Trump proves that stopping the drug trade means nothing when there's a chance to pardon a dirty politician who made millions by helping to bring 400 tons of cocaine into the U.S.
Excellent essay. This regime sickens me. The endless stupidity masked as skills and the unmitigated cruelty is boundless. The end cannot be soon enough. When they are removed, there needs to be an accounting of everything they have done and consequences for their actions.
Depressingly accurate post. Proves the lie of american exceptionalism. The rot runs deep. I still marvel at how fast our highly touted “checks and balances” evaporated. It took less than a month. It turns out that the republican party is nothing more than a syndicate designed to funnel money to the rich at the expense of the rest of us. While I am optimistic that trump’s malignant reign will end, the damage he does will not be repaired in my lifetime. To an old man like me that is terribly disheartening.
I feel the same way. I’m 81 and past my sell by date. I hope I live long enough to see this lawless, thieving, cheating and most of all lying regime of the rotten jailed. Who knows?
I still have 10 months of youth. I turn 80 in October. I hate Trump and his anti American republican accomplices for putting us through this at this stage of my life. Of course I didn’t like it 9 years ago. I’ll bet anything you are not past your sell by date.
Spellbinding detail and with helpful embedded links, a resulting masterpiece of revelations of the ongoing total corruption of decrepit Trump.
He hides nothing now, at least regarding his corruption and acts of inhumanity, and eagerness to honor the most irreverent ignominious, dangerous creatures.
Trump has pardoned quite a list of convicted drug offenders which makes me question how much he has been paid in drug $$ for the pardons?
This piece is powerful and true…and bewildering and infuriating. I’m surprised Trump has not renamed the Supreme Court in his honor, as he did the Institute of Peace after tearing that institution down and apart. It is definitely NOT the Roberts Court. It is now the Trump Court…and it certainly ‘courts’ Trump. It gives him a pacifier when he cries and hands him a lollipop when he throws a tantrum. “There, there, Darling,” they croon with their crooked rulings that are only intended to mollify this bad-tempered monarch.
My G-D…where does this all end? Elections have profound consequences as we all know, and the Court seems determined to help Trump/MAGA/ The Federalist Society stay in power so they can finish off any vestige of justice. Pardons are raining down like water…but a fierce force of democracy is getting hungrier with each passing day.
Thank you for your writing, Steven. Your expose of the irony of blowing over 80 supposed narco-terrorists out of the water, while pardoning the ex-president of Honduras who was convicted of flooding our country with over 400 million pounds of cocaine is mind-boggling! Hernández was sentenced to 45 years of incarceration, and he walked free! I was so glad that your writing included the contrast of the harsh deportation of the 19-year-old college freshman to Honduras when she tried to board a flight to visit her family at Thanksgiving.
These people are rich and powerful because WE THE GOVERNED have not insisted that the Constitution be modernized to become a true doctrine of a democracy limiting the oligarchy and its dark money's ability to buy the system, who gets to run for office, who gets nominated for government positions, who prevents the removal of corrupt people, does not insist that WE THE PEOPLE must have the final supervisory and policy decisions of our system when our chief executives, representatives and judges make decisions contrary to our wishes.
How will this happen? I hope voting will do the job, but I am not hopeful because our citizens have been so "dummied" down that they do not know how to vote or what voting actually means. There are no longer civics classes that I attended in the 9th grade., and Citizens United is responsible for the gross infusions of billions of dollars into our governing systems. What is the answer short of a revolution?
The super majorities needed to amend the Constitution make it almost impossible in this political climate. I believe it is humans who blew right through the Constitution and laws - supported by too many voters - who got us here. I do not know of a law or Amendment that would prevent that.
SCOTUS changed federal law by making bribery paid after the act by an official legal. — Corruption in the form of a “thank you” or gratuity. I see in that a reflection of their own sin$. Congress has allowed SCOTUS to take a great deal power for itself and now the Roberts Court claims it has no authority reign in their corruption.
