The slowness of Merrick Garland to move against DJT, will result in NO indictment. The GOP now has a valid reason to stop the investigation regarding the classified document trove that were taken from DJT property. Garland has treated DJT as someone special, he is not. He is an ordinary citizen and should be treated as such. We are at the beginning of the 3rd years with insurmountable evidence against Trump and his enablers. When Mr. Garland are you going to do anything?
Steven, I have been eagerly waiting for your post here since the news of classified documents in Biden's garage broke yesterday afternoon. Twitter keeps sending me emails every time you tweet; but I am using all of the discipline I have to avoid twitter. Again, thank you for this space. I wish I could share your hope; but I'm not there yet. I see the Biden document mess as an "unforced error". Absolutely the Trump situation is very different from the Biden situation. However, Biden's attorneys discovered the documents, sadly, in a drip drip drip fashion instead of all at once, and Biden delayed in addressing the issue, and the documents were first discovered a few days before the midterms. And that was politically expedient; but really has an icky feel. Sure the other side plays politics; but I thought that when they go low we go high (to paraphrase Michelle Obama.) And in this very polarized environment, how many will recognize the difference in the volume of the documents Trump had vs the volume of documents Biden had? How many will remember Trump's words that he said the documents belonged to him? How many will remember that Tump obstructed justice which force the DOJ to use the FBI to get a search warrant for Mar-A-Lago? Reason and logic doesn't work in this environment. Those who scream the loudest, and who now have that slim majority on the House, will stuff over those clear differences and try to make the situations equal. We need to scream: OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE vs the former occupant of the WH. And we need to be louder. I am very glad Merrick Garland appointed a special counsel, and a Trump appointee at that. Lindsay Graham was all over tv yesterday screaming for a special counsel, and without 1 there would be a clear appearance of politics. So, a special counsel takes away 1 of the GOP talking points; but, as I said, and sorry to repeat, but this is what I see as the problem, the GOP will say both sides took and kept classified documents so why is 45 on the verge of being indicted (oh I know that's wishful think, as I do hope he is on the verge). And I fear that it will be easy for the GOP to talk the MAGA audience into believing that the situations are equal but conservatives are being treated unfairly. Thus the link to the new committee that was formed this week to look into the Dems weaponizing the government against conservatives. I worry how much facts count vs how much appearance counts in the court of public opinion. Lots of people may not be paying as close attention to this as those of us who are engaged with what the government and the politicians; but the MAGA cult people will, without thinking on their own, just adopt whatever points of view they are told to adopt, because they are cult people and they have been trained not to think on their own but to just follow their leaders. I feel we are in a very dangerous place. I don't have your faith, yet, that truth and fairness and facts and adherence to the law will win. I hope you and the other thoughtful people in this group can give me faith. Thank you.
Why why why is the worthless Republican hack Garland still in the job? It takes him two days to try and destroy Biden who obviously has done nothing wrong and two years and counting he's done f*** all about orangehead. We need to stop investing elderly Caucasian males with any responsibility.
Tragedy is the right word. And the play still has acts to run. So many will be harmed, directly and indirectly. “It is certain, in any case, that ignorance, allied with power, is the most ferocious enemy justice can have.” - James Baldwin
Remember, growing up when I would ask questions about why this -why that -grown-ups would always talk about the pendulum swinging --well, if that old saw is true let’s hope it begins to swing back to decency sanity honesty and the rule of law – really soon --really really soon
I hate all of the "he said/she said" that comes out of our media during these events, but I see the MAGAs in Congress, again, up against the truth, which is always tough to overcome if you are the liar. I see them digging their hole deeper and deeper and feel that many of even the dumbest conspiracy theorists beginning to question where they are and start to take the Republican Party back into a more sane world. As I have been saying for some time now, I am still an optimist.
