Thank you for being one of the prominent American attorneys whose ethics and reverence for the rule of law are unquestionable. In addition to the valuable information you provide in various media, your personal integrity is important for the public to see as we watch the parade of immoral, power hungry, lawyers who regularly violate their oaths, marching along to TFG's fascist flute and now starting to fall off the cliff like lemmings.
I very much appreciate your honest, intelligent viewpoint and low key, stable, strength in continuing to express the truth in the midst of the storm of lies and disdain for our democracy being peddled furiously from the right. Your values are a source of comfort to many of us across the country.
Another very informative read. Thank you. I’d like to take comfort Jack has all of the angles covered particularly relating to Cannon. It almost seems like she is pushing this to the point of no return for her. Her inexperience and incompetence are being fully exposed especially when compared to Judge Kaplan - as one example. Looking forward to reading your tweets and listening to you on the shows this week. All the best to the chickens. 😉
Speaking of Judge Lewis Kaplan, he threw out - yet again! - tRump's attempt to delay the Jan '24 "Carroll I " defamation lawsuit on "presidential immunity" grounds, motions that have repeatedly failed in district and appellate courts. Kaplan openly accused tRump of "delaying tactics", and his meritless filings seemingly continue without surcease. tRump's lawyers are once more frivolously appealing to the 2nd CA in vain, but anything to stall the procedigs.
I never begrudge someone being inexperienced. It's the incompetence and over confidence that is dangerous. She knew she was unqualified and still accepted. That extreme hubris harms all of us.
I worry about you. You have become an important voice in and for our country with your public appearances, TV commentary. Podcasts, blog/substacks, and I suspect, advice to important litigation. You have achieved this importance because your voice is calm, measured, inevitably correct and so clearly human and caring.
I live in Europe and get to receive your posts really early in their lives. I read the first comments to your Mike Roman article and they were repeatedly centered around the mob-like nature of trump’s base. Almost in the next breath I saw a photo of Gavin de Becker in a protectionist role for Jeff Bezos. I had positive feelings about de Becker years ago when I read “The Gift of Fear” and gave it to a dozen women who I felt could benefit from it. I didn’t know he did the Bezos type security but it immediately hit me that you need that kind of multi-level type protection. Those security people can sometimes be wingnuts themselves and I don’t know about de Becker. But please get a new additional review of your security arrangements by someone who knows of multi-level protection. Your vulnerability goes up as trump’s peril increases.
I’m sure I don’t need to convince you of the seriousness of the threat. Your family knows of the dangers of these nutballs. They see you as vulnerable as a woman and Jewish, dangerous as a voice for honesty and society and they have God on their side. You must have a great team, people running interference for you and picking up the pieces behind you. But you are the voice, you have reached a place where, sadly enough, part of your job is to protect yourself so that you can help bring this country through its travail. It might be expensive but sell some of those chicken eggs, hell raise money by running for office if you need to but please protect yourself.
You are surely a worthy soul and we all recognize how smart and talented you are.
They say Patton was made for war, Larry Bird was made for basketball, Churchill was able to lead the country that needed him even when he was drunk. Your ability to inform and motivate people is like that. You deserve whatever you would like but we need you to do what you are doing.
I am in Europe right now myself reading this and thinking of how Trump's empire is dying thanks to the efforts of a lot of good people. Prof Vance is a hero along with Jack Smith and all of the people brave enough to expose and bring to justice the criminals that are trying to take over the USA. I also read de Becker's The Gift of Fear, and it guides my thinking about situations, and I have passed it on.
Expat you wrote: “and they have God on their side.” No they don’t but “think” they do. These Christian Fascist are godless, full of hate. And yes I agree Joyce needs protection from these nutcases.
“So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself - nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.” Let’s not whip up too formidable an image of Don’s Dixie Darlings. For every one that’s a genuine danger, are 99 “sunshine patriots” who will skedaddle if things get too hot.
Gavin de Becker has recently been a major contributor to the Robert Kennedy, Jr. campaign for president... to the tune of $4.5 million. While I appreciate his security work in the past (and The Gift of Fear), I now question his good judgement.
Someone ought to bring a suit against Tuberman that he can't represent Alabama since he's now a resident of Florida. Maybe we'll get lucky and he'll get hit by a bus or some other "unfortunate" accident.
It's also obvious that Eastman and Cruz learned nothing from clerking for Judge Luttig.
If we were lucky my feckless Senator, Schumer, would grow a pair and do whatever is necessary to correct this travesty. Or, perhaps my other self-interested blow hard Senator, Gillibrand, would find the same "courage" she found when she forced out one of the very best, Franken, to stroke her ego.
Nah, this is the US Senate after all. The world's greatest deliberative body...or is that ponderous.
Schumer is our typical old man senator, occasionally he does something good but when it comes to where it draws attention from the Republicans, he seems to hide under his desk. As for Gillibrand, I've never forgiven her for ruining Franken's political career, which I think she caused just because she wanted the attention.
I completely agree on the Franken issue - it was WRONG! But as I recall, it took more than Gillibrand to accomplish that. Other than what was done to Al Franken, Gillibrand does a lot of good in many areas - especially for vets & military.
Look around - at this moment there arent a lot of shining examples in the Senate - Dems or Repubs. And NY voters ELECTED Santos!!!
And Schumer? He, like many others both in the Senate & House, i.e., Feinstein, Grassley, others whose names escape me at this moment - we have far more old white men (& a few women) who have been in charge for too long. Bring in some of the newer generation - but for crying out loud - VET THEM! Actually make them answer questions & do backgrounds. We have more than enough MTGs, for instance!