One of my concerns is many things folks have on their wishlist of changes are things that could easily be turned against us. For instance what seems logical, not allowing a felon to run for office, is a weapon DJT would love to have. It would be wielded Putin style to eliminate opposition & give us a permanent Duma.
Thank you Steven for shining a spotlight on the corruption and destruction Trump and his regime commit against the people and laws of our country every day. Our Constitution and rule of law has been fractured and is no longer functioning as it was written. This will continue as long as we are silent and allow it to happen. Keep the light shining bright, so people can see the truth.
Your posts are helping me stay sane during this dystopian time in the US because you tell it like it is and don’t pretend any of this craziness is normal!
“We can expect plenty more pardons before the most corrupt and criminal occupant of our White House in American history finally goes away, no matter if these decisions conflict with his publicly stated goals.
Because none of that matters to this weakening old man whose great pleasure—perhaps only surpassed by his sadistic pleasure in seeking vengeance against perceived enemies—is to exploit the ruins of public liberty that he’s worked energetically to destroy.”
Apparently none of this matters to Congressional Republicans or the MAGA SCOTUS, either. Thank you for another excellent summation of the disaster that is this administration.
I'm not sure others think like me, but I have strong doubts that Trump will ever face real consequences. He is a master of the con and his grift has no ends. This new war on drugs (specifically alleged cocaine being "shipped" in the Caribbean) is complete BS. This is occurring while cocaine usage in the U.S is half of what it was in 2006. And dramatically less than the high-flying 80's. So why this drug war now? Diversion and Venezuelan oil. Simple as that.
When Mr. Beschloss and others put together all that’s happening with the correct context, he (and they) are providing an important service. Hopefully, all this will be read and noted in the future. Sometimes, I think the best we have to hope for at this point is that the righteous will write the history books and future generations will know the truth.
Steven, your writing and the commentators' contributions are essential reading. Building upon his writing, I just published my own post-focusing on the drug lord pardons. Leading advocacy groups can identify patterns and educate the public proactively on how far these pardons and other illegal activity might reach. Anticipate the corruption rather than just reacting to it. Make them defend the indefensible before it happens.
Richard, I wrote my ideas for a peaceful, non-violent ideas in "A MORE PERFECT DEMOCRACY: MODERNIZING THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION FOR THE 21ST CENTURY" released on 5 January 2024. Have you read the book? I think it has best been summarized by the editor whom I have never met. To quote what he wrote : "Dr. Blain offers well thought out, doable, sustainable improvements in our Constitution, government organization, and balance of powers. These reforms would create a fourth un-official branch essential to all true democracies: THE PEOPLE, youn and me. To learn more read the text and the thinking that gev]neratyed and defends the ideas."
But I will need the help of very one of the millions of true patriots who are sicked by the chaos and inhumanity of recent developments. We must have a "NO KINGs" peaceful uprising to support these changes, input from Constitutional experts to be sure the language is unambiguous for SCOTUS and the average American to understand and support. It must be approved by a plebiscite of THE PEOPLE. Those who do not wish to move toward A MORE Perfect Democracy must be allowed to leave without violence to form whatever dictatorial system they want and leave behind all the benefits of out society and government system.
I am presenting a once a week session on Fridays from February to May at California Sacramento State University's Renaissance Society. I hope this will grow to a national tour of speaking engagements so I can present the ideas, listen to people's feedback and gain their political and financial support without politicians or dark money support or interference for they will surely spend to defeat these measure which are designed to move the power TO THE GOVERNED still using representative but they will be directly answerable when they don;t without waiting days, months or years for the next scheduled election. Please READ THE BOOK and decide if you will support these ideas and get others to do so as well.
Excellent essay. This regime sickens me. The endless stupidity masked as skills and the unmitigated cruelty is boundless. The end cannot be soon enough. When they are removed, there needs to be an accounting of everything they have done and consequences for their actions.
