Our voices, individually and collectively need to be continually raised and focused against this relentless and malignant spew. But more than that, we need to also actively support those who are supporting these efforts. Keep going, Steve. Keep going all.
Sickening. Trump's cruel and unqualified lackeys are all sickening. Scream and shout, you liars, it won't do any good. Let people see how unhinged you really are. As my soft-spoken father used to say, shouting about something doesn't make it so. Curse, bluster, blame, scream--you're still lying. I don't think Hegseth is going to make Pentagon reporters go away or to stop doing their jobs.
I think most of us are already turned off by major news outlets. The reporting is biased. That is why tens of thousands of people subscribe to Substacks.
“I am concerned that too many of the speakers—in their effort to explore ideas with affluent audiences from across the political spectrum—are minimizing the dangers currently facing our country.”
I hope you will have the opportunity to push back and that others will call them out on this as well. Such behavior by intelligent, informed and well meaning speakers is irresponsible— and, need I say, cowardly.
Hegseth also used some verbal sleight of hand in his attack on the news media as he staged his rant. At one point as he promoted the administration’s version of the damage, he said “or to use your word, obliteration.” No one took the bait.
It is a sad and dangerous fact the position of Secretary of Defense has become a hollow propaganda shell of itself. In his rambling promotion of the bombing,
DJT floated changing the position back to its pre-1947 designation, ‘Secretary of War.’ It reminds me of the post-9/11 days when “homeland” replaced words like “nation” and “country.” When anyone who approved surveillance and other questionable legislation or tactics were “patriots.” Doubters were unAmerican.
The lying has now turned to extreme danger for our country. That the self-aggrandizing Trump has his mouthpieces out there trying to make the intelligence match his lies will bring severe consequences to our military, our citizens and out country as a whole. This cannot be let stand!
Another way this administration makes America less safe. Many of these people worship Ayn Rand. Do they not recognize the train heading into the tunnel? In the real world, what role did Chernobyl play in the collapse of the Soviet Union? We can't be great or even good making decisions based on stories made up or heavily slanted just satisfy a mentally unfit leader.
China ignored, then punished the medical personnel warning at that start of Covid-19 that there was a grave public health risk. Party officials did not want bad news, so they ignored it and ignited a pandemic in China and around the world.
It’s every Cabinet member in the regime who are unqualified and dangerous to the continuation of democracy. Hegseth, Kennedy, Noem, Bondi, Patel and McMahon are all determined to follow orders from the felon rather than the proper roles for the positions they are filling. I know there are many others as well, all tearing down government. This should be a code red, but those who call it out are accused of hyperbole.
Be aware of the Democrats who voted AYE for these unqualified Cabinet members. You can find them on television shows bewailing Trump and his regime, but never say why they voted AYE when they were all well-known and absolutely blistered in Senate hearings by Democrats voting NO.
The rejection of the rule of law started in our schools about four decades ago when fascists hijacked many if not most of them. Whistleblowing teachers have tried to tell you since 2002 at WhiteChalkCrime.com and EndTeacherAbuse.org. We knew it would eventually take down democracy.
Unfortunately, we’ve been ignored by the media when there’s been a solution - get people who care about democracy on school boards. We still can do this once people understand the role schools play in upholding a democracy and how boards have totally not done their job well before right wing extremists started taking them over.
At this point our schools are one of few places we can plant the flag of democracy but we need the media investigating the fascists running many of our schools. These whistleblowers can educate a willing media. So far that does not exist and we’re paying a high price.
The democracy haters realized they could use our schools to end it while the democracy lovers remain clueless about the power of our institution to shape this nation. It used to produce caring citizens. It used to say no to evil. When that stopped, democracy began unraveling. It’s time people recognized that a functional education system would not have school shootings. They are red flags people only see as a gun issue when they are warnings: we must investigate our schools.
We can’t ignore the primary reason democracy imploded if we expect it to ever return. We need a leader to fix this. That won’t happen if the media ignores the teachers who know what happened to one of our most cherished institutions. We must get past the cover up that the unions are taking part in out of fear of the fascists in power and fix our schools. That will only happen if the media listens to the teachers and investigates.
