Friday night, the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (who is black) and the Navy's top admiral (who is female) were fired, along with the most senior Judge Advocates General (JAGS) for the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
Pete Hegseth - Secretary of Defense. What a drunken moron. I served in the US Army JAGC, providing advice and counsel to the command group where I served. We reported to an African/American Major General - who was one of the finest officers I have ever met. He and his gracious wife created a compete atmosphere of harmony and dedication - motivating all to work together. This was an example of a man and woman given the chance to excel - and they were just the best. Hegseth and Trump are failures and their policies will fail. Hopefully we can get past this international embarrassment and domestic failure within our lifetimes.
All those who voted for this morass can go to hell.
I am so with you. I never thought I would be so ashamed of this country. What happens when they do away with Medicaid? I am an in-house counselor at a residence for ex-trafficked women. The trauma is indescribable (some of them were trafficked by their own mothers)--most of them are incapacitated and cannot work. What's going to happen to them? Can anyone come up with a smarter solution than freeze money and food for the poor and mentally ill so that the filthy rich can get richer?
And lin*, as you no doubt are aware, Maine's own Gov. Janet Mills stood up to 47 yesterday at the National Governors Association, after he called her out. Good for her! We need others to follow her example and oppose him to his face.
Thousands have protested across the country. Where are the front page photos? AOC and others have been out with the marchers. Bernie Sanders gave 2 speeches in Iowa today to huge audiences. These things happen even when msm ignores it.
Yes. The MSM is not covering the resistance. The reason? Has to be fear of lawsuits and/or greed. The owners don't want to threaten their own piece of the pie. During the Vietnam War we saw the war on TV every single day. It was vivid, and there was a ton of live coverage. It helped the protestors. We also had a lot of anti-war music on top 40 stations (that's mostly what we had) and that's missing today. AI generated music isn't about the message.
excellent question -- where's the footage of the nationwide protests that happened last Monday? Coverage of protests encourages more protests. I open the NYT or the WaPO and you'd think it was just another ordinary day the coverage is so bland and beige..
We need to support those standing up against this fascist movement, and support the courts upholding our laws. The more of us who band together and resist, the stronger we become. I am counting on law abiding members of the armed forces who took an oath to support and defend the constitution to do just that.
The oligarchs follow a morose philosophy of a schmuck named Curtis Yarvin. It's his crazy ideas that are being implemented. Turn all the undesirable citizens (in their minds, those who need assistance of some kind) into bio-diesel. Heinous. Look him up. JD Vance, Peter Thiel, Elon Musk--all fans of Yarvin's manifestos.
Yes. It is obvious that you care about these women. Thank you for your service. Surely you know of others, in particular, Christian Organizations who care enough to treat the root causes, rather than symptoms and consequences, making them dependent on Government programs.
I have spent years helping "troubled people" and those in prison. It is a fact that those who have help when they get out of prison are much less likely to return.
And I must apologize for those "Christians" who have made other "priorities" for their time and money, so that there is a need for the Government to "fill in the gap." That is not how it should be, especially in America!
Theoretically and inherently nothing. But can you name me one Government Program that has fulfilled its purpose without substantial "unintended consequences?" Philosophically, I am a "Libertarian," and I believe in the 10th Amendment: All Powers not specified in the Constitution are reserved for the States and for the People.
People dependent upon the Government are not "Free."
You know, I wish people like you would instead give a little thought to the not so 'unintended consequences' of arbitrarily cancelling government programs. Trump and Musk are authoritarians and people like you are their enablers.
The status quo is unacceptable. If Trump and Co. act without "common sense," that is very unacceptable. Yes, I am responsible for what Trump is doing and I will personally hold him accountable!
Government Programs must be replaced by efficient, honest and above all, Constitutional alternatives.
Yes - Medicare, on which my husband and I depend. As HCR often points out, there are two main camps with differing views on government -- one that it should be small and everyone must be self sufficient like they mythical cowboy OR that government exists to be of service to everyone. The playing field is not level in America and things happen to people that were not their fault (ex: my very active husband diagnosed with ALS and now dependent in ways he never could have imagined). Are we for the common good or an "I'm all right, Jack" society? I agree that real fraud or waste should be rooted out -- but what percentage of that is there really -- and are we willing to abandon millions of people to cut of the waste of a small number?
You have taken the lazy, Libertarian shortcut of lumping all government "programs in one bucket to be dumped on the trash pile. So how long of a list do you want? State and local governments, too?
Better yet, why don't you turn the unused portions of your brain and your Libertarian comrades and actually think of those that do work? What is your time limit for unintended consequences? 10 years ? 20 years? Which crystal ball or algorithm do you use? Your use of the 10th Amendment is predictable and lazy. An unintended consequence of the 10th made the 14th then the CRA necessary when states were the bad actors. But maybe those were intended but unspoken consequences.
So get your friends out of their shelters and start thinking. And start with your states in which you place reliance.
I am responsible for what they are doing and I WILL HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE! I never said that I agree with everything they are doing. But, the status quo was destroying us.
What do you mean by this? I didn't feel one iota of my life being destroyed under Biden. What I see now is the worst of the worst put in cabinet positions, add in kookoo musk, and the dismantling of my revered democracy....
If I had not voted, I would have no right to complain. Since I am responsible, I will confront them for their actions, especially if they are not doing what they promised, or if they are not doing it according to the authority given them by our Constitution. If they are taking away my Power, I will demand to be given it back: Face to face if necessary.
I think the country can address root causes AND have government programs. Upstream and downstream care for people are not mutually exclusive, nor do they cancel each other out, or make one dependent on the other. Sure it would be great to be so successful at eradicating root causes that we don’t need government programs, but cancelling those programs first doesn’t help. Thank you for speaking out against “Christians” with other priorities.
It’s so bad but Shame vibrates low like those who should be ashamed for being asleep or being ok with destruction. Maybe be astonished and activated by some healthy anger and sadness with conditions. Lots of emotions but we gotta vibrate integrity by watching ourselves not slide. Brene Brown will tell you that shame never helps. We will rise to the occasion of overturning as your own service proves. Thank you for you relentless work!!
