On Monday, we learned that after last year’s election, John Eastman, a well-connected lawyer advising former president Donald Trump, outlined a six-point plan to overturn the outcome of the election and install Trump as America’s leader. They planned to cut the voters’ actual choice, Democrat Joe Biden, out of power: as Trump advisor Steve Bannon put it, they planned to “kill the Biden presidency in the crib.” This appears to have been the plan that Trump and his loyalists tried to execute on January 6.
It is time to call this out as what it is - a well-documented attempt to overthrow the government, led by people too unconcerned or too stupid to worry about leaving a paper trail.
The January 6th sheep currently in court are not the problem. It's time to round up the ringleaders of this attempted coup and prosecute them on an open and shut case of treason.
Reasonable people insist on framing this coup as a robust political debate, but reasonable people are wrong. It is a naked power grab, an assault on the popular will, and blatantly illegal. Three evidence is there, in the seditionists' own hands.
A crime has been committed, even if it was unsuccessful. Failed bank robbers don't get to walk because they got no money. Failed murderers are still prosecuted. The evidence is there for all to see, and the alleged criminals aren't denying it. They're doubling down, and we're letting them. Either prosecute them, or remove the treason laws from the books since they're clearly meaningless and unenforceable.
Absolutely correct. However, I think we might be in trouble on that front. Our Congress is dilly dawdling on cuddling Israel and the US Military Industrial Complex with an extra $1 Billion dollars for military contractor profit. This under the guise of supporting Israel.
Sometimes it is hard to tell the difference between Democrats and Republicans.
As OCA pointed out in her note to constituents: This $1Billion, for THIS YEAR alone, exceeds all spending of the past 10 years.
So, I guess the Dems are making up for the lost money we were wasting in Iraq to the military contractors.
After listening to Rachel Maddow's show last night with guest Steve Schmidt and the Bulwark podcast with Rick Wilson, I almost can't even write anything this morning. Rick Wilson, in particular, agrees with you. To quote him" Call me old-fashioned, but I think trying to overthrow the government should be prosecuted as a crime". If you care to listen for yourself: https://podcast.thebulwark.com/rick-wilson-sounds-off-on-trump-dems-and-coups
I just listened to the podcast (don’t watch tv anymore) and I feel the same way. I just posted the WaPo article she read in full, by Robert Kagan... a conservative journalist. So starkly chilling. I admit to wondering where else I can live. If we don’t turn this around, how can we endure what we had a taste of under the former guy?
Hi Pamsy. Kagan's article in the WaPo is one of the best I've read. For those of you/us who still think, "Oh no, it couldn't happen here in America!", well it's happening, big time.
It's a creeping coup d'etat, failed in the first instance last Jan. 6th, but continuing according to plans B, C and D. This is what Trump wants. The GOP is now owned by Trump. This is even better for him than owning the libs. It's the ultimate ego trip for a self-loathing sicko narcissist. The rest of us are observing and commenting and complaining and expressing horror, but this didn't stop Mussolini or Hitler, and it won't stop Trump.
If the DOJ does not begin jailing the principals -- for conspiring and then inciting insurrection and treason, starting with Trump's underlings and compliant GOP Reps, Senators and Governors -- and Trump himself as soon as there is enough sworn testimony against him -- then sane Americans need to hit the streets and demand action. This means strikes, boycotts (yes, of lots of your/our favorite stuff, too bad!), and rigorously peaceful mass gatherings and demonstrations designed to bring our country to a halt until the coup is ended, the criminals are jailed and democracy is restored. Yes, it will be a royal pain in the ass. But if we just wait to cast our votes next year, it will be too late, and "good" Republicans will not save us because I can count them all on one hand.
This will not be easy or safe, but it must be done. Soon. Now is not too soon.
I know, most of us reading and responding to HCR's amazing daily LFAA are retired, or should be but can't afford it, and in our day we marched against nukes and for civil rights and against the Vietnam war and against the many varieties of discrimination and abuse that typify our beloved country and in favor of universal healthcare and against gun violence and violence against women and minorities and immigrants and LGBTQ folks and the list is endless. ENDLESS! It brings tears to my eyes when I think of all the good people here who wonder if they are going to die before a few -- just a few -- of our youthful dreams of equity are ever realized. No I'm not talking about nest eggs.
My wife and I hope to travel to the USA this winter, rent a car and visit, well, everyone.... My 96 year-old step-mother (who introduced me to Heather's letter), my sister and step-sisters and step-brother and a lifetime of friends and relatives scattered all over the USA -- some of them already in cemeteries -- because it may be our last chance before expatriate travel to the USA becomes a personal political problem. What happens when Trump orders Zuckerberg to hand over the names of everyone who has criticized him during the past few years? It will be too late to lie low and wait for things to blow over, and there may be no place to hide.
It's happening here, and interestingly enough, 2022 CPAC convention is happening in Hungary where "it" already happened under Orban who plays the same tune to culturally conservative religionists. All about forging new global alliances (U.S., Russia, Hungary, ...).
I appreciate your realism. awareness and dark humor. We'll never know if this Experiment had turned out differently if the Framer's and Founder's had regrouped after fleeing the British, and had continued to deliberate and complete parts of our Constitution that were never fully thought through, fleshed out and resolved.
I read that piece by Robert Kagan and felt depressed the rest of the day. With all the R shenanigans going on at the state level, how can anyone help but wonder about who really won an election?
So far as I can see, the efforts of the 1/6/21 Committee are of course totally under-reported and downplayed by the so called mainstream media. Biden had better be prepared to back the evidentiary results of the Committee and round up ALL the perps including Trump on down.
26% think the election was stolen? Well, 74% thing we WON LEGITIMATELY AND LEGALLY!
I heartily agree with much of what you say, Mr Cracker, except for the wholesale criticism of the “mainstream media” (or as I like to call it, “the legitimate news gatherers and disseminaters” — rolls right off the tongue, doesn’t it?) Working journalists share the news just as fast as they collect it and corroborate it. With fewer and fewer of them covering ever more volumes of complex stories all the time. Regarding the 1/6 committee, I suspect they’re playing it really close to the vest, gathering skeins and skeins of evidence, preventing leaks, building rock-solid cases against the treasonous instigators. When the panel is ready to pounce, it will inform the legitimate “press” (quaint, obsolete designation).
Prepare to have your socks knocked off. And with luck, observe a decisive blow to this attempt to assassinate American democracy. This I believe.
Are we prepared to use undemocratic means to defang, if not disarm, that 26%? If we don't, democracy is lost. If we do, democracy will at least be threatened if not also lost. It looks like a "lose-lose" proposition.
I'm sorry to say your tragic outlook is too optimistic. We are already in a literal epic and deadly war, and we are losing. Most Americans are in denial or deaf, dumb and It's possible, but unlikely that we will rebound stronger and more determined than ever. It's possible a hero will emerge who will guide us to safety. However, it's not likely. We won't defang, disarm or stop the anti-government forces being fueled by a handful of the wealthiest Americans.
The one saving grace is that we managed to survive the "Gilded Age" from the late nineteenth century until FDR, despite the country being run during those years by the anti-democratic group which is attempting to resume its control. When things get bad enough, they start to get better. But unfortunately, that has to be painful.
Two sides to that. Sqealling on a neighbor seeking an abortion is the law in Texas, passed by a supposedly democratically elected legislature, yet to many that is an "undemocratic" law. Are you for or agains enforcing that law? Enforcement of statutes in the US Code (or in State laws) can be challenged, and ultimately decided by courts, where judges usally are appointed, but by those who, although elected democratically, act politically.
Donald Trump paved the way for this with either fiendish cleverness or blind and base, but unerring moneyless, instinct.
His Presidency was one shock after another, from his announcement speech right through to the final days in office. It was one outrage after another mostly without the merest hindrance. The escalation was gradual until he felt himself imperiled by the coming election, and even more so by the results of the election itself.
There have been many Americans who reacted to alert us from the earliest days - Dr. Cox Richardson, Madeleine Albright, Tim Snyder, Anne Applebaum, Sarah Kendzior, Andrea Chalupa - spring to mind. We came to know the names of constitutional scholars and lawyers much more than we ever expected or cared to. The Democrat Party attained pier in the House and, under the able leadership of Speaker Pelosi leaned hard to protect the country from sliding into the abyss. And of course tens of thousands of people, who will forever remain nameless, threw themselves at the emergency using all the tools democracy provides, to help turn key elections in the Democrats’ favour.
But there was still a largely unawakened populace and Trump’s presidency became an endless series of opportunities to say, “Just when you thought he couldn’t lower the bar further…”, with a shrug of resignation, or a raising of the eyebrows as if to say, “What can one do? There is life to be lived.” When one then considers the steely resolve of the Republican Party to hitch themselves to Trump’s wagon regardless of which direction it was going or how many times one had to clamber back on after being tossed off by Trump or a minion…when one then casts an eye on the frightening devotion of the masses to him…then it is not hard to see how coarsened and/or resigned Americans were up to January 6.
But the Democrats have been in power (nominally) for eight months now. That they have not turned the country upside down in an attempt to rid itself of the Trumpian menace, is astounding. Constantly one hears, “Why aren’t they doing anything to stop this? Why aren’t people in jail, or at least formally charged ?”. (In Canada we rarely use the word ‘indicted’).
When the house is on fire, fixing a leaky pipe is hardly a fit response. On a larger scale, this is what it appears is happening on the American political landscape. The House Committee is showing steely resolve in trying to sort out the cancer that led to 1/6. But I fear their power is limited and the clock will run out on them if? when? they lose power in 2022.
President Biden got a Covid relief bill passed. But he has become hopelessly ensnared in the complications of two (!) infrastructure bills, to the greatest extent by his own party. This is the leaky pipe. Meanwhile the flames of the fire of America’s failing democracy are licking closer and closer. The Voting Rights Bill, which could slow down this menace, is languishing - barely mentioned anymore.
Where is the Justice Department? They, who are at the fulcrum of this crisis, have been a near-complete failure. And the individual states and nihilists in charge of them push and push with ever more contemptible but purposeful laws, weakening America daily.
Will anybody be brought to justice and thereby slow down Republican and Trumpian momentum? Is this tragedy in the making so much shrugged at that its success now appears to be only a matter of time?
If so, it is a disgrace in slow motion and the Democrats will not be spared by future historians. It’s hard not be fed up with this milquetoast administration. They are beginning to look like poseurs.
I find that an astounding statement when this administration has been in office for 8 months of a 4 year term.
I believe, although I respect that that is your opinion, Eric, the Republican Party is using greatly our very well documented displeasure with President Biden and what is constantly said of the total failure of Atty Gen Merrick Garland, his team, and the DOJ.
The time frame for justice is excruciating to wait for, especially with so much revealed through social and mainstream media. But wait we must and know that the hammer will not be tentative when it comes down on treason.
My concern of late is how pessimistic we are that democracy will prevail. Call me naive, but Trump assailed just about every single bastion of each branch of our government. Over a 4 year period.
For me, I will continue to use the principles of non violent protests loudly and be in support to whoever I speak to of our current administration that is putting the pieces back together after the the biggest political tantrum of all time. And whether I throw my shoe at the TV or stamp my foot in frustration, I will not let the opposition see me sweat. And that includes my absolute support of the Party of Democracy during this hair-on-fire crisis.
Quite frankly, if forced to respond to “well, that’s all fine, Christine, but just when do you think anything is going to happen to the filibuster, or put these f*ckers in court, in jail, or just out of the way?”…..I usually respond with….
I appreciate your faith. I know that the “wheels of justice grind slow, but they grind exceedingly fine”. I keep saying to myself - maybe, maybe, maybe.
I really really hope you’re write. My son’s way of life, and perhaps life, will be imperiled if this evil continues to thumb its nose at the basic tenets of humanity.
But leading voices are saying much the same thing. The alarm is being fully sounded. And so I believe my eyes.
A small but telling example. There was the abandonment of Texas by brave Democratic legislators. That ran parallel in July to the rhetoric of the “Summer of Action”. I listened to their biggest spokespeople then. They are noble Americans, mostly POC, mainly women. People who personify dignity, grace and hard won experience. I thought that this might be a moment when the grassroots of America rose up and forced ameliorative action. There was the March in Texas, given scant attention by the media. And (perhaps this is my fault), I’ve heard little since. It appears to have fizzled.
I don’t blame that on those people. They are icons. But they are attempting to push a rock uphill which is simply too heavy.
Patience is a commodity that is ultimately governed by time. Time is running out.
I will be truly delighted, Christine, if you can write one day, “See, told you I was right”.
But I fear that the fight is not being fully joined and in a tactical way. I feel that the corrupt Manchin family will play a large part in the demise of democracy.
I am furious that moderate and centrist Democrats choose this time for a hissy fit.
Thank you, Eric. Hissy fits can all be strategic. For some odd reason and I have no damn basis for it, I’m not “worried” about Sen Manchin and I appreciate what I feel is a decoy strategy. I’m serious. Doesn’t that sound crazy? And Sen Sinema? Pffft. She will fall in line and expect something in return.
You know, Eric… your response is spot on. To me, this is Democracy that we stand up for.
“I still cheer for you and your type.” I laughed at that one. I cannot even convey how many times I’ve heard that and the following…”Well,glad I cheered for the right side.” 😂😎
Dismissing him “for some reason” might well ensure that this is one of the times that people don’t come up to you and tell you they’re are glad they’re were on your side because you were right.
He and his family’s corruption is maximal and thoroughly documented.
Eric, I thought this lesson from American history, perhaps, a warning capable of influencing your recommendation to go after Manchin. Christine may have a point.
'FDR once tried to purge disloyal Democrats — would it work for Biden to do the same?'
'Roosevelt sought to drive out a passel of conservative Democrats in 1938. Spoiler: It didn't go as planned'
Christine, I think that you will appreciate the article, which you can read by opening the link below. Its subject is connected to the difference of opinion you have with Eric over how to handle Manchin. I don't know if you read Eric reply to you, yet, concerning that, along with links. At any rate, please read Keith's reply to me about the article. I consider Keith to be a mentor concerning political issues and American history. He knows that, and the man is very amusing, too.
Fern I was bemused at the suggestion that President Biden might seek to ‘purge’ some Democratic members of Congress, when he has, until 2022, a razor thin majority in the House and a 50-50 split in the Senate. (Trump is initiating a purge of the few reasonable Republicans left in Congress.)
President Roosevelt won the 20th century greatest presidential election landslide in 1936. With great overconfidence, he sought to address two irritants:a racalcitrant Supreme Court and some senators who were not with his program (especially on foreign foreign affairs). He struck out on both. He targeted four Senators and at least one House member. I believe that it was Senator George who confronted Roosevelt with a taunt: ‘I’ll be delighted to take you on.’ All four of the targeted senators won re-election and subsequently were not susceptible to Roosevelt’s charm
In 1965, after signing break-through civil rights legislation, President Johnson remarked: “With this we have lost the South,” which was true.
The Democratic Party has long had it’s progressive and conservative wings. It would be folly for President Biden to try to purge either wing. I am reminded of the WW II song: “Flying in on a wing and a prayer. With one engine gone, we shall still carry on, flying in on a wing and a prayer.” President Biden must work with what he has, whatever his (and my) personal frustrations.
That’s definitely a big part of it. But the Democrats are also in the position of having to salvage legal process itself, something the GOP is happy to exploit.
While frustrated at the pace as well, a guess may be that there is effort going toward avoiding having cases tossed out on technicalities. Dotting all i’s, crossing all t’s. Sadly, there are more John Eastman’s out there, salivating at the opportunity to do him one better.
I agree, to me, and I think you, our future doesn’t look very bright….. And if things do go , as it looks like they are headed, it can definitely spill over into Canada, as you’ve got your Trump like faction up there also.
Plus, I think the whole world is at stack as this whole mess is back, and pretty much engineered by a certain faction of the oligarch class, a fairly large faction. Trump himself isn’t smart enough to pull something like this off all by himself……
Boy , auto correct screwed up a bunch of what I was trying to say,corrections are, the whole world is at stake, whole mess is backed by. Sorry for the mix up….
In my opinion, Bannon is behind the chaos as TFG is not smart enough. Then TFG will step in to preserve law and order. Good and decent people are the minority. It seems that loads of folks have lead meaningless lives for generations and are now giving up addiction and despair for political action via the social media pipeline and their attachment to a demigod.
I have always suspected that Mitch McConnell is the evil puppet master. Look at how he controlled the game during the Obama presidency. He's been controlling the senate for a long time.
