Democrats, Indpendents and moderate Republicans must come together for the next few election cycles to say Democracy Matters. This means some voters having to vote for Democrats, when they would prefer not to, but it also means the Democrats have to pursue more moderate and fiscally conservative policies when given the power. It's a coalition we must form for the sake of our country, and when the danger has passed, then we can go back to debating policy differences.
I've recently seen multiple conservatives crowing about Biden engaging in human trafficking. I've noticed one thing about conservatives: every accusation is a confession.
I have for a long time now had a problem with the phrasing that we are headed for a "Second Civil War", or even a "Civil War" for that matter. The "real" Civil War (1861-1865), as are most other "wars" in history, was a battle between armies, led by Generals, fighting on each other's "sovereign" territory for an easily defined philosophical goal.
What is now being bandied about as a "civil war" is an insurrection, at best, by angry civilians who have guns (lots of them, thanks to a grammatically incorrect interpretation of the Second Amendment), and want an over-grown man-child as their leader. Ike showed what to do with that kind of uprising when another fire-brand tried to stop the federal government from acting legally and accordng to the law.
They refer to DeSantis recruiting a "bird dog" to lie to and exploit immigrants.
Isn't human trafficking "coyote" a more accurate term?
DeSantis is prepared to spend $12 million to traffic human cargo out of Florida.
I don't think DeSantis has targeted wisely so far. Venezuelan voters in Florida have tended to support Republicans because they perceive Democrats as "soft" on socialism. These are LEGAL immigrants seeking asylum. If DeSantis had welcomed them and assisted them in a few years many of them would have become Republican voters for life like most of their Cuban peers.
Apparently the short term benefit of his "assholery" out weighed any long term political common sense.
There is a lot of truth in the idea that the battle for the Republican nomination will be about being crowned King of the Jerks. But in the end, I think it will be worse than that. The winner will be the better Evangelist for a conspiratorial gospel with a narrative about the demon left. The crazy, to be effective, needs to constantly provide new emotional highs.
No surprise that DeSantis and his minions did not think through all of the ramifications of their actions. Because it's foremost about the show and making a strong impression, not about actual viable public policy. And it's about winning at any and all costs, and courting favor within the tribe, rather than trying to seek unity and move forward together. And it's about the lack of respect for the democratic process no less than the lack of respect for the people impacted by that lack of respect.
Put it all together and you have a pretty good, reasonably full snapshot of the current GOP, with hefty doses of anger, cruelty, and shamelessness as the seasoning salt to the toxic stew. Come whatever may of these events in our national evolution, I am certain that history books will tell the story very differently for future generations than the perpetrators intend for it to be.
So unfair! The whole point of a special master is to be fair to Trump. Judge Cannon better jump in and restore some fairness. We don't want to turn this into another failed Russia, Russia, Russia witch hunt! [Yes, sarcasm :) ]
If you read the Atlantic's piece on Why Bill Barr Turned On Trump, it's a lot easier to think that the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals will uphold DOJ's petition to allow use the 100 classified documents in their investigation. Hard to believe that many of these judges, even up to and on the SCOTUS, will want to codify any limitation on a sitting president's powers....
Spend some time contemplating how a civil war would actually play out. I have thought about this a lot and have reached several conclusions.
First, it would not take the historical pattern of the first American civil war. A confederacy would not be born, hoisting a government and an army. As close as it would get to that would be a few states attempting to secede, Texas chief among them. But would Texas want to align itself with Mississippi or Wyoming or West Virginia? Not a chance.
But even Texas would have a tough time seceding, if the decision were based on popular support. Wyoming possibly. West Virginia and Mississippi? No.
So a civil war takes on less of a state action and more of a militia organized national effort, which is more to say, terror and intimidation. Think Lebanon or Northern Ireland or Israel?
But what are the characteristics of this type of campaign? Do democrats get targeted for murder? Do schools or businesses get bombed? Churches, party rallies, law enforcement offices? What are the economic ramifications of such a campaign? Do Americans become less willing to congregate? Do we stop traveling and stay home? Do we start carrying firearms everywhere we go? Society changes, but for how long? Do Republicans finally see the light and get on board with a pro democracy party or do they continue to wallow in the slime?
