I also can't understand what the dems are doing. They should be shouting in the streets and in the media about the proposals that were passed in the House and how they would help so many citizens only to be sent to the Senate where they just sit with no action and apparently without being brought up for a vote. On a couple of occasions I talked with someone who said Trump was for them and when asked how they were helped, simply said they would not discuss and walked off. WOW, talk about the power of a cult!! The Dems are diverse and rightly so while the Repubs walk in lock step which is a big reason to not vote for any. I guess I'm just not smart enough to get it. "We have met the enemy and they are us"! Too many believe that they would rather do nothing than vote for someone with whom they may not agree on everything. I am 80 and worry not for myself, since my time is ending but for my children and grandchildren.
By joining in with the others on the Supreme Court I guess Roberts has decided that it is ok that his legacy will be in tatters and it is not worth the effort to stand up and be counted. Sad to see no Chaney or Kinzenger there. I guess we'll see in November how voters really feel!
I'm so sorry to learn of your rebound covid infection, but so appreciate your positive attitude -- 3 weeks of super-duper immunity! -- and your parable on masks. I am the only one in my NYC apartment building who still wears a mask in the elevator and the lobby, and I can tell I'm regarded as some kind of nut job. I am not deterred! I hope you'll be over this rebound soon!
Put me in the group who believes Cipollone will add nothing of value to the case against the amoral trump. Matt Naham’s article citing one of the top legal ethics experts convinces me that ‘Patty boy’ is as ethicaly bankrupt as his ‘masta’ trump.
What else should we expect from the most corrupt administration in the nation’s history? Like a crime boss on speed, trump gets the IRS to squeeze Comey (who got him elected) and his successor!
You mention the only cure for exhaustion is action - what action is there to take? I have written to every Senator and Congressperson I can get to, every talk show host, the White House, NYT editorial, Washington Post editorial, written responses on journalists pages. I have marched and yet our democracy is being taken over by Christian Nationalists and facists. What does work is meditation and taking a longer view of history which as Julian of Norwich says, "this too shall pass and all shall be well." It sure is hard to believe that but I now believe that the time I meditation is the best action I can take for it informs my next action when needed but seriously -- what action do you think we should take? Does our voice really matter? Hundreds of thousands of us marched right after Donald Trump was inaugurated -- where did that get us? We march for Right for LIfe, Right to Live -- you name it and all that gets is one cycle of the news. Sometimes broken or as Fr. Richard Rohr says, "disorder" is necessary to allow a new order to take hold. I do get impatient as I assume we all do but again I would really like to know -- what action do you recommend?
Interesting that some feel inaction is the answer. I am so involved pro-actively - it is the most exciting time since the late 60's and 70's. We can fight and we can change things. I am more active now than ever in the fight for democracy and the fight to elect good Dems who will represent the people and not their political gains. I am fighting for my kids and grandkids. I am fighting the good fight. there are days I am on zooms 6-7 times a day - I am involved with phone banks, postcards, fund raisers, etc. My husband laughs that he has to make an appointment to see me! When people ask why I have become so active - I say if not me than who?
Depression m needs clarification. Colloquial usage of depression-a downer; lack of optimism, overwhelmed by events; a recent loss of someone near and dear, eg a loved one, even a pet, etc are one thing, Clinical Depression has effects which vary in degree and type from patient to patient. It’s debilitating and requires professional help. The former can be overcome with resolve. Know the difference between the two and if the former you can still Fight The Good Fight and be rewarded with victory and cure. Even the latter can be treated and you can become a warrior, too! Smiling helps both.
First, Cipollone can’t be the John Dean of January 6th, because that was Cassidy Hutchinson.
As for the “Supreme” Court, it has been brought low from within, a casualty of a cabal of third-rate hacks who have neither a conception of what law should be (in the abstract), nor intellectual honesty. They have forgotten—or likely never understood—the wisdom of an earlier Justice Jackson, when he wrote that, “We are not final because we are infallible, we are infallible because we are final.” The realization of that truth should chill any justice to the marrow.
Rant over. Have a wonderful weekend of recovery, Robert, and let Jill get some rest, too
There is a palpable connection between mental fatigue and physical infections, including-in a great many cases (but not all), COVID-19 infections. There is only the building of resilience and a sense of personal discipline , which can overcome the fog of mental fatigue, which I know from having been in such a state, from 2011-14, after my wife's passing.