Thank You for your important service, Sophia. To better understand what's going on, or to guess what is going to happen next, I ask myself, "What would Putin do?" Trumputin would...
This of course fits with the White-Nationalist Christofascist view of women: your body, my choice.
Pi Day! 3/14! True conservatives need to abandon MAGA, form a new conservative party and caucus with Ds to save Pax Americana and our grand experiment!
Michael good to read your comment & your personal testimony from the US Army JAGC perspective. "Thank you for your Service" just doesn't cut-it as a compliment to the the dedicated lawyers & "most Senior" JAGS of the Army Navy & Air Force that were fired.
The U.S. Army Advocate Generals have a legal history of prosecuting war criminals in Europe & Japan after WWII.
JAG also created the armistice that ended the Korean War. The fired JAGS nor any military lawyers will be drafting any armistice ending Putin's attack(s) on Ukraine.
DJT Wreck & hopefully a sober Hegseth are not creating a war ethic; they are getting rid of any legal guardrails or control over war crimes protected by SCOTUS autocratic immunity ruling of Trump II overt Acts.
As I was leaving for Army JAG school (long ago), I needed a local judge to sign off for my notary license. The judge was pleased to talk to someone going off to JAG, and he told me of his experience with the war crime trials in Nuremberg. It gave me perspective and insight into what I was about to undertake.
Hegseth should not have fired those fine individuals. What a disgrace.
Thank you for your service and your informational comment. My uncle was a JAG in the Marine Corps and if he were still alive, he'd be absolutely outraged by what's happening to our country. It's horrifying...
I am so happy to hear about your experience. I believe very strongly in accepting people for who they are. Good people deserve to be accepted and treasured.
First, allow me to express profound gratitude for your service and dedication to our country.
Second, please tell we what would happen if trump ordered the military to subdue citizens who are peacefully demonstrating against the Trump government.
Thank you sir! I too hope we can make it through this nightmare in my lifetime! My son was a Naval officer and test pilot who looked up to so many of his superior officers. He was killed on his motorcycle in 2015 but I can only imagine what he would be saying right now!
Michael, My friend's daughter is US Airforce JAG. I wonder what is happening to her. I assume she is losing her job. Her son, who was a Marine colonel, retired last year at a young age, from a life mostly abroad. He got out just in time.
Upon reading the first chapter I read in Project 2025, which was The Department of Education I said, if enacted, this is the model for turning the US into a third world country. Already by destroying the education system there was a model for a dumbed down population to be used as unskilled, almost slave labor. Then when we got to reading about the Intelligence community and military, I could see it was a model for destroying the safety of the USA. If North Korea were to launch a nuclear missile against the USA, the intelligence community would not know about it, and the military would not be prepared for it, at least Hegseth would not.
I have noticed that Trump has not called on the military yet, and I knew that was because he had not had a chance to fire the leadership and install his own leadership. We will have to hope that the rank and file stand up for the constitution under pressure of losing their jobs if they do.
If I were Zelenskyy or a European Union country I would be hiring all of the people who were just fired to come work in Ukraine. Not just in the military but in the intelligence community too. Such wisdom should not go to waste.
It's a coup. Leaving no one standing guard. If they fire enough people, hijack social security, stop the food supply at the farms, etc-- in other words, leave everyone impoverished, they think we'll crawl to them for protection. I think, if the do this, they'll be in for a big surprise. Republican voters in Oregon, Wisconsin, Tennessee and elsewhere are booing their congressional reps at Town Hall meetings.
And Trump‘s thuggish followers are out there ready to intimidate people who resist the coup. It’s quite possible that Thom Tillis voted for Kash Patel, who will doubtless destroy the FBI, to head the FBI because he was getting death threats.
That is what is happening to Ukraine. Read Olga Lautman's Russia Watch Substack today. Trump is not only destroying the US, but western Europe too. While I have heard it claimed that Peter Thiel is the mastermind behind all of this destruction, I believe Trump and Putin have worked on this together too.
I saw a repost from Amy McGrath saying when you start firing the military’s lawyers it means you are getting ready to tell the military to do unlawful things. And I imagine declaring martial law is in there somewhere.
"The unexplained dismissals prompted widespread concern. “In some ways that’s even more chilling than firing the four stars,” Rosa Brooks, a professor at Georgetown Law, wrote on X. “It’s what you do when you’re planning to break the law: you get rid of any lawyers who might try to slow you down.” NYT today
Karen,look to the far right of you post. There are 3 buttons there. Hit them and you’ll see the edit button, which will allow you to make the correction.
Karen,look to the far right of you nene. There are 3 buttons there. Hit them and you’ll see the edit button, which will allow you to make the correction.
Marge Three Names always writes “Marshall Law” when she posts something to do with it, and I ask myself, “Is she referring to John Marshall, Thurgood Marshall, Owen Marshall Attorney at Law, Marshall Crenshaw or The Marshall Tucker Band?”
The question is how will the country ultimately respond? What happens next? Are far right-wing militias the only fervent Second Amendment supporters who are devoted to and "love" their country... more specifically, their Constitution? I doubt it.
The dereliction of duty shown by Trump and his bootlicking lackeys is horrifying. Putin and Xi are beside themselves with glee at the destruction of our nation. Gird your loins, fellow citizens, we’re in for a very rough ride.
Apart from the fact that treason is technically about aiding and abetting the enemy during war time, It seems to me that the proper response to treason is firing squad. I would personally love to see a circular firing squad of all trump's lackeys with trump in the middle of course. I'm betting that they all have pretty bad aim, especially Hegseth when he's hung over. That could take care of a lot of our problems…
True for sure, but the motivation is still himself and his own life. And along with that he is destroying the country. Since he lies every time he speaks nobody will trust what is left of the federal government. It will take years to recover from this debasement
I am a female engineer entrepreneur who started a cybersecurity company in 2000. After presenting to a potential customer, they said, “Next time bring your guy.” So I brought a 19 year old electrical engineer employee to the second meeting. I did the talking and he said nothing at the meeting. They patted him on the back as he left and said ,” You are the strong silent type.” We got the contract. Sadly nothings changed!
