"Except for the relatively small number of Fascist sympathizers," George Orwell wrote in 1944, "almost any English person would accept 'bully' as a synonym for 'Fascist'. That is about as near to a definition as this much-abused word has come." Although political scientists have crafted more precise definitions in the ensuing years, the enduring image of fascism is that of the hate-fueled bully.
Calling Trump’s effort to illegally stay in power a “Putsch” sent shivers down my spine, because Hitler’s “Beer Hall Putsch” - a failed attempt at a coup in 1923 Germany wasn’t the end of him - rather it was only a warm up act. We must ensure that our Democracy can withstand another, more informed attack - whether from Trump or one of his autocratic imitators.
We all were surprised by J6, even as we knew something was coming. I was thinking today how/why TFG thought he could get away with both election meddling and a violent coup? Where did he learn that he could? Remember that most coups are actually nonviolent. Like Bush/Gore. No recount of Florida when your brother is governor, and Federalist Society judges will back the effort ( Barret and Kavanaugh). And Roger Stone’s counsel on how it all went down and how to plot again. J6 was a failure we must reconcile, first by acknowledging our failure to care enough in 2000. We have lived through two coups attempts, the first was so successful that we didn’t even realize it. All this fear about losing Democracy now, it’s a lot to bare, but how painful is it for those that had more awareness of how 2000 was in fact stolen?
My 95 year old brother who survived WWII in France kept telling me that T would try a coup. I dismissed that. Now I listen to his predictions very carefully.
He thought he could get away with it because Gosar, Jordan, Gaetz, Hawley, et. al., pledged fealty to the Golden Mushroom®️. Let’s hope that Jack Smith, (no relation,) has them in his metaphorical gunsights.
Not trite. We are going to run out of time. I envision a twice or thrice indicted Trump (awaiting trials that are scheduled after the election), with freedom to do just about anything he wants inside US borders, dispatching the clown car of Republican rivals, and running for re-election against the not-so-popular Biden/Harris ticket. With a base as energized as a shaken bee hive up against a kinda apathetic progressive populace. Nazi Germany all over again. "First day" he will blanket pardon himself, and begin the purge. Even the possibility of that is entirely unacceptable, never mind it actually happening.
I don't envision that at all, and I spend a lot of time getting young people registered, explaining to anyone I can what is at stake, and I'll die before I give up. I mean it. There are more good people in this country than there are these maga assholes. We all need to step up to protect this great country.
There’s a lot of foreign money to follow that leads to “the (former) top magistrate in our counsels”. -Federalist 68. TFG’s fealty is to the international billionaire class.
Yes, I so agree with Ted, and thank you for bringing light to this in this way. And thank you Joyce for your daily insights. You inform us so we can stand stronger together for the rule of law and true democracy.
Good people are so busy these days. Education, working, taking care of family and doing what they can to help their communities. We have been made so busy we lost track of the news and how that neglect has threatened our Democracy. We took so much for granted, because our economics demand it. In the good times, crisis like debt ceiling are manufactured to maintain our distraction from critical issues of inequality, climate, and corruption. Thank you Joyce Vance for reminding us what is critically important and keeping us focused on our responsibility to our Democracy.
Actually, a lot of us suspected a riot/destruction/attacks. All over social media, people were warning people against Trump not to show up on J6. I was very worried before it started. I am very concerned at what would happen if Trump was reelected. All bets are off. He will try to become an emperor.
Charles, Paraphrasing a subscriber from another Substack, I believe the greatest threat is how effectively MAGA has set out to cultivate, one might say indoctrinate, a constituency to want to hear and want to enact the agenda MAGA was intent on enacting from the outset. If I’m right, our challenge is far greater than “withstand[ing] another, more informed attack.”
Jun 2, 2023·edited Jun 2, 2023Liked by Joyce Vance
The Trump summary you provided is useful as a pamphlet on Fascism in America, courtesy of Donald J. Trump. It reminds me of the one the US War Department created for the Army during WWII, which was highlighted on Letters from an American.
'Can we call it fascism yet'? Hell yes; we've rightly called it fascism for quite a while!
It's rare that I go against the tide when it is about tfg, but here goes. I see him as being increasingly irrational. I think he is failing and flailing. Whether or not he has dementia is not for me to diagnose, but he is delusional as evidenced by his own rants. Fate is closing in on him and so are legal problems and he is losing his grip, if he ever had one outside of his legal gamesmanship. It's tempting to mock his physical appearance since he does that so much to others, but I will only say that his face is bloated and sallow as if he's really ill. I think whether it's the DOJ, EJeanCarroll, or his health, the end is in sight.