On a different note: I personally believe that life begins at conception. Yet, by all that is holy, to transpose that personal belief into a national piece of legislation is an abomination. The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is in its place for a reason.
A comment about Action. If you are like me, still uncomfortable in large public crowds due to the pandemic, consider joining Swing Left or Vote Forward as a course of action. We are currently writing letters to registered democrats across the country encouraging them to vote in November. As Robert has stated in the past, the largest group of "voters" is those who do not vote. Where I live we have a group of dedicated letter writers. We used to meet in person, but now we deliver letters to hundreds folks and pick them up a month later. We don't mail the letters until just before the election. There are other opportunities to volunteer as well that do not require public appearances. I used to canvass, register people to vote and go to other public events, but I am not able to do these things right now. However, I can sit in my living room and write an impassioned letter about why I vote. Check it out. It does make a difference with voter turn out.
Robert, I am so sorry to hear of your relapse and hope that you continue to improve now. Thanks for continuing to inspire us, even when you’re not feeling well. I’d like to address the unlawful vindictiveness that your description of the IRS “audits” brings into focus. Readers here know that I follow The Lincoln Project. Recently they made us aware of the fact that Trump was unhappy with them. After the election was called for Biden, LP got word of all the potential lawsuits that Trump was planning to file. LP made ads going after the law firms of these “top tier” firms. They made it uncomfortable for these firms who risked losing clients. As a result, Trump turned to the clown show lawyer team. Trump then had a dossier made of the LP folks and then Mark Meadows sent it to Bill Barr for investigation. The LP lawyers are all over this now. But the bigger point here is the fact that Trump thought he could use all the levers of government to go after private citizens. Whether or not you like the LP, this thought is chilling.
I also can't understand what the dems are doing. They should be shouting in the streets and in the media about the proposals that were passed in the House and how they would help so many citizens only to be sent to the Senate where they just sit with no action and apparently without being brought up for a vote. On a couple of occasions I talked with someone who said Trump was for them and when asked how they were helped, simply said they would not discuss and walked off. WOW, talk about the power of a cult!! The Dems are diverse and rightly so while the Repubs walk in lock step which is a big reason to not vote for any. I guess I'm just not smart enough to get it. "We have met the enemy and they are us"! Too many believe that they would rather do nothing than vote for someone with whom they may not agree on everything. I am 80 and worry not for myself, since my time is ending but for my children and grandchildren.
By joining in with the others on the Supreme Court I guess Roberts has decided that it is ok that his legacy will be in tatters and it is not worth the effort to stand up and be counted. Sad to see no Chaney or Kinzenger there. I guess we'll see in November how voters really feel!
Yogi Berra also said, "You can learn alot by watching". McCabe was fired 2 days before his retirement date; time to appoint a Special Prosecutor.
I'm so sorry to learn of your rebound covid infection, but so appreciate your positive attitude -- 3 weeks of super-duper immunity! -- and your parable on masks. I am the only one in my NYC apartment building who still wears a mask in the elevator and the lobby, and I can tell I'm regarded as some kind of nut job. I am not deterred! I hope you'll be over this rebound soon!
Put me in the group who believes Cipollone will add nothing of value to the case against the amoral trump. Matt Naham’s article citing one of the top legal ethics experts convinces me that ‘Patty boy’ is as ethicaly bankrupt as his ‘masta’ trump.
What else should we expect from the most corrupt administration in the nation’s history? Like a crime boss on speed, trump gets the IRS to squeeze Comey (who got him elected) and his successor!
Covid hasn’t slowed down you analysis. But be careful and kind to you. No Superman wanted.
You mention the only cure for exhaustion is action - what action is there to take? I have written to every Senator and Congressperson I can get to, every talk show host, the White House, NYT editorial, Washington Post editorial, written responses on journalists pages. I have marched and yet our democracy is being taken over by Christian Nationalists and facists. What does work is meditation and taking a longer view of history which as Julian of Norwich says, "this too shall pass and all shall be well." It sure is hard to believe that but I now believe that the time I meditation is the best action I can take for it informs my next action when needed but seriously -- what action do you think we should take? Does our voice really matter? Hundreds of thousands of us marched right after Donald Trump was inaugurated -- where did that get us? We march for Right for LIfe, Right to Live -- you name it and all that gets is one cycle of the news. Sometimes broken or as Fr. Richard Rohr says, "disorder" is necessary to allow a new order to take hold. I do get impatient as I assume we all do but again I would really like to know -- what action do you recommend?
