On February 24, Putin thought his army could “waltz right in,” and Ukraine would fold within weeks. How wrong he was! Now approaching seven months, the Ukrainians are defined by their unrelenting gritty determination, as observed by their recent “pushing back” of Russia from Ukraine’s Kharkiv region.
It is incongruous how these honorable people are hell-bent on thwarting Putin’s authoritarianism, and seeking democracy like their European neighbors, while at the same time, the world’s (supposed) beacon of democracy, America, has witnessed one of its major political parties just as hell-bent on “obediently” moving in an opposite direction, exposing their addictive hunger to follow an immorally corrupt demagogic authoritarian.
America can delude itself and point to the MAGA Republicans as being “the problem,” but admit it, the majority of the “other” Republicans are only half-a-step behind, as most of them will likely acquiesce, and vote for the litany of fearmongering GOP endorsees, of Trump, this November. Frankly, I think very few GOP voters “get it.” They have little idea how their upcoming votes, in 2022, 2024, and beyond, could irreparably damage the course of America, perhaps to its demise!
There cannot be such a thing as a "moderate'" or "main stream" Republican any longer. It is illogical. The main stream of the GQP is far from moderate. The vast bulk of Republican politicians are enabling the fascists if they aren't one already. The Republican platform is built on lies, hate and bigotry.
The only way for someone who considers themselves to be a "never Trumper" to maintain any sense of integrity and loyalty to our Constitution and the Rule of Law is to exit the GQP. Declare yourself as an Independent. Or become a Democrat if you would like to show some extra patriotism. :)
To remain a "Republican" now is to show disdain for democracy and implicitly endorse fascism. The term has gone from being "LIncolnesque" to despicable. From principled to evil.
Yes, I phone bank and have spoken to a few Republicans (most don't engage, but some do), and just the notion of a Democrat is so repulsive to them.... it's like taking a poison pill. We really are in new territory (maybe not really new, but so amplified).
I wish the Democrats could "rebrand" themselves in some way, with some new words, new images so the other said gets it and has a way in -- we're not "taking it all away" as one guy said to me. Being an Independent is what a lot of folks gravitate too -- especially young people. Any ideas what better words or phrases the Dems might use? I try to use the word "extremism", "autocracy", "unjust draconian laws", "taking away our fundamental personal freedoms", as much as possible when speaking of "the other side".
When speaking to others reluctant to declare themselves Democrats I offer them several choices that may help them feel comfortable. “Constitutionalist” seems to work for some. Ultimately however, it is their votes that matter. Whatever allows them to vote for a Democrat over a Republican is all that really matters. I explain that democracy is on the ballot this year and that Republicans are presently anti-democracy. When, if ever, Republicans return to supporting democracy, our Constitution, and the Rule of Law they can again consider voting for a Republican. Until then, if you care about your own and your family’s and America’s future, there is only one option, voting for Democrats.
Messaging expert Anat Shenker Osorio offers advice to affirmatively state our value followed by a call to action. She is inviting us to unify around the concept of Freedoms, as with #ProtectOurFreedoms. Here are useful links:
Ignoramus is a delightful word, especially if you know its etymology.
From Webster's Unabridged:
1 : an endorsement formerly written on a bill of indictment by a grand jury when it considered the evidence insufficient to warrant the finding of a true bill also : a bill returned with such an endorsement
2 [after Ignoramus, an ignorant lawyer in Ignoramus (1615), play by George Ruggle †1622, English playwright] : an utterly ignorant person : dunce
Origin of IGNORAMUS
New Latin, from Latin, we do not know, 1st plural present indicative of ignorare to be ignorant of — more at ignore
Frankly, I am surprised Putin is still alive. I thought some of his insiders would have done the world a favor months ago. And then there is "America's orange Putin" we have been dealing with since June of 2015. What has happened to us? As Pogo said long ago, "we have met the enemy, and he is us." Thanks for your feedback DW! --Steve
You are right Yehawes! As a kid in the mid-1950s I was a paperboy, delivering the Milwaukee Journal; featured on the front page comics section was Pogo and all his buddies, a creation of Walt Kelly. Kelly was also a political activist, including his taking well-deserved shots at Wisconsin's disgraceful senator Joe McCarthy (google both Kelly and McCarthy). For the first Earth Day (1970) Kelly created his famous environmental poster, and therein Pogo’s quote … “We have met the enemy and he is us” … became famous. Now his statement fits very well for the 40-ish million MAGA Trumpers, including Ron Johnson (2022's disgraceful Wisconsin senator). A tip of the hat to Walt and Pogo for reminding us … America’s failure will come from within.
If I were queen, only grammar fights would be allowed. --with word play rather than sword play. I'd also give my Crown Jewels (keeping only 10 of my favorites) and the Crown itself to Patagonia, whose founder did something that deserves a place for man of the year in Time magazine and a permanent place in climber's heaven...
I nominate you for queen, but keep your jewels. Patagonia founder's gift to climate change organizations is a good thing, but his deal "avoids $700 million tax bill by donating shares to 501(c)(4). It keeps control of the company within his family but avoids taxes from traditional inheritance or ownership transfer."
I don’t believe this correct. Since 501(c)4 are allowed to contribute to PACs/ politicians they do not provide a tax donation to the donor. In fact the donor still is subject to a gift tax.
Thanks for the nomination, but I'll give the jewels away anyhow (except for the 10 favorite), especially the Crown, which is ugly, looks uncomfortable, and made for humans with small heads. I'm going to reread the details about Patagonia on Monday, will hang on to my idealization until then. It really made me happy.
Sep 17, 2022·edited Sep 17, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell
A grammar riot wouldn't even make page two, lower half in this political season of the bizarre, more likely somewhere near the obituaries and the crossword puzzle.
Speaking of scrabble riots: My wife and went to grammar school together. In the eighth grade, our group of friends held a "Kittridge Street Scrabble Championship." (It was definitely a more innocent time, or we were complete nerds.) We were on the same team. In the final game, we had one letter left-- a "Y". If we played it, we won. If we couldn't, we lost. The board was locked, but we put the "Y" on the end of "rivet" and claimed victory with "rivety." That started an argument with our friends that has lasted fifty years.
Well, back in the day before Internet, the Scrabble Association published a Scrabble Dictionary of acceptable words to verify challenges, and it was used for tournaments. First spotted on my ex's bookshelf. Oh look, 6th edition includes Kindle and adds "emoji" and "facepalm!"
And with a search for "rivety," it does appear that you were lucky not to have had the Scrabble Dictionary at the time, and that your friends can now challenge the legitimacy of your victory!
BTW I have morphed into a fan of Words With Friends and of course, Wordle.
I will quit writing before I dissolve into a miasma of sarcasm and snark.
My comment is that Bob Dyland was right. "If my thought dreams could be seen/They'd probably put my head in a guillotine."
After yesterday, and DeSantis' demonstration he never understood any bible he ever read, or the Fundmentalist Bible is different from the real one, and after seeing all the high-fiving on the Right today over what was done, if any Republican ever tries to invoke "Christian" anything in my presence, I intend to kick him so hard between the legs that the "family jewels" will fly into orbit. Fortunately for them, Republicans who know me know to stay out of reach.
