Next thing you know, they'll be allowing the FBI Director to go on blackout binges in the Pony Room, allowing the president to accept bribes from foreign governments, and allowing him to conduct classified business on his personal cell phone. How crazy would that be?
I wonder if it had to do with the blueprints. First floor: Walter Reed. Second floor: Salsa lessons. Third floor: Sniper tower. It didn't seem like it would pass a building inspection.
It does. And sarcasm very often involves exaggeration, so the "/s" means not really, Trump would not *really* do or say such a thing--it's a joke. That's where reality has gobbled up satire. He shows us daily that he might do or say anything, no matter how extreme.
Speaking of taking heart, I'm not sure I should be too worried about the IRS agreement absolving Trump and his circle from ever being audited again. It's not a law passed by Congress, so it seems pretty likely that the next Democratic administration can just declare the agreement null and void over some technicality.
The whole thing will end up in court, sure - just about everything Trump touches ends up with his name as either a plaintiff or the defendant - but in the long run the IRS will return to treating the president and his cronies just like everyone else in the United States: that is, auditable and liable for penalties and back taxes.
Yes, and they're painting themselves into an increasingly small, dangerous corner, effectively dividing and destroying the Republican Party of the past.
The Republican Party is destroyed. Like the Federalists and Whigs of yesteryear. Jefferson envisioned a nation with no party system, people heard or read what was to be proposed and gave the person they felt could do the job their vote. Certainly be a lot cheaper.
Yeah, the Republican Party is deader than Jacob Marley. Democrats will go the same way if they don't ditch Schumer and start putting their noses to the grindstone. We need people willing to work more than 2 hours a day.
Yes indeed, Ms. Barz, but in the meantime we have a totally ineffectual body (the 'congress'--note the lower-case 'c') that has been neutered by the squeaker of the House, and is not governing in any visible way. In the process, we the people are being harmed daily by the orange narcissist-felon's regime.
No question about that John. That’s why I said the party is destroyed. I can’t imagine sane, rational people registering and supporting the GOP. I can only see fewer people belonging to this group every year, which was the fate of the Federalists, and the Whigs. The Whigs gave birth to the Republican Party, Lincoln was a Whig. Unfortunately those in power do know this and are lashing out to prevent the inevitable.
It's my understanding that that provision is actually illegal, so it could likely get overturned if it does end up in court. There was some law passed at one point saying that it is illegal for the Executive Branch to interfere with an IRS audit, and this provision sure seems to violate that law. Democratic Representatives are already pointing this out.
Well, 'serious' people think it's an active question as to whether the president can pardon himself. So nothing, no matter how obviously cuckoo it is, is beyond credulous consideration.
"it seems pretty likely that the next Democratic administration can just declare the agreement null and void over some technicality." I have ZERO confidence that SCOTUS will allow the next Democratic administration to do that.
STANDING OVATION for Bill’s piece this morning. I was genuinely heartened by it.
It was encouraging to be reminded that there are still so many people — across ideological and partisan lines — willing to stand together against the authoritarian movements rising around the world.
And it was also an important reminder of just how dark things became globally in the late 1930s before democratic societies fully recognized the danger they were facing.
I think one of the most painful aspects of this moment is the realization that our own country is now, at times, part of the problem rather than the solution. That’s difficult to accept for those of us who grew up believing America, while imperfect, ultimately bent toward defending liberty and democratic values around the world.
Nevertheless, we carry on.
The Bulwark community will continue to use our hearts, voices, votes, and actions to support democracy — both here at home and abroad. History shows that free societies survive only when ordinary people refuse to surrender to cynicism, fear, or political intimidation.
Someone needs to let Politico know that the slush fund is not “part of a settlement.” If I understand Heather Cox Richardson’s “Politics chat” yesterday, since the Trump admin dropped the lawsuit, the case never went to court, and therefore there is nothing to settle. Calling it a settlement makes the whole fund sound like something legal, which it is not. It is literally Trump stealing 1.776 billion dollars to give to his criminal supporters.
"The lawsuit, filed in federal district court in Washington, argues that the fund violates the 14th Amendment’s prohibition on use of federal money to “pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States.”"
J6'rs, at least a few of them, were convicted of inciting an attempted insurrection. Larry, Moe, and Curly might have a tough time getting around that fact.
