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Peter Pappas's avatar

"Today, Wednesday, June 7, is the anniversary date for Civil Discourse. We’re one today! Wouldn’t it be great if today was The Day? "

~ Here's hoping it a happy birthday for all of us!

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Susan Burgess's avatar

I’m celebrating the one year anniversary of Civil Discourse here at home with cake and ice cream and a candle and gold candlestick that belonged to my mother. I light it only on the most important occasions and make a wish before blowing it out. That’s why the candle itself has lasted 23 years. Joyce, one year ago by forming your Civil Discourse newsletter, you brought us clear information on a subject that seemed so unreachable. You made it understandable. We were hungry for it. Happy Anniversary to all of us who are in this together.

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Peter Pappas's avatar

What a charming way to celebrate your mother and important events today.

Joyce's fine work at Civil Discourse is deserving of "a light."

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Susan Burgess's avatar

And this light is a holy light.

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Tutone's avatar

👏✨

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Just Sayin''s avatar

Who better than a former prosecutor to analyze the crumbs of information falling from the plates of the DOJ, the courts and multiple reporters with their multiple sources and constructing most plausible explanations for what appears to be happening. We are the anxious public who want to know yesterday what is happening today in the halls of justice. We seem to have a voracious appetite for this justice, after being used and abused as vassals by an elected official who should have behaved as a public servant rather than an emperor. Why this particular official above all others? Because he slithered his way to the pinnacle of our political and governmental system, while behaving childishly, boorishly, proudly and shamelessly, flaunting his power over others as well as his power to scandalize and outrage the public. We desperately want and need to know that the right will prevail.

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Armand Beede's avatar

To Trump's bigoted base, he can do no wrong.

A Trumpee asked, "Don't you feel sorry for Trump?!" after his recital of the sad history of Steele-Dossier, Mueller and two indictments -- to which my burst of laughter forced me to spit out the coffee I had savored.

Indictments, ironically, tie the base's loyalty to the Grifter.

There is monstruous comedy in, "I am among the most honest and innocent Americans in history . . . this is the worst witch-hunt!"

OK . . . There is Pickles, the lap chicken -- The Cream-Crested Legbar; Florence, the chicken so-cool Teen; the purring Silkies; the Rooster, Scotch -- who hatched out of a blue egg; Butter (a Silky); and the affectionate picture of the Honorable Joyce Vance cuddling with Pickles, as Pickles reassures Joyce; We are in this together!

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Morgaine Swann's avatar

Happy Anniversary! I do hope Jack Smith marks the day in some significant way. I expect him to make it rain indictments at some point.

Keith Olbermann pointed out in today's podcast that Trump committed stochastic terrorism again, urging his followers to "fight" before or if he gets indicted. Somebody really ought to put a stop to that. I think Trump's camp already knows it's coming.

In terms of timing, I'd like to see Smith's cases rule the month of June to keep us busy until Fani Willis goes RICO on Trump's entire cabal of traitors and losers in July. This has been a long time coming, and it will take many months to go through the system, but Indictments are real acknowledgment that crimes were committed and !o amount of spin can erase that.

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SPW's avatar

I was glad to see Mark Meadows finally surface. He used to be my Representative, the snake in the grass. I wondered when he ran to ground whether or not he would be turning(or ratting)tfg out in exchange for a sentence a lot cushier than what he was most likely facing. The fact that he wasn’t charged with being registered to vote in three different states told me a lot. So now all we have to do is hang around and wait for something to happen somewhere. That Florida may be yet another venue adds another layer to the Trump cake. There are so many now. Who would have thunk it? With trump it’s always got to be bigger and better so here we find ourselves; guessing, guessing, guessing.

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ZsuzEB's avatar

Thank you Joyce for your detailed analysis of the days events and possible further events this week in Palm Beach County. Since I am a Palm Beach County resident, I don't think I will head downtown West Palm Beach anytime soon! KARMA is coming to TFG! Can't wait. Happy Anniversary Civil Discourse. Peace

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Kimberly Rorick's avatar

I’m growing weary of the dribs & drabs that are being reported in these matters. For the love of God, when are they bringing out the power washer of indictments?! (Not soon enough!)

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BJ's avatar

Likely you know this, but here I go. It's my understanding that indictments in this case/these cases have to have absolute, air-tight, irrefutable evidence. Failure to reach that nose-bleed level torpedoes the whole endeavor. In this case, Tethlon TFG avoids the storied orange jumpsuit. I can't imagine what it's like being the prosecutor who has the responsibility of bringing down the hammer, saying, "Let's go get him." Ugh. I lecture myself with the above almost every day, because twisting in the wind isn't part of my comfort zone. America is aching for this to be decided. Some of us because we abhor All Things TFG. Others because they're itching to trot out their guns. (Steps down from soapbox.)

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Erica's avatar

He's never going to be in an orange jumpsuit and indictments are a LONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNG way away from being found guilty.

