It is also of course to distract from Jack Smith's testimony. Right now people in the US and Venezuela are both being robbed blind by Donald Trump.
Today is the Paper Clip Protest day. Wear a paper clip in your lapel or on your shirt, or wear a chain of them and take a pic of yourself and send it to a few people, asking them to do the same.
If Joyce wants the position, she'd be phenomenal. But does she want to take it after what she's been through? Does she want to take it, considering the threats from the trump cult?
I don't know how anyone can forget January 6, especially if you've listened to any of the police officers involved, like Michael Fanone and Harry Dunn. I see men like them as the heroes of that day, and they have not quit speaking out, for which I am grateful. We need more purveyors of the truth.
I never will. I live on Capitol Hill, and I remember the sirens wailing in at about 12 noon, and not stopping until the Virginia National Guard and the DC Metropolitan Police finally put a stop to it all long after darkness fell.
I knew it was bad then. I just didn't know how bad. Thugs, goons and loons who tried to kill people, who smeared shit on the walls of Congress, who waved confederate battle flags and wore “Camp Auschwitz” sweatshirts weren’t being guided, led, enlisted, radicalized, and delegated by any humble servant of the people fighting for election integrity, but by a criminal scumbag who SHOULD have been removed by the Senate the first time around, tried, convicted and jailed.
There’s only one reason we are now living through this vile, sadistic nightmare and it has REPUBLICAN written all over it.
I was home, still afraid of covid, and looking forward to the vote count, as it would rid us of this thug. I watched Mitch McConnell opening remarks, and thought something seemed wrong about him. Maybe he felt ill, maybe he was just sad at the loss, but thst didn't seem a sufficient cause for his air of resignation. I think he had some idea what was coming, though I doubt anyone would have imagined it.
What followed was horror, as there was live feed from reporters, and we were up late waiting for the count to finalize after the worthless idiots were removed from our Capital.
Then the disclosure of just how bad it was.
And the American people are so stupid, so easy to lie to, that they made the vote close enough that monster could steal the 2024 election. And it was stolen, thanks to Elon, who remains unscathed and profiteering to this day, after illegally gutting our government and stealing data.
Thanks, but I personally was in no danger (though I had been warned by a friend to “stay away” from Congress that day. There are two parts to the Hill — the west side (where all demonstrations, ceremonies, fireworks, events take place) and the east side — a quiet, residential section that includes the Jefferson Library buildings, the Supreme Court, and a lot of families, porches, dogs (cats too 😺) and kids. We could not see, but we could hear.
I pray for his removal daily (among other things I won't mention.) How can ANYONE support this clown? A national disgrace who needs to be removed sooner rather than later.
Anne Appelbaum's "Twilight of Democracy: The Seductive Lure of Authoritarianism" (2020) provides a comprehensive, multi-national answer to your question.
It is not an easy, breezy read but it is well worth the effort.
You might agree—I’m adding here to clarify. I found Twilight of Democracy to be easy to read in the sense that it was well written and well told. It has a memoir feel to it. I suppose it is a memoir, in that she’s describing in a deeply personal way the shifting attitudes of political operatives with whom she’s acquainted. It’s an expose’ if you will of human nature within the ranks of political influencers.
I ask the same question daily: What kind of person would vote for, support, and condone the behavior of DJT....? This isn't a question of having political differences of opinion. This is about moral integrity and the frightening reality that MAGA lacks it.
Cindy: I totally agree with you especially your observation that "This is about moral integrity and the frightening reality that MAGA lacks it."
A nation cannot claim moral superiority when their leader has NO moral or ethical compass, no empathy for others, and, basically, either no soul or a very dark one.
Not "Hang in everybody." I say: "Hang Trump." Putting him in jail at taxpayers expense is not fair punishment for his crimes. I was banned from , then, Twitter, for writing he should be "tarred and feathered." I changed my mind.
No need to become as cruel as he is - tempting though it is.
Left on a desert island with just a big pile of educational books, and a weekly delivery of healthy food, no contact with the outside world would do for me.
You are too kind. My other fantasy is loads of military transports full of MAGAts, to some remote island, with lots of ammunition and not quite enough food.
I have long imagined him being dragged behind a diesel pickup blowing coal on washboard back roads in west Texas. The modern American version of drawn and quartered.
OMG! As a youngster I wanted the death penalty abolished. I definitely have had a change of heart. I thought my post would be crucified. It warms my heart to see how many of you agree!! THANK YOU!!
Take a A Quick Look at the history on final chapters for major autocrats… Mussolini- shot by a partisan, hitler killed himself in a bunker rather than be captured… jail was not in the picture for them. And given Trump’s age and poor health… hmmm
But he’s dangerous now so we must pay attention and take peaceful effective action to counter
A doctor told him he needed to rest more and work less, as his health was failing.