I agree; it is time to start speaking more directly to the religious hypocrisy that the GOP uses to justify its cruelty. Perhaps that will motivate other Christians to condemn them as well. The only way DeSantis will stop his human rights abuses is if he believes it will cost him votes.
As I came in the door to the house of a woman I work for, she was laughing heartily while replying to her friend in the phone, “I wonder what hotel they’ll put them up at ?(on Martha’s Vineyard). Off the phone, she oozed smugness when she described to me how these invaders were delivered to sanctuary cities. She calls herself one of those “Christians” so I finally had to say that no real Christian would do such a cruel thing. Real Christians take in the dispossessed and needy. Good thing there are still some real Christians around up in places like Massachusetts who show us how that’s supposed to look. It didn’t stop her a beat… she just went on to rail about the border, immigration, Biden (she called him something I won’t repeat here), the usual Fox garbage. To top it off, she says our country has changed so much since she was young and how awful it has become because… wait for it… there’s too much hate!
Actually, the long-term residents of the Vineyard descended from Puritan Yankee fishermen with a culture that is sober and obedient to fellow humans. From what I hear, the Vineyard folk have made the dislocated persons comfortable with a quiet and decent courtesy that others deserve.
Of note, these Vinelanders originate through the generations from a respectful and humane Christian Republican culture in New England which has been thrifty, prudent and tolerant. They are the people with whom human slavery did not sit well with, and were willing to die for the liberty of others. I do not know which group, the Floridian or the Vineyard people, who are the most truly homeless. Each seem to be pilgrims in a lost America.
When the heart button doesn’t turn red, refresh your page and it should then show it’s red. If not, just click on it again, and it should turn red. You may have to scroll to find it.
I've been complaining since I discovered the problem. It took two years of complaints for them to finally add an "edit" function to comment. For those who don't know that exists since they don't announce these things, that's the ". . . " dots you see under a post. Click that, then click "edit comment" when box appears.
Martha's Vineyard has more than white European descendants.
"the ancestral homeland of the Wampanoag people is Martha’s Vineyard, known to the tribe as Noëpe, meaning 'land amid the waters or streams.'” "Today the Wampanoag people include multiple tribes, including the Chappaquiddick Wampanoag [on the adjacent island]."
Martha's Vineyard was a stop on the Underground Railroad.
"Though Oak Bluffs is known for being a home to the African-American elite, a history of segregation and classism was prevalent throughout Martha’s Vineyard. Blacks historically resided on the north side of the island in Oak Bluffs, while whites settled on the east side of the island in Edgartown."
I always wonder if these fox people ever listen to themselves talk. They wait to hear what they are suppose to think and then spew forward! The world of maga is fear, hate, cruel and they are so proud to be bigots? Christian behavior has no place in the GOP. Their proud white supremacy holding immigrants as less than acceptable. These Governors have shown how ugly power can corrupt and hold humans in contempt. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. Please vote and vote for democracy, respect, rule of law.
Good question! Time will tell. I couldn’t zip my lip any longer.. these people pay me double what other clients do, and in so many other ways, they are wonderful people. I will never understand the dichotomy!
Saint Fred, my patron saint, summered a little further out, on Nantucket, and if his spirit of calm encouragement and earnest acceptance is any indication of the folks closer in, Martha’s Vineyard couldn’t have been a better place to leave these desperately abused people.
I’m talking about Fred Rogers, of course.
People that wrap themselves in the cross with the same facility with which they wrap themselves in the flag deserve neither the sobriquet “Patriot” nor “Christian.” They are performative charlatans, and that is all.
Thought I would share my response to this morning’s letter from Professor Richardson.
Twilight Zone, Episode 22- A particularly spiteful and hateful Governor of a southern U.S. state named Ron DeSantis enacts policies and practices which abuse migrants. Ron is mysteriously transported back to 1904, where he is in charge of a NYC immigrant intake office. Ron has the ability to decide who stays and who has to be deported. One such immigrant, who unfortunately does not make the cut, shares the same last name as our protagonist Ron. This unfortunate immigrant is put on ship to be returned back home to Italy. His misfortunes have only just started, as somewhere out in the vast depths of the Atlantic the ship encounters a very strong hurricane and sinks, taking the lives of all of its passengers, including our would be immigrant DeSantis. At the same time our immigrant DeSantis is sinking into the cold depths of an unforgiving ocean, our protagonist, immigration officer Ron begins to strangely fade from existence until he is gone. No more Ron. Poof! For it seems our protagonist immigrant officer Ron had deported his own maternal great great grandfather, making Ron’s present and future life impossible. Karma is a bitch.
What strikes me is the paradox of, on the one hand, Republicans claiming "crime" as a winning issue for the Republican party in the mid-terms, and on the other, the sheer number of Trump followers who are "involved" with the wrong side of the law. I find this almost cartoonishly hypocritical. I mean, c'mon! People intend to vote for these CRIMINALS to reduce CRIME...?
I would think the media might dwell on this point. Someone might wish to highlight the absurdity of it, especially during the next few weeks. The party of "assault weapons for all" might be at least a bit cognizant of the mockery they represent, wouldn't you think? I doubt the cop-killers of January 6th make the best poster children for the Republicans' focus on law-and-order.
This whole thing seems Shakespearean, in the scope of its duplicity.
Crime, according to Republicans, is only committed by Blacks and Latinx people. White people can do whatever they want, because well, they are white, including as you noted not stopping mass shootings with assault weapons. White collar crime has a whole new meaning. But seriously, when Republicans say "crime" it is a code word for crimes that Black people commit.
I find it troubling that Judge Cannon is allowing the judiciary to go down the dangerous road of codifying executive privilege for a former federal official outside of what the current president either exerts or passes on. This ties a spurious privilege to a wannabe king rather than reserves the same right to a current executive conducting the affairs of state and shielding internal debate from congressional meddling.
Add to this the absurd argument that there is a "debate" about document storage. As a 43 year federal employee documents created in the course of government business are never mine. That business was routine. My God, state secrets could at any time be considered the property of this man-child? Trump did not comply with law and our judiciary is seriously considering that the whims of one person exist above the law.
My major concern governmentally has always been the Supreme Court. Seems like the Federalist Society has finally created the Court they wanted. I fear that Donald Trump will not be held accountable for the atrocities he has committed and that more of our individual and community rights will be taken away by this Court. I implore President Biden to enlarge it and for Americans to vote so we have the power to do just that. This is essential to our children’s survival in a free America.
Now is the crisis, rare is the opportunity for a President to fill a SCOTUS seat, we don't need them all - just a fair share, and if a future want-to-be dictator is so inclined, they will simply add seats to suit them regardless of present action or inaction. We can't decide not to defend ourselves because it might make a bully angry or try to hit us harder.
