary syphilis is entirely plausible Remember when he walked down a ramp on the arm of a general? He had a noticeable foot slap - common with peripheral neuropathy Notice how when he’s walking that he needs to look down as if he doesn’t know his spatial orientation? Also peripheral neuropathy What are the 3 most common causes of the type of neuropathy he demonstrates combined with dementia ? Diabetes, lead poisoning, tertiary syphilis or a combo.
DeleteThe ides of March. Figuratively speaking, natch.
ReplyDeleteBut what about Vance? He might prove to be even worse.
And Musk? He needs to be terminated. Whatever that means.
Otherwise...all bets are off...and the abyss awaits us. And fairly soon.
USA ain't world police
ReplyDelete600.000 homeless and counting streetwise.
Zelynskinis a scam obvious.
Said the guy who wants to seize Greenland, and who cares zero fucks for the homeless. What's obvious is the stench of, "I'm a dupe in thrall to a fraud."
DeleteUSA is (was?) the modern Roman empire. Providing military and humanitarian aid around the world promoted unprecedented economic cooperation, peace and prosperity. Each US military base on foreign soil is surrounded by hundreds of MacDonald's and Pizza Huts.
DeleteWe could easily walk and chew gum. Have a strong military with international presence and help the needy in our own country. Musk is worth upwards of $300 Billion. Tesla paid $0.00 in federal taxes in 2023, I'm sure in many other years also. TAX THE FUCKING RICH!
I have no idea what scam you're talking about, but it gives me an idea for selling Ukraine-themed bikinis to help them fight off Trump's role model. Call them Zelenskinis.
You are correct. The lack of a truly progressive income tax has been the key to our downfall.
DeleteMaybe we're just regressing to the mean.
ReplyDeleteOne thing we can each do is relentlessly call our elected officials and let them know what we expect of them. I don’t know if it’s true, but I’ve heard that phone calls carry more weight than, for example, emails. And to help, there’s a progressive-leaning free app called 5Calls that provides you with the phone numbers for your representatives in the House and Senate (you only need to plug in your zip code) and various scripts you can choose to follow when calling. These optional scripts cover a number of the major political issues we’re facing today, and get right to the point. Of course, anyone is free to call their reps and say whatever’s on their mind, but these scripts will help people who might otherwise have difficulty clearly and quickly expressing their thoughts. In some cases, an actual human being will answer the phone, though in most cases I’ve gotten voice mail. Still better than nothing, right?
ReplyDeleteThe “problem” is that my representatives in Congress don’t need persuading, but they’re powerless. And calling the Pres doesn’t seem like it would be very productive.
DeleteThank you for offering a specific, practical thing to do. While I share the frustration at the lack of consequences for Trump, I'm really tired of all the complaining without any recommended SPECIFIC, PRACTICAL, TIME-LIMITED actions.
DeleteI understand the need for venting and its value as catharsis and community-building. But that time has passed and too many writers are still churning out rants instead of useful guidance. I'm seeing a lot that blames this vague group called "the Democrats" because that's many, many millions of Americans. Or blames the "Dem leaders" which is several hundred electeds in Congress and several thousand at the state level. I'd prefer to read something that either names specific names and recommends specific changes in their behavior (or how we constituents can influence them to change their behavior) because I'm done reading rants, even brilliantly written ones.
I think it's a similar effect to watching a horror movie - you know what to expect, you just don't know exact specifics and a good one will shock and terrify even when it's expected. Of course in this case it's genuine horror, not make-belief entertainment.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of Carville, there is a new piece out by him today saying Democrats should just stand back and let the admin implode in on itself: https://www.msn.com/en-us/politics/government/james-carville-tells-dems-the-best-way-to-beat-trump-is-roll-over-and-play-dead/ar-AA1zLkca
I don't know if I fully buy into it, but Trump is losing support all around and in red states in particular. Losing government services and seeing friends lose their cushy government jobs is tickling the strands of reason even of some die hard magas. The Zelensky debacle will resonate too, not for all of them, but a few. Carvile gives it 30 days and I don't know about that, but it can't go on for 4 years.
