33 Comments

The slowness of Merrick Garland to move against DJT, will result in NO indictment. The GOP now has a valid reason to stop the investigation regarding the classified document trove that were taken from DJT property. Garland has treated DJT as someone special, he is not. He is an ordinary citizen and should be treated as such. We are at the beginning of the 3rd years with insurmountable evidence against Trump and his enablers. When Mr. Garland are you going to do anything?

Expand full comment

I agree with you. You express all of my frustration with Merrick Garland. His slowness, yes he has been beyond careful and methodical, he has been slow has forced him into a no-win situation. He missed the opportunity; and where does that leave us? What does that say about the justice system which he was supposed to oversee.

Expand full comment

I remember hearing Merrick Garland is part of the Federalist Society. If so ,I really don’t think we can trust him. I hate coming to that conclusion, but when you allow the likes of Jim Jordan to be running the government -ruining the government -destroying democracy -what other conclusion is there?

Expand full comment

Wow, I didn't know that. It explains a lot and puts everything in a new light. He missed the opportunity to mete out justice. You are right. He is letting Jim Jordan run the government, and in a sense, ruin the government. And, dare I say, re-igniting the so far lackluster campaign of the former president running for that office again in 2024. After all of this time and all of the damage and all of the evidence, I'm really worried that we are in for 4 more years. Ahhhhhhhh

Expand full comment

He was recommended by Orin Hatch fer chrissakes. He's a Republican, even though he somehow managed to scrub the internet of that fact.

Expand full comment

https://brainly.com/question/24847053 No he is not. He's a Democrat.

Expand full comment

Steven, I have been eagerly waiting for your post here since the news of classified documents in Biden's garage broke yesterday afternoon. Twitter keeps sending me emails every time you tweet; but I am using all of the discipline I have to avoid twitter. Again, thank you for this space. I wish I could share your hope; but I'm not there yet. I see the Biden document mess as an "unforced error". Absolutely the Trump situation is very different from the Biden situation. However, Biden's attorneys discovered the documents, sadly, in a drip drip drip fashion instead of all at once, and Biden delayed in addressing the issue, and the documents were first discovered a few days before the midterms. And that was politically expedient; but really has an icky feel. Sure the other side plays politics; but I thought that when they go low we go high (to paraphrase Michelle Obama.) And in this very polarized environment, how many will recognize the difference in the volume of the documents Trump had vs the volume of documents Biden had? How many will remember Trump's words that he said the documents belonged to him? How many will remember that Tump obstructed justice which force the DOJ to use the FBI to get a search warrant for Mar-A-Lago? Reason and logic doesn't work in this environment. Those who scream the loudest, and who now have that slim majority on the House, will stuff over those clear differences and try to make the situations equal. We need to scream: OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE vs the former occupant of the WH. And we need to be louder. I am very glad Merrick Garland appointed a special counsel, and a Trump appointee at that. Lindsay Graham was all over tv yesterday screaming for a special counsel, and without 1 there would be a clear appearance of politics. So, a special counsel takes away 1 of the GOP talking points; but, as I said, and sorry to repeat, but this is what I see as the problem, the GOP will say both sides took and kept classified documents so why is 45 on the verge of being indicted (oh I know that's wishful think, as I do hope he is on the verge). And I fear that it will be easy for the GOP to talk the MAGA audience into believing that the situations are equal but conservatives are being treated unfairly. Thus the link to the new committee that was formed this week to look into the Dems weaponizing the government against conservatives. I worry how much facts count vs how much appearance counts in the court of public opinion. Lots of people may not be paying as close attention to this as those of us who are engaged with what the government and the politicians; but the MAGA cult people will, without thinking on their own, just adopt whatever points of view they are told to adopt, because they are cult people and they have been trained not to think on their own but to just follow their leaders. I feel we are in a very dangerous place. I don't have your faith, yet, that truth and fairness and facts and adherence to the law will win. I hope you and the other thoughtful people in this group can give me faith. Thank you.

Expand full comment

"I worry how much facts count vs how much appearance counts in the court of public opinion."

Amen!

Ours is a sophisticated, complicated and intertwined society. The simple explanation is easy vs. the factual explanation.

I often post news articles from credible sources to support comments I make on twitter and Facebook. They largely go unread. Why? Because they are a long read and complicated in nature. Most people won't take the time nor make the effort. So, as you say, appearance gains traction while facts languish.

For a supposedly informed electorate this is a dangerous and sad truth.

Expand full comment

As you might imagine, I could not agree more. And we can see how this decline in the reliance on facts is being exploited by the worst among us.

Expand full comment

You are so correct. And here's the big question: how do we stop the exploitation by the worst among us.

