I'm writing about a Washington Post report today (Nov. 5, 2023) headlined "Trump and allies plot revenge, Justice Department control in a second term."
I saw a similar report recently, but this one seems more specific. I won't go into the details here,. but urge you to read it. The article is quite specific, e.g., naming specific people working on this, identifying organizations doing the planning.
I don't want to sound alarmist. But Trump has shown he will do what he threatens if he is given the authority. I'm thinking about how to stop him before the election which, hopefully, he will lose. Is there a valid analogy that what he and his cohorts are doing is as dangerous as yelling "Fire!" in a crowded theater? Please read the WAPO article. It should raise alarms among we who want to protect the imperfect structure of our republic. FYI, I'm a subscriber. (I've never posted like this before, so I don't know if it's appropriate to identify myself. My purpose is to encourage journalists with platforms to raise awareness of what's going on.)
So, I’ve never done this before, so sorry if I’m in the wrong post. But I live in scandinavia, am a subscriber, and listen to most of the Bulwark podcasts daily. I usually follow your arguments and logic, but I’m at a loss when it comes to your commenting on the middle east. I read and listen to news on both conservative and progressive sides of american politics (slate, crooked media, the editors, the atlantic, politico, wapo, wsj..) and I don’t get what’s going on on the «right» right now. I think voices on both sides agree that Hamas is a horrible terrorist organisation that needs to be defeated - but it seems to me that conservative media thinks it is impossible to opt for saving innocent lives at the same time. Agreed, Hamas is playing dirty by using human shields - but they are a terrorist group. It sometimes seems like you believe that killing thousands of innocent people is legitimate. Don’t you believe that we should hold a state to higher standards than a terrorist organisation? Would it be ok to wipe out all innocent civilians in ISIS countries to defeat their leaders? We’ve had some not very good experiences with Saddam on this issue too.. I hear you refer to «progressives» voices and how they root for Hamas, but I fail to actually see them anywhere besides in obscure fringes. I would love to hear more from Sarah, Tim or Will on this matter. I’m deeply worried about the US being torn apart by this matter so close to the election.
Holy crap, the Tea Party wasn't racist from the get-go? Charlie, that is delusional. Remember the witch doctor poster? That was straight out of the gate. Quit revising history.
Here are the people who amuse me, they were sure Hillary would win and were wrong. As a result they’ve become sure Trump will win. So rather than being wrong humbling them it’s only added to their certainty. When I was a kid I wondered why being wrong never affected people belief in their own judgement. If one has been absolutely sure of something and found to be mistaken how could they every be certain again?
Here is a quote from Mike Johnson from the David Corn article: "You better sit down any candidate who says they’re going to run for legislature and say, “I want to know what your worldview is. I want to know what, to know what you think about the Christian heritage of this country. I want to know what you think about God’s design for society. Have you even thought about that?” If they hadn’t thought about it, you need to move on and find somebody who has...We have too many people in government who don’t know any of this stuff. They haven’t even thought about it." Yet somehow, Johnson supports Trump who would score a literal zero if Johnson asked him to answer any of the questions that he has posed. You know, the "Two Corinthians" guy or the guy who won't name a single Bible verse that is important to him (I know I'm going out on a limb here, but my guess is that is because there aren't any Bible verses that are important to Trump) or the guy who says that he has never asked God for forgiveness. Yeah, that guy!
Charlie: This is exactly what Putin wants. He has played his cards well to create both political chaos and a financial burden in the U.S., but to play on the emotions of millions of Arabs who are already psychologically against the U.S. and Israel. www.democrazy2020.org.
I 100% support the Palestinians, and their cause. Have for over 50 yrs and will continue to stand with them until the day I die. Under the apartheid state of Israel they lost everything, land, freedom, etc. But never lost their faith that God will once again provide a Homeland and Freedom for them. I believe that also. I do not support my own government's decisions to (always) stand with the apartheid state of Israel.
If you don't contextualize Patrick Dai you may just be railroading a pitiable figure. The guy is 21 years old and has had depression severe enough that he had to withdraw from college for a couple of semesters. Today's campuses can be unfriendly places for people who haven't found their "in" group. His postings could as easily be a cry for attention from an alienated young man who has nothing to do with Hamas and no intention of acting in the way he describes.
