Excellent piece Stephen. You clearly expressed my same observations. I would only add my hope that all the members of Congress who aided and abetted any of his illegal schemes are held accountable.
In an ideal world, the true nature of all his criming while president, including allowing Russian meddling in the 2016 election, would be exposed.
Justice has been too long delayed. We’re all beyond sick and tired of this insanity.
Really appreciate you summarizing these points. Especially liked you mentioning in the first paragraph that Trump told us well before the election that he would not respect the outcome of the election if he lost. This seems to have been forgotten by everyone else, yet it’s so important. I just wish they had thrown all these people in jail right away, as soon as flagrant violations of the law occurred. That would be justice like it’s given to everyone else.
But remember, this was so stunning we all were taken aback. Not only the everyday people but the media, the lawyers, the Right and Left congresspeople. No one could fathom what they were seeing in real time. Everyone wondered, What is the proper way to respond to all this nonsense?
Brilliant and Superb Analysis, Stephen, Thank You! Here are my reminder notes from your insightful and uplifting 10 observations:
1. We hope that a subset of the 18 will reconsider the prospects of “going down in his sordid ship”.
2. “-feels like the perfect encapsulation of his downward trajectory.”
3. Giuliani believing he is untouchable...it’s all too real”. Tragic irony!
4. “Maybe they‘ll decide to come clean-finally grasping that conspiring with a criminal sociopath will lead to ruin.”
5. “...Fani Willis is reminding us to believe what we saw and heard-and to expect she is not going to let that arrogant criminality stand.”
6. “This abuse alone [of two innocent souls, Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, real people trying to serve the common good, and the blatant racist mysogyny we all witnessed], steels my belief that justice must be served.”
7. [The open proclamation that “lying is not a crime”],and “They Lied like addicts and the plotted People their Big Lie like criminals.”
8. [A televised trial]...”would be valuable use of this most powerful medium.”
9. Trump’s 91 felony charges are “aberrant behavior of the highest order and it’s high time he’s held to account.”
10. The “pro-Trump fake elector scheme...What say you, Arizona, Michigan, New Mexico, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin?...May the wheels of justice keep turning.”
The above are my notes from Stephen’s 10 brilliant observations. Thank you, Stephen! I’m taping these to my refrigerator door as positive, inspiring hopes!
So far the Attorney General in the great state of Wisconsin, Mr. Josh Kaul, has not seemed to locate the requisite spine - or as far as I can tell the relevant portions of Wis. Stats. - to bring charges against Andrew Hitt, Kelly Ruh, Carol Brunner, Edward Grabins, Bill Feehan, Robert Spindell, Jr., Kathy Kiernan, Darryl Carlson, Pam Travis, and Mary Bluestrin, who lied in writing about their status as electors https://www.americanoversight.org/american-oversight-obtains-seven-phony-certificates-of-pro-trump-electors, and then tried to get our execrable Sen. Ron Johnson (aka Rojo The Clown) to submit them to VP Pence. He has many excuses. Fortunately, citizens of Wisconsin have stepped up https://apnews.com/article/wisconsin-fake-trump-electors-lawsuit-2020-12f3abcb9e7b398ded654da51d2b52c2. Do we the citizens have to do everything ourselves? Apparently yes. Where's Josh Kaul? Where's justice in Wisconsin?
I hope there are people smarter than I am, who can figure out ways to stop would-be dictators like this sorry lot, in the future. The massive restraint 45 has lodged against our democratic, free speech, form of government should make us a lot wiser, allow us to reconcile and improve everything.
Repubs cause money to be taken out of the economy, into hands of ultra wealthy. Then blame the loss of economic viability, for the average person, to be the fault of everyone else.
First lesson: history of top marginal tax rates wealthiest Americans: (When was it we stopped improving?)
Good morning . My mother who did not have a high school education always said , “ Never trust a thief”. Let’s see what these well educated professionals do.
Patricia, one of my most important mentors from many years ago said “Stealing is unlucky”. I took it to mean stealing creates bad luck. I never forgot that because of its tone of truth.
Thanks for this clear, logical summation of the relevance, implications and hoped-for consequences--so long in coming--of these seditious criminals' indictments. Knowing that you and others, i.e., Heather Cox Richardson, Tim Snyder, Laurence Tribe, continue to take our ailing democracy's pulse while providing vital-signs-assessments, well-articulated updates and prognostications helps bolster--if not yet entirely restore--my sanity and faith in the possibility of our country's and democracy's survival, recovery and, hopefully, our rededication to an enlightened regimen of life, liberty, equality and justice for all under a restored, healthier, stronger government of, by and for all.