I love that he went straight to the appeals court with the 100 classified documents and skipped all the hooha with Cannon. It’s a bit of a dis that she rightly deserves
The DOJ did go straight to the Appeals Court, but is also proceeding with the special master track. That is the smart thing to do. It will ensure that Trump is held to account as soon as possible, regardless of how long the appeals process takes.
I am concerned there has been no mention of FBI searching for documents in other Trump properties. If classified documents remain unaccounted for, will other properties…and their plumbing, be investigated?
Wish they would use ground penetrating radar on every golf course he controls. I’d start where that recent picture was taken. I don’t believe for a minute that they were there for golf.
Would it just be too, too whodunit to suggest that although paper is poor at holding fingerprints, the folder covers might do so? I bet we have some Saudi fingerprints on file, for starters... Plus, fingers crossed they get the film from the storage room security cameras.
Candidly, I struggle with how much humor to include. In the early days of the newsletter, there was more, but as the newsletter has expanded, there are tens of thousands of readers who have no idea of who I am or what my sense of humor is like. I frequently find that after I include something humorous, I receive critical notes from readers who took the statement literally and seriously. I have to respond, "It was a joke. . . . " When you have to explain to people that you were being humorous, it is probably time to stop using humor. I am waiting for someone to tell me today that they cannot find any historical reference to the Oxford Comma Riots.
I would appreciate more humor. We take ourselves too seriously way too often. People tend to respond much better to humor than to facts and figures. Just sayin'
Although I do not disagree with court expansion, unless there is a perennial Democrat Congress, it becomes never ending retaliatory politics. This type of governance does not bode well for the people. Cannot an expanded bench not be shrunk?
It has changed over the course of it's history and should reflect the number of judicial districts which it does not currently do. As far as prospects for retaliation, how bad would that be? Would a twenty seat court be unwieldy? Would a 35 seat court? Our House and Senate perform poorly but not due to size. Besides, since when has fear of retaliation been a good reason to avoid doing the right thing, when did anyone believe that Not doing something would prevent the GOP from doing it (honor?), and um... remember how the current GOP chosen seats got that way? The "too close to the elections" rule by Mitch? Why would we fear retaliation rather than simply expect that whether we expand the court or not, the GOP will do so later as soon as it suits their purpose?
I am not suggesting operating out of fear. Just expressing angst for revenge politics. Wrangling and compromise has been a long standing part of the governing equation, but most of that seems to take place now within a party not between parties. So, we are left with hyper partisan, out in the open politics. The Republicans showing disdain for governing in any way other than that which benefits their wealthy overlords, and the Democratic Party trying to represent the 98%, with not an insignificant number within their own ranks beholden to the same overlords.
Thomas, Regarding the Court, I would start by noting that it is past time for the country to expand the lower courts. Consider that the last time the federal district and circuit courts were meaningfully expanded was in 1990 and that the country’s population since then has increased by one-third.
As for the Supreme Court, because Manchin and Sinema are not alone in opposing expansion, to justify enlarging the High Court, I would underscore, after some amount of fluctuation, that in 1869 the number of justices was set at 9, wherein 1 justice was assigned to 1 of the 9 circuit courts. Today there are 13 circuit courts.
Hi, Barbara. Thank you! You have made that point before -- - and need to keep making it! I should always include it in my "expand the Court" battle cry but fail to do so. Keep reminding me and others of the need to expand the federal appellate and district courts!
Robert, Thank you for your note. I merely would add that part of our work now entails pressing our voters to prioritize judicial expansion as a crucial electoral issue.
Sep 17, 2022·edited Sep 17, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell
Sadly, there is no equivalent organization lobbying our politicians with progressive model legislation that is a necessary counter-force to the Federalist Society or ALEC. The closest is the State Innovation Exchange (SIX), but fellow reader Jeff Carpenter researched the question and spoke to a SIX representative, who said they are more of a PAC and do not distribute model legislation, nor do they use moneyed strong-armed tactics with lawmakers.
The problem is compounded by the fact that state legislators are by and large political amateurs serving part-time off to the side of their regular day jobs. They are vulnerable to high pressure lobbyists like ALEC.
BTW, Jeff Carpenter is an amazing artist and climate activist!
The unfortunate truth is dark money is the fuel of our political system. Rich billionaire investors save millions by supporting Republicans regardless of their character and ethics and expect a return on that investment. Democrats do this also but are not as blatant and good at it as Republicans
1) Dems state clearly how 2 SCOTUS seats were stolen in 2015-2016.
2) Dems expand the Court by 2 seats.
3) SIMULTANEOUSLY, they put forward a Constitutional Amendment that, if passed, would permanently return the SCOTUS to 9 members. One of the newest members would then leave the Court, along with the longest serving justice (Thomas).
4) The Amendment would also have 6 long overdue Court reforms including age limits, 18 yr. term limits, a required timeframe (60 days) for the Senate to act on new SCOTUS nominees, and a means of eliminating election year trickery. The President would nominate a new person for the Court every 2 yrs., to replace the most longest serving justice.
IMO, the public would find this so fair and reasonable that Republicans in the Senate and states would be forced, over a few years, to approve the Amendment. And if they didn’t, the Court would remain much better balanced at 11 members. The GOP could wait till they controlled the Senate and White House again, and then expand the Court further, but that’s exactly what they’ve been saying would be a terrible slippery slope. In summary, they’d be (somewhat) boxed-in to doing the right thing - passing the Amendment and vastly improving the Court for the future.
I’ve written this up in more detail, but the essay was rejected for publication by WaPo, Politico, and The Hill. For it to have a decent chance of getting any traction, I think it needs to appear in a major city or national outlet. If anyone finds this idea exciting and hopeful, and would like more info, please email me at tylerinnm@aol.com. Thanks for reading this!
If the goal of Democrats is to “retake“ the Supreme Court, then adding four or even six justices makes sense.
My goals, instead, are to a) immediately rebalance the court in an undeniably reasonable way, and b) force the GOP to support a process to dramatically improve the court over the next few years. I see it as being about taking the long view, rather than the emotionally gratifying payback approach. The Amendment would, IMO, be a huge way for Dems to show they are still the adults in the room, who are trying to fix the big problems. And let’s the GOP keep looking as irresponsible and power-mad as possible at the same time!
An amendment has to be approved by 3/4 of the states, and since the Republicans control a majority of state legislatures, well.... good luck with that, write when you find work, have a great day....
Robert Hubbell, Have you read Lynn Truss, Eats shoots and Leaves, — blurbs “delightful, entertaining” and “who knew gramnar could be so much fun”? An entire chapter on commas.
Funny that this should come up. Yesterday's NY Times had an article about the British Department of Health and Social Care informing their employees to no longer use the Oxford comma. Apparently, the agency's new head, Therese Coffey, has "made no secret of her distaste for the Oxford comma, with social posts from more than a decade ago making clear where she stands."
That sent me right to my copy of Eats, Shoots & Leaves. I spent a pleasant evening rereading it, and laughing over Truss's very funny examples of use and misuse of punctuation. She writes that "one shouldn't be too rigid about the Oxford comma." I was surprised to find out that it is predominantly used in America, not in England.