I hope you made an extraordinary profit from that boorish customer. In all the sales calls I made where I was the (systems) engineer, I thankfully never witnessed behavior that obnoxious.
That is so sad! I am also a female engineer (with a PhD in a branch of engineering) but I have struggled my entire career. I am retired now and happy that I don’t have to deal with it anymore.
You are amazing! Sadly, there remains a dearth of female engineers! I had corrected my comment just after posting…I am not an engineer, which was an autofill mistake. But I founded two cyber companies, beginning in 2000.
You have achieved so much! It doesn’t matter if you are an engineer or not. You led a company that attracted customers and made sales. They saw a successful woman entrepreneur, and yet they had doubts until they saw a ‘guy’ in the meeting. It is sad and infuriating. I never got promoted to a management position. I even got an MBA while working as an engineer. The company paid for me and my classmates who were also employees, but after I got the MBA I tried for higher positions but never got one.
I heard that women were moving into other fields because they experienced discrimination in engineering. I think they can experience discrimination in any field. Womens salaries have been lower than men’s. Obama and Biden tried to level those.
I knew that Kamala Harris would have a tough time getting elected to the highest office but I was hoping that the country had progressed enough to choose her over an extremely flawed white male.
With Trump in the WH it could get worse for women.
Being an engineer was slow torture for years. It affected me, but I couldn’t quit the job(s) because I needed the money to survive. Only after retirement I recovered my self esteem but it took some time.
You are so brave! You started your own companiesI am sure you inspired others- women and men. We need women like you who can overcome obstacles and be successful.
If you are in a red state, like I am with no Dem reps, I just borrow someone else’s. I call Dem senators / reps from other states. One of my messages is: Do NOT bail the GOP out on any of the budget stuff. Do nothing. Sit on your hands. Since they have this “huge mandate” let them pass it on their own. Which they won’t. Then let the gov’t shutdown and maybe ensuing default be their fault alone.
In a solid blue state with great senators, I call republican senators on committees to remind them that, in that role, I have an interest I what they do.
Call your Republican members of congress!! Sure, right now they are in lockstep with Trump, but if the get overwhelmed with calls from constituents, whom they were elected to support, then maybe they will start getting a backbone and do what they were elected to do!
And call Republican House and Senate members. Google Republican House Conference and Senate Conference. There are links to their websites and office locations. Same for Senate and House committees. They need to hear from us.
I've thought this for some time but I get "righter" every day: we need all the former presidents still living to hold a prime time press conference together to tell the people that THIS IS A COUP and what needs to be done. Wish Carter was still alive.
Not sure, except that it would be a historically unprecedented thing to do (which is why it might be effective IMO). Bush, Clinton, Obama (other Bush and Carter would have made the presentation that much stronger) together telling the people. . . great visual. And I've heard that even W is appalled by all of this, so I don't know. Seems like the kind of venue and subject where Clinton and Obama--the orators--would shine.
We are witnessing the death of democracy and the United States by politeness. "It isn't done." "We have to work with them." etc etc etc Dems have never been able to muster the guts to go for the jugular and they haven't started now, with a few exceptions. They truly seem clueless about the emergency. They should just go home (and stop taking taxpaid salaries). Let this be all on Republican heads.
Timothy Snyder's book On Tyranny speaks to this, is a quick read, and states the number 1 rule is Do Not Obey In Advance. Traitor is hoping his behavior intimidates the hell out of us. Don't let him. In my long life, I'm a female in my 70s, I've found the only thing that stops a bully is giving them back what they dish out & stand your ground. Always.
We found the contact forms for Presidents Obama, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush and asked them why they have been silent in this dangerous time for our country, urging them to say something. So far, no reply from any of them. How very disappointing and infuriating.
Continue to fight back. Senators and congressmen/women are becoming increasingly disturbed by all this. Write them and call them. Even if you are in a red state. Our country has become an embarrassment, rouge state thanks to Russian election interference, musk buying the Pennsylvania votes, and millions of people who did not vote.
I agree Linda- and don’t forget the false information from fox, musk and Putin. So many veterans and current military members voted for this draft dodging putin puppet felon grifter with no loyalty to his MAGA cult.
Simon Rosenberg at Hopium Chronicles has a target list of 17 at-risk Republican House members he is seeking support for. Check it out. There's a list of the states too. I don't know that there is any way to stop civil war here now unless everyone just lays down and dies but if you want to fight this is one way to be active.
The republicans in Congress need to hear it from us. They have the power to shut down this nonsense. My biggest concern is that in the midterm elections we may not get the results we want. I don’t believe those elections will be fair.
Trying to think of how the founders could have invented a system that would have avoided this takeover. Putting the commander-in-chief in another branch would not work.
The world has changed. But the electoral college was always antidemocratic. And the whole thing depends on having people of character running things -- Republicans haven't had any character for a long time now. I wish we'd stop calling their party Republican; it isn't; it's just MAGA.
We ARE in deep trouble. Not soon. NOW. And since we have so little influence in the government (as noted above), we will have very few options. If the Republicans cannot or will not use the 25th amendment to stop this conflagration, we will be in the streets in April. I hope it will be peaceful, but I am not confident of that.
Dems need to let the pugs shut down the government and see how that's going to work out. What is most unbelievable is that the budget they cobbled together includes a $4.5 trillion tax cut for the billionaires in broad daylight!
There are suggestions in some of the other comments that may help. I, along with thousands of others, called and emailed my senators and representatives here in Virginia. It collectively seemed to make a difference as the following week they were all out being quite vocal at the protests in Washington, D.C. and on the news. I saw comments encouraging that action and I'm glad I did and continue to do even in other states.
