Civil Discourse is a featured publication on Substack’s homepage this month! That’s due to all of you being here, valuing and participating in the work of saving American democracy. Thank you. This week in Kevin McCarthy’s House of Representatives, we’re seeing the people who tried to overthrow the government now running it. Early talk of using the 14th Amendment to disqualify them didn’t pan out. Now there seems to be tacit acceptance that they are here to stay.
This is off topic, Joyce, but I want to say it. The right leaning SCOTUS wanted so much to frame the Liberal Justices with the "leak" of Alito's brief on Roe v Wade. You and I both know this is true. So, today they had everyone answer sworn affidavits to include the law clerks who work for the Justices. Apparently, they were reminded that they could be charged if they were not truthful, so some amended to say that they did talk to their spouses about Alito's brief. Here is my firm belief: The leaker was NOT from the Liberal side. Why? Because if it was, they'd have had Alito screaming about it on Fox News tonight. So, it was Ginni Thomas and some others on the Conservative side, and of course they weren't about to toss them under the bus. Someone NEEDS to point this out and hold them to task! I nominate you with my blessing. Boom! Yes, we are all in this together, but some of us have more to lose than others. Carry on.
I'm so glad I get to read, on a regular basis, that we're all in this together because with all the crazy things going on I'd think it was me that was going nuts if I had no validation! And living in Louisiana, that's pretty hard to find! The GQTP is going crazy but with people like Santos , MTG, Gosar, Bobart and so many others I think they're shedding voters! They managed to make some of my trump relatives, just a few so far, tune TFG out and start questioning others -- no easy feat! And if the GQTP concentrate on ending SSI & Medicare/Medicaid, 23% tax and investigations Bengazi (sp?) style etc., I think they're handing us another win in 2024!!! Cathy
Lordy, Lordy. Mtg won’t sign a clean bill to raise the debt limit. Someone please explain to the gentlewoman from Georgia that representatives VOTE for or against bills. The executive SIGNS bills, or vetos them. Perhaps she means she will not SIGN ON to a clean bill as in she will. It become a sponsor or co-sponsor. Once again mtg displays her ignorance of how government works.
Congratulations on your award! You are providing a great service, and we genuinely are appreciative. The issue that has been plaguing me, and I write this with all due respect and I don't mean to put you on the spot, is that we are where we are because the DOJ hasn't done their job. We are constantly being told that it is our responsibility to solve all these problems, but where is the DOJ?
Attorney General Merrick Garland was sworn in on March 11, 2021, and the DOJ hasn't indicted one Congressional Republican for their participation in the Insurrection and coup, and for trying to overturn the 2020 election. All of the people you mention who are now in leadership positions in the House were allegedly involved in many seditious activities. Kevin McCarthy, Jim Jordan, Andy Biggs, and Scott Perry all ignored the subpoenas that the January 6 Select Committee issued in June of 2021, and in December, Rep. Raskin said the committee couldn't issue criminal referrals, and sent referrals to the Ethics Committee, which will do nothing.
Most of the people I know feel that if the DOJ had done their job, Republicans wouldn't have won a majority in the House, and we wouldn't be where we are today.
The January 6 committee issued a criminal referral for Mark Meadows to the DOJ in December, 2021, and AG Garland sat on it for six months and then quashed it. Eleven members of the Freedom Caucus attended the December 21, 2021 White House Meeting with Trump, Pence, Meadows, and Giuliani (which you mentioned in your last post) to discuss overturning the 2020 election, and it would seem as if nothing has been done about it in a year.
The list goes on and on. I have voted in almost every election for 51 years. I volunteer. I contribute money to campaigns. I write letters to GOTV. I have signed more petitions in the last six years than in the preceding 45 years. I write emails to my democratic senators and representative. I have written 30 emails to President Biden, and almost every single one of my concerns about the lack of effort from the very beginning to pass voting rights legislation, and the lack of forward movement by the DOJ to hold Republican politicians responsible for the Insurrection and Coup, and for overturning the 2020 election, has fallen on deaf ears.
Democratic voters are working throughout the country to protect our voting rights. They have stood in long lines to vote. The bottom line is that we are losing the battle, because no Republicans politicians have not been punished for their criminality and sedition. I would genuinely appreciate your writing a post on this issue.
Joyce I have great respect for you, I feel the legal education I receive from you is unmatched, I love the chicken stories and pictures. Your remarks on the issues we are facing are always delivered with such acumen..
I’m certainly not trying to take a shoot the messenger tone..
However, this offering details all of the ways the Crazies of the GOP have succeeded to maneuver themselves into running our House of Representatives, passing voter suppression laws, all across the country, causing, an evaporating voice at the ballot box, even with Marc Elias and his group doing their best..