The doctor was arrested and charged with working as a spy for British intelligence.
Stalin had been waging a witch hunt against Kremlin physicians, many of whom were Jewish, claiming they murdered top Soviet officials in a “doctors' plot. The trial against the Kremlin doctors was to commence within weeks.
Khrushchev was expecting Stalin to call to extend an invitation for that evening. But Stalin did not call him, or anyone else for that matter. He didn’t ring for food, nor had the sensors installed in Stalin’s rooms detected movement.
It took until around 10:30 at night for someone to check.
When the guards found him stroked out on the floor, they were going to call a doctor - but decided to call Beria first.
When they EVENTUALLY got hold of Beria, he told them to tell NOBODY of Stalin's illness.
Beria told people that Stalin's stroke snore was because he was "sleeping soundly" and shouldn't be wakened.
Because of the "Doctor's Plot " trial coming up, they were afraid to call a doctor in case he woke up.
Stalin's inner circle was so accustomed to his minute control that they could barely function on their own.
Next morning the called the Minister of Health to choose a doctor to send. He didn't want to, once again because of the "Doctor's Trial", not because he was scared for the doctors. but because Stalin might accuse HIM of being involved. He did eventually get a team to go in.
They had to examine him, but their hands were too shaky. To make it worse, the dentist took out his dentures, and dropped and broke them by accident. They ordered complete quiet, put leeches behind his ears, a cold compress on his head and recommended he not eat.
Ironically, those consulted actually did include several imprisoned Kremlin doctors. One, a pathologist named Aleksandr Myasnikov, said he was mid-interrogation when his captors suddenly started asking for medical advice instead.
That was all the treatment he received until March 5th when he vomited blood and his stomach started hemorrhaging, Then he died.
Well maybe Trump will follow the same trajectory. All of his doctors say that he's in excellent health... He can't bear to hear anything other than he the best, the healthiest, the richest, the smartest - keep telling him that doctors.
Are you joking? Demolish Mara-Lago. Bulldoze it....there might be some bodies under there. No post mortum honors what so ever. Remove his name from everything!!
You can’t until I go first. Number II. I even emailed the Guinness Book of World Records and told them I would be the first. I care for a bunch of cats so I will need to create funds to care for them as I am arrested for desecration of a president’s grave. Then have an attorney to go my bail and defend me in court. My story will go viral and my book will finally achieve notoriety. I’ll take the book profits and buy my long awaited animal rescue farm. Animals are more important into me in my life than humans. But you will be most welcome to come and visit.
All the people who critize me here are of no interest because I just don’t care much for humans. I have had a great affinity for animals all my life. When I encountered an animal, I immediately interact with them. But not with humans. Sorry human.
I tolerate humans. I have liked a few. But I totally agree that Animals are the best. I have often remarked that if humans were removed from the planet, it may become Shangri-La. ...of course, unless it is already too lake . I take my hat off to you, sir!
Thank you, Joyce. We will never forget. We will keep actively remembering this horrific assault on our country and the rule of law by the criminal D J Trump, and his enablers. And we will work for accountability, justice and a new day.
Bookmark Megan Rothery's legislators' contact list so that you have it handy for contacting your reps, as well as those Republican reps even if they don't represent you.
I hate to ever disagree with anything Joyce Vance writes/says, but it's incorrect that "Donald Trump is the President no one has ever said “no” to in a big way." The American people said no in a pretty damn big way on Nov 3, 2020. But that was before.
Unfortunately, we elected a replacement who was so much a creature of the 'go along to get along" political system that he couldn't bring himself to actually confront what he had defeated. Biden and his AG Merrick Garland brought about the results of 2024 as surely as Trump created J6. Joe may be a nice guy, a good and decent man, but when push came to shove he went squish. I was right not to want him the first two times he ran. He was the DC Establishment's candidate in 2020, to cut off any real reckoning with how corrupt the entire system is now.
This, exactly. Tom nails it; at a time we needed a tough guy- we had a nice one instead.
I'll never forget the day the Supine Court handed immunity to Presidents, (as in ALL Presidents) Joe responded immediately, that very day, "I'll never use it."
The tradition of giving candidates their turn at bat solely as a reward for years of service should end. Now.
This blog by Joyce shows the same kind of astute thinking and writing of all of her blogs, but for some reason I find the clarity and reasoning of this particular example of her commentary skill, particularly brilliant! We are so fortunate to have Joyce and her analyses available to us here...