Since you mentioned "old white men (& a few women) let me please share this. Sen. Cruz, Rubio, Tuberville, Hawley, and a few others, whose name escape me also, are young in comparison and they want and probably where part of a coup. I will take experience and institutional knowledge with someone with integrity any day above someone who is young, has little or no experience, knowledge and wants to overthrow our government and supports and puts on a pedestal a sexual predator, habitual liar, thief and a treasonous ex-installed president.
Well, Marilyn, speaking as an 85 year old great grandmother - I really dont have a great deal of confidence in many of those in Congress with all that experience and "institutional" knowledge. And for sure, there are many younger examples that have no business being there, for the reasons you mentioned and more. But our government has depended upon "norms" & "the way things were always done" - its not working out really well now is it? There should be actual rules in place in order for ANYONE to qualify to run for office. NOT some tom , dick or harry off the street. Look at how many of these experienced knowledgeable (one assumes) office-holders that went along AND are going along with djt!!!!
I agree on Franken. He wanted a hearing and deserved one. I believe Speaker Pelosi was a part of the problem as well as Gillibrand. In terms of old White men (and I am an old White woman), Democrats, unlike Republicans (which is the only thing they are doing right), have set limits for how long members can chair committees and sit on them. And, we have none.
But, that wouldn't have helped with Schumer. He's the wrong person in the wrong job. He has no guts, and no negotiation skills. And...while he secretly negotiated the Inflation Reduction Act with Manchin, he has was getting a huge amount of money from the pipeline companies. That, alone is enough for me to believe he should have been removed from his Speakership.
I still get a little white hot about Gillibrand. She's not the girl I'd have eaten lunch with, you know? And I have to acknowledge the dribble of good she's contributed, but my standards say "doesn't make up for a gigantic ego move"
I will never forgive Sen. Gillibrand for what she did. Then again, as an older woman, I think I have a different prospective on male harassment. It's real and shameful and should be reported when it occurs, more men did to speak out about it and change their own behavior and women did to have brains enough not to go to a meeting ALONE with a male. I better stop or I'll get hateful responses.
I've got to wonder how Eastman reconciled whatever he learned clerking for Judge Luttig and for "Justice" Thomas. The phrase "oil and water" comes to mind. Something had to give.
Unfortunately Alabama states a person only needs to be a resident of Alabama for one day in order to hold the office of Senator. It’s not clear (to me) if they need to remain a resident if elected. But Seriously one day! How absurd!
Do you have an opinion on the article coauthored by Judge Ludwig and Laurence Tribe in regards to the 14th Amendment , Section 3 and Trump not being able to run forPresident?
I have an opinion: the Republicans who wrote, and those who also wrote and published for the NYU bar (conservatives as well) are sick and tired of Trump. They want rid of him.
Now, this statement is right on. I am convinced that many of the elected House Representatives don’t have a clue about our governance, nor that they care. We need to reintroduce students and adults who are governing to civics and the fundamentals of democracy.
I SO agree. I was a class mother on a trip to D.C. years ago, and at the Archives, other mothers marveled at my knowledge (which was not extensive, mind you) of the Magna Carta and other documents important to our history.
Civics should be mandatory for all students. I also believe that there should be a two year mandatory requirement for all U.S. citizens to serve the country in military or government service. (maybe, with informed voters, we could avoid the intellectual morons like the orange traitor and his ilk from being elected to these crucially important positions)
I'm not sure mandatory service fits in with American values. I doubt I would support involuntary servitude being mandatory. And no way will I ever support a draft.
Here in Maryland there is a new one-year public service option for high school/college kids. It’s a project of our new governor Wes Moore. we finally elected a Democrat ... after eight years of a so-called moderate Republican who left thousands of environmental enforcement and social services positions vacant, and canceled major transit projects that would benefit lower-income communities in majority-Black Baltimore--throwing away years of collaboration with feds and hundreds of millions of their matching money
Gov Wes Moore is a breath of sorely needed fresh air and a man going places. Watch him rise in the ranks of highly regarded Democrats to be center stage in eight years.
Thank you Joyce. But I’d almost rather hear about more chicken antics than be reminded of the brazen, selfish, pigheaded ignorant rantings of Trump, Eastman, Tuberville and Cannon this time of night! I salute you for putting it altogether for us, but the chickens do offer me more happiness, joy and hope than any of these ignoramuses. I salute you for your hard work helping keep us on track!
Marva, Your sentiments are shared of course. However, if you are looking for some happiness and joy this week tune in to the Republican’s first presidential debate where most of the GOP wannabe candidates will be making fools of themselves going after a weaponized DOJ and the Biden “crime family” while they ignore the missing elephant on the stage and former donkey’s ass as the Boss will be doing an online interview with Tucker Carlson to suck up as much media attention before his famous mug shot on Thursday or Friday.
But is also does not include Ari Melber and Rachel Maddow ... We're now paying nearly $200/month to maintain our addiction to trustworthy commentators.
I am here wishing we could have a clean two-party system...
Wouldn’t it be amazing if all those 1%, and 2% R’s stood together on Wednesday and said, “We talked it over, and we’re all in on X. Stupid is over there on his own if he can make it. So, Trump be damned. Now let’s run the primary!” ?
I know it’s a dream- but it’s a dream I like.
PS - this dream is also the reason I cannot support Dems flushing out other candidates. We need clarity, at this point.
As long as we are dreaming here’s mine— criminal Trump gets the nomination, the GOP loses like Barry Goldwater in 64 and Carter in 1980– and the best part of the dream is that the GOP implodes and the two new parties are the Biden Dems and the progressive Democrats.
