“There is good reason to believe that the justices who voted against Trump — and especially perhaps Barrett and Gorsuch — have already received death threats and harassment because of his words. Everyone who opposes Trump knows that he will try to wield his MAGA army against them in violent ways.” This statement couple with your last sentence before sign off is the gotcha moment. They asked for it the day they ruled on presidential immunity. They were instrumental in creating the monster that is trying to destroy us.
No sympathy. Choices have consequences. They can jump the sinking ship at any time.
Great point about the SCOTUS aiding and abetting the sociopathic fascist that they created, Liz. They have enabled this drunk-with-power madman to push the boundaries of legality and decency to the outer limits of the galaxy. The results of the fateful ruling in question, the 2010 Citizens United debacle among others continue to shake the very foundations upon which our country was built. We can only hope that in the future, a revitalized SCOTUS will restore the sanity and rule of law we so desperately need.
Roberts’ facial expression is worrisome. He looks like a child who has lost the affection of his parent and desperately wants it back. There are two possible paths forward for him: do whatever it takes to regain that affection, or mourn the loss of that affection while continuing to oppose the psychotic parent. In either case he’s a visual reminder that the deeper we dig the hole, the more pain we will suffer trying to extract ourselves from it.
I suspect more threats will be made as the midterms approach and for a while after November if Republicans lose bigly, Trump creates more tension with internal and international challenges, and his mental health deteriorates as his dementia worsens. Maybe legislators facing their constituents demanding more courage or just knowing they are doomed to be out of office will speak out more against his most ridiculous statements, threats, and proposals. Trump has always shown a tendency to carry a match into a fireworks factory.
The Nazis made up a word, Gleichschaltung, that is fitting for these times. (Attributed to Nazi bad guy Carl Schmitt).
It fuses two words, gleich ('same') and schaltung (circuit).
Essentially, it was a term for their justification of the consolidation of power and villainizing those who were not on the “same circuit”.
Perhaps the Democrats missed a moment of passing out swastika arm bands to rethuglicans last night.
(Decades ago, I took an elective course in college on the rise of fascism in Germany from 1930-1940. I had to look up the term Gleichschaltung, but I did remember the concept).
Yes, friend from my favorite state, our current history harkens back to the period between the twilight of the Weimar Republic (1919-1933), Germany's first parliamentary democracy, and the rise of the Nazi dictatorship (1933-1945). Alas, this may be yet another case of history repeating itself.
In addition to handing out swastika armbands to the MAGAts, the Dems could have also included patches of the unmistakable Hitler toothbrush mustache to wear.
The fact that the individual holding the highest office in our country chooses to act as if he were in the gutters of disgusting behavior is beyond comprehension- and the silence in response from those whose words might be recognized is deafening. Lessons learned- when voters fall in line with a thug/criminal/ liar/….there should be no surprise when he is those “qualities “- and so much more!
“There is good reason to believe that the justices who voted against Trump — and especially perhaps Barrett and Gorsuch — have already received death threats and harassment because of his words. Everyone who opposes Trump knows that he will try to wield his MAGA army against them in violent ways.” This statement couple with your last sentence before sign off is the gotcha moment. They asked for it the day they ruled on presidential immunity. They were instrumental in creating the monster that is trying to destroy us.
No sympathy. Choices have consequences. They can jump the sinking ship at any time.
Thanks, Noah. Great analysis ❤️
Great point about the SCOTUS aiding and abetting the sociopathic fascist that they created, Liz. They have enabled this drunk-with-power madman to push the boundaries of legality and decency to the outer limits of the galaxy. The results of the fateful ruling in question, the 2010 Citizens United debacle among others continue to shake the very foundations upon which our country was built. We can only hope that in the future, a revitalized SCOTUS will restore the sanity and rule of law we so desperately need.
Roberts’ facial expression is worrisome. He looks like a child who has lost the affection of his parent and desperately wants it back. There are two possible paths forward for him: do whatever it takes to regain that affection, or mourn the loss of that affection while continuing to oppose the psychotic parent. In either case he’s a visual reminder that the deeper we dig the hole, the more pain we will suffer trying to extract ourselves from it.
Trump treats his presidency like a protection racket: “Nice family you got … wouldn’t want someone to get hurt.”
I suspect more threats will be made as the midterms approach and for a while after November if Republicans lose bigly, Trump creates more tension with internal and international challenges, and his mental health deteriorates as his dementia worsens. Maybe legislators facing their constituents demanding more courage or just knowing they are doomed to be out of office will speak out more against his most ridiculous statements, threats, and proposals. Trump has always shown a tendency to carry a match into a fireworks factory.
The Nazis made up a word, Gleichschaltung, that is fitting for these times. (Attributed to Nazi bad guy Carl Schmitt).
It fuses two words, gleich ('same') and schaltung (circuit).
Essentially, it was a term for their justification of the consolidation of power and villainizing those who were not on the “same circuit”.
Perhaps the Democrats missed a moment of passing out swastika arm bands to rethuglicans last night.
(Decades ago, I took an elective course in college on the rise of fascism in Germany from 1930-1940. I had to look up the term Gleichschaltung, but I did remember the concept).
Yes, friend from my favorite state, our current history harkens back to the period between the twilight of the Weimar Republic (1919-1933), Germany's first parliamentary democracy, and the rise of the Nazi dictatorship (1933-1945). Alas, this may be yet another case of history repeating itself.
In addition to handing out swastika armbands to the MAGAts, the Dems could have also included patches of the unmistakable Hitler toothbrush mustache to wear.
Thank you, Noah, for this clear-eyed and important assessment.
The fact that the individual holding the highest office in our country chooses to act as if he were in the gutters of disgusting behavior is beyond comprehension- and the silence in response from those whose words might be recognized is deafening. Lessons learned- when voters fall in line with a thug/criminal/ liar/….there should be no surprise when he is those “qualities “- and so much more!