Brilliant argument from Tim Ryan in regards to JD Vance’s utter supplication to Trump. Funny how MAGA talks about the virtues of masculinity 24/7, and yet display all the courage and bravery of last year’s Jell-O.
That Trump is even in the discussion for 2024 after doing everything he could possibly do to not transfer power after losing a free and fair election is all you need to know about the state of the country. Grim indeed.
Putin invaded Ukraine because having a peaceful, prosperous, and successful democracy on his border was the greatest existential threat to his totalitarian kleptocracy's hold over the Russian people. Jordan Peterson's trying to make it about what he considers to be morals is hypocritical BS in the extreme. I guess we now have a new international Christian ministry - Genocidal Warcrimers for Jesus.
"Take a moment away from our political madness to give some thought to what is happening in Ukraine, where the Russian orcs continue to wage a war of indiscriminate destruction. For Putin’s inner circle, the cruelty and the suffering are the point."
Funny how you can say the very same thing about the GOP's war on democracy here at home....
The foolishness of the electorate as a whole is still amazing. Trump ahead of Biden head to head, I guess because of vibes from the economy. We forget all the bad Trump did, and we refuse to acknowledge or credit anything positive Biden has done.
Maybe, after all, Elon letting Trump back on Twitter will be the cure to this madness, once the American public is reminded of who Trump is. Apparently, too many of us have forgotten.
The blatant hypocrisy on display by folks like Vance and Loesch has a through line:
"Winning Isn't Everything, It's The Only Thing."
If all you care about is winning, you will allow democracy to become broken beyond repair so long as you get to win. Contrast this with the national economy, which is defined by the through line:
"Get Rich or Die Trying."
If all Americans care about is getting and/or staying rich, then they will allow capitalism to become broken beyond repair so long as they get to stay rich.
If we set the precedent of unfair economics in an unfair economy, it was only a matter of time before we continued that precedent into unfair politics in an unfair democracy. If the public doesn't give a shit about national fairness because it's too "woke" then we're already on the way to oligarchy and autocracy. It's just a question of when, not if. Want to change? Start making the economy and democracy being fair your standard. If you're okay with an unfair economy, expect an unfair democracy. If you're okay with an unfair democracy, expect an unfair economy. We live under the precedents of fairness and justice that we set for society, and so far it doesn't seem like we give a shit about fairness, so the cheaters will ultimately take advantage of that relaxed attitude and entrench themselves in power--whether economic power or political power.
Jim Swift--There are two debates between Ryan and Vance. Tje second one is next week in Youngstown. You need to update your article. Also--Ryan did better than you give him credit. Character has to count and JD has ZERO!! Plus MAGA people are going to MAGA. Ryan can only attract people that are normal--not crazy--and capable of higher thoughts which is the normie Repubs in Columbus and Cincy and Cleveland that Ryan is starting to attract. A Portman aide started Repubs for Ryan in the Cincy area and I'm sure it's helping get normal Repubs for Ryan.
If you want to envision a probable scenario of what could happen in the US, you should listen to NPR’s October 10, 2022 “On Point” which was about how Chile lost its democracy and how difficult it was to get it back. People in Chile had the attitude that “it couldn’t happen here”, but, of course, it did. The discussion was about the 17 years Pinochet was dictator there and how the various groups, some who had originally supported Pinochet, had to come together to overthrow Pinochet. The US had a big hand in bringing Pinochet to power and both the US and the Catholic Church supported him at the beginning. The people of Chile called him “The Butcher” for a reason: many people were “disappeared”, tortured, exiled, etc. I really do think Trump or one of his ilk (DeSantis, maybe?) could easily outdo Pinochet in cruelty and mayhem.
Repeat after me, students: "Accountability." (low murmur of "accountability" among the assembled masses, clearly unenthusiastic about the speaking drill)
We can forgive you for the collective malaise. I'm old enough to remember when accountability used to be A Thing within the GOP. Come to think of it, so you are. Thus it is more than a little bit off-putting to all of us to see that virtually no one inside the Republican Party is held accountable for anything anymore -- unless they fraternize with their perceived mortal enemy (Democrats). Donald Trump is accountable for nothing he says or does, because he wants what his supporters want and he has the courage to say it out loud. Same with his apologists, seeking his favor and your vote. Despite obvious gross incompetence for the job Herschel Walker gets a pass, because, well, "R." Putin even gets a free ride since he's a strong man. (Alas, I'm still not aware of what makes a man strong by killing and terrorizing from afar innocent, unarmed civilians.)
No actions are too extreme. No words are too harsh. No accountability. No rules. Except 1) no RINOs allowed, with their radical idea of objective thinking and analysis; and 2) it's different if a Democrat does it, because ... umm ... then it's wrong.
So ends our lesson for today. One last thing before class dismisses -- if you are looking up the word "accountability" to determine its meaning, you should skip the dictionary and go instead to a history book. That's increasingly where it is to be found in its natural state.
"I’ve saved the absolute must-read for last. In today’s Wapo: “What Will Happen to America if Trump Wins Again? Experts Helped Us Game It Out.” It’s grim."