With this paragraph “Early talk of using the 14th Amendment to disqualify them didn’t pan out. Now there seems to be tacit acceptance that they are here to stay.” I see an unacceptably weak, vapid, almost indifferent attitude and effort from Democracy’s leaders to do anything about it.. I’m left wanting for the desperate measures so needed to fight back in these desperate times..
Why aren't the democrats educating the ignorant Republicans? No one mentions this, or covers Congressional sessions that I have seen on MSNBC. All I hear are how ignorant or psychopaths that are the extreme conservatives. I agree with your assessments, and thank you for them, however, Democrats should be filibustering the heck out of the Republicans till they get the message that they are trying to destroy our country, economy and psyche's. From California and feel like I need to know how to talk to these people and let them know what they are doing. Also, pleased that maybe FOX will straighten up a little as they face a suit by voting machine manufacturer! As pointed out today, the only thing that the ignorant right wing listens to is money and power. Losing enough money might help...Thanks again for your research and informative information on Civil Discourse. (Hard to stay Civil these days...that from a 76 year old grandmother! who has lived through so much, but nothing as crazy as the ignorance and selfishness of the current Republican Party. ie. missed the Civil war...))
As 57yr equestrian, "Heads Up!" has a potent meaning. The application of "heads down" in the context of our broken country is spot on. Barb McQuaid said on Deadline WH we are suffering as a country from loss of shame. I agree although I would point to the very slim margins by which democrats won in 2022 as evidence nearly half of this country want us to be 1923 and not 2023. Until good people like the Sisters In Law and those who follow them give Brandi Lee's tweets their full merit, we will continue to suffer Santoses as an anomoly when they are not. From that place there will be no moving the majority of the country toward healing and wholeness. There will definetly be more Penas and their violence.
Santos can't even use what he claims as his first language (English) correctly - but then, neither can any of the other semi-literate uneducable morons in the Confederate White People's Treason Party.
So grateful to greet you on your “tell it like it is” moment this evening Joyce. As disturbing as things appear, I see all this as a turning point in strengthening our efforts and determination to tune out the mod squad rhetoric and focus. Hello to your chicks and thanks again 🇺🇸
This just hit me. When I first was able to vote many years ago (I am 75) I voted gop mainly because my parents. Being raised in conservative Orange County Ca. It was a given. We had A mix of opinions in my family.Holiday dinners always ended in nearly shouting matches. My Great Uncle would have voted for Mickey Mouse if they had a “R” . My uncle was a great debater, a educator whose field was history. He was the DEM. Somewhere in very early 20 really started to listen to what was being said that’s when a became a democrat. Now register as independent so do not get so many calls,mail etc. what I am trying to say is many people do not have the good fortune to really listen to both sides so if good enough for mom,dad, grandpa, good enough for them. How do you get these people to open their eyes ? This is the reason I believe that all the nut jobs got elected once again.
When I read, "Don't Look Up," I thought of Chicken Little and, "The sky is falling." But it has been real and going on for years but I don't trust any house "republican" who gaslight instead of legislate. McConnell also did a great job screwing us (as did his wife) but doesn't get enough credit for it.
I saw Ben-Ghiat's comment about those who will seek out the party will attract criminals (like the malignant narcissist did), like Gingrich did, like Gosar, Bohbert, and the other nuts.
Oy vey. Love seeing the newsletters and wish I were an ostrich.
OK, starting on page 18... "...Ohioans appearing at a polling place to vote in-person have been able to prove their identity by offering any of the following: (1) a current and valid photo identification, (2) a military identification, (3) a copy of a current utility bill, (4) a copy of a bank statement, (5) a copy of a government check, or (6) a copy of any other “government document”" Utility bill, bank statement, government check - that's a lot of personal information being subjected to scrutiny just to vote.
Page 19-20.... "Meanwhile, it eliminates public-college students’ existing ability to use grade reports and other school documents containing their addresses as valid forms of identification at the polls." There, again, that's a fair amount of personal information just to vote.
I kept reading. Indeed, "an eye-opener" and stomach-churning. Not only is it voter-suppression but it seems to be quite an invasion of privacy.
“Voting truly is the answer, possibly the only one. That means we’ve got to work hard to protect the process.”
Voting is critically important, yes. But in a democracy, citizen participation needs to go on all year round. Many of your engaged and informed readership are possibly active in good government advocacy groups. These groups are pressing for change on many important issues. My group is working to end gerrymandering in my state and I have seen legislator eyebrows rise when informed of how many of their constituents are on our mailing list. Among other things, we facilitate calls between constituents and their legislator. Such conversations makes a difference. People can, at minimum, be on the mailing list of groups working on issues they care about and get in the habit of communicating with their legislators at relevant times. Those with more energy can help organize!
