Someone close to me once said: "At least, if Romney had become President, it wouldn't be that bad." Apparently, it would indeed be very bad. Why do we keep looking to the likes of Collins and Romney when ultimately they still feel comfortable with the Republican brand? A brand that now represents financial irresponsibility and the support of a coup? The GOP is aligned with anarchists and seditionists.
Democrats are on their own. To be bi-partisan now is a useless and delusional waste of precious time.
I love the way Republicans howl about not spending a dime to raise our debt limit but insist that we spend more on the military-industrial complex. Because heaven forfend that paying billions to contractors who donate to their campaigns is untouchable. We spend 1/2 of of our GDP on the military and the Pentagon has NEVER PASSED AN AUDIT. This is corruption plain and simple, according to Lt. Col. Lawrence Wilkerson. Why does nobody ever talk about this? Fortunately, someone did: https://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2021/09/20/the-members-of-congress-who-want-to-rethink-the-pentagons-budget
And not to mention that the US military budget is larger than that of the next 11 countries combined, including China, Russia, India, German, France, UK, Saudi Arabia etc. America doesn't have a problem of too little tax revenue; it has a problem of spending it in the wrong places.
Childish, that’s what the GOP behavior is, but they are playing with loaded guns. I have been almost paralyzed with disbelief. The Gaines memo is explosive. I hope the DOJ will begin to address some of this low-hanging, rotting fruit. Thank you for clarifying that DEMs can still raise the debt ceiling, and for applauding “doing the right thing.” Your swipe at Thomas was deliciously justified.
I'm going to say it: I guess I was wrong. I opined that at least some Republicans, thirsting for decency, would keep the nation from defaulting. I guess not. (Just one more piece of evidence that the GOP is in a death spiral with a steadily narrowing diameter.)
I think the current bill to raise the debt limit may get 1 or 2 Republican votes in the Senate (Cassidy said he might support it), but the bill needs 10 GOP votes.
I know this may sound fantastical, but I think we've dropped into the United States of Wonderland. Everyone is mad. McConnell is the mad queen, and we've been sentenced before the verdict.
I wrote to both our senators and our representative yesterday because I am completely fed up with this monkey business. The Republican Party is manufacturing chaos just to keep us divided and to keep us from solving immediate problems. It drives me crazy. We the people have a right to decent infrastructure, both physical and social; the right to vote unimpeded by convoluted laws; the right to public health that keeps us safe, etc. These are bullying tactics engaged in by unscrupulous actors. It is hurting all of us and is deeply disruptive to trying to deal with day to day life.
I agree with everything you've written today, Robert. I want to add this thought: Mitch McConnell and his wife apparently see themselves as future oligarchs under an autocratic, favor-granting leader. They have come close to turning their roles into that sort of arrangement already, and the "good people" of Kentucky, much like the good people of many other states, keep accepting the "pork barrel" largesse that keeps coming their way in Kentucky. And of course they're against changing the taxed inheritance limits and rules. They want to make their succeeding generations rich and powerful, too, and have streets and buildings and airports and towns names after them. Oh, and statues that some of our own future generations will finally pull down.
I encourage us all to keep posting those charts that show which states are consistently sending the most money to the capitol to be redistributed to the states whose leaders and elected representatives keep their poor poor and thus never have enough money to take care of much of anything but themselves. get the most money from the states whose rights and workers are benefitting.McConnell is the worst of the worst. And his wife is a close second and I hope the DOJ eventually throws the book at both of them along with all their chums. Thanks for this nice opportunity to vent.
I love the helmet motorcycle accident comparison. We will give you care only if you don't wear a helmet. Ask any first-grade teacher if that is how she would teach. Maybe we are such a foolish country that we cannot sustain the thinking a democracy requires. Argh.
I hardly know where to begin. Thank you, Robert, for writing this newsletter. Your experience and acumen are awesome. Plus, you have a great editor😊. I’m incredulous with the sheer puerile, transparency of the Republican Party. I suppose they think the American public is a bunch of morons, and it sure looks that way sometimes. However, I know for sure there are many more of US than THEM.
Ok, I don’t know for sure, but I really hope so. It’s almost laughable if it weren’t so alarming! I try to think back to junior high … what ultimately happened to bullies? They were undone and skulked off to inhabit the dark realm under a rock. That’s what I hope happens to those whose names I shall not utter. Thanks for listening.
Someone close to me once said: "At least, if Romney had become President, it wouldn't be that bad." Apparently, it would indeed be very bad. Why do we keep looking to the likes of Collins and Romney when ultimately they still feel comfortable with the Republican brand? A brand that now represents financial irresponsibility and the support of a coup? The GOP is aligned with anarchists and seditionists.
Democrats are on their own. To be bi-partisan now is a useless and delusional waste of precious time.