I really want Jack Smith to move expeditiously, but I often hear "the twice-impeached former president." An impeachment is similar to an indictment. The House voted twice -two times- to impeach tfg. The Senate did not convict him, two times. I think there is enough evidence to indict AND convict tfg, Meadows, Eastman, Giuliani, and a whole laundry list of Extreme Republicans from all over the country that promoted The Big Lie. Indictments and convictions will be welcomed, but the case is unprecedented, as is the criminality of the previous White House occupant. Appeals are inevitable. I don't want any of them getting off on a technicality. They all should do time. tfg is a slippery eel, we can't let him get away. It's the 7th inning stretch and I'm singing "For it's one, two, three strikes, you're out, at the old ball game."
Meanwhile, the Extreme Republican outrage machine in the House is sucking up all the oxygen in the room "passing" bills that will never become law. DOJ needs to school them about obstruction, conspiracy and insurrection.
Anyone think it’s about time federalist society is investigated? Where do they get their money? Who is involved and what exactly are they doing to our democracy?
I always look forward to reading your sage opinion pieces, Steven. As disturbing as their off-track agenda is, I think the Republicans' creation of sideshow distractions, will ultimately fail. They are as you illustrated, opposing the very principles of the Government they were (supposedly) elected by their constituents, to represent. The GOP is rife with dissenters, deniers and the disingenuous, like George Santos, whose whole resume is now in doubt. Those who opposed Kevin McCarthy's election as Speaker of the House, still metaphorically have their knives out. Players such as Matt Gaetz will continue their attention-getting efforts to make McCarthy's life uncomfortable. Gaetz had a starring role in the confrontational antics, brought to us by the laser focus of CSPAN cameras. The foray within the GOP ranks reminded me of an old saying: 'you can put lipstick on a pig, but it is still a pig.' Men in suits and ties behaved less like staid Conservative legislators, and displayed behaviour we might expect from overly-imbibed patrons in a Bar. I contend that the Republicans lack of unity and purpose, will be their ultimate undoing. A lesson I learned in the horse industry: when people are behaving badly and going against the grain, sometimes we just need to step back. The rule-breakers and extremists often turn on each other, and slide downhill together in their game of one-upmanship. We are tasked with remaining on an even keel and having an objective view, as the games continue.
The failure of the DOJ to arrest and indict Trump and the other principles of the J-6 insurrection has resulted in incalculable damage to our country.
Law abiding citizens are watching and realizing that there, in fact, ARE people who are above the law. And that there is a situational context to the concept that everyone is equal before the law. It's demoralizing.
At the same time those who are actively working to overthrow our Democratic Republic are not only emboldened and enabled, they are also gaining traction in their efforts. Further, the divides between We the People are growing ever wider and are becoming more acrimonious.
Justice delayed is justice denied. What is happening is what this looks like.
It doesn't matter if it is 35 degrees out or 32. It is still cold. Likewise, classified documents. Whether there be 184 kept by trump or less than a dozen by Biden, a classified document is a classified document, and the Republicans will make hay of it. Both are wrong. Jim Jordan is a loud mouth, attention seeking, malicious man. Was before trump ever came on the scene. McCarthy being of milque-toast quality , will not hesitate to uphold those like Jordan and place them in positions of power where they will do the most damage. And damage they will do.
I am afraid Biden's goose is cooked. I am disappointed that the first thing that came to mind was his Corvette. I am disappointed he shook hands with Prince Mohammed bin Salman. I am disappointed he has meted out help to Ukranians in drips and drabs. I disagree with his attempts to pay off college debt, his lack of any policy to solve the southern border crisis, his work towards wind mills rather than public education. I will vote for him if he runs again as I am never a Republican voter unless there were a reincarnation of Theodore Roosevelt. ( He hated "Teddy" by the way.) But it is time to be realistic and be advocating a different presidential candidate in 2024. A Raskin, a Kennedy III, somebody. We must win.
However, it seems among the general public, there is more interest in Prince Harry than our country's
future. Politician, after all. is a word that has a negative connotation. Whether Democrat or Republican, people lump them all together and take the attitude that's just the way it is, so what does it matter.