It's not like watching a horror movie. It's like being the characters in one who are too stupid to arm and protect themselves. That's us. Let's go down in the basement. I've got a flashlight!
DeleteI've thought about the "futility" of protests, from the perspective of Trump reveling in the havoc he's wreaked and then using that as a pretense to sic the military on us. But then I see what happened in Vermont yesterday. Maybe – maybe? – Vance's kids seeing about 1,000 people lining the streets, calling out their father, *might move the needle? Might stir something in him? He's awful, but his kids don't usually have a front-row seat like that.
ReplyDeleteRepublican MoCs are literally fleeing their town halls if they host them at all. Tesla's stock is dropping. MAGA folks, here and there, are being bitten in the ass and starting to wake up.
I think we Average Joes should do whatever we can muster. And I think elected Democrats need to grind things to a halt (to the degree possible) for the next two years. We'll have midterm elections (I'm still sure about that), and then we can oppose in earnest and try to stem the worst of this.
I'm telling myself that this is the bottom America needed to hit before a good chunk of the country could wake the hell up and start to give a damn. Sometimes it takes a near-miss to start behaving better. We're not over the cliff yet.
Today's EGD is a perfect follow to a story in The Hill yesterday. The "surprise" has been in our faces for 10 years now, since an escalator ride accompanied by a never-ending flood of lies. But apparently Republican Senators are among the still-and-newly surprised.
ReplyDeletehttps://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5166003-tech-billionaire-elon-musk-government-jobs/amp/
“Every day’s another surprise,” Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said of the daily bombshells from Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
“It would be better to allow Cabinet secretaries to carefully review their departments and then make surgical, strategic decisions on what programs and people should be cut and then come back to Congress for approval,” she said.
The Senators are so adorably clueless; they are complaining to White House chief of staff Susie Wiles. "Wiles acknowledged the GOP senators’ concerns and urged them to contact her directly if they have any problems as a result of Musk’s blitz through the federal workforce." Oh, yes, let's see how that pans out.
The US has become a caricature of itself. Were we ever perfect? Of course not. But it seemed we used to be interested in moving forward, not backward. And with even moderately capable and qualified leadership, it used to seem as if we had the wherewithal to address at least some of what was happening right in front of our eyes. We clearly can't expect that with our current leaders. It is up to us ... I'm still trying to figure out what that will look like.
Collins is a useless fool. She has constantly said she's against something he doing or appointing, then changes her vote at the last second to approve it!
DeleteAs bad as trump behaved with zelenski. Vance was 10 x worse.
DeleteHe's a real piece of shit
Vance is the courageous little toady who's a tough talker at the side of the bloated orange playground bully, while he's bloodying yet another hapless victim. Think of "A Christmas Story." Ralphie is tormented by the neighborhood bullies, Scut Farkus and Grover Dill.
DeleteRalphie eventually snaps, and beats the crap out of Farkus, while his sneering sidekick runs off after being knocked down with one punch. Trump's mini-me, Jethro V. Dance, is Grover Dill. Easy to talk trash when your boss is around.
It would take five US Reps or four US Senators to start to turn the ship around. I don’t see it coming. I don’t even let myself hope, sorry to say.
ReplyDeleteThe night before the fiasco, I was watching the news and they mentioned that Zelensky was coming to meet with Trump. I actually said out loud to the TV, "Don't come here! There's nothing for you, here! You'll go home empty handed, or worse."
ReplyDeleteSometimes I'm right. Not always, but sometimes. If you watch "The Trump Show" long enough, you get a feeling for what's going to happen. It's like a watching horror movie and you're screaming, "Don't open that door!"