I am terribly fond of the Oxford comma, and committed to its continued use in my own writing.
I tend to use it, but have been known to rearrange my list so as to make it more graceful with the comma. There are subtle mental things that go on in the reader's mind that are similar to poetry or music, but enhance the absorption of meaning, which are affected by punctuation and grammar. That is the real use of and justification for punctuation.
Well, Robert, you've managed to throw two buckets of cold water on textural and originalist interpretations of the Constitution. I can almost hear our Federalist Justices: 'Oh! You wicked child! We're melting!"
If we could somehow have harnessed all the psychic energy we have expended over Trump and his acolytes, we would have solved the climate crisis by now.
Sep 17, 2022·edited Sep 17, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell
I keep thinking of immigrants to the US as refugees. Although their respective nations are not at war, there is internecine warfare in the sense of drug cartels, climate catastrophe, poverty and hunger. Not only are we experiencing an influx of refuge seekers, so are European countries and the Middle East. I think the "problem" is world-wide and will only grow larger with climate chaos.
Would a dedicated organization such as the UNHCR be able to shed light on solutions? Establishing refugee camps temporarily? A coalition of countries which offer insight? Really, the number of stateless wanderers is legion. Our attempts to process claims for admission is a moot point. The causes need to be addressed.
Sep 17, 2022·edited Sep 17, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell
Thank you, Robert. Your heart is as big as the world. Allowing us to "spill our souls" here is an immeasurable gift to us. Speaking for myself, I have a lot stuck in my craw. But when I put it in writing here, it becomes manageable. I can see more clearly with the help of feedback.
Good morning, Hope, You have conjured a vivid image of our world with climate change turning the planet into a blasted heath where bands of "stateless wanderers" (fabulous phrase) roam with increasing desperation. I know my own fears lead me to exaggerate, but did we ever think we would be close enough for such a vision to be anything more than a science fiction movie?
Hi Dean! I'm taking a webinar with Carolyn Baker and Eric Garza which is addressing this vision—nightmare. Changing our perspective from NIMBY to "We are all in this together," is paramount.
It's an acronym for "Not In My Back Yard," as when a BIPOC moves into a white neighborhood. Sometimes it's applied to liberals who espouse solutions, but don't apply them to themselves (ourselves!)
The DOJ has had all of TFG's trove of documents in its possession for over 4 weeks. Unless I am profoundly mistaken, they have copy machines in the department, or scanners or digital cameras. I'd get to work, then send 10,900 documents promptly back to MAGA-Lago, leaving exactly 100 documents, marked "Secret, Top Secret and "for certain eyes only", remaining for the good justice to review. The DOJ knows that the vast majority of those papers are not relevant to the case they are investigating, won't be missed at the US Archive (Who needs another copy of Sports Illustrated) and will only clog the wheels of justice so unceremoniously bogged down in the mud by this special master business. TFG can sit amongst his boxes and pretend to have "won", the Special Master can go about doing whatever justices do with top secret information and the DOJ can quietly go about its business. After all, until there's a charge leveled and the process of discovery begins, there's no need for either side to divulge whatever source materials they have to support their claims or position. In all likelihood many documents are either copies, or have copies elsewhere with persons/departments who don't have the illusion of "executive privilege" attached and can be retrieved with a little gumshoe work. That information may well lead to other info which can be entered in evidence without ever referring to what was stored amongst the onions and potatoes in the basement in Florida. Give the fool and the fool's lawyers what they want; an alleged "win" in the maneuvering, something to crow about, while preparing the barbecue pit for the upcoming roast.
Sep 17, 2022·edited Sep 17, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell
If I’m not mistaken, the issue is whether the information obtained from these documents, or the fact that they were in the hands of tfg, can be used as evidence. Maybe Robert could clarify that
There has been no motion to suppress the evidence at trial (yet). But Cannon has issued a temporary stay on the USE of those documents in the investigation pending determination of attorney client privilege and executive privilege. None of those documents will fall within those privileges and will be able to be used.
On February 24, Putin thought his army could “waltz right in,” and Ukraine would fold within weeks. How wrong he was! Now approaching seven months, the Ukrainians are defined by their unrelenting gritty determination, as observed by their recent “pushing back” of Russia from Ukraine’s Kharkiv region.
It is incongruous how these honorable people are hell-bent on thwarting Putin’s authoritarianism, and seeking democracy like their European neighbors, while at the same time, the world’s (supposed) beacon of democracy, America, has witnessed one of its major political parties just as hell-bent on “obediently” moving in an opposite direction, exposing their addictive hunger to follow an immorally corrupt demagogic authoritarian.
America can delude itself and point to the MAGA Republicans as being “the problem,” but admit it, the majority of the “other” Republicans are only half-a-step behind, as most of them will likely acquiesce, and vote for the litany of fearmongering GOP endorsees, of Trump, this November. Frankly, I think very few GOP voters “get it.” They have little idea how their upcoming votes, in 2022, 2024, and beyond, could irreparably damage the course of America, perhaps to its demise!
We must emulate the soul of the Ukrainian people.
Yes.
There cannot be such a thing as a "moderate'" or "main stream" Republican any longer. It is illogical. The main stream of the GQP is far from moderate. The vast bulk of Republican politicians are enabling the fascists if they aren't one already. The Republican platform is built on lies, hate and bigotry.
The only way for someone who considers themselves to be a "never Trumper" to maintain any sense of integrity and loyalty to our Constitution and the Rule of Law is to exit the GQP. Declare yourself as an Independent. Or become a Democrat if you would like to show some extra patriotism. :)
To remain a "Republican" now is to show disdain for democracy and implicitly endorse fascism. The term has gone from being "LIncolnesque" to despicable. From principled to evil.
Yes, I phone bank and have spoken to a few Republicans (most don't engage, but some do), and just the notion of a Democrat is so repulsive to them.... it's like taking a poison pill. We really are in new territory (maybe not really new, but so amplified).
I wish the Democrats could "rebrand" themselves in some way, with some new words, new images so the other said gets it and has a way in -- we're not "taking it all away" as one guy said to me. Being an Independent is what a lot of folks gravitate too -- especially young people. Any ideas what better words or phrases the Dems might use? I try to use the word "extremism", "autocracy", "unjust draconian laws", "taking away our fundamental personal freedoms", as much as possible when speaking of "the other side".
When speaking to others reluctant to declare themselves Democrats I offer them several choices that may help them feel comfortable. “Constitutionalist” seems to work for some. Ultimately however, it is their votes that matter. Whatever allows them to vote for a Democrat over a Republican is all that really matters. I explain that democracy is on the ballot this year and that Republicans are presently anti-democracy. When, if ever, Republicans return to supporting democracy, our Constitution, and the Rule of Law they can again consider voting for a Republican. Until then, if you care about your own and your family’s and America’s future, there is only one option, voting for Democrats.