There are a hundred more questions and concerns that involve a civil war. I have only scratched the surface. But perhaps you can take the ball and run with it.
A cornered rat is a dangerous rat, and the obese rat with the orange hair and enough face paint to challenge Custer at Little Big Horn is cornered and he knows it! His legal team, all proud graduates of Joe’s College of Knowledge, compound his dilemma. Their choice of Special Master is delicious, for the DOJ! and attempting to withhold information from the Special Master by arguing it’s their secret defense after indictment convulses me in joy. Sidney Powell did unleash The Kraken in GA. and the giant squid has its tentacles attached to her and her Trump minions and is dragging her through the dark ocean depths of indictment. What is Trump to do? Embrace Q and call these violent nutballs to riot and mame and kill. Ah, and additional charges for Garland to bring. So what happens next. Who knows but these are rationale sequallae. Trumps internal plumbing blows a gasket - stroke or myocardial infarction. His obesity, age and the anxiety of his predicament are all factors. Trump’s calling his crazies to arms results in violence and injury - if not deaths. But the optimal outcome is Trump continues to command the news with his craziness so alienating the electorate that anyone in possession of even one functioning brain cell won’t vote for him.
Charlie didn't give it much of a shout-out today in Morning Shots, but the Major Garret/David Becker piece in The Bulwark this morning should be mandatory reading for anyone here who cares about democracy preservation, because you're going to get a real good look at the tight rope we're going to be walking for the next 4 years at a minimum, and how it could potentially unwind. Stop wish-casting that your political opposition problems will just magically go away one day and start getting yourselves mentally prepared for shit like this:
The Nichols piece contained the alarming news that Portman endorsed Vance. I am a little stunned. Like endorsing a foreign object in a punchbowl. Beyond comprehension.
Democrats, Indpendents and moderate Republicans must come together for the next few election cycles to say Democracy Matters. This means some voters having to vote for Democrats, when they would prefer not to, but it also means the Democrats have to pursue more moderate and fiscally conservative policies when given the power. It's a coalition we must form for the sake of our country, and when the danger has passed, then we can go back to debating policy differences.
The NRO types are NOT liking this Bexar County Sheriff's investigation. Not one little bit, oh no.
These "Support the Blue" people all of a sudden are maybe for just a little bit of defunding.
As much as granting a special master in the first place is BS, I am loving that it blew up in Trump's face so quickly
I've recently seen multiple conservatives crowing about Biden engaging in human trafficking. I've noticed one thing about conservatives: every accusation is a confession.
I have for a long time now had a problem with the phrasing that we are headed for a "Second Civil War", or even a "Civil War" for that matter. The "real" Civil War (1861-1865), as are most other "wars" in history, was a battle between armies, led by Generals, fighting on each other's "sovereign" territory for an easily defined philosophical goal.
What is now being bandied about as a "civil war" is an insurrection, at best, by angry civilians who have guns (lots of them, thanks to a grammatically incorrect interpretation of the Second Amendment), and want an over-grown man-child as their leader. Ike showed what to do with that kind of uprising when another fire-brand tried to stop the federal government from acting legally and accordng to the law.
They refer to DeSantis recruiting a "bird dog" to lie to and exploit immigrants.
Isn't human trafficking "coyote" a more accurate term?
DeSantis is prepared to spend $12 million to traffic human cargo out of Florida.
I don't think DeSantis has targeted wisely so far. Venezuelan voters in Florida have tended to support Republicans because they perceive Democrats as "soft" on socialism. These are LEGAL immigrants seeking asylum. If DeSantis had welcomed them and assisted them in a few years many of them would have become Republican voters for life like most of their Cuban peers.
Apparently the short term benefit of his "assholery" out weighed any long term political common sense.
"King of the Jerks"
There is a lot of truth in the idea that the battle for the Republican nomination will be about being crowned King of the Jerks. But in the end, I think it will be worse than that. The winner will be the better Evangelist for a conspiratorial gospel with a narrative about the demon left. The crazy, to be effective, needs to constantly provide new emotional highs.