This is off topic, Joyce, but I want to say it. The right leaning SCOTUS wanted so much to frame the Liberal Justices with the "leak" of Alito's brief on Roe v Wade. You and I both know this is true. So, today they had everyone answer sworn affidavits to include the law clerks who work for the Justices. Apparently, they were reminded that they could be charged if they were not truthful, so some amended to say that they did talk to their spouses about Alito's brief. Here is my firm belief: The leaker was NOT from the Liberal side. Why? Because if it was, they'd have had Alito screaming about it on Fox News tonight. So, it was Ginni Thomas and some others on the Conservative side, and of course they weren't about to toss them under the bus. Someone NEEDS to point this out and hold them to task! I nominate you with my blessing. Boom! Yes, we are all in this together, but some of us have more to lose than others. Carry on.
I'm so glad I get to read, on a regular basis, that we're all in this together because with all the crazy things going on I'd think it was me that was going nuts if I had no validation! And living in Louisiana, that's pretty hard to find! The GQTP is going crazy but with people like Santos , MTG, Gosar, Bobart and so many others I think they're shedding voters! They managed to make some of my trump relatives, just a few so far, tune TFG out and start questioning others -- no easy feat! And if the GQTP concentrate on ending SSI & Medicare/Medicaid, 23% tax and investigations Bengazi (sp?) style etc., I think they're handing us another win in 2024!!! Cathy
Lordy, Lordy. Mtg won’t sign a clean bill to raise the debt limit. Someone please explain to the gentlewoman from Georgia that representatives VOTE for or against bills. The executive SIGNS bills, or vetos them. Perhaps she means she will not SIGN ON to a clean bill as in she will. It become a sponsor or co-sponsor. Once again mtg displays her ignorance of how government works.
Congratulations on your award! You are providing a great service, and we genuinely are appreciative. The issue that has been plaguing me, and I write this with all due respect and I don't mean to put you on the spot, is that we are where we are because the DOJ hasn't done their job. We are constantly being told that it is our responsibility to solve all these problems, but where is the DOJ?
Attorney General Merrick Garland was sworn in on March 11, 2021, and the DOJ hasn't indicted one Congressional Republican for their participation in the Insurrection and coup, and for trying to overturn the 2020 election. All of the people you mention who are now in leadership positions in the House were allegedly involved in many seditious activities. Kevin McCarthy, Jim Jordan, Andy Biggs, and Scott Perry all ignored the subpoenas that the January 6 Select Committee issued in June of 2021, and in December, Rep. Raskin said the committee couldn't issue criminal referrals, and sent referrals to the Ethics Committee, which will do nothing.
Most of the people I know feel that if the DOJ had done their job, Republicans wouldn't have won a majority in the House, and we wouldn't be where we are today.
The January 6 committee issued a criminal referral for Mark Meadows to the DOJ in December, 2021, and AG Garland sat on it for six months and then quashed it. Eleven members of the Freedom Caucus attended the December 21, 2021 White House Meeting with Trump, Pence, Meadows, and Giuliani (which you mentioned in your last post) to discuss overturning the 2020 election, and it would seem as if nothing has been done about it in a year.
The list goes on and on. I have voted in almost every election for 51 years. I volunteer. I contribute money to campaigns. I write letters to GOTV. I have signed more petitions in the last six years than in the preceding 45 years. I write emails to my democratic senators and representative. I have written 30 emails to President Biden, and almost every single one of my concerns about the lack of effort from the very beginning to pass voting rights legislation, and the lack of forward movement by the DOJ to hold Republican politicians responsible for the Insurrection and Coup, and for overturning the 2020 election, has fallen on deaf ears.
Democratic voters are working throughout the country to protect our voting rights. They have stood in long lines to vote. The bottom line is that we are losing the battle, because no Republicans politicians have not been punished for their criminality and sedition. I would genuinely appreciate your writing a post on this issue.
Joyce I have great respect for you, I feel the legal education I receive from you is unmatched, I love the chicken stories and pictures. Your remarks on the issues we are facing are always delivered with such acumen..
I’m certainly not trying to take a shoot the messenger tone..
However, this offering details all of the ways the Crazies of the GOP have succeeded to maneuver themselves into running our House of Representatives, passing voter suppression laws, all across the country, causing, an evaporating voice at the ballot box, even with Marc Elias and his group doing their best..
With this paragraph “Early talk of using the 14th Amendment to disqualify them didn’t pan out. Now there seems to be tacit acceptance that they are here to stay.” I see an unacceptably weak, vapid, almost indifferent attitude and effort from Democracy’s leaders to do anything about it.. I’m left wanting for the desperate measures so needed to fight back in these desperate times..
