So, Todd (if that is your name), I get that there is so much bad crap going on, which you've ably talked about this week as does Brian. My question is: What's the "end game?" Why bother, if corruption is just going to be ignored? As we've all seen there is no bottom low enough and those who support this regime cannot get enough of it.
Is it simple greed and corruption, or does it go deeper than that? And regardless of the end game, why is it being allowed to happen? What do YOU see as being the end of this madness? Because, not surprisingly, I have NO clue.
Also, not to sound like a crackpot, but I will never believe that trump was actually elected president. I just do not accept it, but I'm still pissed about the 2000 election so there you have that.
Hi Mark! Keep ya head up man. One thing I would say is that the corruption isn't being ignored. There's plenty of mainstream reporting on it, and that will make it possible for voters to be aware. Republicans are largely ignoring it, true. But that could change as their incentives change. Not before the midterms certainly, most likely.
As for the corruption going deeper than simple greed... we've definitely started to see a joining of Trump's personal financial interest with policy decisions and strategies (this is the definition of corruption by the way!) Countries trying to get out from under tariffs are also negotiating Trump Org development deals. CBS, negotiating with Trump to settle his bullying lawsuit, is also aware it's paying a ticket for Paramount's merger plans (per WSJ reporting.) So the corruption has, unfortunately strong policy elements that affect us all beyond just really not liking our public officials getting rich off their office.
Trump is the most evil lying, using & abusing president in the history of the US. He is taking as much money as he can from the people, the committees, foreign governments & his constituents. He is adding his monetary addition to his personal wealth & the Republicans are going along. None of them are really fighting back. When are they going to deal with all of his illegal ways? Are they just going along or will some of them go against him as they should.
Republicans have shown no desire to challenge Trump on the conflicts of interest and (at the very least) invitation to open corruption Trump is telegraphing. There was some mild clucking at the Qatari jet but, in the end, no real opposition. It's pretty clear that Trump's GOP proved long ago they are ok with the new regime of lying about elections, intimidating political enemies, cracking down on speech, and corruption. I don't even think that's a hyperbolic statement, it's the most nationalistically basic one I can make. Most of what's happening now also isn't new, it's an amplified version of the first term. Trump won control of the party and the 2024 election will all of this information on board, and support for it was a ticket to entry. I wouldn't expect that to begin to change unless and until the GOP suffers a bruising midterms loss and Trump has lame duck status.
What does it take to impeach a Cabinet secretary? The R’s impeached Mayorkas last time for political reasons… Kennedy in particular (or Bondi, or Hegseth, or Rubio) seems like a HUGE target… making him the center of a political story seems like fertile media ground for Dems too. How can that ball get rolling?
Impeachment rules are similar for cabinet secs. as for the president. Articles of impeachment laying out charges are introduced by a House member... then it goes typically to the Judiciary Committee and then to a vote of the whole House. Introducing articles is easy, any member could do it. But I would expect exactly zero of the other steps to happen as long as Republicans control the majority and Mike Johnson has the gavel. They're not bucking to embarrass, or in any way challenge Trump at the moment. If RFK reverted to some of his past behavior and started humiliating the president, maybe that could change. But the threshold for shame is exceedingly high.
I think it'd be worth it for D's to introduce something on Kennedy and try to generate some real publicity on it, if just to make him the center of the conversation and force Johnson et al to defend him.
These are favorable fights to have, and you don't know what can shake loose and break thru to public (and elite) opinion unless you try
I don't advise Dems, or anyone else, on strategy... but I think it's axiomatic that you miss the shots you don't take. And Republicans proved a long time ago you can shape public opinion out of events you create, not just react to conditions set by others. Benghazi!
I heard complaints yesterday about Substack promoting its Nazi writers, warning Democrats not to tie themselves too closely to this platform. Your thoughts?
So, Todd (if that is your name), I get that there is so much bad crap going on, which you've ably talked about this week as does Brian. My question is: What's the "end game?" Why bother, if corruption is just going to be ignored? As we've all seen there is no bottom low enough and those who support this regime cannot get enough of it.
Is it simple greed and corruption, or does it go deeper than that? And regardless of the end game, why is it being allowed to happen? What do YOU see as being the end of this madness? Because, not surprisingly, I have NO clue.
Also, not to sound like a crackpot, but I will never believe that trump was actually elected president. I just do not accept it, but I'm still pissed about the 2000 election so there you have that.
Hi Mark! Keep ya head up man. One thing I would say is that the corruption isn't being ignored. There's plenty of mainstream reporting on it, and that will make it possible for voters to be aware. Republicans are largely ignoring it, true. But that could change as their incentives change. Not before the midterms certainly, most likely.
As for the corruption going deeper than simple greed... we've definitely started to see a joining of Trump's personal financial interest with policy decisions and strategies (this is the definition of corruption by the way!) Countries trying to get out from under tariffs are also negotiating Trump Org development deals. CBS, negotiating with Trump to settle his bullying lawsuit, is also aware it's paying a ticket for Paramount's merger plans (per WSJ reporting.) So the corruption has, unfortunately strong policy elements that affect us all beyond just really not liking our public officials getting rich off their office.
Trump is the most evil lying, using & abusing president in the history of the US. He is taking as much money as he can from the people, the committees, foreign governments & his constituents. He is adding his monetary addition to his personal wealth & the Republicans are going along. None of them are really fighting back. When are they going to deal with all of his illegal ways? Are they just going along or will some of them go against him as they should.
Republicans have shown no desire to challenge Trump on the conflicts of interest and (at the very least) invitation to open corruption Trump is telegraphing. There was some mild clucking at the Qatari jet but, in the end, no real opposition. It's pretty clear that Trump's GOP proved long ago they are ok with the new regime of lying about elections, intimidating political enemies, cracking down on speech, and corruption. I don't even think that's a hyperbolic statement, it's the most nationalistically basic one I can make. Most of what's happening now also isn't new, it's an amplified version of the first term. Trump won control of the party and the 2024 election will all of this information on board, and support for it was a ticket to entry. I wouldn't expect that to begin to change unless and until the GOP suffers a bruising midterms loss and Trump has lame duck status.
What does it take to impeach a Cabinet secretary? The R’s impeached Mayorkas last time for political reasons… Kennedy in particular (or Bondi, or Hegseth, or Rubio) seems like a HUGE target… making him the center of a political story seems like fertile media ground for Dems too. How can that ball get rolling?
Impeachment rules are similar for cabinet secs. as for the president. Articles of impeachment laying out charges are introduced by a House member... then it goes typically to the Judiciary Committee and then to a vote of the whole House. Introducing articles is easy, any member could do it. But I would expect exactly zero of the other steps to happen as long as Republicans control the majority and Mike Johnson has the gavel. They're not bucking to embarrass, or in any way challenge Trump at the moment. If RFK reverted to some of his past behavior and started humiliating the president, maybe that could change. But the threshold for shame is exceedingly high.
I think it'd be worth it for D's to introduce something on Kennedy and try to generate some real publicity on it, if just to make him the center of the conversation and force Johnson et al to defend him.
These are favorable fights to have, and you don't know what can shake loose and break thru to public (and elite) opinion unless you try
I don't advise Dems, or anyone else, on strategy... but I think it's axiomatic that you miss the shots you don't take. And Republicans proved a long time ago you can shape public opinion out of events you create, not just react to conditions set by others. Benghazi!
yeah exactly... bewildering that they're not making these secretaries more of a target
Is there any reason to read the Biden book?
or do we already know all we need to know?
I heard complaints yesterday about Substack promoting its Nazi writers, warning Democrats not to tie themselves too closely to this platform. Your thoughts?