While I agree w/all that you have stated, Hope, I think it is more than time to “Lock him up” he is capable of a lot of damage (even more than he has already done). He would never listen to his family, even if they tried to intervene. Remember when he said he would Burn USA down before he would lose. (Not verbatim) but close. It is a very scary thought if he remains able to continue anymore. He has escalated to even more lies and asking for all the names of people... very scary.🇺🇸
I can see why you could think the end is near for tfg, Hope, but there is also the chance he could be re-elected...and that scares the bejesus out of me.
Yes as always, I’m hoping for the Blue Tsunami as people saw/heard/realized the lesson this history period has taught. Let’s Codify the legislation during the continued success period of Blue Presidential tenures .
(And hope the GOP realizes ‘For The People’ and gets a backbone for the gifted therein we hope emerges) ☮️🙏❤️
I think he's terrified, and his irrationality is evidence that he's panicking. He's lashing out at the FBI and everyone connected to it. Now he has a loyalist, James Comer, trying to smear Biden:
The man tried to overthrow our government. We all saw it live on TV. Why is he being treated as a viable candidate for President in spite of the 14th Amendment? Ever since January 6, 2021, I have felt as if nobody is in charge. Don't get me wrong, I support President Biden, but why wasn't Trump detained on the evening of the 6th, or on the 7th at the latest? Why are there still Seditionists in Congress voting on legislation that could have tanked not just our economy, but that of the whole world? Jack Smith has a lot to make up for, but he or someone needs to do what it takes to get Trump off the ballot and the Sedition Caucus behind bars. If he steals the White House again, America is over.
He stopped being President on Jan 6. And if not, he definitely was no longer President as of 1/20/2021. Why was he allowed to walk out of there? He wasn't even searched as we now know from his possession of classified materials. That should never have been possible if proper security protocols were in place, but as I said, nobody was in charge.
We are a country of laws and on Jan 6 there was no proof that he had even used speech that violated the 1st Amendment. Because he was no longer president on 1/20/2021, the Senate determined that they had no authority to convict on the impeachment charge presented by the House. We cannot abandon the rule of law or we lose everything. It is literally the concept that protects us all. I have faith that he will be convicted on the lawfully gathered evidence which will be presented in a court of law. I believe he will be convicted in Georgia unless the state government of Georgia removes Ms. Willis from her post as the prosecutor. I believe he will be convicted in the document's case of at least obstruction. Have faith and patience, the rule of law will prevail. As for security protocols, remember when Oliver North's secretary (Fawn Hall) shoved classified documents into the tops of her boots and walked out of a secure building with them? She received immunity to cooperate. We have to trust people with classified information to perform the government's work, but as they say "those people aren't always trustworthy." As far as Trump's body or his boxes being searched before he left the White House, he was the former president of the United States and he was voted into office by millions of people. Just look at how they handle his recent indictment in New York. They didn't treat him the same way they treat everyday Americans who find themselves in the same situation. No mug shot, what else they left out I don't know. He is a former president regardless of the fact that we believe he tried to over through the government and the will of the people. He is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law and the decision of that court will have to withstand all the legal appeals that will probably take at least some of his cases to the Supreme Court. Remember the world is watching.
I believe in the rule of law, I just expect the law to be more vigorous. Yes, the world is watching and right now our Democracy looks impotent. I do think Fani Willis will prosecute him and Jack Smith will, too, but you have to admit it has taken a ridiculous amount of time.
I used to work for the Defense Logistics Agency many years ago, and they watched us like a hawk. They went through our financial disclosures item by item and there were systems in place to control who had access to information and I wasn't that high up. I know Bush/Cheney removed a lot of safeguards, but I don't understand how a lot of this stuff got through. For instance, who at the Postal Service signed off on Trump's lease if his hotel in DC? Completely illegal, but nobody seems to have questioned it. Even if the internal hierarchy didn't handle it, the IG should have been all over it.
Trump was sent to Washington by the American people, who believe that the private sector can do everything cheaper and better than the government, to disrupt, destroy, and "drain the swamp" also known as career federal employees.
Remember, Trump attacked the IG System in every Executive Branch. They were investigating and no one remembers the IG that brought forward the "perfect call". No one remembers the IG's who were punished. Or the other ones who brought out issues that weren't covered by the media.
In the NYTimes:
"Inspectors general are independent, internal watchdogs for federal agencies, though they can be removed by the president."