Heaven forbid subservient followers will permit any of these human degradations be allowed to transfer their cases to DC & federal court so mob boss extraordinàire can pardon them if he wins another election. May they all live on in infamy, shame, & non country club prison.
Aug 17, 2023·edited Aug 17, 2023Liked by Steven Beschloss
Steven, thank you for your excellent analysis. The wheels of justice are indeed turning, and the Trump 'machine' is gradually being decommissioned. The number and depth of the indictments filed in Georgia alone, speaks to the complexity of the case and reveals the many co-conspirators who fell in line and break the law. Trump has always displayed the rhetoric and actions of a Mafia kingpin, and as you say, he has perpetuated wrong-doing and evaded accountability and prosecution, for too long. There is no reprieve now for TFG or his all-too-willing enablers.
RICO charges are extremely serious. The weak lament of a witch hunt and political persecution, don;t hold up. What were the as co-conspirators and Defendants thinking? I expect that this latest indictment will serve as a wake-up call for ANYONE who was involved in any of Trump's nefarious schemes. They could be next on a charge list, and ultimately prison-bound.. The age of alternative facts needs to be shelved permanently. Forward we go......
Thank you Steven, for this incredible account and potential of these indictments. This is the best newsletter I've read yet! I might feel some optimism, although I lost so many friends and family to MAGA out here in rural Montana. Accountability for the criminals could help get some people out of the MAGA-CULT, but it may take generations for others, if ever. Many of us, though, will be more engaged in our personal responsibility and duty to protect and preserve our Democracy in the future. Thanks and best to you, all here in this community, and to the U.S.A.
Thank you, Steven, for your insights. I would like Fani and others to hand Trump & Co. over to prosecutors everywhere, on a silver platter. I do not believe the judge will allow Mark Meadows nor Trump to move their cases to federal court. They are claiming these actions occurred while they were in the “scope of being a federal employee”. They, in fact, crossed the lines of a legitimate federal employee. That right there should be the basis of where the judge says “Not on your life!”
Excellent piece Stephen. You clearly expressed my same observations. I would only add my hope that all the members of Congress who aided and abetted any of his illegal schemes are held accountable.
In an ideal world, the true nature of all his criming while president, including allowing Russian meddling in the 2016 election, would be exposed.
Justice has been too long delayed. We’re all beyond sick and tired of this insanity.
I want to believe Justice & karma will get together & solve some of these issues.
Really appreciate you summarizing these points. Especially liked you mentioning in the first paragraph that Trump told us well before the election that he would not respect the outcome of the election if he lost. This seems to have been forgotten by everyone else, yet it’s so important. I just wish they had thrown all these people in jail right away, as soon as flagrant violations of the law occurred. That would be justice like it’s given to everyone else.
I don’t think anyone forgot that Trump said, I’m paraphrasing: If I lose, the election was rigged.
But remember, this was so stunning we all were taken aback. Not only the everyday people but the media, the lawyers, the Right and Left congresspeople. No one could fathom what they were seeing in real time. Everyone wondered, What is the proper way to respond to all this nonsense?
Brilliant and Superb Analysis, Stephen, Thank You! Here are my reminder notes from your insightful and uplifting 10 observations:
1. We hope that a subset of the 18 will reconsider the prospects of “going down in his sordid ship”.
2. “-feels like the perfect encapsulation of his downward trajectory.”
3. Giuliani believing he is untouchable...it’s all too real”. Tragic irony!
4. “Maybe they‘ll decide to come clean-finally grasping that conspiring with a criminal sociopath will lead to ruin.”
5. “...Fani Willis is reminding us to believe what we saw and heard-and to expect she is not going to let that arrogant criminality stand.”
6. “This abuse alone [of two innocent souls, Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, real people trying to serve the common good, and the blatant racist mysogyny we all witnessed], steels my belief that justice must be served.”
7. [The open proclamation that “lying is not a crime”],and “They Lied like addicts and the plotted People their Big Lie like criminals.”
8. [A televised trial]...”would be valuable use of this most powerful medium.”
9. Trump’s 91 felony charges are “aberrant behavior of the highest order and it’s high time he’s held to account.”
10. The “pro-Trump fake elector scheme...What say you, Arizona, Michigan, New Mexico, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin?...May the wheels of justice keep turning.”
The above are my notes from Stephen’s 10 brilliant observations. Thank you, Stephen! I’m taping these to my refrigerator door as positive, inspiring hopes!
Thanks very much.