I'm aghast at how ludicrous and absurd Trump's lies are, rather than the lies themselves. Most liars try not to get caught in a lie. Not so with Mr Trump. He lies outrageously, his supporters praise him for it, and his lies become more outrageous. The staged performance of his 'art of the deal' tough "negotiating" with Zelenskyy on the world stage was all lies built upon lies. It was planned in advance, from including Vance to join him in bullying their guest, to allowing a Russian journalist to attend, to having MTG's boyfriend chide Zelenskyy for not wearing a suit, etc. . Maybe even the carts bearing the canceled luncheon, which were lined up in the hallway, were meant to serve as props. Who knows. But its all absurd. Elon dances in front of the cameras in the oval office wearing a Tshirt, and the next week, the president of Ukraine is demeaned for not dressing with more respect, and Trump accuses him of being a dictator and starting WWIII. Teflon Don projects any criticism directed toward him onto his perceived enemies. the degree of projection onto Zelenskyy on Friday was absurd. As was the GOP's reaction: Blaming Zelenskyy for showing disrespect in our country's beloved oval office. The gaslighting is astounding. And real, irreversible damage is being done while the show goes on.
ReplyDeleteAnother wartime leader often chose not to wear a suit.
DeleteHis name was Winston Churchill.
Hope is what you do while things get worse.
ReplyDeleteTrump is destroying our government to give bigger tax cuts to the rich and remove any guardrails for big business (clean air, water) and the MAGA hat people think it's great. How dumb do you have to be to fall for this?
ReplyDeleteThere is a post going around FaceBook this morning defending the meeting with Zelensky, and describing how clever Trump was, actually defending Ukraine. You can't make this shit up.
ReplyDeleteWhat’s next? Or rather, what’s left? The only thing I see is a protest provocative enough to evoke a police or military response. "Four dead in O-hi-o." That's the last thing I see that might wake up enough Republican officeholders to start a response. If not, it's either on to revolution or a total fascist state, whichever proves stronger.
ReplyDeleteAnd who would participate in this protest? Old people. The only ones who remember the Vietnam days and have developed the "marching in the street" gene. God knows the younger generations have shown themselves to be too comfortable and complacent. The Tesla protest in Libertyville last Saturday, well attended as it was, consisted primarily of septuagenarians, it seems to me. What’s the subject of the protest? Well, last Friday provides the best pretext out of many thousands of issues that haven't led anywhere.
If four 80-year-olds got killed in a protest, that might provide the shock that would galvanize…SOMETHING.
What do you think, old-timers? We've lived our lives. Maybe this is the best thing we can do for our children and grandchildren.
While I still have my "Boycott Grapes" pin from 1970, I have doubts about the efficacy of demonstrations and marches in this current environment. Initially, we need organized, sustained economic boycotts -- that means "Tesla" and perhaps more critically all things "Amazon" -- that means not shopping at Whole Foods, no home delivery of myriad items, and no streaming of Prime videos. Of course this also includes cancelling Washington Post subscriptions. All baby steps I know but sometimes these things can have an impact.
DeleteMakes a lot of sense. Youngsters may start it...or, more likely, undercover fascist provocateurs. Maybe even some geriatric geezer with a gun. Someone squeezes off a couple of rounds and geezers are mowed down. Another Lexington and Concord, another Kent State, perhaps even another Fort Sumter. And the Untied Snakes will slither out.
DeleteFully expected your scenario in the spring of 2020. Had Twitler used the military then, America's cities and towns would have burned. Trump 2.0 will be much worse. Millions are only now beginning to realize what is at stake. Especially older people, and those who paid attention in history class.
At almost 23, I was willing to die in the street, before I had really begun to live. At almost 78, I'm willing once again. Have very little to lose. Had a good run, and had my fun, and had my days in the sun. No kids or grandkids to mourn me, no wealth to be divided up. Just strap on the belt, Palestinian style, and point me in the right direction. Extremely right. Go out with a bang. Be a boomer.