Look, he posted anonymously on these boards, didn't target anyone specific, used silly screen names, and could have thought he was just trolling people. When confronted and read his rights, he admitted to posting those things. In the absence of further information -- maybe he has a radical Imam? -- it's hard to continue to feel threatened -- by him, at least.
Of course, it's against the law to use interstate networks to threaten people, so making the threat while intending to cause people to feel threatened is a crime. So yeah, he deserves what the law metes out. I'd feel better about that if the law were used more often, for example, in the case of Trumpist election deniers making death threats to public officials.
In these unnerving times, it may feel better to make an example out of someone, as Governor Hochul wants to do. But tell me there's no element of pandering in that.
I always told my high school English students, no matter their circumstance: words matter; ideas matter. Maybe he never had a teacher who told him that.
Perhaps you're right, as you were certainly right in instructing your students. But I'm just wondering if such a lesson is tough to remember and draw on, if there's depression in your life.
Being pro Palestinian/pro two-state solution for the the future of Palestinians is NOT being pro Hamas. Supporting humanitarian treatment of Palestinians not affiliated with Hamas and following the Rules of War is not anti-Israeli nor excusing the evil Hamas perpetrated on Oct. 7.
No question that the remarks of Patrick Dai were despicable and likely criminal. But he has been arrested for his hateful threats ( https://www.npr.org/2023/10/31/1209839480/cornell-student-arrested-antisemitic-threats) so what’s the point of this “shot?” Its intent may not be, but its effect is surely to smear with a very broad brush, ergo Dai = Squad = Democrats. I guess old habits die hard, eh, Charlie?
Democrats are not split on Israel. The squad is made of a few (several are Muslim) far left Democrats. The vast majority support Israel. Even Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren came out very strongly in support of Israel. Try as you might, you can't drive wedge between Jewish and non Jewish Democrats. We stand united.
I am just going to share this link. Not sure how any war can be "won" by depriving women access to basic hygiene, children access to food, and sick people access to medicines.
D
I'm writing about a Washington Post report today (Nov. 5, 2023) headlined "Trump and allies plot revenge, Justice Department control in a second term."
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/11/05/trump-revenge-second-term/
I saw a similar report recently, but this one seems more specific. I won't go into the details here,. but urge you to read it. The article is quite specific, e.g., naming specific people working on this, identifying organizations doing the planning.
I don't want to sound alarmist. But Trump has shown he will do what he threatens if he is given the authority. I'm thinking about how to stop him before the election which, hopefully, he will lose. Is there a valid analogy that what he and his cohorts are doing is as dangerous as yelling "Fire!" in a crowded theater? Please read the WAPO article. It should raise alarms among we who want to protect the imperfect structure of our republic. FYI, I'm a subscriber. (I've never posted like this before, so I don't know if it's appropriate to identify myself. My purpose is to encourage journalists with platforms to raise awareness of what's going on.)
So, I’ve never done this before, so sorry if I’m in the wrong post. But I live in scandinavia, am a subscriber, and listen to most of the Bulwark podcasts daily. I usually follow your arguments and logic, but I’m at a loss when it comes to your commenting on the middle east. I read and listen to news on both conservative and progressive sides of american politics (slate, crooked media, the editors, the atlantic, politico, wapo, wsj..) and I don’t get what’s going on on the «right» right now. I think voices on both sides agree that Hamas is a horrible terrorist organisation that needs to be defeated - but it seems to me that conservative media thinks it is impossible to opt for saving innocent lives at the same time. Agreed, Hamas is playing dirty by using human shields - but they are a terrorist group. It sometimes seems like you believe that killing thousands of innocent people is legitimate. Don’t you believe that we should hold a state to higher standards than a terrorist organisation? Would it be ok to wipe out all innocent civilians in ISIS countries to defeat their leaders? We’ve had some not very good experiences with Saddam on this issue too.. I hear you refer to «progressives» voices and how they root for Hamas, but I fail to actually see them anywhere besides in obscure fringes. I would love to hear more from Sarah, Tim or Will on this matter. I’m deeply worried about the US being torn apart by this matter so close to the election.
Holy crap, the Tea Party wasn't racist from the get-go? Charlie, that is delusional. Remember the witch doctor poster? That was straight out of the gate. Quit revising history.
Or Bruce Lee’s son. Sorry, it was a joke.
