Lithwick has earned the ‘phrase maker award’ for “the great greased watermelon that is the former president”! Indeed paints an appalling vision of that creature!
Anthony Citrano summarized that "it's almost impossible to believe he exists. It's as if we took everything that is bad about America, scraped it off the floor, wrapped it all up in an old hot dog skin, and then taught it how to make noises with its face." I found that to be a great analogy of DJT.
Yesterday morning my husband & I agreed that our trio of daily newsletters by Heather Cox Richardson, Joyce Vance & Robert Hubbell are the perfect way to start the day - excellent historical perspective, fine legal analysis & words that inspire us to action!
Nothing more dangerous than a cornered wounded animal (or watermelon) - expect violent thrashing as he is taken down. But the center will hold, and we'll emerge a stronger country, in part due to the relentless optimistic activism promoted in gathering places like Today's Edition Newsletter, Letters from an American, and Chop Wood, Carry Water. Jefferson's caution "Eternal vigilance is the price of Freedom!" has never been truer, or more timely. Thanks to everyone working to ensure the survival of our democracy; never give up.
As a retiree, I decided in July that my full time “job” would try to be saving democracy. I happily volunteer with Swing Blue Alliance and Mission 4 Arizona. Retirees, unite! We may not have a lot of money, but we have time!
That's my full time "job," too. I phone bank and organize and travel to swing states to canvass with Common Power (based in Seattle). As Joan Baez said, "Action is the antidote to despair!"
Wow. "the FBI “took them out of cartons and spread them around on the carpet.” He sounds just like the toddler he is. "Mommy, he made a mess of my stuff!"
I'm beginning to feel hopeful. Like coming out of a long, dark tunnel.....
You know it isn't true. That was how the FBI found them. Why were they on the floor? Because he believes the documents are his (in his mind). I believe that Trump believes his own lie that he is still President and he is running a shadow presidency, pretending to have all the trappings of the office including official documents for him to fondle and lay on the floor.
".....documents for him to fondle and lay on the floor"
Thanks, Miriam, for my big laugh of the day. Did you mean for "lay" to be a double entendre? Even if not, it sure lays out a pretty gross mental image :)
Peltola's win in the AK US House races reminds us of the importance of the House. If we lose the House nothing will get done, even if we hold or increase our majority in the Senate, which now seems very likely. And we will be harassed by the likes of Kevin McCarthy, Jim Jordan and Marjory Taylor Green. Moreover virtually all the leading Dem Senate candidates have a huge amount of money, including relative to their R opponents. And marginal dollars generally go to marginal-value TV ads. But in the House there are a fair number of very competitive candidates, who are in need of support. We need to weigh in there with the current trend in our direction if we are to maintain our razor thin majority.
31st St. Swing Left has prioritized 6 for financial support, based on funding need and apparent potential to win - described on our website: https://www.31ststreet.org/
There are of course other worthy House races in need of money - and other important things we can do beside donate money to help.
Did you know that Andrew Yang, former democratic presidential candidate is beginning a new party, 'Forward" (I think) which does exactly that? It's compelling but I hope he waits until after the next election. It will do away with the electoral college. Yang is a very smart man. He hopes to entice some Republicans and Independents to form a middle way party.
Is Trump really so stupid to do so much self harm or is his goal to get indicted and get his base super engaged. The ongoing focus on him will make it almost impossible for another Republican to take the mantle. For him that’s good. An indictment is a long way from a conviction.
The fundraising opportunities all this presents are the mother lode.
For now the DOJ should keep building the case and showing evidence to the public so that only the most unpersuadable are left in the Trump base.
Re Peltola's win over Palin and another Republican (Begich):
1. Ain't nothing wrong with "Let's you and him fight" as a path to victory.
2. Alaska used "Ranked Choice Voting". For Peltola to have overcome Palin's initial lead means that a majority of Begich voters actively preferred Peltola to Palin as a second choice. This speaks well for the strategy of making anti-Trump pro-Democracy a theme in the midterms. In states without Ranked Choice such Republicans will have the choice of staying home or even voting Dem in order to defeat Trumpism, and some number will do this, in spite of and maybe even because of the MAGA loudmouths.
There are many days when, as a retiree myself, I think....I have neglected all my fun things in my "golden years". Haven't studied Italian in ages, haven't baked anything.....whatever...am I nuts? Then I read comments like your reader yesterday and Emily today and I realize....no, I am not crazy. I am doing the exact right thing to fight for democracy. It always helps to have others reinforce that I am not alone in this. Thank you.
I know what you mean! I spend a good part of the day writing and posting - and now I'm going to attend the 9/7 event and see how I can be more efficient and effective. There will be time for hobbies and other pleasures after this Nov....and before gearing up for 11/24!!!