Have no illusions about survival. My hope is much the same as Churchill's was in England's darkest hour...1940...when he famously said, "You can always take one with you." Or more. Not for my own sake, or for the sake of my descendants...of which there are none. But for the sake of somebody else's children...and grandchildren.
So what do I think, dude? Bring it. Right here, right now. As Reagan said: "If it takes a bloodbath, let's get it over with." Four weeks later? Four dead in O-hi-o. History is about to repeat. Tick...tick...tick...
Trump is old, unwell and will die in the foreseeable future. Vance is young and healthy. In the Oval Office, helping destroy everything America stands for in one afternoon, Vance was like the cowardly gang member who stands in the shadows while a mugging takes place, then, once the victim is unconscious on the ground and no longer a threat, kicks him in the head and struts around like he's been courageous - and hoping the leader will find favor with his cruelty. Vance, a cowardly, opportunistic weasel, is our future.
ReplyDeleteWhen Vance flares out, there will just be a little puff of smoke. Nobody will notice he's gone until after the next Quisling is installed.
DeleteThere is no such thing as a good republican.
DeleteTheir silence is unacceptable and unforgivable.
Even if you agree with the cuts DOGE is making, they should be made legally and explained. All you need is four republicans to say "this is fine, but do it the right way, I'm not voting for anything until you do it properly" and we would have a functioning government.
I'm tired of people sane washing trump and pretending like Republicans are a viable political party. It's such a joke.
And most of the media is complicit. All they care about are clicks and money, not about the truth or honesty.
Mrs. St. Claire and I watched the entire exchange. Our younger son (age 37) happened to be visiting and he sat there as well. Our collective response was one of total embarrassment. I said it aloud and they agreed. (We RARELY agree.) We are embarrassed before the world. I am embarrassed right now to be an American. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I can just hear indignant voices telling me to leave if I don't like it. We've never had an "it" like this one in the history of this country. I'm ashamed. I am embarrassed. I would not dream of visiting Europe right now. How they all must feel. If I were them I would not trust anything we say. The only value a man holds in this life is his good name. We lost that. I don't think we'll get it back. Our new name is mud.
ReplyDeleteI decided if you can't beat them join them.
ReplyDeleteI'm getting used to having a lord and master.
Our friend Anonymous sure had a lot to say today.
ReplyDeleteThey all did. Wish they had numbers, like athletes do, so we can tell them apart.
DeleteRoxanne Gray in the NY Times noted that "Trump’s voters are granted a level of care and coddling that defies credulity and that is afforded to no other voting bloc." The Magats are here for the hate. They've been marinating in anger and resentment for a long time and now their dreams are coming true. They want to burn it down and live among the ashes, happy in the knowledge that the people they hate are also suffering. It doesn't help that our institutions--public and private--are failing us. Turns out that our precious norms and laws are just words on paper.
ReplyDeleteI wish you were right Ann but my thoughts are that America is a country that takes advantage of other countries I just watched a video about how cash and carry turned into lend lease between us and Britain We took billions of dollars from them some of it in gold so they could protect themselves against Germany.
ReplyDeleteWe'll end up with the rare earth minerals under the soil in Ukraine and we won't even continue to help them protect themselves against Russia That's what this was all about Even though Trump kept calling them raw earth for some unknown reason That's how stupid he is in some ways but in other ways being a vicious prick He's top of the food chain well maybe Vance is even worse than him but they're there to rape Ukraine after they were attacked by the Russians That's what assholes American government and corporations are
Good morning Neil,
ReplyDeleteAnother fine column. While I'm thinking of this I want to thank you for all your excellent writing. You are one of the main reasons I keep up with the Sun Times.
Jeez, my wife and I have been kicking this ball around now for, what, ten years. It's a drag, but we love our country, warts and all, and believe in it's potential.
One thing the left does not have at the moment is a leader to take on this fight. I hate to say it this way, but we're like the logical high school student council kids getting steamrolled in dodge ball. If you can name me a leader or two in the wings, please do.