David, yep, Trump and his entire toddler pool are racists, misogynists, and homo/transphobes. They are mostly pseudochristians who like the word christian, but not the part about loving one's neighbor, and neighbor means everyone. There is nothing positive they have to offer anyone except maybe, the KKK and its affiliates and we don't need any of that in leadership anywhere. The racists etc. prove every day just how unworthy they are to even be in the presence of the rest of us. They ignore their oaths of office and just don't care, as the officers of the Confederacy did. Back in 1860, they decided they would rather have slavery than to stand up as an American, and were made heroes when they were really traitors, just as Trump and his boys and girls of the toddler pool are. Their current cause in addition to the racism, misogyny, etc. is acquisition of money and power they don't deserve.
David, but of course, like everything else the Klan blurts out, it was a lie. They helped to create a religion that thought killing people they didn't like or who did things not approved for non-white men was not only fine, but essential. That is in no sense Christianity, even though a bunch of scared white people and white wannabees cling to it. Actual Christianity is difficult because love is hard, especially when it is not reciprocated. Hate is a whole lot easier for many, even though it eats at a person's insides in ways love does not do.
Religion itself is a cult, based on iron-age mythology and used as a means of controlling people. Misused as it tends to be, religion becomes a cult within another cult.
Humans are the only animals I know of that have the capability to sincerely believe things which are not true and can't be proven by any means whatsoever.
Probably more people have been killed in the name of "god" than by any other excuse.
I "liked" this because you speak the truth. But, IMO, it's usually not the "religion" that is at fault. Most of the so-called "founders" of such things taught us good behavior. It's the people that took up the religions and twisted them for their own selfish depraved purposes that are the "cult". That corruption might have started with some of the "disciples" and much later the "Crusaders".
I'm an atheist who respects any religion or "faith" that helps the Earth and its inhabitants. There are a few "Christians" who fit that description. I wish they were louder and would make "some good trouble". I remember priests and ministers and rabbis walking in peace marches during Vietnam. Now, with a few exceptions (Pavlovitz), they are complicit in the horrors unfolding around us.
Correct me if I am wrong, but I don't think Jesus (if he was real) would have endorsed dishonesty, theft, corruption, brutality, cruelty, racism and pedophilia. So what's going on here, "Christians"?
David, it is sad, because so many of those folks have low-paying jobs and work many hours a week over the usual 40. They are too lazy to challenge their Baby Donnie and can't decide for themselves that this regime is wrecking their lives. They cling to it like a drowning person to a piece of driftwood. If they would just turn around or stop to think, they would see that they are in shallow water and could stand up and walk if they chose to let go of a jerk who has only contempt for them.
It is a vast entertainment for them. They know he’s a conman, somehow are willing to be conned; audience to the Reality Show, Upping the Libs. Truly the Dumbing of America
I'm not a big fan of Mike Pence, but we have to recognize that had he disgraced himself on January 6 and obsequiously succumbed to Trump's demand that he refuse to certify the Electoral College vote, the scheme that Trump and his co-conspirators were ready to spring on the American people to prop him back up in the White House for the next four years could very well have succeeded. This was, indeed, another day of infamy when our country came within seconds of losing our democracy, and our collective soul.
We are on that precipice again today, but I see only groveling sycophants within Trump's administration and the Republican Party who are willing to allow this same Donald J. Trump to fulfill every visceral urge within him to amass domestic and world power to gratify his craving for world admiration and glorification.
It was a joy to see the UN Security Council excoriate Dumpty on Monday. Even the hypocritical Russians got in some insincere good licks.
The condemnation was unanimous. Humiliating for Americans in general because like it or no, Dumpty 'represents' us to the rest of the world, and that is an actual disgrace.
I actually believe it may have been better for this country if trump had been re-elected in 2020. The authors of Project 2025 wouldn't have had 4 additional years to plot and plan, and install the anti-democratic ghouls into his cabinet. Musk might not have figured into the equation, nor make DOGE a reality. trump would be done (8 yrs), and maybe more Americans would understand the value of participating in our democracy.
I'm part of an international group of about 140 people who traveled the world together 41 years ago. It was around this date that we were getting set to meet each other for the first time. I'm now on the committee to organize our reunion, which has always been well attended - most of us have stayed very close. It's set to occur in Munich this summer, to accommodate our European members. Now, it seems to be questionable whether it will happen. Rising prices, concerns over international travel, and of course, individual political differences are tamping down enthusiasm. But most painful of all, are our European castmates, who are so disturbed by the actions of the US government, that they are reluctant to attend, and I can't blame them.
I know many families have been torn apart, and this family, because we are a family, is being torn apart as well. Covid disrupted a couple of our reunions, but we fought through that. Now I fear, if we miss this reunion, it will spell the end for any future gatherings. We're all in our 60s, and these divisions will not be easily healed.