I believe that the "fraud" TFG refers to in the last presidential election are the minority voters who he despises. He just doesn't see them as legitimate, and thus the state Trumplicans' attempts to suppress their votes for future elections.
That, Christi, is absolutely correct. And POC absolutely know this too. The urban areas will not be denied. I have complete faith in massive voter turnout. Note how quiet Stacy Abrams has been. She and organizations have been very busy. We think nothing is being done, but I can attest that grassroots is a flourishing meadow, not a skank, dry, cracked, desert that the Anti Democracy Party functions from.
Oh, Kathy, I must heartily disagree: Good and decent people are the VAST MAJORITY. Alas, many of them are not well informed and disinclined to vote or get “involved.” Reaching them is our most pressing mission.
I’m totally with you on your disgust with the Orange Menace and his Orks.
As Ned L said - great post. Thanks Eric. Thanks also for listing some of those who have been sounding the alarm since the beginning. (I commented on that in a different post and for the life of me could not recall the names as I was typing. I should have looked them up but was on an emotional roll & didn't.)
Maybe Canada should look into building their own wall to protect themselves from the disaster to their south.
Also, I wholeheartedly agree with your last paragraph. 100%.
There is certainly a crime, but the relevant statute to prosecute it is not treason. Please see my post on this in today’s comments thread. It is 18 U.S. Code § 2385 - Advocating overthrow of Government. This statute is completely cited below.
I agree with your first statement regarding treason completely. The primary difficulty under section 2385 is the words by force or violence. There doesn’t actually have to be actual force or violence as conspiracy to do that which was unsuccessful, I believe would be sufficient. If we are directing this potential crime for prosecution of Trump that has to be proved beyond a reasonable doubt to a unanimous jury. As obvious as that might seem to all herein, I fear that is not an open and shut case to others.
I want to make it clear that I am not a constitutional scholar and this is not my area of expertise only my initial thoughts on this matter. I do however have to believe that crimes were committed by Trump, Eastman etc. and I would like to see a law professor or other Scholar opine on these issues.
BruceC thank you for posting the relevant statute in full. I just posted a comment up top proposing we all swarm the White House, Justice Dept, etc etc with a demand to prosecute the senior conspirators and a copy/paste of the full statute citation and text. I'd never have thought of it if you hadn't posted the law.
Do you know of any well-informed analyst who thinks any major figure in the Trump campaign administration will be successfully punished by the legal system for their crimes? I don’t.
I would say yes. Some are direct, albeit quiet, accomplices. Some are indirect. Others are hesitant to speak up or demand justice because they rely on corporate and 1% donations to stay in office and they are comfy where they are and the rest of us don't really matter as long as they stay that way (not realizing that in a fascist takeover they will eventually lose too).
There is now, and has been for many, months, a mountain of criminal evidence as to Trump's clear intention of overthrowing our democratically elected government.
So when does Attorney General Merrick Garland and the entire Department of Justice plan to INDICT Trump? When does "the rule of law," so fundamentally important in our democracy, begin to get the attention it deserves?
“Ahead of former President Donald Trump’s return to Georgia, legal experts with the Brookings Institution think tank published a detailed analysis Friday of the potential criminal investigation he faces in Fulton County linked to his outspoken efforts to overturn the state’s election results.
The 107-page report, written by seven legal analysts, concludes that Trump’s post-election conduct leaves him at “substantial risk of possible state charges predicated on multiple crimes.” It was published a day before Trump is set to hold a rally in Perry to promote a slate of state Republican candidates.“
Good question. It's these little bits of behavior (or lack of behavior) that portend the final results. On the positive side I am heartened by the results of the AZ 'fraudit'.
The law is at a disadvantage here, since it can only pursue misdeeds after they have been performed. To control plotters, it is necessary to insert informants among their ranks. This second round is more dangerous than the first because those who are willing to switch sides are identified in the first round and expelled from the movement. That innoculates the top echelons of the movement against informants. And to make things worse, the drift in boundaries occurs in the open, so erosion of the rule of law is not in itself chargeable even under racketeering laws.
To answer your question more directly: We're following the process to call these guys to account. Trump is a master of running out the clock, and a long-time practitioner of loyalty testing.
To put a little finer point conspiracy only requires an overt act toward the criminal action so a charge can still be brought without the completion of the misdeed.
Trump was impeached for these crimes. Republicans let him off, because they saw that exonerating Trump would tighten their hold on power, while convicting him would only be honoring their oath to the Constitution and following the rule of law.
Emergency for whom? Republicans would reframe it thusly, “Can you believe that we’re getting away with this? Pretty soon we’ll control everything! Trump sure taught us a lot.”
When? We have to see if the 1/6/21 Committee will be a tempest in a teapot result like the Mueller or both Trump Impeachment’s. This time could be different with no “Unitary President” and gangster in charge.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Garland state that the gutted department doesn't currently have enough lawyers to open and prosecute all the possible cases ... yet. They are on a hiring spree at the DOJ. And they are also probably making sure the people they hire are ethical along with the usual needed qualities. I'm feeling quite positive and do want everyone to continue to treat this - and react to all of this - like the hair on fire issue it is. We must leave no stones unturned ourselves. In the meantime (while we're waiting for the new legal recruits to get hired, go through familiarizing themselves with the job, etc.) the House Select Committee for the January 6 investigation will continue to roll out their evidence. The states of New York and Georgia and so on will continue their own pressures, and we can make sure that those responsible for fair district line drawing are held to account to not politically gerrymander. One more thing: I think the information about the oligarchs around the world has made the greedy faces of the scum among us light up. In the case of Trump, he isn't as smart as McConnell and McConnell probably thinks he can always be one step ahead of the charismatic Trump and add to his hordes of ill-gotten gains before he dies of old age. In the meantime, he will do everything he can to make sure no laws change that will threaten his and his family's generational wealth. I'm fairly certain he is already drooling over the landmarks and statues which will bear his name going forward once he's officially an oligarch in the new United States autocracy. Just saying. I could be wrong.
You are far from wrong. The primary thrust of what we see played out as “politics” or culture wars are fundamentally outcomes of the primary goal of simply enabling billionaires to constantly horde and protect endless wealth.
Effectively this is the same behavior and economic model that is feudalism.
Now I understand how it is perhaps the difficult to consider ourselves as peasants, but if you remove the complexity of technology one begins to see that vast swaths of the populace are not subject to the will and control of powerful oligarchs (the new Lords in the Neo Feudal Model)
I'm no expert, but have heard that he can, indeed, be prosecuted for in-office criminal activity. He couldn't be prosecuted as a sitting president, but that changed on January 20.
Nancy, you’re right that some legal scholars think Trump can now be prosecuted for crimes committed while in office. And at least as many scholars argue he cannot. There are two other factors involved here. One is proving that some of Trump’s many transgressions are indeed crimes. There’s an ongoing, unresolved debate about this. Which is not to say that Trump was not corrupt, and amoral. Clearly he was. It’s just that the bar of proving criminal intent is very high. The other issue is whether or not it’s the right thing to do politically. Prosecuting ex-presidents sets a dangerous precedent. It’s routinely done in autocracies, do we want that here? Imagine how millions of MAGAts will respond.
The Constitution is flawed. Our rule of law is full of holes, which the rich and powerful exploit. And our political system is stretched to the breaking point. Trump wants to break it.
JR, you're correct on all of your points. In my opinion, TFG is getting lots of advice, as he'd have no grasp of the nuances required to dance on the edge without consequence. Immorality and corruption are not usually criminal offenses, and I agree that it would be a very slippery slope to prosecute an ex-president. We've learned that there are few guardrails during this unprecedented timespan. Maybe we can shore up the rule of law and the Constitution, thus repairing the guardrails.
As an alternative to these thorny predicaments, maybe we'll be comforted if the SDNY, E. Jean Carroll, and the others manage to punish him for his civilian crimes, and avoid further mucking up of our government.
You may be right but planning a coup may fall into a different category. They can prosecute everyone around him and we'll just have to see what "falls out" as far taking him out of circulation. He's involved enough sedition now to make his White House years moot. There sure are a lot of good people around looking at and working every angle. I'm hopeful.
My first thoughts went to Hemingway but John Donne (1572-1631), first wrote the line 'for whom the bell tolls' in "Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions, Meditation XVII":
"Perchance he for whom this bell tolls may be so ill, as that he knows not it tolls for him; and perchance I may think myself so much better than I am, as that they who are about me, and see my state, may have caused it to toll for me, and I know not that.
No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friend's or of thine own were: any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bells tolls; it tolls for thee."
The bell is indeed tolling for each of us and for democracy.
Perfect quote for our situation. I was thinking of the phrase no man is an island just this week because we have a neighbor across the street, R of course, who seems to think he lives on an island where only he exists. His wife is a progressive D, so it is interesting.
Oh, he is also paranoid and has cameras everywhere. And of course, plenty of guns. She spends a lot of time with our neighbors who live behind us. She loves to talk D politics and that gives her a chance to do so. She is now not well at all and I told her to call me if she needs to talk and I will meet her next-door as they are gone. Since we are personae non gratis, this is what she has to do.
I remember the joy of Nov 7, 2020 (sitting on the lawn watching my grandchildren when people began driving around honking horns - the AP had called the election for Biden). It seemed like we as a nation had turned the corner and would finally emerge into the daylight of a Biden presidency.
Since that joyous day, there have only been 2 days that I can consider “bright days” for our nation - Dec 14, 2020 when the Electoral College met in the various state capitols and voted for President and Vice President, and Jan 20, 2021 when Biden and Harris were sworn in. The joy of those days is a distant memory.
The anticipated calm of a nation led by rational, compassionate adults is shattered almost daily with new revelations about the actions of the former president and his enablers. Each day reveals how close to the abyss the careening Trump train brought us. If Stephen King had submitted a manuscript for his next novel based on actual events since the election, his publisher would have rejected it out of hand claiming it too far fetched.
For the sake of my young grandchildren, I pray that we will come to our senses and rid this nation of the evil stain of oligarchy and authoritarianism spreading over it.
Stacey Abrams submitted a manuscript for her legal thriller novel, While Justice Sleeps, and
“… an editor who read the book in 2011 turned it down on the grounds that the villain, a megalomaniacal and corrupt U.S. president, was too awful to be believed. The manuscript languished on her hard drive. In 2019, when Abrams showed it to her agent, a bombastic president and an intense focus on the failing health of a Supreme Court justice were all too real. This time, she had no trouble finding a publisher.”
Along these lines, Sinclair Lewis wrote It Can't Happen Here in 1935 (about a populist president who turns the US into a fascist state) and Fletcher Knebel wrote Night of Camp David in 1965 (about a paranoid president; the New York Times says of it "What would happen if the president of the USA went stark raving mad?" and "A little too plausible for comfort."). Both interesting reads.
What we are experiencing is the aftermath of a lunatic who is supported by a cadre of well-connected operatives, who engineered his ascent to the presidency - much more frightening than simply a paranoid president. What we've learned is that there are no real guardrails.
Night of Camp David was required reading as a high school senior (1970). Remember shuddering to think a president could lose his mind and potentially annihilate democracy if the guardrails didn't hold.
Fast forward: we barely survived that very thing. We, as citizens, need to build stronger guardrails.
I used to have a copy of It Can't Happen Here (1935 ed.) which either my father or grandfather must have bought. My father was 38 when the book was issued and campaigned for FDR when in law school in 1931-32. I gave it to the library. Just checked library holdings and the book was reissued in 2005 by the New American Library. Interesting to see that 2 of 3 copies of the 1935 edition are in the Main Library Literature & Languages Reference Collection (non-circulating) plus 9 copies in branches of 2005 ed. Some of you might find the 21 reviews posted by borrowers an interesting read: https://sandiego.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S161C123142/comments
In April, 2017, one commenter on the book included a prescient quote: "It was H.L. Mencken who said in his newspaper column in 1920: “As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.”
I live in Georgia, and adore Stacey, but I missed this. I never believed that TFG would win during his campaign, but then thought we'd all be frustrated for four years, but there were guardrails. When it was apparent that he was a criminal, enabled by criminals, I thought there would be accountability and punishment. After Biden won, I was confident that we'd get back on course. Now, I'm more frightened than ever. Thanks for this account, Lena. There's a lesson here for most of us.
Here is link if anyone interested in buying book on Amazon. I usually do and then take books when I’m finished to my salon where it gets passed around in a share fashion.
Margaret Attwood said the same about the Handmaids Tale, on Fresh Air with Terry Gross circa 1985-86 she stated she was being generous to say that this kind of dystopia would occur as the result of a revolution, int eh US it would be much more likely in an election!
Wow. And I remember an interview with another NPR journalist who asked something to the effect of “how does this end”? Her reply was, (in effect, not verbatim) when you (Americans) take this seriously and do something about it. It made me stop in my tracks then, but then I brushed it off as “impossible in the United States.”
Go to https://choosedemocracy.us/ to learn how to stop a coup or power grab using non-violent techniques. Took a webinar with George Lakey on non-violent resistance which was invaluable. He's amazing and has been doing this all over the world since the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s. Highly recommend his book on How We Win.
As we approach October 2nd and The Women’s March, am keeping How We Win right up there in my mind’s penthouse along with Marianne Williamson’s “A Woman’s Worth”.
For those of us who can't March, can there be another way to make our voices heard on that day to be a salient part of the day?! Something more than just watching? The idea that popped into my mind just now was a boycott of some sort... help me here folks! There has to be a practical way for all of our voices to be heard! Shout it from the rooftops!?
Boycott everything. A weekend of no shopping whatsoever. That will hit the power center where it hurts and get their attention. Women do most of the shopping and we can weld real power there if we choose.
A variation on this may be shop only at stores owned by women or has a woman CEO. Check at your local area for small businesses owned by women.
Here are the women that are CEOs of S&P500 companies. Includes Walgreens, CVS, GAP, Best Buy, Hershey (all women need chocolate), UPS and you can buy a car from GM or a B-2 Bomber from Northup-Grumman
I’m suggesting a very broad brush for a reason: for maximum impact. Those who are with us may be willing to take a public stand if we put pressure on them. I would want to know a woman CEOs position before considering her an ally. I’m tired of being careful and giving everyone the benefit of doubt. It’s time to show who we are and exercise our power. I’ve pulled my punches for 73 years, I’m done.
I hear you. I was thinking along the lines of a boycott every weekend or every Friday or something like that. This isn't going to be just one day of boycott!!!
If you can get to a local or state March near you, then just be there but do not walk. There will most likely be gatherings at end point of marches where all can “raise the roof”.
Letters to the editor? Posting and sending messages to others with info about activities in your community? Working to get out the vote. All can be done from home. Im in the same situation here.:)
YES!!! Thank you for mentioning this; have been writing cards for over a year for different campaigns , including Native communities here in AZ. It has made me appreciate the hard work of others and the issues all over this country. Please sign up!
There are Marches all across the country. If you can’t do the, usually quite short walk, you could attend the rally that follows. I can’t attend the March in DC, either, but I will attend the local March, as I have before.
Sometimes its not the march itself, short or not. People with disabilities and those recovering from injuries are not always able to put themselves in crowds. Cheering from the sidelines can still be dangerous if one is jostled or knocked over.
Good point... I was just about to start making a poster... I will find a way to participate, someway, somehow. I happen to be a pretty good photographer. If I can find a safe perch in one of the neighboring towns where they might be marching... hmmm...
As someone who has a good deal of metal hardware (due to injuries from my military days) I am unable to mix in large crowds - or even within a small crowd that could turn ugly. (I can go to a small rally or march but only if I keep a safe distance from others - which is kind of counter to the point of marches and rallies but I have done this a few times.) If I were knocked down, it wouldn't take much to incapacitate me and make me a liability to those I was trying to support. I have to keep this in mind whenever pondering attending a march or rally. Plus, I can't continue to protest if I am killed or injured even more than I already am.
So, never feel that you aren't contributing if you can't attend a march or rally. All protest matters. All protest counts.
Short on time but might there be a march in your town? Is there a grassroots organization that you could contact in you area to find out about other options?
Thank you for the cite = I'll look into this but the website/entity "closed 1/1/2021" and apparently while still helpful and relevant, is not active. The issue is to get the attention and support of people now & to hope some in power grow a spine. Non=involved people just live their lives and wait for the next November election and don't worry about things until then. I don't think we have time to lose - just to get rid of Chuck Grassley & Kim Reynolds in Iowa might send a message.