If you only have time to read one of Charlie's four - he is right - this is the absolute must-read. I had read it prior to Morning Shots and it is not only grim, it is chilling.
Firstly, blacks are not Jews. The fact that Kanye claims that they are is a nod to the anti-Semitic cult of the "Black Israelites". So sorry, but that one doesn't constitute a check mark in the "Kanye isn't an anti-Semite" column.
Secondly, the fact that Kanye claimed such a delusional identification doesn't excuse his comments. If I said, "I blame the Jews for tolerating Trump because he was willing to move the American embassy to Jerusalem" and then said, "and that includes me, because I'm part German and part Polish, and Germans and Poles are both Jews", I really doubt you and your ideological ilk would credit me for not being anti-Semitic.
Thirdly, it isn't just Jews in Hollywood and tech that hate Trump. It's most of the country, and Kanye's support of this man is costing him fans for that reason alone. This latest outburst just poured kerosene on the flames. Nobody is trying to destroy Kanye. He is doing it himself via his own narcissistic ignorance.
Fourthly, and I can't stress this enough (so much so that I am going to obnoxiously employ caps): TRUMP DOES NOT LOVE HIS COUNTRY. HE LOVES HIMSELF. Nobody who loves their country would EVER do what he has done - DECEIVE the American people and refuse to accept the valid results of a Presidential election, ripping apart the very fabric of our democracy FOR HIS OWN PERSONAL BENEFIT. Whether or not he actually believes this nonsense is irrelevant - he has had ample exposure to the truth, and it is only his utter self-obsession that prevents him from accepting it. He has hurt this country more than any American has in my lifetime, and history will bear this out, while credulous dolts like you will be remembered (if at all) as compliant fools and enablers of this country's slide toward autocracy.
Today’s Morning Shot has so much to unpack. All the contents sandwiched between the grim situation in Ukraine and a nightmarish return of Trump to the WH. Guess the only thing to do today is to call your senators and reps for more weapons for Ukraine, donate to Razom for Ukraine and perhaps to the Warnock and Tim Ryan campaigns.
Brilliant argument from Tim Ryan in regards to JD Vance’s utter supplication to Trump. Funny how MAGA talks about the virtues of masculinity 24/7, and yet display all the courage and bravery of last year’s Jell-O.
That Trump is even in the discussion for 2024 after doing everything he could possibly do to not transfer power after losing a free and fair election is all you need to know about the state of the country. Grim indeed.
Putin invaded Ukraine because having a peaceful, prosperous, and successful democracy on his border was the greatest existential threat to his totalitarian kleptocracy's hold over the Russian people. Jordan Peterson's trying to make it about what he considers to be morals is hypocritical BS in the extreme. I guess we now have a new international Christian ministry - Genocidal Warcrimers for Jesus.
The contrast between Walker's disinterest in his children and that Biden voicemail that Hannity got a hold of is pretty intense.
"Take a moment away from our political madness to give some thought to what is happening in Ukraine, where the Russian orcs continue to wage a war of indiscriminate destruction. For Putin’s inner circle, the cruelty and the suffering are the point."
Funny how you can say the very same thing about the GOP's war on democracy here at home....
The foolishness of the electorate as a whole is still amazing. Trump ahead of Biden head to head, I guess because of vibes from the economy. We forget all the bad Trump did, and we refuse to acknowledge or credit anything positive Biden has done.
Maybe, after all, Elon letting Trump back on Twitter will be the cure to this madness, once the American public is reminded of who Trump is. Apparently, too many of us have forgotten.
The blatant hypocrisy on display by folks like Vance and Loesch has a through line:
"Winning Isn't Everything, It's The Only Thing."
If all you care about is winning, you will allow democracy to become broken beyond repair so long as you get to win. Contrast this with the national economy, which is defined by the through line:
"Get Rich or Die Trying."
If all Americans care about is getting and/or staying rich, then they will allow capitalism to become broken beyond repair so long as they get to stay rich.
If we set the precedent of unfair economics in an unfair economy, it was only a matter of time before we continued that precedent into unfair politics in an unfair democracy. If the public doesn't give a shit about national fairness because it's too "woke" then we're already on the way to oligarchy and autocracy. It's just a question of when, not if. Want to change? Start making the economy and democracy being fair your standard. If you're okay with an unfair economy, expect an unfair democracy. If you're okay with an unfair democracy, expect an unfair economy. We live under the precedents of fairness and justice that we set for society, and so far it doesn't seem like we give a shit about fairness, so the cheaters will ultimately take advantage of that relaxed attitude and entrench themselves in power--whether economic power or political power.
We reap what we sow.
The WAPO piece doesn't even begin to describe what is going to happen in the next Trump term.
Any person in any branch of the military had better have safe MAGA credentials if he or she wants to have a career. That's absolutely central.
Federal research funding will depend on how politically acceptable the sponsoring institution is. Think McCarthy era.
Federal contracts of any kind will depend on political complaisance.
Your social security payments may start to have "problems" and "glitches" if you are on the wrong lists.