I'm heartbroken. And angry. And lost. But I'll keep fighting, if only for my children and grandchildren's sake. 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈🇺🇲😢
WE watched January 6th unfold before our eyes that day. I had been teaching that day online when one of my students told me the Capitol was being attacked. I couldn't believe it , so ran to turn on my TV and my student was correct. We talked about it. The students were horrified as was I. They asked me if I had heard of any other time when the Capitol was stormed like that. I mentioned the burning of the Capitol and other government buildings by the British army in 1814. It was a war-related event. This attack was not. Of course we learned as time went along that Trump had incited the insurrection from his speech near the white house, something he should never have done, but alas, as Joyce says here, no one seems to be able to say NO to our Baby Donnie, a whiny toddler-man who thinks, like all bratty toddlers that he should be able to do and say whatever he wants and get away with it, mostly because he has. Trump can claim that those insurrectionists who attacked our Capitol were patriots, but like nearly everything else Trump says, is a lie. If we could get people to see that nearly everything Trump says is a lie, we might start getting to a place where we can hold him accountable along with his enablers. Trump's dementia is increasing and making his ability to function more problematic, but everyone around him, including the media all try to pretend Trump is just fine and . . . . He lies about his health too as well as the tests he takes and supposedly aces. No one takes cognitive tests over and over unless there is a problem. There is!
When I have spoken up about the Jan. 6 assault on the capital which I watched from start to finish, I am admonished by Republicans and MAGA who say that what I watched had been highly edited by Democrats to appear worse than it was. I watched every second and my eyes weren’t fooled by any edits.
Same here -- I flicked the tv on and was riveted for the next several hours -- it was unfolding - in real time. It's the GOP that's trying so hard to "edit" the history to make us believe it was a bunch of tourists and a 'day of love'
Lynne, people know that it was Trump and his crazies that attacked our Capitol, Trump, not in person at the Capitol, but inciting from the outside, knowing the Secret Service, even the super loyal ones that would die for him would not permit him to go, as one of Trump's aides reported to the January 6th committee. The Trump toddler pool wants to be able to change history, but they forget that the media and videos etc. that let them muck things up and lie through their teeth to large groups also let large groups see the truth and they know the truth, most of it, and they knew their involvement in it, both the actual event and the attempted revisionist history of all the illegal, treasonous stuff they have been doing. Anyone who watched any of what happened on January 6th first of all, will not forget it, and will not be blaming Democrats for what happened; it was MAGAs who attacked police officers and would have killed any members of congress they found, even Republicans because they wouldn't have known the difference. They almost caught Romney and Lee and some members in the Senate gallery. They would have hanged Mike Pence had they found him and maybe had he gone with the Secret Service guys, he might have been because he didn't trust any of them and rightly so. The Trump white house toddler pool is a gang of liars and disinformationists and should be believed by no one, ever, unless they are threatening to do harm to people who don't deserve their fear and fury. Their intent then might be the truth, maybe.
If we can't have Jamie Raskin for AG in 2029, can we please have Jack Smith for AG?
Here is Lev Shalev saying that the ouster and abduction of Maduro is performance. You can read it or watch it. He is suggesting that Maduro was abducted in exchange for Putin getting Ukraine. He is suggesting that both Russia and China are in on this deal, and that this whole operation was distraction from the fact that the Epstein Files have not been released. https://www.narativ.org/p/new-the-maduro-capture-was-wag-the?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=1581221&post_id=183638513&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=false&r=f0qfn&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email
It is also of course to distract from Jack Smith's testimony. Right now people in the US and Venezuela are both being robbed blind by Donald Trump.
Today is the Paper Clip Protest day. Wear a paper clip in your lapel or on your shirt, or wear a chain of them and take a pic of yourself and send it to a few people, asking them to do the same.
EVERYTHING the mad king does is “performance”.
Nope--there's also theft and revenge.
I wear a paperclip on my collars every day when I'm in the States. If asked, I explain that it's the opposite of a red MAGA hat.
Great idea!
Jack Smith should be the default choice. He's smart, trustworthy, understands what's at stake and isn't going to dilly dally around like Garland did.
Joyce Vance please.
If Joyce wants the position, she'd be phenomenal. But does she want to take it after what she's been through? Does she want to take it, considering the threats from the trump cult?
I very much doubt he would take the position after what he’s been through.
I don't know how anyone can forget January 6, especially if you've listened to any of the police officers involved, like Michael Fanone and Harry Dunn. I see men like them as the heroes of that day, and they have not quit speaking out, for which I am grateful. We need more purveyors of the truth.
I never will. I live on Capitol Hill, and I remember the sirens wailing in at about 12 noon, and not stopping until the Virginia National Guard and the DC Metropolitan Police finally put a stop to it all long after darkness fell.