Hi Gregg, I did read your linked article. Thank you for sharing it with us. Bravo that you suggest everyone participating in the first GOP 2023 debate 'tell the truth' and 'break free.' I wanted to point out (but not endorse him in any sense) that Chris Christie has been actively opposing and shedding light on Trump's misbehavior for months - long before anyone else who lines up on the stage. Also, I am wondering (other than the many personal opinions from very qualified health care professionals on the site), do you know of a formal medical opinion that has been made on Trump re his mental health? He was supposed to have regular medical examinations during his presidency - can past presidents weigh in on whether these included psychiatric examinations? I think this is important to know, because as he sat in the oval office on January 6, telling thugs who had threatened our democracy and our Capitol with destruction, he was a rapist (convicted later, but he was a rapist). So we had a rapist, allowing desecration, not just of a building but an institution. And then he said to the thugs: "We love you." I try not to use curse words, but WTF?My own opinion (not a mental health practitioner, just an observation) is that his behavior on January 6 goes beyond sociopath/psychopath. This is
a rapist, who is by definition a sociopath. He is an unfeeling psychopath, openly stating that 'hanging Mike Pence might not be a bad thing,' and refusing to call for troops to defend the Capitol. He has zero respect for the presidency. And he is someone who had access to the nuclear code in the briefcase near to him. I am wondering if you believe as do I that his attorney handlers told him he could not attend the debate because he either has absolutely zero control over what comes out of his mouth - or he does not care to self-filter. He may very well have incriminated himself in front of a national television audience, and his handlers said: "No. We cannot put that toothpaste back in the tube." Indeed, there will be a Georgia RICO trial, but I seriously doubt Trump will be able to participate. He won't be able to throw ketchup on the dining room wall in a courtroom. He will be so consumed by rage, he will implode. Hope you plan to interview Cassidy Hutchison for your new book. I wish he were not being given a glamor shot for his mug shot (someone reported on this site). That just doesn't fit with the image of an orange jumpsuit, and it's special treatment that feeds his sense of entitlement. Do a mug shot and let him throw a ketchup tantrum when he goes home to Mara Lardo.
Hi Valere, — you have packed a lot in your comment. Let me respond to some things. Much of it about Trump’s psyche or anyone else’s is too complicated to go into here. I discuss sociopaths, etc best in my 2003 book, Violence and NonViolence: Pathways to Understanding, Sage. As for Trump’s psychological behavior I spend a chapter on it in my first book on Trump relying on my own observations of Donald since 1980s, works by people who have worked with and know Trump best, and leading psyche people who have “diagnosed” Trump but never sat down with him. To your query, I do not believe Trump has ever sat down or lied down on a couch for anyone— as for protocols in the White House I suspect they are superficial if they exist.
As for the “Fat Man” as Trump calls CC, and Aza Hutchinson both have crossed Trump publicly. CC more formidably but he has for the most part kept the kid gloves on. Christy as a former prosecutor and because of his personality type is capable of a much stronger critique but is holding back mostly because he like the others on that stage are all Trumpists when it comes to most things.
Let me share my piece for The Crime Report published minutes ago and point out that I was mistaken about Trump and Trucker doing a live interview, turns out it was pre-recorded. In any case, here is where I think things are at. What say you all?
tRump also tweeted that he'll blow off ALL the debate due to his "insurmountable lead in the polls"...I now wonder if there will be any attempt by the also-rans to attack him in absentia, or just to "move on"...actually, do we really care?
Probably they will wait and see but move on in rhetoric especially and do we care— yes, we want them to be as attached to Trump as possible which better insured their defeat in 2024.
Thank you, Joyce for so clearly explaining points of law like 'Garcia' to give us a better chance of understanding. I do not understand why de Oliviera or Nauta should be allowed to view classified secrets - but then I don't know how someone of such low intellectual capacity as Trump was allowed to view them. Of course, rightly or wrongly he was elected President by the Electoral College. Their lawyers, I suppose, have to be given access to those documents but I hope they have to swear on penalty of disbarment from all States and the Federal Courts too, not to disclose any information that might injure our military or our Government.
As to Tuberville, my biases are going to show here; but while I was part time faculty at the University I had the misfortune of lecturing to two Physiology Anatomy courses specifically designed for Physical Education majors who didn't have the intellectual capacity of my 8th grade Chemistry/Physics/Astronomy students. I had to repeat and rephrase every new lesson taught. And they weren't even my lecture notes.
Fay, I would expect that the lawyers who may be allowed access to the stolen classified documents will have to pass the usual process for (at least) a secret level security clearance. And they will no doubt be enjoined from sharing any of the information on those documents with their clients, other than the security level of the document(s). It goes without saying that they would face punishment if any of the information is compromised. Even with our multi-level justice system, it still amazes me that T**** and his minions are not locked up: any ordinary citizen without money for an army of lawyers would have been long ago.
Thank you James. One of the more pathetic parts of this mess, is Trump isn't even inconvenienced by the legal costs. His witless cult is paying in ongoing donations.
Fay, the case is still far away from giving access to Nauta or De Oliviera. Joyce has reported two (2) "Garcia" Hearings. Garcia #1 targets NAUTA. Per 'The Hill', Garcia #2 really targets DE OLIVIERA's Attorney, JOHN IRVING who has multiple conflicts of interests (COI's). Irving represents three (3) (count them) potential witnesses that will impeach De Oliviera on the stand.
