The world’s richest nation takes anonymous donations to pay its soldiers, sends election “monitors” to blue states, and gets dunked on by Canada at the World Series, you know democracy’s having a week
I hope you have a wonderful time wherever you are going and whatever you are doing. Know that your columns keep me going, enraging and uplifting me. You are slowly becoming the only source of news I can deal with!
I like this post, Kurt, but I can not give it a "heart" like because it's so sadly true. Is our military now owned by another country and is our President preparing to fly around the country in "their" plane. It's all so insidious and I remain in a state of anger, frustration, and sadness with each passing day that is filled with more absurdities.
You often write about what it would take to make the government sit up and take notice of the fact that many citizens are outraged by the way in which they are being treated. May I suggest you watch the documentary "The Day Iceland Stood Still."
On National Women's Day on October 24, 1975, 90% of the women in Iceland "took the day off" and the results were remarkable.
Astonishing that Mike Johnson and the MAGA loyalists controlling Congress continue to abdicate their constitutional responsibilities while Americans suffer, as if they no longer care about the electorate with the confidence of rulers who know free and fair elections will be no more.
On that point, I’m furious that the treasonous regime is sending its DOJ goon squad into California districts as we’re preparing for a consequential election on redistricting in response to Texas and other states’ extreme gerrymandering to eliminate Democrats from their state’s members of the U.S. House of Representatives . I pray Newsom finds a legal way to send them packing as unconstitutionally interfering in elections, which are under state jurisdiction.
The Trump coup moves into a new phase as Governor Pritzker is warning - to send in the goons and troops to suppress voting, eventually to seize voting boxes and machines so no votes can be tallied.
Steve Bannon explains it all: Trump is the “instrument” of “divine providence”, so we need to chill and let him, Mike Johnson and their allies do whatever they want for the next 7+ years - you know, as God plans.
If there is a God who writes the script, not my belief, may that God please switch sides soon and help those of us who care about truth, justice and humans even if they aren’t rich and powerful!
I concur…it is interfering with Americans constitution right to vote. There is no evidence of tampering although I would like an independent verification or procedures to allow every voter to receive a paper copy of their vote after pushing the button - just like the final verification at voting machine prior to voting.
You always provide “food for thought”Mary. I love it and glad that Marz has talked you into a little down time. And regarding that “food” I mentioned…The powerful United States of America will be beholden to a “friend” to the tune of 130 million dollars or more who really knows and who knows how many other “friends” have paper IOUs in their piggy banks from the United States government. Now here’s the food part…there are a couple of statutes that frown on anonymous donations. Since only Congress can fund the government, anonymous donations (illegal gratuity) to usurp that process is considered criminal action (bribery). Additionally federal law prohibits employees from accepting compensation from outside sources. That is considered an illegal gratuity. Compensating an employee for doing their official duties even if there is no intent to influence them and regardless of whether a corrupt intent can be proven is illegal. Hello!!!…. Come on Mike Johnson, bring your people back and open up the government so the troops (and others) won’t face charges down the road! And one last ask….RELEASE THE EPSTEIN FILES.
Your essay captures where we are, what "he's" done, and the absurd, terrifying place we are, a place we naively thought we'd never be. All I can say today is enjoy your brief respite , Mary, because you and Mars keep a great majority of us sane in just knowing we are not alone in this struggle. All I have to say is "Go Blue Jays"!
Now is a good time to think about election reform: Open source hardware and software, ranked choice voting, open primaries, paper backup with risk-limiting audits. Check out the GreenParty platform ( https://www.gp.org/platform ).
I thought the same thing about branding vis a vis naming a missile for Elon Musk. Whose brand goes onto the new ballroom? Mark my words, there will be the Zuckerberg Men's Room and the Apple coat check. When Trump dies, JDV will rename the big open area the Peter Thiel Balls Room and they will all laugh and laugh!! Little Mike Johnson will be squealing the loudest, not because he's in on the joke but because he's the butt of the joke. Get it? I said butt! And again, I predict that before Vance's months are finished, there will be a drag performance in that ballroom. MAGA will scratch their head and try to remember why they are enraged all the time.
I know, nearly every comment I make starts with "Just when I didn't think it could get worse--«
Private donations to the military from a Trump "friend"? Does his surname start with P, end with N, and have five letters? I don't need Vanna White for that.
