195 Comments
Dec 17, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

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)

Expand full comment

Actually there are 120 Republicans returning to Congress who violated the 14th Amendment and were part of an insurrection on or before January 6th. They should be challenged and removed from office. It happened recently in New Mexico and citizens should think about stepping up.

Expand full comment

Thank you for this info, Stephen. Would you mind posting their names? I am disgusted by the conduct of everyone complicit or actively aiding the insurrection - and by their lack of shame and guilt for their actions. If there's remorse, it seems to be because their treasonous acts MIGHT cost them votes. Now even though I hate even having pictures of Marjorie Taylor "Marge" Greene in my house, I'm reading the Atlantic article about her. Aaaarrrrggghhh. Anti-nausea pills needed.

Expand full comment

Thanks for the link, Stephen! This country needs a Hall of Shame - and these yahoos can be the first to be inducted (or indicted).

Expand full comment

I am disgusted that they still hold office and draw a salary/perks/benefits - AND have not been punished for their CRIMINAL acts!

Expand full comment

Time will catch up with them as the country slow pivots in a new direction

Expand full comment

Read Jim from Slate for an update on MTG, it might make you feel better or at least give you a moment's relief.

https://link.slate.com/view/5a48548b66c379066e8b80a6hv6dl.m08/6fcd776a

Expand full comment

Except, of course, she wasn't joking or being sarcastic. That's what bullies do: make outrageous or insulting comments and then try to re-label them as jokes if anyone complains. I had a relative who was a champion of this.

Expand full comment

It's called "gaslighting".

Expand full comment
Dec 17, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

Thanks for the list.

Expand full comment

My pleasure! I'm posting it wherever I can. People need to know and remember. It came from Public Citizen.

Expand full comment
founding

Just a brief amendment - Perdue is fortunately not a Senator in Georgia!

Expand full comment

My Congressman is the despicable Andrew Clyde (it was just a normal tourist day). I would love for him to go away!

Expand full comment

I will repost this. Thank you.

Expand full comment

But will we get them out of Congress? Many if not all have violated laws that should disqualify them from office. Prosecuting them would be interpreted by Trumpublican pols and base as Dems mounting a coup. The only option I see that will disempower them is to vote those we can out of office. That won't easily happen where their state or district is overwhelmingly MAGA.

Expand full comment

I believe you are right, but isn’t “not removing them from office” placing them above the law?? Why do we have laws that bar insurrectionists/traitors from office if we can’t/are too afraid to enforce them?? This makes me absolutely furious.

Expand full comment

Could the Senate refuse to seat Ted Budd, who as a representative refused to certify the legal election of Joe. Biden? I think a lot of those people might have thought they vote to overturn the election because that would not really happen and they could show the base how tough they are. Supporting the coup should land them in jail.

Expand full comment

Why, indeed. Cults should not hold sway in a democracy.

Expand full comment

The problem of course is proving insurrection in a court of law. If that can be proven before the new house and congress convene, perhaps we will have taken a big step towards getting rid of these folks. We can only hope...

Expand full comment

The Nixon Watergaters had around 45 that served jail time.

Expand full comment

Absolutely right! Is why Get Out the Vote work is such important work.

Expand full comment

Indeed, say their names!

Expand full comment

During the reading of the Constitution in the "new" House Day 1

Expand full comment

Two of those scumbags are from my state: Biggs and Gosar. Even Gosar's own family ripped him in an op-ed on NBC News' website: "In addition to betraying your family and causing irreparable damage to the relationships within it, you decide to betray your country by helping incite the Jan. 6 domestic terrorist attack on the Capitol."

Expand full comment

I think Melania would leave...she'd have a little trouble with the dress code in the Kingdom!

Expand full comment

Love it! Too funny.

Expand full comment
Dec 18, 2022·edited Dec 18, 2022

They have a dress code in Russia? LOL /S/

Expand full comment

I think she is talking about Saudia Arabia.

Expand full comment

I was being sarcastic and should have marked my comment /S/.

Expand full comment

Silly me. Another misunderstanding of words in cyber world.

I would have looked up /S/ anyway. I do that quite a bit with all the initials in the comment sections of newsletters.

Expand full comment

Right! especially holding the sunscreen.

Expand full comment

You forgot LaBoBo (Colorado)

Expand full comment

Ha! Good one. Robert's commentary today has provided the hot chocolate for a cold and dreary day in central Ohio.