Here are the people who amuse me, they were sure Hillary would win and were wrong. As a result they’ve become sure Trump will win. So rather than being wrong humbling them it’s only added to their certainty. When I was a kid I wondered why being wrong never affected people belief in their own judgement. If one has been absolutely sure of something and found to be mistaken how could they every be certain again?
Here is a quote from Mike Johnson from the David Corn article: "You better sit down any candidate who says they’re going to run for legislature and say, “I want to know what your worldview is. I want to know what, to know what you think about the Christian heritage of this country. I want to know what you think about God’s design for society. Have you even thought about that?” If they hadn’t thought about it, you need to move on and find somebody who has...We have too many people in government who don’t know any of this stuff. They haven’t even thought about it." Yet somehow, Johnson supports Trump who would score a literal zero if Johnson asked him to answer any of the questions that he has posed. You know, the "Two Corinthians" guy or the guy who won't name a single Bible verse that is important to him (I know I'm going out on a limb here, but my guess is that is because there aren't any Bible verses that are important to Trump) or the guy who says that he has never asked God for forgiveness. Yeah, that guy!
Mike Johnson is just a smarter, smoother Gym Jordan with better manners. That should scare anybody. It sure scares me, and I don't scare easy.
Charlie: This is exactly what Putin wants. He has played his cards well to create both political chaos and a financial burden in the U.S., but to play on the emotions of millions of Arabs who are already psychologically against the U.S. and Israel. www.democrazy2020.org.
I 100% support the Palestinians, and their cause. Have for over 50 yrs and will continue to stand with them until the day I die. Under the apartheid state of Israel they lost everything, land, freedom, etc. But never lost their faith that God will once again provide a Homeland and Freedom for them. I believe that also. I do not support my own government's decisions to (always) stand with the apartheid state of Israel.
Does God provide a homeland and freedom for Jews also?
As soon as you go down that road you are an enabler of Hamas and all of the Iran proxies
Fantastic comments.
If you don't contextualize Patrick Dai you may just be railroading a pitiable figure. The guy is 21 years old and has had depression severe enough that he had to withdraw from college for a couple of semesters. Today's campuses can be unfriendly places for people who haven't found their "in" group. His postings could as easily be a cry for attention from an alienated young man who has nothing to do with Hamas and no intention of acting in the way he describes.
Look, he posted anonymously on these boards, didn't target anyone specific, used silly screen names, and could have thought he was just trolling people. When confronted and read his rights, he admitted to posting those things. In the absence of further information -- maybe he has a radical Imam? -- it's hard to continue to feel threatened -- by him, at least.
Of course, it's against the law to use interstate networks to threaten people, so making the threat while intending to cause people to feel threatened is a crime. So yeah, he deserves what the law metes out. I'd feel better about that if the law were used more often, for example, in the case of Trumpist election deniers making death threats to public officials.
In these unnerving times, it may feel better to make an example out of someone, as Governor Hochul wants to do. But tell me there's no element of pandering in that.
I always told my high school English students, no matter their circumstance: words matter; ideas matter. Maybe he never had a teacher who told him that.
Perhaps you're right, as you were certainly right in instructing your students. But I'm just wondering if such a lesson is tough to remember and draw on, if there's depression in your life.
Being pro Palestinian/pro two-state solution for the the future of Palestinians is NOT being pro Hamas. Supporting humanitarian treatment of Palestinians not affiliated with Hamas and following the Rules of War is not anti-Israeli nor excusing the evil Hamas perpetrated on Oct. 7.
No question that the remarks of Patrick Dai were despicable and likely criminal. But he has been arrested for his hateful threats ( https://www.npr.org/2023/10/31/1209839480/cornell-student-arrested-antisemitic-threats) so what’s the point of this “shot?” Its intent may not be, but its effect is surely to smear with a very broad brush, ergo Dai = Squad = Democrats. I guess old habits die hard, eh, Charlie?
Democrats are not split on Israel. The squad is made of a few (several are Muslim) far left Democrats. The vast majority support Israel. Even Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren came out very strongly in support of Israel. Try as you might, you can't drive wedge between Jewish and non Jewish Democrats. We stand united.
מאוחד
I am just going to share this link. Not sure how any war can be "won" by depriving women access to basic hygiene, children access to food, and sick people access to medicines.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/31/no-privacy-no-water-gaza-women-use-period-delaying-pills-amid-war
This sounds made up.