Messaging expert Anat Shenker Osorio offers advice to affirmatively state our value followed by a call to action. She is inviting us to unify around the concept of Freedoms, as with #ProtectOurFreedoms. Here are useful links:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DK3YlA8rH-_RkXWyGJNo_p13HIWz2KkjJQrCwgUtFVY/edit
https://docs.google.com/document/d/17jih8QF8pyVx2lNLsRWGfBoU18c7QMro6E3QL8ogrZ8/edit
(I personally have negative associations with "gang," but the rest is good stuff!
I like the term Civilian Dictatorship when describing the type of government which Republicans seem to be favoring lately.
Read this: https://newrepublic.com/article/167615/democrats-finally-learn-message
Lots of truth to it. We dems "message poorly."
Thanks for your comments everyone -- I love this forum!
You nailed it, BIll ... thanks!
Well put. I think they’re a bunch of ignoramuses (Did I get that pluralization correct? 😆)
I prefer to say “Ignoramusi”😜
Perhaps ignorami? 🤓
Ignoramians?Ignoramistas?
Ignoritanians?
Ignoranuses? Since they’re both ignorant and a-holes.
KLevinson You win. 😁Should be in Funk & Wagnalls by next year.
It isn’t original to me. It came out a few years ago and I just love it. It’s a perfect term for some people!😉
Perfect?
Ignoramus is a delightful word, especially if you know its etymology.
From Webster's Unabridged:
1 : an endorsement formerly written on a bill of indictment by a grand jury when it considered the evidence insufficient to warrant the finding of a true bill also : a bill returned with such an endorsement
2 [after Ignoramus, an ignorant lawyer in Ignoramus (1615), play by George Ruggle †1622, English playwright] : an utterly ignorant person : dunce
Origin of IGNORAMUS
New Latin, from Latin, we do not know, 1st plural present indicative of ignorare to be ignorant of — more at ignore
First Known Use: circa 1577 (sense 1)
“Ignoramus.” Merriam-Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/unabridged/ignoramus. Accessed 18 Sep. 2022.
That’s very cool info, thank you! I love etymology, I’m a word nerd.
I heard on the news this evening that Putin described his strategy in the Ukraine as “proceeding cautiously.”
Frankly, I am surprised Putin is still alive. I thought some of his insiders would have done the world a favor months ago. And then there is "America's orange Putin" we have been dealing with since June of 2015. What has happened to us? As Pogo said long ago, "we have met the enemy, and he is us." Thanks for your feedback DW! --Steve
I cut out that specific Pogo strip and treasured it for years. He and his friend porcupine were rounding a veritable hill of garbage.
You are right Yehawes! As a kid in the mid-1950s I was a paperboy, delivering the Milwaukee Journal; featured on the front page comics section was Pogo and all his buddies, a creation of Walt Kelly. Kelly was also a political activist, including his taking well-deserved shots at Wisconsin's disgraceful senator Joe McCarthy (google both Kelly and McCarthy). For the first Earth Day (1970) Kelly created his famous environmental poster, and therein Pogo’s quote … “We have met the enemy and he is us” … became famous. Now his statement fits very well for the 40-ish million MAGA Trumpers, including Ron Johnson (2022's disgraceful Wisconsin senator). A tip of the hat to Walt and Pogo for reminding us … America’s failure will come from within.
If I were queen, only grammar fights would be allowed. --with word play rather than sword play. I'd also give my Crown Jewels (keeping only 10 of my favorites) and the Crown itself to Patagonia, whose founder did something that deserves a place for man of the year in Time magazine and a permanent place in climber's heaven...
I nominate you for queen, but keep your jewels. Patagonia founder's gift to climate change organizations is a good thing, but his deal "avoids $700 million tax bill by donating shares to 501(c)(4). It keeps control of the company within his family but avoids taxes from traditional inheritance or ownership transfer."
https://twitter.com/GrahamStarr/status/1570533056695668736?s=20&t=-5LtY_6xiigE2fVaasPNIw
Meanwhile, here's a beautiful photo of real Patagonia:
https://twitter.com/ninjasniperpon/status/1568628761934921729?s=20&t=-5LtY_6xiigE2fVaasPNIw
Aah, a very expensive tax lawyer. Thanks for the real pic.
I don’t believe this correct. Since 501(c)4 are allowed to contribute to PACs/ politicians they do not provide a tax donation to the donor. In fact the donor still is subject to a gift tax.
THe IRS agrees with you at length: https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/other-non-profits/donations-to-section-501c4-organizations
Thanks for clearing this up.
Thanks for the nomination, but I'll give the jewels away anyhow (except for the 10 favorite), especially the Crown, which is ugly, looks uncomfortable, and made for humans with small heads. I'm going to reread the details about Patagonia on Monday, will hang on to my idealization until then. It really made me happy.
Donations to 501(c)4 organizations are NOT tax deductible.
A grammar riot wouldn't even make page two, lower half in this political season of the bizarre, more likely somewhere near the obituaries and the crossword puzzle.
i would include scrabble riots
Speaking of scrabble riots: My wife and went to grammar school together. In the eighth grade, our group of friends held a "Kittridge Street Scrabble Championship." (It was definitely a more innocent time, or we were complete nerds.) We were on the same team. In the final game, we had one letter left-- a "Y". If we played it, we won. If we couldn't, we lost. The board was locked, but we put the "Y" on the end of "rivet" and claimed victory with "rivety." That started an argument with our friends that has lasted fifty years.
Well, back in the day before Internet, the Scrabble Association published a Scrabble Dictionary of acceptable words to verify challenges, and it was used for tournaments. First spotted on my ex's bookshelf. Oh look, 6th edition includes Kindle and adds "emoji" and "facepalm!"
https://www.amazon.com/Official-SCRABBLE-Dictionary-Hardcover-copyright/dp/0877794227
And with a search for "rivety," it does appear that you were lucky not to have had the Scrabble Dictionary at the time, and that your friends can now challenge the legitimacy of your victory!
BTW I have morphed into a fan of Words With Friends and of course, Wordle.
Good luck finding a source for "rivety." ;-)
“Rivety Bibbity Boo!”
Disney
👋 👋 👋 👋 👋 👋 👋
clever
I will quit writing before I dissolve into a miasma of sarcasm and snark.
My comment is that Bob Dyland was right. "If my thought dreams could be seen/They'd probably put my head in a guillotine."
After yesterday, and DeSantis' demonstration he never understood any bible he ever read, or the Fundmentalist Bible is different from the real one, and after seeing all the high-fiving on the Right today over what was done, if any Republican ever tries to invoke "Christian" anything in my presence, I intend to kick him so hard between the legs that the "family jewels" will fly into orbit. Fortunately for them, Republicans who know me know to stay out of reach.
I agree; it is time to start speaking more directly to the religious hypocrisy that the GOP uses to justify its cruelty. Perhaps that will motivate other Christians to condemn them as well. The only way DeSantis will stop his human rights abuses is if he believes it will cost him votes.
