When I see poll numbers or percentages in study findings, I question them. Quite frankly I can’t stand polls, ever since 2016, so I don’t listen or read them. No sense in twisting my insides. As an average American, I will know after Election Day, maybe a few days.
As for percentages in study findings, I was curious as to the source, so I checked out Democracy Fund. Seemed an odd name, but actually it appears to be very legit. Lots of good stuff and I just hope their work and the work of other like entities can make a difference in reaching the voters. Because that is the people that really count.
Back in the mid 20th century, this nation seemed to have an electorate that paid attention to its town, county’s state and nation. They did it in a variety of ways- newspapers, talking with one another (neighbors, coworkers, and friends) as well as listen to the radio or TV, whatever was available. They were able to count on the news being fair and true.
But it isn’t the same now. All the sown division of the country has soured too many.
So thinking of the percentages from your piece Democracy Hypocrisy, I question their veracity, wondering where is the information coming from and is it legit or just rehashed from Alex Jones or others like him. We don’t all have to think the same, but we do need to form our opinions based on sound truths.
Getting this country tilted back to a civilized social constitutional republic will take villages all across 50 states to stand up and be counted. Can we do it?
“...she had without exception the most stupid, vulgar, empty mind that he had ever encountered. She had not a thought in her head that was not a slogan, and there was no imbecility, absolutely none that she was not capable of swallowing if the Party handed it out to her. 'The human sound-track' he nicknamed her in his own mind.” - George Orwell, 1984
Anyone who thinks that invoking Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment to exclude Trump from the presidential ballot should not proceed because it would be impolitic -- I'm looking at you, Mr. Sykes -- should read Nancy Pelosi's piece in the Atlantic yesterday:
"[Biden} lacks a clear vision for ending the war, has an undeveloped notion of the conditions of victory, and can’t make a compelling account of what is at stake for the United States. " The great thing about no US troops in Ukraine is that Biden is not responsible for having a clear vision or any vision for ending the war. Nor is he responsible for any notion of the conditions of victory. That is Zelensky's responsibility, and even he is constrained by Putin determination to continue the war. I do agree he needs to make it clear why supporting Ukraine is actually a bargain for the US.
The rule of law can only stand when people believe in the constitution and the rule of law. Those like Ammon Bundy who thumb their nose at the law can be hunted down and arrested. What do you do when a political party and especially its leader has decided the rule of law is only for others as he chooses but does not apply to him, when he suggests the constitution can be suspended to achieve his preferred outcome. How do you counter this, especially when there are judges like Cannon and even some on the supreme court that see the merit in this behavior. This will be the most dangerous year our democracy has ever seen, made doubly so by people refusing to see the facts that are around them, from a great and growing economy, a remarkable foreign policy executed with confidence and finesse by a president that once again leads the free world. And yet they would throw all that away for a would be dictator that brought nothing but disgrace to this country, a would be dictator who touts 4 million jobs created when there have been 13.9 million under Biden, 4.5 million more than there were before the pandemic.
You said: "What do you do when a political party and especially its leader has decided the rule of law is only for others as he chooses but does not apply to him, when he suggests the constitution can be suspended to achieve his preferred outcome."
Other than vote I don't know what you can do.
But I do know that in the "before times" most Americans would have recoiled from such a party and leader.
Shockingly, most people are in favor of democracy... unless or until it gets in the way of their team getting what it wants. Who knew?
The whole thing about candidates being a person of faith and being religious is hilarious.
It shows how little people actually fail to understand either faith or religiousity.
I do not mistake feeding red meat to your base on religious issues or fostering and legislating Christo-fascism measures of faith or religion. Nor do I confuse performance with reality WRT how religious a person is.
I question how someone who is essentially clueless about religion in general, and Christianity in particular and gives every indication of being an utterly amoral atheist and narcissist can be confused with a person of faith or a religious person--oh, wait, partisanship.
"Think about all three of these principles—merit, free speech, and universalism—and it’s extraordinary the extent to which each of them has become right-coded"; maybe, but is it true? because the versions of free speech, merit and Universalism the actual right professes are weird, bizarre versions of these concepts: Free Speech: "I have the right to never get called out on any of the darndest things I say about anything or anybody"; merit: might/money makes right; universalism: unabashed white rural tribalism. The last one actually bothers me the most. Democrats constantly get accued of tribalism or identity politics, when it is actually a force to moderate the demands of several identities (see Obama, Barack). While Identity Politics has always been the republicans M.O. for a long time (see Trump, Donald). I don't know what to do about it. And I'm kinda sick of it.
Can the lies about our system of governance finally stop?
Thus, our senate is not the world’s greatest deliberative body.
Nor are we the freest people on earth.
When I was in school (so cold war) I was taught that dictatorships violated treaties, that we did not. But then as an adult I learned that treaties with the Indians were routinely violated.