And it was Biden that brought the IGs into his offices and had a meeting. He knew they were demoralized and he knew that some recent additions were not doing their job properly. He said, "And I want to make it clear to the press that’s here: Nobody in my administration is telling the inspector generals what they have to do. They’re totally independent. They make a judgment. If they want to investigate something, do it. " (From whitehouse.gov only reference I could find was a transcript of the beginning of the meeting and a YouTube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLh_8fMVDvk) Did the press pick up and report that affirmation of the oversight of the federal government inspector general system would be allowed to work the way they were intended to work? No, they didn't. Not sexy. Not controversial. They took the sound bites and didn't really do the work of explaining to the American people that the inspector general oversight system would be back working to ensure Biden's Administration was doing the right thing and behaving like adults. Doing the checks and balances of a democratic society.
I also worked for the federal government. I was an IT professional and was outsourced because of course, private industry can do things "cheaper". Didn't like it. Didn't have a choice. Being a career government employee during the Trump administration was very difficult. They pushed back on appointees for their personal spending on decorating, travel, etc., and on substantive issues. Like listening to the Department of State's briefings on important cultural expectations in foreign countries. The American people don't respect the career government. "If they were worth their salt they'd be in the private sector". Career government employees were pushing back, but standing against a president whose solution to someone saying "the procedures, policies, and laws don't allow you to do that" is to turn over tables and break things figuratively going ahead by fiat doesn't allow for many wins on the side of career government employees. Please remember there were a lot of people holding the line all across the country trying to minimize the damage caused by a president who believed he could do no wrong. Trump was not a president who reviewed policies, procedures, and laws for changes. He just ignored them and shouted down anyone who fought back even his own appointees. He was/is a tyrant.
It isn't news if you are doing things with integrity and respect. Biden has done and will do so many good things and all the people can say is that he is so old. Franklin Roosevelt served four terms in office with a chronic debilitating disease. The press was not allowed to publish the intricacies of getting Roosevelt to and from his many duties. They were not allowed to show the American people the physical trials Roosevelt endured for the American people. Biden trips and it is blasted all over the news. Remember Ford? He was clumsy too and quite a bit younger and he wasn't portrayed as feeble. Why do we try to destroy the best of us?
I'm very familiar with what we called "Fed Bashing" when I was a Chief Steward with the AFGE. I know people don't have respect for government workers, which is sad because they're a bargain for the American people. People choose government service for many reasons. If you want to spend time with your family, the holidays and liberal leave policies make it worth the lower pay. The benefits tend to be good, too.
Outsourcing government functions to private contractors is foolish and wasteful. There are no wealthy CEOs to pad the bills on government work, and the costs are lower because there's no need to earn a profit. There are certain functions, like the administration of prisons, that should absolutely not be done for profit. If we really cared about reining in government spending, we'd be expanding the government rather than outsourcing. Republicans hate Feds because they get rich off programs that help defense contractors scam the military. I dealt primarily with spare parts contracts and the way we coddle the contractors is ridiculous. There are clusters of "small businesses" run under one roof with the same administrative personnel who are dealers of parts made in Asia. That means there are layers of profit built into the prices we pay. If we cared about spending, the DOD would only deal with the Original Equipment Manufacturers, but the dealers make sure they kick back some of the profits to Republican campaigns. It's a racket, maintained under the guise of creating jobs, but if there's anything that shouldn't be a racket, it's government.
Morgaine Swann, have you seen in your circles any movement on your concerns about parts suppliers charging prices for military parts with ever-expanding profit margins?
“Why is he being treated as a viable candidate...” because the media need a horse race. Biden’s accomplishments in the past 2.5 years should be touted far and wide, but he’s given short shrift because it doesn’t get ratings, clicks or views.
If Limbaugh and the Kardashian clan had never come to prominence, we’d all be in a better place as a country. Instead we’re swamped with rank hatred and overweening cult/personality worship.
I have a overwhelming sense of doom of accountability does not come to the fascists in our nation.
"because the media need a horse race" I read a comment in one of my Substack subscriptions yesterday to the effect of the media has so much time to fill but not enough actual content. Apologies to the author for not finding the exact quote! I agree there's too much time to fill and will add that it chooses to not fill it with all the actual facts.
Joyce: you got joined tonight by Andrew Weissman and Neil Katyal - after today's further news about the 2021 Bedminster interview - they both changed their predictions on Trump from "if" he'll be indicted to "when" he's indicted.
Who gives a rats ass if we get criticism over calling out the truth that trump and the GOP are driving toward Fascism .Say it not less then 10 times a day. Problem is half the country doesn’t understand or cares about what fascism is. Time for Jack Smith and Fani Willis to bring the body blows to Mr. Trump great great essay Joyce!
The only reservation about that term is that MAGA types seem to relish and feel emboldened by it, perhaps because they seek to feel powerful and enjoy making others afraid of them. Yes, that's the definition of bully. Guess I'm looking for a term that flatters them less, such as, you know, Fascist or perhaps as someone referred to Trump's mini-me, DeSantis, a**hole.