This is not only frightening, but heartbreaking. Everything we know as decent & legal is just wiped out. Our safety in all matters can no longer be possible. He is even threatening Ukraine for something he personally wants . What can we do to help. I think impeachment is really in order, but Congress is not functioning for us. I’m 92 years old, have lived under 9 presidents & never seen anything like this. May God help us, there seems to be no one else.
We are helping each other. I find a lot of elderly people, who have more time, making phone calls and even attending meetings and protests. Each of us can do something, according to our abilities. And if you cannot do something now, we're resisting in your name also.
I have a glimmer of hope that if the assault continues at this pace, a few Republicans will awake from their stupor and think about two things: their grandchildren, and their obituaries.
It takes only a few GOP representatives to push through an impeachment. And this time, about 15 GOP senators might just get it that their constituents are unhappy with where things are heading. We have so much more true legal ammunition than we did for Trump 45-- there is actual treason in the wind now, as well as many domestic laws being flagrantly broken.
Do these officers have any recourse? Does the law permit these firings for no reason? What about their veteran’s benefits…do they keep those? I didn’t know you could “fire” military people. I thought it was by court martial, but different with civilians? This is FUBAR.
Pete Hegseth - Secretary of Defense. What a drunken moron. I served in the US Army JAGC, providing advice and counsel to the command group where I served. We reported to an African/American Major General - who was one of the finest officers I have ever met. He and his gracious wife created a compete atmosphere of harmony and dedication - motivating all to work together. This was an example of a man and woman given the chance to excel - and they were just the best. Hegseth and Trump are failures and their policies will fail. Hopefully we can get past this international embarrassment and domestic failure within our lifetimes.
All those who voted for this morass can go to hell.
I am so with you. I never thought I would be so ashamed of this country. What happens when they do away with Medicaid? I am an in-house counselor at a residence for ex-trafficked women. The trauma is indescribable (some of them were trafficked by their own mothers)--most of them are incapacitated and cannot work. What's going to happen to them? Can anyone come up with a smarter solution than freeze money and food for the poor and mentally ill so that the filthy rich can get richer?
Anyone can: they're called Democrats. Unfortunately Democrats are also known for bringing squirt guns to a five alarm fire.
Democratic activists and Democratic elected and appointed officials are among those leading the resistance.
In Congress, Democrats are using the rules which allow a determined minority to obstruct the majority agenda.
Democratic state Attorney Generals have sued the Trump administration.
Democratic governors are refusing to cooperate with the Trump administration.
And lin*, as you no doubt are aware, Maine's own Gov. Janet Mills stood up to 47 yesterday at the National Governors Association, after he called her out. Good for her! We need others to follow her example and oppose him to his face.
Thousands have protested across the country. Where are the front page photos? AOC and others have been out with the marchers. Bernie Sanders gave 2 speeches in Iowa today to huge audiences. These things happen even when msm ignores it.
Yes. The MSM is not covering the resistance. The reason? Has to be fear of lawsuits and/or greed. The owners don't want to threaten their own piece of the pie. During the Vietnam War we saw the war on TV every single day. It was vivid, and there was a ton of live coverage. It helped the protestors. We also had a lot of anti-war music on top 40 stations (that's mostly what we had) and that's missing today. AI generated music isn't about the message.
As I said earlier, time for sit-ins--block intersections and get arrested....
Are you kidding? Messaging problem again?
The Democrats had:
-$1 Billion
- The elite media
- Celebrities
- Advantage of incumbency
And they still lost.
MAYBE YOU HAVE A PRODUCT PROBLEM? its shit.
Americans don't want open borders, inflation, stupid endless wars,
transing our kids.
excellent question -- where's the footage of the nationwide protests that happened last Monday? Coverage of protests encourages more protests. I open the NYT or the WaPO and you'd think it was just another ordinary day the coverage is so bland and beige..
Only Rachel shows you.
We need to support those standing up against this fascist movement, and support the courts upholding our laws. The more of us who band together and resist, the stronger we become. I am counting on law abiding members of the armed forces who took an oath to support and defend the constitution to do just that.
The time has come for sit-ins. Honestly, I am ready to be arrested....
You doln't have to get arrested.
Pressure Congressional Republicans, especially those who supported Ukraine funding.
Picket, sit in. Call, write.
NOT enough, any more than Biden’s conviction of Trump for treason was enough!
Perfect analogy!
It is cleansing of the poor, old and disabled, people of color, immigrants. and
lgbtq people. a combination of eugenics and ethnic cleansing
Similar to what Hitler did.
Agree
Agree
┗(•ˇ_ˇ•)―→ EXACTLY.
The oligarchs follow a morose philosophy of a schmuck named Curtis Yarvin. It's his crazy ideas that are being implemented. Turn all the undesirable citizens (in their minds, those who need assistance of some kind) into bio-diesel. Heinous. Look him up. JD Vance, Peter Thiel, Elon Musk--all fans of Yarvin's manifestos.
Yes. It is obvious that you care about these women. Thank you for your service. Surely you know of others, in particular, Christian Organizations who care enough to treat the root causes, rather than symptoms and consequences, making them dependent on Government programs.
I have spent years helping "troubled people" and those in prison. It is a fact that those who have help when they get out of prison are much less likely to return.
And I must apologize for those "Christians" who have made other "priorities" for their time and money, so that there is a need for the Government to "fill in the gap." That is not how it should be, especially in America!
Exactly what is wrong with “government programs”?
Theoretically and inherently nothing. But can you name me one Government Program that has fulfilled its purpose without substantial "unintended consequences?" Philosophically, I am a "Libertarian," and I believe in the 10th Amendment: All Powers not specified in the Constitution are reserved for the States and for the People.
People dependent upon the Government are not "Free."
You know, I wish people like you would instead give a little thought to the not so 'unintended consequences' of arbitrarily cancelling government programs. Trump and Musk are authoritarians and people like you are their enablers.
The status quo is unacceptable. If Trump and Co. act without "common sense," that is very unacceptable. Yes, I am responsible for what Trump is doing and I will personally hold him accountable!