And re our norms… well from 1789-1861 northerners in congress were barely able to talk about slavery, and after the civil war a from of gentleman’s agreement allowed us to ignore the re-enslavement of southern blacks that continued until the 1960s.
I write this as someone who volunteers for a national park and who writes patriotic articles for our facebook page. (I still have pride in our flawed nation - I suggest all are flawed).
None of this changes our history as a great place for people seeking refuge. My family fled the potato famine in Ireland and one branch fled Czarist Russia. Of course it was best that we settled in the North and in a city where Micks, Wops, Polacks and such were accepted - the factories, mines and so forth needed labor.
When Obama became president, the GOP united as one man to make sure he would not succeed. Then they campaigned about the failure of Dems to help the working man. This strategy is strangely successful too. (Hence my scorn for the working man - sorry, I come from them but they are no me).
So re norms… can we stop lying to ourselves. It has only gotten worse, it has not changed in form at all.
The dissolution of norms did not begin with Trump. I think it began when the intransigence of the Republicans to Obama appointees compelled Harry Reid to, in a very limited way, limit the filibuster. Then Mitch McConnell used that as a rationalization for his handling of the Merrick Garland nomination to the Supreme Court and then the subsequent rushed appointment of Justice Amy. And all along the path of Trumps term McConnell and House Republicans did nothing to enforce the norms to control Trump while they had the power. And then when Democrats tried to enforce the norms Republicans moved heaven and earth to try and stop them.
I agree but, I think, even Newt held to normative tools at his disposal to oppose Clinton and the Democratic minority.
Although the majority-of-the-majority rule had not been articulated at the time, Gingrich followed it in practice. And that was his biggest violation of previous norms making it virtually impossible for the minority party to have any impact on legislative outcomes.
This was done, however, by the Speaker not allowing any legislation to come to floor which has always been within his/her power.
Fast-forward to today and we have a minority within the majority that can veto anything the Speaker does and remove him from office. So much for norms.
Trump is a sociopath, A narcissistic personality disorder sociopath. He worships Donald J Trump and money. He is a conman and a grifter. He must never hold office of any kind again. He is a clear and present danger to the United States and the entire world. Sociopaths if they don’t get their way tend to blow everything up... the president has nukes.
What's so scary about that poll isn't shown here but is listed in the article: Independents consistently rate Trump ahead of Biden in trustworthiness, has a good moral compass, cares about people like me....
If this is the case, then Biden is toast. He isn't resonating with people and being a "good, honest person" isn't working for him, for whatever reason.
Maybe Biden is toast and maybe the polls are toast. Those responses (taking your word for it, haven't read the article myself) are so far beyond counterintuitive ... I don't know, maybe we're asking the wrong questions here, this is weird.
The MAGA reasons for liking Trump may be crazy but at some level they make a kind of perverse sense. This makes /no/ sense.
This is not me being optimistic, I'm plenty pessimistic; just -- something doesn't add up.
Not buying it. Every single day brings new proof that Trump isn't trustworthy, has no moral compass and doesn't give a damn about anyone beside himself. Ever get something in the mail from the party of one of the candidates in any election running? The preface to the question is always something that will skew the answer one way or other. And there is never a follow-up to the question.
Well, this is interesting - all 3 R held House seats in Colorado have lost all 3 of their current representatives: Boebart, Buck and now Lamborn (Colorado Springs). Can CO become all blue this year?
No. Boebert is now running for Buck's seat (District 2) because she knows Adam Frisch would probably "clean her clock" this time around because the voters don't like her. Whoever replaces her in District 3 will probably beat Frisch because it is, despite everything, MAGA/Trump dominated and he/she won't have Boebert's baggage. 2022 was a referendum on Boebert personally and not on the Republican Party. Boebert will carry her baggage into this race as well and in District 2 there are several running with more experience and are popular in the District.
Districts 2 and 4 are rock rib MAGA/Trump territories where Trump beat Biden by large margins. Whoever replaces Buck and Lanborn will be a Republican. Whever replaces Boebert in District will PROBABLY be a Republican--- but Frisch has the best chance of turning 3 blue. He is really a good campaigner, known in the district and likeable.
This just in: "BREAKING NEWS The Supreme Court agreed to decide whether Donald Trump is eligible for Colorado’s primary ballot. The court will hear the case in February."
Charlie, why do you have that offensive red hat totem in the background on your MSNBC hits? It’s gross.
When I see poll numbers or percentages in study findings, I question them. Quite frankly I can’t stand polls, ever since 2016, so I don’t listen or read them. No sense in twisting my insides. As an average American, I will know after Election Day, maybe a few days.
As for percentages in study findings, I was curious as to the source, so I checked out Democracy Fund. Seemed an odd name, but actually it appears to be very legit. Lots of good stuff and I just hope their work and the work of other like entities can make a difference in reaching the voters. Because that is the people that really count.
