Not directly about this but valuable to learn from. Essentially, the Right has their own, highly funded deep canvassing program, and it works: Turning Point USA “deep canvassing” program, “We were more focused on relationships built. So when you’re focused on relationships built, you actually know who that person is, something about them, what makes them tick, what moves them.” It appeared to increase turnout by both infrequent and first-time voters. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/23/us/politics/trump-turning-point-arizona-2024-election.html
The American Heritage Dictionary published in the 1970s contained this definition of Fascism:
"A philosophy or system of government that advocates or exercises a dictatorship of the extreme right, typically through the merging of state and business leadership, together with an ideology of belligerent nationalism."
Does that ring true for where Trump and the GOP are bringing us? Subsequent editions of the Dictionary up to today's contain a revised and more sanitized definition for the word that eliminates the references to the extreme right and the merging of state and business leadership. I wonder why?
Your magnificent photos always make me take a much-needed deep breath after a daily dose of our current national politics. Much appreciated, as are your insights. I'll save the column and look at the readings tomorrow. There is just so much Trump-inspired reality that I can deal with today.
Yes, our path is more difficult than in 2017 because of the collapse of the legacy media and the surrender of the billionaires and corporate leaders. But it is also much more difficult because of the corruption of our extreme court and state courts that are emboldened by the extreme court's machinations to reach conclusions they find consistent with their political views, the rule of law and adherence to precedents be damned.
Thank you for your insights today. I wish you and Jill a very blessed and happy Christmas! We will get through this madness and we AND our country will be stronger… and kinder. Clare
Thank you as always, Robert. This post was not only informative, but inspiring. This is a marathon. Pace yourselves and protect yourselves. It is midnight on the side of Everest. Endure. And when you are strong enough, take another step forward. And if you can, hold someone’s hand and pull them with you. Thank you again, Robert! We need you now more than ever!
Robert, I do believe the two provisions Musk got dropped from the CR before it was passed WAS the ballgame for him. It flexed his muscles to all and sundry. It spoke volumes about trump and his muskrat-wrangling inabilities. Musk is untouched and set to rake in billions, and billions more doing that voodoo-he-do-so-well. He just demonstrated that he can indeed “buy-the-world”. Can anyone say “Who is John Galt?”
From Steven Beschloss' question: What do you think of Elon Musk:"
What do I think of Elon?
Well, he's one lucky gambler, exploiter, buyer of talent. He may be a "visionary," but his vision is so clouded by a pro-apartheid, quasi-Nazi family ethos that his economic might is a parasite on wee little folk who run about the planet, barely making as much money in a lifetime as he makes in one, solitary earth-hour.
So, what do I think of Elon?
I'm concerned that he can buy fealty, support racists, finance militant anti-democratic groups, and have a helluva good time doing so. Remember, the super-rich are not like you and me. They're not. They breathe a different atmosphere. They have no interest in us, but for what they can pour into the airwaves to convince us that they are the Life and the Way.
Well, which way?
Witch way!
They cast a spell on so many. And Elon, with his psychedelic, mind-bent, mind-altering vision, sees the world through his own Martian Red glasses.
So, look out for Elon.
He is not going away. His wealth will only burgeon with StarLink subsidies and buyouts of top intellectual talent. Give him kudos for his ability to parley a co-ownership of PayPAl into the largest personal fortune on Planet Earth (and as far as we know, on Mars too)!
So, what do I think of Elon? Elon gives not one whit what I think of Elon. And I expect he wouldn't even if I was standing in front of him, giving him the finger.
Voter suppression, gerrymandering and foreign interference handed the election to Trump, and that was before Musk walked in and spent $277 million to consummate the deal. Pocket change for the richest man in the world. He can, and will, use his obscene wealth to buy or sue the media (or anyone else) into oblivion. Our morbidly rich billionaires are already falling over themselves to kiss the [feet] of Musk's idiot puppet.
Yes, the Democrats ran an exceptional grass roots campaign and raised a spectacular amount of money. In a different (read, normal) scenario, Harris would have won, probably in a landslide. But she got steamrolled and Musk has barely begun. As much as I try to remain confident and motivated, I have to wonder, is it realistic to think we can defeat the power of $430 billion dollars? Especially if/when mainstream media is gone?
The Panama Canal kerfuffle is just another shiny object that Trump tossed out to attract and distract. As I understand it, the canal is too small for the latest ships, and its reliance on fresh water from Lake Gatun is no longer assured. And there are maintenance costs. President Musk would surely see the folly of taking it back.
A thought about Fetterman’s acceptance of Elise Stefanik going to the UN. She can do less damage there than she can in the House.