No surprise that DeSantis and his minions did not think through all of the ramifications of their actions. Because it's foremost about the show and making a strong impression, not about actual viable public policy. And it's about winning at any and all costs, and courting favor within the tribe, rather than trying to seek unity and move forward together. And it's about the lack of respect for the democratic process no less than the lack of respect for the people impacted by that lack of respect.
Put it all together and you have a pretty good, reasonably full snapshot of the current GOP, with hefty doses of anger, cruelty, and shamelessness as the seasoning salt to the toxic stew. Come whatever may of these events in our national evolution, I am certain that history books will tell the story very differently for future generations than the perpetrators intend for it to be.
Many many kudos to Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar!!!! I have had ENOUGH with the lawlessness and no consequences.
So unfair! The whole point of a special master is to be fair to Trump. Judge Cannon better jump in and restore some fairness. We don't want to turn this into another failed Russia, Russia, Russia witch hunt! [Yes, sarcasm :) ]
If you read the Atlantic's piece on Why Bill Barr Turned On Trump, it's a lot easier to think that the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals will uphold DOJ's petition to allow use the 100 classified documents in their investigation. Hard to believe that many of these judges, even up to and on the SCOTUS, will want to codify any limitation on a sitting president's powers....
Trump's legal defense is like a 3 card monte street hustle.
Charlie,
Spend some time contemplating how a civil war would actually play out. I have thought about this a lot and have reached several conclusions.
First, it would not take the historical pattern of the first American civil war. A confederacy would not be born, hoisting a government and an army. As close as it would get to that would be a few states attempting to secede, Texas chief among them. But would Texas want to align itself with Mississippi or Wyoming or West Virginia? Not a chance.
But even Texas would have a tough time seceding, if the decision were based on popular support. Wyoming possibly. West Virginia and Mississippi? No.
So a civil war takes on less of a state action and more of a militia organized national effort, which is more to say, terror and intimidation. Think Lebanon or Northern Ireland or Israel?
But what are the characteristics of this type of campaign? Do democrats get targeted for murder? Do schools or businesses get bombed? Churches, party rallies, law enforcement offices? What are the economic ramifications of such a campaign? Do Americans become less willing to congregate? Do we stop traveling and stay home? Do we start carrying firearms everywhere we go? Society changes, but for how long? Do Republicans finally see the light and get on board with a pro democracy party or do they continue to wallow in the slime?
There are a hundred more questions and concerns that involve a civil war. I have only scratched the surface. But perhaps you can take the ball and run with it.
Joe
A cornered rat is a dangerous rat, and the obese rat with the orange hair and enough face paint to challenge Custer at Little Big Horn is cornered and he knows it! His legal team, all proud graduates of Joe’s College of Knowledge, compound his dilemma. Their choice of Special Master is delicious, for the DOJ! and attempting to withhold information from the Special Master by arguing it’s their secret defense after indictment convulses me in joy. Sidney Powell did unleash The Kraken in GA. and the giant squid has its tentacles attached to her and her Trump minions and is dragging her through the dark ocean depths of indictment. What is Trump to do? Embrace Q and call these violent nutballs to riot and mame and kill. Ah, and additional charges for Garland to bring. So what happens next. Who knows but these are rationale sequallae. Trumps internal plumbing blows a gasket - stroke or myocardial infarction. His obesity, age and the anxiety of his predicament are all factors. Trump’s calling his crazies to arms results in violence and injury - if not deaths. But the optimal outcome is Trump continues to command the news with his craziness so alienating the electorate that anyone in possession of even one functioning brain cell won’t vote for him.
Charlie didn't give it much of a shout-out today in Morning Shots, but the Major Garret/David Becker piece in The Bulwark this morning should be mandatory reading for anyone here who cares about democracy preservation, because you're going to get a real good look at the tight rope we're going to be walking for the next 4 years at a minimum, and how it could potentially unwind. Stop wish-casting that your political opposition problems will just magically go away one day and start getting yourselves mentally prepared for shit like this:
https://www.thebulwark.com/how-the-second-civil-war-could-start/
The Nichols piece contained the alarming news that Portman endorsed Vance. I am a little stunned. Like endorsing a foreign object in a punchbowl. Beyond comprehension.