18 Comments
Apr 3, 2021Liked by Steven Beschloss

It is so despairing to see people I have known for a long time, people I thought were reasonable, buying into every deception of this sleazy criminal. I just do not understand how reality has vanished for them. Perhaps they feel the same of me from the other side. In my locale in rural Pennsylvania, the "former guy" yard signs remain (some by family members), flags still fly (some sickeningly with the Stars and Stripes) and 2024 signage already appears. My legislature is conspiring to impede the vote, the greatest threat, I believe, to defeating this crisis. I am dubious of the loyalties of many in the military. I truly fear for my grandchildren. Keep "preaching the word"!

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Thank you. We all need to keep speaking out. Let’s hope in time some of those who’ve been pulled in by the determined sociopathy of the Trump years will recognize this is not the way forward for a healthy society.

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I grew up in PA, and relatives remain. Good people. Trump LOVERS. I’ll never understand it. It’s super horrifying to me. There are so so many who go dancing after that sick narcissist.

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I first noticed that when a friend with a master's degree started sharing photos of Obama as a witch doctor. I told her it was offensive. She thought it was "creative". It was and is racist. I thought we had gotten past the worst of that legacy but the advent of the Trump years show me how wrong I was. I'm a liberal Democrat living in a cocoon of like-minded people. The Trump years were an eye opener. These people walk among us. I live in Connecticut, a currently blue state, so we are not experiencing the horrors described by James S. The Trump lawn signs in the last election were in the minority and my town voted decidedly blue.

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In 1982, my father was transferred to Williamsport, PA by his employer, Textron Lycoming. He remained there until his death three years ago. From the little I know of the area, I recognize what James S. describes.

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Apr 2, 2021Liked by Steven Beschloss

It's frightening to acknowledge that we are on the edge of a cliff. Our very existence as a democracy is on the line. It is important that all citizens realize this. We consume ourselves with our own personal lives. Not realizing that our own personal lives are at stake.

The balance of power is out of balance. A large portion of elected officials are committed to keeping us off balance versus govern. How do we put a stop to this? How we do hold those responsible? How do we re-establish respect for principles, truth, our constitution, and the law?

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Great and necessary questions. How do we make sure that we aren't pushed over the cliff...

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We need dark money out of politics. While VRA needs to pass, it doesn't go far enough. Publicly funded elections, ranked choice, donations limited to $X by registered voters only, no anonymous contributions, no PACS, no dark money. Break up consolidated media ownership, limit foreign investment in them to non-controlling interests. (Obviously) overturn Citizens United. Expand SCOTUS to reflect population. Commit government to a new standard of "for the people", and stop assessing its success by growth, and instead assess by living indicators for the people. So many things we need to do, and these are just a few.

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Apr 2, 2021Liked by Steven Beschloss

Watch what they do, not what they say. I agree. Chauvin should be looking for a plea agreement about now. Hopefully the prosecution isn’t offering one.

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Why even? At some level, we should trust the process

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Thank you for an article which affirms that many of us watched for five years as Trump said what he said, did what he did, and proceeded unimpeded on his self-destructive course because he managed to achieve a hostile takeover of a weak-kneed, decrepit Republican Party and turned [it]into a vehicle for looting, corruption, cronyism, perversion and, above all, violating the rule of law. We were bowed, but not broken, through the grace of God, and the resistance and triumph of Americans of all persuasions, who cherish our fragile democracy. A lot of demonic forces were unleashed by Trump and his cult followers. Now, however, we have an opportunity to reassess who we are as a nation, and where we wish to go, as we struggle to rise from the ashes of a failed presidency and a failed insurrection.

I have faith that the diverse peoples who have come to the forefront under the Biden Administration will get us all back on track. This country will continue to prosper, as we keep striving to perfect the union. To me, that means we'll someday make our flawed Constitution and laws work for all of us. That is my Passover and my Easter prayer, on this eve of the end of one religious season, the beginning of another, and the 53rd anniversary of the assassination of the apostle of peace, The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

I'm glad you took the time to share your thoughts with readers.

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Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I too think we still can advance as a nation. Let’s hope the last years have made us stronger and more determined.

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Thank you for your positivity for the future. Sitting in this house waiting on my second shot, I slip into this shell shocked perception of things. What breaks the spell for me is to read what other Americans are doing, feeling, at this moment in time. It helps me to retain my balance. Thank you!

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Yes politicians have been gaslighting us for decades, its time we trusted ourselves instead of them. If they buy into the "big lie" and try to sell it to us, vote them out.

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Just finished listening to The Bulwark Podcast with Sykes & David Frum. When Charlie asked David about the Floyd trial, David made it very clear that camera's lie & he wouldn't make a judgement on the video. He did say that we have an entrenched history of oppression towards our Black citizens, so it's not like he was in denial about the big picture, just the pictures his eyes had looked at.

Today, I asked a Republican client about the trial. She said George died from the drugs he was on. (Of course, I wanted to deck her, but refrained. I need her to come back.) I told her the same thing I screamed while listening to Frum- We know that cop killed George. We saw it! What the defense has to do, in order to save Chauvin's ass, is to make the jury believe that Chauvin was within his rights as a cop to kill him. Oh I hope they fail.

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Are the interpreter(s) still alive?

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Thank you! You put into intelligent words just how I felt about Helsinki and all the other things I witnessed from lawless trump republicans. We all got a crash course in gaslighting. Great writing - now I feel more confident of my own eyes and ears.

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People need to learn that allegations are not facts. If they buy into the "big lie" then they are looking to justify their hate instead of looking for substantiation and evidence to back up allegations. Without evidence its just more "he said, she said" i.e., allegations. And that is the slippery slope that leads to self delusion.

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