So far the Attorney General in the great state of Wisconsin, Mr. Josh Kaul, has not seemed to locate the requisite spine - or as far as I can tell the relevant portions of Wis. Stats. - to bring charges against Andrew Hitt, Kelly Ruh, Carol Brunner, Edward Grabins, Bill Feehan, Robert Spindell, Jr., Kathy Kiernan, Darryl Carlson, Pam Travis, and Mary Bluestrin, who lied in writing about their status as electors https://www.americanoversight.org/american-oversight-obtains-seven-phony-certificates-of-pro-trump-electors, and then tried to get our execrable Sen. Ron Johnson (aka Rojo The Clown) to submit them to VP Pence. He has many excuses. Fortunately, citizens of Wisconsin have stepped up https://apnews.com/article/wisconsin-fake-trump-electors-lawsuit-2020-12f3abcb9e7b398ded654da51d2b52c2. Do we the citizens have to do everything ourselves? Apparently yes. Where's Josh Kaul? Where's justice in Wisconsin?
I hope there are people smarter than I am, who can figure out ways to stop would-be dictators like this sorry lot, in the future. The massive restraint 45 has lodged against our democratic, free speech, form of government should make us a lot wiser, allow us to reconcile and improve everything.
Repubs cause money to be taken out of the economy, into hands of ultra wealthy. Then blame the loss of economic viability, for the average person, to be the fault of everyone else.
First lesson: history of top marginal tax rates wealthiest Americans: (When was it we stopped improving?)
1940: 81%
1950: 84%
1960: 91%
1970: 72%
1980: 70%
1990: 28%
2000: 40%
2010: 35%
Thank you for your clear and focused response to our spinning top of the current and ongoing news cycle, Stephen.
Good morning . My mother who did not have a high school education always said , “ Never trust a thief”. Let’s see what these well educated professionals do.
My dearly departed dad used to say “the wrong people have money “
Patricia, one of my most important mentors from many years ago said “Stealing is unlucky”. I took it to mean stealing creates bad luck. I never forgot that because of its tone of truth.
So much of what Trump did, his actions as well as his words were a form of outright theft. Or attempted theft.
And just look at how unlucky he has become.
Thanks for this clear, logical summation of the relevance, implications and hoped-for consequences--so long in coming--of these seditious criminals' indictments. Knowing that you and others, i.e., Heather Cox Richardson, Tim Snyder, Laurence Tribe, continue to take our ailing democracy's pulse while providing vital-signs-assessments, well-articulated updates and prognostications helps bolster--if not yet entirely restore--my sanity and faith in the possibility of our country's and democracy's survival, recovery and, hopefully, our rededication to an enlightened regimen of life, liberty, equality and justice for all under a restored, healthier, stronger government of, by and for all.
Yeah!
"Who're you gonna believe - me or your own eyes." Chico Marx, Duck Soup.
One of my most favorite films by the Marx brothers!
It’s great, Marlene, isn’t it?
I like that optimism.
Heaven forbid subservient followers will permit any of these human degradations be allowed to transfer their cases to DC & federal court so mob boss extraordinàire can pardon them if he wins another election. May they all live on in infamy, shame, & non country club prison.
Steven, thank you for your excellent analysis. The wheels of justice are indeed turning, and the Trump 'machine' is gradually being decommissioned. The number and depth of the indictments filed in Georgia alone, speaks to the complexity of the case and reveals the many co-conspirators who fell in line and break the law. Trump has always displayed the rhetoric and actions of a Mafia kingpin, and as you say, he has perpetuated wrong-doing and evaded accountability and prosecution, for too long. There is no reprieve now for TFG or his all-too-willing enablers.
RICO charges are extremely serious. The weak lament of a witch hunt and political persecution, don;t hold up. What were the as co-conspirators and Defendants thinking? I expect that this latest indictment will serve as a wake-up call for ANYONE who was involved in any of Trump's nefarious schemes. They could be next on a charge list, and ultimately prison-bound.. The age of alternative facts needs to be shelved permanently. Forward we go......
Thank you Steven, for this incredible account and potential of these indictments. This is the best newsletter I've read yet! I might feel some optimism, although I lost so many friends and family to MAGA out here in rural Montana. Accountability for the criminals could help get some people out of the MAGA-CULT, but it may take generations for others, if ever. Many of us, though, will be more engaged in our personal responsibility and duty to protect and preserve our Democracy in the future. Thanks and best to you, all here in this community, and to the U.S.A.
Thank you, Lisa.
Thank you, Steven, for your insights. I would like Fani and others to hand Trump & Co. over to prosecutors everywhere, on a silver platter. I do not believe the judge will allow Mark Meadows nor Trump to move their cases to federal court. They are claiming these actions occurred while they were in the “scope of being a federal employee”. They, in fact, crossed the lines of a legitimate federal employee. That right there should be the basis of where the judge says “Not on your life!”
A new favorite essay for me.
Agree fully with Nancy B.; no-one who played in this game of dumb and dumber should go unscathed.
Thank you.
Beautifully written!
Thank you.