They still have to convince two more and they won't get Gorsuch or most like ACB. Kavanaugh will go along to get along and mostly because his vote won't matter.
How can SCOTUS say it is correct to recompense not the police who defended the US Capitol from attack but the people who beat them during that attack? That is monstrous.
But if the five people appointed by the Felon (I know it reads differently, but since he can fire anyone at will, guess who will be the only ones to pass that scrutiny) find that they are, in fact, victims deserving X amount, where is the evidence of falsity?
But Tom, it is clear that the indictments cite false facts found in the voluminous "evidence" and the pleas were coerced which is why the Felon, in the goodness of his heart (oh. how it hurts to lie that much, even in writing) pardoned them. And the "smattering of acquitals" were thrown in to make it look like real trials happened.
Yes, there is a common theme to many (most, all) of these columns ... things going from bad to badder to baddest with the current regime, and trying to find silver linings where they can be had. But what is wearing me down the most is the non-stop barrage of victimization and grievance used by/on the political right to justify everything the regime does -- invariably excuses to tear things down rather than build something up, never mind becoming a rising tide that floats all boats. Lord, make it end, the unstoppable parade of whiny people, starting of course at the top, who throw hissy fits whenever they don't get their way, someone hurts their feelings, or there is any semblance of opposition to them getting everything they want, when they want it, how they want it.
In any other context than politics we would look at this behavior and say that it is completely unacceptable from chronological adults. Make it political, though, and it instantly becomes a tribal tactic that is entirely legitimate as a means to discredit and destroy the opposition. Interestingly, studies show that many children see such behavior and describe it as wrong or not normal, from their simplistic but also helpfully uncluttered perspective. The cart is in front of the horse, as the adults in the room refuse to take responsibility and lead by example. Great job, America.
Side note: am I the only person who thinks the last good year we've had in this country to date was 2000? Pretty much this whole century feels to me like a flush-it-down-the-toilet experience. Terrorist attacks ... major financial crises ... dubious wars lacking adequate foresight and preparation ... tribalism and political hatred ... global warming spiraling out of control ... MAGA ... and so many more lowlights. My two cents' worth, not adjusted for inflation or the fact that pennies no longer are being made.
For me the 90s were a boom time, plus I was young and there is significant nostalgia that colors my view. But yes, the world seemed better in 1999.
Alot of the first decade of this century was good. Yes, there were pointless wars and lots of stupidity but all of it seemed fairly in line with "normal" times. Though I strongly disagreed with him GWB was not a monster. Heck, not even Cheney was a monster compared to what we have now. But I think alot of us, including me thought 2008-2012ish was a real step forward for our society and to watch everything good that came from Obama's years, not to mention damn near everything good that has been created in my 50+ year lifetime be torn down by MAGA is beyond depressing. So, yea, the 21st century has really sucked.
I don't know, I was doing well up until 2015 or so. But I've been pretty fortunate. It still seemed like we cared about the climate, green energy was (and still is) surging, we were optimistic we could leave Afghanistan. My big concerns were school funding and health insurance, but the health insurance front had improved quite a bit.
I see your point. There have been some improvements. But it also feels to me like for each of those single steps we've moved forward, we've taken two or three backward in other areas. I get the impression of a downward spiral overall in which a handful of people are doing very, very well while most of the rest of us are in slow decay mode, consistently doing more for less, just trying to keep up and not very effectively so -- a classic case of haves and have nots as the oligarchs and the political elite increasingly define the reality of the rest of us, with no visible brake on the wheel. My feeling anyway.
Living in a blue state has definitely shielded me from alot. I have high taxes (local, state, etc) but I also have access to alot of services that frankly make my life run smoother. My state's politics have shielded my kids from the worst of the bigots and guarantee they still have rights that we took for granted 10 years ago. And living in a huge economic hub has cushioned blows. At this point where someone lives matters alot.
Sort of like a repeat of 1900. Wasn’t too good for Europe and most of the rest of the world, culminating in the stupidest war; that the Kaiser couldn’t go to Paris, and the Arch Duke’s car mage a wrong turn and got struck in traffic.
The current President of the United States has outdone himself recently. He seems to have the sense that he is losing, so he is going for the gold, all the gold he can gather before a new Congress shuts him up and then shuts him down.