I hope you have a wonderful time wherever you are going and whatever you are doing. Know that your columns keep me going, enraging and uplifting me. You are slowly becoming the only source of news I can deal with!
If fair elections were in our future, I'd be more hopeful.
Now Citizen’s United is being applied directly to the military. No need for an elected middle man.
Our military being sold in a direct sale.
I like this post, Kurt, but I can not give it a "heart" like because it's so sadly true. Is our military now owned by another country and is our President preparing to fly around the country in "their" plane. It's all so insidious and I remain in a state of anger, frustration, and sadness with each passing day that is filled with more absurdities.
You often write about what it would take to make the government sit up and take notice of the fact that many citizens are outraged by the way in which they are being treated. May I suggest you watch the documentary "The Day Iceland Stood Still."
On National Women's Day on October 24, 1975, 90% of the women in Iceland "took the day off" and the results were remarkable.
I will definitely check it out
Astonishing that Mike Johnson and the MAGA loyalists controlling Congress continue to abdicate their constitutional responsibilities while Americans suffer, as if they no longer care about the electorate with the confidence of rulers who know free and fair elections will be no more.
On that point, I’m furious that the treasonous regime is sending its DOJ goon squad into California districts as we’re preparing for a consequential election on redistricting in response to Texas and other states’ extreme gerrymandering to eliminate Democrats from their state’s members of the U.S. House of Representatives . I pray Newsom finds a legal way to send them packing as unconstitutionally interfering in elections, which are under state jurisdiction.
The Trump coup moves into a new phase as Governor Pritzker is warning - to send in the goons and troops to suppress voting, eventually to seize voting boxes and machines so no votes can be tallied.
Steve Bannon explains it all: Trump is the “instrument” of “divine providence”, so we need to chill and let him, Mike Johnson and their allies do whatever they want for the next 7+ years - you know, as God plans.
If there is a God who writes the script, not my belief, may that God please switch sides soon and help those of us who care about truth, justice and humans even if they aren’t rich and powerful!
I concur…it is interfering with Americans constitution right to vote. There is no evidence of tampering although I would like an independent verification or procedures to allow every voter to receive a paper copy of their vote after pushing the button - just like the final verification at voting machine prior to voting.
You always provide “food for thought”Mary. I love it and glad that Marz has talked you into a little down time. And regarding that “food” I mentioned…The powerful United States of America will be beholden to a “friend” to the tune of 130 million dollars or more who really knows and who knows how many other “friends” have paper IOUs in their piggy banks from the United States government. Now here’s the food part…there are a couple of statutes that frown on anonymous donations. Since only Congress can fund the government, anonymous donations (illegal gratuity) to usurp that process is considered criminal action (bribery). Additionally federal law prohibits employees from accepting compensation from outside sources. That is considered an illegal gratuity. Compensating an employee for doing their official duties even if there is no intent to influence them and regardless of whether a corrupt intent can be proven is illegal. Hello!!!…. Come on Mike Johnson, bring your people back and open up the government so the troops (and others) won’t face charges down the road! And one last ask….RELEASE THE EPSTEIN FILES.
Your essay captures where we are, what "he's" done, and the absurd, terrifying place we are, a place we naively thought we'd never be. All I can say today is enjoy your brief respite , Mary, because you and Mars keep a great majority of us sane in just knowing we are not alone in this struggle. All I have to say is "Go Blue Jays"!
Now is a good time to think about election reform: Open source hardware and software, ranked choice voting, open primaries, paper backup with risk-limiting audits. Check out the GreenParty platform ( https://www.gp.org/platform ).
Thanks for the great post.
You are on of a very few people I read as often as you write it.
I thought the same thing about branding vis a vis naming a missile for Elon Musk. Whose brand goes onto the new ballroom? Mark my words, there will be the Zuckerberg Men's Room and the Apple coat check. When Trump dies, JDV will rename the big open area the Peter Thiel Balls Room and they will all laugh and laugh!! Little Mike Johnson will be squealing the loudest, not because he's in on the joke but because he's the butt of the joke. Get it? I said butt! And again, I predict that before Vance's months are finished, there will be a drag performance in that ballroom. MAGA will scratch their head and try to remember why they are enraged all the time.
I know, nearly every comment I make starts with "Just when I didn't think it could get worse--«
Private donations to the military from a Trump "friend"? Does his surname start with P, end with N, and have five letters? I don't need Vanna White for that.