Such a powerful piece. Thank you, Joyce + perfect use of the word “jingoistic”. Brava!!
Why aren't the democrats educating the ignorant Republicans? No one mentions this, or covers Congressional sessions that I have seen on MSNBC. All I hear are how ignorant or psychopaths that are the extreme conservatives. I agree with your assessments, and thank you for them, however, Democrats should be filibustering the heck out of the Republicans till they get the message that they are trying to destroy our country, economy and psyche's. From California and feel like I need to know how to talk to these people and let them know what they are doing. Also, pleased that maybe FOX will straighten up a little as they face a suit by voting machine manufacturer! As pointed out today, the only thing that the ignorant right wing listens to is money and power. Losing enough money might help...Thanks again for your research and informative information on Civil Discourse. (Hard to stay Civil these days...that from a 76 year old grandmother! who has lived through so much, but nothing as crazy as the ignorance and selfishness of the current Republican Party. ie. missed the Civil war...))
As 57yr equestrian, "Heads Up!" has a potent meaning. The application of "heads down" in the context of our broken country is spot on. Barb McQuaid said on Deadline WH we are suffering as a country from loss of shame. I agree although I would point to the very slim margins by which democrats won in 2022 as evidence nearly half of this country want us to be 1923 and not 2023. Until good people like the Sisters In Law and those who follow them give Brandi Lee's tweets their full merit, we will continue to suffer Santoses as an anomoly when they are not. From that place there will be no moving the majority of the country toward healing and wholeness. There will definetly be more Penas and their violence.
Santos can't even use what he claims as his first language (English) correctly - but then, neither can any of the other semi-literate uneducable morons in the Confederate White People's Treason Party.
So grateful to greet you on your “tell it like it is” moment this evening Joyce. As disturbing as things appear, I see all this as a turning point in strengthening our efforts and determination to tune out the mod squad rhetoric and focus. Hello to your chicks and thanks again 🇺🇸
This just hit me. When I first was able to vote many years ago (I am 75) I voted gop mainly because my parents. Being raised in conservative Orange County Ca. It was a given. We had A mix of opinions in my family.Holiday dinners always ended in nearly shouting matches. My Great Uncle would have voted for Mickey Mouse if they had a “R” . My uncle was a great debater, a educator whose field was history. He was the DEM. Somewhere in very early 20 really started to listen to what was being said that’s when a became a democrat. Now register as independent so do not get so many calls,mail etc. what I am trying to say is many people do not have the good fortune to really listen to both sides so if good enough for mom,dad, grandpa, good enough for them. How do you get these people to open their eyes ? This is the reason I believe that all the nut jobs got elected once again.
When I read, "Don't Look Up," I thought of Chicken Little and, "The sky is falling." But it has been real and going on for years but I don't trust any house "republican" who gaslight instead of legislate. McConnell also did a great job screwing us (as did his wife) but doesn't get enough credit for it.
I saw Ben-Ghiat's comment about those who will seek out the party will attract criminals (like the malignant narcissist did), like Gingrich did, like Gosar, Bohbert, and the other nuts.
Oy vey. Love seeing the newsletters and wish I were an ostrich.
OK, starting on page 18... "...Ohioans appearing at a polling place to vote in-person have been able to prove their identity by offering any of the following: (1) a current and valid photo identification, (2) a military identification, (3) a copy of a current utility bill, (4) a copy of a bank statement, (5) a copy of a government check, or (6) a copy of any other “government document”" Utility bill, bank statement, government check - that's a lot of personal information being subjected to scrutiny just to vote.
Page 19-20.... "Meanwhile, it eliminates public-college students’ existing ability to use grade reports and other school documents containing their addresses as valid forms of identification at the polls." There, again, that's a fair amount of personal information just to vote.
I kept reading. Indeed, "an eye-opener" and stomach-churning. Not only is it voter-suppression but it seems to be quite an invasion of privacy.
New to your column and loving it. Thank you!
“Voting truly is the answer, possibly the only one. That means we’ve got to work hard to protect the process.”
Voting is critically important, yes. But in a democracy, citizen participation needs to go on all year round. Many of your engaged and informed readership are possibly active in good government advocacy groups. These groups are pressing for change on many important issues. My group is working to end gerrymandering in my state and I have seen legislator eyebrows rise when informed of how many of their constituents are on our mailing list. Among other things, we facilitate calls between constituents and their legislator. Such conversations makes a difference. People can, at minimum, be on the mailing list of groups working on issues they care about and get in the habit of communicating with their legislators at relevant times. Those with more energy can help organize!
OMG, Joyce. The "not a witch" comment made my morning!
Thank you Joyce for the work you do to keep us informed. Congratulations on the award. Well
earned.