Depressingly accurate post. Proves the lie of american exceptionalism. The rot runs deep. I still marvel at how fast our highly touted “checks and balances” evaporated. It took less than a month. It turns out that the republican party is nothing more than a syndicate designed to funnel money to the rich at the expense of the rest of us. While I am optimistic that trump’s malignant reign will end, the damage he does will not be repaired in my lifetime. To an old man like me that is terribly disheartening.
I feel the same way. I’m 81 and past my sell by date. I hope I live long enough to see this lawless, thieving, cheating and most of all lying regime of the rotten jailed. Who knows?
I still have 10 months of youth. I turn 80 in October. I hate Trump and his anti American republican accomplices for putting us through this at this stage of my life. Of course I didn’t like it 9 years ago. I’ll bet anything you are not past your sell by date.
Steven thanks ;
Spellbinding detail and with helpful embedded links, a resulting masterpiece of revelations of the ongoing total corruption of decrepit Trump.
He hides nothing now, at least regarding his corruption and acts of inhumanity, and eagerness to honor the most irreverent ignominious, dangerous creatures.
Trump has pardoned quite a list of convicted drug offenders which makes me question how much he has been paid in drug $$ for the pardons?
💙🇺🇸💙
This piece is powerful and true…and bewildering and infuriating. I’m surprised Trump has not renamed the Supreme Court in his honor, as he did the Institute of Peace after tearing that institution down and apart. It is definitely NOT the Roberts Court. It is now the Trump Court…and it certainly ‘courts’ Trump. It gives him a pacifier when he cries and hands him a lollipop when he throws a tantrum. “There, there, Darling,” they croon with their crooked rulings that are only intended to mollify this bad-tempered monarch.
My G-D…where does this all end? Elections have profound consequences as we all know, and the Court seems determined to help Trump/MAGA/ The Federalist Society stay in power so they can finish off any vestige of justice. Pardons are raining down like water…but a fierce force of democracy is getting hungrier with each passing day.
Beware the lion in winter.
More like President for the Rich and Pathetic.
Thank you for your writing, Steven. Your expose of the irony of blowing over 80 supposed narco-terrorists out of the water, while pardoning the ex-president of Honduras who was convicted of flooding our country with over 400 million pounds of cocaine is mind-boggling! Hernández was sentenced to 45 years of incarceration, and he walked free! I was so glad that your writing included the contrast of the harsh deportation of the 19-year-old college freshman to Honduras when she tried to board a flight to visit her family at Thanksgiving.
Hes the drug trader in chief if he benefits. He is the personification of cruelty and greed. Its a dark world. The embodiment of hell....
He is the anti-Christ if you ask me. So ridiculous that he is supported by so many “Christians.”
These people are rich and powerful because WE THE GOVERNED have not insisted that the Constitution be modernized to become a true doctrine of a democracy limiting the oligarchy and its dark money's ability to buy the system, who gets to run for office, who gets nominated for government positions, who prevents the removal of corrupt people, does not insist that WE THE PEOPLE must have the final supervisory and policy decisions of our system when our chief executives, representatives and judges make decisions contrary to our wishes.
How will this happen? I hope voting will do the job, but I am not hopeful because our citizens have been so "dummied" down that they do not know how to vote or what voting actually means. There are no longer civics classes that I attended in the 9th grade., and Citizens United is responsible for the gross infusions of billions of dollars into our governing systems. What is the answer short of a revolution?
The super majorities needed to amend the Constitution make it almost impossible in this political climate. I believe it is humans who blew right through the Constitution and laws - supported by too many voters - who got us here. I do not know of a law or Amendment that would prevent that.
SCOTUS changed federal law by making bribery paid after the act by an official legal. — Corruption in the form of a “thank you” or gratuity. I see in that a reflection of their own sin$. Congress has allowed SCOTUS to take a great deal power for itself and now the Roberts Court claims it has no authority reign in their corruption.
