Still can't understand why sane people still use Facebook and other social media. In its infancy, FB seemed so innocent. It's matured to become one of the most insidious instruments contributing to the wholesale destruction of civil society, not to mention it's equally destructive spawn. I know it's here to stay, but that doesn't make me wrong.
Thank you for the explaination and and details. I so hope you are correct. As a person of the LGBTQ community I have reason to be alarmed even more than many folks. My civil rights could be in real danger. I have heard many times about what we are thought about by the Far right and what they would like to do with people like me and my partner of 29 years. Now the extremist are in charge and I worry. I have been warning people for years about Trump, MAGA aned Project 2025. It was like no one listened and said don't worry it will be OK and don't overact. I guess the liberals, the Jews and the rest of Erope in the late 1930s were told the same thing.
Robert, you say, "It seems as though Trump wants to undermine the ability of the IRS to collect taxes and enforce compliance with US tax laws" and that he hasn't thought this through. I don't disagree but I think that you mischaracterize what is going on and has been going on for decades: the Republican project to neuter the IRS. The essence is that "ordinary Americans" will continue to pay their lawfully owed taxes, mostly because of heir relatively simple filings and the withholdings remitted by their employers. Gutting the iRS and the DOJ Tax Division will make it all the easier for wealthy filers to underpay, or not pay at all. Trump and the billionaire class know EXACTLY what they're doing here.
Thank you. Your thoughts about the loyalty to the Constitution and the American people of our military are welcome. We are going to need collaborative answers as the administration pushes for more and more authoritarian power. We also should be working to train each other in nonviolent communication and ways to act which will help defend the well-being of everyone.
Thanks for the info. I was in on a Zoom call tonight put on by Boots on the ground Midwest with a man from ACLU Kansas. Many participants commented on what to do when martial law is declared. I knew nothing about the April 20 plan. The Zoom was about our rights when we exercise our 1st Amendment right to protest. So I didn't know why the threat of martial took over so many of the questions. Again, thanks for the clarification
My problem with the "Military won't obey illegal orders" theory is that, prior to January, I would have thought the same of US Marshalls. But the Marshalls have been at the forefront of illegal firings, and closing of offices, with apparently no push-back. Soldiers obey orders. The President is the Commander in Chief. Thoughts?
To Riversong Pond-I am there and have been at every rally to date and will continue. I write and call many Congress members & Senators daily. I have signs & banners, making my position known, hanging on the front of my house. Not sure it helps, but I won’t give up because I want it clear I stood on the correct side of history.
This newsletter has stopped being delivered to my e-mail addresss. I asked Mr. Hubbell to see if he could reinstate it, but if someone else can tell me about some shortcut that I can follow directly, I am all ears. Thank you all. jckeilman@aol.com
I'm confused. The National Guard killed the Kent State student protesters in 1970. You seem to trust they won't do it now. What's different? With respect and thank you!
Madeleine Albright wrote a book about Fascism in which she described Hitler browbeating the German Parliament on March 23, 1933, to vote to give him a law authorizing him to ignore the German constitution, bypass the Reichstag, and govern by decree. This law (The Enabling Act) was passed by the German parliament on that day. We have already seen that Trump is willing to ignore the Constitution that bars presidents from a third term. We have already seen in his first term that Trump instructed his officials to ignore congressional subpoenas to testify before congressional committees. We have already seen that Trump governs via decrees (which he calls executive actions). Trump doesn't need to ask Congress for such an Enabling Law to enable him (like Hitler needed to do) because the Republican Party is the majority and will do whatever he wants.
I trust you’re correct but I fear some early “Miley” moments might appear initially! And because it didn’t ultimately turn out well for him, now watching fully qualified generals being released, I worry!
Heh. My reaction to the Insurrection Act stories was "what will Jeff Sessions think of the fact that this is all set to happen on 4/20??"
Interesting to see that ABA Model Rule. I've been wondering how many plaintiffs seeking to further trump's policies are impoverished enough to qualify for pro bono help.
I found the decision today in the AP suit heartening (saying that the White House couldn't ban the AP BECAUSE of disagreements about content--here, the use of the term Gulf of Mexico.). Trump is always giving spurious reasons for acts that he might otherwise be, at a stretch, entitled to do. One example is blocking grants to places, particularly universities, over DEI. It would seem that this will provide an additional hook for universities willing to fight back by saying "OK, show us what in our DEI guidelines is actually illegal." Same goes for the blocking of funds to Maine because they MIGHT violate Title VI (or VII??) anti discrimination laws by letting trans girls play sports. Don't they have to actually show a case where discrimination was claimed by someone before Maine violates the title--if it does at all. And don't they have to show that "antisemitism" on campus during protests actually occurred and was not punished by the school? Can they simply ASSUME that no steps were taken and that the protests themselves were by their nature antisemitic? Not to mention not protected, in public school protests, by the First Amendment. And did anyone in the med school working on grant XX participate in the protests? What did the protests have to do with grant XX?
(Congress obviously isn't going to do anything about the Impoundment Act, but the courts still have it in their toolkit).