Another spot on letter, Robert. Thanks.
Susan Collins just endorsed Paul LePage for Governor of Maine. LePage is Trump without the polish. He nearly destroyed Maine in his prior two terms in office. See Paul LePage Is Back. And Maine Is Terrified. - POLITICO https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2021/09/23/paul-lepage-is-back-and-maine-is-terrified-513745
Goooooood heavens. She is just a bottomless pit, an empty shell of ethics. Zippo. He is a total train wreck.
Oh Robert...
We lived in Maine through those years. Paul LePage is a monster. A sick, cruel person.
I love the way Republicans howl about not spending a dime to raise our debt limit but insist that we spend more on the military-industrial complex. Because heaven forfend that paying billions to contractors who donate to their campaigns is untouchable. We spend 1/2 of of our GDP on the military and the Pentagon has NEVER PASSED AN AUDIT. This is corruption plain and simple, according to Lt. Col. Lawrence Wilkerson. Why does nobody ever talk about this? Fortunately, someone did: https://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2021/09/20/the-members-of-congress-who-want-to-rethink-the-pentagons-budget
And not to mention that the US military budget is larger than that of the next 11 countries combined, including China, Russia, India, German, France, UK, Saudi Arabia etc. America doesn't have a problem of too little tax revenue; it has a problem of spending it in the wrong places.
Childish, that’s what the GOP behavior is, but they are playing with loaded guns. I have been almost paralyzed with disbelief. The Gaines memo is explosive. I hope the DOJ will begin to address some of this low-hanging, rotting fruit. Thank you for clarifying that DEMs can still raise the debt ceiling, and for applauding “doing the right thing.” Your swipe at Thomas was deliciously justified.
I meant Eastman, not Gaines.
I'm going to say it: I guess I was wrong. I opined that at least some Republicans, thirsting for decency, would keep the nation from defaulting. I guess not. (Just one more piece of evidence that the GOP is in a death spiral with a steadily narrowing diameter.)
I think the current bill to raise the debt limit may get 1 or 2 Republican votes in the Senate (Cassidy said he might support it), but the bill needs 10 GOP votes.
Sigh.
I'd add unpatriotic and treasonous to the adjectives describing McConnell.
Agreed!
I know this may sound fantastical, but I think we've dropped into the United States of Wonderland. Everyone is mad. McConnell is the mad queen, and we've been sentenced before the verdict.
submit that plot to Netflix for its next serial drama about a dystopian future . . .
The future is here.
I wrote to both our senators and our representative yesterday because I am completely fed up with this monkey business. The Republican Party is manufacturing chaos just to keep us divided and to keep us from solving immediate problems. It drives me crazy. We the people have a right to decent infrastructure, both physical and social; the right to vote unimpeded by convoluted laws; the right to public health that keeps us safe, etc. These are bullying tactics engaged in by unscrupulous actors. It is hurting all of us and is deeply disruptive to trying to deal with day to day life.
I agree with everything you've written today, Robert. I want to add this thought: Mitch McConnell and his wife apparently see themselves as future oligarchs under an autocratic, favor-granting leader. They have come close to turning their roles into that sort of arrangement already, and the "good people" of Kentucky, much like the good people of many other states, keep accepting the "pork barrel" largesse that keeps coming their way in Kentucky. And of course they're against changing the taxed inheritance limits and rules. They want to make their succeeding generations rich and powerful, too, and have streets and buildings and airports and towns names after them. Oh, and statues that some of our own future generations will finally pull down.
I encourage us all to keep posting those charts that show which states are consistently sending the most money to the capitol to be redistributed to the states whose leaders and elected representatives keep their poor poor and thus never have enough money to take care of much of anything but themselves. get the most money from the states whose rights and workers are benefitting.McConnell is the worst of the worst. And his wife is a close second and I hope the DOJ eventually throws the book at both of them along with all their chums. Thanks for this nice opportunity to vent.
I love the helmet motorcycle accident comparison. We will give you care only if you don't wear a helmet. Ask any first-grade teacher if that is how she would teach. Maybe we are such a foolish country that we cannot sustain the thinking a democracy requires. Argh.
McConnell is the devil incarnate. Hateful, horrible, amoral, souless.
I hardly know where to begin. Thank you, Robert, for writing this newsletter. Your experience and acumen are awesome. Plus, you have a great editor😊. I’m incredulous with the sheer puerile, transparency of the Republican Party. I suppose they think the American public is a bunch of morons, and it sure looks that way sometimes. However, I know for sure there are many more of US than THEM.
Ok, I don’t know for sure, but I really hope so. It’s almost laughable if it weren’t so alarming! I try to think back to junior high … what ultimately happened to bullies? They were undone and skulked off to inhabit the dark realm under a rock. That’s what I hope happens to those whose names I shall not utter. Thanks for listening.