One of my concerns is many things folks have on their wishlist of changes are things that could easily be turned against us. For instance what seems logical, not allowing a felon to run for office, is a weapon DJT would love to have. It would be wielded Putin style to eliminate opposition & give us a permanent Duma.
Good piece, Steve. Wish it all was a bad dream.
Is it any wonder that people are furious?
Unfortunately, the lunatics among us get to play the rage game as well?
https://albellenchia.substack.com/p/rage-reprised?r=7wk5d
It’s no wonder.
Thank you Steven for shining a spotlight on the corruption and destruction Trump and his regime commit against the people and laws of our country every day. Our Constitution and rule of law has been fractured and is no longer functioning as it was written. This will continue as long as we are silent and allow it to happen. Keep the light shining bright, so people can see the truth.
Fantastic post today, @Steven Beschloss. You perfectly summarized the corruption and cruelty of our current POTUS.
Thanks, Nancy.
Your posts are helping me stay sane during this dystopian time in the US because you tell it like it is and don’t pretend any of this craziness is normal!
“We can expect plenty more pardons before the most corrupt and criminal occupant of our White House in American history finally goes away, no matter if these decisions conflict with his publicly stated goals.
Because none of that matters to this weakening old man whose great pleasure—perhaps only surpassed by his sadistic pleasure in seeking vengeance against perceived enemies—is to exploit the ruins of public liberty that he’s worked energetically to destroy.”
Apparently none of this matters to Congressional Republicans or the MAGA SCOTUS, either. Thank you for another excellent summation of the disaster that is this administration.
I'm not sure others think like me, but I have strong doubts that Trump will ever face real consequences. He is a master of the con and his grift has no ends. This new war on drugs (specifically alleged cocaine being "shipped" in the Caribbean) is complete BS. This is occurring while cocaine usage in the U.S is half of what it was in 2006. And dramatically less than the high-flying 80's. So why this drug war now? Diversion and Venezuelan oil. Simple as that.
When Mr. Beschloss and others put together all that’s happening with the correct context, he (and they) are providing an important service. Hopefully, all this will be read and noted in the future. Sometimes, I think the best we have to hope for at this point is that the righteous will write the history books and future generations will know the truth.
Steven, your writing and the commentators' contributions are essential reading. Building upon his writing, I just published my own post-focusing on the drug lord pardons. Leading advocacy groups can identify patterns and educate the public proactively on how far these pardons and other illegal activity might reach. Anticipate the corruption rather than just reacting to it. Make them defend the indefensible before it happens.
Richard, I wrote my ideas for a peaceful, non-violent ideas in "A MORE PERFECT DEMOCRACY: MODERNIZING THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION FOR THE 21ST CENTURY" released on 5 January 2024. Have you read the book? I think it has best been summarized by the editor whom I have never met. To quote what he wrote : "Dr. Blain offers well thought out, doable, sustainable improvements in our Constitution, government organization, and balance of powers. These reforms would create a fourth un-official branch essential to all true democracies: THE PEOPLE, youn and me. To learn more read the text and the thinking that gev]neratyed and defends the ideas."
But I will need the help of very one of the millions of true patriots who are sicked by the chaos and inhumanity of recent developments. We must have a "NO KINGs" peaceful uprising to support these changes, input from Constitutional experts to be sure the language is unambiguous for SCOTUS and the average American to understand and support. It must be approved by a plebiscite of THE PEOPLE. Those who do not wish to move toward A MORE Perfect Democracy must be allowed to leave without violence to form whatever dictatorial system they want and leave behind all the benefits of out society and government system.
I am presenting a once a week session on Fridays from February to May at California Sacramento State University's Renaissance Society. I hope this will grow to a national tour of speaking engagements so I can present the ideas, listen to people's feedback and gain their political and financial support without politicians or dark money support or interference for they will surely spend to defeat these measure which are designed to move the power TO THE GOVERNED still using representative but they will be directly answerable when they don;t without waiting days, months or years for the next scheduled election. Please READ THE BOOK and decide if you will support these ideas and get others to do so as well.