Per the Prosecutors, the conflicted Irving, represents a client who has knowledge of De Olivera's "replacement of a lock on 6/2/22" per Trump's direction as well as of the Co-defendant's "loyalty to Trump". Mr. Irving is a Gone Boy.
Missing plenty: need a few Apple air tags to tie on the shoe laces of the capo lap dogs to keep track of them.
Big questions for you though: do they appear in person in Georgia to pay the $200,000 cash bail? Does cash mean bills? Or do they accept a bank transfer? Finally, do you think Mark Work A Deal Meadows will show up - or will he be represented by his FBI handler?
I hope somebody in Mitch McConnells orbit reads your Civil Discourse. Coach Tuberville is a disgrace and having never served in the military gives him particularly shaky ground for his show. My question: who does he serve? Who exactly is the money behind the money? He's not smart enough to have originated this show of petulance on his own. He's doing someone's bidding. Inquiring minds want to know: whose?
He made a beeline for Florida after a business partner was nailed for fraud (a Ponzi). I got quite a bit of money from that deal. So that’s where the money trail would be who paid him to go to Florida? And who, financed his day trip to Alabama because he only needed to spend a day there to register for the Senate job.
One suggestion: where it says "(R-Alabama)" change it to "(R-Alabama?)" and make clickable to explain the current controversy about his resident requirement.
I still believe that Tuberville’s boycott of naming military leaders has very little to do with the abortion issue and everything to do with allowing tRump (if elected) to take over the military by naming his sycophants to key military positions. This strategy worked for the Supreme Court, so why not use it for the military? 😡
Scary thought, but now that you mention it... I don't know that Tuberville is smart enough to have come up with that on his own, but I'm sure he's getting plenty of, ahem, coaching. And of course getting control of the military is an essential step to establishing a dictatorship.
Thanks Joyce for pertinent facts and sticking points on all things 45 and regarding Tuberville’s nonsense holding up military readiness. All the more reason to focus on the Rule of Law. It would seem justice may come unexpectedly to this new Hall of Mirrors. I refuse to think otherwise. The battle has become so desperate that a wild card will surely emerge. In what form I cannot say but there must be a way to get the truth to the masses. Your newsletter does add leverage to our cause to save Lady Liberty. Hear yea Hear yea 🇺🇸🗽
If the time comes and Trump is the nominee, Biden should outright refuse to debate him. He should use tricks from the sTrump playbook and accuse him of every tawdry lexicon in the English language. Even use words rarely used to make Trump look like the ignorant piece of human waste that he is. Don’t play into Trump’s game because a debate would only be a slug fest for Trump. He has nothing to lose. It would become anything but a debate. That would communicate to the nation that Trump is a real menace to this nation.
Here is what I would to arrange the physical layout of a debate between the two:
o Two podiums separated by a plexiglass wall so they may not physically interact with each other and to enforce physical distancing. No Covid virus transmissions.
o The moderator controls the microphones so that only one can speak at a time. Each debater cannot be interrupted by the other.
o Each debater will be able to hear what the other says but only when other's microphone is on.
I have a better idea: Joe Biden sits or stands in the middle of the stage at his leisure and Donald Trump is placed in a cage in another building with both video and audio controlled by the moderator and the moderator will be Michael Cohen.
Thank you for being one of the prominent American attorneys whose ethics and reverence for the rule of law are unquestionable. In addition to the valuable information you provide in various media, your personal integrity is important for the public to see as we watch the parade of immoral, power hungry, lawyers who regularly violate their oaths, marching along to TFG's fascist flute and now starting to fall off the cliff like lemmings.
I very much appreciate your honest, intelligent viewpoint and low key, stable, strength in continuing to express the truth in the midst of the storm of lies and disdain for our democracy being peddled furiously from the right. Your values are a source of comfort to many of us across the country.
As well as inspiration. And a reminder that slow and steady wins the race. Her patience amazes me.
Another very informative read. Thank you. I’d like to take comfort Jack has all of the angles covered particularly relating to Cannon. It almost seems like she is pushing this to the point of no return for her. Her inexperience and incompetence are being fully exposed especially when compared to Judge Kaplan - as one example. Looking forward to reading your tweets and listening to you on the shows this week. All the best to the chickens. 😉
Speaking of Judge Lewis Kaplan, he threw out - yet again! - tRump's attempt to delay the Jan '24 "Carroll I " defamation lawsuit on "presidential immunity" grounds, motions that have repeatedly failed in district and appellate courts. Kaplan openly accused tRump of "delaying tactics", and his meritless filings seemingly continue without surcease. tRump's lawyers are once more frivolously appealing to the 2nd CA in vain, but anything to stall the procedigs.
I never begrudge someone being inexperienced. It's the incompetence and over confidence that is dangerous. She knew she was unqualified and still accepted. That extreme hubris harms all of us.
Joyce,
I worry about you. You have become an important voice in and for our country with your public appearances, TV commentary. Podcasts, blog/substacks, and I suspect, advice to important litigation. You have achieved this importance because your voice is calm, measured, inevitably correct and so clearly human and caring.
I live in Europe and get to receive your posts really early in their lives. I read the first comments to your Mike Roman article and they were repeatedly centered around the mob-like nature of trump’s base. Almost in the next breath I saw a photo of Gavin de Becker in a protectionist role for Jeff Bezos. I had positive feelings about de Becker years ago when I read “The Gift of Fear” and gave it to a dozen women who I felt could benefit from it. I didn’t know he did the Bezos type security but it immediately hit me that you need that kind of multi-level type protection. Those security people can sometimes be wingnuts themselves and I don’t know about de Becker. But please get a new additional review of your security arrangements by someone who knows of multi-level protection. Your vulnerability goes up as trump’s peril increases.