Expand full comment

Good catch. And, by the way, I know how to pronounce your last name, as I lived in France for a year as an adolescent, and I quite like it. If I remember correctly there's a town by that name.

Expand full comment

Yes there is, the French Medical University is there as well as a 700 yr old citadel

Expand full comment

We may have gone through Besancon, or even stopped for a while at the end of our 5-6 week car trip around Europe the summer after we lived there, but I just don't quite remember, which suggests we didn't. But I have a strong positive reaction to the name. The citadel is very impressive (I just looked at some photos), and looks vaguely familiar, but I've seen enough of France, long ago enough, that a lot of places I haven't been would probably look vaguely familiar.

Expand full comment

And not a single one from New England, my home region.

Expand full comment

That’s because there are no Republicans in your areas

Expand full comment

Actually, Steve, the "woods are full of them!" I'm a Vermonter and many or most rural residents are Republican. We do have a Republican governor who is a pretty decent sort. That's the difference, I think. Republicans in New England are from the old school. Not that they are above some shenanigans. Conversely, our state congress members are presently heavily Democratic. They too are pretty decent.

Expand full comment

I went to college in New England. I also spent many summers in Maine and New England people are honest and straightforward and don’t take bullshit. I wish other areas were similar in character

Expand full comment

The current--and for a few more days--Massachusetts governor, Charlie Baker, is a Republican, and he's done a great job. I'd have voted for him again had he run for a third term. The governor of New Hampshire is also a GOPer--who is not particularly good. Baker is an outlier. I think the Gov. of Vermont is also a Republican. But the former governor of Rhode Island, a Democrat, is currently Secretary of Commerce.

Expand full comment

Right on, David.

Expand full comment

So embarrassed to say my Georgia has played(and still playing) a big part in this mess. Thank God Perdue no longer represents us!

Expand full comment

I am for sending the two from my home state, NC, away - Bishop & Budd. And Meadows.

Expand full comment

We should at least be polite and make MBS the offer. We could even through in plane fare.

Expand full comment

DJT has earned a stint in Gitmo or Leavenworth. The Saudis don't want him - he is now useless to them. Pretty sure they got what they wanted from Kushner and Pompeo (who, I think, has presidential aspirations - but, imo, is a traitor). I'd wager K & P made a lot of $ while serving their own interests.

Expand full comment

That's a wager I have no doubt you'd win.

Expand full comment

Not giving djt one red cent!

Expand full comment

I don't know, it's awfully tempting to get him out of here to someplace he'll be welcomed if only for the shade he provides.

Expand full comment

To clarify, only the list of names is from Public Citizen. The editorial comments are mine.

Expand full comment
Dec 17, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

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/

Expand full comment
founding

She gave 30 million to NAMI National. the largest grassroots mental health non-profit in the US. She is doing great things.

Expand full comment

MacKenzie Scott is the "unsung heroine" of the rich and privileged in my opinion.

Bezos would have kept those billions.

Musk is tanking Twitter, and Tesla, and probably his other endeavors to the tune of billions.

45 is grifting for donations.

She is changing lives, having a positive impact.

It reinforces the dictum to invest in women and you transform families and communities.

THRIVE GLOBAL

Expand full comment
founding
Dec 17, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

I want to say how much appreciate what you do.

Expand full comment

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 ?

Expand full comment

If your Liz Cheney the last thing you would want is to stay active in politics today with the toxic party she belongs to. Trump was personal and her politics have not changed and she will retire with more respect and honor than she ever would have had if she did not step up and was not willing to let January 6th be forgotten.

Expand full comment

Well, thinking outside the box, but did she sign on to repubs (Tom Delay mostly) effort to destroy USPS in 2006, by that funding retirees for 75 years debacle. I’m sure her Daddy did…

Expand full comment

Jeri, are you asking that rhetorically, or you remember her involvement. I certainly have to look that up, but this would certainly reverse my 'suggestion'

Expand full comment

I've been doing searches, not finding it Jeri........can you direct me to something that will refresh my memory. I recall her father, and Tom DeLay........oddly the searches showed several instances of renaming Post Office in Cheney's (Liz) honor..............and one for Tom DeLay too !!! LOL

Expand full comment

Perhaps we have to find a way to get beyond the conservative vs liberal divide? I say that hesitantly, yet it also feels true. That divide is what brought us to this political moment. We are technically a country of conservatives and liberals (and all shades in between), but alas we function like children unable to see more than one point of view and are primarily interested in getting it our way. I get that it's more complex than this but ....

