I come close to badgering my Democratic representatives in Congress with various means of communication. I ask them the same questions.
Why do you defer to your institutional leaders (Schumer and Jeffries) when they are manifestly unsuited to this moment of constitutional crisis? They certainly have a role to play, but it isn’t as the default voices of the Democratic Party.
Why are you unwilling to unite around effective messaging - especially for the 2024 non-voters and those with regrets for buying Trump’s snake oil? MAGA faithful are a minority. Many others are focused on their bubbles, but even most can tell something is seriously wrong.
Americans generally grow up primed to believe in the Bill of Rights and to reject tyranny and lawless brutality by federal agents.
We’re not primed for torrential lies, betrayals of the Constitution, and provocations from the President and his operatives. That’s where adaptive, astute opposition leadership makes a difference. This need is still largely unmet.
We need a real-life Horton the Elephant who can hear the cries of the people saying, "We are people too", but in reality it's up to us to take that chant to every street in every city while demanding our elected official's do their appointed jobs however impossible they seem. Today, Martin Luther King Day, it's important to keep working toward the dream instead of the nightmare we're currently in.
I’d also like to see a bunch of fake Time Persons of the year, each with the photo & names of the a heretic Republicans who saved Democracy. Circulate now.
The idea and hope that enough Republicans see the extreme danger we are in and band together is my day-time dream as well. If this is going to happen, there would be some background conversations by now & I’ve heard zero. In which case, Democrats should assign handlers to talk with any GOP privately to work to persuade them, then bring them together.
The actual process for invoking the 25th is convoluted and difficult. It was clearly intended for actual physical inability to act as president: being in a coma, for instance. I don't think anyone has, until now, thought we would have a president actually insane and/or demented.
Well, we do now. Trump is mentally diminished for sure and possible in dementia. Mental health issues are just as crucial as physical ones, I would say more so.
we have one now. And no straightforward way to deal with it. Impeachment is easier than the 25th in this situation. For why, click on the link by my name: it's the latest post.
Watchng this nightmare from the UK. I can't believe how the US is allowing this man to drive a coach and horses through the relationships that have been built over many years. He's obviously off his head and is giving permssion to others to behave in the same way. Thank you for your commentary........I wish that there were others who would take action. Best wishes
Again, you capture the essence of our crisis! Cults are organized around malignant narcissists. The ascent of narcissistic grandiosity is an ever-expanding balloon of demanding delusional affirmations and insatiable gluttony of greed and power.
Although Trump's pathology leaked during his first term, winning the second term, allowing the conquering of the serious legal allegations by election default, and winning the popular vote put his narcissism on steroids.
The malignancy in Trump's narcissism is the continuously expanding, never sate need for more and more. In contrast, narcissistic injuries are indelible fixations of irritation where no amount of retribution or revenge will calm the outrage.
Trump is reaching an apogee of his narcissistic inflation, trailed by his accumulated narcissistic injuries. He is incapable of retreat or recalibration. A critical puncture of his overinflated and delusional excesses is inevitable.
The majority of Americans do not subscribe to the MAGA Cult. As the escalations of Trump's extremism react to public disapproval, the GOP will feel the heat of political reality against the loyalty tests of the cult.
The pressure points are demonstrating serious leakages. Funding Obamacare, losing the SCOTUS tariff battle, and GOP resistance to the Greenland debacle could all be potential puncture sites.
Julie Bannerman's comment neatly captures my own sense of what is sorely missing at this moment. There must be many others who see things the same way. How can we unite and make our collective voice heard?
I was disappointed by Mary Geddry's latest piece, which ends up doing just what she and Krugman rightly deplore -- i. e. waiting for a few good Republicans to wake up from their trance and change sides, thereby magically ending the Trumpist onslaught overnight.
Instead I blame the DNC for failing to recognize, well before the notorious debate, that a credible successor had to be chosen, anointed, and installed as the public face of the opposition to Trump years not weeks before the 2024 election, in order to have a decent chance of winning decisive Democratic majorities. (As it is, Kamala did better than anyone had a right to expect, bless her heart.)
The same myopia appears to afflict the same headless Democratic Party functionaries now. It may already be too late to prepare properly for this year's vote, and almost too late to be working on the finishing touches for a winning campaign in 2028. Unwilling to release their own report analyzing past mistakes, and without an effective means of strategizing for the near future, the Party of Opposition prefers once again to keep us in the dark about their plans for our future until the last minute, counting instead on Trump's antics to hand them a victory they will have done far too little to earn.
Thanks for the revelation of who Shanley is: I've wondered. She has your gifts as a wordsmith. And cool name.
I am not really worried about "cancelling the midterms." Obviously the blue states aren't going to, since he has no power to do that and if he tries to bring in the troops, most Dems will vote anyway. Some deep red states might go along and not put races for Congressfolk on the ballot. Of course, what that means is that their reps/Senators' terms will expire, and it will take fewer Dems to get a majority.
I count on Republicans for absolutely nothing. They are actively undermining democracy for power. This is who they are and how they roll. Bush V Gore, Stolen Supreme Court Seats, non-impeachment of Trump in term 1, Fox News, Project 2025 and now this. They are simply awful people, please don't ever expect them to do the right thing.
I come close to badgering my Democratic representatives in Congress with various means of communication. I ask them the same questions.