I knew it was bad then. I just didn't know how bad. Thugs, goons and loons who tried to kill people, who smeared shit on the walls of Congress, who waved confederate battle flags and wore “Camp Auschwitz” sweatshirts weren’t being guided, led, enlisted, radicalized, and delegated by any humble servant of the people fighting for election integrity, but by a criminal scumbag who SHOULD have been removed by the Senate the first time around, tried, convicted and jailed.
There’s only one reason we are now living through this vile, sadistic nightmare and it has REPUBLICAN written all over it.
Specifically, Mitch McConnell. He could have "whipped" his caucus to convict but true to form he acquiesced to his baser instinct, greed & power!
I was home, still afraid of covid, and looking forward to the vote count, as it would rid us of this thug. I watched Mitch McConnell opening remarks, and thought something seemed wrong about him. Maybe he felt ill, maybe he was just sad at the loss, but thst didn't seem a sufficient cause for his air of resignation. I think he had some idea what was coming, though I doubt anyone would have imagined it.
What followed was horror, as there was live feed from reporters, and we were up late waiting for the count to finalize after the worthless idiots were removed from our Capital.
Then the disclosure of just how bad it was.
And the American people are so stupid, so easy to lie to, that they made the vote close enough that monster could steal the 2024 election. And it was stolen, thanks to Elon, who remains unscathed and profiteering to this day, after illegally gutting our government and stealing data.
So much to answer for.
👍🏻👍🏻🎯
AMEN!! Living so close to that awfulness, I'm glad you are okay, still with us.
Thanks, but I personally was in no danger (though I had been warned by a friend to “stay away” from Congress that day. There are two parts to the Hill — the west side (where all demonstrations, ceremonies, fireworks, events take place) and the east side — a quiet, residential section that includes the Jefferson Library buildings, the Supreme Court, and a lot of families, porches, dogs (cats too 😺) and kids. We could not see, but we could hear.
Thank you, Professor. Impeach him. Third times a charm. Hang in everybody.
I pray for his removal daily (among other things I won't mention.) How can ANYONE support this clown? A national disgrace who needs to be removed sooner rather than later.
Anne Appelbaum's "Twilight of Democracy: The Seductive Lure of Authoritarianism" (2020) provides a comprehensive, multi-national answer to your question.
It is not an easy, breezy read but it is well worth the effort.
And her "Autocracy, Inc." literally lays out the blueprint for what is happening in our country right now.
A brilliant historian and political scientist.
You might agree—I’m adding here to clarify. I found Twilight of Democracy to be easy to read in the sense that it was well written and well told. It has a memoir feel to it. I suppose it is a memoir, in that she’s describing in a deeply personal way the shifting attitudes of political operatives with whom she’s acquainted. It’s an expose’ if you will of human nature within the ranks of political influencers.
Ask the trumpican party how they can support this clown. And his clown car administration.
I ask the same question daily: What kind of person would vote for, support, and condone the behavior of DJT....? This isn't a question of having political differences of opinion. This is about moral integrity and the frightening reality that MAGA lacks it.
Cindy: I totally agree with you especially your observation that "This is about moral integrity and the frightening reality that MAGA lacks it."
A nation cannot claim moral superiority when their leader has NO moral or ethical compass, no empathy for others, and, basically, either no soul or a very dark one.
I appreciate your validation, Mary. You're spot on.
I've been rooting for cholesterol for 10+ years.
Not "Hang in everybody." I say: "Hang Trump." Putting him in jail at taxpayers expense is not fair punishment for his crimes. I was banned from , then, Twitter, for writing he should be "tarred and feathered." I changed my mind.
Hanged, drawn, and quartered. In public. An excruciating death. The traditional punishment for traitors.
No need to become as cruel as he is - tempting though it is.
Left on a desert island with just a big pile of educational books, and a weekly delivery of healthy food, no contact with the outside world would do for me.
You are too kind. My other fantasy is loads of military transports full of MAGAts, to some remote island, with lots of ammunition and not quite enough food.
If you delete the healthy food,I shall not protest!!
No, I prefer my cruelty more passive aggressive - he can't complain if we feed him a diet of steamed vegetarian food! And boy, would he hate it. . .
Include all of his syncopates and enablers, too.
I have long imagined him being dragged behind a diesel pickup blowing coal on washboard back roads in west Texas. The modern American version of drawn and quartered.
Forty miles should do it.
OMG! As a youngster I wanted the death penalty abolished. I definitely have had a change of heart. I thought my post would be crucified. It warms my heart to see how many of you agree!! THANK YOU!!
Take a A Quick Look at the history on final chapters for major autocrats… Mussolini- shot by a partisan, hitler killed himself in a bunker rather than be captured… jail was not in the picture for them. And given Trump’s age and poor health… hmmm
But he’s dangerous now so we must pay attention and take peaceful effective action to counter
And Stalin lay dying for three days - nobody would touch him in case he recovered and shot them for seeing him ill. . .
