28 Comments
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Don Buckter's avatar

“this level of abhorrent incompetence and cruelty is not sustainable.” … Hitler took control of the NAZI party in 1922. He seized total control of power in Germany in 1933. The World War he started ended in 1945. In total 24 years of “un sustainability”. Assuming history repeats or at least rhymes, we may be just getting started.

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The Bilingual Garden's avatar

Hitler promised jobs and better living conditions, and realized that until 1939, while trump is ripping people off from the very first day and hasn't stopped ruining the USA ever since.

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Lynn O’Neal's avatar

You manage to say what’s in our hearts.

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Jim's avatar

It’s comforting knowing that there are good men and women who feel like minded . Together we will survive the squall. It will blow over (or out) soon.

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debra's avatar

The evil maniac has controlled the narrative (and exposed the partnership of corporate media) since 2015. People who only have time to read the headlines (which usually have little to do with the articles) get sucked in and believe the lies they are fed. Their paychecks buy less, and they feel like something is wrong. 😑 A reality show barker gave them a rationale for their grievance. Democratic “leaders” write strongly worded letters. When does inaction become complicity?

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Elliot Kirschner's avatar

I fear inaction is always complicity.

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Eileen Marie's avatar

And the fact that this Criminal in Chief pardoned these criminals turns my stomach and continues to crush our democracy.

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John Hardman's avatar

Perhaps the most loathsome thing Trump has done, other than inciting the J6 Insurrection, was to pardon those who were convicted of the Violation. Poof! - It never happened.

We must vow to retell our stories to each new generation and participate in an annual ritual of remembrance and a collective repeating of a national vow of “never again!”

Yes, we are still in shock and participating in a national “Stockholm Syndrome”, where we are bonded to our perpetrator. Shock and confusion is the “state of our nation”, yet we live in denial, sinking further into our collective trauma bond. We are in dire need of intervention and deprogramming.

But, what is the mechanism for this? The UN was designed for interacting with a benevolent U.S. Superpower. What happens when the giant becomes insane and goes rogue? Are there embers of courage and benevolence still burning at our core or have we been so deeply violated and compromised that reconciliation is impossible? Nazi Germany required an annihilation and complete surrender. Fascism is a terrible addiction and the withdrawal is debilitating and excruciating. We must gird ourselves to the ordeals ahead.

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Mark Muse's avatar

This is a hard day to remember. So much changed for the country that it's hard to encapsulate in a few words. But, you have captured it well. History tells us we know how to get through this moment. The question is, will we?

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Erik-R's avatar

MAGA's attempt to rewrite the history of January 6th must never be accepted

Normalizing and accepting the vandalism of the Capitol on January 6, 2021 could have irreparably negative consequences for the world's political systems

Erik R., Aalborg, Denmark

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Sherra Hutchins's avatar

This return to power by an illegitimate void has created more havoc for this nation, by being allowed to break whatever laws he deems necessary to gratify his addiction to money, power and control, these being his chosen drugs. Does no official in our government, whose salaries are paid by WE THE PEOPLE, have enough guts and decency to use the laws we have to impeach or invoke trump out of office, knowing you would be considered his accomplices and face the same sentence, as he and ALL who knowingly chose to become a rat fink with trump. That would certainly be more honorable than known as a traitor. Had you chosen to do the right thing to protect WE THE PEOPLE, as you swore to do, you would be remembered as heroes and not as traitors. Your Choice was truly BAD, now you have the chance for a pinch of respect--something that money can not buy nor can it change history.

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Paula's avatar

Your determination to see beyond this travesty in our time , into an era when we can make it right, is always a balm. And the ability to tell the story accurately and clearly is essential if we are ever to build atop these ruins to save the very idea of democracy and the rule of law.

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Martha White's avatar

Amen to every single word of this! Thank you for continuing to present this regime as it is… illegitimate and totally corrupt.

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mitch's avatar

Great post ,Elliot . Was a day I will never forget . He should of been disqualified from ever running again .

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Jeff B's avatar
7dEdited

Yes!!!!!! We will prevail and re-build and change for the better. While the cycle of good and bad seems inevitable, it is goodness and love the sustain us all. So dig deep and fulfill your purpose, and make a difference.

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David Jenkins, AICP's avatar

Hard to still believe that first this happened and then traitors who instagated this were elected! Then further insanity, Trump has (for now) was not removed from office( twice!), has a get out of jail card from the so called Supreme Court, and he pardons all the traitors who stormed Democracy!! All with still supported by the MAGA traitors in "Congress"! A very sad day before there will be new dawn for Democracy.

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Christine's avatar

But to many people forgot to soon or they wouldn’t have elected the “American Putin” once again.

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Robert Venafro's avatar

I HATE YOU

"The story is not a difficult one to tell. We elected a tyrant who hated America and all it stood for."

Elliot, this is a comment I never clued into.

You know, he and his (allow me) scum bags do hate your country.

No long discourse from me. Your comment is at the core of his existence.

The actions they have taken speak for these people. As has been stated many times, it is not what they say, it is what they do.

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