I continue to be appalled at just how frightening it is for me as a lesbian, and those who are not white? How the hell will they escape the retribution? It’s not just his actions- his followers seem to believe they too have no limitations on their behaviors. I visited Texastan over the weekend. Uncomfortable in the Gym for the ceremony is the best description.
More frightening to me than Trump’s actions are the daily acts of overt cowardice displayed by the party who could stop this....but won’t because it may harm themselves. Apparently the country be damned...Nothing short of unbelievable.....
"The ideal subject of totalitarian rule.. the distinction between fact and fiction and the distinction between true and false no longer exist.? “ - Hannah Arendt
This has been on my Twitter profile page since 2015. It has been obvious to many of us that 1930s-1945 regime was being replicated here. Yet, our American media has only been willing to use the most factual terms, including the word “lie”, since 2020. Therefore, we should call it fascism and we better make certain Biden-Harris is re-elected if “we wish to keep our Republic” and continue to be a democracy.
Similar for me: having lived in Germany in the 1980s and studied history, in 2015 during the campaign I started answering the typical "How are you?" with "Pretty well, apart from impending fascism."
I'll remember that, should 2024 continue that nightmare. I said that the Orange Sadist is another Hitler when I saw him come down that gold escalator with Melanoma in early 2015. Everyone thought I was being silly. I wasn't. I was dead serious. I was right.
And it makes sense that the system obliterates those distinctions if everything -- reality itself -- is subject to the whim of the leader. Trump's sharpie dictates the path of that hurricane to bend perception of reality toward the black hole of his will. There can be no truth outside of that. No wonder white so-called Christian nationalism is on the rise. It fits perfectly with Tump. It's the antithesis of liberty.
We can only hope that Willis and Smith will file suits of such power and urgency that the demented orange fascist is permanently crippled before any further damage is done. And may all the current & former sycophants now hoping to gain power be politically stained beyond redemption for their long and slavish obeisance to the wannabe dictator.
Shortly after Trump was elected, I created a Twitter account where I juxtaposed Trump actions with passages from Orwell's 1984. [https://twitter.com/Trumpocracy1984]
Trump is indeed scary and I don’t scare easily. He potentially could take down all we’ve built in the last 250 years. We must work together to keep him from happening.
Yes, yes, yes. Thank you for being so clear and explicit. DJT's clearly stated intentions are incompatible with democracy. More and more public figures must speak out more clearly on this danger.
I think, regarding trump’s actions, it goes far beyond “bully.” He didn’t only fire people due to lack of loyalty. He did not care if people died, to serve his purpose. And, people did die. In my opinion, he’s genocidal, a narcissist, and a sociopath. In other words, a soulless & dangerous monster.
I've been calling it fascist for a while now...opps, I guess I've been politically incorrect. We are in this together in all our beautiful diversity and multicultural heritage. Shout it to the sky!! Biden is our man! If he can't do it, no one can! He has run a steady ship. I know there are a lot of people who aren't happy about Afghanistan and to say it didn't go as we had hoped is an understatement. But Biden didn't back away from responsibility. He has been successful in herding cats and though the railroad negotiations didn't go well he has been rallying the unions and ensuring a better future for us all. As long as we stand together, we will prevail. Democrats will bring the voters out. We will make headway in understanding our neighbors' points of view. We will listen carefully and respond with clear and plain truth. As Joyce always ends her Discourse, "We are in this together".
Calling Trump’s effort to illegally stay in power a “Putsch” sent shivers down my spine, because Hitler’s “Beer Hall Putsch” - a failed attempt at a coup in 1923 Germany wasn’t the end of him - rather it was only a warm up act. We must ensure that our Democracy can withstand another, more informed attack - whether from Trump or one of his autocratic imitators.
We all were surprised by J6, even as we knew something was coming. I was thinking today how/why TFG thought he could get away with both election meddling and a violent coup? Where did he learn that he could? Remember that most coups are actually nonviolent. Like Bush/Gore. No recount of Florida when your brother is governor, and Federalist Society judges will back the effort ( Barret and Kavanaugh). And Roger Stone’s counsel on how it all went down and how to plot again. J6 was a failure we must reconcile, first by acknowledging our failure to care enough in 2000. We have lived through two coups attempts, the first was so successful that we didn’t even realize it. All this fear about losing Democracy now, it’s a lot to bare, but how painful is it for those that had more awareness of how 2000 was in fact stolen?
My 95 year old brother who survived WWII in France kept telling me that T would try a coup. I dismissed that. Now I listen to his predictions very carefully.
WOW! Your brother is brilliant!