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james wheaton (Jay)'s avatar

I continue to envision a hyper-motivated MAGA base (who will vote with abandon), a disaffected politically clueless young progressive base (who will stay home in protest), a disinformation machine running in the red zone with the help of Russia and Musk and the like, the cumulative successes in so many swing states to suppress the vote or subject it to the control of the state legislatures, an unfortunate October surprise, and just plain fate, conspiring to get the orange dumpster fire back into office. Couple that with continued thumb twirling by DOJ, and Trump gets to pardon himself and all others he deems fit to be pardoned, and let the purge begin. Get going DOJ.

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Armand Beede's avatar

"The power washer of indictments!"

You should copyright that phrase. I shall use this phrase with attribution to you.

That was good!

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Susan Lorraine Knox's avatar

I liked "soapbox".

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Beth B's avatar

Ya need soap for power washing.

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kdsherpa's avatar

LOL!!

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Armand Beede's avatar

Yes!

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SPW's avatar

Seems like every time someone in the DOJ farts, it’s BREAKING NEWS!

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Terri Quinn's avatar

Mark Meadows wasn’t really a “public” servant. That’s a quaint phase that should be retired. These politicians are servants to their money sources.

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Margaret LaPointe's avatar

A Transnational Crime Syndicate masquerading as a Legitimate Government

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Tutone's avatar

ISOM = in service of money

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Cindy Hemingway's avatar

Happy Anniversary, everyone! Thank you, Joyce, for sharing your wisdom & empowering all of us to research & prepare ourselves to participate in the election season. I’m so blessed that you are doing this. You calm me. Have a great day today!

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Christopher L Groesbeck's avatar

This is illuminating and an insight to a remarkable Institution of Justice. I hope that Meadow’s testimony covers the complicit roles of the GOP congress.

Thanks Joyce!

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celeste k.'s avatar

It says a lot about a person who will tell the truth only when legally obligated, and not because it's a morally correct thing to do. He must not care much about this country, unless, of course, he is legally obligated to.

What a dirt bag.

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Carol's avatar

Truth telling only when legally obligated: Meadows is signaling to Ginny Thomas that he’s doing his best to avoid riffing on her.

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Tutone's avatar

And all the while Clarence Thomas is paying attention.

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Carol's avatar

You betcha. He and Ginny ought to be terrified about how much Mark Meadows could reveal about the depth of her involvement in January 6th..

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Dianna Beers's avatar

Thank you for the explanation of venue. I always wondered how that works. And Happy Birthday! This is a wonderful, informative newsletter. And we get chickens :D

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Dropped Anchor's avatar

In both Guam and Hawai'i the first birthday is the day of greatest celebration for the baby's families.

Sincere congratulations to you Joyce.

And Professor Heather Cox Richardson for introducing us.

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Deb Dunton's avatar

Happy anniversary! Civil Discourse is so important and informative in this fragile democracy. You are my hero!

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Linda (Evanston IL)'s avatar

Happy Birthday to Civil Discourse with Joyce. I'm really grateful to Joyce for her detailed explanations and the chickens.

The former guy's birthday is coming up. Sometime between today, June 7, and his birthday on June 14 would be a fabulous time to indict him, send him up to DC for arraignment, and lock him up. He should not be given bond. He continues to be a terrible danger to our country with his rants on his failing social media network and at his rallies. He is continuing to incite his far right wing militias to "fight back". This alarms me. I'm concerned about the security after sitting at home frozen in terror watching January 6 unfold. There seem to be very few leaks from DOJ and the Biden administration. I'm trusting there is a plan to implement immediately should the far right attempt another violent incident. I know I worry quite a bit, as do many of us who follow Joyce. Thank you again.

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ira lechner's avatar

It is inevitable that random acts of violence against federal assets or officers will occur if and when he is indicted and arrested. They could also be similar to the Bundy Ranch incident years ago where remote federal assets were occupied for a considerable period? All federal assets such as courthouses are probably under lockdown orders if such unlawful activity breaks out all across the country. And an unhinged 45 would probably fan the flames! We are awaiting a very difficult time for our Nation!

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Linda (Evanston IL)'s avatar

Thank you for your comment. I agree we are heading into a really stressful time. It's been that way since the 2016 election. It takes a great deal of self-discipline to find mindful, peaceful moments in each day. Nature, pets, music, poetry.

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Susan Lorraine Knox's avatar

There is a sudden influx of Americans here. I'm not sure who they are escaping, Donald or the FBI. I will sit back and wait to meet them until I e scouted them out.

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Mar Tully's avatar

Happy Anniversary Civil Discourse! I'm very happy that I found you, and eagerly read you when you post. Thanks for helping us understand the ins and outs of the law.

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Carol's avatar

Remarkable piece of work, a stunner. What a contribution to democracy. It’s birthday cake for the soul. 🎉

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