Government Programs must be replaced by efficient, honest and above all, Constitutional alternatives.
Yes - Medicare, on which my husband and I depend. As HCR often points out, there are two main camps with differing views on government -- one that it should be small and everyone must be self sufficient like they mythical cowboy OR that government exists to be of service to everyone. The playing field is not level in America and things happen to people that were not their fault (ex: my very active husband diagnosed with ALS and now dependent in ways he never could have imagined). Are we for the common good or an "I'm all right, Jack" society? I agree that real fraud or waste should be rooted out -- but what percentage of that is there really -- and are we willing to abandon millions of people to cut of the waste of a small number?
No one should be abandoned!!!!! With Blessings comes responsibility to share those Blessings and to "Care."
You have taken the lazy, Libertarian shortcut of lumping all government "programs in one bucket to be dumped on the trash pile. So how long of a list do you want? State and local governments, too?
Better yet, why don't you turn the unused portions of your brain and your Libertarian comrades and actually think of those that do work? What is your time limit for unintended consequences? 10 years ? 20 years? Which crystal ball or algorithm do you use? Your use of the 10th Amendment is predictable and lazy. An unintended consequence of the 10th made the 14th then the CRA necessary when states were the bad actors. But maybe those were intended but unspoken consequences.
So get your friends out of their shelters and start thinking. And start with your states in which you place reliance.
Thank you! An excellent explanation and take-down of the fallacies of libertarianism.
Wondering if the 12 who have "liked" your post so far understand you stand with the Trump/Musk dumpster fire.
I am responsible for what they are doing and I WILL HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE! I never said that I agree with everything they are doing. But, the status quo was destroying us.
No, the "status quo" was keeping us safer than this shitstorm.
Are you going to pay back the debt?
And explain how you will “hold them accountable” now that you have invited them into the White House? Oops, unintended consequence: you cannot.
Ever seen "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington?" Just needs to be adapted to today. "you cannot?" I can try!
What do you mean by this? I didn't feel one iota of my life being destroyed under Biden. What I see now is the worst of the worst put in cabinet positions, add in kookoo musk, and the dismantling of my revered democracy....
What’s destroying us is what’s going on right now.
You've repeated a couple of times that you will hold them accountable. Exactly how does that work?
If I had not voted, I would have no right to complain. Since I am responsible, I will confront them for their actions, especially if they are not doing what they promised, or if they are not doing it according to the authority given them by our Constitution. If they are taking away my Power, I will demand to be given it back: Face to face if necessary.
how are you going to hold them accountable? Really?
Christian Nationalist troll?
Name-calling is for those who don't have an argument.
I think the country can address root causes AND have government programs. Upstream and downstream care for people are not mutually exclusive, nor do they cancel each other out, or make one dependent on the other. Sure it would be great to be so successful at eradicating root causes that we don’t need government programs, but cancelling those programs first doesn’t help. Thank you for speaking out against “Christians” with other priorities.
🤔🤨🙄
It’s so bad but Shame vibrates low like those who should be ashamed for being asleep or being ok with destruction. Maybe be astonished and activated by some healthy anger and sadness with conditions. Lots of emotions but we gotta vibrate integrity by watching ourselves not slide. Brene Brown will tell you that shame never helps. We will rise to the occasion of overturning as your own service proves. Thank you for you relentless work!!
They take such glee in their cruelty and abandonment of people who need government services. All while Musk sucks at the teat of government money.
Well said!
Thank You for your important service, Sophia. To better understand what's going on, or to guess what is going to happen next, I ask myself, "What would Putin do?" Trumputin would...
You are an angel. I hope your labors aren't cut short because these boneheads.
Thank you for your good work.
AMEN, brother!
America hatred to the calling card of the left. The left destroys EVERYTHING IT TOUCHES:
- Inner Cities
- Speech
-School
-Media
-Academia
-Race Relations
-Military
Name ONE thing the left has made better. Its on a suicide mission to destroy America.
Michael & Joyce - These Neanderthals want to go back to the days where armies raped, pillaged and blundered; eg, Putin’s thugs in Ukraine and Bucha. They have ZERO regard for The Law of Armed Conflict. https://www.icrc.org/sites/default/files/external/doc/en/assets/files/other/law1_final.pdf
This of course fits with the White-Nationalist Christofascist view of women: your body, my choice.
Pi Day! 3/14! True conservatives need to abandon MAGA, form a new conservative party and caucus with Ds to save Pax Americana and our grand experiment!
Michael Moore had an interesting piece in I think substack on Overwhelm Overreach Overthrown. I think he agrees with you.
Michael good to read your comment & your personal testimony from the US Army JAGC perspective. "Thank you for your Service" just doesn't cut-it as a compliment to the the dedicated lawyers & "most Senior" JAGS of the Army Navy & Air Force that were fired.
The U.S. Army Advocate Generals have a legal history of prosecuting war criminals in Europe & Japan after WWII.
JAG also created the armistice that ended the Korean War. The fired JAGS nor any military lawyers will be drafting any armistice ending Putin's attack(s) on Ukraine.
DJT Wreck & hopefully a sober Hegseth are not creating a war ethic; they are getting rid of any legal guardrails or control over war crimes protected by SCOTUS autocratic immunity ruling of Trump II overt Acts.
This will not stand.
That is exactly what they are doing. Making themselves unaccountable for anything they want to do to anyone anywhere.
As I was leaving for Army JAG school (long ago), I needed a local judge to sign off for my notary license. The judge was pleased to talk to someone going off to JAG, and he told me of his experience with the war crime trials in Nuremberg. It gave me perspective and insight into what I was about to undertake.
Hegseth should not have fired those fine individuals. What a disgrace.
Maybe in yours. I hope so. I’m 76 and don’t expect it in mine. Are you in your 20s?
I am 77 and this $hit is renewing my goals exercising more etc because damn if I die on his watch.
We should all survive him. He is not a spring chicken.