Has it been challenged? (I'm looking it up right now.) In this era of the MAGA hijacking of the civil rights discrimination issue, this is an opportunity to turn their own argument against them.
There is so much power on school boards. They’re the intended watchdogs but act like lapdogs. People need to run on a save democracy platform regardless of party in groups of four so they have the votes. My board refused to investigate the administration saying investigation is not what they do when it’s their job. We need to educate people who love democracy so they’ll get on boards. I focused on school shootings in the title of my book to get parents motivated to run for boards. School shootings exist where teachers are muzzled and afraid to get involved. I’m going to put that chapter on my website so we can motivate other centered people to run for boards.
Those of us who've lived with, worked with, or otherwise had to deal with active alcoholics will recognize Hegseth's blustering. ("Kegseth" is an all too appropriate nickname, though what he's using is almost certainly stronger than beer.) And Trump is clearly an enabler: he learned from his first term not to hire people who are more competent than he is. As we know, that sets the bar so low only a limbo master could get under it.
It may be pushing the alcoholism/addiction analogy a little too far to suggest that "we the people" -- not just the 77 million who voted for this guy, and the ones who didn't vote -- are enablers too. But that's worth considering, because it offers us hope: When the enabling stops, when the alcoholic and the co-alcoholics are denied their source of supply, recovery becomes possible.
The "mouth" is being his own mouthpiece. Why are these people always screamers and not listeners? 2+2=5 and if you dont believe that you are stupid and can pay my share of taxes.
Excellent commentary. So important to emphasize that NO ONE is criticizing the execution of the Iran strike mission, or the pilots and crew. The real question is THE DECISION MAKING that preceded the order to attack. Has Trump been PLAYED so he will do what is in the best interests of Netanyahu, and not the best interests of the USA? THAT is the question.
Our voices, individually and collectively need to be continually raised and focused against this relentless and malignant spew. But more than that, we need to also actively support those who are supporting these efforts. Keep going, Steve. Keep going all.
Right you are. Al.
Sickening. Trump's cruel and unqualified lackeys are all sickening. Scream and shout, you liars, it won't do any good. Let people see how unhinged you really are. As my soft-spoken father used to say, shouting about something doesn't make it so. Curse, bluster, blame, scream--you're still lying. I don't think Hegseth is going to make Pentagon reporters go away or to stop doing their jobs.
The picture of Hegseth at the podium says it all. God help us.
I think most of us are already turned off by major news outlets. The reporting is biased. That is why tens of thousands of people subscribe to Substacks.
Unfortunately with this switch we lost the ability for Americans to have a comprehensive or at least more thorough view of what is happening.
“I am concerned that too many of the speakers—in their effort to explore ideas with affluent audiences from across the political spectrum—are minimizing the dangers currently facing our country.”
I hope you will have the opportunity to push back and that others will call them out on this as well. Such behavior by intelligent, informed and well meaning speakers is irresponsible— and, need I say, cowardly.
These "leaders" are abusers!
"Political survival depends on slavish flattery of the dictator." Paul Krugman
Destroying consensus truth has been the greatest threat we have faced from these fascists.
Hegseth also used some verbal sleight of hand in his attack on the news media as he staged his rant. At one point as he promoted the administration’s version of the damage, he said “or to use your word, obliteration.” No one took the bait.
It is a sad and dangerous fact the position of Secretary of Defense has become a hollow propaganda shell of itself. In his rambling promotion of the bombing,
DJT floated changing the position back to its pre-1947 designation, ‘Secretary of War.’ It reminds me of the post-9/11 days when “homeland” replaced words like “nation” and “country.” When anyone who approved surveillance and other questionable legislation or tactics were “patriots.” Doubters were unAmerican.
Words matter.
Words matter.
The lying has now turned to extreme danger for our country. That the self-aggrandizing Trump has his mouthpieces out there trying to make the intelligence match his lies will bring severe consequences to our military, our citizens and out country as a whole. This cannot be let stand!
Another way this administration makes America less safe. Many of these people worship Ayn Rand. Do they not recognize the train heading into the tunnel? In the real world, what role did Chernobyl play in the collapse of the Soviet Union? We can't be great or even good making decisions based on stories made up or heavily slanted just satisfy a mentally unfit leader.