His $1.8 billion slush fund has shocked even many Republican Congresspeople. The tax Get-Out-of-Jail Free card came right after. The only people who are still with Trump are the billionaires and the racist poor. Both want to destroy the government and take all they can.
Even John Thune is getting worried. -- NOT Mike Johnson. He's probably on the list to get a couple of million.
Republicans in Congress may profess to be shocked, but I, for one, will be shocked, amazed and dumbfounded if they actually take a single step to overturn it. They, following the lead of Susan Collins, will say they are Concerned or Disappointed, clutch their pearls - and do nothing meaningful.
When I think about just how dark a place the world was in 1941 (and I have read and studied the history in detail and heard the stories from family who lived through it), it makes you realize that if we get our act together, we can turn things around. I say that as a 68 year old, fairly cynical (a few friends undoubtedly would say very cynical) attorney.
Watching this administration get caught up between a rock and a hard place on AI is delicious. While the AI oligarchs want to go full steam ahead, the MAGA base hates it. Let them all eat each other, the whole useless bunch.
In related news, I was told by a lot of the tech types that voting for Harris was ushering in socialism or communism or some other such nonsense. Yesterday, the administration announced grants for quantum computing companies pending a government ownership stake in said companies. Free market capitalism for the win!
Mark Hertling's Memorial Day piece was moving, inspiring, and reduced me to tears. It should be widely republished so all Americans can read it. What it does is remind all of us of the ideals our country was founded to stand for. Although he is not mentioned, it points to how completely Donald Trump and his followers and enablers have damaged those ideals. On behalf of all those young people in Hertling's box and those in graves all over the world, I give them honor and offer sorrow for the shame I feel about how my fellow Americans have dishonored their memories.
Just when we wonder if the menace, acting as POTUS, really is a mob boss, HCR reports this quote from his "spokesperson" in our desicrated White House regarding Republican primary losses.
White House spokesperson Steven Cheung posted: “Do not ever doubt President Trump and his political power. F*ck around, find out.”
We as a nation can now confirm...mob bosses make terrible presidents in a democracy. Trump's coup will fail as he doubles and doubles and doubles down.
Thank you, Bill, for bringing attention to Freedom House. It's unfortunate that its members now have to spend some time on focusing on ensuring freedom here in the US.
How soon before Trump pivots to solicit bribes, um *donations* from corporations and the billionaire cohort of the Epstein Class to make up for the tax dollar shortfall for the Big Beautiful Ballroom Bunker? I will let those who monitor Truth Social to give us the answer.
Oh, and to paraphrase Edward R. Murrow: "Trump's actions ... have caused alarm and dismay amongst our allies abroad, and given considerable comfort to our enemies. And whose fault is that? Not really his. He didn’t create this situation of fear; he merely exploited it—and rather successfully. Cassius was right: ‘The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves.’”
“Perhaps it’s not the case that America is an indispensable nation. But it seems as clear now as ever that the principles of the American Revolution, of the Declaration, are indispensable principles. It was heartening to spend an evening with men and women who are committed to them.”
Never more prescient words. No nation is indispensable; but ideals and principles never die—they live within us all—our hope and dreams and being able to live the lives we were meant to live; with purpose.
At least I believe that’s the case for most of us! So I’ll leave you with the words of a famous president Calvin Coolidge):
“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.
Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.
The slogan Press On! has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”u
“the administration is about to drop a major AI executive order—one that could demand federal review of advanced AI models before they are released.” Who is going to do the review!?!?!?! The DOGE Bros? DJT? Robert F Kennedy Jr? Kissing DJT’s hindquarters gently but firmly is not much of a qualification.
Given Trump’s ridiculous ramblings about wanting Netanyahu’s job, I wonder if Jeff Bezos is reconsidering the praise he heaped on DJT just yesterday as a ‘more mature, more disciplined version of himself’ and that he has ‘lots of good ideas’. Did Trump wanting to be prime minister of Israel feature in those ‘good ideas’ Bezos was referring to? I suspect not. Maybe the new Mrs. Bezos needs to get him drunk and see what he really means by ‘mature’ and disciplined’.
No funds for the ballroom?!?!?!?!?!? Do none of these Senators care about National Security anymore?!?!?!?!?