Me, too! 👍🏻
Me too.
70’s
Yep, 72.
Me three
Thank you for your service and your informational comment. My uncle was a JAG in the Marine Corps and if he were still alive, he'd be absolutely outraged by what's happening to our country. It's horrifying...
I have a band buddy who was a USMC JAG. She is horrified.
I am so happy to hear about your experience. I believe very strongly in accepting people for who they are. Good people deserve to be accepted and treasured.
Michael,
First, allow me to express profound gratitude for your service and dedication to our country.
Second, please tell we what would happen if trump ordered the military to subdue citizens who are peacefully demonstrating against the Trump government.
Thank you,
Doc
Thank you sir! I too hope we can make it through this nightmare in my lifetime! My son was a Naval officer and test pilot who looked up to so many of his superior officers. He was killed on his motorcycle in 2015 but I can only imagine what he would be saying right now!
I am very sorry for your loss.
Michael, My friend's daughter is US Airforce JAG. I wonder what is happening to her. I assume she is losing her job. Her son, who was a Marine colonel, retired last year at a young age, from a life mostly abroad. He got out just in time.
Upon reading the first chapter I read in Project 2025, which was The Department of Education I said, if enacted, this is the model for turning the US into a third world country. Already by destroying the education system there was a model for a dumbed down population to be used as unskilled, almost slave labor. Then when we got to reading about the Intelligence community and military, I could see it was a model for destroying the safety of the USA. If North Korea were to launch a nuclear missile against the USA, the intelligence community would not know about it, and the military would not be prepared for it, at least Hegseth would not.
I have noticed that Trump has not called on the military yet, and I knew that was because he had not had a chance to fire the leadership and install his own leadership. We will have to hope that the rank and file stand up for the constitution under pressure of losing their jobs if they do.
If I were Zelenskyy or a European Union country I would be hiring all of the people who were just fired to come work in Ukraine. Not just in the military but in the intelligence community too. Such wisdom should not go to waste.
Now we have to count on the military.
The main purpose of destroying learning and free-thinking is that an ignorant, uneducated electorate is easily manipulated.
I got that. It's back to the slave days.
The very notion of Pete Hegseth calling the lady Admiral "another inexperienced first" is so patently ludicrous that it defies explanation.
If ANYONE is "inexperienced" it is Hegseth himself who is nothing but a drunken Fox Snooze hack.
Moron? Pete has a BA from Princeton, MA from Harvard. A volunteer, he fought
in two tours of duty, he was a Captain in the Army, and received a bronze star.
He has continued to support the military and combat veterans.
YOU COULDN'T HOLD PETE HEGSETH's jock strap. For intelligence or courage.
It's a coup. Leaving no one standing guard. If they fire enough people, hijack social security, stop the food supply at the farms, etc-- in other words, leave everyone impoverished, they think we'll crawl to them for protection. I think, if the do this, they'll be in for a big surprise. Republican voters in Oregon, Wisconsin, Tennessee and elsewhere are booing their congressional reps at Town Hall meetings.
Count even Georgia in on that too
Yes! That was wonderful to watch!
And Trump‘s thuggish followers are out there ready to intimidate people who resist the coup. It’s quite possible that Thom Tillis voted for Kash Patel, who will doubtless destroy the FBI, to head the FBI because he was getting death threats.
That is what could happen in Ukraine too. Not to mention my own country Canada.
That is what is happening to Ukraine. Read Olga Lautman's Russia Watch Substack today. Trump is not only destroying the US, but western Europe too. While I have heard it claimed that Peter Thiel is the mastermind behind all of this destruction, I believe Trump and Putin have worked on this together too.
https://open.substack.com/pub/olgalautman/p/russian-digest-f66?r=f0qfn&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
What is going on with Ukraine and Russia is terrifying. All of these illiberal nations now have Trump on their side.
It’s about time- open your eyes and ears Republicans…
About time
How do you know that they are Republican voters? Protesting at the town halls.
I saw a repost from Amy McGrath saying when you start firing the military’s lawyers it means you are getting ready to tell the military to do unlawful things. And I imagine declaring martial law is in there somewhere.
"...when you start firing the military’s lawyers it means you are getting ready to tell the military to do unlawful things." Absolutely!
And Amy's not alone:
"The unexplained dismissals prompted widespread concern. “In some ways that’s even more chilling than firing the four stars,” Rosa Brooks, a professor at Georgetown Law, wrote on X. “It’s what you do when you’re planning to break the law: you get rid of any lawyers who might try to slow you down.” NYT today
I agree with what you said, but it is martial law. And it very well could happen.
Thank you for correcting me of course it is!
I'm sure that's what Trump thinks it is...which would be funny if his ignorance, greed, and fragile ego weren't driving America into a dangerous era.
I am putting my faith in the judges....
I am very glad we still have the judges, but I do not expect their decisions to make any difference. They will not be honored.
That’s my fear, too.
I wish I could say the same.
Is there a way for me to correct it? I don’t think so. :(
Karen,look to the far right of you post. There are 3 buttons there. Hit them and you’ll see the edit button, which will allow you to make the correction.
Thank you. I was looking for the three dots at the top!
Karen,look to the far right of you nene. There are 3 buttons there. Hit them and you’ll see the edit button, which will allow you to make the correction.
Find the three vertical dots in upper right corner of your post. Click that, click edit, and edit away. Easy peasy.
These don't allow me to edit on my phone! But I can on the computer.
Thank you
Marge Three Names always writes “Marshall Law” when she posts something to do with it, and I ask myself, “Is she referring to John Marshall, Thurgood Marshall, Owen Marshall Attorney at Law, Marshall Crenshaw or The Marshall Tucker Band?”