I note that Gassy just decided to run again. He needs to be put out to pasture and I hope Ds can find someone to run who can win. As for COVID Kim, she also needs to go.
I followed the links = the site closed 1/21/21 but the original site is up and I went there then clicked thru and got a Wordpress page which seems to have gone silent in July. Those of us reading HCR and the Proof series need to coalesce and do what we can to take action, stop the freight train if possible. Right now I don't sense/know of any coordinated efforts
I'm disappointed that the site is silent. And yes, you are 100% right! I haven't seen or heard about any unifying movement. Act Blue is always about raising money for good candidates, which is fine, and the Lincoln Project is churning out clever ads to take aim at the confederacy of dunces. But we need a plan, suggestions and whatever it takes to stop the willful destruction of our democracy.
Not only do I treasure these letters, as I have from the beginning, and the lectures in Facebook, and the podcasts, but perhaps we have already established the 'group' and have our leader!? Unfair to burden Dr. Richardson with any more work than she's already doing.... (How does she do it?!) But we do need to take the wisdom and facts she provides and take it to the next level! Let's try to figure this out before it's too late!
oK So the leaders you are looking for are all of us. We need to engage int he hard work and not always with people who agree with us, get connected to your local Dems. At this late date we dont need another organization we need people to participate in electing Dems. Along with act blue, and some of us need to donate as we dont have so much time to offer but if each of us kicks in a few hours here and there we have a viable movement so choose a few candidates at the local and state level and offer support, driving them in chilly wheaten as they knock on doors, etc. Its not rocket science, even with a mending leg, the best way to defend democracy is to get out the vote big time everywhere we can, in my experience. It really matters.
Victoria, have you work d with your local Indivisible. They have a great how to be informed on gerrymandering and advocate for fairness. They have active local organizations everywhere. Here’s a link re the gerrymandering but you can use the site to find your local chapter. Also this group has their own activist group called Heather’s herders, perhaps someone here can get you connected. Indivisible is a great place to start. https://indivisible.org/resource/fighting-gerrymandering-states
Yes. But I’ve been out of state for 2 weeks but thanks for the link. Will get in touch! I also just got a text from MoveOn. I just wish we’d all join together on the anti-insurrection cause
Are you thinking of a specific action you think would be effective?
Here’s a quote to support why I recommend focusing on what you can do at your own local level: “The best way to stop a coup is to never have one. People are doing lots of good work on issues of voting rights, urging turnout, stopping repression, uncovering fraud, and getting people to commit to democracy. That may be enough.”
Uncovering the fraud. Next comes the accountability. It would be wonderful if accountability looked like a tsunami at the polls, but in this sewer of lies and propaganda we are currently swimming in I’m afraid our battle for the truth is paramount.
Thanks HCR, but the only takeaway I can see from your summation of the crimes and misdemeanors of the current Ghastly Old Party is that they are cowardly, greedy, despicable opportunists who would happily destroy their own constituents--which they are actually doing--rather than take a principled stand, protect our democratic system, or vocalize any criticism of the Deranged Former "President." That sounds like the same old same old to me. But the added spice of the fact that their own constituents are dying of COVID by the hundreds, if not thousands, and they persist in this benighted and immoral decision to "stand firm" against anything a Democratic president and congress might try to do to ameliorate the situation of their. own. constituents. simply underscores the moral vacuum and ethical black hole they all occupy. I'm disgusted but I am not surprised.
We were all so naive. We thought the election of Joe Biden would be a repudiation of Trumpism.
Yet a scant few hours after a violent insurrection of our Capitol, a majority of the House GOP members sided with the insurrectionists and voted against certifying a clearly legitimate election.
That should have been enough to realize that Trump's attempt to steal the election was not just the desperate flailings of a defeated candidate and a few of his "whack-job" supporters. Nope, we had no idea how deep were the roots to this insidious threat to our Democracy.
Todays letter illustrates just how well-organized and structured was the plan to steal the election. Their effort has been years in the making. All that was needed was the right person to light the fuse... to "release the kraken". They found their candidate in Donald Trump, a narcissistic svengali. He is the "messiah" they sought to wrest power from the majority, and reinstate the rules that keep political and economic power in the hands of the rich.
We keep hearing about adhering to the rule of law. But the RAGA crowd is working to create dozens of laws to protect their social status. How do we reconcile this?
Infrastructure and climate change are certainly important pieces of legislation. But nothing is more important than passing voting rights legislation. Nothing.
No insult to you or your post Herb but not everybody was naive about trump & his minions fading away if Biden won. There have been those who warned that one election was hardly time to let our guard down.
Plus, the lead-up to the insurrection was talked about on social media for months, the date given out loud by trump and others. The pattern was clear. It was all ignored.
Why would all those who had silently willingly gone along with or loudly joined in on the destruction of our government during the trump years suddenly turn into upstanding, law-abiding, Constitution respecting people immediately after the election? Human behavior doesn't work like that - in any of us.
You are correct - they are organized. Trump has created a cult out of the Republican Party, one in which he is the "Messiah". They care only about wiping out everyone who does not agree or join. If those in authority don't pass voting rights AND punish those advocating for insurrection, sedition, treason and violence - and do so promptly and to the fullest extent of our laws - then we are doomed.
Trump is a whimpering old man who has failed at everything his entire life. How did this happen when he had all the advantages of money and education? Because he was given everything and never had to think for himself. From a young age he was trained by Roy Cohn to be mean and violent. They fed his ego all while manipulating him. I’m sure if you look behind every failed business there is someone pushing him into it and telling him it’s okay to lie, cheat and steal. He was an easy mark to put into the presidency because he could be manipulated. This is why they still hang on him. That and his cult followers will be hard to move to DeSantis, Cruz, Abbott or Hawley. They have no charisma. Not that I ever saw charisma in Trump. People are obsessed with the famous and royalty. Flynn is more dangerous than anyone currently in an elected position.
People like Wray and active duty Flynn, as well as a list of others need to be removed from office now.
We need much more than the 1/6 investigations for sure. DOJ needs to start arresting and charging every one of these people. Grab them as soon as you have evidence.
I would like to add my two cents here on trump - without taking away anything you have said. I think he is a sociopath. (I'm not just flinging around insults. I studied abnormal psychology in college and have known sociopaths at different times in my life.) Sometimes people are born with those tendencies front & center in their personalities (sorry, I can't think of the phrase I want so am resorting to that one) and the circumstances of their life either teach them to work with and not give any energy to those tendencies or to fully inhabit them. trump's life and the people around him clearly encouraged and applauded the latter.
Absolutely! He proved that (no intelligence) every time he opened his mouth. You could easily track who was manipulating him by looking at what he was doing five minutes prior to him talking.
He knows how to be a bully. He knows how to whip up a crowd. Those two skills are dangerous in anyone and in the presidency - well, we all had front row seats to that.
Excerpt: "What are considered sociopathic traits or sociopathic traits? Here are some of the potential signs and traits of a person with antisocial personality disorder:
A lack of empathy for others
Little to no genuine remorse
The manipulation of other people
Lying and deceit
A sense of superiority over others
Little to no regard for right or wrong
The belief that rules do not apply to them
Getting into legal trouble or a little regard for the law
A lack of responsibility or engaging in irresponsible behaviors
Aggression or hostility
The exploitation of other people
Substance use
People with antisocial personality disorder are not monsters, and despite the name of the disorder, it doesn’t mean that someone is antisocial in the way that we typically understand the term. For a person to be diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder, they must meet the DSM criteria for the disorder." https://www.mind-diagnostics.org/blog/sociopath/sociopath-definition-what-is-a-sociopath
I remember TFG making a statement before the Election “Something big is coming ! “. I was like “Now what is he going to do ?” I just wish I could remember how much before ? Well, think it’s safe to say we know now what he was alluding to.
I, too, saw the insurrection coming, and the Hitlerism before and since, but I was put down by good Democrat friends who said I was hysterical. This was and is the carefully designed plan of the Federalist Society, The Family, the Kochs and the kooks. We are smack in the middle of an undeclared Civil War, and if we continue to acquiesce, it will be more deadly than the first, deadly to our democracy. Many thanks to Heather for giving us that clarity, as terrifying as it is. EACH of us has a role to play in saving the United States of America. Figure out what yours is TODAY, and do it.
Great post Herb! It’s clear we have to work harder than ever to win local races in state-houses as well as 2022 Congressional races. I believe we have one last shot at thwarting these fascists.
I think also TFG was given a Deal he couldn’t refuse considering all his Debts.Deutsche Bank that paid a huge fine for doing business with him .Bet he’s out of Debt now and maybe in the “Club “ .Those offshore Banks still exist.
Knew about RAGA but never ever fathomed that all of the Repub AG’s were huddled together! Abhorrent behavior by the most corrupt party of our time. I imagine that Garland and staff are extremely busy with preparing their lassoes to round the cattle up. But should they do it one lousy fascist at a time or a bunch together? I have this ongoing dream that a large bird swoops down and picks them all up, holds them hostage until their cells are prepared, then releases them to face their miserable music.
Let’s talk about that weasel, Pence. He goes to Budapest to spew his garbage about abortions and “family values”. His plan is to run for Prez in 2024. Can you imagine having this Ken doll-with-no-balls as your president??
We have to fight hard and press our leaders to do the same. So tired of rhetoric. We need ACTION!
Really! I always dismissed him and gave his vacuous nature an eye-roll... but after reading 'Peril' I realized what a ... hmm, I don't think I should or need to call him what I think he is! But you pretty much nailed it!
Well, men that are physically impotent take it out on others. They are mean, violent and controlling. The same can be said of Trump. Pence doesn’t stand a chance because the cult hates him.
Holy hand grenades, for the first time ever I feel the impact of the expression "bombshell revelations" and it makes me even more determined that for the next few years or even the rest of my life we must do as much as we can to save our way of life, and recruit others to this cause.
This quote says it well:
"In the fight against bigotry, we stand together and we must. In the fight against injustice, we stand together and we must. In the fight against intimidation, we stand together and we must. After all, a regime that would steal an election right before our very eyes will do anything to all of us.
As a quick read of Richard Hofstadter's 1954 opus on "the Pseudo-conservative Revolt" will show, the people we look "askance" at now that they are full-out Trumpers have been around a long time, but they were largely under control (though the Godwater campaign was the first time they broke through the gates) but it wasn't till they were allied with their Confederate traitor brothers-in-arms after Nixon invited the Confederacy into the "big tent" in 1968 that the real change started. We're now literally up against the same enemy we were up against in 1860.
Quick question: what's 10,000 Trumpers dead of COVID stacked in refrigerator trucks?
And while I am in favor of allying with all Never-Trumpers, the outer wall of my big tent stops ten feet short of Karl Rove. Though I will let Jonah Goldberg put his head under the canvas to get a look inside.
Agree; whatever KR chooses to do now, consultations he was the one who made DJT understand that he could develop a political base and showed him how to do it in consultations early in DJTs campaign dabbling. KR laid out the strategy that turned DJT from a horrible, delusional person and blustering tv clown into a horrible, delusional person and a dangerous, political monster.
Exactly! I was at a dog agility trial yesterday. A discussion about venues eased into a political discussion. Full disclosure, I took it there. HCR has a big following in the dog agility community. We were talking about different trial sites. Someone commented that they liked a facility a couple of hours away from me. Again, I went there and said I have a difficult time trialing at the facility, because the owner is a big Trumper and said a lot of stupid things about COVID. Their response was "I just want to run my dog". I replied I did to, however supporting what the Trump Republicans are trying to do and the vaccine nonsense is stupid. Stupid has to be called out! I said I did not find any thing wrong with a rational discussion about different views.
I agree. We all have to stop with being polite. Scott Peck who wrote People of the Lie ( evil folks) also wrote A World Waiting to Be Born, Civility Rediscovered, about civility being honesty, rather than a fear of being honest in the face of deception.
Call me cynical, but the only reason I can think of for Dems to play nice is because our government is owned by the Wealthy, Big Corporations (aided by Big Media, Big Religion, and Ivy League schools) - it’s all a tight knit group - and THEY don’t want to make a mess of the economy. That tight knit group prefer Conservatives / Republican’s running the show because they profit most by their financial goals, but they’ve stacked the deck in their favor.
Right now, the government and their backers are playing nicey-nice with the masses because they don’t want to be guillotined and America up in flames.
I remember Twitter in 2012. It was a mostly friendly place. In 2014-5, right around the time people were uniting about reality of climate change, blaming greedy corporations like Monsanto for illnesses, and blaming the wealthy for the gamed system causing middle working class’s suffering and declining after the 2009 real estate crash.
Once the wealthy class and corporations like Monsanto realized they were dangerously becoming public enemy number one, social media attacks started happening. The attacks amped up the emotions and our weak spots: Men vs Women, pay disparity between men & women, about rape culture, old vs young, Black vs White, political correctness,
cultural issues between conservatives & liberals, etc. It almost completely took the focus off the wealthy and corporations and what they’re doing to the masses.
Then Trump put his hat in the ring and the monsters hiding behind masks (and hoods) stepped out in the open.
Now we’re stuck in the great divide and heading towards civil war or falling into authoritarianism. Either way, the wealthy will survive and thrive.
"(C)ultural issues between conservatives & liberals, etc. It almost completely took the focus off the wealthy and corporations and what they’re doing to the masses." I think this is one of the serious problems.
It definitely is one of the most serious problems. They’re the dam holding the water in place. They need to carefully remove at least most of it so there can be a better balance.
It is pretty amazing that Abbott and DeSantis don't seem to mind killing off large numbers of their own voters by undermining Covid precautions and blabbering about freedumb. Is that because they think they have such a lock on elections now, that they can afford to engineer large numbers of R voter deaths to keep pandering to Trump's base? Who do they think is dying? It's certainly not the educated, vaccinated, masked liberals, the ones who are working hardest and smartest against them.
Yeppers. We're at over 2000/day rolling average. So by T'day another 120,000? That starts to swing some elections in marginal States - like maybe Floridah. Bring it dudes, just bring it.
It is way past time to get serious about prosecuting all those who plotted, led, and participated in an attempt to overthrow the government of the United States following the 2020 election. The crime is much greater than the January 6, Capitol riot. Let’s get this right and move it forward. Here is the specific crime:
18 U.S. Code § 2385 - Advocating overthrow of Government
Whoever knowingly or willfully advocates, abets, advises, or teaches the duty, necessity, desirability, or propriety of overthrowing or destroying the government of the United States or the government of any State, Territory, District or Possession thereof, or the government of any political subdivision therein, by force or violence, or by the assassination of any officer of any such government; or
Whoever, with intent to cause the overthrow or destruction of any such government, prints, publishes, edits, issues, circulates, sells, distributes, or publicly displays any written or printed matter advocating, advising, or teaching the duty, necessity, desirability, or propriety of overthrowing or destroying any government in the United States by force or violence, or attempts to do so; or
Whoever organizes or helps or attempts to organize any society, group, or assembly of persons who teach, advocate, or encourage the overthrow or destruction of any such government by force or violence; or becomes or is a member of, or affiliates with, any such society, group, or assembly of persons, knowing the purposes thereof—
Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both, and shall be ineligible for employment by the United States or any department or agency thereof, for the five years next following his conviction.
If two or more persons conspire to commit any offense named in this section, each shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both, and shall be ineligible for employment by the United States or any department or agency thereof, for the five years next following his conviction.
As used in this section, the terms “organizes” and “organize”, with respect to any society, group, or assembly of persons, include the recruiting of new members, the forming of new units, and the regrouping or expansion of existing clubs, classes, and other units of such society, group, or assembly of persons.
Thank you, BruceC, for citing and quoting verbatim the US statute that the Department of Justice ought to be using to prosecute _all_ the leaders of the Trumpist conspiracy to overthrow the legitimate 2020 election: all the Proud Boys and other violent insurrectionists, all the openly and covertly supportive Republican members of Congress, all the hangers on--Guiliani, Bannon, Eastman, the Pillow Guy, et all, and every provably conspiring member of the Trump Administration, including Trump.
So my question is: What's the hold-up? What is the political or judicial calculation that Biden, Merrick Garland, and the other senior administration leadership are making? Are they accumulating more and more hard, clear, damning evidence? Will the hammer come down soon? Are they planning to wait the long time until the House Dem Jan 6 investigation committee turns in a report? What evidence do they see that makes them think it's more strategic or more prudent to take this slowly?