Expand full comment

I agree, but when saying .........."alas, we function like children" I can't subscribe to this being balanced between Dems/Liberals and Repubs/Conservatives..........

Expand full comment

Agreed. Repubs - especially the MAGA repugs - exhibit far more childish behaviors. And I would wager that there are at least a few Republicans who are ready to put childish behaviors away and get down to finding viable solutions for the greater good.

Expand full comment

I'm sure you also have had disappointments. For example, I thought Ben Sasse was going to be a force for good in the Senate, esp. because he was not going for re-election. Now, maybe he'll go for governor, so he had to keep the MAGA base, but he seemed to be a sure bet to take on right wing lunacy. I donated to Murkowski's campaign, she has shown courage, decency, of course if a viable Dem was against her I'd have gone that route, but the Dem had no chance of course, and her Republican opponent was very Right Wing. I hope with 6 years ahead of her, she'll add sanity to the Senate....and yes, there are Dems guilty of, to use your word, childish behavior, but nothing compared to the neo Nazi/fascist group, and the spineless enablers.

Expand full comment

As for Sasse, his position is part of a debate as a new governor is prepared to appointment a previous governor to take the last 2 years of Sasse's term., Sasse moving on to be President of U/Florida..........still a disappointment, but he did vote to impeach on the 2nd impeachment trial.

Expand full comment
founding
Dec 17, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

I love the idea of Trump in Saudi Arabia but first he has to ruin the 2024 election for the GOP.

Expand full comment

Saudi Arabia has no extradition treaty with the U.S. Neither does Qatar. Just a thought.

Expand full comment
author

Exactly!

Expand full comment

45 has nothing either country wants.

Expand full comment

Yikes!

Expand full comment
Dec 17, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

Thanks for the laugh!

Expand full comment

I was thinking the same thing! It will be quite a week and good to laugh (and love) the idea of the orange ickster stick in a dessert far far away from here!

Expand full comment

Ditto!

Expand full comment
Dec 17, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy new year

Expand full comment
Dec 17, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

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.

Expand full comment

Wow, brain spinning.

Expand full comment

Finnish is gender neutral, I think. My grandparents were pretty cool and I loved listening to them talk.

Expand full comment

"a few notes"? An encyclopedia! 🤗

Expand full comment
Dec 17, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

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.

Expand full comment

You don't like the Aussies?? Why saddle them with that problem? Aren't we working on sending a man to the moon soon? I think that would be the perfect place for him.

Expand full comment

I believe Carol was referring to Australia’s origins as a penal colony.

Expand full comment

See Paul's comment below.

Expand full comment

Or, one of our Marshall Is. in the South Pacific. Like Napoleon on St. Helena in the South Atlantic. The Brits knew hat they were doing with that plan!

Expand full comment

And then, for good measure, they poisoned him.

Expand full comment

Solitary at Gitmo - would make him even crazier than he . . .

Expand full comment
founding

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!

Expand full comment

Actually Israel would be a better choice.

Expand full comment

How so?

Expand full comment
Dec 17, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

Your last bullet for me would be the best birthday present I’ve had in many years. Thanks!

Expand full comment
Dec 17, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

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 “.

Expand full comment
author

Copyright that saying before someone else does!

Expand full comment

If I could afford the fee to copyright I’d be a paying subscriber here😁Can I “hereby grant the rights to this slogan to Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. “?

Expand full comment
Dec 17, 2022·edited Dec 17, 2022

I love it!

I think we (the readers) should each offer an addition to your very-good-start of a list!

I can think of so many, but will offer one: Stacey Abrams

Expand full comment

JFK, RFK, FDR, Dr. Jill, Kamala, Bernie in his mittens- we have the icons. The Constitution, Bill of Rights, Gettysburg address and Magna Carta as aces. Maybe Liz Cheney and Kinzinger as the joker’s?

Expand full comment
Dec 17, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

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.

Expand full comment

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.

Expand full comment

HA! Good one, Fran!🤣 Happy Holidays!

Expand full comment

OMG! The Grinch that stole Hanukkah! I’m glad I saw this horror/travesty this morning, otherwise would not have been able to sleep last night.

Expand full comment

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.

Expand full comment

I would like that to happen but first, I’d like to gave Thomas impeached and perhaps Kavanaugh.

Expand full comment