traitor Trump subverting democracy; Keillor takes down Trump; Emmy for Rachel; reorganize?
Dave
>>>maybe these groups should meet, brainstorm, continue organizing
Both these groups formed and surged in reaction to George Bush getting elected and almost disappeared under Obama (even though there will forever be “miles before we sleep”).
Maybe meet again?
Maybe partner? Maybe go back to partnering with other groups?
It’s an understatement that 2018 will be important.
2020 will be even more important.
Not only is it a prez year, it’s also a census year. Last census year in 2010 was a big victory when repubs possibly got their greatest ntl and local victories as a result of winning in 2010 (when the Obama peeps went on vacation) and then held the cards to do gerrymandering that still profoundly impacts us today.
Since dem groups seem to fracture and more easily lull, if dems win in 2018, might it take steam out of the sails for 2020?
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Anti-American Subversion
At today’s press briefing, WH claims back channels are an appropriate part of diplomacy.
That’s true… if you’re elected/hired/authorized to be part of the international gov relations.
I remember a post on this listserv ages ago when it was revealed/confirmed that Candidate Nixon interfered with peace negotiations with Vietnam (convincing leaders that he’d offer them more favorable terms if he became Prez). Result: Peace negotiations with the sitting Prez were derailed, and Dems lost the election amidst politicking and rhetoric that Repubs would better solve Vietnam War. Nixon didn’t honor that secret promise, instead ramped up the war, and was one of the stronger examples (might even be the source?) of the phrase “Politicians lie. People die.”
Prez Johnson and FBI had recordings of Prez Nixon’s subterfuge, but I can’t recall why they couldn’t or wouldn’t release that intel and those tapes before the election. [Why didn’t Comey reveal the Russia ongoing investigations?] If they had, far fewer would’ve died, and countless fewer wouldn’t have additionally been sent off to prolonged war (and what they brought home with them –impacting families, stress, ptsd, suicide, homelessness, hopelessness, substance abuse…).
[Of serious consequence: some talking heads suggesting starting/ramping up war appearing to be a good strategic option for Trump –just like Nixon did.]
History seems to insist on repeating itself.
Prez candidates are not authorized diplomats. Haven’t been elected yet to do that job.
Candidates that do that are actually (illegally?) interfering with the existing Prez and their constitutional authority to make/enforce policy.
Candidates that do that with a nation like Russia that is intentionally/strategically/prolonged messing with The West are not doing diplomacy, they are anti-American traitors. They are assisting foreign adversaries (and themselves) to subvert democracy (and profit from seizing/manipulating/misusing power).
Those communications by Jared/Flynn/Trump/et al (like Sec DeVos’ brother and founder of Blackwater) weren’t back channels. They were more like how General Benedict Arnold had communications with the Brits.
It’s only back channels if it’s approved and known to the intel, military, and duly elected policy makers.
Anything else is subversion, chicanery, profiteering, duplicity... call it what you will.
Even if these investigations go to their fullest conclusion, what’s the point if Trump can pardon his son-in-law? Why skewer Flynn and let go the others in the same room/discussions like Jared?
If Trump is impeached, is Pence honorable enough to not pardon traitors?
How do you address a stolen Presidency and stolen Supreme Court?
Is (true) justice possible?
Thank goodness for journalists and articles like http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/kushner-following-orders_us_592cb0afe4b053f2d2ada74b?ncid=inblnkushpmg00000009# Kushner Following Trump’s Orders On Secret Link With Russia
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http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/9/1/1565923/-Garrison-Keillor-Eviscerates-Trump
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Today Trump tweeted that the Russians are laughing at us.
True, but not for the reasons Trump imagines.
Putin already got more than he could’ve hoped for:
Trump pals and laughs with Russians and insults our allies.
Did our nation collectively take a trip into the twilight zone?
How can half a nation blindly back a subverter-in-chief (and look the other way from him doing the opposite of campaign stumps --like becoming vacationing golfer-in-chief and being the most expensive vacationing prez [already costing taxpayers in first three months what Obama cost in 8 yrs], “nobody will be tougher on the Russians than me,” “lock her up” for harmless emails when he has the buffoonery of revealing intel several levels higher and highest level of security classification, mocks Obama for bowing to receive medal but then Trump bows AND curtseys to Saudis, … )?
How can they hero-worship Reagan and then support someone that’s the antithesis?
How can evangelicals praise Trump and be so blind that Trumpism is not What Jesus Would Do? Did they discover some new biblical passage that’s a get-outta-hell-exemption for Trump and Trumpism?
Trump was a national embarrassment at the NATO meeting in Brussels.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/5/30/1667281/-Prime-Ministers-of-Five-Countries-Openly-Mock-Trump
German PM responds to [idiot-tweeter-in-chief] and says today that it looks like Europe will have to do this without the US.
Hilarious how often Melanie swatted away Trump’s attempts to hold her hand on this overseas trip.
I know it’s a pipe dream to think Trump (or any US prez) will ever be behind bars. He was so scandalously dirty (with thousands of lawsuits) that the only real escape for him was to manipulate into becoming Prez.
How can a society ever reach a point of electing someone so heinous (with that many lawsuits seeking justice and restitution from Trump’s misdeeds, with decades of disrespect towards women, with decades of taking advantage of hard working contractors, with decades of ties to mobsters/intl money launderers/dirty and criminal funds…)?
Ironically, we may need new laws or a society like the Russians (at least in part) where the Romanovs (as Chris Matthews refers to the Trumps) can be tried/exiled/punished for excesses and abuses. How respected will we be to the international community for Trump to get secret service protection for the rest of his life rather than 3 squares and a cot?
How do we make a honest, just society?
How do we get people to show up when it’s hard/difficult to carry on?
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bcc’d to news sources:
Please continue digging deeper.
Since Repub Congress is disgracefully irresponsible (traitorous to their constituents –especially to their constituents that were gerrymandered to make their vote irrelevant), we need the 5th Estate more than ever.
Love it that a DC pizza shop had a free pizza special for journalists.
Howard Stern recently congratulated Rachel for becoming the new #1 cable news show. He also thanked Rachel for her insights and for helping him to look smarter with his kids and his friends by repeating whatever she shared the night before.
Having recently seen the Walter Cronkite Memorial (his desk, old tv studio equipment, his Emmies…), I couldn’t help but think that there’d be something similar someday for Rachel. She is a national treasure and deserves Emmies for her body of work and especially for her analysis over these last few months.
Patiently hoping we escape the twilight zone (like the twilight zone episode where town fears little boy with power over them –and now we have that petulant little boy in the WH),
Dave
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It%27s_a_Good_Life_(The_Twilight_Zone)
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=It%27s+a+Good+Life+%28The+Twilight+Zone%29