Trump might want to flee to Saudi Arabia, but will the kingdom want him? They probably wouldn't want these 34 traitors: the Republican members of Congress who exchanged text messages with Donald Trump’s Chief of Staff, Mark Meadows, about assorted schemes to overturn the 2020 election. If we can't get Trump and these scumbags in jail, let's at least get them out of Congress. A Mid East desert sounds about right to me. Without sunscreen.
With all the superhero posers in the news it’s good to remember that we do have actual heroes, people really saving lives. MacKenzie Scott shared a fortune; created Yield - named after a belief in adding value by giving up control. So far over $14,000,000,000 to 1,600+ non-profit teams to use as they see fit to benefit others.
My wish list for Santa is to please bring those posers a sense of shame and responsibility.
While Liz Cheney has been a hero for Democracy, we don't forget that her conservatism on many policy issues runs counter to mainstream Democrats. Thinking out loud, since she will not be in gov't come Jan 1, should Pres. Biden turn to her to take over as Postmaster General, returning the Post Office to the vehicle of democracy that it should be? Wouldn't this bypass conservative vs liberal ?
I appreciated Robert's thoughtful discussion on Friday of the challenges that LGBTQ people face in overcoming gender categories that are embedded and reinforced by the very structure of our language, and even more so for Romance (ie French) and Germanic languages.
A few notes on some other languages that I happen to be familiar with:
Indonesian does not have gendered pronouns. "Dia" means he, she and it. Nor does it have declensions, so dia is also the direct object, indirect object, possessive etc forms. This would be very helpful in the US, if only for all those times one says about someone's baby, "She is so cute." and an irritated parent (still!) says, "He's a boy." This is also why an Indonesian speaking English will often confuse pronouns and say, "I enjoyed meeting your father. She was very nice."
While Indonesian is the official language of Indonesia, there are over 600 local languages spoken there. However, the same is true for most of the others, as they are all part of the Austronesian language family, that is generally "gender neutral." To note: Austronesian is the largest language family in the world in terms of the number of languages, (not speakers.)
Another fun fact is that Indonesian has two forms of "we", inclusive and exclusive. Kita includes the person one is addressing. Thus, if I say to you, "We (kita) are having a party tonight." You are invited. If I use the we form "Kami", you are not, and I am just telling you to make you feel bad.
Hausa, in contrast, spoken in West Africa, always uses a gendered pronoun. In other words, it is grammatically incorrect to use a subject with no pronoun. Thus, one says "Amina, she is going to the store." NOT "Amina is going to the store." Thus, gender of the individual is always identified. Interesting in a sense as the Hausa, at least prior to AIDS (and Boko Haram), had a strong,and accepted (not to mention, Moslem) male to female trans tradition, the "Yan Daudu."
And finally, while I don't speak Estonian (although I'm half Estonian), that language also apparently does not have gendered pronouns, along with most of the other languages in the Uralic language family.
Although it can be difficult for any of us to adapt to a LGBTQ person's chosen pronouns, I imagine it is much more difficult to live day to day in a social structure where the language does not include us. Thanks Robert for that reminder.
I'd been thinking of an asteroid...and not the one where the Little Prince and his Rose are. I actually don't want him in a U.S. prison, it doesn't leave me feeling safe enough. Maybe the present day corollary of Australia, including its unreachability to the rest of us (including even Saudi Arabians).
Robert- Im putting this one on the refrigerator for mental leverage on your last item - that Trump flee to Saudi Arabia at week's end (or before) Right on! Please keep helping to stoke our imaginations until they develop into reality. You've added coals to my BBQ (again).Thanks!
We need to insist every Democratic Senator and Representative sponsor legislation to expand SCOTUS to thirteen justices and announce publicly their acquiescence or opposition. We'll then know whom to pressure to finally effect the change every responsible citizen knows is necessary to dismantle the stranglehold of the radical Republican majority whose disdain for democratic principles is a clear and present danger to every man, woman and child living today and in the future.
Trump might want to flee to Saudi Arabia, but will the kingdom want him? They probably wouldn't want these 34 traitors: the Republican members of Congress who exchanged text messages with Donald Trump’s Chief of Staff, Mark Meadows, about assorted schemes to overturn the 2020 election. If we can't get Trump and these scumbags in jail, let's at least get them out of Congress. A Mid East desert sounds about right to me. Without sunscreen.
Rep. Rick Allen (Georgia)
Rep. Brian Babin (Texas)
Rep. Andy Biggs (Arizona)
Rep. Dan Bishop (North Carolina)
Rep. Kevin Brady (Texas)
Rep. Mo Brooks (Alabama)
Rep. Ted Budd (North Carolina)
Rep. Andrew Clyde (Georgia)
Sen. Kevin Cramer (North Dakota)
Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas)
Rep. Warren Davidson (Ohio)
Rep. Tom Emmer (Minnesota)
Rep. Bob Gibbs (Ohio)
Rep. Louie Gohmert (Texas)
Rep. Paul Gosar (Arizona)
Rep. Mark Green (Tennessee)
Rep. Jody Hice (Georgia)
Rep. Richard Hudson (North Carolina)
Rep. Mike Johnson (Louisiana)
Sen. Ron Johnson (Wisconsin)
Rep. Jim Jordan (Ohio)
Rep. Fred Keller (Pennsylvania)
Rep. Mike Kelly (Pennsylvania)
Sen. Mike Lee (Utah)
Rep. Billy Long (Missouri)
Rep. Barry Loudermilk (Georgia)
Sen. Cynthia Lummis (Wyoming)
Rep. Barry Moore (Alabama)
Rep. Greg Murphy (North Carolina)
Rep. Ralph Norman (South Carolina)
Sen. David Perdue (Georgia)
Rep. Scott Perry (Pennsylvania)
Rep. Chip Roy (Texas)
Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Greene (Georgia)
With all the superhero posers in the news it’s good to remember that we do have actual heroes, people really saving lives. MacKenzie Scott shared a fortune; created Yield - named after a belief in adding value by giving up control. So far over $14,000,000,000 to 1,600+ non-profit teams to use as they see fit to benefit others.