Another fascinating look at SCOTUS, democracy, and the US Constitution is in this week's NYT's Ezra Klein Show. Ezra and Larry Kramer discuss intriguing possibilities to rebalance the Court as one of 3 co-equal branches, not the superior of the other two. Check out the podcast at https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/05/opinion/ezra-klein-podcast-larry-kramer.html?searchResultPosition=1
Best wishes for a speedy and easy recovery, Robert. Stay well!
Interesting that some feel inaction is the answer. I am so involved pro-actively - it is the most exciting time since the late 60's and 70's. We can fight and we can change things. I am more active now than ever in the fight for democracy and the fight to elect good Dems who will represent the people and not their political gains. I am fighting for my kids and grandkids. I am fighting the good fight. there are days I am on zooms 6-7 times a day - I am involved with phone banks, postcards, fund raisers, etc. My husband laughs that he has to make an appointment to see me! When people ask why I have become so active - I say if not me than who?
Depression m needs clarification. Colloquial usage of depression-a downer; lack of optimism, overwhelmed by events; a recent loss of someone near and dear, eg a loved one, even a pet, etc are one thing, Clinical Depression has effects which vary in degree and type from patient to patient. It’s debilitating and requires professional help. The former can be overcome with resolve. Know the difference between the two and if the former you can still Fight The Good Fight and be rewarded with victory and cure. Even the latter can be treated and you can become a warrior, too! Smiling helps both.
First, Cipollone can’t be the John Dean of January 6th, because that was Cassidy Hutchinson.
As for the “Supreme” Court, it has been brought low from within, a casualty of a cabal of third-rate hacks who have neither a conception of what law should be (in the abstract), nor intellectual honesty. They have forgotten—or likely never understood—the wisdom of an earlier Justice Jackson, when he wrote that, “We are not final because we are infallible, we are infallible because we are final.” The realization of that truth should chill any justice to the marrow.
Rant over. Have a wonderful weekend of recovery, Robert, and let Jill get some rest, too
There is a palpable connection between mental fatigue and physical infections, including-in a great many cases (but not all), COVID-19 infections. There is only the building of resilience and a sense of personal discipline , which can overcome the fog of mental fatigue, which I know from having been in such a state, from 2011-14, after my wife's passing.
On a different note: I personally believe that life begins at conception. Yet, by all that is holy, to transpose that personal belief into a national piece of legislation is an abomination. The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is in its place for a reason.
A comment about Action. If you are like me, still uncomfortable in large public crowds due to the pandemic, consider joining Swing Left or Vote Forward as a course of action. We are currently writing letters to registered democrats across the country encouraging them to vote in November. As Robert has stated in the past, the largest group of "voters" is those who do not vote. Where I live we have a group of dedicated letter writers. We used to meet in person, but now we deliver letters to hundreds folks and pick them up a month later. We don't mail the letters until just before the election. There are other opportunities to volunteer as well that do not require public appearances. I used to canvass, register people to vote and go to other public events, but I am not able to do these things right now. However, I can sit in my living room and write an impassioned letter about why I vote. Check it out. It does make a difference with voter turn out.
Robert, I am so sorry to hear of your relapse and hope that you continue to improve now. Thanks for continuing to inspire us, even when you’re not feeling well. I’d like to address the unlawful vindictiveness that your description of the IRS “audits” brings into focus. Readers here know that I follow The Lincoln Project. Recently they made us aware of the fact that Trump was unhappy with them. After the election was called for Biden, LP got word of all the potential lawsuits that Trump was planning to file. LP made ads going after the law firms of these “top tier” firms. They made it uncomfortable for these firms who risked losing clients. As a result, Trump turned to the clown show lawyer team. Trump then had a dossier made of the LP folks and then Mark Meadows sent it to Bill Barr for investigation. The LP lawyers are all over this now. But the bigger point here is the fact that Trump thought he could use all the levers of government to go after private citizens. Whether or not you like the LP, this thought is chilling.
Thank you for linking Klarman’s video conference. It was fascinating, and extremely educational, especially to this lay person
Take care