Expand full comment

And that's why I feel so sad. Because appearance gains traction while facts languish. I stopped FB and twitter and Instagram as of 1/1/23. Partly because I was doing too much and I thought a clean break would be the best way to handle it. Also, although my posts were only seen by my "friends", when I responded to a like-minded "friend" about something political, I would often get nasty responses from people who thought differently. I mentioned this to FB several times, but apparently they didn't care. Also, weird strangers would hit on me when I posted a response to someone else's post. Since the only protection I had was things I posted myself, and those social media sites started getting creepy in more ways, I do all of my speaking out right here on America America. It's a respectful place. And I am so grateful for that. And, as we go through this difficult time during which facts matter less than appearance, at least we have each other here.

Expand full comment

Janet, I agree with your experiences on Facebook. I reported bad actors with false profiles, diseminators of misinformation and individuals 'catfishing' women. Facebook has shown very little concern. Their platform has resorted to an auto-response to Reports. Invariably, they take NO ACTION. I remember Democratic Senator Ed Markey (MA), saying in the 2021 Investigative Hearing on social media's algorithms, user metrics and content enforcement practices : 'Facebook, we are coming for you.' I wonder what Congress has been able to accomplish?

Expand full comment

Janet, the fact that the people in this America, America group are thoughtful and reflective, gives me hope. Despite the current political climate in the United States, I keep the faith for a good outcome; and I am a Canadian. While most American media give LITTLE mention of events in Canada, the same is not true here. American news and current events are very much on the radar of our primary media outlets like CBC, CTV and Global Television. I believe in the value of broadening our horizons, and have benefited from having lived and worked all across Canada, as well as my experience travelling within the United States. Along with the good, the bad and even the unsavoury aspects of life, there are always possibilities, and that it what I hold onto. Keep the faith.

Expand full comment

Why why why is the worthless Republican hack Garland still in the job? It takes him two days to try and destroy Biden who obviously has done nothing wrong and two years and counting he's done f*** all about orangehead. We need to stop investing elderly Caucasian males with any responsibility.

Expand full comment

I understand your frustration.

Expand full comment

Tragedy is the right word. And the play still has acts to run. So many will be harmed, directly and indirectly. “It is certain, in any case, that ignorance, allied with power, is the most ferocious enemy justice can have.” - James Baldwin

Expand full comment

No question this Republican Congress has plenty of ignorance

Expand full comment

Remember, growing up when I would ask questions about why this -why that -grown-ups would always talk about the pendulum swinging --well, if that old saw is true let’s hope it begins to swing back to decency sanity honesty and the rule of law – really soon --really really soon

Expand full comment

You’ve got to hand it to Republicans -they have amassed the greatest number of sociopaths and psychopaths in history!!

Expand full comment

I hate all of the "he said/she said" that comes out of our media during these events, but I see the MAGAs in Congress, again, up against the truth, which is always tough to overcome if you are the liar. I see them digging their hole deeper and deeper and feel that many of even the dumbest conspiracy theorists beginning to question where they are and start to take the Republican Party back into a more sane world. As I have been saying for some time now, I am still an optimist.

Expand full comment

What we have seen are Republicans such as Liz Cheney lose their seat in Congress, and others like Adam Kinzinger choosing NOT to run for office again. The Republicans who opposed Donald Trump were the subject of harsh criticism and threats to themselves and their families. It is deeply disturbing that the GOP party has morphed into a cult of Trump / MAGA obsession - ists.

Expand full comment

Kinzinger‘s life was turned upside down his family threatened -horribly threatened, and I’m sure Liz Cheney had her share of threats too- decent Republicans-the few left- are facing an uphill battle.

Expand full comment

I really want Jack Smith to move expeditiously, but I often hear "the twice-impeached former president." An impeachment is similar to an indictment. The House voted twice -two times- to impeach tfg. The Senate did not convict him, two times. I think there is enough evidence to indict AND convict tfg, Meadows, Eastman, Giuliani, and a whole laundry list of Extreme Republicans from all over the country that promoted The Big Lie. Indictments and convictions will be welcomed, but the case is unprecedented, as is the criminality of the previous White House occupant. Appeals are inevitable. I don't want any of them getting off on a technicality. They all should do time. tfg is a slippery eel, we can't let him get away. It's the 7th inning stretch and I'm singing "For it's one, two, three strikes, you're out, at the old ball game."

Meanwhile, the Extreme Republican outrage machine in the House is sucking up all the oxygen in the room "passing" bills that will never become law. DOJ needs to school them about obstruction, conspiracy and insurrection.

