I think the f—-you gesture and comment made by (shock, surprise) the President of the United States is clearly in character. Now we know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, how obscene a person he really is. He is unmasked, and he couldn’t care less. The question is not so much what he thinks or how he responds, but how the Republicans in Congress and Trump supporters respond. Do they celebrate this obscenity? Are they even a little bit disturbed by how little he cares about the average person? As you said, Steven, he has given the middle finger to just about everything that holds us together as a country, especially the Constitution. As you stated it, he has flipped off “the rule of law”.
The rule of law is the ONLY thing, I would argue, that makes us a Democratic Republic. Therefore, I would say unequivocally that he has given the finger to Democracy. As a country of laws, checks, and balances, what else is there? Everything else falls under that category…human rights, civil rights, and our system of government…all are falling under the weight of that middle finger. The Supreme Court, who would become obsolete if Trump is allowed to continue his offensive, since he likes to ignore court orders such as the Epstein file release, might want to ponder the question: What hast thou wrought?
One good thing about the middle finger episode — SCOTUS can’t help but notice this & hopefully further realize WHAT they are enabling … along with the ICE killing.
Plus America at large will see that it is possible to call out the Mad King for what he is, and is doing, and survive to the tune of $800 K. Wow.
It is also telling that Sabula told supporters to stop sending contributions…that he had enough.
I have begun to conclude that the oligarchs we have allowed to flourish are the opposite of Sabula. Their essential human flaw is that they will never, never. never have enough.
What a sad way to live life on earth, and what destruction and death they cause.
I have thought of that so often. They will never, never have enough and yet they are obviously miserable! Do they ever, ever seem truly, just simply happy? I would much rather have my life than theirs. My family, my grandchildren, soccer games, family dinners, my cat, the beauty of the sky, the warm gatherings of friends -- that is truly enough and I am so grateful for all of it. My husband and I have been demonstrating since day one to defend our democracy and to stand with immigrants.
You’re right, Steven….our Congressional leaders need to go to Minnesota to show their support for the protesters. I left voicemail for Schumer yesterday and intend to do so everyday until he goes!
Schumer needs to go home or at least to a back bench. He does not belong leading the Democrats. Like Durbin, Kaine, Kelly, Klobuchar - Schumer does not want to lead. He wants to be admired. He is not the Loyal Opposition. He is buddy.
Funding battles in DC with a Jan 30 deadline. The Senate had to pull the DHS funding bill out of the package because of opposition. We can call our legislators & tell them to stop feeding the beast.
Thank you, Mr. Beschloss. djt, his homunculus and his insane administration have achieved “thug nirvana”. djt can be the biggest bully because he has the American military and his own private thug army. He can misuse our National Guard from defending our citizenry to defending djt’s army. I keep remembering djt once asking what the point was of having nuclear weapons if you weren’t going to use them. And the Eunuch Caucus sis by while adolf hitler beams down on his legacy.
He hates Democracy and everyone who is not a lemming. I am waiting for some magas to realize that they don't have to jump off the cliff ... America is just a gold mine he's having trouble excavating because we keep gettng in the way and land for Putin with nice sea access.... I know it's a simplistic observation but he is a simple minded megalomaniac.... just put another big-mac or gold colored thing in front of him and you own him.. unfortunately the Nobel wasn't big enough to get him to look the other way...... ooooooo I'm catty this morning
Schumer is tone deaf. A cartoon. Also Jeffries. They are a party of mice. They got theirs and they dont care about governing. They are not leaders. They're getting enormous federal perks and funds and hiding behind a curtain. Meanwhile in insurrectionist in chief sits comfortably behind the us military and the us marauders. A mafia gang that was given keys to the bank. Words are insufficient to describe the hatred and cold blooded contempt for the American public.
I’ve heard it said that Epstein - very proud of his Jewish heritage his ‘girls’ said - ran a blackmail-honey-pot operation, with the proceeds going to Israel for fighting its wars, and Epstein skimming off what he needed-wanted.
People are talking about what is happening and expressing their fears. Trump is going to declare martial law to stop the midterm elections. We need to plan now how to overcome this threat. We should be reaching out to our military families asking them to help protect us. We should be reaching out to our local and state families and asking them to help protect us. We need to reach out to the retired generals and asking for logistical help. We can’t wait until it happens we need to be ready because it is going to happen. The Republicans in the house and senate have already drank from the hose. A republic is for the people by the people we are the people. Stop being a spectator and be a leader.