As I came in the door to the house of a woman I work for, she was laughing heartily while replying to her friend in the phone, “I wonder what hotel they’ll put them up at ?(on Martha’s Vineyard). Off the phone, she oozed smugness when she described to me how these invaders were delivered to sanctuary cities. She calls herself one of those “Christians” so I finally had to say that no real Christian would do such a cruel thing. Real Christians take in the dispossessed and needy. Good thing there are still some real Christians around up in places like Massachusetts who show us how that’s supposed to look. It didn’t stop her a beat… she just went on to rail about the border, immigration, Biden (she called him something I won’t repeat here), the usual Fox garbage. To top it off, she says our country has changed so much since she was young and how awful it has become because… wait for it… there’s too much hate!
Actually, the long-term residents of the Vineyard descended from Puritan Yankee fishermen with a culture that is sober and obedient to fellow humans. From what I hear, the Vineyard folk have made the dislocated persons comfortable with a quiet and decent courtesy that others deserve.
Of note, these Vinelanders originate through the generations from a respectful and humane Christian Republican culture in New England which has been thrifty, prudent and tolerant. They are the people with whom human slavery did not sit well with, and were willing to die for the liberty of others. I do not know which group, the Floridian or the Vineyard people, who are the most truly homeless. Each seem to be pilgrims in a lost America.
Can't get the like button to work, so "Like."
When the heart button doesn’t turn red, refresh your page and it should then show it’s red. If not, just click on it again, and it should turn red. You may have to scroll to find it.
Actually, the button is working, but sometimes Substack's operation won't show it. If you hit refresh, you'll see it/
As an Author, do have an inside track with Substack to register this very common complaint about the intermittent "like" button so they do a fix?
I've been complaining since I discovered the problem. It took two years of complaints for them to finally add an "edit" function to comment. For those who don't know that exists since they don't announce these things, that's the ". . . " dots you see under a post. Click that, then click "edit comment" when box appears.
Thank you for helping to get the edit function added to Substack--that is huge!
Martha's Vineyard has more than white European descendants.
"the ancestral homeland of the Wampanoag people is Martha’s Vineyard, known to the tribe as Noëpe, meaning 'land amid the waters or streams.'” "Today the Wampanoag people include multiple tribes, including the Chappaquiddick Wampanoag [on the adjacent island]."
https://www.intheknow.com/post/marthas-vineyard-native-american-history-kara-roselle-smith/
Martha's Vineyard was a stop on the Underground Railroad.
"Though Oak Bluffs is known for being a home to the African-American elite, a history of segregation and classism was prevalent throughout Martha’s Vineyard. Blacks historically resided on the north side of the island in Oak Bluffs, while whites settled on the east side of the island in Edgartown."
https://biars.hedbergandson.com/united-states/what-are-the-demographics-of-marthas-vineyard/
Martha's Vineyard has a "large community of Brazilian immigrants who work mainly in the maintenance of the island's vacation facilities."
"Martha's Vineyard was known as an 'everyone signed' community for several hundred years," and many deaf people lived there.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martha%27s_Vineyard
The clay cliffs on one of the ends (lovely strata) are protected for the use of the native American people who traditionally used it for pottery.
I always wonder if these fox people ever listen to themselves talk. They wait to hear what they are suppose to think and then spew forward! The world of maga is fear, hate, cruel and they are so proud to be bigots? Christian behavior has no place in the GOP. Their proud white supremacy holding immigrants as less than acceptable. These Governors have shown how ugly power can corrupt and hold humans in contempt. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. Please vote and vote for democracy, respect, rule of law.
More projection from those fomenting division and ugliness.
Do you still have a job?
Good question! Time will tell. I couldn’t zip my lip any longer.. these people pay me double what other clients do, and in so many other ways, they are wonderful people. I will never understand the dichotomy!
I am so sorry for you. I hope you find more compatible employment soon. Meanwhile, does feeling queasy from association count for a sick day?
I can't figure out how to apply more hearts to your comment, TC...but if I could, I surely would.
Saint Fred, my patron saint, summered a little further out, on Nantucket, and if his spirit of calm encouragement and earnest acceptance is any indication of the folks closer in, Martha’s Vineyard couldn’t have been a better place to leave these desperately abused people.
I’m talking about Fred Rogers, of course.
People that wrap themselves in the cross with the same facility with which they wrap themselves in the flag deserve neither the sobriquet “Patriot” nor “Christian.” They are performative charlatans, and that is all.
Thought I would share my response to this morning’s letter from Professor Richardson.
Twilight Zone, Episode 22- A particularly spiteful and hateful Governor of a southern U.S. state named Ron DeSantis enacts policies and practices which abuse migrants. Ron is mysteriously transported back to 1904, where he is in charge of a NYC immigrant intake office. Ron has the ability to decide who stays and who has to be deported. One such immigrant, who unfortunately does not make the cut, shares the same last name as our protagonist Ron. This unfortunate immigrant is put on ship to be returned back home to Italy. His misfortunes have only just started, as somewhere out in the vast depths of the Atlantic the ship encounters a very strong hurricane and sinks, taking the lives of all of its passengers, including our would be immigrant DeSantis. At the same time our immigrant DeSantis is sinking into the cold depths of an unforgiving ocean, our protagonist, immigration officer Ron begins to strangely fade from existence until he is gone. No more Ron. Poof! For it seems our protagonist immigrant officer Ron had deported his own maternal great great grandfather, making Ron’s present and future life impossible. Karma is a bitch.
If only...
What strikes me is the paradox of, on the one hand, Republicans claiming "crime" as a winning issue for the Republican party in the mid-terms, and on the other, the sheer number of Trump followers who are "involved" with the wrong side of the law. I find this almost cartoonishly hypocritical. I mean, c'mon! People intend to vote for these CRIMINALS to reduce CRIME...?
I would think the media might dwell on this point. Someone might wish to highlight the absurdity of it, especially during the next few weeks. The party of "assault weapons for all" might be at least a bit cognizant of the mockery they represent, wouldn't you think? I doubt the cop-killers of January 6th make the best poster children for the Republicans' focus on law-and-order.
This whole thing seems Shakespearean, in the scope of its duplicity.
Crime, according to Republicans, is only committed by Blacks and Latinx people. White people can do whatever they want, because well, they are white, including as you noted not stopping mass shootings with assault weapons. White collar crime has a whole new meaning. But seriously, when Republicans say "crime" it is a code word for crimes that Black people commit.
The gop, a miasma of hypocrisy and cynicism. (Thanks, Robert!)
There are no decent republicans, there are certainly no decent republican politicians, they resigned or were voted out.
Some sarcasm and a healthy dose of snark is a very welcome relief and diversion.
This is a comment for the Lincoln Project!
I find it troubling that Judge Cannon is allowing the judiciary to go down the dangerous road of codifying executive privilege for a former federal official outside of what the current president either exerts or passes on. This ties a spurious privilege to a wannabe king rather than reserves the same right to a current executive conducting the affairs of state and shielding internal debate from congressional meddling.
Add to this the absurd argument that there is a "debate" about document storage. As a 43 year federal employee documents created in the course of government business are never mine. That business was routine. My God, state secrets could at any time be considered the property of this man-child? Trump did not comply with law and our judiciary is seriously considering that the whims of one person exist above the law.