I’m sure I don’t need to convince you of the seriousness of the threat. Your family knows of the dangers of these nutballs. They see you as vulnerable as a woman and Jewish, dangerous as a voice for honesty and society and they have God on their side. You must have a great team, people running interference for you and picking up the pieces behind you. But you are the voice, you have reached a place where, sadly enough, part of your job is to protect yourself so that you can help bring this country through its travail. It might be expensive but sell some of those chicken eggs, hell raise money by running for office if you need to but please protect yourself.
You are surely a worthy soul and we all recognize how smart and talented you are.
They say Patton was made for war, Larry Bird was made for basketball, Churchill was able to lead the country that needed him even when he was drunk. Your ability to inform and motivate people is like that. You deserve whatever you would like but we need you to do what you are doing.
Thanks for the work you do.
I am in Europe right now myself reading this and thinking of how Trump's empire is dying thanks to the efforts of a lot of good people. Prof Vance is a hero along with Jack Smith and all of the people brave enough to expose and bring to justice the criminals that are trying to take over the USA. I also read de Becker's The Gift of Fear, and it guides my thinking about situations, and I have passed it on.
Expat you wrote: “and they have God on their side.” No they don’t but “think” they do. These Christian Fascist are godless, full of hate. And yes I agree Joyce needs protection from these nutcases.
Indeed
“So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself - nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.” Let’s not whip up too formidable an image of Don’s Dixie Darlings. For every one that’s a genuine danger, are 99 “sunshine patriots” who will skedaddle if things get too hot.
ExPat,
I couldn't agree with you more. All those who are willing to stand up to T need protection from the crazies that believe in him.
Gavin de Becker has recently been a major contributor to the Robert Kennedy, Jr. campaign for president... to the tune of $4.5 million. While I appreciate his security work in the past (and The Gift of Fear), I now question his good judgement.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/02/us/politics/rfk-jr-donors.html
Someone ought to bring a suit against Tuberman that he can't represent Alabama since he's now a resident of Florida. Maybe we'll get lucky and he'll get hit by a bus or some other "unfortunate" accident.
It's also obvious that Eastman and Cruz learned nothing from clerking for Judge Luttig.
If we were lucky my feckless Senator, Schumer, would grow a pair and do whatever is necessary to correct this travesty. Or, perhaps my other self-interested blow hard Senator, Gillibrand, would find the same "courage" she found when she forced out one of the very best, Franken, to stroke her ego.
Nah, this is the US Senate after all. The world's greatest deliberative body...or is that ponderous.
Schumer is our typical old man senator, occasionally he does something good but when it comes to where it draws attention from the Republicans, he seems to hide under his desk. As for Gillibrand, I've never forgiven her for ruining Franken's political career, which I think she caused just because she wanted the attention.
I completely agree on the Franken issue - it was WRONG! But as I recall, it took more than Gillibrand to accomplish that. Other than what was done to Al Franken, Gillibrand does a lot of good in many areas - especially for vets & military.
Look around - at this moment there arent a lot of shining examples in the Senate - Dems or Repubs. And NY voters ELECTED Santos!!!
And Schumer? He, like many others both in the Senate & House, i.e., Feinstein, Grassley, others whose names escape me at this moment - we have far more old white men (& a few women) who have been in charge for too long. Bring in some of the newer generation - but for crying out loud - VET THEM! Actually make them answer questions & do backgrounds. We have more than enough MTGs, for instance!
Since you mentioned "old white men (& a few women) let me please share this. Sen. Cruz, Rubio, Tuberville, Hawley, and a few others, whose name escape me also, are young in comparison and they want and probably where part of a coup. I will take experience and institutional knowledge with someone with integrity any day above someone who is young, has little or no experience, knowledge and wants to overthrow our government and supports and puts on a pedestal a sexual predator, habitual liar, thief and a treasonous ex-installed president.
Well, Marilyn, speaking as an 85 year old great grandmother - I really dont have a great deal of confidence in many of those in Congress with all that experience and "institutional" knowledge. And for sure, there are many younger examples that have no business being there, for the reasons you mentioned and more. But our government has depended upon "norms" & "the way things were always done" - its not working out really well now is it? There should be actual rules in place in order for ANYONE to qualify to run for office. NOT some tom , dick or harry off the street. Look at how many of these experienced knowledgeable (one assumes) office-holders that went along AND are going along with djt!!!!
I agree on Franken. He wanted a hearing and deserved one. I believe Speaker Pelosi was a part of the problem as well as Gillibrand. In terms of old White men (and I am an old White woman), Democrats, unlike Republicans (which is the only thing they are doing right), have set limits for how long members can chair committees and sit on them. And, we have none.
But, that wouldn't have helped with Schumer. He's the wrong person in the wrong job. He has no guts, and no negotiation skills. And...while he secretly negotiated the Inflation Reduction Act with Manchin, he has was getting a huge amount of money from the pipeline companies. That, alone is enough for me to believe he should have been removed from his Speakership.
https://newrepublic.com/article/167869/mountain-valley-pipeline-nextera-schumer-manchin
She thought he was too much competition for her presidential run.
this
I still get a little white hot about Gillibrand. She's not the girl I'd have eaten lunch with, you know? And I have to acknowledge the dribble of good she's contributed, but my standards say "doesn't make up for a gigantic ego move"
Agree about Gillibrand.
She thought it would get her closer to a VP or Presidential position.