Really?
A doctor told him he needed to rest more and work less, as his health was failing.
The doctor was arrested and charged with working as a spy for British intelligence.
Stalin had been waging a witch hunt against Kremlin physicians, many of whom were Jewish, claiming they murdered top Soviet officials in a “doctors' plot. The trial against the Kremlin doctors was to commence within weeks.
Khrushchev was expecting Stalin to call to extend an invitation for that evening. But Stalin did not call him, or anyone else for that matter. He didn’t ring for food, nor had the sensors installed in Stalin’s rooms detected movement.
It took until around 10:30 at night for someone to check.
When the guards found him stroked out on the floor, they were going to call a doctor - but decided to call Beria first.
When they EVENTUALLY got hold of Beria, he told them to tell NOBODY of Stalin's illness.
Beria told people that Stalin's stroke snore was because he was "sleeping soundly" and shouldn't be wakened.
Because of the "Doctor's Plot " trial coming up, they were afraid to call a doctor in case he woke up.
Stalin's inner circle was so accustomed to his minute control that they could barely function on their own.
Next morning the called the Minister of Health to choose a doctor to send. He didn't want to, once again because of the "Doctor's Trial", not because he was scared for the doctors. but because Stalin might accuse HIM of being involved. He did eventually get a team to go in.
They had to examine him, but their hands were too shaky. To make it worse, the dentist took out his dentures, and dropped and broke them by accident. They ordered complete quiet, put leeches behind his ears, a cold compress on his head and recommended he not eat.
Ironically, those consulted actually did include several imprisoned Kremlin doctors. One, a pathologist named Aleksandr Myasnikov, said he was mid-interrogation when his captors suddenly started asking for medical advice instead.
That was all the treatment he received until March 5th when he vomited blood and his stomach started hemorrhaging, Then he died.
Well maybe Trump will follow the same trajectory. All of his doctors say that he's in excellent health... He can't bear to hear anything other than he the best, the healthiest, the richest, the smartest - keep telling him that doctors.
Fascinating. The things one learns from casual scrolling through Substack! Thanks for taking the time to type that out. 🤓
All we seem to have now is Father Time & Mother Nature. Eventually, Weekend at Bernies becomes useless.
Thank you for the words of wisdom. I was indulging my fantasies, and no time for that.
I was once banned by the Washington Post for suggesting that I would crap on the steps of the capital the day he was laid in state.
He should NOT be laid in state in the Capitol. Do that in Mar-a-lago. With all his 'friends.'
Are you joking? Demolish Mara-Lago. Bulldoze it....there might be some bodies under there. No post mortum honors what so ever. Remove his name from everything!!
Do you have a pet dog..or two? That’ll do it!
I have said it will go urinate on his grave....any one care to join the Pee Party?
You can’t until I go first. Number II. I even emailed the Guinness Book of World Records and told them I would be the first. I care for a bunch of cats so I will need to create funds to care for them as I am arrested for desecration of a president’s grave. Then have an attorney to go my bail and defend me in court. My story will go viral and my book will finally achieve notoriety. I’ll take the book profits and buy my long awaited animal rescue farm. Animals are more important into me in my life than humans. But you will be most welcome to come and visit.
All the people who critize me here are of no interest because I just don’t care much for humans. I have had a great affinity for animals all my life. When I encountered an animal, I immediately interact with them. But not with humans. Sorry human.
I tolerate humans. I have liked a few. But I totally agree that Animals are the best. I have often remarked that if humans were removed from the planet, it may become Shangri-La. ...of course, unless it is already too lake . I take my hat off to you, sir!
BLEACH & IMPEACH
Thank you, Joyce. We will never forget. We will keep actively remembering this horrific assault on our country and the rule of law by the criminal D J Trump, and his enablers. And we will work for accountability, justice and a new day.
We need thousands, no millions, to call for impeachment of Trump, Hegseth and Bondi.
Get on your phone and call your US representative and USSenators. Do it. No excuses.
Bookmark Megan Rothery's legislators' contact list so that you have it handy for contacting your reps, as well as those Republican reps even if they don't represent you.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/13lYafj0P-6owAJcH-5_xcpcRvMUZI7rkBPW-Ma9e7hw/edit?gid=0#gid=0
For all his disparagement of Haiti, Donald Trump is not too distant from Papa Doc Duvalier … who ruined that poor country up until tomorrow.
Well done, Joyce. Every year from now on if that’s what it takes.
I hate to ever disagree with anything Joyce Vance writes/says, but it's incorrect that "Donald Trump is the President no one has ever said “no” to in a big way." The American people said no in a pretty damn big way on Nov 3, 2020. But that was before.
Well, Carole, we sure as hell tried, but we faltered. We will NOT allow that to happen again.