Back in the mid 20th century, this nation seemed to have an electorate that paid attention to its town, county’s state and nation. They did it in a variety of ways- newspapers, talking with one another (neighbors, coworkers, and friends) as well as listen to the radio or TV, whatever was available. They were able to count on the news being fair and true.
But it isn’t the same now. All the sown division of the country has soured too many.
So thinking of the percentages from your piece Democracy Hypocrisy, I question their veracity, wondering where is the information coming from and is it legit or just rehashed from Alex Jones or others like him. We don’t all have to think the same, but we do need to form our opinions based on sound truths.
Getting this country tilted back to a civilized social constitutional republic will take villages all across 50 states to stand up and be counted. Can we do it?
“...she had without exception the most stupid, vulgar, empty mind that he had ever encountered. She had not a thought in her head that was not a slogan, and there was no imbecility, absolutely none that she was not capable of swallowing if the Party handed it out to her. 'The human sound-track' he nicknamed her in his own mind.” - George Orwell, 1984
Anyone who thinks that invoking Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment to exclude Trump from the presidential ballot should not proceed because it would be impolitic -- I'm looking at you, Mr. Sykes -- should read Nancy Pelosi's piece in the Atlantic yesterday:
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/01/three-years-after-january-6-capitol-insurrection-trump/677024/
"[Biden} lacks a clear vision for ending the war, has an undeveloped notion of the conditions of victory, and can’t make a compelling account of what is at stake for the United States. " The great thing about no US troops in Ukraine is that Biden is not responsible for having a clear vision or any vision for ending the war. Nor is he responsible for any notion of the conditions of victory. That is Zelensky's responsibility, and even he is constrained by Putin determination to continue the war. I do agree he needs to make it clear why supporting Ukraine is actually a bargain for the US.
The rule of law can only stand when people believe in the constitution and the rule of law. Those like Ammon Bundy who thumb their nose at the law can be hunted down and arrested. What do you do when a political party and especially its leader has decided the rule of law is only for others as he chooses but does not apply to him, when he suggests the constitution can be suspended to achieve his preferred outcome. How do you counter this, especially when there are judges like Cannon and even some on the supreme court that see the merit in this behavior. This will be the most dangerous year our democracy has ever seen, made doubly so by people refusing to see the facts that are around them, from a great and growing economy, a remarkable foreign policy executed with confidence and finesse by a president that once again leads the free world. And yet they would throw all that away for a would be dictator that brought nothing but disgrace to this country, a would be dictator who touts 4 million jobs created when there have been 13.9 million under Biden, 4.5 million more than there were before the pandemic.
You said: "What do you do when a political party and especially its leader has decided the rule of law is only for others as he chooses but does not apply to him, when he suggests the constitution can be suspended to achieve his preferred outcome."
Other than vote I don't know what you can do.
But I do know that in the "before times" most Americans would have recoiled from such a party and leader.
Shockingly, most people are in favor of democracy... unless or until it gets in the way of their team getting what it wants. Who knew?
The whole thing about candidates being a person of faith and being religious is hilarious.
It shows how little people actually fail to understand either faith or religiousity.
I do not mistake feeding red meat to your base on religious issues or fostering and legislating Christo-fascism measures of faith or religion. Nor do I confuse performance with reality WRT how religious a person is.
I question how someone who is essentially clueless about religion in general, and Christianity in particular and gives every indication of being an utterly amoral atheist and narcissist can be confused with a person of faith or a religious person--oh, wait, partisanship.
Christo-Fascists don't believe in the separation of Church and State--- but they are totally down with the separation of Faith and Religion!
"Think about all three of these principles—merit, free speech, and universalism—and it’s extraordinary the extent to which each of them has become right-coded"; maybe, but is it true? because the versions of free speech, merit and Universalism the actual right professes are weird, bizarre versions of these concepts: Free Speech: "I have the right to never get called out on any of the darndest things I say about anything or anybody"; merit: might/money makes right; universalism: unabashed white rural tribalism. The last one actually bothers me the most. Democrats constantly get accued of tribalism or identity politics, when it is actually a force to moderate the demands of several identities (see Obama, Barack). While Identity Politics has always been the republicans M.O. for a long time (see Trump, Donald). I don't know what to do about it. And I'm kinda sick of it.
Can the lies about our system of governance finally stop?
Thus, our senate is not the world’s greatest deliberative body.
Nor are we the freest people on earth.
When I was in school (so cold war) I was taught that dictatorships violated treaties, that we did not. But then as an adult I learned that treaties with the Indians were routinely violated.
And re our norms… well from 1789-1861 northerners in congress were barely able to talk about slavery, and after the civil war a from of gentleman’s agreement allowed us to ignore the re-enslavement of southern blacks that continued until the 1960s.