My wife and I both had dads that fought in WWII. Her dad was among the first groups of American troops to visit Dachau. I'm as cynical as the next guy, but I can't believe the images we are seeing in this country now. For awhile I thought I was paranoid, thinking if we were witnessing some version of 30's Germany. My reading list over the past few years included Orwell and Arendt - to try and get a sense of these times.
Anyway, we need to fight back in ways that go beyond glowing screens. In happier moments I think of Ed Abbey, Mark Twain, John Steinbeck, and Kurt Vonnegut. We have the tools to rebuild a better life. We just need the will to use them.
I was not shocked by the display in the oval office. I was disgusted and I was ashamed.
ReplyDeleteTrump and Vance staged this as a “reality show” for his base to relish in and pound their chests that they have a strong guy in the White House. What it showed to me yet again he is a playground bully who loves a crowd to watch him bully. He showed to me he is pathetically weak. Zelenskyy is a strong leader for his country and his love for his country is so apparent. If only, if only we had such a leader.
The situation does look grim. However, "throwing in the towel" is not an option. Neither is waiting for "some leader" to save us. Instead, we each need to consider what we personally can do while supporting those who share our views. Perhaps some of us should consider stepping up in our communities to become the leaders we're looking for.
ReplyDeleteYou have to give Pritzker credit for throwing public barbs about being Nazi’s. Haven’t heard that description from any other Dems. It made me feel relief that someone in a government elective office is calling out Trump and his MAGA crew. I would encourage politicians to get vocal like Pritzker so they can show leadership in not being silent. That includes Republican. Come on - there has to be a couple of them who are disgusted with what is happening. Or are they scared they will lose their seat and that’s more important to them than the country sliding into the abyss?
ReplyDeleteSince becoming a member of my local government, I've been struck by a nasty contradiction. All of the other elected and appointed officials I work with act (in my opinion) in good faith for the betterment of our small (ish) village in Wisconsin. We don't always agree on the path forward, but we debate with the knowledge that our fellow members are sincere. And yet between 25 and 40% of the people who comment on line or at town hall meetings, seem to operate from a position of ridicule and scorn directed at the decision makers. There is no assumption of good faith, or even an inquisitive approach to the things they don't like at first glance. It occurs to me that if this is the default response to all government action, then what sincere person would ever want the job? We've seen many resignations in elected office by people who were unwilling to continue in such a toxic envirenment. Well, I think we are discovering who will step up to serve in this envirenment - the grifters and liars who stand to personally benefit themselves by pulling the levers of government. Have we well and truly gotten the government we deserve as promised by Thomas Jefferson?
ReplyDeleteI'll try to be succinct but clear, Neil, and thank you for your insights. I am truly curious why people are surprised at the current state of affairs and why they are so focused on Trump vs. the conditions that allowed for him to be elected president TWICE! I'll list those conditions not in any particular order of priority but rather a conglomerate of circumstances that make voting in our democracy of little impact relative to all the other decisions that occurred prior to that voting. The conditions: 1)The Apprentice show that attracted millions of viewers to watch an incompetent boss using "You're fired!" as the main premise of the show; 2)Rush Limbaugh who spewed vitriolic hatred day in and day out, also attracted millions of viewers; 3)a gerrymandered voting system to essentially eliminate a wide range of choice among the candidates who are ultimately presented for the general election; 4)outrageously expensive campaign expenses that rule out millions of qualified candidates who simply don't have the stamina for such incessant money raising activities; 5)a totally compromised media that has lost the trust of everyone -- I might add the Chicago Tribune failed to endorse Hillary Clinton in 2016 when their choices were Hillary or Trump -- what does that say about misogyny in our society; 6)a sense of exceptionalism at the foundation of our country that prevents an open learning from our mistakes and growing in wisdom -- after all, we founded this country on genocide of the Indians and enslavement of black people; 7)a need for an updated constitution (remember the writers didn't include women or black people with the right to vote) that is of course impossible with the diverse and polarized viewpoints in our country; 8)the millions of people who voted for Trump who obviously don't believe in a democracy but prefer having a strong father figure telling them what to do much like our fathers in the "olden" days who valued obedience over emotional health; 9)a school system that fosters sitting in your seats listening to the teacher and then regurgitating what he/she said on the test to get a good grade vs. teaching critical thinking skills and a value system that respects the inherent worth and value of every human being; and 10)a campaign contribution system that allows for unlimited donations; i.e., Elon Musk's contribution to Trump's campaign, and maybe the final and most impactful condition that undermines democratic principles is how people are treated at work in many organizations -- the people often with the best ideas for change are eliminated because they are not "supporting" the leadership rather than encouraging and fostering input from employees and considering them partners rather than "assets!" I could go on but the fact that we elected a convicted, twice-impeached person to the White House ought to give us pause to look at ourselves rather than rage about Trump. And finally, I totally disagree with the person who lambasted James Carville, who I happen to think is one of the truth tellers in our society and speaks his mind clearly and consistently with the same messages.