Unfortunately, we elected a replacement who was so much a creature of the 'go along to get along" political system that he couldn't bring himself to actually confront what he had defeated. Biden and his AG Merrick Garland brought about the results of 2024 as surely as Trump created J6. Joe may be a nice guy, a good and decent man, but when push came to shove he went squish. I was right not to want him the first two times he ran. He was the DC Establishment's candidate in 2020, to cut off any real reckoning with how corrupt the entire system is now.
This, exactly. Tom nails it; at a time we needed a tough guy- we had a nice one instead.
I'll never forget the day the Supine Court handed immunity to Presidents, (as in ALL Presidents) Joe responded immediately, that very day, "I'll never use it."
The tradition of giving candidates their turn at bat solely as a reward for years of service should end. Now.
Carole, but it appears Trump and his toddler pool did not believe the "no." Therefore for them, there was no "no."
“Trump” and “intelligence” in the same sentence! The man has destroyed any trace of intelligence … brown nosing is the exact opposite.
This blog by Joyce shows the same kind of astute thinking and writing of all of her blogs, but for some reason I find the clarity and reasoning of this particular example of her commentary skill, particularly brilliant! We are so fortunate to have Joyce and her analyses available to us here...
And yes, his proximity to the Confederacy is not by chance.
David, yep, Trump and his entire toddler pool are racists, misogynists, and homo/transphobes. They are mostly pseudochristians who like the word christian, but not the part about loving one's neighbor, and neighbor means everyone. There is nothing positive they have to offer anyone except maybe, the KKK and its affiliates and we don't need any of that in leadership anywhere. The racists etc. prove every day just how unworthy they are to even be in the presence of the rest of us. They ignore their oaths of office and just don't care, as the officers of the Confederacy did. Back in 1860, they decided they would rather have slavery than to stand up as an American, and were made heroes when they were really traitors, just as Trump and his boys and girls of the toddler pool are. Their current cause in addition to the racism, misogyny, etc. is acquisition of money and power they don't deserve.
Yes, Donald Trump, the very face of white supremacy: Ignorance, pettiness, vengeance = the very face of pathetic.
An afterthought: the Klan also envisioned itself as the defender of Christianity.
David, but of course, like everything else the Klan blurts out, it was a lie. They helped to create a religion that thought killing people they didn't like or who did things not approved for non-white men was not only fine, but essential. That is in no sense Christianity, even though a bunch of scared white people and white wannabees cling to it. Actual Christianity is difficult because love is hard, especially when it is not reciprocated. Hate is a whole lot easier for many, even though it eats at a person's insides in ways love does not do.
Religion itself is a cult, based on iron-age mythology and used as a means of controlling people. Misused as it tends to be, religion becomes a cult within another cult.
Humans are the only animals I know of that have the capability to sincerely believe things which are not true and can't be proven by any means whatsoever.
Probably more people have been killed in the name of "god" than by any other excuse.
I "liked" this because you speak the truth. But, IMO, it's usually not the "religion" that is at fault. Most of the so-called "founders" of such things taught us good behavior. It's the people that took up the religions and twisted them for their own selfish depraved purposes that are the "cult". That corruption might have started with some of the "disciples" and much later the "Crusaders".
I'm an atheist who respects any religion or "faith" that helps the Earth and its inhabitants. There are a few "Christians" who fit that description. I wish they were louder and would make "some good trouble". I remember priests and ministers and rabbis walking in peace marches during Vietnam. Now, with a few exceptions (Pavlovitz), they are complicit in the horrors unfolding around us.
Correct me if I am wrong, but I don't think Jesus (if he was real) would have endorsed dishonesty, theft, corruption, brutality, cruelty, racism and pedophilia. So what's going on here, "Christians"?
Indeed: MAGA is the epitome of laziness … both physical and intellectual.
David, it is sad, because so many of those folks have low-paying jobs and work many hours a week over the usual 40. They are too lazy to challenge their Baby Donnie and can't decide for themselves that this regime is wrecking their lives. They cling to it like a drowning person to a piece of driftwood. If they would just turn around or stop to think, they would see that they are in shallow water and could stand up and walk if they chose to let go of a jerk who has only contempt for them.
It is a vast entertainment for them. They know he’s a conman, somehow are willing to be conned; audience to the Reality Show, Upping the Libs. Truly the Dumbing of America
I'm not a big fan of Mike Pence, but we have to recognize that had he disgraced himself on January 6 and obsequiously succumbed to Trump's demand that he refuse to certify the Electoral College vote, the scheme that Trump and his co-conspirators were ready to spring on the American people to prop him back up in the White House for the next four years could very well have succeeded. This was, indeed, another day of infamy when our country came within seconds of losing our democracy, and our collective soul.