/s
How will our elite overlords ever dance in safety?
Nothing says "National Security" like a gilded ballroom.
Exactly! Who are we to doubt the President?!?!?!?! /s
People with an IQ above a MAGAnut.
I assume the answer is anyone with a functioning brain. These days, that seems to exclude almost any member of the Republican Party.
Do the Republicans lack brains or spines? Maybe both?
Next thing you know, they'll be allowing the FBI Director to go on blackout binges in the Pony Room, allowing the president to accept bribes from foreign governments, and allowing him to conduct classified business on his personal cell phone. How crazy would that be?
Thank goodness the adults are in charge and THAT couldn't happen! /s
It's like the first Austin Powers movie where Dr. Evil is running through his list of outrageous schemes to find they all already happened.
A ransom of one MILLION dollars!
"A billion is more than a million, Numbnuts." :)
Oops! Already done dat! Probably!
😏Here is the smirking emoji I think you were looking for, Mike.😏
I'm not sure I'll ever get the hang of emojis!
I just do :( :( :( Easy!
The smiley is the only one I ever use. Beyond that, I'm emoji illiterate.
You will get there. If I could, so can you!🤞😵💫
I'll be honest, that last bit made less sense than Egyptian hieroglyphs. :)
:)
Keeping us safe from the Russian waltz and the Chinese two step!
I wonder if it had to do with the blueprints. First floor: Walter Reed. Second floor: Salsa lessons. Third floor: Sniper tower. It didn't seem like it would pass a building inspection.
Fun thought about the sniper tower. Who's meant to be the targets? It sure isn't the British trying for a repeat of 1812.
Never mind the front slash r--reality has swallowed satire whole.
I thought /s denotes sarcasm.
It does. And sarcasm very often involves exaggeration, so the "/s" means not really, Trump would not *really* do or say such a thing--it's a joke. That's where reality has gobbled up satire. He shows us daily that he might do or say anything, no matter how extreme.
My use of the "/s" meant that I was exaggerating. I know darn well that this nonsense is being put forward seriously.
Not one unpressed Penney.
Speaking of taking heart, I'm not sure I should be too worried about the IRS agreement absolving Trump and his circle from ever being audited again. It's not a law passed by Congress, so it seems pretty likely that the next Democratic administration can just declare the agreement null and void over some technicality.
The whole thing will end up in court, sure - just about everything Trump touches ends up with his name as either a plaintiff or the defendant - but in the long run the IRS will return to treating the president and his cronies just like everyone else in the United States: that is, auditable and liable for penalties and back taxes.
" 'Tis a consummation devoutly to be wished."-- Hamlet, W. Shakespeare.
Something is rotten in the state of MAGA
Yes, and they're painting themselves into an increasingly small, dangerous corner, effectively dividing and destroying the Republican Party of the past.
The Republican Party is destroyed. Like the Federalists and Whigs of yesteryear. Jefferson envisioned a nation with no party system, people heard or read what was to be proposed and gave the person they felt could do the job their vote. Certainly be a lot cheaper.
Yeah, the Republican Party is deader than Jacob Marley. Democrats will go the same way if they don't ditch Schumer and start putting their noses to the grindstone. We need people willing to work more than 2 hours a day.
Yes indeed, Ms. Barz, but in the meantime we have a totally ineffectual body (the 'congress'--note the lower-case 'c') that has been neutered by the squeaker of the House, and is not governing in any visible way. In the process, we the people are being harmed daily by the orange narcissist-felon's regime.
No question about that John. That’s why I said the party is destroyed. I can’t imagine sane, rational people registering and supporting the GOP. I can only see fewer people belonging to this group every year, which was the fate of the Federalists, and the Whigs. The Whigs gave birth to the Republican Party, Lincoln was a Whig. Unfortunately those in power do know this and are lashing out to prevent the inevitable.
Works for me!
It was always thoroughly rotten.
MAGA
It's my understanding that that provision is actually illegal, so it could likely get overturned if it does end up in court. There was some law passed at one point saying that it is illegal for the Executive Branch to interfere with an IRS audit, and this provision sure seems to violate that law. Democratic Representatives are already pointing this out.
How can one reach a settlement with one's self? DJT vs DJT's DOJ?