I write this as someone who volunteers for a national park and who writes patriotic articles for our facebook page. (I still have pride in our flawed nation - I suggest all are flawed).
None of this changes our history as a great place for people seeking refuge. My family fled the potato famine in Ireland and one branch fled Czarist Russia. Of course it was best that we settled in the North and in a city where Micks, Wops, Polacks and such were accepted - the factories, mines and so forth needed labor.
When Obama became president, the GOP united as one man to make sure he would not succeed. Then they campaigned about the failure of Dems to help the working man. This strategy is strangely successful too. (Hence my scorn for the working man - sorry, I come from them but they are no me).
So re norms… can we stop lying to ourselves. It has only gotten worse, it has not changed in form at all.
The dissolution of norms did not begin with Trump. I think it began when the intransigence of the Republicans to Obama appointees compelled Harry Reid to, in a very limited way, limit the filibuster. Then Mitch McConnell used that as a rationalization for his handling of the Merrick Garland nomination to the Supreme Court and then the subsequent rushed appointment of Justice Amy. And all along the path of Trumps term McConnell and House Republicans did nothing to enforce the norms to control Trump while they had the power. And then when Democrats tried to enforce the norms Republicans moved heaven and earth to try and stop them.
I trace it to Newt Gingrich. Republicans in the house no longer cooperated with Dems on legislation of interest.
I agree but, I think, even Newt held to normative tools at his disposal to oppose Clinton and the Democratic minority.
Although the majority-of-the-majority rule had not been articulated at the time, Gingrich followed it in practice. And that was his biggest violation of previous norms making it virtually impossible for the minority party to have any impact on legislative outcomes.
This was done, however, by the Speaker not allowing any legislation to come to floor which has always been within his/her power.
Fast-forward to today and we have a minority within the majority that can veto anything the Speaker does and remove him from office. So much for norms.
Trump is a sociopath, A narcissistic personality disorder sociopath. He worships Donald J Trump and money. He is a conman and a grifter. He must never hold office of any kind again. He is a clear and present danger to the United States and the entire world. Sociopaths if they don’t get their way tend to blow everything up... the president has nukes.
AND Trump doesn't understand why we don't use the nukes. In his mind what good are they if we don't use them! He has said as much.
Calling Donald Trump a man of faith is like calling Charlie Sykes a Green Bay Packer.
What's so scary about that poll isn't shown here but is listed in the article: Independents consistently rate Trump ahead of Biden in trustworthiness, has a good moral compass, cares about people like me....
If this is the case, then Biden is toast. He isn't resonating with people and being a "good, honest person" isn't working for him, for whatever reason.
Maybe Biden is toast and maybe the polls are toast. Those responses (taking your word for it, haven't read the article myself) are so far beyond counterintuitive ... I don't know, maybe we're asking the wrong questions here, this is weird.
The MAGA reasons for liking Trump may be crazy but at some level they make a kind of perverse sense. This makes /no/ sense.
This is not me being optimistic, I'm plenty pessimistic; just -- something doesn't add up.
Not buying it. Every single day brings new proof that Trump isn't trustworthy, has no moral compass and doesn't give a damn about anyone beside himself. Ever get something in the mail from the party of one of the candidates in any election running? The preface to the question is always something that will skew the answer one way or other. And there is never a follow-up to the question.
Join me and many others as we gather in Washington D.C. on January 6 for the 4th annual Josh Hawley Memorial Run.
If it isn't a thing, it should become a thing.
For real or a joke? :-) BTW, anyone hear with the Orange god is saying about tomorrow?
Just a laugh!
Well, this is interesting - all 3 R held House seats in Colorado have lost all 3 of their current representatives: Boebart, Buck and now Lamborn (Colorado Springs). Can CO become all blue this year?
No. Boebert is now running for Buck's seat (District 2) because she knows Adam Frisch would probably "clean her clock" this time around because the voters don't like her. Whoever replaces her in District 3 will probably beat Frisch because it is, despite everything, MAGA/Trump dominated and he/she won't have Boebert's baggage. 2022 was a referendum on Boebert personally and not on the Republican Party. Boebert will carry her baggage into this race as well and in District 2 there are several running with more experience and are popular in the District.
Districts 2 and 4 are rock rib MAGA/Trump territories where Trump beat Biden by large margins. Whoever replaces Buck and Lanborn will be a Republican. Whever replaces Boebert in District will PROBABLY be a Republican--- but Frisch has the best chance of turning 3 blue. He is really a good campaigner, known in the district and likeable.
Assasinations? Geez Charlie.
This just in: "BREAKING NEWS The Supreme Court agreed to decide whether Donald Trump is eligible for Colorado’s primary ballot. The court will hear the case in February."