Not directly about this but valuable to learn from. Essentially, the Right has their own, highly funded deep canvassing program, and it works: Turning Point USA “deep canvassing” program, “We were more focused on relationships built. So when you’re focused on relationships built, you actually know who that person is, something about them, what makes them tick, what moves them.” It appeared to increase turnout by both infrequent and first-time voters. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/23/us/politics/trump-turning-point-arizona-2024-election.html
The American Heritage Dictionary published in the 1970s contained this definition of Fascism:
"A philosophy or system of government that advocates or exercises a dictatorship of the extreme right, typically through the merging of state and business leadership, together with an ideology of belligerent nationalism."
Does that ring true for where Trump and the GOP are bringing us? Subsequent editions of the Dictionary up to today's contain a revised and more sanitized definition for the word that eliminates the references to the extreme right and the merging of state and business leadership. I wonder why?
Your magnificent photos always make me take a much-needed deep breath after a daily dose of our current national politics. Much appreciated, as are your insights. I'll save the column and look at the readings tomorrow. There is just so much Trump-inspired reality that I can deal with today.
Yes, our path is more difficult than in 2017 because of the collapse of the legacy media and the surrender of the billionaires and corporate leaders. But it is also much more difficult because of the corruption of our extreme court and state courts that are emboldened by the extreme court's machinations to reach conclusions they find consistent with their political views, the rule of law and adherence to precedents be damned.
How long will it be before Trump says (re Musk), …”I barely knew him…” 💁
Hi, I was hoping to join you at 5:00 CST but couldn’t find an alert in the app. Help?
SOLIDARITY 💙 💙 💙 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸👊👊👊
Haman's role as Vizier for Ahasuerus is what is being reprised by Musk for Trump.
Shadenfreude is the emotion we will all be savoring over the next 18 months.
Quote:
Join Jill and I to raise a glass ... Should be Join me. Not Join I. You know this!
Thank you for your insights today. I wish you and Jill a very blessed and happy Christmas! We will get through this madness and we AND our country will be stronger… and kinder. Clare
Thank you as always, Robert. This post was not only informative, but inspiring. This is a marathon. Pace yourselves and protect yourselves. It is midnight on the side of Everest. Endure. And when you are strong enough, take another step forward. And if you can, hold someone’s hand and pull them with you. Thank you again, Robert! We need you now more than ever!
Robert, I do believe the two provisions Musk got dropped from the CR before it was passed WAS the ballgame for him. It flexed his muscles to all and sundry. It spoke volumes about trump and his muskrat-wrangling inabilities. Musk is untouched and set to rake in billions, and billions more doing that voodoo-he-do-so-well. He just demonstrated that he can indeed “buy-the-world”. Can anyone say “Who is John Galt?”
From Steven Beschloss' question: What do you think of Elon Musk:"
What do I think of Elon?
Well, he's one lucky gambler, exploiter, buyer of talent. He may be a "visionary," but his vision is so clouded by a pro-apartheid, quasi-Nazi family ethos that his economic might is a parasite on wee little folk who run about the planet, barely making as much money in a lifetime as he makes in one, solitary earth-hour.
So, what do I think of Elon?
I'm concerned that he can buy fealty, support racists, finance militant anti-democratic groups, and have a helluva good time doing so. Remember, the super-rich are not like you and me. They're not. They breathe a different atmosphere. They have no interest in us, but for what they can pour into the airwaves to convince us that they are the Life and the Way.
Well, which way?
Witch way!
They cast a spell on so many. And Elon, with his psychedelic, mind-bent, mind-altering vision, sees the world through his own Martian Red glasses.
So, look out for Elon.
He is not going away. His wealth will only burgeon with StarLink subsidies and buyouts of top intellectual talent. Give him kudos for his ability to parley a co-ownership of PayPAl into the largest personal fortune on Planet Earth (and as far as we know, on Mars too)!
So, what do I think of Elon? Elon gives not one whit what I think of Elon. And I expect he wouldn't even if I was standing in front of him, giving him the finger.
Voter suppression, gerrymandering and foreign interference handed the election to Trump, and that was before Musk walked in and spent $277 million to consummate the deal. Pocket change for the richest man in the world. He can, and will, use his obscene wealth to buy or sue the media (or anyone else) into oblivion. Our morbidly rich billionaires are already falling over themselves to kiss the [feet] of Musk's idiot puppet.
Yes, the Democrats ran an exceptional grass roots campaign and raised a spectacular amount of money. In a different (read, normal) scenario, Harris would have won, probably in a landslide. But she got steamrolled and Musk has barely begun. As much as I try to remain confident and motivated, I have to wonder, is it realistic to think we can defeat the power of $430 billion dollars? Especially if/when mainstream media is gone?
The Panama Canal kerfuffle is just another shiny object that Trump tossed out to attract and distract. As I understand it, the canal is too small for the latest ships, and its reliance on fresh water from Lake Gatun is no longer assured. And there are maintenance costs. President Musk would surely see the folly of taking it back.
A thought about Fetterman’s acceptance of Elise Stefanik going to the UN. She can do less damage there than she can in the House.