My wish list for Santa is to please bring those posers a sense of shame and responsibility.
https://yieldgiving.com/
I want to say how much appreciate what you do.
While Liz Cheney has been a hero for Democracy, we don't forget that her conservatism on many policy issues runs counter to mainstream Democrats. Thinking out loud, since she will not be in gov't come Jan 1, should Pres. Biden turn to her to take over as Postmaster General, returning the Post Office to the vehicle of democracy that it should be? Wouldn't this bypass conservative vs liberal ?
I love the idea of Trump in Saudi Arabia but first he has to ruin the 2024 election for the GOP.
Saudi Arabia has no extradition treaty with the U.S. Neither does Qatar. Just a thought.
Thanks for the laugh!
Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy new year
I appreciated Robert's thoughtful discussion on Friday of the challenges that LGBTQ people face in overcoming gender categories that are embedded and reinforced by the very structure of our language, and even more so for Romance (ie French) and Germanic languages.
A few notes on some other languages that I happen to be familiar with:
Indonesian does not have gendered pronouns. "Dia" means he, she and it. Nor does it have declensions, so dia is also the direct object, indirect object, possessive etc forms. This would be very helpful in the US, if only for all those times one says about someone's baby, "She is so cute." and an irritated parent (still!) says, "He's a boy." This is also why an Indonesian speaking English will often confuse pronouns and say, "I enjoyed meeting your father. She was very nice."
While Indonesian is the official language of Indonesia, there are over 600 local languages spoken there. However, the same is true for most of the others, as they are all part of the Austronesian language family, that is generally "gender neutral." To note: Austronesian is the largest language family in the world in terms of the number of languages, (not speakers.)
Another fun fact is that Indonesian has two forms of "we", inclusive and exclusive. Kita includes the person one is addressing. Thus, if I say to you, "We (kita) are having a party tonight." You are invited. If I use the we form "Kami", you are not, and I am just telling you to make you feel bad.
Hausa, in contrast, spoken in West Africa, always uses a gendered pronoun. In other words, it is grammatically incorrect to use a subject with no pronoun. Thus, one says "Amina, she is going to the store." NOT "Amina is going to the store." Thus, gender of the individual is always identified. Interesting in a sense as the Hausa, at least prior to AIDS (and Boko Haram), had a strong,and accepted (not to mention, Moslem) male to female trans tradition, the "Yan Daudu."
And finally, while I don't speak Estonian (although I'm half Estonian), that language also apparently does not have gendered pronouns, along with most of the other languages in the Uralic language family.
Although it can be difficult for any of us to adapt to a LGBTQ person's chosen pronouns, I imagine it is much more difficult to live day to day in a social structure where the language does not include us. Thanks Robert for that reminder.
I'd been thinking of an asteroid...and not the one where the Little Prince and his Rose are. I actually don't want him in a U.S. prison, it doesn't leave me feeling safe enough. Maybe the present day corollary of Australia, including its unreachability to the rest of us (including even Saudi Arabians).
Have a weekend weekend, Robert.
Robert- Im putting this one on the refrigerator for mental leverage on your last item - that Trump flee to Saudi Arabia at week's end (or before) Right on! Please keep helping to stoke our imaginations until they develop into reality. You've added coals to my BBQ (again).Thanks!
Your last bullet for me would be the best birthday present I’ve had in many years. Thanks!
Suggestion for Dems: real superheroes trading and/or playing cards, solid- not nft’s.
(Put Biden, Pelosi, Mackenzie Scott, Zelenski, substack writers like Robert Hubbell and HCR. Not hard to find 52 that are fighting the good fight.
Ad campaign slogan “Our heroes are solid “.
Robert, I think we all hoped Santa would grant every one of your requests...even before you sealed the deal with that spectacular closing wish.
If anyone needs a last minute Hanukkah gift, take a look at this.
https://www.amazon.com/MAGA-Dreidel-America-Great-Again/dp/B07FGF3JD4/ref=pd_lpo_3?pd_rd_w=Pz9Ey&content-id=amzn1.sym.116f529c-aa4d-4763-b2b6-4d614ec7dc00&pf_rd_p=116f529chttps://
Or if you still need some Christmas cheer...
www.zazzle.com/maga+ornaments
Whatever your sentiments be, please have a safe, healthy and peaceful holiday.
We need to insist every Democratic Senator and Representative sponsor legislation to expand SCOTUS to thirteen justices and announce publicly their acquiescence or opposition. We'll then know whom to pressure to finally effect the change every responsible citizen knows is necessary to dismantle the stranglehold of the radical Republican majority whose disdain for democratic principles is a clear and present danger to every man, woman and child living today and in the future.