Well, 'serious' people think it's an active question as to whether the president can pardon himself. So nothing, no matter how obviously cuckoo it is, is beyond credulous consideration.
We are talking about Felon Trump. Anything is possible with him.
That's a hopeful thought!
In a way, I found the tax immunity clause reassuring. You wouldn't need such a clause if you were planning on staying in office until you die.
It covers his family and businesses, not just him. That is why it is there, because even Trump knows he is going to die at some point.
The clause is so his sons can run the Trump businesses and we can all pretend that satisfies the Emoluments Clause.
"it seems pretty likely that the next Democratic administration can just declare the agreement null and void over some technicality." I have ZERO confidence that SCOTUS will allow the next Democratic administration to do that.
I absolutely understand your concern.
That was true…
STANDING OVATION for Bill’s piece this morning. I was genuinely heartened by it.
It was encouraging to be reminded that there are still so many people — across ideological and partisan lines — willing to stand together against the authoritarian movements rising around the world.
And it was also an important reminder of just how dark things became globally in the late 1930s before democratic societies fully recognized the danger they were facing.
I think one of the most painful aspects of this moment is the realization that our own country is now, at times, part of the problem rather than the solution. That’s difficult to accept for those of us who grew up believing America, while imperfect, ultimately bent toward defending liberty and democratic values around the world.
Nevertheless, we carry on.
The Bulwark community will continue to use our hearts, voices, votes, and actions to support democracy — both here at home and abroad. History shows that free societies survive only when ordinary people refuse to surrender to cynicism, fear, or political intimidation.
Someone needs to let Politico know that the slush fund is not “part of a settlement.” If I understand Heather Cox Richardson’s “Politics chat” yesterday, since the Trump admin dropped the lawsuit, the case never went to court, and therefore there is nothing to settle. Calling it a settlement makes the whole fund sound like something legal, which it is not. It is literally Trump stealing 1.776 billion dollars to give to his criminal supporters.
"The lawsuit, filed in federal district court in Washington, argues that the fund violates the 14th Amendment’s prohibition on use of federal money to “pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States.”"
Would seem to be on point . . . .
For us, sure. Not so sure about John, Clarence and Sam, though.
J6'rs, at least a few of them, were convicted of inciting an attempted insurrection. Larry, Moe, and Curly might have a tough time getting around that fact.
Facts don’t seem to have stopped them so far.
They may have been given injections of Kellyanne's Alternative Facts.
Best thing George Connelly ever did; divorce.
They still have to convince two more and they won't get Gorsuch or most like ACB. Kavanaugh will go along to get along and mostly because his vote won't matter.
SCOTUS may say it was a presidential act. Am I being sarcastic or real? Hard to say isn't it?
How can SCOTUS say it is correct to recompense not the police who defended the US Capitol from attack but the people who beat them during that attack? That is monstrous.
Then there's the fraudulent claims law. Perpetrators falsely claim to be the real victims of a crime.
But if the five people appointed by the Felon (I know it reads differently, but since he can fire anyone at will, guess who will be the only ones to pass that scrutiny) find that they are, in fact, victims deserving X amount, where is the evidence of falsity?
In the indictments, the voluminous evidence, the results--mostly guilty pleas and a smattering of acquittals.
But Tom, it is clear that the indictments cite false facts found in the voluminous "evidence" and the pleas were coerced which is why the Felon, in the goodness of his heart (oh. how it hurts to lie that much, even in writing) pardoned them. And the "smattering of acquitals" were thrown in to make it look like real trials happened.
Yes, there is a common theme to many (most, all) of these columns ... things going from bad to badder to baddest with the current regime, and trying to find silver linings where they can be had. But what is wearing me down the most is the non-stop barrage of victimization and grievance used by/on the political right to justify everything the regime does -- invariably excuses to tear things down rather than build something up, never mind becoming a rising tide that floats all boats. Lord, make it end, the unstoppable parade of whiny people, starting of course at the top, who throw hissy fits whenever they don't get their way, someone hurts their feelings, or there is any semblance of opposition to them getting everything they want, when they want it, how they want it.
In any other context than politics we would look at this behavior and say that it is completely unacceptable from chronological adults. Make it political, though, and it instantly becomes a tribal tactic that is entirely legitimate as a means to discredit and destroy the opposition. Interestingly, studies show that many children see such behavior and describe it as wrong or not normal, from their simplistic but also helpfully uncluttered perspective. The cart is in front of the horse, as the adults in the room refuse to take responsibility and lead by example. Great job, America.