ReplyDeleteDemocrats care too much about maintaining a functioning society and government. The right has abused that for at least 40 years.
DeleteDiane, I agree with most of what you say. However from the millions of interactions I have had with my fellow Americans over the course of my lifetime, I believe the main causes of our downfall have been racism, misogyny and avarice.
Delete"Maybe the blame belongs to us, to Democrats, to liberals, for our continual gullibility. Our passivity. Maybe that's why we can't change. Because we don't see it's our fault."
ReplyDeleteI disagreed a while back when Franco commented that this is "our fault" as Democrats, and I'm afraid I'll be disagreeing with you, as well. Plenty of Democrats have been neither gullible nor passive when it comes to the orange felon. Plenty take this shit very seriously.
We voted against him every chance we got. That's our primary role in this operation. We voted for Democratic Senators and Congresscritters and a Democratic governor and legislature in Illinois. Pritzker and Mike Quigley, among others, have been and are speaking out forcefully and doing what they can. You, yourself, Neil have written clearly, boldly and often attempting to counter the felon's lies and fake news with actual facts.
I just do not consider it to be "our fault" that an unimaginable 77 million people who are presumably sentient adults voted for this guy after all that's transpired since 2015. If they remain that uninformed / misinformed, deluded, complicit or misguided after three presidential campaigns and all the news that's been written, what can "we" do about that?
Mitch McConnell could have rounded up a few Republican senators and convicted the traitor in the second impeachment. Robert Mueller could have indicted him when he had the chance and the evidence. Merrick Garland could have appointed Jack Smith on March 12, 2021 instead of November 18, 2022. As you note, members of the "law and order," "anti-communist" party could have bucked the prevailing winds and stood up to the Putin-admiring mob boss and not rubber-stamped his craven agenda. Things like that might have made a difference. I refuse to concede that the fact that they, and a number of other things, weren't done are my fault.
As far as what "we" can do now is concerned, "I got nothing," alas.
I also bristle a bit at "It's the Democrats' fault". If grandma gives away her bank account to a phone scammer after I've repeatedly told her not to answer the phone, is it my fault all her savings are gone now? Maybe a little, for not taking full charge of her affairs, but maybe that wasn't really possible. And even if it was somehow, the vast amount of blame should be directed at the scammers and some of it at grandma.
DeleteDemocrats' weakness is we try to play by the rules, with integrity and decency. We sit at the chess board and contemplate long term implications of each move. Republicans are the pigeon that poops on the board and swipes off all the pieces. Yes we've lost, but it's better than "winning" the way they did.
I would suggest Merrick Garland was our best opportunity. That weakling is the shame of Niles West and my hometown of Skokie. Such a "shanda".