All of these things involve the broad sweep of generalities, just as DOGE is treating reducing fraud, waste, abuse with a scythe? I am hopeful all of this will come BITE the administration in the tender parts.
Just as we should avoid on OUR side broad generalities such as the 4/20 actions. Another is the broad assumption that the recent Extreme Court case, bad as it is, allows the government to keep using the Alien Enemies Act in the way it intended to. ALL that decision did was rule on venue. Given the forum shopping capabilities that opens, it is a horrible decision, but it is NOT a green light to keep sending planes to El Salvador or even "approval" of the applicability of the AEA.
Trump just paused most of the Tariffs and the market went up around 2500 points. Of course I have no proof although it wouldn't shock me if this was all a big game to him, part of his scare tactics and he had no intention of instituting permanent massive Tariffs.
Again I have no proof although it also wouldn't shock me if he told some people about this game and they million of dollars in the last week.
So I think if he or someone close to him mentioned martial law it was just another scare tactic, trying to make himself feel powerful.
Running the country appears to be a game to him, something to do when he is not playing golf.
Unfortunately the Republicans and possibly some members of the Supreme Court are taking him too seriously. He is a child in the body of a 78 year old man.
There are times when I feel ineffective when making my 3 calls or emails a day. I'm from Maine where we have Sen Angus King, Rep Chellie Pingree and Sen Susan Collins. I often get that teaching to the choir feeling when I call their offices, as I trust that they will do and do the right things. Sen Collins seems the only one where I feel my call is important. If I call other republican representatives and senators will my opinion be logged, as I am not one of their constituents. I do other things like emailing friends to join the fight, but I just would like to feel that my calls are doing more. Just a question wondering if others have felt the same.
I have 2 of the BEST Senators in the country -- Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley. I still call them because, just like us, they need to know that someone has their back! And that we appreciate them standing up. They need morale boosting too and they have earned it. If you feel the same about your Senators and Rep, remember that everyone needs support and it only takes a minute to give it to them.
Thank you for your thoughtful post. I certainly agree with the need to avoid fear mongering.
However, when you state, "we have more reason to trust the professionalism, patriotism, and loyalty to the Constitution of the US military than that of Donald Trump", my only recourse is to the percentage of military members who voted for Trump. According to Pew Center, in September 2024 (yes, I know, things may have shifted since), 61 percent supported/voted for Trump, https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/09/30/military-veterans-remain-a-republican-group-backing-trump-over-harris-by-wide-margin/ I would welcome data showing otherwise. Thank you again for all you do,
Still can't understand why sane people still use Facebook and other social media. In its infancy, FB seemed so innocent. It's matured to become one of the most insidious instruments contributing to the wholesale destruction of civil society, not to mention it's equally destructive spawn. I know it's here to stay, but that doesn't make me wrong.
Thank you for the explaination and and details. I so hope you are correct. As a person of the LGBTQ community I have reason to be alarmed even more than many folks. My civil rights could be in real danger. I have heard many times about what we are thought about by the Far right and what they would like to do with people like me and my partner of 29 years. Now the extremist are in charge and I worry. I have been warning people for years about Trump, MAGA aned Project 2025. It was like no one listened and said don't worry it will be OK and don't overact. I guess the liberals, the Jews and the rest of Erope in the late 1930s were told the same thing.
Robert, you say, "It seems as though Trump wants to undermine the ability of the IRS to collect taxes and enforce compliance with US tax laws" and that he hasn't thought this through. I don't disagree but I think that you mischaracterize what is going on and has been going on for decades: the Republican project to neuter the IRS. The essence is that "ordinary Americans" will continue to pay their lawfully owed taxes, mostly because of heir relatively simple filings and the withholdings remitted by their employers. Gutting the iRS and the DOJ Tax Division will make it all the easier for wealthy filers to underpay, or not pay at all. Trump and the billionaire class know EXACTLY what they're doing here.
Thank you. Your thoughts about the loyalty to the Constitution and the American people of our military are welcome. We are going to need collaborative answers as the administration pushes for more and more authoritarian power. We also should be working to train each other in nonviolent communication and ways to act which will help defend the well-being of everyone.
Thanks for the info. I was in on a Zoom call tonight put on by Boots on the ground Midwest with a man from ACLU Kansas. Many participants commented on what to do when martial law is declared. I knew nothing about the April 20 plan. The Zoom was about our rights when we exercise our 1st Amendment right to protest. So I didn't know why the threat of martial took over so many of the questions. Again, thanks for the clarification
Well done! On our way...
My problem with the "Military won't obey illegal orders" theory is that, prior to January, I would have thought the same of US Marshalls. But the Marshalls have been at the forefront of illegal firings, and closing of offices, with apparently no push-back. Soldiers obey orders. The President is the Commander in Chief. Thoughts?
To Riversong Pond-I am there and have been at every rally to date and will continue. I write and call many Congress members & Senators daily. I have signs & banners, making my position known, hanging on the front of my house. Not sure it helps, but I won’t give up because I want it clear I stood on the correct side of history.