Laurence Tribe is calling for a grand jury for Steve Bannon.
By the way, I watched a short clip of Ted Koppel talking to drumpf supporters asking them about the election.
Everyone of them said it was stolen, giving all these faux talking points.
I felt sorry for him, you could tell he was having a hard time not rolling his eyes.
If you have a fb account take a few minutes to read the comments on political or vaccine mandate article and you will feel so sad that so many have been so brainwashed.
Perhaps it is time that respected commentators challenged guests who spout nonsense. Remember that when John McCain was challenging Obama, a woman in the audience got his attention and began talking about the "fact" that Obama was not an American, and McCain took the microphone away from her and said that what she was telling the audience was untrue. Maybe Ted Koppel should have done the same.
As much as I hate to say it, the right wing's aggressiveness in spreading misinformation and conspiracy theories has been effective. I just don't see why the left's forceful denunciation of this misinformation, and refusal to debate the issue, would be a bad thing.
And Eastman, the coup architect, was at the time, a constitutional law professor (and former law clerk for Clarence Thomas)! He also authored the Newsweek? Op-ed disputing Kamala Harris's citizenship. When will these traitors face charges?? Let's strangle American facism before it's too late. And get rid of the damn filibuster and protect voting rights.
Please communicate this to all members of Congress who represent you. Also send letters or emails on this to the Chair of the Jan. 6 Select Committee, Rep. Bennie Thompson, and Vice Chair, Rep. Liz Chaney. It is time to step up and demand accountability for an attempt to overthrow our government.
Thank you for posting this. I'm wondering now why action hasn't been taken already. I myself could put actual NAMES to these paragraphs, based upon words spoken, words written, actual video footage, and all manner of published evidence. These criminals haven't even bothered to hide their intent or actions - I guess they don't believe anything will happen to them. It's beginning to look like they may be correct.
This is my deep frustration also. Insurrectionists acting in broad daylight with impunity. Unless we enforce our laws, they have no meaning. TFG learned long ago how to game the system. And we’ve done nothing to close the loopholes. Why?
I tweeted to the Justice Dept. this: 18 U.S. Code § 2385 - Advocating overthrow of Government and asked why nothing was being done. I wrote that thousands of Americans have read and understand this law and have seen, heard, and read evidence of criminal behavior. Perhaps if we bombard them with such messages they'll realize how serious we are?
Thanks for this Bruce. As a non-lawyer, I have a question: why do you favor pursuing justice under this statute as opposed to under 18 U.S. Code § 2384. Seditious conspiracy? It reads:
If two or more persons in any State or Territory, or in any place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, conspire to overthrow, put down, or to destroy by force the Government of the United States, or to levy war against them, or to oppose by force the authority thereof, or by force to prevent, hinder, or delay the execution of any law of the United States, or by force to seize, take, or possess any property of the United States contrary to the authority thereof, they shall each be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both.
I see the advantage that § 2385 - Advocating overthrow adds ineligibility for government employment to the potential penalties. But I am attracted to the language in § 2384. Seditious conspiracy that adds hindering execution of any law, and opposing government authority by force, each of which seems to me to broaden the scope for potential indictments.
I need to emphasize that despite some background in business contracts and intellectual property law, I am not a lawyer. However, I have discussed this with several licensed criminal lawyers/prosecutors and criminal law professors. It is the collective opinion of those with whom I discussed it that there are several reasons to use § 2385. Those include:
- § 2385 has a broader set of criteria defining the criminal behavior that does not limit it to the use of force. This should make the prosecution easier to prove.
- § 2385 does as you point out also result in the restriction of a period of ineligibility for federal employment and hence would restrict them from holding any federal office, thereby disqualifying any, including Tя☭mp and other criminal Representatives or Senators both from holding their current office currently or for a period of five years after their conviction. This effectively removes them from office and there are several I think should be charged under this statute.
- § 2385 also includes the following wording - "Whoever, with intent to cause the overthrow or destruction of any such government, prints, publishes, edits, issues, circulates, sells, distributes, or publicly displays any written or printed matter advocating, advising, or teaching the duty, necessity, desirability, or propriety of overthrowing or destroying any government in the United States by force or violence, or attempts to do so ..." This seems to broaden the criminal activity description significantly beyond the act of force or of committing the violence simply to the advocacy of the use of force. This is an important distinction.
- § 2385 also includes the act of organizing others in the criminal activity and we have seen clear evidence of this by a number of those who should be charged.
In the end, I believe that 18 U.S. Code § 2385 is simply easier to prosecute and prove. However, I emphasize that it is certainly possible to bring multiple charging counts and leave it to the jury to determine the guilt or innocence of those charged under each charge.
“ The Times do not directly address whether the informant was in a good position to know about plans developed for Jan. 6 by the leadership of the Proud Boys, why he was cooperating, whether he could have missed indications of a plot or whether he could have deliberately misled the government.”
Apparently the informant feels that the Proud Boys were not plotting to assault the Capital… My question is where was he in the food chain? Most of these infiltrators from the Feds stand out like a sore thumb or are just minor players in a the mob.
This is all about far more than just January 6 riots or the Proud Boys. Review carefully all the language of the cited federal statute and consider how many and who it might apply to. My position is every single person who this applies to at or near the top of this entire crowd of miscreants or any that advised, encouraged, aided, or financed them should be prosecuted. If we do not do that, we will see worse and likely more in the near future.
I subscribe to the NYT, so was able to read the entire article. It struck me that this "informant" was very careful to show himself "ignorant" of any deliberate planning or coordinating. This made me suspicious that he was fully aware of that statute and also that his "handler" had blown his own cover and was being used as a conduit by the "informant" to protect the Proud Boys. Call me a cynic, but I think this FBI agent was being played.
I had similar thoughts as I read what is posted above though not about the statute but that the CI might have been purposely misleading his handler. I read too many crime novels....
From the NYT article, the paragraphs that follow the aforementioned through the article’s conclusion:
“ But the records, and information from two people familiar with the matter, suggest that federal law enforcement had a far greater visibility into the assault on the Capitol, even as it was taking place, than was previously known.
At the same time, the new information is likely to complicate the government’s efforts to prove the high-profile conspiracy charges it has brought against several members of the Proud Boys.
On Jan. 6, and for months after, the records show, the informant, who was affiliated with a Midwest chapter of the Proud Boys, denied that the group intended to use violence that day. In lengthy interviews, the records say, he also denied that the extremist organization planned in advance to storm the Capitol. The informant’s identity was not disclosed in the records.
The records describing the informant’s account of Jan. 6 — excerpts from his interviews and communications with the F.B.I. before, during and after the riot — dovetail with assertions made by defense lawyers who have argued that even though several Proud Boys broke into the Capitol, the group did not arrive in Washington with a preset plot to storm the building.
They also raise new questions about the performance of the F.B.I. in tracking the threat from far-right groups like the Proud Boys.
The records — provided to The Times on the condition that they not be directly quoted — show the F.B.I. was investigating at least two other participants in the rally on Jan. 6 and asked the informant to make contact with them, suggesting that they might be Proud Boys.
Moreover, the records indicate that F.B.I. officials in Washington were alerted in advance of the attack that the informant was traveling to the Capitol with several other Proud Boys.
The F.B.I. also had an additional informant with ties to another Proud Boys chapter that took part in the sacking of the Capitol, according to a person familiar with the matter, raising questions about the quality of the bureau’s informants and what sorts of questions they were being asked by their handlers before Jan. 6.”
I try hard to stay up to speed but totally missed the report about the robocalls, RAGA & the staffers meeting. This is very disturbing & escalating too fast. I know the cases against the 1/6 organizers is ongoing & will take time. But hurry up!
“But the fact that Republican lawmakers have ignored the Eastman memo, which outlines the destruction of our democracy, suggests that the party, which organized in the 1850s to protect the nation against those who would destroy it, has come full circle.”
As Professor Richardson states, it’s a full circle moment.
What shall be our response? What say our unalienable rights of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness? Given to us by the Creator and the inspiration of governments formed to protect.
So check yourself, lawmakers. And look behind you from where we came.
"If this is not a hair-on-fire, screaming emergency, what is?"
Exactly, Prof. HCR! If the Biden administration and the DOJ don't take steps to put a stop to this Republican plot post haste, our democracy will wither and die. Their conniving conspiracy is too dangerous to be ignored! No one should sit idly by, put their head in the sand, and think that totalitarianism will never wash onto these shores!
I feel we are in a territory that no one thought we would be in even 2 years ago. I think the GOP are as surprised that they could pull this rather seamless coup off as we are that they have gotten away with it thus far.
The release of written proof of the attempt of the destruction of Democracy and the physical take over of the government has gotten nothing more than a whimper from the Administration is what I find most distressing.
In the Country I remember the United States once was, this would have been breaking news, covered 24/7 with heads on a stick by now.
Yet, it goes by with nary a mention. This is abysmal, at best.
The day I see the heads of some elected officials on pitchforks, is the day I will rejoice because it will mean We The People finally declared we've had enough and will punish those who refuse to protect and preserve our democratic republic and refuse to serve the greater good. Hopefully, if the head of this evil beast is cut off, the body will die. I'm not holding my breath. It is about time for politicians to fear the wrath of the people. Isn't that how this country was founded?
I love the visual you offer here and I love the freedom of being able to write with such passion here. If you post the word "pitchfork" or "die" on FB, you will be put in FB jail. I used "hanged" without any names, in reference to what one historically did with traitors and that got me in the jammer. A friend used "strangle" and she was also jailed. It amazes me to learn that far righties can write all manner of threats of bodily harm to individuals by name with no repercussions. Zuckerberg shows his true colors with those algorithms.
"Establishment Republicans who are now out of power are not on board the Trump train. They are quietly backing anti-Trumpers..."
There are two ways the United States of America escape a downward spiral to authoritarian government. 1. Republicans opposed to Trump and the machinations to keep him in 2020/01 and the plans to distort the election of 2024 need to oppose Trump and authoritarianism OUT LOUD. Two Members of Congress are not enough. 2. Democrats need to persuade the majority of people of all parties of the danger we are facing so that, even in Alabama, say we defeat characters like Mo Brooks.
As important as the hard and soft infrastructure bills we are working on, more important is protecting our right to vote. Let's not give up on the America that once earned the admiration of the world.
It is time to call this out as what it is - a well-documented attempt to overthrow the government, led by people too unconcerned or too stupid to worry about leaving a paper trail.
The January 6th sheep currently in court are not the problem. It's time to round up the ringleaders of this attempted coup and prosecute them on an open and shut case of treason.
Reasonable people insist on framing this coup as a robust political debate, but reasonable people are wrong. It is a naked power grab, an assault on the popular will, and blatantly illegal. Three evidence is there, in the seditionists' own hands.
A crime has been committed, even if it was unsuccessful. Failed bank robbers don't get to walk because they got no money. Failed murderers are still prosecuted. The evidence is there for all to see, and the alleged criminals aren't denying it. They're doubling down, and we're letting them. Either prosecute them, or remove the treason laws from the books since they're clearly meaningless and unenforceable.
In short: lock them up.
This is no more a robust political debate than the invasion of the Capitol was a peaceful protest. The line of "debate" was crossed several years ago.
We must have prosecutions of these criminals, from the lowest on up to the former guy.
Absolutely correct. However, I think we might be in trouble on that front. Our Congress is dilly dawdling on cuddling Israel and the US Military Industrial Complex with an extra $1 Billion dollars for military contractor profit. This under the guise of supporting Israel.
Sometimes it is hard to tell the difference between Democrats and Republicans.
As OCA pointed out in her note to constituents: This $1Billion, for THIS YEAR alone, exceeds all spending of the past 10 years.
So, I guess the Dems are making up for the lost money we were wasting in Iraq to the military contractors.
After listening to Rachel Maddow's show last night with guest Steve Schmidt and the Bulwark podcast with Rick Wilson, I almost can't even write anything this morning. Rick Wilson, in particular, agrees with you. To quote him" Call me old-fashioned, but I think trying to overthrow the government should be prosecuted as a crime". If you care to listen for yourself: https://podcast.thebulwark.com/rick-wilson-sounds-off-on-trump-dems-and-coups
I just listened to the podcast (don’t watch tv anymore) and I feel the same way. I just posted the WaPo article she read in full, by Robert Kagan... a conservative journalist. So starkly chilling. I admit to wondering where else I can live. If we don’t turn this around, how can we endure what we had a taste of under the former guy?
Hi Pamsy. Kagan's article in the WaPo is one of the best I've read. For those of you/us who still think, "Oh no, it couldn't happen here in America!", well it's happening, big time.
It's a creeping coup d'etat, failed in the first instance last Jan. 6th, but continuing according to plans B, C and D. This is what Trump wants. The GOP is now owned by Trump. This is even better for him than owning the libs. It's the ultimate ego trip for a self-loathing sicko narcissist. The rest of us are observing and commenting and complaining and expressing horror, but this didn't stop Mussolini or Hitler, and it won't stop Trump.
If the DOJ does not begin jailing the principals -- for conspiring and then inciting insurrection and treason, starting with Trump's underlings and compliant GOP Reps, Senators and Governors -- and Trump himself as soon as there is enough sworn testimony against him -- then sane Americans need to hit the streets and demand action. This means strikes, boycotts (yes, of lots of your/our favorite stuff, too bad!), and rigorously peaceful mass gatherings and demonstrations designed to bring our country to a halt until the coup is ended, the criminals are jailed and democracy is restored. Yes, it will be a royal pain in the ass. But if we just wait to cast our votes next year, it will be too late, and "good" Republicans will not save us because I can count them all on one hand.
This will not be easy or safe, but it must be done. Soon. Now is not too soon.
I know, most of us reading and responding to HCR's amazing daily LFAA are retired, or should be but can't afford it, and in our day we marched against nukes and for civil rights and against the Vietnam war and against the many varieties of discrimination and abuse that typify our beloved country and in favor of universal healthcare and against gun violence and violence against women and minorities and immigrants and LGBTQ folks and the list is endless. ENDLESS! It brings tears to my eyes when I think of all the good people here who wonder if they are going to die before a few -- just a few -- of our youthful dreams of equity are ever realized. No I'm not talking about nest eggs.
My wife and I hope to travel to the USA this winter, rent a car and visit, well, everyone.... My 96 year-old step-mother (who introduced me to Heather's letter), my sister and step-sisters and step-brother and a lifetime of friends and relatives scattered all over the USA -- some of them already in cemeteries -- because it may be our last chance before expatriate travel to the USA becomes a personal political problem. What happens when Trump orders Zuckerberg to hand over the names of everyone who has criticized him during the past few years? It will be too late to lie low and wait for things to blow over, and there may be no place to hide.
It's happening here, and interestingly enough, 2022 CPAC convention is happening in Hungary where "it" already happened under Orban who plays the same tune to culturally conservative religionists. All about forging new global alliances (U.S., Russia, Hungary, ...).
I appreciate your realism. awareness and dark humor. We'll never know if this Experiment had turned out differently if the Framer's and Founder's had regrouped after fleeing the British, and had continued to deliberate and complete parts of our Constitution that were never fully thought through, fleshed out and resolved.
I so agree with you. I've been thinking "where can we go" and I can't come up with an answer.
I read that piece by Robert Kagan and felt depressed the rest of the day. With all the R shenanigans going on at the state level, how can anyone help but wonder about who really won an election?
She also responded to "Our Constitutional Crisis Is Already Here".
So far as I can see, the efforts of the 1/6/21 Committee are of course totally under-reported and downplayed by the so called mainstream media. Biden had better be prepared to back the evidentiary results of the Committee and round up ALL the perps including Trump on down.
26% think the election was stolen? Well, 74% thing we WON LEGITIMATELY AND LEGALLY!
I heartily agree with much of what you say, Mr Cracker, except for the wholesale criticism of the “mainstream media” (or as I like to call it, “the legitimate news gatherers and disseminaters” — rolls right off the tongue, doesn’t it?) Working journalists share the news just as fast as they collect it and corroborate it. With fewer and fewer of them covering ever more volumes of complex stories all the time. Regarding the 1/6 committee, I suspect they’re playing it really close to the vest, gathering skeins and skeins of evidence, preventing leaks, building rock-solid cases against the treasonous instigators. When the panel is ready to pounce, it will inform the legitimate “press” (quaint, obsolete designation).
Prepare to have your socks knocked off. And with luck, observe a decisive blow to this attempt to assassinate American democracy. This I believe.