The slowness of Merrick Garland to move against DJT, will result in NO indictment. The GOP now has a valid reason to stop the investigation regarding the classified document trove that were taken from DJT property. Garland has treated DJT as someone special, he is not. He is an ordinary citizen and should be treated as such. We are at the beginning of the 3rd years with insurmountable evidence against Trump and his enablers. When Mr. Garland are you going to do anything?
Steven, I have been eagerly waiting for your post here since the news of classified documents in Biden's garage broke yesterday afternoon. Twitter keeps sending me emails every time you tweet; but I am using all of the discipline I have to avoid twitter. Again, thank you for this space. I wish I could share your hope; but I'm not there yet. I see the Biden document mess as an "unforced error". Absolutely the Trump situation is very different from the Biden situation. However, Biden's attorneys discovered the documents, sadly, in a drip drip drip fashion instead of all at once, and Biden delayed in addressing the issue, and the documents were first discovered a few days before the midterms. And that was politically expedient; but really has an icky feel. Sure the other side plays politics; but I thought that when they go low we go high (to paraphrase Michelle Obama.) And in this very polarized environment, how many will recognize the difference in the volume of the documents Trump had vs the volume of documents Biden had? How many will remember Trump's words that he said the documents belonged to him? How many will remember that Tump obstructed justice which force the DOJ to use the FBI to get a search warrant for Mar-A-Lago? Reason and logic doesn't work in this environment. Those who scream the loudest, and who now have that slim majority on the House, will stuff over those clear differences and try to make the situations equal. We need to scream: OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE vs the former occupant of the WH. And we need to be louder. I am very glad Merrick Garland appointed a special counsel, and a Trump appointee at that. Lindsay Graham was all over tv yesterday screaming for a special counsel, and without 1 there would be a clear appearance of politics. So, a special counsel takes away 1 of the GOP talking points; but, as I said, and sorry to repeat, but this is what I see as the problem, the GOP will say both sides took and kept classified documents so why is 45 on the verge of being indicted (oh I know that's wishful think, as I do hope he is on the verge). And I fear that it will be easy for the GOP to talk the MAGA audience into believing that the situations are equal but conservatives are being treated unfairly. Thus the link to the new committee that was formed this week to look into the Dems weaponizing the government against conservatives. I worry how much facts count vs how much appearance counts in the court of public opinion. Lots of people may not be paying as close attention to this as those of us who are engaged with what the government and the politicians; but the MAGA cult people will, without thinking on their own, just adopt whatever points of view they are told to adopt, because they are cult people and they have been trained not to think on their own but to just follow their leaders. I feel we are in a very dangerous place. I don't have your faith, yet, that truth and fairness and facts and adherence to the law will win. I hope you and the other thoughtful people in this group can give me faith. Thank you.
Why why why is the worthless Republican hack Garland still in the job? It takes him two days to try and destroy Biden who obviously has done nothing wrong and two years and counting he's done f*** all about orangehead. We need to stop investing elderly Caucasian males with any responsibility.
Tragedy is the right word. And the play still has acts to run. So many will be harmed, directly and indirectly. “It is certain, in any case, that ignorance, allied with power, is the most ferocious enemy justice can have.” - James Baldwin
Remember, growing up when I would ask questions about why this -why that -grown-ups would always talk about the pendulum swinging --well, if that old saw is true let’s hope it begins to swing back to decency sanity honesty and the rule of law – really soon --really really soon
You’ve got to hand it to Republicans -they have amassed the greatest number of sociopaths and psychopaths in history!!
I hate all of the "he said/she said" that comes out of our media during these events, but I see the MAGAs in Congress, again, up against the truth, which is always tough to overcome if you are the liar. I see them digging their hole deeper and deeper and feel that many of even the dumbest conspiracy theorists beginning to question where they are and start to take the Republican Party back into a more sane world. As I have been saying for some time now, I am still an optimist.