DeleteThank you jakish. There were Democrats that didn't vote because of the situation in Israel / Gaza there were Democrats that thought it would be a good idea to deport the illegals that voted for Trump it's not our fault at 77 million people voted for Trump it's our fault that 80 million didn't vote for Kamala there were people that didn't vote for her because well she's a woman and a person of color it's not our fault but it will be our fault if we don't flip Congress That's my suggestion work is hard as you can to make sure that we flip Congress and have some power again because right now we have none
DeleteI see it's the Republicans fault for using democratic elections against us?
DeleteFranco, I would contend that among the 5 million more voters it would have taken to get Kamala to 80 million are many who are, as I referred to, "uninformed / misinformed, deluded, complicit or misguided." It's not our fault that there are Republicans, Democrats and Independents in that group.
DeletePeople who were upset about Gaza but thought not voting for Kamala would be a good way to make that situation better, for instance. That clearly didn't make sense. People who think deporting undocumented immigrants is a more important priority than having a functioning government that is more concerned with making people's lives better than with cutting taxes for rich people. People who wouldn't vote for a very capable and accomplished woman of color so that an incompetent, white philanderer would be returned to power.
It's not our fault that many get their "news" from wildly biased sources funded by right-wing money that have been specifically designed to get folks to vote against their own genuine interests. That's been working for decades to cumulatively undermine this democracy and the situation we find ourselves in now is the result.
It is the Republicans' fault for using democracy against us, just as it's the scammers' fault for using the phone against our grandma.
DeleteJust to be clear jakash I'm not saying it's your fault I said it's our fault Yes I understand that includes you and me
DeleteMark. No. Clearly It's better if we would have won
ReplyDelete"Is it better to live as a monster or die as a good man?" (Shutter Island) It's not an easy question.
DeleteLate to the party, but here goes:
ReplyDeleteRight now my love for my country is like the love you have for a relative who keeps screwing up, getting in trouble, hurting others, wasting your money and demanding more, etc. The love is still there, but it's overlaid with annoyance, exasperation -- even dislike.
Every new Trump depredation, I have to keep telling myself: "PEOPLE. VOTED. FOR . THIS." They handed Trump and the Republicans an overwhelming victory at the polls, and that's all politicians know, fear or care about.
There's really nothing to be done unless and until enough people in this country recover their senses. Will I live long enough to see that? Will anyone?
There is only one way to illicit change, and that is to hurt the oligarchy financially.
ReplyDeleteA large multi day walkout; a national strike.
That's it. There is no other way. The right's propaganda combined with the American oligarchy are too insulated from everything. The only way to have our voices heard and change made is by preventing them from accruing wealth.
If Trump genuinely sought peace, he would have taken a stronger stance against Putin, calling for his resignation. This would have been a bold move, signaling a commitment to peace and stability.
ReplyDeletePeople voted more against the Democrats than for Trump. Voters were motivated by opposition rather than support.
Too much content is focused on highlighting issues instead of finding solutions.
Sensationalism and histrionics often grab more attention and generate more clicks than thoughtful debate.
Town halls are quickly becoming a thing of the past. Some Republican representatives are opting out of traditional town halls due to the backlash they've faced from constituents. Reports indicate that GOP leaders have advised lawmakers to avoid in-person town halls to prevent viral confrontations and negative headlines. Instead, they are encouraged to hold tele-town halls or vet attendees to avoid disruptive scenes because their one-way broadcast model crumbles when faced with opposition. These representatives are not prepared to address counterpoints and are incapable of presenting well-reasoned arguments.
The decline in critical thinking skills is also a concern. Critical thinking is essential for forming non-biased judgments and navigating complex issues. The education system and the internet have both contributed to this decline.
The main query is: What are our options? Indeed, we can get in touch with our representatives, but it is unlikely to have any impact now, and they are avoiding us.
You can be right, but if no one listens, it doesn't matter. We have the right map but are never setting out on the journey.
The government is meant to serve the people and work for our best interests. The government needs to remain accountable and responsive to the needs and concerns of the public.
If traditional means of making your voices heard aren't working, let your spending choices do the talking. Money is what truly gets their attention.