China ignored, then punished the medical personnel warning at that start of Covid-19 that there was a grave public health risk. Party officials did not want bad news, so they ignored it and ignited a pandemic in China and around the world.
It’s every Cabinet member in the regime who are unqualified and dangerous to the continuation of democracy. Hegseth, Kennedy, Noem, Bondi, Patel and McMahon are all determined to follow orders from the felon rather than the proper roles for the positions they are filling. I know there are many others as well, all tearing down government. This should be a code red, but those who call it out are accused of hyperbole.
Be aware of the Democrats who voted AYE for these unqualified Cabinet members. You can find them on television shows bewailing Trump and his regime, but never say why they voted AYE when they were all well-known and absolutely blistered in Senate hearings by Democrats voting NO.
Actually that has happened in committee meetings. But it is too little to late to point out they are not keeping their word to Senators.
The rejection of the rule of law started in our schools about four decades ago when fascists hijacked many if not most of them. Whistleblowing teachers have tried to tell you since 2002 at WhiteChalkCrime.com and EndTeacherAbuse.org. We knew it would eventually take down democracy.
Unfortunately, we’ve been ignored by the media when there’s been a solution - get people who care about democracy on school boards. We still can do this once people understand the role schools play in upholding a democracy and how boards have totally not done their job well before right wing extremists started taking them over.
At this point our schools are one of few places we can plant the flag of democracy but we need the media investigating the fascists running many of our schools. These whistleblowers can educate a willing media. So far that does not exist and we’re paying a high price.
The democracy haters realized they could use our schools to end it while the democracy lovers remain clueless about the power of our institution to shape this nation. It used to produce caring citizens. It used to say no to evil. When that stopped, democracy began unraveling. It’s time people recognized that a functional education system would not have school shootings. They are red flags people only see as a gun issue when they are warnings: we must investigate our schools.
We can’t ignore the primary reason democracy imploded if we expect it to ever return. We need a leader to fix this. That won’t happen if the media ignores the teachers who know what happened to one of our most cherished institutions. We must get past the cover up that the unions are taking part in out of fear of the fascists in power and fix our schools. That will only happen if the media listens to the teachers and investigates.
This term, the supermajority Republican legislature in Indiana passed a law requiring school board candidates to identify by party on the ballot.
Has it been challenged? (I'm looking it up right now.) In this era of the MAGA hijacking of the civil rights discrimination issue, this is an opportunity to turn their own argument against them.
There is so much power on school boards. They’re the intended watchdogs but act like lapdogs. People need to run on a save democracy platform regardless of party in groups of four so they have the votes. My board refused to investigate the administration saying investigation is not what they do when it’s their job. We need to educate people who love democracy so they’ll get on boards. I focused on school shootings in the title of my book to get parents motivated to run for boards. School shootings exist where teachers are muzzled and afraid to get involved. I’m going to put that chapter on my website so we can motivate other centered people to run for boards.
Those of us who've lived with, worked with, or otherwise had to deal with active alcoholics will recognize Hegseth's blustering. ("Kegseth" is an all too appropriate nickname, though what he's using is almost certainly stronger than beer.) And Trump is clearly an enabler: he learned from his first term not to hire people who are more competent than he is. As we know, that sets the bar so low only a limbo master could get under it.
It may be pushing the alcoholism/addiction analogy a little too far to suggest that "we the people" -- not just the 77 million who voted for this guy, and the ones who didn't vote -- are enablers too. But that's worth considering, because it offers us hope: When the enabling stops, when the alcoholic and the co-alcoholics are denied their source of supply, recovery becomes possible.
The "mouth" is being his own mouthpiece. Why are these people always screamers and not listeners? 2+2=5 and if you dont believe that you are stupid and can pay my share of taxes.
Never forget "If we don't test for Covid, my numbers will be so much better."
Excellent commentary. So important to emphasize that NO ONE is criticizing the execution of the Iran strike mission, or the pilots and crew. The real question is THE DECISION MAKING that preceded the order to attack. Has Trump been PLAYED so he will do what is in the best interests of Netanyahu, and not the best interests of the USA? THAT is the question.
We are being played by the lot of them trump Bibi Vlad are in cahoots with one another, and the Ayatollah has his part also.