We are on that precipice again today, but I see only groveling sycophants within Trump's administration and the Republican Party who are willing to allow this same Donald J. Trump to fulfill every visceral urge within him to amass domestic and world power to gratify his craving for world admiration and glorification.
These truly are the times that try men's souls.
It was a joy to see the UN Security Council excoriate Dumpty on Monday. Even the hypocritical Russians got in some insincere good licks.
The condemnation was unanimous. Humiliating for Americans in general because like it or no, Dumpty 'represents' us to the rest of the world, and that is an actual disgrace.
Trump is the actual “Ugly American”.
I actually believe it may have been better for this country if trump had been re-elected in 2020. The authors of Project 2025 wouldn't have had 4 additional years to plot and plan, and install the anti-democratic ghouls into his cabinet. Musk might not have figured into the equation, nor make DOGE a reality. trump would be done (8 yrs), and maybe more Americans would understand the value of participating in our democracy.
Very sad and disgusting day, January 6th.
I'm part of an international group of about 140 people who traveled the world together 41 years ago. It was around this date that we were getting set to meet each other for the first time. I'm now on the committee to organize our reunion, which has always been well attended - most of us have stayed very close. It's set to occur in Munich this summer, to accommodate our European members. Now, it seems to be questionable whether it will happen. Rising prices, concerns over international travel, and of course, individual political differences are tamping down enthusiasm. But most painful of all, are our European castmates, who are so disturbed by the actions of the US government, that they are reluctant to attend, and I can't blame them.
I know many families have been torn apart, and this family, because we are a family, is being torn apart as well. Covid disrupted a couple of our reunions, but we fought through that. Now I fear, if we miss this reunion, it will spell the end for any future gatherings. We're all in our 60s, and these divisions will not be easily healed.
I'm heartbroken. And angry. And lost. But I'll keep fighting, if only for my children and grandchildren's sake. 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈🇺🇲😢
WE watched January 6th unfold before our eyes that day. I had been teaching that day online when one of my students told me the Capitol was being attacked. I couldn't believe it , so ran to turn on my TV and my student was correct. We talked about it. The students were horrified as was I. They asked me if I had heard of any other time when the Capitol was stormed like that. I mentioned the burning of the Capitol and other government buildings by the British army in 1814. It was a war-related event. This attack was not. Of course we learned as time went along that Trump had incited the insurrection from his speech near the white house, something he should never have done, but alas, as Joyce says here, no one seems to be able to say NO to our Baby Donnie, a whiny toddler-man who thinks, like all bratty toddlers that he should be able to do and say whatever he wants and get away with it, mostly because he has. Trump can claim that those insurrectionists who attacked our Capitol were patriots, but like nearly everything else Trump says, is a lie. If we could get people to see that nearly everything Trump says is a lie, we might start getting to a place where we can hold him accountable along with his enablers. Trump's dementia is increasing and making his ability to function more problematic, but everyone around him, including the media all try to pretend Trump is just fine and . . . . He lies about his health too as well as the tests he takes and supposedly aces. No one takes cognitive tests over and over unless there is a problem. There is!
When I have spoken up about the Jan. 6 assault on the capital which I watched from start to finish, I am admonished by Republicans and MAGA who say that what I watched had been highly edited by Democrats to appear worse than it was. I watched every second and my eyes weren’t fooled by any edits.
Same here -- I flicked the tv on and was riveted for the next several hours -- it was unfolding - in real time. It's the GOP that's trying so hard to "edit" the history to make us believe it was a bunch of tourists and a 'day of love'
Watching in horror…I kept saying…”where is the National Guard??????”
And we continue to watch in horror!
Lynne, people know that it was Trump and his crazies that attacked our Capitol, Trump, not in person at the Capitol, but inciting from the outside, knowing the Secret Service, even the super loyal ones that would die for him would not permit him to go, as one of Trump's aides reported to the January 6th committee. The Trump toddler pool wants to be able to change history, but they forget that the media and videos etc. that let them muck things up and lie through their teeth to large groups also let large groups see the truth and they know the truth, most of it, and they knew their involvement in it, both the actual event and the attempted revisionist history of all the illegal, treasonous stuff they have been doing. Anyone who watched any of what happened on January 6th first of all, will not forget it, and will not be blaming Democrats for what happened; it was MAGAs who attacked police officers and would have killed any members of congress they found, even Republicans because they wouldn't have known the difference. They almost caught Romney and Lee and some members in the Senate gallery. They would have hanged Mike Pence had they found him and maybe had he gone with the Secret Service guys, he might have been because he didn't trust any of them and rightly so. The Trump white house toddler pool is a gang of liars and disinformationists and should be believed by no one, ever, unless they are threatening to do harm to people who don't deserve their fear and fury. Their intent then might be the truth, maybe.
Never forget.