Side note: am I the only person who thinks the last good year we've had in this country to date was 2000? Pretty much this whole century feels to me like a flush-it-down-the-toilet experience. Terrorist attacks ... major financial crises ... dubious wars lacking adequate foresight and preparation ... tribalism and political hatred ... global warming spiraling out of control ... MAGA ... and so many more lowlights. My two cents' worth, not adjusted for inflation or the fact that pennies no longer are being made.
For me the 90s were a boom time, plus I was young and there is significant nostalgia that colors my view. But yes, the world seemed better in 1999.
Alot of the first decade of this century was good. Yes, there were pointless wars and lots of stupidity but all of it seemed fairly in line with "normal" times. Though I strongly disagreed with him GWB was not a monster. Heck, not even Cheney was a monster compared to what we have now. But I think alot of us, including me thought 2008-2012ish was a real step forward for our society and to watch everything good that came from Obama's years, not to mention damn near everything good that has been created in my 50+ year lifetime be torn down by MAGA is beyond depressing. So, yea, the 21st century has really sucked.
I don't know, I was doing well up until 2015 or so. But I've been pretty fortunate. It still seemed like we cared about the climate, green energy was (and still is) surging, we were optimistic we could leave Afghanistan. My big concerns were school funding and health insurance, but the health insurance front had improved quite a bit.
I see your point. There have been some improvements. But it also feels to me like for each of those single steps we've moved forward, we've taken two or three backward in other areas. I get the impression of a downward spiral overall in which a handful of people are doing very, very well while most of the rest of us are in slow decay mode, consistently doing more for less, just trying to keep up and not very effectively so -- a classic case of haves and have nots as the oligarchs and the political elite increasingly define the reality of the rest of us, with no visible brake on the wheel. My feeling anyway.
I wonder if there isn't a regional lag, where people like me in the bluest of blue states felt the change last.
Living in a blue state has definitely shielded me from alot. I have high taxes (local, state, etc) but I also have access to alot of services that frankly make my life run smoother. My state's politics have shielded my kids from the worst of the bigots and guarantee they still have rights that we took for granted 10 years ago. And living in a huge economic hub has cushioned blows. At this point where someone lives matters alot.
Sounds right to me. 2000 pretty much was the beginning of Boomerism.
Sort of like a repeat of 1900. Wasn’t too good for Europe and most of the rest of the world, culminating in the stupidest war; that the Kaiser couldn’t go to Paris, and the Arch Duke’s car mage a wrong turn and got struck in traffic.
The current President of the United States has outdone himself recently. He seems to have the sense that he is losing, so he is going for the gold, all the gold he can gather before a new Congress shuts him up and then shuts him down.
His $1.8 billion slush fund has shocked even many Republican Congresspeople. The tax Get-Out-of-Jail Free card came right after. The only people who are still with Trump are the billionaires and the racist poor. Both want to destroy the government and take all they can.
Even John Thune is getting worried. -- NOT Mike Johnson. He's probably on the list to get a couple of million.
Republicans in Congress may profess to be shocked, but I, for one, will be shocked, amazed and dumbfounded if they actually take a single step to overturn it. They, following the lead of Susan Collins, will say they are Concerned or Disappointed, clutch their pearls - and do nothing meaningful.
Man, oh man, do I hope you are wrong, but my fear factor says you are right on.
Congress is checked out of anything involving corruption. It's why nobody likes Democrats or Republicans.
Some of them are realizing that if they go against Trump, they will lose in a primary, but if they stick with him, they will lose in the election.
I guess they have to wait until the primaries in their state are over.
When I think about just how dark a place the world was in 1941 (and I have read and studied the history in detail and heard the stories from family who lived through it), it makes you realize that if we get our act together, we can turn things around. I say that as a 68 year old, fairly cynical (a few friends undoubtedly would say very cynical) attorney.
RiP, I, as an even older, no less cynical attorney (inactive) have to point out that the operative
word in your plea, is "can". Let's all work toward making that"will".