😆
😂😂😂
🤣🤣🤣
*martial law
Karen - Amy McGrath: Fighter Pilot! is correct! These Neanderthals want to go back to the days where armies raped, pillaged and blundered; eg, Putin’s thugs in Ukraine and Bucha. They have ZERO regard for The Law of Armed Conflict. https://www.icrc.org/sites/default/files/external/doc/en/assets/files/other/law1_final.pdf
The question is how will the country ultimately respond? What happens next? Are far right-wing militias the only fervent Second Amendment supporters who are devoted to and "love" their country... more specifically, their Constitution? I doubt it.
Very Interesting. Would like to know more about this.
At this point, every past military general has skin in the game and we should hear from all of them. The Cavalry charge should be playing.
Not to be nit-picky but would be "Cavalry."
The dereliction of duty shown by Trump and his bootlicking lackeys is horrifying. Putin and Xi are beside themselves with glee at the destruction of our nation. Gird your loins, fellow citizens, we’re in for a very rough ride.
So why isn't anyone calling out trump's treason?
We are! But who’s going to prosecute? The DOJ? FBI? Supreme Court? The military was MY last hope; now, I’m just not sure.
He is immune from prosecution as per the current SCOTUS.
Sorry but I'm not hearing the word "treason" applied here. It is a word that even may make the MAGA-world wake up and pay attention....
Treason is implied when, today, one mentions DOJ, FBI, Supreme Court, or simply MAGA. I thought that was understood.
Who do you suggest? Who with any power or influence? Those who COULD stop him refuse to.
To whom? He's got the justice dept locked.
Apart from the fact that treason is technically about aiding and abetting the enemy during war time, It seems to me that the proper response to treason is firing squad. I would personally love to see a circular firing squad of all trump's lackeys with trump in the middle of course. I'm betting that they all have pretty bad aim, especially Hegseth when he's hung over. That could take care of a lot of our problems…
Said firing squad would wipe out quite many. Where do you draw the line?
My mantra, and I’m thinking it should be for all DEIs: ‘May You Have the Confidence of a Mediocre White Man’
So incredibly sad that by the luck of the electoral college we are being ‘led’ by a moron whose only focus is himself and his self aggrandizement.
Dianne - All they have is a gerrymandate!
It is even worse. He is not just focusing on himself. He is destroying who he thinks may get in his way.
True for sure, but the motivation is still himself and his own life. And along with that he is destroying the country. Since he lies every time he speaks nobody will trust what is left of the federal government. It will take years to recover from this debasement
Your comment is perfect.
I am a female engineer entrepreneur who started a cybersecurity company in 2000. After presenting to a potential customer, they said, “Next time bring your guy.” So I brought a 19 year old electrical engineer employee to the second meeting. I did the talking and he said nothing at the meeting. They patted him on the back as he left and said ,” You are the strong silent type.” We got the contract. Sadly nothings changed!
🙏Joyce for inspiring resistance!
I am so sorry and infuriated!!!
I hope you made an extraordinary profit from that boorish customer. In all the sales calls I made where I was the (systems) engineer, I thankfully never witnessed behavior that obnoxious.
That is so sad! I am also a female engineer (with a PhD in a branch of engineering) but I have struggled my entire career. I am retired now and happy that I don’t have to deal with it anymore.
You are amazing! Sadly, there remains a dearth of female engineers! I had corrected my comment just after posting…I am not an engineer, which was an autofill mistake. But I founded two cyber companies, beginning in 2000.
You have achieved so much! It doesn’t matter if you are an engineer or not. You led a company that attracted customers and made sales. They saw a successful woman entrepreneur, and yet they had doubts until they saw a ‘guy’ in the meeting. It is sad and infuriating. I never got promoted to a management position. I even got an MBA while working as an engineer. The company paid for me and my classmates who were also employees, but after I got the MBA I tried for higher positions but never got one.
I heard that women were moving into other fields because they experienced discrimination in engineering. I think they can experience discrimination in any field. Womens salaries have been lower than men’s. Obama and Biden tried to level those.
I knew that Kamala Harris would have a tough time getting elected to the highest office but I was hoping that the country had progressed enough to choose her over an extremely flawed white male.
With Trump in the WH it could get worse for women.
Being an engineer was slow torture for years. It affected me, but I couldn’t quit the job(s) because I needed the money to survive. Only after retirement I recovered my self esteem but it took some time.
You are so brave! You started your own companiesI am sure you inspired others- women and men. We need women like you who can overcome obstacles and be successful.
DISGUSTING
Great story.
Dang, Suzanne. I'm glad you got the contract, and I sure hope it was worth it. And I hope you charged them double!
Democrats in both houses had better make some big noise and attract a LOT of attention. A LOT of attention😠 and soon⌛️⌛️⌛️
Blanket them with your calls and emails, even if you are in a red state
If you are in a red state, like I am with no Dem reps, I just borrow someone else’s. I call Dem senators / reps from other states. One of my messages is: Do NOT bail the GOP out on any of the budget stuff. Do nothing. Sit on your hands. Since they have this “huge mandate” let them pass it on their own. Which they won’t. Then let the gov’t shutdown and maybe ensuing default be their fault alone.
It will cause great pain - and they don’t care.
In a solid blue state with great senators, I call republican senators on committees to remind them that, in that role, I have an interest I what they do.
Grateful
Call your Republican members of congress!! Sure, right now they are in lockstep with Trump, but if the get overwhelmed with calls from constituents, whom they were elected to support, then maybe they will start getting a backbone and do what they were elected to do!
And call Republican House and Senate members. Google Republican House Conference and Senate Conference. There are links to their websites and office locations. Same for Senate and House committees. They need to hear from us.
Don't hold your breath. Democrats will take it in the shorts until it kills the democracy.
They/we are doing all we can. Have you noticed we don’t control either branch of congress, the presidency, or the court. We have few options.
Stop, Ken. I'm on your side, doing all I can, too. But you have to admit we never fight back commensurately with the onslaught we face.
We have the majority
We get it. You don't like Democrats. So you ignore and/or dismiss all they do. While giving Republicans a free pass.
I've thought this for some time but I get "righter" every day: we need all the former presidents still living to hold a prime time press conference together to tell the people that THIS IS A COUP and what needs to be done. Wish Carter was still alive.