Why do you defer to your institutional leaders (Schumer and Jeffries) when they are manifestly unsuited to this moment of constitutional crisis? They certainly have a role to play, but it isn’t as the default voices of the Democratic Party.
Why are you unwilling to unite around effective messaging - especially for the 2024 non-voters and those with regrets for buying Trump’s snake oil? MAGA faithful are a minority. Many others are focused on their bubbles, but even most can tell something is seriously wrong.
Americans generally grow up primed to believe in the Bill of Rights and to reject tyranny and lawless brutality by federal agents.
We’re not primed for torrential lies, betrayals of the Constitution, and provocations from the President and his operatives. That’s where adaptive, astute opposition leadership makes a difference. This need is still largely unmet.
We need a real-life Horton the Elephant who can hear the cries of the people saying, "We are people too", but in reality it's up to us to take that chant to every street in every city while demanding our elected official's do their appointed jobs however impossible they seem. Today, Martin Luther King Day, it's important to keep working toward the dream instead of the nightmare we're currently in.
I’d also like to see a bunch of fake Time Persons of the year, each with the photo & names of the a heretic Republicans who saved Democracy. Circulate now.
The idea and hope that enough Republicans see the extreme danger we are in and band together is my day-time dream as well. If this is going to happen, there would be some background conversations by now & I’ve heard zero. In which case, Democrats should assign handlers to talk with any GOP privately to work to persuade them, then bring them together.
What the actual F do we even have a 25th amendment for if we can't use it on this guy - he has clearly lost it according to every measure.
The actual process for invoking the 25th is convoluted and difficult. It was clearly intended for actual physical inability to act as president: being in a coma, for instance. I don't think anyone has, until now, thought we would have a president actually insane and/or demented.
Well, we do now. Trump is mentally diminished for sure and possible in dementia. Mental health issues are just as crucial as physical ones, I would say more so.
we have one now. And no straightforward way to deal with it. Impeachment is easier than the 25th in this situation. For why, click on the link by my name: it's the latest post.
It's time for the Republican Congress to grow a spine -- but I'm not holding my breath:
https://jaywilson1.substack.com/p/profiles-in-cowardice-aeb?r=10sd39
Hi Mary,
Watchng this nightmare from the UK. I can't believe how the US is allowing this man to drive a coach and horses through the relationships that have been built over many years. He's obviously off his head and is giving permssion to others to behave in the same way. Thank you for your commentary........I wish that there were others who would take action. Best wishes
Again, you capture the essence of our crisis! Cults are organized around malignant narcissists. The ascent of narcissistic grandiosity is an ever-expanding balloon of demanding delusional affirmations and insatiable gluttony of greed and power.
Although Trump's pathology leaked during his first term, winning the second term, allowing the conquering of the serious legal allegations by election default, and winning the popular vote put his narcissism on steroids.
The malignancy in Trump's narcissism is the continuously expanding, never sate need for more and more. In contrast, narcissistic injuries are indelible fixations of irritation where no amount of retribution or revenge will calm the outrage.
Trump is reaching an apogee of his narcissistic inflation, trailed by his accumulated narcissistic injuries. He is incapable of retreat or recalibration. A critical puncture of his overinflated and delusional excesses is inevitable.
The majority of Americans do not subscribe to the MAGA Cult. As the escalations of Trump's extremism react to public disapproval, the GOP will feel the heat of political reality against the loyalty tests of the cult.
The pressure points are demonstrating serious leakages. Funding Obamacare, losing the SCOTUS tariff battle, and GOP resistance to the Greenland debacle could all be potential puncture sites.
You're right, Mary.
Julie Bannerman's comment neatly captures my own sense of what is sorely missing at this moment. There must be many others who see things the same way. How can we unite and make our collective voice heard?
I was disappointed by Mary Geddry's latest piece, which ends up doing just what she and Krugman rightly deplore -- i. e. waiting for a few good Republicans to wake up from their trance and change sides, thereby magically ending the Trumpist onslaught overnight.
Instead I blame the DNC for failing to recognize, well before the notorious debate, that a credible successor had to be chosen, anointed, and installed as the public face of the opposition to Trump years not weeks before the 2024 election, in order to have a decent chance of winning decisive Democratic majorities. (As it is, Kamala did better than anyone had a right to expect, bless her heart.)
The same myopia appears to afflict the same headless Democratic Party functionaries now. It may already be too late to prepare properly for this year's vote, and almost too late to be working on the finishing touches for a winning campaign in 2028. Unwilling to release their own report analyzing past mistakes, and without an effective means of strategizing for the near future, the Party of Opposition prefers once again to keep us in the dark about their plans for our future until the last minute, counting instead on Trump's antics to hand them a victory they will have done far too little to earn.
Thanks for the revelation of who Shanley is: I've wondered. She has your gifts as a wordsmith. And cool name.
I am not really worried about "cancelling the midterms." Obviously the blue states aren't going to, since he has no power to do that and if he tries to bring in the troops, most Dems will vote anyway. Some deep red states might go along and not put races for Congressfolk on the ballot. Of course, what that means is that their reps/Senators' terms will expire, and it will take fewer Dems to get a majority.
I count on Republicans for absolutely nothing. They are actively undermining democracy for power. This is who they are and how they roll. Bush V Gore, Stolen Supreme Court Seats, non-impeachment of Trump in term 1, Fox News, Project 2025 and now this. They are simply awful people, please don't ever expect them to do the right thing.