He thought he could get away with it because Gosar, Jordan, Gaetz, Hawley, et. al., pledged fealty to the Golden Mushroom®️. Let’s hope that Jack Smith, (no relation,) has them in his metaphorical gunsights.
SC Smith is known for prosecution of international criminals. I hope he succeeds with this one, too, before anymore damage is done.
It is trite I know, but he needs to hurry up!
Not trite. We are going to run out of time. I envision a twice or thrice indicted Trump (awaiting trials that are scheduled after the election), with freedom to do just about anything he wants inside US borders, dispatching the clown car of Republican rivals, and running for re-election against the not-so-popular Biden/Harris ticket. With a base as energized as a shaken bee hive up against a kinda apathetic progressive populace. Nazi Germany all over again. "First day" he will blanket pardon himself, and begin the purge. Even the possibility of that is entirely unacceptable, never mind it actually happening.
I don't envision that at all, and I spend a lot of time getting young people registered, explaining to anyone I can what is at stake, and I'll die before I give up. I mean it. There are more good people in this country than there are these maga assholes. We all need to step up to protect this great country.
There’s a lot of foreign money to follow that leads to “the (former) top magistrate in our counsels”. -Federalist 68. TFG’s fealty is to the international billionaire class.
You got it down to a T. True, and horrible.
Yes, I so agree with Ted, and thank you for bringing light to this in this way. And thank you Joyce for your daily insights. You inform us so we can stand stronger together for the rule of law and true democracy.
Good people are so busy these days. Education, working, taking care of family and doing what they can to help their communities. We have been made so busy we lost track of the news and how that neglect has threatened our Democracy. We took so much for granted, because our economics demand it. In the good times, crisis like debt ceiling are manufactured to maintain our distraction from critical issues of inequality, climate, and corruption. Thank you Joyce Vance for reminding us what is critically important and keeping us focused on our responsibility to our Democracy.
Thank you for saying aloud what I have suspected for so many years, but said to myself, oh Paula it's just your sinister nature."
23 years ago ‘2000’..a little under the 1/5 of GOAL! Stay the course please! Get the 💙Vote💙 out , help as much as you can. ‘They’ are as determined .
Excellent writing Joyce , thanks to Ted’s accuracy too.
Actually, a lot of us suspected a riot/destruction/attacks. All over social media, people were warning people against Trump not to show up on J6. I was very worried before it started. I am very concerned at what would happen if Trump was reelected. All bets are off. He will try to become an emperor.
A failed coup is just practice…
Charles, Paraphrasing a subscriber from another Substack, I believe the greatest threat is how effectively MAGA has set out to cultivate, one might say indoctrinate, a constituency to want to hear and want to enact the agenda MAGA was intent on enacting from the outset. If I’m right, our challenge is far greater than “withstand[ing] another, more informed attack.”
The Trump summary you provided is useful as a pamphlet on Fascism in America, courtesy of Donald J. Trump. It reminds me of the one the US War Department created for the Army during WWII, which was highlighted on Letters from an American.
'Can we call it fascism yet'? Hell yes; we've rightly called it fascism for quite a while!
It's rare that I go against the tide when it is about tfg, but here goes. I see him as being increasingly irrational. I think he is failing and flailing. Whether or not he has dementia is not for me to diagnose, but he is delusional as evidenced by his own rants. Fate is closing in on him and so are legal problems and he is losing his grip, if he ever had one outside of his legal gamesmanship. It's tempting to mock his physical appearance since he does that so much to others, but I will only say that his face is bloated and sallow as if he's really ill. I think whether it's the DOJ, EJeanCarroll, or his health, the end is in sight.
While I agree w/all that you have stated, Hope, I think it is more than time to “Lock him up” he is capable of a lot of damage (even more than he has already done). He would never listen to his family, even if they tried to intervene. Remember when he said he would Burn USA down before he would lose. (Not verbatim) but close. It is a very scary thought if he remains able to continue anymore. He has escalated to even more lies and asking for all the names of people... very scary.🇺🇸
One of the most important aspects of incarceration is to dissuade others from the same crime.
I can see why you could think the end is near for tfg, Hope, but there is also the chance he could be re-elected...and that scares the bejesus out of me.
I know, it does me, too. A DOJ indictment would be the surest means of apprehension. I hope, I hope.
But let’s remember that even if he fails, there is still Trumpism, and a another bully waiting in the wings.
And his name is Desantis. He’s doing the same thing in Florida.
Exactly.
Yes as always, I’m hoping for the Blue Tsunami as people saw/heard/realized the lesson this history period has taught. Let’s Codify the legislation during the continued success period of Blue Presidential tenures .