This newsletter has stopped being delivered to my e-mail addresss. I asked Mr. Hubbell to see if he could reinstate it, but if someone else can tell me about some shortcut that I can follow directly, I am all ears. Thank you all. jckeilman@aol.com
I'm confused. The National Guard killed the Kent State student protesters in 1970. You seem to trust they won't do it now. What's different? With respect and thank you!
Madeleine Albright wrote a book about Fascism in which she described Hitler browbeating the German Parliament on March 23, 1933, to vote to give him a law authorizing him to ignore the German constitution, bypass the Reichstag, and govern by decree. This law (The Enabling Act) was passed by the German parliament on that day. We have already seen that Trump is willing to ignore the Constitution that bars presidents from a third term. We have already seen in his first term that Trump instructed his officials to ignore congressional subpoenas to testify before congressional committees. We have already seen that Trump governs via decrees (which he calls executive actions). Trump doesn't need to ask Congress for such an Enabling Law to enable him (like Hitler needed to do) because the Republican Party is the majority and will do whatever he wants.
I trust you’re correct but I fear some early “Miley” moments might appear initially! And because it didn’t ultimately turn out well for him, now watching fully qualified generals being released, I worry!
Heh. My reaction to the Insurrection Act stories was "what will Jeff Sessions think of the fact that this is all set to happen on 4/20??"
Interesting to see that ABA Model Rule. I've been wondering how many plaintiffs seeking to further trump's policies are impoverished enough to qualify for pro bono help.
I found the decision today in the AP suit heartening (saying that the White House couldn't ban the AP BECAUSE of disagreements about content--here, the use of the term Gulf of Mexico.). Trump is always giving spurious reasons for acts that he might otherwise be, at a stretch, entitled to do. One example is blocking grants to places, particularly universities, over DEI. It would seem that this will provide an additional hook for universities willing to fight back by saying "OK, show us what in our DEI guidelines is actually illegal." Same goes for the blocking of funds to Maine because they MIGHT violate Title VI (or VII??) anti discrimination laws by letting trans girls play sports. Don't they have to actually show a case where discrimination was claimed by someone before Maine violates the title--if it does at all. And don't they have to show that "antisemitism" on campus during protests actually occurred and was not punished by the school? Can they simply ASSUME that no steps were taken and that the protests themselves were by their nature antisemitic? Not to mention not protected, in public school protests, by the First Amendment. And did anyone in the med school working on grant XX participate in the protests? What did the protests have to do with grant XX?
(Congress obviously isn't going to do anything about the Impoundment Act, but the courts still have it in their toolkit).
All of these things involve the broad sweep of generalities, just as DOGE is treating reducing fraud, waste, abuse with a scythe? I am hopeful all of this will come BITE the administration in the tender parts.
Just as we should avoid on OUR side broad generalities such as the 4/20 actions. Another is the broad assumption that the recent Extreme Court case, bad as it is, allows the government to keep using the Alien Enemies Act in the way it intended to. ALL that decision did was rule on venue. Given the forum shopping capabilities that opens, it is a horrible decision, but it is NOT a green light to keep sending planes to El Salvador or even "approval" of the applicability of the AEA.
Trump just paused most of the Tariffs and the market went up around 2500 points. Of course I have no proof although it wouldn't shock me if this was all a big game to him, part of his scare tactics and he had no intention of instituting permanent massive Tariffs.
Again I have no proof although it also wouldn't shock me if he told some people about this game and they million of dollars in the last week.
So I think if he or someone close to him mentioned martial law it was just another scare tactic, trying to make himself feel powerful.
Running the country appears to be a game to him, something to do when he is not playing golf.
Unfortunately the Republicans and possibly some members of the Supreme Court are taking him too seriously. He is a child in the body of a 78 year old man.
Lets double the size of the next protest!
There are times when I feel ineffective when making my 3 calls or emails a day. I'm from Maine where we have Sen Angus King, Rep Chellie Pingree and Sen Susan Collins. I often get that teaching to the choir feeling when I call their offices, as I trust that they will do and do the right things. Sen Collins seems the only one where I feel my call is important. If I call other republican representatives and senators will my opinion be logged, as I am not one of their constituents. I do other things like emailing friends to join the fight, but I just would like to feel that my calls are doing more. Just a question wondering if others have felt the same.
I have 2 of the BEST Senators in the country -- Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley. I still call them because, just like us, they need to know that someone has their back! And that we appreciate them standing up. They need morale boosting too and they have earned it. If you feel the same about your Senators and Rep, remember that everyone needs support and it only takes a minute to give it to them.
Thank you for your thoughtful post. I certainly agree with the need to avoid fear mongering.
However, when you state, "we have more reason to trust the professionalism, patriotism, and loyalty to the Constitution of the US military than that of Donald Trump", my only recourse is to the percentage of military members who voted for Trump. According to Pew Center, in September 2024 (yes, I know, things may have shifted since), 61 percent supported/voted for Trump, https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/09/30/military-veterans-remain-a-republican-group-backing-trump-over-harris-by-wide-margin/ I would welcome data showing otherwise. Thank you again for all you do,
Janina