Sep 1, 2022·edited Sep 1, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell
Yes, immediate indictments are justified because of the damning evidence of Trump's having the documents, hiding them despite the subpoena, and "obstructing". BUT Garland said DOJ was at an "early stage of the investigation" of larger underlying crimes. So the documents charges might await a larger indictment, perhaps the "espionage" DOJ cited? I wish charges are brought before November but I'm 'fraid not. Tell me I'm wrong!
A more sinister view of the top secret documents in Trump's drawer with his passports is the direct connection to leaving the country with the documents to sell to a foreign adversary, the blatant answer to the question of why he took them. Reminds me of that old rhyme, "... Spectacles. Wallet. Watch. Passports. Docs."
Indeed... I concur... I have this very nasty feeling that a bunch of docs are already in Russian or even North Korean or Chinese hands (probably as scanned pdfs... and thus we (CIA, others spies) are in the process of verifying what and to whom... which will take some time. This is a man that will sell anything to anybody just to make a buck... zero conscience. 🙄😕
Shout out for hard copies and paper trails! From deep inside the rabbit hole, Trump’s own words have not brought him down, but paper documents likely will. IMO, tangible media, like paper documents, are of higher value than electronic media, NFT’s notwithstanding!
It's a bit misleading to discuss Trump's words in the context of a criminal investigation. Trump is real good at speaking to his base and his extremist followers in a way that paints him as a victim of a "deep state" ... whatever that is. His words are a dog whistle to his violent minions to rile them up and scare us away. In other words, he's saying "Sure. I did it. But you're illegitimate, so it doesn't matter what you have to say.
The FP's own attorney admitted to the existence of the classified documents and added that guests are entertained in the office where the docs were kept. Well played, Donnie; well played!
Adding my voice of thanks for recommending Focus4Democracy and the groups they support. Have been on board since May. They’re an impressive team. Whatever your readers can do to support them will be put to important strategic use. See you there in September! ❤️🤍💙
Lithwick has earned the ‘phrase maker award’ for “the great greased watermelon that is the former president”! Indeed paints an appalling vision of that creature!
Anthony Citrano summarized that "it's almost impossible to believe he exists. It's as if we took everything that is bad about America, scraped it off the floor, wrapped it all up in an old hot dog skin, and then taught it how to make noises with its face." I found that to be a great analogy of DJT.
Apologies to the hot dog, one of my favorite lunches, the description is brilliant!
Yes, I am so happy Robert pointed out Ms. Lithwick's indelible expression. I will most certainly be using it, and already have!
Yes. What a great turn of phrase
Yesterday morning my husband & I agreed that our trio of daily newsletters by Heather Cox Richardson, Joyce Vance & Robert Hubbell are the perfect way to start the day - excellent historical perspective, fine legal analysis & words that inspire us to action!
Thank you, Robert!
Ditto!! I am no longer alone, as I often felt I was. Not only that, but three brilliant minds to keep us company. What a good feeling.
Nothing more dangerous than a cornered wounded animal (or watermelon) - expect violent thrashing as he is taken down. But the center will hold, and we'll emerge a stronger country, in part due to the relentless optimistic activism promoted in gathering places like Today's Edition Newsletter, Letters from an American, and Chop Wood, Carry Water. Jefferson's caution "Eternal vigilance is the price of Freedom!" has never been truer, or more timely. Thanks to everyone working to ensure the survival of our democracy; never give up.
As a retiree, I decided in July that my full time “job” would try to be saving democracy. I happily volunteer with Swing Blue Alliance and Mission 4 Arizona. Retirees, unite! We may not have a lot of money, but we have time!
That's my full time "job," too. I phone bank and organize and travel to swing states to canvass with Common Power (based in Seattle). As Joan Baez said, "Action is the antidote to despair!"
Amen to that!!
Wow. "the FBI “took them out of cartons and spread them around on the carpet.” He sounds just like the toddler he is. "Mommy, he made a mess of my stuff!"
I'm beginning to feel hopeful. Like coming out of a long, dark tunnel.....
You know it isn't true. That was how the FBI found them. Why were they on the floor? Because he believes the documents are his (in his mind). I believe that Trump believes his own lie that he is still President and he is running a shadow presidency, pretending to have all the trappings of the office including official documents for him to fondle and lay on the floor.
".....documents for him to fondle and lay on the floor"
Thanks, Miriam, for my big laugh of the day. Did you mean for "lay" to be a double entendre? Even if not, it sure lays out a pretty gross mental image :)
My error. I just read today's WAPO and it reports that the agents did lay out the documents on the floor. I still stand by sentences 3 and 4.