Why haven’t they spoken up? They should by now! What’s holding them back?
Not sure, except that it would be a historically unprecedented thing to do (which is why it might be effective IMO). Bush, Clinton, Obama (other Bush and Carter would have made the presentation that much stronger) together telling the people. . . great visual. And I've heard that even W is appalled by all of this, so I don't know. Seems like the kind of venue and subject where Clinton and Obama--the orators--would shine.
We are witnessing the death of democracy and the United States by politeness. "It isn't done." "We have to work with them." etc etc etc Dems have never been able to muster the guts to go for the jugular and they haven't started now, with a few exceptions. They truly seem clueless about the emergency. They should just go home (and stop taking taxpaid salaries). Let this be all on Republican heads.
Have you noticed how Trump treats those who disagree with him?
Timothy Snyder's book On Tyranny speaks to this, is a quick read, and states the number 1 rule is Do Not Obey In Advance. Traitor is hoping his behavior intimidates the hell out of us. Don't let him. In my long life, I'm a female in my 70s, I've found the only thing that stops a bully is giving them back what they dish out & stand your ground. Always.
We found the contact forms for Presidents Obama, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush and asked them why they have been silent in this dangerous time for our country, urging them to say something. So far, no reply from any of them. How very disappointing and infuriating.
Could you share how to contact the former Presidents? Here is how to contact your representatives, including attorney generals. https://5calls.org/
Interesting.
Continue to fight back. Senators and congressmen/women are becoming increasingly disturbed by all this. Write them and call them. Even if you are in a red state. Our country has become an embarrassment, rouge state thanks to Russian election interference, musk buying the Pennsylvania votes, and millions of people who did not vote.
Call ESPECIALLY if you are in a red state. Call red state congressmen from your blue state phones. Just fricking CALL.
This free app has the issues and phone nos you need. Amazing tool. https://5calls.org/
Yup. Exactly. Light up the lines.
We broke the phone system a week or so ago. It got their attention. And the media's.
Thank you.
I agree Linda- and don’t forget the false information from fox, musk and Putin. So many veterans and current military members voted for this draft dodging putin puppet felon grifter with no loyalty to his MAGA cult.
Simon Rosenberg at Hopium Chronicles has a target list of 17 at-risk Republican House members he is seeking support for. Check it out. There's a list of the states too. I don't know that there is any way to stop civil war here now unless everyone just lays down and dies but if you want to fight this is one way to be active.
The republicans in Congress need to hear it from us. They have the power to shut down this nonsense. My biggest concern is that in the midterm elections we may not get the results we want. I don’t believe those elections will be fair.
I'm not sure this one was! I never will be sure of an election again. And I think that is part of the point to the madness.
"Rogue" state. Although the color rouge sure describes our adversaries!
My husband is a 26 year AF veteran. He did not sleep last night because he was so f-ing angry. I have never seen him so upset.
He SHOULD be that upset. My husband and I are USAF vets, too, 30 years between us, and we're not sleeping well, either.
Trying to think of how the founders could have invented a system that would have avoided this takeover. Putting the commander-in-chief in another branch would not work.
The world has changed. But the electoral college was always antidemocratic. And the whole thing depends on having people of character running things -- Republicans haven't had any character for a long time now. I wish we'd stop calling their party Republican; it isn't; it's just MAGA.
Prelude to Martial Law attempt. If we don’t push back hard and fast, we will soon be in deep trouble.
We ARE in deep trouble. Not soon. NOW. And since we have so little influence in the government (as noted above), we will have very few options. If the Republicans cannot or will not use the 25th amendment to stop this conflagration, we will be in the streets in April. I hope it will be peaceful, but I am not confident of that.
Dems need to let the pugs shut down the government and see how that's going to work out. What is most unbelievable is that the budget they cobbled together includes a $4.5 trillion tax cut for the billionaires in broad daylight!
You are right that we must push back but I don’t know how.
There are suggestions in some of the other comments that may help. I, along with thousands of others, called and emailed my senators and representatives here in Virginia. It collectively seemed to make a difference as the following week they were all out being quite vocal at the protests in Washington, D.C. and on the news. I saw comments encouraging that action and I'm glad I did and continue to do even in other states.
This is not only frightening, but heartbreaking. Everything we know as decent & legal is just wiped out. Our safety in all matters can no longer be possible. He is even threatening Ukraine for something he personally wants . What can we do to help. I think impeachment is really in order, but Congress is not functioning for us. I’m 92 years old, have lived under 9 presidents & never seen anything like this. May God help us, there seems to be no one else.
"May God help us, there seems to be no one else."
We are helping each other. I find a lot of elderly people, who have more time, making phone calls and even attending meetings and protests. Each of us can do something, according to our abilities. And if you cannot do something now, we're resisting in your name also.
Thank you for this kind response.
I have a glimmer of hope that if the assault continues at this pace, a few Republicans will awake from their stupor and think about two things: their grandchildren, and their obituaries.
It takes only a few GOP representatives to push through an impeachment. And this time, about 15 GOP senators might just get it that their constituents are unhappy with where things are heading. We have so much more true legal ammunition than we did for Trump 45-- there is actual treason in the wind now, as well as many domestic laws being flagrantly broken.
Tragic, yes, but irreparable in your lifetime (or mine). At 92, you should find peace wherever you can and just try to forget this.
I certainly never got released from my Oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and DOMESTIC.
Same here, Amanda.
Same here Amanda.
Do these officers have any recourse? Does the law permit these firings for no reason? What about their veteran’s benefits…do they keep those? I didn’t know you could “fire” military people. I thought it was by court martial, but different with civilians? This is FUBAR.
I’m sure they do. But Caine is going to get a good and unnecessary boost in his pay.
As usual the steps taken by the Administration are illegal. Qualifications criteria for the Chairman are not met with the nominee.
The president can nominate a gorilla; it was up to the Republican Senate to stop this. But they all consented.
Trump can fix that. Re-up and get a promotion.