"Ohio needs an ass-kicker, not an ass-kisser."
Substitute any state name for Ohio - every democratic candidate should be saying that.
Jim Swift--There are two debates between Ryan and Vance. Tje second one is next week in Youngstown. You need to update your article. Also--Ryan did better than you give him credit. Character has to count and JD has ZERO!! Plus MAGA people are going to MAGA. Ryan can only attract people that are normal--not crazy--and capable of higher thoughts which is the normie Repubs in Columbus and Cincy and Cleveland that Ryan is starting to attract. A Portman aide started Repubs for Ryan in the Cincy area and I'm sure it's helping get normal Repubs for Ryan.
If you want to envision a probable scenario of what could happen in the US, you should listen to NPR’s October 10, 2022 “On Point” which was about how Chile lost its democracy and how difficult it was to get it back. People in Chile had the attitude that “it couldn’t happen here”, but, of course, it did. The discussion was about the 17 years Pinochet was dictator there and how the various groups, some who had originally supported Pinochet, had to come together to overthrow Pinochet. The US had a big hand in bringing Pinochet to power and both the US and the Catholic Church supported him at the beginning. The people of Chile called him “The Butcher” for a reason: many people were “disappeared”, tortured, exiled, etc. I really do think Trump or one of his ilk (DeSantis, maybe?) could easily outdo Pinochet in cruelty and mayhem.
And so we arrive at today's Word of the Day.
Repeat after me, students: "Accountability." (low murmur of "accountability" among the assembled masses, clearly unenthusiastic about the speaking drill)
We can forgive you for the collective malaise. I'm old enough to remember when accountability used to be A Thing within the GOP. Come to think of it, so you are. Thus it is more than a little bit off-putting to all of us to see that virtually no one inside the Republican Party is held accountable for anything anymore -- unless they fraternize with their perceived mortal enemy (Democrats). Donald Trump is accountable for nothing he says or does, because he wants what his supporters want and he has the courage to say it out loud. Same with his apologists, seeking his favor and your vote. Despite obvious gross incompetence for the job Herschel Walker gets a pass, because, well, "R." Putin even gets a free ride since he's a strong man. (Alas, I'm still not aware of what makes a man strong by killing and terrorizing from afar innocent, unarmed civilians.)
No actions are too extreme. No words are too harsh. No accountability. No rules. Except 1) no RINOs allowed, with their radical idea of objective thinking and analysis; and 2) it's different if a Democrat does it, because ... umm ... then it's wrong.
So ends our lesson for today. One last thing before class dismisses -- if you are looking up the word "accountability" to determine its meaning, you should skip the dictionary and go instead to a history book. That's increasingly where it is to be found in its natural state.
"I’ve saved the absolute must-read for last. In today’s Wapo: “What Will Happen to America if Trump Wins Again? Experts Helped Us Game It Out.” It’s grim."
If you only have time to read one of Charlie's four - he is right - this is the absolute must-read. I had read it prior to Morning Shots and it is not only grim, it is chilling.
Ok, David Horowitz.
Firstly, blacks are not Jews. The fact that Kanye claims that they are is a nod to the anti-Semitic cult of the "Black Israelites". So sorry, but that one doesn't constitute a check mark in the "Kanye isn't an anti-Semite" column.
Secondly, the fact that Kanye claimed such a delusional identification doesn't excuse his comments. If I said, "I blame the Jews for tolerating Trump because he was willing to move the American embassy to Jerusalem" and then said, "and that includes me, because I'm part German and part Polish, and Germans and Poles are both Jews", I really doubt you and your ideological ilk would credit me for not being anti-Semitic.
Thirdly, it isn't just Jews in Hollywood and tech that hate Trump. It's most of the country, and Kanye's support of this man is costing him fans for that reason alone. This latest outburst just poured kerosene on the flames. Nobody is trying to destroy Kanye. He is doing it himself via his own narcissistic ignorance.
Fourthly, and I can't stress this enough (so much so that I am going to obnoxiously employ caps): TRUMP DOES NOT LOVE HIS COUNTRY. HE LOVES HIMSELF. Nobody who loves their country would EVER do what he has done - DECEIVE the American people and refuse to accept the valid results of a Presidential election, ripping apart the very fabric of our democracy FOR HIS OWN PERSONAL BENEFIT. Whether or not he actually believes this nonsense is irrelevant - he has had ample exposure to the truth, and it is only his utter self-obsession that prevents him from accepting it. He has hurt this country more than any American has in my lifetime, and history will bear this out, while credulous dolts like you will be remembered (if at all) as compliant fools and enablers of this country's slide toward autocracy.
Love that Herschel's son asked him about his (the son's) favorite color, what grade he was in.
Yup, that's US Senate material right there.
Today’s Morning Shot has so much to unpack. All the contents sandwiched between the grim situation in Ukraine and a nightmarish return of Trump to the WH. Guess the only thing to do today is to call your senators and reps for more weapons for Ukraine, donate to Razom for Ukraine and perhaps to the Warnock and Tim Ryan campaigns.