Expand full comment

I agree that the problems are deep-seated. I originally thought that an impeachment would mean the end of the road for a President. Apparrently not, when a cluster of GOP sycophants were willing to sell their souls, to defend what Liz Cheney astutely called 'the indefensible'. It seems like the Republicans dropped their ethical compasses en masse, and do not want to pick up the pieces.

Expand full comment

Anyone think it’s about time federalist society is investigated? Where do they get their money? Who is involved and what exactly are they doing to our democracy?

Expand full comment

I always look forward to reading your sage opinion pieces, Steven. As disturbing as their off-track agenda is, I think the Republicans' creation of sideshow distractions, will ultimately fail. They are as you illustrated, opposing the very principles of the Government they were (supposedly) elected by their constituents, to represent. The GOP is rife with dissenters, deniers and the disingenuous, like George Santos, whose whole resume is now in doubt. Those who opposed Kevin McCarthy's election as Speaker of the House, still metaphorically have their knives out. Players such as Matt Gaetz will continue their attention-getting efforts to make McCarthy's life uncomfortable. Gaetz had a starring role in the confrontational antics, brought to us by the laser focus of CSPAN cameras. The foray within the GOP ranks reminded me of an old saying: 'you can put lipstick on a pig, but it is still a pig.' Men in suits and ties behaved less like staid Conservative legislators, and displayed behaviour we might expect from overly-imbibed patrons in a Bar. I contend that the Republicans lack of unity and purpose, will be their ultimate undoing. A lesson I learned in the horse industry: when people are behaving badly and going against the grain, sometimes we just need to step back. The rule-breakers and extremists often turn on each other, and slide downhill together in their game of one-upmanship. We are tasked with remaining on an even keel and having an objective view, as the games continue.

Expand full comment

The failure of the DOJ to arrest and indict Trump and the other principles of the J-6 insurrection has resulted in incalculable damage to our country.

Law abiding citizens are watching and realizing that there, in fact, ARE people who are above the law. And that there is a situational context to the concept that everyone is equal before the law. It's demoralizing.

At the same time those who are actively working to overthrow our Democratic Republic are not only emboldened and enabled, they are also gaining traction in their efforts. Further, the divides between We the People are growing ever wider and are becoming more acrimonious.

Justice delayed is justice denied. What is happening is what this looks like.

Expand full comment

It doesn't matter if it is 35 degrees out or 32. It is still cold. Likewise, classified documents. Whether there be 184 kept by trump or less than a dozen by Biden, a classified document is a classified document, and the Republicans will make hay of it. Both are wrong. Jim Jordan is a loud mouth, attention seeking, malicious man. Was before trump ever came on the scene. McCarthy being of milque-toast quality , will not hesitate to uphold those like Jordan and place them in positions of power where they will do the most damage. And damage they will do.

I am afraid Biden's goose is cooked. I am disappointed that the first thing that came to mind was his Corvette. I am disappointed he shook hands with Prince Mohammed bin Salman. I am disappointed he has meted out help to Ukranians in drips and drabs. I disagree with his attempts to pay off college debt, his lack of any policy to solve the southern border crisis, his work towards wind mills rather than public education. I will vote for him if he runs again as I am never a Republican voter unless there were a reincarnation of Theodore Roosevelt. ( He hated "Teddy" by the way.) But it is time to be realistic and be advocating a different presidential candidate in 2024. A Raskin, a Kennedy III, somebody. We must win.

However, it seems among the general public, there is more interest in Prince Harry than our country's

future. Politician, after all. is a word that has a negative connotation. Whether Democrat or Republican, people lump them all together and take the attitude that's just the way it is, so what does it matter.

Expand full comment

I agree that Biden's chances in 2024 will be daunting due to this "documents marked as classified" story. No matter what Special Counsel Hur and the DOJ determine, the court of public opinion has condemned him.

But I look simply at Biden's age. I will forever be grateful to Biden for pulling the nation up by its bootstraps and showing everyone what good, solid, responsible Democracy looks like. But I firmly believe that it's high time to pass the torch to a younger and more energetic generation. The Democrats have incredible people already proven and lined up.

Nancy Pelosi provided a terrific example when she handed the leadership position over to Jeffries. As Madam Speaker did so should President Biden do.

It's time.

Expand full comment

I hope he realizes that. But even so, the incumbent is always the odds on favorite to win. Especially when they nominate orangehead again.

Expand full comment

I agree. I expected that Joe Biden would step aside for another Democrat candidate. Now he may be even more inclined to do so. There are exceptional representatives, as you acknowledge. who could very capably lead the Democratic Party. I am hopeful they may be given an opportunity to do so.

Expand full comment

There's dozens of levels of classification. The lowest can be accessed by thousands of people, the highest by maybe a dozen.

Expand full comment

I assume there were both for both.

Expand full comment