It’s not just him that needs to go. It’s him and his gang of thugs. Just fyi: we are protesting in Dallas Texas every Saturday and Sunday and have been since late last spring 2025. We had at least 117 last Sunday.
We need to follow in the footsteps of John Lewis and MLK, Jr., especially since Monday is MLK day. Continue the protests, wholeheartedly, but sit down, not confront in any way the ICE/CBP shock troops. Start singing "My Country 'Tis of Thee" loud and proud. Bring flags and candles. Make it look like the peaceful wake that it is: the slow and painful death of democracy in our lifetime. We shall overcome the regime; time and the numbers are on our side. But every day requires deep breaths, prayer (if you pray) and a renewed commitment to the cause of liberty, freedom and justice. It's all on the line now. We need to send the biggest fuck you to the regime by reclaiming our pride, fighting our fear and speaking truth to power.
One of the reasons things keep getting worse is the failure of Democratic leadership to take action or even speak with any sense of urgency. Other than Chris Murphy and a few others, we have people like Schumer and Jeffries acting as if this is all business as usual. I keep going to protests, but we need a large force of leadership to show up. Some Democratic leaders won't even speak against dt much less actively protest. We protesters need leadership showing up with the sense of urgency we need.
I have a suggestion, Steven: Many of us who write on Substack have often referred to the Joseph N. Welch Award in honor of the attorney who, during the Army-McCarthy hearings in the 1950’s, shut down the odious Sen. Joseph McCarthy by asking “Have you no sense of decency?”. We can now have the TJ Sabula Award for Courage in calling out corruption and bullshit by speaking truth to power.
I think the f—-you gesture and comment made by (shock, surprise) the President of the United States is clearly in character. Now we know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, how obscene a person he really is. He is unmasked, and he couldn’t care less. The question is not so much what he thinks or how he responds, but how the Republicans in Congress and Trump supporters respond. Do they celebrate this obscenity? Are they even a little bit disturbed by how little he cares about the average person? As you said, Steven, he has given the middle finger to just about everything that holds us together as a country, especially the Constitution. As you stated it, he has flipped off “the rule of law”.
The rule of law is the ONLY thing, I would argue, that makes us a Democratic Republic. Therefore, I would say unequivocally that he has given the finger to Democracy. As a country of laws, checks, and balances, what else is there? Everything else falls under that category…human rights, civil rights, and our system of government…all are falling under the weight of that middle finger. The Supreme Court, who would become obsolete if Trump is allowed to continue his offensive, since he likes to ignore court orders such as the Epstein file release, might want to ponder the question: What hast thou wrought?
One good thing about the middle finger episode — SCOTUS can’t help but notice this & hopefully further realize WHAT they are enabling … along with the ICE killing.
Plus America at large will see that it is possible to call out the Mad King for what he is, and is doing, and survive to the tune of $800 K. Wow.
I pray they do see it. Gawd, if only…
“Civil disobedience is not our problem. Our problem is civil obedience.” - Howard Zinn
It is also telling that Sabula told supporters to stop sending contributions…that he had enough.
I have begun to conclude that the oligarchs we have allowed to flourish are the opposite of Sabula. Their essential human flaw is that they will never, never. never have enough.
What a sad way to live life on earth, and what destruction and death they cause.
I have thought of that so often. They will never, never have enough and yet they are obviously miserable! Do they ever, ever seem truly, just simply happy? I would much rather have my life than theirs. My family, my grandchildren, soccer games, family dinners, my cat, the beauty of the sky, the warm gatherings of friends -- that is truly enough and I am so grateful for all of it. My husband and I have been demonstrating since day one to defend our democracy and to stand with immigrants.
You’re right, Steven….our Congressional leaders need to go to Minnesota to show their support for the protesters. I left voicemail for Schumer yesterday and intend to do so everyday until he goes!
Schumer needs to go home or at least to a back bench. He does not belong leading the Democrats. Like Durbin, Kaine, Kelly, Klobuchar - Schumer does not want to lead. He wants to be admired. He is not the Loyal Opposition. He is buddy.
Funding battles in DC with a Jan 30 deadline. The Senate had to pull the DHS funding bill out of the package because of opposition. We can call our legislators & tell them to stop feeding the beast.
(Dems are in Minneapolis conducting field hearing. It began this morning at 10am https://www.youtube.com/live/qcDRbIMJ0L4)
Thank you, Mr. Beschloss. djt, his homunculus and his insane administration have achieved “thug nirvana”. djt can be the biggest bully because he has the American military and his own private thug army. He can misuse our National Guard from defending our citizenry to defending djt’s army. I keep remembering djt once asking what the point was of having nuclear weapons if you weren’t going to use them. And the Eunuch Caucus sis by while adolf hitler beams down on his legacy.