Are we prepared to use undemocratic means to defang, if not disarm, that 26%? If we don't, democracy is lost. If we do, democracy will at least be threatened if not also lost. It looks like a "lose-lose" proposition.
Jack,
I'm sorry to say your tragic outlook is too optimistic. We are already in a literal epic and deadly war, and we are losing. Most Americans are in denial or deaf, dumb and It's possible, but unlikely that we will rebound stronger and more determined than ever. It's possible a hero will emerge who will guide us to safety. However, it's not likely. We won't defang, disarm or stop the anti-government forces being fueled by a handful of the wealthiest Americans.
The one saving grace is that we managed to survive the "Gilded Age" from the late nineteenth century until FDR, despite the country being run during those years by the anti-democratic group which is attempting to resume its control. When things get bad enough, they start to get better. But unfortunately, that has to be painful.
There is nothing undemocratic about enforcing the law.
Two sides to that. Sqealling on a neighbor seeking an abortion is the law in Texas, passed by a supposedly democratically elected legislature, yet to many that is an "undemocratic" law. Are you for or agains enforcing that law? Enforcement of statutes in the US Code (or in State laws) can be challenged, and ultimately decided by courts, where judges usally are appointed, but by those who, although elected democratically, act politically.
Donald Trump paved the way for this with either fiendish cleverness or blind and base, but unerring moneyless, instinct.
His Presidency was one shock after another, from his announcement speech right through to the final days in office. It was one outrage after another mostly without the merest hindrance. The escalation was gradual until he felt himself imperiled by the coming election, and even more so by the results of the election itself.
There have been many Americans who reacted to alert us from the earliest days - Dr. Cox Richardson, Madeleine Albright, Tim Snyder, Anne Applebaum, Sarah Kendzior, Andrea Chalupa - spring to mind. We came to know the names of constitutional scholars and lawyers much more than we ever expected or cared to. The Democrat Party attained pier in the House and, under the able leadership of Speaker Pelosi leaned hard to protect the country from sliding into the abyss. And of course tens of thousands of people, who will forever remain nameless, threw themselves at the emergency using all the tools democracy provides, to help turn key elections in the Democrats’ favour.
But there was still a largely unawakened populace and Trump’s presidency became an endless series of opportunities to say, “Just when you thought he couldn’t lower the bar further…”, with a shrug of resignation, or a raising of the eyebrows as if to say, “What can one do? There is life to be lived.” When one then considers the steely resolve of the Republican Party to hitch themselves to Trump’s wagon regardless of which direction it was going or how many times one had to clamber back on after being tossed off by Trump or a minion…when one then casts an eye on the frightening devotion of the masses to him…then it is not hard to see how coarsened and/or resigned Americans were up to January 6.
But the Democrats have been in power (nominally) for eight months now. That they have not turned the country upside down in an attempt to rid itself of the Trumpian menace, is astounding. Constantly one hears, “Why aren’t they doing anything to stop this? Why aren’t people in jail, or at least formally charged ?”. (In Canada we rarely use the word ‘indicted’).
When the house is on fire, fixing a leaky pipe is hardly a fit response. On a larger scale, this is what it appears is happening on the American political landscape. The House Committee is showing steely resolve in trying to sort out the cancer that led to 1/6. But I fear their power is limited and the clock will run out on them if? when? they lose power in 2022.
President Biden got a Covid relief bill passed. But he has become hopelessly ensnared in the complications of two (!) infrastructure bills, to the greatest extent by his own party. This is the leaky pipe. Meanwhile the flames of the fire of America’s failing democracy are licking closer and closer. The Voting Rights Bill, which could slow down this menace, is languishing - barely mentioned anymore.
Where is the Justice Department? They, who are at the fulcrum of this crisis, have been a near-complete failure. And the individual states and nihilists in charge of them push and push with ever more contemptible but purposeful laws, weakening America daily.
Will anybody be brought to justice and thereby slow down Republican and Trumpian momentum? Is this tragedy in the making so much shrugged at that its success now appears to be only a matter of time?
If so, it is a disgrace in slow motion and the Democrats will not be spared by future historians. It’s hard not be fed up with this milquetoast administration. They are beginning to look like poseurs.
I find that an astounding statement when this administration has been in office for 8 months of a 4 year term.
I believe, although I respect that that is your opinion, Eric, the Republican Party is using greatly our very well documented displeasure with President Biden and what is constantly said of the total failure of Atty Gen Merrick Garland, his team, and the DOJ.
The time frame for justice is excruciating to wait for, especially with so much revealed through social and mainstream media. But wait we must and know that the hammer will not be tentative when it comes down on treason.
My concern of late is how pessimistic we are that democracy will prevail. Call me naive, but Trump assailed just about every single bastion of each branch of our government. Over a 4 year period.
For me, I will continue to use the principles of non violent protests loudly and be in support to whoever I speak to of our current administration that is putting the pieces back together after the the biggest political tantrum of all time. And whether I throw my shoe at the TV or stamp my foot in frustration, I will not let the opposition see me sweat. And that includes my absolute support of the Party of Democracy during this hair-on-fire crisis.
Quite frankly, if forced to respond to “well, that’s all fine, Christine, but just when do you think anything is going to happen to the filibuster, or put these f*ckers in court, in jail, or just out of the way?”…..I usually respond with….
I expect a very good Christmas this year.
Unitad! ✊🏻✊🏼✊🏽✊🏽✊🏿
I appreciate your faith. I know that the “wheels of justice grind slow, but they grind exceedingly fine”. I keep saying to myself - maybe, maybe, maybe.
I really really hope you’re write. My son’s way of life, and perhaps life, will be imperiled if this evil continues to thumb its nose at the basic tenets of humanity.
But leading voices are saying much the same thing. The alarm is being fully sounded. And so I believe my eyes.
A small but telling example. There was the abandonment of Texas by brave Democratic legislators. That ran parallel in July to the rhetoric of the “Summer of Action”. I listened to their biggest spokespeople then. They are noble Americans, mostly POC, mainly women. People who personify dignity, grace and hard won experience. I thought that this might be a moment when the grassroots of America rose up and forced ameliorative action. There was the March in Texas, given scant attention by the media. And (perhaps this is my fault), I’ve heard little since. It appears to have fizzled.
I don’t blame that on those people. They are icons. But they are attempting to push a rock uphill which is simply too heavy.
Patience is a commodity that is ultimately governed by time. Time is running out.
I will be truly delighted, Christine, if you can write one day, “See, told you I was right”.
But I fear that the fight is not being fully joined and in a tactical way. I feel that the corrupt Manchin family will play a large part in the demise of democracy.
I am furious that moderate and centrist Democrats choose this time for a hissy fit.
Meantime the plagues spread.
I still cheer for you and your type.
Thank you, Eric. Hissy fits can all be strategic. For some odd reason and I have no damn basis for it, I’m not “worried” about Sen Manchin and I appreciate what I feel is a decoy strategy. I’m serious. Doesn’t that sound crazy? And Sen Sinema? Pffft. She will fall in line and expect something in return.
You know, Eric… your response is spot on. To me, this is Democracy that we stand up for.
“I still cheer for you and your type.” I laughed at that one. I cannot even convey how many times I’ve heard that and the following…”Well,glad I cheered for the right side.” 😂😎
Thank you Christine, you speak for me as well
Be worried about Manchin.
Dismissing him “for some reason” might well ensure that this is one of the times that people don’t come up to you and tell you they’re are glad they’re were on your side because you were right.
He and his family’s corruption is maximal and thoroughly documented.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.usatoday.com/amp/90435218
https://theintercept.com/2021/09/07/joe-manchin-epipen-price-heather-bresch/
https://www.google.com/amp/s/truthout.org/articles/the-dark-money-influencing-senator-manchins-right-wing-agenda/%3Famp
At a minimum he will ensure that the climate change portion of the “soft” infrastructure is thoroughly scuttled.
This is a family that plays for keeps.
Eric, I thought this lesson from American history, perhaps, a warning capable of influencing your recommendation to go after Manchin. Christine may have a point.
'FDR once tried to purge disloyal Democrats — would it work for Biden to do the same?'
'Roosevelt sought to drive out a passel of conservative Democrats in 1938. Spoiler: It didn't go as planned'
https://www.salon.com/2021/09/26/fdr-once-tried-to-purge-disloyal-democrats--would-it-work-for-biden-to-do-the-same/
Christine, I think that you will appreciate the article, which you can read by opening the link below. Its subject is connected to the difference of opinion you have with Eric over how to handle Manchin. I don't know if you read Eric reply to you, yet, concerning that, along with links. At any rate, please read Keith's reply to me about the article. I consider Keith to be a mentor concerning political issues and American history. He knows that, and the man is very amusing, too.
https://www.salon.com/2021/09/26/fdr-once-tried-to-purge-disloyal-democrats--would-it-work-for-biden-to-do-the-same/
Keith Wheelock1 hr ago
Fern I was bemused at the suggestion that President Biden might seek to ‘purge’ some Democratic members of Congress, when he has, until 2022, a razor thin majority in the House and a 50-50 split in the Senate. (Trump is initiating a purge of the few reasonable Republicans left in Congress.)
President Roosevelt won the 20th century greatest presidential election landslide in 1936. With great overconfidence, he sought to address two irritants:a racalcitrant Supreme Court and some senators who were not with his program (especially on foreign foreign affairs). He struck out on both. He targeted four Senators and at least one House member. I believe that it was Senator George who confronted Roosevelt with a taunt: ‘I’ll be delighted to take you on.’ All four of the targeted senators won re-election and subsequently were not susceptible to Roosevelt’s charm
In 1965, after signing break-through civil rights legislation, President Johnson remarked: “With this we have lost the South,” which was true.
The Democratic Party has long had it’s progressive and conservative wings. It would be folly for President Biden to try to purge either wing. I am reminded of the WW II song: “Flying in on a wing and a prayer. With one engine gone, we shall still carry on, flying in on a wing and a prayer.” President Biden must work with what he has, whatever his (and my) personal frustrations.
I hope so much that you are correct!
Thankyouthankyouthankyou, Christine
Great post - but why do you use the term “Democrat” Party - a term of derision used by Republicans?
My total apologies. No idea why that popped out.
Thanks. The minute I saw it I thought you were a Troll. But the content was genuine. Fast typing sometimes creates problems. Happens to me frequently.
The Democrats can’t do anything because the electorate didn’t put enough of them in the Senate. Simple as that.
Just listened to Brian Tyler Cohen explaining his “Don’t Be a Mitch” fund. Seems appropriate to share here. https://www.briantylercohen.com/videos/
“The greatest danger to our future is apathy.” ~ Jane Goodall
That’s definitely a big part of it. But the Democrats are also in the position of having to salvage legal process itself, something the GOP is happy to exploit.
While frustrated at the pace as well, a guess may be that there is effort going toward avoiding having cases tossed out on technicalities. Dotting all i’s, crossing all t’s. Sadly, there are more John Eastman’s out there, salivating at the opportunity to do him one better.
We can only hope...
I agree, to me, and I think you, our future doesn’t look very bright….. And if things do go , as it looks like they are headed, it can definitely spill over into Canada, as you’ve got your Trump like faction up there also.
Plus, I think the whole world is at stack as this whole mess is back, and pretty much engineered by a certain faction of the oligarch class, a fairly large faction. Trump himself isn’t smart enough to pull something like this off all by himself……
Boy , auto correct screwed up a bunch of what I was trying to say,corrections are, the whole world is at stake, whole mess is backed by. Sorry for the mix up….
In my opinion, Bannon is behind the chaos as TFG is not smart enough. Then TFG will step in to preserve law and order. Good and decent people are the minority. It seems that loads of folks have lead meaningless lives for generations and are now giving up addiction and despair for political action via the social media pipeline and their attachment to a demigod.
I have always suspected that Mitch McConnell is the evil puppet master. Look at how he controlled the game during the Obama presidency. He's been controlling the senate for a long time.
I believe that the "fraud" TFG refers to in the last presidential election are the minority voters who he despises. He just doesn't see them as legitimate, and thus the state Trumplicans' attempts to suppress their votes for future elections.
That, Christi, is absolutely correct. And POC absolutely know this too. The urban areas will not be denied. I have complete faith in massive voter turnout. Note how quiet Stacy Abrams has been. She and organizations have been very busy. We think nothing is being done, but I can attest that grassroots is a flourishing meadow, not a skank, dry, cracked, desert that the Anti Democracy Party functions from.
Oh yeah, Christine, counting on it. But NOT sitting on the sidelines waiting for it.
Oh, Kathy, I must heartily disagree: Good and decent people are the VAST MAJORITY. Alas, many of them are not well informed and disinclined to vote or get “involved.” Reaching them is our most pressing mission.
I’m totally with you on your disgust with the Orange Menace and his Orks.
As Ned L said - great post. Thanks Eric. Thanks also for listing some of those who have been sounding the alarm since the beginning. (I commented on that in a different post and for the life of me could not recall the names as I was typing. I should have looked them up but was on an emotional roll & didn't.)
Maybe Canada should look into building their own wall to protect themselves from the disaster to their south.
Also, I wholeheartedly agree with your last paragraph. 100%.
It is past time to charge the ringleaders and cheerleaders.
There is certainly a crime, but the relevant statute to prosecute it is not treason. Please see my post on this in today’s comments thread. It is 18 U.S. Code § 2385 - Advocating overthrow of Government. This statute is completely cited below.
I agree with your first statement regarding treason completely. The primary difficulty under section 2385 is the words by force or violence. There doesn’t actually have to be actual force or violence as conspiracy to do that which was unsuccessful, I believe would be sufficient. If we are directing this potential crime for prosecution of Trump that has to be proved beyond a reasonable doubt to a unanimous jury. As obvious as that might seem to all herein, I fear that is not an open and shut case to others.
I want to make it clear that I am not a constitutional scholar and this is not my area of expertise only my initial thoughts on this matter. I do however have to believe that crimes were committed by Trump, Eastman etc. and I would like to see a law professor or other Scholar opine on these issues.
We can "armchair" lawyer all we want, but let's rely on those who actually have a wealth of knowledge and experience on these matters, like Glenn Kirschner https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8irlKqCRQ4 or Richard Painter https://twitter.com/RWPUSA/status/1441813152606429190
Watched Kirschner but what was new?
BruceC thank you for posting the relevant statute in full. I just posted a comment up top proposing we all swarm the White House, Justice Dept, etc etc with a demand to prosecute the senior conspirators and a copy/paste of the full statute citation and text. I'd never have thought of it if you hadn't posted the law.
I dont see the complete citation............
Long past time to lock them up. Long past.
"It's time to round up the ringleaders of this attempted coup and prosecute them on an open and shut case of treason."
Long past time. The time to arrest Donald Trump was day 1 after inauguration.
Do you know of any well-informed analyst who thinks any major figure in the Trump campaign administration will be successfully punished by the legal system for their crimes? I don’t.
I haven’t heard of one but I’m waiting to. By the way I am also a beneficiary of living on the left coast more Specifically San Francisco.
Santa Cruz. Well, Capitola, really. Next town down the coast. It’s a tru privilege to live in these parts.
Mobiguy, my other comment strongly agrees with the need to arrest the "ringleaders" meaning Trump.
However, when was the last time a rich, fat, white guy went to jail?
Never?
Bernie Madoff did. That’s 1.
Madoff went to jail, but he wasn’t a lardo, and he was cheating rich people instead of cutting their taxes.
. You are so right, it is all so blatantly obvious!!! Make a person wonder if maybe the good guys in this are maybe some how indirect accomplices???
silence is complicity
I would say yes. Some are direct, albeit quiet, accomplices. Some are indirect. Others are hesitant to speak up or demand justice because they rely on corporate and 1% donations to stay in office and they are comfy where they are and the rest of us don't really matter as long as they stay that way (not realizing that in a fascist takeover they will eventually lose too).
Yes, our system of government, particularly the way we finance out elections actually promote corruption!!!
Absolutely John. And Citizens United turn us into a flat out oligarchy.
Very well said Mobiguy.
There is now, and has been for many, months, a mountain of criminal evidence as to Trump's clear intention of overthrowing our democratically elected government.
So when does Attorney General Merrick Garland and the entire Department of Justice plan to INDICT Trump? When does "the rule of law," so fundamentally important in our democracy, begin to get the attention it deserves?
What are we waiting for ?