I will never forgive Sen. Gillibrand for what she did. Then again, as an older woman, I think I have a different prospective on male harassment. It's real and shameful and should be reported when it occurs, more men did to speak out about it and change their own behavior and women did to have brains enough not to go to a meeting ALONE with a male. I better stop or I'll get hateful responses.
I've got to wonder how Eastman reconciled whatever he learned clerking for Judge Luttig and for "Justice" Thomas. The phrase "oil and water" comes to mind. Something had to give.
Unfortunately Alabama states a person only needs to be a resident of Alabama for one day in order to hold the office of Senator. It’s not clear (to me) if they need to remain a resident if elected. But Seriously one day! How absurd!
Well, it is Alabama....
And that day is Robert E. Lee’s birthday! Save yer Dixie Cups, the South shall rise again!
Do you have an opinion on the article coauthored by Judge Ludwig and Laurence Tribe in regards to the 14th Amendment , Section 3 and Trump not being able to run forPresident?
Thank you, Nori Umemoto
I have an opinion: the Republicans who wrote, and those who also wrote and published for the NYU bar (conservatives as well) are sick and tired of Trump. They want rid of him.
I definitely want to hear that.
I am very interested to hear Joyce comment on this, as well.
Often law clerks don't have much interaction with the judges they work for.
It’s like the last 40 years of inadequate civics education is crashing into our heads through this strange aperture of TrumpLand
Now, this statement is right on. I am convinced that many of the elected House Representatives don’t have a clue about our governance, nor that they care. We need to reintroduce students and adults who are governing to civics and the fundamentals of democracy.
I SO agree. I was a class mother on a trip to D.C. years ago, and at the Archives, other mothers marveled at my knowledge (which was not extensive, mind you) of the Magna Carta and other documents important to our history.
Civics should be mandatory for all students. I also believe that there should be a two year mandatory requirement for all U.S. citizens to serve the country in military or government service. (maybe, with informed voters, we could avoid the intellectual morons like the orange traitor and his ilk from being elected to these crucially important positions)
I take a different view on manadatory service. I feel like a terrible fit for this particular form of government in the USA
I'm not sure mandatory service fits in with American values. I doubt I would support involuntary servitude being mandatory. And no way will I ever support a draft.
Here in Maryland there is a new one-year public service option for high school/college kids. It’s a project of our new governor Wes Moore. we finally elected a Democrat ... after eight years of a so-called moderate Republican who left thousands of environmental enforcement and social services positions vacant, and canceled major transit projects that would benefit lower-income communities in majority-Black Baltimore--throwing away years of collaboration with feds and hundreds of millions of their matching money
The key word is "option." We should never make public service anything other than that.
Gov Wes Moore is a breath of sorely needed fresh air and a man going places. Watch him rise in the ranks of highly regarded Democrats to be center stage in eight years.
Thank you Joyce. But I’d almost rather hear about more chicken antics than be reminded of the brazen, selfish, pigheaded ignorant rantings of Trump, Eastman, Tuberville and Cannon this time of night! I salute you for putting it altogether for us, but the chickens do offer me more happiness, joy and hope than any of these ignoramuses. I salute you for your hard work helping keep us on track!
Marva, Your sentiments are shared of course. However, if you are looking for some happiness and joy this week tune in to the Republican’s first presidential debate where most of the GOP wannabe candidates will be making fools of themselves going after a weaponized DOJ and the Biden “crime family” while they ignore the missing elephant on the stage and former donkey’s ass as the Boss will be doing an online interview with Tucker Carlson to suck up as much media attention before his famous mug shot on Thursday or Friday.
Anybody for a split screen?
I forgot to mention Wednesday night on The Fox disinformation network.
I'm so happy my new bare-bones cable package does not include Fox.
But is also does not include Ari Melber and Rachel Maddow ... We're now paying nearly $200/month to maintain our addiction to trustworthy commentators.
Right. I do miss Nicole Wallace. I'm relying now on Joyce, Heather Cox Richardson, Jay Kuo, and Erin Reed.
do you find you can watch the MSNBC hosts on their web-site?
Same here
T💩p’s attorneys are angling to have no mugshot for their supreme leader. Instead they proffer a glamour shot as a replacement.
There is no glamour in Mudville.
Bingo🏆
A glamour mug shot?
And orange pustule is an orange pustule, but dressed in a suit, it's an abomination
Well said!
I am here wishing we could have a clean two-party system...
Wouldn’t it be amazing if all those 1%, and 2% R’s stood together on Wednesday and said, “We talked it over, and we’re all in on X. Stupid is over there on his own if he can make it. So, Trump be damned. Now let’s run the primary!” ?
I know it’s a dream- but it’s a dream I like.
PS - this dream is also the reason I cannot support Dems flushing out other candidates. We need clarity, at this point.
As long as we are dreaming here’s mine— criminal Trump gets the nomination, the GOP loses like Barry Goldwater in 64 and Carter in 1980– and the best part of the dream is that the GOP implodes and the two new parties are the Biden Dems and the progressive Democrats.
Let me expand on this from my piece in The Crime Report posted a few moments ago:
https://thecrimereport.org/2023/08/21/trumps-legal-troubles-and-the-2024-election-indictments-polls-and-the-gops-dilemma/.