Watching this administration get caught up between a rock and a hard place on AI is delicious. While the AI oligarchs want to go full steam ahead, the MAGA base hates it. Let them all eat each other, the whole useless bunch.
In related news, I was told by a lot of the tech types that voting for Harris was ushering in socialism or communism or some other such nonsense. Yesterday, the administration announced grants for quantum computing companies pending a government ownership stake in said companies. Free market capitalism for the win!
Democracy will survive what is coming, America as we know it will not.
America as we know it (or thought we knew it) needs an upgrade, too. Have any of you heard about this proposal for a D-7 (a "democracies 7") that would welcome back the US once we get our house in order? https://www.thenextmove.org/p/the-democratic-world-needs-a-d7?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=4398493&post_id=198300677&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=false&r=3ibbx&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email
very interesting. thanks for sharing.
I thought so too! :)
Mark Hertling's Memorial Day piece was moving, inspiring, and reduced me to tears. It should be widely republished so all Americans can read it. What it does is remind all of us of the ideals our country was founded to stand for. Although he is not mentioned, it points to how completely Donald Trump and his followers and enablers have damaged those ideals. On behalf of all those young people in Hertling's box and those in graves all over the world, I give them honor and offer sorrow for the shame I feel about how my fellow Americans have dishonored their memories.
Just when we wonder if the menace, acting as POTUS, really is a mob boss, HCR reports this quote from his "spokesperson" in our desicrated White House regarding Republican primary losses.
White House spokesperson Steven Cheung posted: “Do not ever doubt President Trump and his political power. F*ck around, find out.”
We as a nation can now confirm...mob bosses make terrible presidents in a democracy. Trump's coup will fail as he doubles and doubles and doubles down.
Thank you, Bill, for bringing attention to Freedom House. It's unfortunate that its members now have to spend some time on focusing on ensuring freedom here in the US.
How soon before Trump pivots to solicit bribes, um *donations* from corporations and the billionaire cohort of the Epstein Class to make up for the tax dollar shortfall for the Big Beautiful Ballroom Bunker? I will let those who monitor Truth Social to give us the answer.
Oh, and to paraphrase Edward R. Murrow: "Trump's actions ... have caused alarm and dismay amongst our allies abroad, and given considerable comfort to our enemies. And whose fault is that? Not really his. He didn’t create this situation of fear; he merely exploited it—and rather successfully. Cassius was right: ‘The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves.’”
“Perhaps it’s not the case that America is an indispensable nation. But it seems as clear now as ever that the principles of the American Revolution, of the Declaration, are indispensable principles. It was heartening to spend an evening with men and women who are committed to them.”
Never more prescient words. No nation is indispensable; but ideals and principles never die—they live within us all—our hope and dreams and being able to live the lives we were meant to live; with purpose.
At least I believe that’s the case for most of us! So I’ll leave you with the words of a famous president Calvin Coolidge):
“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.
Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.
The slogan Press On! has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”u
I always loved that quote. We sure have a lot of evidence that the fascists hate hard work, so let's take advantage of that.
Well said!…:)
“the administration is about to drop a major AI executive order—one that could demand federal review of advanced AI models before they are released.” Who is going to do the review!?!?!?! The DOGE Bros? DJT? Robert F Kennedy Jr? Kissing DJT’s hindquarters gently but firmly is not much of a qualification.
Nice! Just think of all the trade secrets that will be available to the highest bidder!
Exactly! I hear Ghislaine will be in need of a job after she’s pardoned! So there’s that!..:)
Given Trump’s ridiculous ramblings about wanting Netanyahu’s job, I wonder if Jeff Bezos is reconsidering the praise he heaped on DJT just yesterday as a ‘more mature, more disciplined version of himself’ and that he has ‘lots of good ideas’. Did Trump wanting to be prime minister of Israel feature in those ‘good ideas’ Bezos was referring to? I suspect not. Maybe the new Mrs. Bezos needs to get him drunk and see what he really means by ‘mature’ and disciplined’.
Don't you love it when people say a man who is almost 80 years old is starting to mature? I think Bezos meant overripen.
Serious, you can't make this up!
Nah, Bezos figured the current version of Trump is best for him and his idea of discipline is the complete opposite for regular folks’.
Sounds like Bezos is aiming for some job in the DJT administration
Or maybe he'll run for office himself. Wouldn't surprise me.