My major concern governmentally has always been the Supreme Court. Seems like the Federalist Society has finally created the Court they wanted. I fear that Donald Trump will not be held accountable for the atrocities he has committed and that more of our individual and community rights will be taken away by this Court. I implore President Biden to enlarge it and for Americans to vote so we have the power to do just that. This is essential to our children’s survival in a free America.
Problem with that solutoon is GOP sometimes wins elections. Give the Fuehrer more seats and watch more Nazi hacks sit there.
Now is the crisis, rare is the opportunity for a President to fill a SCOTUS seat, we don't need them all - just a fair share, and if a future want-to-be dictator is so inclined, they will simply add seats to suit them regardless of present action or inaction. We can't decide not to defend ourselves because it might make a bully angry or try to hit us harder.
I love that he went straight to the appeals court with the 100 classified documents and skipped all the hooha with Cannon. It’s a bit of a dis that she rightly deserves
Did I get that right? I was re-reading your newsletter and now I am not sure. My comment is what I garnered from the Times news report
The DOJ did go straight to the Appeals Court, but is also proceeding with the special master track. That is the smart thing to do. It will ensure that Trump is held to account as soon as possible, regardless of how long the appeals process takes.
I am concerned there has been no mention of FBI searching for documents in other Trump properties. If classified documents remain unaccounted for, will other properties…and their plumbing, be investigated?
I suspect that the FBI is interviewing witnesses right now about the location of other documents.
Wish they would use ground penetrating radar on every golf course he controls. I’d start where that recent picture was taken. I don’t believe for a minute that they were there for golf.
Yeah, like Ivana’s coffin
Yes, Ivana, mother of the children. Had they perhaps told her too much? Should Melania avoid tall staircases?
Really, who buries people on a golf course? I’m not a golfer, this is a serious question.
Was Ivana perhaps a golfer? If she was, then Maybe... but if not, then seriously Why?
I wondered too!!!
Would it just be too, too whodunit to suggest that although paper is poor at holding fingerprints, the folder covers might do so? I bet we have some Saudi fingerprints on file, for starters... Plus, fingers crossed they get the film from the storage room security cameras.
I 💝 ALL your humor Robert Hubbell! You’ve offered up precious, wayyy too infrequent LOLs!!! Thank you!!!
Candidly, I struggle with how much humor to include. In the early days of the newsletter, there was more, but as the newsletter has expanded, there are tens of thousands of readers who have no idea of who I am or what my sense of humor is like. I frequently find that after I include something humorous, I receive critical notes from readers who took the statement literally and seriously. I have to respond, "It was a joke. . . . " When you have to explain to people that you were being humorous, it is probably time to stop using humor. I am waiting for someone to tell me today that they cannot find any historical reference to the Oxford Comma Riots.
I would appreciate more humor. We take ourselves too seriously way too often. People tend to respond much better to humor than to facts and figures. Just sayin'
What is the liberal antidote for the Federalist Society doing and what can we do to expand the SCOTUS?
Get 60 D Senators or kill the Filibuster after gaining at least 2 in November.
EXACTLY! Most people don't realize that the 60 vote filibuster can be ended with 50 votes and VP Harris.
Although I do not disagree with court expansion, unless there is a perennial Democrat Congress, it becomes never ending retaliatory politics. This type of governance does not bode well for the people. Cannot an expanded bench not be shrunk?
It has changed over the course of it's history and should reflect the number of judicial districts which it does not currently do. As far as prospects for retaliation, how bad would that be? Would a twenty seat court be unwieldy? Would a 35 seat court? Our House and Senate perform poorly but not due to size. Besides, since when has fear of retaliation been a good reason to avoid doing the right thing, when did anyone believe that Not doing something would prevent the GOP from doing it (honor?), and um... remember how the current GOP chosen seats got that way? The "too close to the elections" rule by Mitch? Why would we fear retaliation rather than simply expect that whether we expand the court or not, the GOP will do so later as soon as it suits their purpose?
I am not suggesting operating out of fear. Just expressing angst for revenge politics. Wrangling and compromise has been a long standing part of the governing equation, but most of that seems to take place now within a party not between parties. So, we are left with hyper partisan, out in the open politics. The Republicans showing disdain for governing in any way other than that which benefits their wealthy overlords, and the Democratic Party trying to represent the 98%, with not an insignificant number within their own ranks beholden to the same overlords.
This is the clear solution. Implementing it the trick. The result of the Roevember vote will determine the fate of our country.
Thomas, Regarding the Court, I would start by noting that it is past time for the country to expand the lower courts. Consider that the last time the federal district and circuit courts were meaningfully expanded was in 1990 and that the country’s population since then has increased by one-third.
As for the Supreme Court, because Manchin and Sinema are not alone in opposing expansion, to justify enlarging the High Court, I would underscore, after some amount of fluctuation, that in 1869 the number of justices was set at 9, wherein 1 justice was assigned to 1 of the 9 circuit courts. Today there are 13 circuit courts.
I could go on, but I imagine you get the point.
Hi, Barbara. Thank you! You have made that point before -- - and need to keep making it! I should always include it in my "expand the Court" battle cry but fail to do so. Keep reminding me and others of the need to expand the federal appellate and district courts!
Robert, Thank you for your note. I merely would add that part of our work now entails pressing our voters to prioritize judicial expansion as a crucial electoral issue.
Great point!
Jeff, I appreciate the affirmation.
Sadly, there is no equivalent organization lobbying our politicians with progressive model legislation that is a necessary counter-force to the Federalist Society or ALEC. The closest is the State Innovation Exchange (SIX), but fellow reader Jeff Carpenter researched the question and spoke to a SIX representative, who said they are more of a PAC and do not distribute model legislation, nor do they use moneyed strong-armed tactics with lawmakers.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-lefts-answer-to-alec
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/katrina-vanden-heuvel-building-a-progressive-alternative-to-alec/2014/07/28/36ee41a6-1697-11e4-9e3b-7f2f110c6265_story.html
The problem is compounded by the fact that state legislators are by and large political amateurs serving part-time off to the side of their regular day jobs. They are vulnerable to high pressure lobbyists like ALEC.
BTW, Jeff Carpenter is an amazing artist and climate activist!
https://jcarpenterstudio.com/portfolio-portfolio/public-art-projects
Thanks for the links. Very helpful.
As to Jeff Carpenter, anyone who can make a FEMA flood map into a beautiful object of art is a true artist.
The unfortunate truth is dark money is the fuel of our political system. Rich billionaire investors save millions by supporting Republicans regardless of their character and ethics and expect a return on that investment. Democrats do this also but are not as blatant and good at it as Republicans
American Constitution Society - current executive is Russ Feingold, former Wisconsin Senator. https://go.acslaw.org/webmail/584003/1086091987/c4ce92757869a45f9537c7e75e612e72e27c25f0d3e5b0c32d7c0cf245754392
Here is my solution;
1) Dems state clearly how 2 SCOTUS seats were stolen in 2015-2016.