Hi Gregg, I did read your linked article. Thank you for sharing it with us. Bravo that you suggest everyone participating in the first GOP 2023 debate 'tell the truth' and 'break free.' I wanted to point out (but not endorse him in any sense) that Chris Christie has been actively opposing and shedding light on Trump's misbehavior for months - long before anyone else who lines up on the stage. Also, I am wondering (other than the many personal opinions from very qualified health care professionals on the site), do you know of a formal medical opinion that has been made on Trump re his mental health? He was supposed to have regular medical examinations during his presidency - can past presidents weigh in on whether these included psychiatric examinations? I think this is important to know, because as he sat in the oval office on January 6, telling thugs who had threatened our democracy and our Capitol with destruction, he was a rapist (convicted later, but he was a rapist). So we had a rapist, allowing desecration, not just of a building but an institution. And then he said to the thugs: "We love you." I try not to use curse words, but WTF?My own opinion (not a mental health practitioner, just an observation) is that his behavior on January 6 goes beyond sociopath/psychopath. This is
a rapist, who is by definition a sociopath. He is an unfeeling psychopath, openly stating that 'hanging Mike Pence might not be a bad thing,' and refusing to call for troops to defend the Capitol. He has zero respect for the presidency. And he is someone who had access to the nuclear code in the briefcase near to him. I am wondering if you believe as do I that his attorney handlers told him he could not attend the debate because he either has absolutely zero control over what comes out of his mouth - or he does not care to self-filter. He may very well have incriminated himself in front of a national television audience, and his handlers said: "No. We cannot put that toothpaste back in the tube." Indeed, there will be a Georgia RICO trial, but I seriously doubt Trump will be able to participate. He won't be able to throw ketchup on the dining room wall in a courtroom. He will be so consumed by rage, he will implode. Hope you plan to interview Cassidy Hutchison for your new book. I wish he were not being given a glamor shot for his mug shot (someone reported on this site). That just doesn't fit with the image of an orange jumpsuit, and it's special treatment that feeds his sense of entitlement. Do a mug shot and let him throw a ketchup tantrum when he goes home to Mara Lardo.
Hi Valere, — you have packed a lot in your comment. Let me respond to some things. Much of it about Trump’s psyche or anyone else’s is too complicated to go into here. I discuss sociopaths, etc best in my 2003 book, Violence and NonViolence: Pathways to Understanding, Sage. As for Trump’s psychological behavior I spend a chapter on it in my first book on Trump relying on my own observations of Donald since 1980s, works by people who have worked with and know Trump best, and leading psyche people who have “diagnosed” Trump but never sat down with him. To your query, I do not believe Trump has ever sat down or lied down on a couch for anyone— as for protocols in the White House I suspect they are superficial if they exist.
As for the “Fat Man” as Trump calls CC, and Aza Hutchinson both have crossed Trump publicly. CC more formidably but he has for the most part kept the kid gloves on. Christy as a former prosecutor and because of his personality type is capable of a much stronger critique but is holding back mostly because he like the others on that stage are all Trumpists when it comes to most things.
Let me share my piece for The Crime Report published minutes ago and point out that I was mistaken about Trump and Trucker doing a live interview, turns out it was pre-recorded. In any case, here is where I think things are at. What say you all?
https://thecrimereport.org/2023/08/21/trumps-legal-troubles-and-the-2024-election-indictments-polls-and-the-gops-dilemma/.
tRump also tweeted that he'll blow off ALL the debate due to his "insurmountable lead in the polls"...I now wonder if there will be any attempt by the also-rans to attack him in absentia, or just to "move on"...actually, do we really care?
Probably they will wait and see but move on in rhetoric especially and do we care— yes, we want them to be as attached to Trump as possible which better insured their defeat in 2024.
I wouldn't waste my time.
Absolutely
Unintended Consequences Lesson:
1. Voters elect Trump to select 3 SCOTUS Justices to end Roe v Wade, thus returning abortion decisions to the states.
2. Tuberville blocks Military promotions because he doesn't want American taxpayers funding interstate travel for abortion, caused by #1.
3. National Security is compromised due to #2.
ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES.
Thank you, Joyce for so clearly explaining points of law like 'Garcia' to give us a better chance of understanding. I do not understand why de Oliviera or Nauta should be allowed to view classified secrets - but then I don't know how someone of such low intellectual capacity as Trump was allowed to view them. Of course, rightly or wrongly he was elected President by the Electoral College. Their lawyers, I suppose, have to be given access to those documents but I hope they have to swear on penalty of disbarment from all States and the Federal Courts too, not to disclose any information that might injure our military or our Government.
As to Tuberville, my biases are going to show here; but while I was part time faculty at the University I had the misfortune of lecturing to two Physiology Anatomy courses specifically designed for Physical Education majors who didn't have the intellectual capacity of my 8th grade Chemistry/Physics/Astronomy students. I had to repeat and rephrase every new lesson taught. And they weren't even my lecture notes.
Fay, I would expect that the lawyers who may be allowed access to the stolen classified documents will have to pass the usual process for (at least) a secret level security clearance. And they will no doubt be enjoined from sharing any of the information on those documents with their clients, other than the security level of the document(s). It goes without saying that they would face punishment if any of the information is compromised. Even with our multi-level justice system, it still amazes me that T**** and his minions are not locked up: any ordinary citizen without money for an army of lawyers would have been long ago.
Thank you James. One of the more pathetic parts of this mess, is Trump isn't even inconvenienced by the legal costs. His witless cult is paying in ongoing donations.
Fay, the case is still far away from giving access to Nauta or De Oliviera. Joyce has reported two (2) "Garcia" Hearings. Garcia #1 targets NAUTA. Per 'The Hill', Garcia #2 really targets DE OLIVIERA's Attorney, JOHN IRVING who has multiple conflicts of interests (COI's). Irving represents three (3) (count them) potential witnesses that will impeach De Oliviera on the stand.