(And hope the GOP realizes ‘For The People’ and gets a backbone for the gifted therein we hope emerges) ☮️🙏❤️
What you are thinking is delusional is propaganda and disinformation. He excels at both enough to gain an enormous following.
Hope, I agree and would go a step further and suggest he’s close to a breakdown.
I hope and pray you are right. But his followers will not go away easily.
It should only be so.
Thanks , hopefully your in a majority of people in actuality though not as vociferous, a mighty and winning tide🙌💙
Much thanks to the reality writs , writers, and commenters.
💙Vote again💙
I think he's terrified, and his irrationality is evidence that he's panicking. He's lashing out at the FBI and everyone connected to it. Now he has a loyalist, James Comer, trying to smear Biden:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/06/01/biden-wray-fbi-comer-grassley/
Most of us have been expecting this kind of "campaigning" and aren't shocked by it.
"'Can we call it fascism yet'? Hell yes; we've rightly called it fascism for quite a while!" ✅
The man tried to overthrow our government. We all saw it live on TV. Why is he being treated as a viable candidate for President in spite of the 14th Amendment? Ever since January 6, 2021, I have felt as if nobody is in charge. Don't get me wrong, I support President Biden, but why wasn't Trump detained on the evening of the 6th, or on the 7th at the latest? Why are there still Seditionists in Congress voting on legislation that could have tanked not just our economy, but that of the whole world? Jack Smith has a lot to make up for, but he or someone needs to do what it takes to get Trump off the ballot and the Sedition Caucus behind bars. If he steals the White House again, America is over.
Because he was still President of the United States and his Cabinet would not do their duty.
He stopped being President on Jan 6. And if not, he definitely was no longer President as of 1/20/2021. Why was he allowed to walk out of there? He wasn't even searched as we now know from his possession of classified materials. That should never have been possible if proper security protocols were in place, but as I said, nobody was in charge.
We are a country of laws and on Jan 6 there was no proof that he had even used speech that violated the 1st Amendment. Because he was no longer president on 1/20/2021, the Senate determined that they had no authority to convict on the impeachment charge presented by the House. We cannot abandon the rule of law or we lose everything. It is literally the concept that protects us all. I have faith that he will be convicted on the lawfully gathered evidence which will be presented in a court of law. I believe he will be convicted in Georgia unless the state government of Georgia removes Ms. Willis from her post as the prosecutor. I believe he will be convicted in the document's case of at least obstruction. Have faith and patience, the rule of law will prevail. As for security protocols, remember when Oliver North's secretary (Fawn Hall) shoved classified documents into the tops of her boots and walked out of a secure building with them? She received immunity to cooperate. We have to trust people with classified information to perform the government's work, but as they say "those people aren't always trustworthy." As far as Trump's body or his boxes being searched before he left the White House, he was the former president of the United States and he was voted into office by millions of people. Just look at how they handle his recent indictment in New York. They didn't treat him the same way they treat everyday Americans who find themselves in the same situation. No mug shot, what else they left out I don't know. He is a former president regardless of the fact that we believe he tried to over through the government and the will of the people. He is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law and the decision of that court will have to withstand all the legal appeals that will probably take at least some of his cases to the Supreme Court. Remember the world is watching.
I believe in the rule of law, I just expect the law to be more vigorous. Yes, the world is watching and right now our Democracy looks impotent. I do think Fani Willis will prosecute him and Jack Smith will, too, but you have to admit it has taken a ridiculous amount of time.
I used to work for the Defense Logistics Agency many years ago, and they watched us like a hawk. They went through our financial disclosures item by item and there were systems in place to control who had access to information and I wasn't that high up. I know Bush/Cheney removed a lot of safeguards, but I don't understand how a lot of this stuff got through. For instance, who at the Postal Service signed off on Trump's lease if his hotel in DC? Completely illegal, but nobody seems to have questioned it. Even if the internal hierarchy didn't handle it, the IG should have been all over it.
Trump was sent to Washington by the American people, who believe that the private sector can do everything cheaper and better than the government, to disrupt, destroy, and "drain the swamp" also known as career federal employees.
Remember, Trump attacked the IG System in every Executive Branch. They were investigating and no one remembers the IG that brought forward the "perfect call". No one remembers the IG's who were punished. Or the other ones who brought out issues that weren't covered by the media.
In the NYTimes:
"Inspectors general are independent, internal watchdogs for federal agencies, though they can be removed by the president."