I really want Jack Smith to move expeditiously, but I often hear "the twice-impeached former president." An impeachment is similar to an indictment. The House voted twice -two times- to impeach tfg. The Senate did not convict him, two times. I think there is enough evidence to indict AND convict tfg, Meadows, Eastman, Giuliani, and a whole laundry list of Extreme Republicans from all over the country that promoted The Big Lie. Indictments and convictions will be welcomed, but the case is unprecedented, as is the criminality of the previous White House occupant. Appeals are inevitable. I don't want any of them getting off on a technicality. They all should do time. tfg is a slippery eel, we can't let him get away. It's the 7th inning stretch and I'm singing "For it's one, two, three strikes, you're out, at the old ball game."
Meanwhile, the Extreme Republican outrage machine in the House is sucking up all the oxygen in the room "passing" bills that will never become law. DOJ needs to school them about obstruction, conspiracy and insurrection.
Anyone think it’s about time federalist society is investigated? Where do they get their money? Who is involved and what exactly are they doing to our democracy?
I always look forward to reading your sage opinion pieces, Steven. As disturbing as their off-track agenda is, I think the Republicans' creation of sideshow distractions, will ultimately fail. They are as you illustrated, opposing the very principles of the Government they were (supposedly) elected by their constituents, to represent. The GOP is rife with dissenters, deniers and the disingenuous, like George Santos, whose whole resume is now in doubt. Those who opposed Kevin McCarthy's election as Speaker of the House, still metaphorically have their knives out. Players such as Matt Gaetz will continue their attention-getting efforts to make McCarthy's life uncomfortable. Gaetz had a starring role in the confrontational antics, brought to us by the laser focus of CSPAN cameras. The foray within the GOP ranks reminded me of an old saying: 'you can put lipstick on a pig, but it is still a pig.' Men in suits and ties behaved less like staid Conservative legislators, and displayed behaviour we might expect from overly-imbibed patrons in a Bar. I contend that the Republicans lack of unity and purpose, will be their ultimate undoing. A lesson I learned in the horse industry: when people are behaving badly and going against the grain, sometimes we just need to step back. The rule-breakers and extremists often turn on each other, and slide downhill together in their game of one-upmanship. We are tasked with remaining on an even keel and having an objective view, as the games continue.
The failure of the DOJ to arrest and indict Trump and the other principles of the J-6 insurrection has resulted in incalculable damage to our country.
Law abiding citizens are watching and realizing that there, in fact, ARE people who are above the law. And that there is a situational context to the concept that everyone is equal before the law. It's demoralizing.
At the same time those who are actively working to overthrow our Democratic Republic are not only emboldened and enabled, they are also gaining traction in their efforts. Further, the divides between We the People are growing ever wider and are becoming more acrimonious.
Justice delayed is justice denied. What is happening is what this looks like.
It doesn't matter if it is 35 degrees out or 32. It is still cold. Likewise, classified documents. Whether there be 184 kept by trump or less than a dozen by Biden, a classified document is a classified document, and the Republicans will make hay of it. Both are wrong. Jim Jordan is a loud mouth, attention seeking, malicious man. Was before trump ever came on the scene. McCarthy being of milque-toast quality , will not hesitate to uphold those like Jordan and place them in positions of power where they will do the most damage. And damage they will do.
I am afraid Biden's goose is cooked. I am disappointed that the first thing that came to mind was his Corvette. I am disappointed he shook hands with Prince Mohammed bin Salman. I am disappointed he has meted out help to Ukranians in drips and drabs. I disagree with his attempts to pay off college debt, his lack of any policy to solve the southern border crisis, his work towards wind mills rather than public education. I will vote for him if he runs again as I am never a Republican voter unless there were a reincarnation of Theodore Roosevelt. ( He hated "Teddy" by the way.) But it is time to be realistic and be advocating a different presidential candidate in 2024. A Raskin, a Kennedy III, somebody. We must win.
However, it seems among the general public, there is more interest in Prince Harry than our country's
future. Politician, after all. is a word that has a negative connotation. Whether Democrat or Republican, people lump them all together and take the attitude that's just the way it is, so what does it matter.