Peltola's win in the AK US House races reminds us of the importance of the House. If we lose the House nothing will get done, even if we hold or increase our majority in the Senate, which now seems very likely. And we will be harassed by the likes of Kevin McCarthy, Jim Jordan and Marjory Taylor Green. Moreover virtually all the leading Dem Senate candidates have a huge amount of money, including relative to their R opponents. And marginal dollars generally go to marginal-value TV ads. But in the House there are a fair number of very competitive candidates, who are in need of support. We need to weigh in there with the current trend in our direction if we are to maintain our razor thin majority.
31st St. Swing Left has prioritized 6 for financial support, based on funding need and apparent potential to win - described on our website: https://www.31ststreet.org/
There are of course other worthy House races in need of money - and other important things we can do beside donate money to help.
Thank you for this useful analysis.
Ranked choice voting may be the best way to weed out the MAGA nut jobs. Needs to be the national standard.
Did you know that Andrew Yang, former democratic presidential candidate is beginning a new party, 'Forward" (I think) which does exactly that? It's compelling but I hope he waits until after the next election. It will do away with the electoral college. Yang is a very smart man. He hopes to entice some Republicans and Independents to form a middle way party.
I believe that as well! It pushes people and issues more toward the middle!
Is Trump really so stupid to do so much self harm or is his goal to get indicted and get his base super engaged. The ongoing focus on him will make it almost impossible for another Republican to take the mantle. For him that’s good. An indictment is a long way from a conviction.
The fundraising opportunities all this presents are the mother lode.
For now the DOJ should keep building the case and showing evidence to the public so that only the most unpersuadable are left in the Trump base.
Re Peltola's win over Palin and another Republican (Begich):
1. Ain't nothing wrong with "Let's you and him fight" as a path to victory.
2. Alaska used "Ranked Choice Voting". For Peltola to have overcome Palin's initial lead means that a majority of Begich voters actively preferred Peltola to Palin as a second choice. This speaks well for the strategy of making anti-Trump pro-Democracy a theme in the midterms. In states without Ranked Choice such Republicans will have the choice of staying home or even voting Dem in order to defeat Trumpism, and some number will do this, in spite of and maybe even because of the MAGA loudmouths.
There are many days when, as a retiree myself, I think....I have neglected all my fun things in my "golden years". Haven't studied Italian in ages, haven't baked anything.....whatever...am I nuts? Then I read comments like your reader yesterday and Emily today and I realize....no, I am not crazy. I am doing the exact right thing to fight for democracy. It always helps to have others reinforce that I am not alone in this. Thank you.
I know what you mean! I spend a good part of the day writing and posting - and now I'm going to attend the 9/7 event and see how I can be more efficient and effective. There will be time for hobbies and other pleasures after this Nov....and before gearing up for 11/24!!!
Yes, immediate indictments are justified because of the damning evidence of Trump's having the documents, hiding them despite the subpoena, and "obstructing". BUT Garland said DOJ was at an "early stage of the investigation" of larger underlying crimes. So the documents charges might await a larger indictment, perhaps the "espionage" DOJ cited? I wish charges are brought before November but I'm 'fraid not. Tell me I'm wrong!
A more sinister view of the top secret documents in Trump's drawer with his passports is the direct connection to leaving the country with the documents to sell to a foreign adversary, the blatant answer to the question of why he took them. Reminds me of that old rhyme, "... Spectacles. Wallet. Watch. Passports. Docs."
Indeed... I concur... I have this very nasty feeling that a bunch of docs are already in Russian or even North Korean or Chinese hands (probably as scanned pdfs... and thus we (CIA, others spies) are in the process of verifying what and to whom... which will take some time. This is a man that will sell anything to anybody just to make a buck... zero conscience. 🙄😕
Shout out for hard copies and paper trails! From deep inside the rabbit hole, Trump’s own words have not brought him down, but paper documents likely will. IMO, tangible media, like paper documents, are of higher value than electronic media, NFT’s notwithstanding!
It's a bit misleading to discuss Trump's words in the context of a criminal investigation. Trump is real good at speaking to his base and his extremist followers in a way that paints him as a victim of a "deep state" ... whatever that is. His words are a dog whistle to his violent minions to rile them up and scare us away. In other words, he's saying "Sure. I did it. But you're illegitimate, so it doesn't matter what you have to say.
The FP's own attorney admitted to the existence of the classified documents and added that guests are entertained in the office where the docs were kept. Well played, Donnie; well played!
Adding my voice of thanks for recommending Focus4Democracy and the groups they support. Have been on board since May. They’re an impressive team. Whatever your readers can do to support them will be put to important strategic use. See you there in September! ❤️🤍💙