And it was Biden that brought the IGs into his offices and had a meeting. He knew they were demoralized and he knew that some recent additions were not doing their job properly. He said, "And I want to make it clear to the press that’s here: Nobody in my administration is telling the inspector generals what they have to do. They’re totally independent. They make a judgment. If they want to investigate something, do it. " (From whitehouse.gov only reference I could find was a transcript of the beginning of the meeting and a YouTube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLh_8fMVDvk) Did the press pick up and report that affirmation of the oversight of the federal government inspector general system would be allowed to work the way they were intended to work? No, they didn't. Not sexy. Not controversial. They took the sound bites and didn't really do the work of explaining to the American people that the inspector general oversight system would be back working to ensure Biden's Administration was doing the right thing and behaving like adults. Doing the checks and balances of a democratic society.
I also worked for the federal government. I was an IT professional and was outsourced because of course, private industry can do things "cheaper". Didn't like it. Didn't have a choice. Being a career government employee during the Trump administration was very difficult. They pushed back on appointees for their personal spending on decorating, travel, etc., and on substantive issues. Like listening to the Department of State's briefings on important cultural expectations in foreign countries. The American people don't respect the career government. "If they were worth their salt they'd be in the private sector". Career government employees were pushing back, but standing against a president whose solution to someone saying "the procedures, policies, and laws don't allow you to do that" is to turn over tables and break things figuratively going ahead by fiat doesn't allow for many wins on the side of career government employees. Please remember there were a lot of people holding the line all across the country trying to minimize the damage caused by a president who believed he could do no wrong. Trump was not a president who reviewed policies, procedures, and laws for changes. He just ignored them and shouted down anyone who fought back even his own appointees. He was/is a tyrant.
It isn't news if you are doing things with integrity and respect. Biden has done and will do so many good things and all the people can say is that he is so old. Franklin Roosevelt served four terms in office with a chronic debilitating disease. The press was not allowed to publish the intricacies of getting Roosevelt to and from his many duties. They were not allowed to show the American people the physical trials Roosevelt endured for the American people. Biden trips and it is blasted all over the news. Remember Ford? He was clumsy too and quite a bit younger and he wasn't portrayed as feeble. Why do we try to destroy the best of us?
I'm very familiar with what we called "Fed Bashing" when I was a Chief Steward with the AFGE. I know people don't have respect for government workers, which is sad because they're a bargain for the American people. People choose government service for many reasons. If you want to spend time with your family, the holidays and liberal leave policies make it worth the lower pay. The benefits tend to be good, too.
Outsourcing government functions to private contractors is foolish and wasteful. There are no wealthy CEOs to pad the bills on government work, and the costs are lower because there's no need to earn a profit. There are certain functions, like the administration of prisons, that should absolutely not be done for profit. If we really cared about reining in government spending, we'd be expanding the government rather than outsourcing. Republicans hate Feds because they get rich off programs that help defense contractors scam the military. I dealt primarily with spare parts contracts and the way we coddle the contractors is ridiculous. There are clusters of "small businesses" run under one roof with the same administrative personnel who are dealers of parts made in Asia. That means there are layers of profit built into the prices we pay. If we cared about spending, the DOD would only deal with the Original Equipment Manufacturers, but the dealers make sure they kick back some of the profits to Republican campaigns. It's a racket, maintained under the guise of creating jobs, but if there's anything that shouldn't be a racket, it's government.
Morgaine Swann, have you seen in your circles any movement on your concerns about parts suppliers charging prices for military parts with ever-expanding profit margins?
Hi, Paula, No, I'm not in the loop anymore, but I can't imagine the situation has improved.
The word president isn’t capitalized in this instance. It is only capitalized when referring directly to a president.
“Why is he being treated as a viable candidate...” because the media need a horse race. Biden’s accomplishments in the past 2.5 years should be touted far and wide, but he’s given short shrift because it doesn’t get ratings, clicks or views.
If Limbaugh and the Kardashian clan had never come to prominence, we’d all be in a better place as a country. Instead we’re swamped with rank hatred and overweening cult/personality worship.
I have a overwhelming sense of doom of accountability does not come to the fascists in our nation.
"because the media need a horse race" I read a comment in one of my Substack subscriptions yesterday to the effect of the media has so much time to fill but not enough actual content. Apologies to the author for not finding the exact quote! I agree there's too much time to fill and will add that it chooses to not fill it with all the actual facts.
Joyce: you got joined tonight by Andrew Weissman and Neil Katyal - after today's further news about the 2021 Bedminster interview - they both changed their predictions on Trump from "if" he'll be indicted to "when" he's indicted.
Mrs. Vance, this issue of Civil Discourse is a masterpiece. Thank you from a paid subscriber.
Ditto!
Who gives a rats ass if we get criticism over calling out the truth that trump and the GOP are driving toward Fascism .Say it not less then 10 times a day. Problem is half the country doesn’t understand or cares about what fascism is. Time for Jack Smith and Fani Willis to bring the body blows to Mr. Trump great great essay Joyce!