Yes!
Seize the opportunity!
Thank you, Sabula for your courage and inspiration!
Excerpt from Steven’s essay;
“For his part, Sabula says he “has no regrets whatsoever.”
And, he said Wednesday after speaking out,
“I don’t feel as though fate looks upon you often, and when it does, you better be ready to seize the opportunity. And today I think I did that.””
“That’s the spirit, just the right attitude we need more of as Donald J. Trump continues to give our country and our people the finger.”
He hates Democracy and everyone who is not a lemming. I am waiting for some magas to realize that they don't have to jump off the cliff ... America is just a gold mine he's having trouble excavating because we keep gettng in the way and land for Putin with nice sea access.... I know it's a simplistic observation but he is a simple minded megalomaniac.... just put another big-mac or gold colored thing in front of him and you own him.. unfortunately the Nobel wasn't big enough to get him to look the other way...... ooooooo I'm catty this morning
Schumer is tone deaf. A cartoon. Also Jeffries. They are a party of mice. They got theirs and they dont care about governing. They are not leaders. They're getting enormous federal perks and funds and hiding behind a curtain. Meanwhile in insurrectionist in chief sits comfortably behind the us military and the us marauders. A mafia gang that was given keys to the bank. Words are insufficient to describe the hatred and cold blooded contempt for the American public.
He is not just a "pedophile protector", he <IS> a pedophile. Who really thinks he went with Epstein just to watch? He was an active participant!
I’ve heard it said that Epstein - very proud of his Jewish heritage his ‘girls’ said - ran a blackmail-honey-pot operation, with the proceeds going to Israel for fighting its wars, and Epstein skimming off what he needed-wanted.
Well, that sucks. I hadn't heard that before, but I suppose it is not out of character.
Some of the girls said Epstein & Maxwell used to boast of their jewishness & belittle them (girls) for their lack of such fine lineage.
A former Israeli PM and his wife used to visit Epstein Island VERY often.
Times of israel — Ehud Barak met with Jeffrey Epstein dozens of times, flew on private plane — report
Former prime minister visited disgraced financier and child abuser about 30 times in 2013-2017, including 2014 private flight in Florida.
People are talking about what is happening and expressing their fears. Trump is going to declare martial law to stop the midterm elections. We need to plan now how to overcome this threat. We should be reaching out to our military families asking them to help protect us. We should be reaching out to our local and state families and asking them to help protect us. We need to reach out to the retired generals and asking for logistical help. We can’t wait until it happens we need to be ready because it is going to happen. The Republicans in the house and senate have already drank from the hose. A republic is for the people by the people we are the people. Stop being a spectator and be a leader.
It’s not just him that needs to go. It’s him and his gang of thugs. Just fyi: we are protesting in Dallas Texas every Saturday and Sunday and have been since late last spring 2025. We had at least 117 last Sunday.
We need to follow in the footsteps of John Lewis and MLK, Jr., especially since Monday is MLK day. Continue the protests, wholeheartedly, but sit down, not confront in any way the ICE/CBP shock troops. Start singing "My Country 'Tis of Thee" loud and proud. Bring flags and candles. Make it look like the peaceful wake that it is: the slow and painful death of democracy in our lifetime. We shall overcome the regime; time and the numbers are on our side. But every day requires deep breaths, prayer (if you pray) and a renewed commitment to the cause of liberty, freedom and justice. It's all on the line now. We need to send the biggest fuck you to the regime by reclaiming our pride, fighting our fear and speaking truth to power.
One of the reasons things keep getting worse is the failure of Democratic leadership to take action or even speak with any sense of urgency. Other than Chris Murphy and a few others, we have people like Schumer and Jeffries acting as if this is all business as usual. I keep going to protests, but we need a large force of leadership to show up. Some Democratic leaders won't even speak against dt much less actively protest. We protesters need leadership showing up with the sense of urgency we need.
We need more Sabula and less Trump.
I have a suggestion, Steven: Many of us who write on Substack have often referred to the Joseph N. Welch Award in honor of the attorney who, during the Army-McCarthy hearings in the 1950’s, shut down the odious Sen. Joseph McCarthy by asking “Have you no sense of decency?”. We can now have the TJ Sabula Award for Courage in calling out corruption and bullshit by speaking truth to power.
Once again, well, said Steven, always keeping it real and truthful