2) Dems expand the Court by 2 seats.
3) SIMULTANEOUSLY, they put forward a Constitutional Amendment that, if passed, would permanently return the SCOTUS to 9 members. One of the newest members would then leave the Court, along with the longest serving justice (Thomas).
4) The Amendment would also have 6 long overdue Court reforms including age limits, 18 yr. term limits, a required timeframe (60 days) for the Senate to act on new SCOTUS nominees, and a means of eliminating election year trickery. The President would nominate a new person for the Court every 2 yrs., to replace the most longest serving justice.
IMO, the public would find this so fair and reasonable that Republicans in the Senate and states would be forced, over a few years, to approve the Amendment. And if they didn’t, the Court would remain much better balanced at 11 members. The GOP could wait till they controlled the Senate and White House again, and then expand the Court further, but that’s exactly what they’ve been saying would be a terrible slippery slope. In summary, they’d be (somewhat) boxed-in to doing the right thing - passing the Amendment and vastly improving the Court for the future.
I’ve written this up in more detail, but the essay was rejected for publication by WaPo, Politico, and The Hill. For it to have a decent chance of getting any traction, I think it needs to appear in a major city or national outlet. If anyone finds this idea exciting and hopeful, and would like more info, please email me at tylerinnm@aol.com. Thanks for reading this!
4 seats. 2 isn't enough to overcome the six illegitimates.
If the goal of Democrats is to “retake“ the Supreme Court, then adding four or even six justices makes sense.
My goals, instead, are to a) immediately rebalance the court in an undeniably reasonable way, and b) force the GOP to support a process to dramatically improve the court over the next few years. I see it as being about taking the long view, rather than the emotionally gratifying payback approach. The Amendment would, IMO, be a huge way for Dems to show they are still the adults in the room, who are trying to fix the big problems. And let’s the GOP keep looking as irresponsible and power-mad as possible at the same time!
An amendment has to be approved by 3/4 of the states, and since the Republicans control a majority of state legislatures, well.... good luck with that, write when you find work, have a great day....
Robert Hubbell, Have you read Lynn Truss, Eats shoots and Leaves, — blurbs “delightful, entertaining” and “who knew gramnar could be so much fun”? An entire chapter on commas.
I have, but it is clearly time to reread it! FWIW, the major style manuals are split on the Oxford Comma. CMOS says yes, AP says no.
Funny that this should come up. Yesterday's NY Times had an article about the British Department of Health and Social Care informing their employees to no longer use the Oxford comma. Apparently, the agency's new head, Therese Coffey, has "made no secret of her distaste for the Oxford comma, with social posts from more than a decade ago making clear where she stands."
That sent me right to my copy of Eats, Shoots & Leaves. I spent a pleasant evening rereading it, and laughing over Truss's very funny examples of use and misuse of punctuation. She writes that "one shouldn't be too rigid about the Oxford comma." I was surprised to find out that it is predominantly used in America, not in England.
I am terribly fond of the Oxford comma, and committed to its continued use in my own writing.
I tend to use it, but have been known to rearrange my list so as to make it more graceful with the comma. There are subtle mental things that go on in the reader's mind that are similar to poetry or music, but enhance the absorption of meaning, which are affected by punctuation and grammar. That is the real use of and justification for punctuation.
Well, Robert, you've managed to throw two buckets of cold water on textural and originalist interpretations of the Constitution. I can almost hear our Federalist Justices: 'Oh! You wicked child! We're melting!"
Wicked witches, indeed! I wonder if they float?
If we could somehow have harnessed all the psychic energy we have expended over Trump and his acolytes, we would have solved the climate crisis by now.
I keep thinking of immigrants to the US as refugees. Although their respective nations are not at war, there is internecine warfare in the sense of drug cartels, climate catastrophe, poverty and hunger. Not only are we experiencing an influx of refuge seekers, so are European countries and the Middle East. I think the "problem" is world-wide and will only grow larger with climate chaos.
Would a dedicated organization such as the UNHCR be able to shed light on solutions? Establishing refugee camps temporarily? A coalition of countries which offer insight? Really, the number of stateless wanderers is legion. Our attempts to process claims for admission is a moot point. The causes need to be addressed.
Good point: Not immigrants, refugees. Like tens of millions of ancestors for Americans who now look down on the next generation of refugees.
Thank you, Robert. Your heart is as big as the world. Allowing us to "spill our souls" here is an immeasurable gift to us. Speaking for myself, I have a lot stuck in my craw. But when I put it in writing here, it becomes manageable. I can see more clearly with the help of feedback.
Good morning, Hope, You have conjured a vivid image of our world with climate change turning the planet into a blasted heath where bands of "stateless wanderers" (fabulous phrase) roam with increasing desperation. I know my own fears lead me to exaggerate, but did we ever think we would be close enough for such a vision to be anything more than a science fiction movie?
Hi Dean! I'm taking a webinar with Carolyn Baker and Eric Garza which is addressing this vision—nightmare. Changing our perspective from NIMBY to "We are all in this together," is paramount.
Showing up as my usual moron, can you tell me what NIMBY is?
It's an acronym for "Not In My Back Yard," as when a BIPOC moves into a white neighborhood. Sometimes it's applied to liberals who espouse solutions, but don't apply them to themselves (ourselves!)
I think they are already recognized as refugees. Oh some are fleeing undeclared civil war in their respective countries
The DOJ has had all of TFG's trove of documents in its possession for over 4 weeks. Unless I am profoundly mistaken, they have copy machines in the department, or scanners or digital cameras. I'd get to work, then send 10,900 documents promptly back to MAGA-Lago, leaving exactly 100 documents, marked "Secret, Top Secret and "for certain eyes only", remaining for the good justice to review. The DOJ knows that the vast majority of those papers are not relevant to the case they are investigating, won't be missed at the US Archive (Who needs another copy of Sports Illustrated) and will only clog the wheels of justice so unceremoniously bogged down in the mud by this special master business. TFG can sit amongst his boxes and pretend to have "won", the Special Master can go about doing whatever justices do with top secret information and the DOJ can quietly go about its business. After all, until there's a charge leveled and the process of discovery begins, there's no need for either side to divulge whatever source materials they have to support their claims or position. In all likelihood many documents are either copies, or have copies elsewhere with persons/departments who don't have the illusion of "executive privilege" attached and can be retrieved with a little gumshoe work. That information may well lead to other info which can be entered in evidence without ever referring to what was stored amongst the onions and potatoes in the basement in Florida. Give the fool and the fool's lawyers what they want; an alleged "win" in the maneuvering, something to crow about, while preparing the barbecue pit for the upcoming roast.
If I’m not mistaken, the issue is whether the information obtained from these documents, or the fact that they were in the hands of tfg, can be used as evidence. Maybe Robert could clarify that
There has been no motion to suppress the evidence at trial (yet). But Cannon has issued a temporary stay on the USE of those documents in the investigation pending determination of attorney client privilege and executive privilege. None of those documents will fall within those privileges and will be able to be used.