One can always hope.
https://www.ajc.com/politics/lawyers-trump-faces-substantial-legal-risk-in-georgia-criminal-case/UDERBJCBJJAOHKQSTWQN6Z7EZI/
“Ahead of former President Donald Trump’s return to Georgia, legal experts with the Brookings Institution think tank published a detailed analysis Friday of the potential criminal investigation he faces in Fulton County linked to his outspoken efforts to overturn the state’s election results.
The 107-page report, written by seven legal analysts, concludes that Trump’s post-election conduct leaves him at “substantial risk of possible state charges predicated on multiple crimes.” It was published a day before Trump is set to hold a rally in Perry to promote a slate of state Republican candidates.“
Wouldn't it be the most delicious, satisfying scenario if Fani Willis, a WOMAN OF COLOR, brought this miscreant to his knees? Talk about irony!
But will the GA state attorney have the guts to charge him?
Good question. It's these little bits of behavior (or lack of behavior) that portend the final results. On the positive side I am heartened by the results of the AZ 'fraudit'.
Thanks for posting the link, H.A. I've downloaded the report.
The law is at a disadvantage here, since it can only pursue misdeeds after they have been performed. To control plotters, it is necessary to insert informants among their ranks. This second round is more dangerous than the first because those who are willing to switch sides are identified in the first round and expelled from the movement. That innoculates the top echelons of the movement against informants. And to make things worse, the drift in boundaries occurs in the open, so erosion of the rule of law is not in itself chargeable even under racketeering laws.
To answer your question more directly: We're following the process to call these guys to account. Trump is a master of running out the clock, and a long-time practitioner of loyalty testing.
The wait is excruciating.
To put a little finer point conspiracy only requires an overt act toward the criminal action so a charge can still be brought without the completion of the misdeed.
Trump was impeached for these crimes. Republicans let him off, because they saw that exonerating Trump would tighten their hold on power, while convicting him would only be honoring their oath to the Constitution and following the rule of law.
Yet, here we are.
I think you meant, “as a result, here we are”.
Yes
As Dr. Richardson said: "If this is not a hair-on-fire, screaming emergency, what is?"
Emergency for whom? Republicans would reframe it thusly, “Can you believe that we’re getting away with this? Pretty soon we’ll control everything! Trump sure taught us a lot.”
Trump will fly thru like he has his whole life. Honestly I think he has the mob threatening those who would bring him down.
When? We have to see if the 1/6/21 Committee will be a tempest in a teapot result like the Mueller or both Trump Impeachment’s. This time could be different with no “Unitary President” and gangster in charge.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Garland state that the gutted department doesn't currently have enough lawyers to open and prosecute all the possible cases ... yet. They are on a hiring spree at the DOJ. And they are also probably making sure the people they hire are ethical along with the usual needed qualities. I'm feeling quite positive and do want everyone to continue to treat this - and react to all of this - like the hair on fire issue it is. We must leave no stones unturned ourselves. In the meantime (while we're waiting for the new legal recruits to get hired, go through familiarizing themselves with the job, etc.) the House Select Committee for the January 6 investigation will continue to roll out their evidence. The states of New York and Georgia and so on will continue their own pressures, and we can make sure that those responsible for fair district line drawing are held to account to not politically gerrymander. One more thing: I think the information about the oligarchs around the world has made the greedy faces of the scum among us light up. In the case of Trump, he isn't as smart as McConnell and McConnell probably thinks he can always be one step ahead of the charismatic Trump and add to his hordes of ill-gotten gains before he dies of old age. In the meantime, he will do everything he can to make sure no laws change that will threaten his and his family's generational wealth. I'm fairly certain he is already drooling over the landmarks and statues which will bear his name going forward once he's officially an oligarch in the new United States autocracy. Just saying. I could be wrong.
You are far from wrong. The primary thrust of what we see played out as “politics” or culture wars are fundamentally outcomes of the primary goal of simply enabling billionaires to constantly horde and protect endless wealth.
Effectively this is the same behavior and economic model that is feudalism.
Now I understand how it is perhaps the difficult to consider ourselves as peasants, but if you remove the complexity of technology one begins to see that vast swaths of the populace are not subject to the will and control of powerful oligarchs (the new Lords in the Neo Feudal Model)
I don’t think DOJ can prosecute Trump for things he did while president.
I'm no expert, but have heard that he can, indeed, be prosecuted for in-office criminal activity. He couldn't be prosecuted as a sitting president, but that changed on January 20.
If you’re up for a long read, here’s an excellent article on Trump’s many transgressions, and the legal issues involved. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/17/magazine/trump-investigations-criminal-prosecutions.html?
Thanks, JR. I'll open this link this afternoon.
Nancy, you’re right that some legal scholars think Trump can now be prosecuted for crimes committed while in office. And at least as many scholars argue he cannot. There are two other factors involved here. One is proving that some of Trump’s many transgressions are indeed crimes. There’s an ongoing, unresolved debate about this. Which is not to say that Trump was not corrupt, and amoral. Clearly he was. It’s just that the bar of proving criminal intent is very high. The other issue is whether or not it’s the right thing to do politically. Prosecuting ex-presidents sets a dangerous precedent. It’s routinely done in autocracies, do we want that here? Imagine how millions of MAGAts will respond.
The Constitution is flawed. Our rule of law is full of holes, which the rich and powerful exploit. And our political system is stretched to the breaking point. Trump wants to break it.
JR, you're correct on all of your points. In my opinion, TFG is getting lots of advice, as he'd have no grasp of the nuances required to dance on the edge without consequence. Immorality and corruption are not usually criminal offenses, and I agree that it would be a very slippery slope to prosecute an ex-president. We've learned that there are few guardrails during this unprecedented timespan. Maybe we can shore up the rule of law and the Constitution, thus repairing the guardrails.
As an alternative to these thorny predicaments, maybe we'll be comforted if the SDNY, E. Jean Carroll, and the others manage to punish him for his civilian crimes, and avoid further mucking up of our government.
You may be right but planning a coup may fall into a different category. They can prosecute everyone around him and we'll just have to see what "falls out" as far taking him out of circulation. He's involved enough sedition now to make his White House years moot. There sure are a lot of good people around looking at and working every angle. I'm hopeful.
My first thoughts went to Hemingway but John Donne (1572-1631), first wrote the line 'for whom the bell tolls' in "Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions, Meditation XVII":
"Perchance he for whom this bell tolls may be so ill, as that he knows not it tolls for him; and perchance I may think myself so much better than I am, as that they who are about me, and see my state, may have caused it to toll for me, and I know not that.
No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friend's or of thine own were: any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bells tolls; it tolls for thee."
The bell is indeed tolling for each of us and for democracy.
"Ring the bells that still can ring,
Forget your perfect offering,
There is a crack, a crack in everything,
That's how the light gets in." ( Leonard Cohen)
Thank you, Stuart. This is what is needed. The bell is tolling for democracy and decency.
Perfect quote for our situation. I was thinking of the phrase no man is an island just this week because we have a neighbor across the street, R of course, who seems to think he lives on an island where only he exists. His wife is a progressive D, so it is interesting.
Interesting?! My gawd! Keep an eye on that house... the fact that it's still standing is bizarre?!
Oh, he is also paranoid and has cameras everywhere. And of course, plenty of guns. She spends a lot of time with our neighbors who live behind us. She loves to talk D politics and that gives her a chance to do so. She is now not well at all and I told her to call me if she needs to talk and I will meet her next-door as they are gone. Since we are personae non gratis, this is what she has to do.
Sigh.
Oh! I am so sorry! Is this why she's not well? Or does she have other issues? In any case..that is just So Sad!
She has lots of medical issues. I think they do not discuss politics. He doesn't speak to us.
I'm really sorry....
Well, when you put it like that . . . WOW! Extraordinary poetry is what lasts and finds meaning through five and six centuries, and then some!
Excellent!
Love this. Read it in high school and it has always been a touchstone
Thanks so much for this, Stuart.
I remember the joy of Nov 7, 2020 (sitting on the lawn watching my grandchildren when people began driving around honking horns - the AP had called the election for Biden). It seemed like we as a nation had turned the corner and would finally emerge into the daylight of a Biden presidency.
Since that joyous day, there have only been 2 days that I can consider “bright days” for our nation - Dec 14, 2020 when the Electoral College met in the various state capitols and voted for President and Vice President, and Jan 20, 2021 when Biden and Harris were sworn in. The joy of those days is a distant memory.
The anticipated calm of a nation led by rational, compassionate adults is shattered almost daily with new revelations about the actions of the former president and his enablers. Each day reveals how close to the abyss the careening Trump train brought us. If Stephen King had submitted a manuscript for his next novel based on actual events since the election, his publisher would have rejected it out of hand claiming it too far fetched.
For the sake of my young grandchildren, I pray that we will come to our senses and rid this nation of the evil stain of oligarchy and authoritarianism spreading over it.
Stacey Abrams submitted a manuscript for her legal thriller novel, While Justice Sleeps, and
“… an editor who read the book in 2011 turned it down on the grounds that the villain, a megalomaniacal and corrupt U.S. president, was too awful to be believed. The manuscript languished on her hard drive. In 2019, when Abrams showed it to her agent, a bombastic president and an intense focus on the failing health of a Supreme Court justice were all too real. This time, she had no trouble finding a publisher.”
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2021/06/stacey-abrams-novelist-while-justice-sleeps/618716/
Along these lines, Sinclair Lewis wrote It Can't Happen Here in 1935 (about a populist president who turns the US into a fascist state) and Fletcher Knebel wrote Night of Camp David in 1965 (about a paranoid president; the New York Times says of it "What would happen if the president of the USA went stark raving mad?" and "A little too plausible for comfort."). Both interesting reads.
What we are experiencing is the aftermath of a lunatic who is supported by a cadre of well-connected operatives, who engineered his ascent to the presidency - much more frightening than simply a paranoid president. What we've learned is that there are no real guardrails.
Fran Talaroski
Night of Camp David was required reading as a high school senior (1970). Remember shuddering to think a president could lose his mind and potentially annihilate democracy if the guardrails didn't hold.
Fast forward: we barely survived that very thing. We, as citizens, need to build stronger guardrails.
I used to have a copy of It Can't Happen Here (1935 ed.) which either my father or grandfather must have bought. My father was 38 when the book was issued and campaigned for FDR when in law school in 1931-32. I gave it to the library. Just checked library holdings and the book was reissued in 2005 by the New American Library. Interesting to see that 2 of 3 copies of the 1935 edition are in the Main Library Literature & Languages Reference Collection (non-circulating) plus 9 copies in branches of 2005 ed. Some of you might find the 21 reviews posted by borrowers an interesting read: https://sandiego.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S161C123142/comments
In April, 2017, one commenter on the book included a prescient quote: "It was H.L. Mencken who said in his newspaper column in 1920: “As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.”
The 1968 movie "Shadow on the Land", based on Lewis' book, can be viewed on Youtube. Wait until you see who the actors are! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSMexBrZe40
I live in Georgia, and adore Stacey, but I missed this. I never believed that TFG would win during his campaign, but then thought we'd all be frustrated for four years, but there were guardrails. When it was apparent that he was a criminal, enabled by criminals, I thought there would be accountability and punishment. After Biden won, I was confident that we'd get back on course. Now, I'm more frightened than ever. Thanks for this account, Lena. There's a lesson here for most of us.
Just tried to get Stacey's book from our library in Nova Scotia! I'm 31 on the wait list!
Just signed up for it at the library in Philadelphia. I'm number 75 in line.
Thanks so much for this, Lena! Stacey Abrams is more and more an amazing force!
I read her novel. It was truly frightening.
Eye-opening indeed!
Here is link if anyone interested in buying book on Amazon. I usually do and then take books when I’m finished to my salon where it gets passed around in a share fashion.
While Justice Sleeps: A Novel https://www.amazon.com/dp/0385546572/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_YEGPZ34A2ZEM4B5M7YG2
And for those who’d prefer to shop online while supporting local bookstores, here’s the link to While Justice Sleeps on bookshop.org.
https://bookshop.org/books/while-justice-sleeps-9780593452721/9780385546577
Thank you for posting Amazon alternatives!
Just bought it on eBay. Thanks.
Anticipating a good read. Thanks for sharing!
Margaret Attwood said the same about the Handmaids Tale, on Fresh Air with Terry Gross circa 1985-86 she stated she was being generous to say that this kind of dystopia would occur as the result of a revolution, int eh US it would be much more likely in an election!
Wow. And I remember an interview with another NPR journalist who asked something to the effect of “how does this end”? Her reply was, (in effect, not verbatim) when you (Americans) take this seriously and do something about it. It made me stop in my tracks then, but then I brushed it off as “impossible in the United States.”
We started watching this series shortly after Jan 6….could not believe how chilling it was, especially the line “when congress was slaughtered”
I'm more worried than ever.
Go to https://choosedemocracy.us/ to learn how to stop a coup or power grab using non-violent techniques. Took a webinar with George Lakey on non-violent resistance which was invaluable. He's amazing and has been doing this all over the world since the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s. Highly recommend his book on How We Win.
Good weekend to you Cathy!
As we approach October 2nd and The Women’s March, am keeping How We Win right up there in my mind’s penthouse along with Marianne Williamson’s “A Woman’s Worth”.
Salud!
For those of us who can't March, can there be another way to make our voices heard on that day to be a salient part of the day?! Something more than just watching? The idea that popped into my mind just now was a boycott of some sort... help me here folks! There has to be a practical way for all of our voices to be heard! Shout it from the rooftops!?
Boycott everything. A weekend of no shopping whatsoever. That will hit the power center where it hurts and get their attention. Women do most of the shopping and we can weld real power there if we choose.
A variation on this may be shop only at stores owned by women or has a woman CEO. Check at your local area for small businesses owned by women.
Here are the women that are CEOs of S&P500 companies. Includes Walgreens, CVS, GAP, Best Buy, Hershey (all women need chocolate), UPS and you can buy a car from GM or a B-2 Bomber from Northup-Grumman
Mary T. Barra, General Motors Company
Corie Barry, Best Buy Co., Inc.
Gail K. Boudreaux, Anthem, Inc.
Rosalind Brewer, Walgreen Boots Alliance
Michele Buck, The Hershey Company
Debra A. Cafaro, Ventas, Inc.
Safra A. Catz, Oracle Corporation
Joanne Crevoiserat, Tapestry
Jane Fraser, Citigroup, Inc.
Adena T. Friedman, Nasdaq, Inc.
Lynn J. Good, Duke Energy Corporation
Tricia Griffith, The Progressive Corporation
Vicki Hollub, Occidental Petroleum Corporation
Jennifer M. Johnson, Franklin Resources, Inc.
Reshma Kewalramani, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Christine A. Leahy, CDW Corporation
Karen S. Lynch, CVS Health Corporation
Judy Marks, Otis Worldwide Corporation
Phebe N. Novakovic, General Dynamics
Lisa Palmer, Regency Centers Corporation
Kristin Peck, Zoetis Inc.
Linda Rendle, The Clorox Company
Barbara Rentler, Ross Stores, Inc.
Lori Ryerkerk, Celanese Corporation
Lisa Su, Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
Julie Sweet, Accenture
Sonia Sygnal, Gap, Inc.
Carol Tomé, United Parcel Service, Inc.
Jayshree V. Ullal, Arista Networks, Inc.
Kathy J. Warden, Northrop Grumman Corporation
I’m suggesting a very broad brush for a reason: for maximum impact. Those who are with us may be willing to take a public stand if we put pressure on them. I would want to know a woman CEOs position before considering her an ally. I’m tired of being careful and giving everyone the benefit of doubt. It’s time to show who we are and exercise our power. I’ve pulled my punches for 73 years, I’m done.
I hear you. I was thinking along the lines of a boycott every weekend or every Friday or something like that. This isn't going to be just one day of boycott!!!
Sex boycott, especially in texas.
Tell them they can't have sex until they've been neutered and can show you a neutered certificate.
We're doubling down in nyc.
https://ephemeralnewyork.wordpress.com/2016/12/30/why-1970s-new-york-was-nicknamed-fun-city/
If you can get to a local or state March near you, then just be there but do not walk. There will most likely be gatherings at end point of marches where all can “raise the roof”.
I’m in Tennessee for awhile, but, found a march in Cookeville. My husband and I are going and will drag anyone else along who will go.
What about cheering on the marchers? Go down to the parade route somewhere snd when the marchers pass by wave your sigb and cheer!
Great idea!I was thinking about that...YES!