Maybe just call them all "bullies", as Orwell suggested.
The only reservation about that term is that MAGA types seem to relish and feel emboldened by it, perhaps because they seek to feel powerful and enjoy making others afraid of them. Yes, that's the definition of bully. Guess I'm looking for a term that flatters them less, such as, you know, Fascist or perhaps as someone referred to Trump's mini-me, DeSantis, a**hole.
As assertied by Adam Server in “The Cruelty is the Point.”
I continue to be appalled at just how frightening it is for me as a lesbian, and those who are not white? How the hell will they escape the retribution? It’s not just his actions- his followers seem to believe they too have no limitations on their behaviors. I visited Texastan over the weekend. Uncomfortable in the Gym for the ceremony is the best description.
Lo siento. These GOP-controlled states are scary and dangerous.
I do feel for you. It is a terrible situation, Lou.
More frightening to me than Trump’s actions are the daily acts of overt cowardice displayed by the party who could stop this....but won’t because it may harm themselves. Apparently the country be damned...Nothing short of unbelievable.....
Yes, Trump’s words and actions reek of fascism! We must fight for our democracy together!
"The ideal subject of totalitarian rule.. the distinction between fact and fiction and the distinction between true and false no longer exist.? “ - Hannah Arendt
This has been on my Twitter profile page since 2015. It has been obvious to many of us that 1930s-1945 regime was being replicated here. Yet, our American media has only been willing to use the most factual terms, including the word “lie”, since 2020. Therefore, we should call it fascism and we better make certain Biden-Harris is re-elected if “we wish to keep our Republic” and continue to be a democracy.
Similar for me: having lived in Germany in the 1980s and studied history, in 2015 during the campaign I started answering the typical "How are you?" with "Pretty well, apart from impending fascism."
I'll remember that, should 2024 continue that nightmare. I said that the Orange Sadist is another Hitler when I saw him come down that gold escalator with Melanoma in early 2015. Everyone thought I was being silly. I wasn't. I was dead serious. I was right.
And it makes sense that the system obliterates those distinctions if everything -- reality itself -- is subject to the whim of the leader. Trump's sharpie dictates the path of that hurricane to bend perception of reality toward the black hole of his will. There can be no truth outside of that. No wonder white so-called Christian nationalism is on the rise. It fits perfectly with Tump. It's the antithesis of liberty.
We can only hope that Willis and Smith will file suits of such power and urgency that the demented orange fascist is permanently crippled before any further damage is done. And may all the current & former sycophants now hoping to gain power be politically stained beyond redemption for their long and slavish obeisance to the wannabe dictator.
Shortly after Trump was elected, I created a Twitter account where I juxtaposed Trump actions with passages from Orwell's 1984. [https://twitter.com/Trumpocracy1984]
Rather quickly, Trump's behavior overtook parody.
You sure did!
I tried. But Trump eclipsed Big Brother.
Not being on twitter, I never saw this, but well done!
I used to like Twitter. But now it’s degenerated. So you’re not missing anything
Trump is indeed scary and I don’t scare easily. He potentially could take down all we’ve built in the last 250 years. We must work together to keep him from happening.
Yes, yes, yes. Thank you for being so clear and explicit. DJT's clearly stated intentions are incompatible with democracy. More and more public figures must speak out more clearly on this danger.
And we, as individuals, must demonstrate/march in the streets and demand action from our elected officials (federal, state, and local).
Nationwide strike and march
I think, regarding trump’s actions, it goes far beyond “bully.” He didn’t only fire people due to lack of loyalty. He did not care if people died, to serve his purpose. And, people did die. In my opinion, he’s genocidal, a narcissist, and a sociopath. In other words, a soulless & dangerous monster.
I've been calling it fascist for a while now...opps, I guess I've been politically incorrect. We are in this together in all our beautiful diversity and multicultural heritage. Shout it to the sky!! Biden is our man! If he can't do it, no one can! He has run a steady ship. I know there are a lot of people who aren't happy about Afghanistan and to say it didn't go as we had hoped is an understatement. But Biden didn't back away from responsibility. He has been successful in herding cats and though the railroad negotiations didn't go well he has been rallying the unions and ensuring a better future for us all. As long as we stand together, we will prevail. Democrats will bring the voters out. We will make headway in understanding our neighbors' points of view. We will listen carefully and respond with clear and plain truth. As Joyce always ends her Discourse, "We are in this together".
Yes, YAY Biden! And I agree: he's gotten virtually no recognition (let alone cheers) for picking up the pathetic mess left by the Orange Sadist & Co.