Per the Prosecutors, the conflicted Irving, represents a client who has knowledge of De Olivera's "replacement of a lock on 6/2/22" per Trump's direction as well as of the Co-defendant's "loyalty to Trump". Mr. Irving is a Gone Boy.
Yep. Slick and slicker. Irving tried to pull one but Jack caught him.
Valere does not miss anything either :)
Missing plenty: need a few Apple air tags to tie on the shoe laces of the capo lap dogs to keep track of them.
Big questions for you though: do they appear in person in Georgia to pay the $200,000 cash bail? Does cash mean bills? Or do they accept a bank transfer? Finally, do you think Mark Work A Deal Meadows will show up - or will he be represented by his FBI handler?
Thanks for the clarification!
Why would Nauta and DeOliviera even need to see the documents themselves? They just moved the boxes!
Well, who really KNOWS if thats all they did? By whose word do we know this?
If we were Repubs - we could make up a conspiracy around this, right?
But, how could access to the *content* of classified documents be useful in Nauta's and De Oliveira's defense?
Does make one wonder, doesnt it??
Yes it will be quite a week. As always, I look foward to your Xs. Thank you again for the great Five Questions with Roberta Kaplan.
It's ironic how people conveniently forgot about this https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/aug/09/times-up-roberta-kaplan-resigns-cuomo-scandal and blowing up Times Up.
Thanks for the reminder.
Back then I was hiding out from Covid and, as a Californian, I was not paying much attention to NYC politics. I did not remeber that it was Kaplan.
Times Up was a national organization. Kaplan was on the board. She blew the whole thing up.
I hope somebody in Mitch McConnells orbit reads your Civil Discourse. Coach Tuberville is a disgrace and having never served in the military gives him particularly shaky ground for his show. My question: who does he serve? Who exactly is the money behind the money? He's not smart enough to have originated this show of petulance on his own. He's doing someone's bidding. Inquiring minds want to know: whose?
All those anti abortion folks who were set in motion by Justice(?) Samuel Alito. The money? It doesn't take money to pull this kind of BS.
But still....in this day and age -------> follow the money
Good point.
He made a beeline for Florida after a business partner was nailed for fraud (a Ponzi). I got quite a bit of money from that deal. So that’s where the money trail would be who paid him to go to Florida? And who, financed his day trip to Alabama because he only needed to spend a day there to register for the Senate job.
'He' got quite a bit of money from that deal."
Track some of the military promotions Tuberville is holding hostage and comments from Ted Cruz, Rick Scott about a 'woke' military with this relationship map. https://embed.kumu.io/588f1c3d66f1dc4f3cd22bafb6741a9a
Follow the money from defense contractors like Amazon and Leidos that fund the GOP while it blocks military promotions here: https://thedemlabs.org/2023/07/13/selling-out-our-soldiers-defense-contractors-tuberville-anti-military-campaign/
This relationship map helps keep track of the 19 people indicted by Fani Willis and the 14 unindicted co-conspirators. https://thedemlabs.org/2023/08/17/relationship-map-trumps-unindicted-co-conspirators-in-georgia/
One suggestion: where it says "(R-Alabama)" change it to "(R-Alabama?)" and make clickable to explain the current controversy about his resident requirement.
Good idea! I'll make that change :)
Good call Michael.
You're awesome
I still believe that Tuberville’s boycott of naming military leaders has very little to do with the abortion issue and everything to do with allowing tRump (if elected) to take over the military by naming his sycophants to key military positions. This strategy worked for the Supreme Court, so why not use it for the military? 😡
Scary thought, but now that you mention it... I don't know that Tuberville is smart enough to have come up with that on his own, but I'm sure he's getting plenty of, ahem, coaching. And of course getting control of the military is an essential step to establishing a dictatorship.
Thanks Joyce for pertinent facts and sticking points on all things 45 and regarding Tuberville’s nonsense holding up military readiness. All the more reason to focus on the Rule of Law. It would seem justice may come unexpectedly to this new Hall of Mirrors. I refuse to think otherwise. The battle has become so desperate that a wild card will surely emerge. In what form I cannot say but there must be a way to get the truth to the masses. Your newsletter does add leverage to our cause to save Lady Liberty. Hear yea Hear yea 🇺🇸🗽
If the time comes and Trump is the nominee, Biden should outright refuse to debate him. He should use tricks from the sTrump playbook and accuse him of every tawdry lexicon in the English language. Even use words rarely used to make Trump look like the ignorant piece of human waste that he is. Don’t play into Trump’s game because a debate would only be a slug fest for Trump. He has nothing to lose. It would become anything but a debate. That would communicate to the nation that Trump is a real menace to this nation.
Here is what I would to arrange the physical layout of a debate between the two:
o Two podiums separated by a plexiglass wall so they may not physically interact with each other and to enforce physical distancing. No Covid virus transmissions.
o The moderator controls the microphones so that only one can speak at a time. Each debater cannot be interrupted by the other.
o Each debater will be able to hear what the other says but only when other's microphone is on.
I have a better idea: Joe Biden sits or stands in the middle of the stage at his leisure and Donald Trump is placed in a cage in another building with both video and audio controlled by the moderator and the moderator will be Michael Cohen.
Change "cage in another building" to "jail cell in the Fulton County Jail"
I can dream of nightmares for TFG. He has given me enough of sleepless nights with worry for the future of America, my family and grandkids.
I hear USP Terre Haute has some rooms with video conferencing.
Lol perfect!
Joyce, when do you expect an opinion on Alabama’s congressional map? What opinion do you expect?
Thanks for all you do….