Letters to the editor? Posting and sending messages to others with info about activities in your community? Working to get out the vote. All can be done from home. Im in the same situation here.:)
And don’t forget postcards to voters 🙂
YES!!! Thank you for mentioning this; have been writing cards for over a year for different campaigns , including Native communities here in AZ. It has made me appreciate the hard work of others and the issues all over this country. Please sign up!
Yes! I will, and if you can suggest where to check this out!
Yes! All good. I think I recall you mentioning something about your situation before... if you don't mind, would you refresh my memory? Stay well ❤️
FYI Fellow Floridians able to March:
https://www.mobilize.us/peoplepowerforflorida/event/412170/
There are Marches all across the country. If you can’t do the, usually quite short walk, you could attend the rally that follows. I can’t attend the March in DC, either, but I will attend the local March, as I have before.
Sometimes its not the march itself, short or not. People with disabilities and those recovering from injuries are not always able to put themselves in crowds. Cheering from the sidelines can still be dangerous if one is jostled or knocked over.
Good point... I was just about to start making a poster... I will find a way to participate, someway, somehow. I happen to be a pretty good photographer. If I can find a safe perch in one of the neighboring towns where they might be marching... hmmm...
Every bit of protest counts. Every single bit.
As someone who has a good deal of metal hardware (due to injuries from my military days) I am unable to mix in large crowds - or even within a small crowd that could turn ugly. (I can go to a small rally or march but only if I keep a safe distance from others - which is kind of counter to the point of marches and rallies but I have done this a few times.) If I were knocked down, it wouldn't take much to incapacitate me and make me a liability to those I was trying to support. I have to keep this in mind whenever pondering attending a march or rally. Plus, I can't continue to protest if I am killed or injured even more than I already am.
So, never feel that you aren't contributing if you can't attend a march or rally. All protest matters. All protest counts.
Short on time but might there be a march in your town? Is there a grassroots organization that you could contact in you area to find out about other options?
Well, I took a bad fall and walking is out for now, but I will pursue any and all options I can find. Thanks so much!
Yes for many of us we need other ways to participate. Write a letter to editor of a local paper? share info with others on line etc?
Hope you’re healing well!!
I'm good, thanks, but my foot is really mad at me! 🦶
Wow! That’s next week already. I need to go see where the March is in my area.
Okay, I bookmarked it, ‘cuz I take you seriously Cathy. Very interesting! Good night.....
Thank you for the cite = I'll look into this but the website/entity "closed 1/1/2021" and apparently while still helpful and relevant, is not active. The issue is to get the attention and support of people now & to hope some in power grow a spine. Non=involved people just live their lives and wait for the next November election and don't worry about things until then. I don't think we have time to lose - just to get rid of Chuck Grassley & Kim Reynolds in Iowa might send a message.
I note that Gassy just decided to run again. He needs to be put out to pasture and I hope Ds can find someone to run who can win. As for COVID Kim, she also needs to go.
Grassley is just a place holder and will retire and then his replacement will be appointed perhaps by the GOP Gov:)
Good strategy.
Of course. So cynical.
Yuck
I followed the links = the site closed 1/21/21 but the original site is up and I went there then clicked thru and got a Wordpress page which seems to have gone silent in July. Those of us reading HCR and the Proof series need to coalesce and do what we can to take action, stop the freight train if possible. Right now I don't sense/know of any coordinated efforts
I'm disappointed that the site is silent. And yes, you are 100% right! I haven't seen or heard about any unifying movement. Act Blue is always about raising money for good candidates, which is fine, and the Lincoln Project is churning out clever ads to take aim at the confederacy of dunces. But we need a plan, suggestions and whatever it takes to stop the willful destruction of our democracy.
Not only do I treasure these letters, as I have from the beginning, and the lectures in Facebook, and the podcasts, but perhaps we have already established the 'group' and have our leader!? Unfair to burden Dr. Richardson with any more work than she's already doing.... (How does she do it?!) But we do need to take the wisdom and facts she provides and take it to the next level! Let's try to figure this out before it's too late!
Cynthia are you active with your local Indivisible? I posted a link to their suggestions for resisting gerrymandering in a reply to Victoria.
oK So the leaders you are looking for are all of us. We need to engage int he hard work and not always with people who agree with us, get connected to your local Dems. At this late date we dont need another organization we need people to participate in electing Dems. Along with act blue, and some of us need to donate as we dont have so much time to offer but if each of us kicks in a few hours here and there we have a viable movement so choose a few candidates at the local and state level and offer support, driving them in chilly wheaten as they knock on doors, etc. Its not rocket science, even with a mending leg, the best way to defend democracy is to get out the vote big time everywhere we can, in my experience. It really matters.
Victoria, have you work d with your local Indivisible. They have a great how to be informed on gerrymandering and advocate for fairness. They have active local organizations everywhere. Here’s a link re the gerrymandering but you can use the site to find your local chapter. Also this group has their own activist group called Heather’s herders, perhaps someone here can get you connected. Indivisible is a great place to start. https://indivisible.org/resource/fighting-gerrymandering-states
Yes. But I’ve been out of state for 2 weeks but thanks for the link. Will get in touch! I also just got a text from MoveOn. I just wish we’d all join together on the anti-insurrection cause
Are you thinking of a specific action you think would be effective?
Here’s a quote to support why I recommend focusing on what you can do at your own local level: “The best way to stop a coup is to never have one. People are doing lots of good work on issues of voting rights, urging turnout, stopping repression, uncovering fraud, and getting people to commit to democracy. That may be enough.”
https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/transformation/how-stop-coup-america/
Uncovering the fraud. Next comes the accountability. It would be wonderful if accountability looked like a tsunami at the polls, but in this sewer of lies and propaganda we are currently swimming in I’m afraid our battle for the truth is paramount.
THANK YOU for including this link! Spread the word!
Thanks HCR, but the only takeaway I can see from your summation of the crimes and misdemeanors of the current Ghastly Old Party is that they are cowardly, greedy, despicable opportunists who would happily destroy their own constituents--which they are actually doing--rather than take a principled stand, protect our democratic system, or vocalize any criticism of the Deranged Former "President." That sounds like the same old same old to me. But the added spice of the fact that their own constituents are dying of COVID by the hundreds, if not thousands, and they persist in this benighted and immoral decision to "stand firm" against anything a Democratic president and congress might try to do to ameliorate the situation of their. own. constituents. simply underscores the moral vacuum and ethical black hole they all occupy. I'm disgusted but I am not surprised.
"Moral vacuum and ethical black hole" What wordsmithing!
That vacuum should suck those deplorables deep down into the hole’s depth, all the way to the infernal bottom.
This.
We were all so naive. We thought the election of Joe Biden would be a repudiation of Trumpism.
Yet a scant few hours after a violent insurrection of our Capitol, a majority of the House GOP members sided with the insurrectionists and voted against certifying a clearly legitimate election.
That should have been enough to realize that Trump's attempt to steal the election was not just the desperate flailings of a defeated candidate and a few of his "whack-job" supporters. Nope, we had no idea how deep were the roots to this insidious threat to our Democracy.
Todays letter illustrates just how well-organized and structured was the plan to steal the election. Their effort has been years in the making. All that was needed was the right person to light the fuse... to "release the kraken". They found their candidate in Donald Trump, a narcissistic svengali. He is the "messiah" they sought to wrest power from the majority, and reinstate the rules that keep political and economic power in the hands of the rich.
We keep hearing about adhering to the rule of law. But the RAGA crowd is working to create dozens of laws to protect their social status. How do we reconcile this?
Infrastructure and climate change are certainly important pieces of legislation. But nothing is more important than passing voting rights legislation. Nothing.
No insult to you or your post Herb but not everybody was naive about trump & his minions fading away if Biden won. There have been those who warned that one election was hardly time to let our guard down.
Plus, the lead-up to the insurrection was talked about on social media for months, the date given out loud by trump and others. The pattern was clear. It was all ignored.
Why would all those who had silently willingly gone along with or loudly joined in on the destruction of our government during the trump years suddenly turn into upstanding, law-abiding, Constitution respecting people immediately after the election? Human behavior doesn't work like that - in any of us.
You are correct - they are organized. Trump has created a cult out of the Republican Party, one in which he is the "Messiah". They care only about wiping out everyone who does not agree or join. If those in authority don't pass voting rights AND punish those advocating for insurrection, sedition, treason and violence - and do so promptly and to the fullest extent of our laws - then we are doomed.
Trump is a whimpering old man who has failed at everything his entire life. How did this happen when he had all the advantages of money and education? Because he was given everything and never had to think for himself. From a young age he was trained by Roy Cohn to be mean and violent. They fed his ego all while manipulating him. I’m sure if you look behind every failed business there is someone pushing him into it and telling him it’s okay to lie, cheat and steal. He was an easy mark to put into the presidency because he could be manipulated. This is why they still hang on him. That and his cult followers will be hard to move to DeSantis, Cruz, Abbott or Hawley. They have no charisma. Not that I ever saw charisma in Trump. People are obsessed with the famous and royalty. Flynn is more dangerous than anyone currently in an elected position.
People like Wray and active duty Flynn, as well as a list of others need to be removed from office now.
We need much more than the 1/6 investigations for sure. DOJ needs to start arresting and charging every one of these people. Grab them as soon as you have evidence.
Good points all around Sharon.
I would like to add my two cents here on trump - without taking away anything you have said. I think he is a sociopath. (I'm not just flinging around insults. I studied abnormal psychology in college and have known sociopaths at different times in my life.) Sometimes people are born with those tendencies front & center in their personalities (sorry, I can't think of the phrase I want so am resorting to that one) and the circumstances of their life either teach them to work with and not give any energy to those tendencies or to fully inhabit them. trump's life and the people around him clearly encouraged and applauded the latter.
I agree completely. I just cannot believe he has any intelligence and can be easily manipulated.
Absolutely! He proved that (no intelligence) every time he opened his mouth. You could easily track who was manipulating him by looking at what he was doing five minutes prior to him talking.
He knows how to be a bully. He knows how to whip up a crowd. Those two skills are dangerous in anyone and in the presidency - well, we all had front row seats to that.
TFG hits on every criterion below.
Excerpt: "What are considered sociopathic traits or sociopathic traits? Here are some of the potential signs and traits of a person with antisocial personality disorder:
A lack of empathy for others
Little to no genuine remorse
The manipulation of other people
Lying and deceit
A sense of superiority over others
Little to no regard for right or wrong
The belief that rules do not apply to them
Getting into legal trouble or a little regard for the law
A lack of responsibility or engaging in irresponsible behaviors
Aggression or hostility
The exploitation of other people
Substance use
People with antisocial personality disorder are not monsters, and despite the name of the disorder, it doesn’t mean that someone is antisocial in the way that we typically understand the term. For a person to be diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder, they must meet the DSM criteria for the disorder." https://www.mind-diagnostics.org/blog/sociopath/sociopath-definition-what-is-a-sociopath
I remember TFG making a statement before the Election “Something big is coming ! “. I was like “Now what is he going to do ?” I just wish I could remember how much before ? Well, think it’s safe to say we know now what he was alluding to.
I, too, saw the insurrection coming, and the Hitlerism before and since, but I was put down by good Democrat friends who said I was hysterical. This was and is the carefully designed plan of the Federalist Society, The Family, the Kochs and the kooks. We are smack in the middle of an undeclared Civil War, and if we continue to acquiesce, it will be more deadly than the first, deadly to our democracy. Many thanks to Heather for giving us that clarity, as terrifying as it is. EACH of us has a role to play in saving the United States of America. Figure out what yours is TODAY, and do it.
Great post Herb! It’s clear we have to work harder than ever to win local races in state-houses as well as 2022 Congressional races. I believe we have one last shot at thwarting these fascists.
I think also TFG was given a Deal he couldn’t refuse considering all his Debts.Deutsche Bank that paid a huge fine for doing business with him .Bet he’s out of Debt now and maybe in the “Club “ .Those offshore Banks still exist.
Knew about RAGA but never ever fathomed that all of the Repub AG’s were huddled together! Abhorrent behavior by the most corrupt party of our time. I imagine that Garland and staff are extremely busy with preparing their lassoes to round the cattle up. But should they do it one lousy fascist at a time or a bunch together? I have this ongoing dream that a large bird swoops down and picks them all up, holds them hostage until their cells are prepared, then releases them to face their miserable music.
Let’s talk about that weasel, Pence. He goes to Budapest to spew his garbage about abortions and “family values”. His plan is to run for Prez in 2024. Can you imagine having this Ken doll-with-no-balls as your president??
We have to fight hard and press our leaders to do the same. So tired of rhetoric. We need ACTION!
Really! I always dismissed him and gave his vacuous nature an eye-roll... but after reading 'Peril' I realized what a ... hmm, I don't think I should or need to call him what I think he is! But you pretty much nailed it!
Well, men that are physically impotent take it out on others. They are mean, violent and controlling. The same can be said of Trump. Pence doesn’t stand a chance because the cult hates him.
Can you believe how clueless he is!?!
Holy hand grenades, for the first time ever I feel the impact of the expression "bombshell revelations" and it makes me even more determined that for the next few years or even the rest of my life we must do as much as we can to save our way of life, and recruit others to this cause.
This quote says it well:
"In the fight against bigotry, we stand together and we must. In the fight against injustice, we stand together and we must. In the fight against intimidation, we stand together and we must. After all, a regime that would steal an election right before our very eyes will do anything to all of us.
- CYNTHIA MCKINNEY"
Also noted that her quote refers to Bush becoming President in November 2000.
I love “holy hand grenades!!!”
Love it! Monty Python and the Holy Grail reference. The scene at the cave where they must vanquish the killer bunny rabbit.
As a quick read of Richard Hofstadter's 1954 opus on "the Pseudo-conservative Revolt" will show, the people we look "askance" at now that they are full-out Trumpers have been around a long time, but they were largely under control (though the Godwater campaign was the first time they broke through the gates) but it wasn't till they were allied with their Confederate traitor brothers-in-arms after Nixon invited the Confederacy into the "big tent" in 1968 that the real change started. We're now literally up against the same enemy we were up against in 1860.
Quick question: what's 10,000 Trumpers dead of COVID stacked in refrigerator trucks?
Answer: a good start.
And while I am in favor of allying with all Never-Trumpers, the outer wall of my big tent stops ten feet short of Karl Rove. Though I will let Jonah Goldberg put his head under the canvas to get a look inside.
Agree; whatever KR chooses to do now, consultations he was the one who made DJT understand that he could develop a political base and showed him how to do it in consultations early in DJTs campaign dabbling. KR laid out the strategy that turned DJT from a horrible, delusional person and blustering tv clown into a horrible, delusional person and a dangerous, political monster.
Is he still buddies with Cheney?
I wouldn’t let Karl Rove even get to 10 feet, TC! He was the architect of getting Fake 45 elected. A slimeball!
Yup
TC, we dare not underestimate these fiends or their base minions any longer. As HCR said it, we are in a hair-on-fire emergency.
Personally, I’d like to them what the Nazis did. But there’s always so many people too soft and who will let Republicans do it to them first.
Exactly! I was at a dog agility trial yesterday. A discussion about venues eased into a political discussion. Full disclosure, I took it there. HCR has a big following in the dog agility community. We were talking about different trial sites. Someone commented that they liked a facility a couple of hours away from me. Again, I went there and said I have a difficult time trialing at the facility, because the owner is a big Trumper and said a lot of stupid things about COVID. Their response was "I just want to run my dog". I replied I did to, however supporting what the Trump Republicans are trying to do and the vaccine nonsense is stupid. Stupid has to be called out! I said I did not find any thing wrong with a rational discussion about different views.
Brava, Sharon!
I agree. We all have to stop with being polite. Scott Peck who wrote People of the Lie ( evil folks) also wrote A World Waiting to Be Born, Civility Rediscovered, about civility being honesty, rather than a fear of being honest in the face of deception.
Spot on Gus. What still can not understand is why the Dems are still trying to play 'nicey-nice'
with the Rethugs. I just don't get it.
Call me cynical, but the only reason I can think of for Dems to play nice is because our government is owned by the Wealthy, Big Corporations (aided by Big Media, Big Religion, and Ivy League schools) - it’s all a tight knit group - and THEY don’t want to make a mess of the economy. That tight knit group prefer Conservatives / Republican’s running the show because they profit most by their financial goals, but they’ve stacked the deck in their favor.
Right now, the government and their backers are playing nicey-nice with the masses because they don’t want to be guillotined and America up in flames.
I remember Twitter in 2012. It was a mostly friendly place. In 2014-5, right around the time people were uniting about reality of climate change, blaming greedy corporations like Monsanto for illnesses, and blaming the wealthy for the gamed system causing middle working class’s suffering and declining after the 2009 real estate crash.
Once the wealthy class and corporations like Monsanto realized they were dangerously becoming public enemy number one, social media attacks started happening. The attacks amped up the emotions and our weak spots: Men vs Women, pay disparity between men & women, about rape culture, old vs young, Black vs White, political correctness,
cultural issues between conservatives & liberals, etc. It almost completely took the focus off the wealthy and corporations and what they’re doing to the masses.
Then Trump put his hat in the ring and the monsters hiding behind masks (and hoods) stepped out in the open.
Now we’re stuck in the great divide and heading towards civil war or falling into authoritarianism. Either way, the wealthy will survive and thrive.
"(C)ultural issues between conservatives & liberals, etc. It almost completely took the focus off the wealthy and corporations and what they’re doing to the masses." I think this is one of the serious problems.
It definitely is one of the most serious problems. They’re the dam holding the water in place. They need to carefully remove at least most of it so there can be a better balance.
They never will unless forced by law---especially election laws---to do so.
Not even the wealthy will survive the impending climate changes. They can't purchase habitable temperatures, breathable air, etc.
Poor taste. At least in the refrigerator ;)
It is pretty amazing that Abbott and DeSantis don't seem to mind killing off large numbers of their own voters by undermining Covid precautions and blabbering about freedumb. Is that because they think they have such a lock on elections now, that they can afford to engineer large numbers of R voter deaths to keep pandering to Trump's base? Who do they think is dying? It's certainly not the educated, vaccinated, masked liberals, the ones who are working hardest and smartest against them.
Bingo!
Yeppers. We're at over 2000/day rolling average. So by T'day another 120,000? That starts to swing some elections in marginal States - like maybe Floridah. Bring it dudes, just bring it.
It is way past time to get serious about prosecuting all those who plotted, led, and participated in an attempt to overthrow the government of the United States following the 2020 election. The crime is much greater than the January 6, Capitol riot. Let’s get this right and move it forward. Here is the specific crime:
18 U.S. Code § 2385 - Advocating overthrow of Government
Whoever knowingly or willfully advocates, abets, advises, or teaches the duty, necessity, desirability, or propriety of overthrowing or destroying the government of the United States or the government of any State, Territory, District or Possession thereof, or the government of any political subdivision therein, by force or violence, or by the assassination of any officer of any such government; or
Whoever, with intent to cause the overthrow or destruction of any such government, prints, publishes, edits, issues, circulates, sells, distributes, or publicly displays any written or printed matter advocating, advising, or teaching the duty, necessity, desirability, or propriety of overthrowing or destroying any government in the United States by force or violence, or attempts to do so; or
Whoever organizes or helps or attempts to organize any society, group, or assembly of persons who teach, advocate, or encourage the overthrow or destruction of any such government by force or violence; or becomes or is a member of, or affiliates with, any such society, group, or assembly of persons, knowing the purposes thereof—
Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both, and shall be ineligible for employment by the United States or any department or agency thereof, for the five years next following his conviction.
If two or more persons conspire to commit any offense named in this section, each shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both, and shall be ineligible for employment by the United States or any department or agency thereof, for the five years next following his conviction.
As used in this section, the terms “organizes” and “organize”, with respect to any society, group, or assembly of persons, include the recruiting of new members, the forming of new units, and the regrouping or expansion of existing clubs, classes, and other units of such society, group, or assembly of persons.
Thank you, BruceC, for citing and quoting verbatim the US statute that the Department of Justice ought to be using to prosecute _all_ the leaders of the Trumpist conspiracy to overthrow the legitimate 2020 election: all the Proud Boys and other violent insurrectionists, all the openly and covertly supportive Republican members of Congress, all the hangers on--Guiliani, Bannon, Eastman, the Pillow Guy, et all, and every provably conspiring member of the Trump Administration, including Trump.
So my question is: What's the hold-up? What is the political or judicial calculation that Biden, Merrick Garland, and the other senior administration leadership are making? Are they accumulating more and more hard, clear, damning evidence? Will the hammer come down soon? Are they planning to wait the long time until the House Dem Jan 6 investigation committee turns in a report? What evidence do they see that makes them think it's more strategic or more prudent to take this slowly?
"et al"
I impressed you edited such a small error…..I had to go back and find it!
English major. Can't help myself. :--)
Laurence Tribe is calling for a grand jury for Steve Bannon.
By the way, I watched a short clip of Ted Koppel talking to drumpf supporters asking them about the election.
Everyone of them said it was stolen, giving all these faux talking points.
I felt sorry for him, you could tell he was having a hard time not rolling his eyes.
If you have a fb account take a few minutes to read the comments on political or vaccine mandate article and you will feel so sad that so many have been so brainwashed.
But yes #LockThemUp
Perhaps it is time that respected commentators challenged guests who spout nonsense. Remember that when John McCain was challenging Obama, a woman in the audience got his attention and began talking about the "fact" that Obama was not an American, and McCain took the microphone away from her and said that what she was telling the audience was untrue. Maybe Ted Koppel should have done the same.
Yes, it’s time to take the damn gloves off. Stop treating lies like legitimate points of view.
As much as I hate to say it, the right wing's aggressiveness in spreading misinformation and conspiracy theories has been effective. I just don't see why the left's forceful denunciation of this misinformation, and refusal to debate the issue, would be a bad thing.
It is amazing the garbage that people believe and have the need to display that for all to see.
And Eastman, the coup architect, was at the time, a constitutional law professor (and former law clerk for Clarence Thomas)! He also authored the Newsweek? Op-ed disputing Kamala Harris's citizenship. When will these traitors face charges?? Let's strangle American facism before it's too late. And get rid of the damn filibuster and protect voting rights.
Please communicate this to all members of Congress who represent you. Also send letters or emails on this to the Chair of the Jan. 6 Select Committee, Rep. Bennie Thompson, and Vice Chair, Rep. Liz Chaney. It is time to step up and demand accountability for an attempt to overthrow our government.
Thanks for your activism and encouragement.
Thank you for posting this. I'm wondering now why action hasn't been taken already. I myself could put actual NAMES to these paragraphs, based upon words spoken, words written, actual video footage, and all manner of published evidence. These criminals haven't even bothered to hide their intent or actions - I guess they don't believe anything will happen to them. It's beginning to look like they may be correct.
This is my deep frustration also. Insurrectionists acting in broad daylight with impunity. Unless we enforce our laws, they have no meaning. TFG learned long ago how to game the system. And we’ve done nothing to close the loopholes. Why?
The only way to correct this is a radical change in direction and that would put almost all current politicians out of power (both D and R).
In fewer words: Dems are complicit.
It is time to act.
I tweeted to the Justice Dept. this: 18 U.S. Code § 2385 - Advocating overthrow of Government and asked why nothing was being done. I wrote that thousands of Americans have read and understand this law and have seen, heard, and read evidence of criminal behavior. Perhaps if we bombard them with such messages they'll realize how serious we are?
Thanks for writing all of this out, Bruce. Will use this when writing the Justice Dept./AG Merrick Garland.
Thanks for this Bruce. As a non-lawyer, I have a question: why do you favor pursuing justice under this statute as opposed to under 18 U.S. Code § 2384. Seditious conspiracy? It reads:
If two or more persons in any State or Territory, or in any place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, conspire to overthrow, put down, or to destroy by force the Government of the United States, or to levy war against them, or to oppose by force the authority thereof, or by force to prevent, hinder, or delay the execution of any law of the United States, or by force to seize, take, or possess any property of the United States contrary to the authority thereof, they shall each be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both.
I see the advantage that § 2385 - Advocating overthrow adds ineligibility for government employment to the potential penalties. But I am attracted to the language in § 2384. Seditious conspiracy that adds hindering execution of any law, and opposing government authority by force, each of which seems to me to broaden the scope for potential indictments.
I would appreciate your thoughts about this.
I need to emphasize that despite some background in business contracts and intellectual property law, I am not a lawyer. However, I have discussed this with several licensed criminal lawyers/prosecutors and criminal law professors. It is the collective opinion of those with whom I discussed it that there are several reasons to use § 2385. Those include:
- § 2385 has a broader set of criteria defining the criminal behavior that does not limit it to the use of force. This should make the prosecution easier to prove.
- § 2385 does as you point out also result in the restriction of a period of ineligibility for federal employment and hence would restrict them from holding any federal office, thereby disqualifying any, including Tя☭mp and other criminal Representatives or Senators both from holding their current office currently or for a period of five years after their conviction. This effectively removes them from office and there are several I think should be charged under this statute.
- § 2385 also includes the following wording - "Whoever, with intent to cause the overthrow or destruction of any such government, prints, publishes, edits, issues, circulates, sells, distributes, or publicly displays any written or printed matter advocating, advising, or teaching the duty, necessity, desirability, or propriety of overthrowing or destroying any government in the United States by force or violence, or attempts to do so ..." This seems to broaden the criminal activity description significantly beyond the act of force or of committing the violence simply to the advocacy of the use of force. This is an important distinction.
- § 2385 also includes the act of organizing others in the criminal activity and we have seen clear evidence of this by a number of those who should be charged.
In the end, I believe that 18 U.S. Code § 2385 is simply easier to prosecute and prove. However, I emphasize that it is certainly possible to bring multiple charging counts and leave it to the jury to determine the guilt or innocence of those charged under each charge.
Thanks Keith. I completely agree with bringing any and all relevant charges.
100% Bruce.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/25/us/capitol-riot-fbi-informant.html?unlocked_article_code=AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACEIPuonUktbfqohkQVUZBibIRp8spwWHmf_LhaY9gWO7IiKUDDdEweMPBoGG5wHNea9nLZMV7giseeVgYvUpVeAgiahWJVBsQA2l5ZCIw8VVKHg57I6-UDNzgsOSDfUy-GWzKzO1d7lxlOfi4B6KO3L4G_CKiQ1XLw5moZNgdluu2GVZhfuWV74ohaQtmKspFZt4Rj8fZSmVvPWOCx92PdyOaxC0-RBhEqgCGmmVxYjAnupGJAZCClvGTGd84HI-
Bummer paywall. C&P?
“ The Times do not directly address whether the informant was in a good position to know about plans developed for Jan. 6 by the leadership of the Proud Boys, why he was cooperating, whether he could have missed indications of a plot or whether he could have deliberately misled the government.”
Apparently the informant feels that the Proud Boys were not plotting to assault the Capital… My question is where was he in the food chain? Most of these infiltrators from the Feds stand out like a sore thumb or are just minor players in a the mob.
This is all about far more than just January 6 riots or the Proud Boys. Review carefully all the language of the cited federal statute and consider how many and who it might apply to. My position is every single person who this applies to at or near the top of this entire crowd of miscreants or any that advised, encouraged, aided, or financed them should be prosecuted. If we do not do that, we will see worse and likely more in the near future.
This includes the Lard Father currently ensconced at Mar-a-Lardo
I subscribe to the NYT, so was able to read the entire article. It struck me that this "informant" was very careful to show himself "ignorant" of any deliberate planning or coordinating. This made me suspicious that he was fully aware of that statute and also that his "handler" had blown his own cover and was being used as a conduit by the "informant" to protect the Proud Boys. Call me a cynic, but I think this FBI agent was being played.
I had similar thoughts as I read what is posted above though not about the statute but that the CI might have been purposely misleading his handler. I read too many crime novels....
From the NYT article, the paragraphs that follow the aforementioned through the article’s conclusion:
“ But the records, and information from two people familiar with the matter, suggest that federal law enforcement had a far greater visibility into the assault on the Capitol, even as it was taking place, than was previously known.
At the same time, the new information is likely to complicate the government’s efforts to prove the high-profile conspiracy charges it has brought against several members of the Proud Boys.
On Jan. 6, and for months after, the records show, the informant, who was affiliated with a Midwest chapter of the Proud Boys, denied that the group intended to use violence that day. In lengthy interviews, the records say, he also denied that the extremist organization planned in advance to storm the Capitol. The informant’s identity was not disclosed in the records.
The records describing the informant’s account of Jan. 6 — excerpts from his interviews and communications with the F.B.I. before, during and after the riot — dovetail with assertions made by defense lawyers who have argued that even though several Proud Boys broke into the Capitol, the group did not arrive in Washington with a preset plot to storm the building.
They also raise new questions about the performance of the F.B.I. in tracking the threat from far-right groups like the Proud Boys.
The records — provided to The Times on the condition that they not be directly quoted — show the F.B.I. was investigating at least two other participants in the rally on Jan. 6 and asked the informant to make contact with them, suggesting that they might be Proud Boys.
Moreover, the records indicate that F.B.I. officials in Washington were alerted in advance of the attack that the informant was traveling to the Capitol with several other Proud Boys.
The F.B.I. also had an additional informant with ties to another Proud Boys chapter that took part in the sacking of the Capitol, according to a person familiar with the matter, raising questions about the quality of the bureau’s informants and what sorts of questions they were being asked by their handlers before Jan. 6.”
Seems clear to me. What's the hold-up?
I try hard to stay up to speed but totally missed the report about the robocalls, RAGA & the staffers meeting. This is very disturbing & escalating too fast. I know the cases against the 1/6 organizers is ongoing & will take time. But hurry up!
“And the seasons, they go round and round.
And the painted ponies, they go up and down.
We’re captive on the carousel of time.
We can’t return, we can only look.
Behind from where we came.
And go round and round and round in the circle game.”
Joni Mitchell “The Circle Game”
https://youtu.be/V9VoLCO-d6U
“But the fact that Republican lawmakers have ignored the Eastman memo, which outlines the destruction of our democracy, suggests that the party, which organized in the 1850s to protect the nation against those who would destroy it, has come full circle.”
As Professor Richardson states, it’s a full circle moment.
What shall be our response? What say our unalienable rights of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness? Given to us by the Creator and the inspiration of governments formed to protect.
So check yourself, lawmakers. And look behind you from where we came.
"If this is not a hair-on-fire, screaming emergency, what is?"
Exactly, Prof. HCR! If the Biden administration and the DOJ don't take steps to put a stop to this Republican plot post haste, our democracy will wither and die. Their conniving conspiracy is too dangerous to be ignored! No one should sit idly by, put their head in the sand, and think that totalitarianism will never wash onto these shores!
Thank you Heather.
I feel we are in a territory that no one thought we would be in even 2 years ago. I think the GOP are as surprised that they could pull this rather seamless coup off as we are that they have gotten away with it thus far.
The release of written proof of the attempt of the destruction of Democracy and the physical take over of the government has gotten nothing more than a whimper from the Administration is what I find most distressing.
In the Country I remember the United States once was, this would have been breaking news, covered 24/7 with heads on a stick by now.
Yet, it goes by with nary a mention. This is abysmal, at best.
Be safe, be well.
The day I see the heads of some elected officials on pitchforks, is the day I will rejoice because it will mean We The People finally declared we've had enough and will punish those who refuse to protect and preserve our democratic republic and refuse to serve the greater good. Hopefully, if the head of this evil beast is cut off, the body will die. I'm not holding my breath. It is about time for politicians to fear the wrath of the people. Isn't that how this country was founded?
I love the visual you offer here and I love the freedom of being able to write with such passion here. If you post the word "pitchfork" or "die" on FB, you will be put in FB jail. I used "hanged" without any names, in reference to what one historically did with traitors and that got me in the jammer. A friend used "strangle" and she was also jailed. It amazes me to learn that far righties can write all manner of threats of bodily harm to individuals by name with no repercussions. Zuckerberg shows his true colors with those algorithms.
I used "kill or cure" - 3 days in jail.
Don, yes sir !
"Establishment Republicans who are now out of power are not on board the Trump train. They are quietly backing anti-Trumpers..."
There are two ways the United States of America escape a downward spiral to authoritarian government. 1. Republicans opposed to Trump and the machinations to keep him in 2020/01 and the plans to distort the election of 2024 need to oppose Trump and authoritarianism OUT LOUD. Two Members of Congress are not enough. 2. Democrats need to persuade the majority of people of all parties of the danger we are facing so that, even in Alabama, say we defeat characters like Mo Brooks.
As important as the hard and soft infrastructure bills we are working on, more important is protecting our right to vote. Let's not give up on the America that once earned the admiration of the world.