Elliot, the contrast between how Republicans in the past viewed Jane Fonda or stigmatized John Kerry is in striking contrast to how they might characterize themselves if they ever looked in the mirror. Of all the esteemed commentators out there, you are the first to point out this glaring hypocrisy. But the bigger question is what is behind this shift in the mindset of too many Americans that they no longer treasure democracy and how do we reverse that problem? Maybe you can train your keen insight on that topic soon.
Agreed! It seems obvious by those of us who see what is happening that Trump and all of his Nationalist partners are working against Democracy and therefore are traitors to our country. There are laws against this kind of organized domestic threat isn't there?
If Trump is so enamored with Putin and Russia why doesn’t he move there? And he can take Tucker Carlson with him…..that way they can shop in those “clean supermarkets where you get a $100 worth of stuff that would cost 3x the price in the US”. And they can ride on those “new and sparkling subway trains” that Moscow has. Just make sure they get a one way ticket.
This beyond belief behavior of the MAGA crowd and Donald is just that, beyond belief. I wish we could wake up and know it was some apocalyptic dream, but alas, we're actually living it. Being the eternal optimist, I still have hope that right will win out and the peanut gallery will ride off into the ocean🤷♀️ But in the meantime, thank you for your essays and keeping all this in the forefront of our minds!
Excellent piece, Mr. Kirschner.... I just keep walking around, shaking my head, and wondering what the hell good they think will come of this. Biting off their nose to spite their face.
Trump admires Putin to the point of adoration because he sees himself in Putin, and Putin knows all the carrots to dangle in front of the trumpster's nose - a trump tower in Moscow, admittance to Putin's exclusive oligarchal center. Trump sees Putin as the 'epitome' of masculinity. You and I may see him as the caricature, he is. A braggart. But so is Trump. Putin is only 6 years younger than trump, but he is in far better physical shape. All these things excite a man as much in love with himself as trump is..
But our recognition of these faults in trump are useless if what the majority of people see and read stick to their idiotic "both sidesism" I agree there are two sides - a slightly flawed democratic
representative Republic versus a sadistic fascist dictatorship; but I see no comparison in these.
What else did we expect. For the past 40 years democracy has been eroded by theological determinism and big money taking away more freedoms and making more laws for their advantage while decreasing protections for most Americans and the environment. The tobacco industry entered the food industry and Big Ag and chemical companies followed suit providing us with more processed, low, quality and dangerous food. This affects everyone’s brains. More dangerous chemicals, plastics, factory farmed meat, etc have further degraded the planet systems, humans included. Just a few now own the means of communicating the truth to people and they believe in profits over people. Education, healthcare, prisons, homes, etc have all been allowed to consolidate and are ruled by a few . Many of our judges now don’t feel the need to follow the Constitution.
“ Only 54 percent of U.S. adults ages 18-29 agree with the statement, “Democracy is the greatest form of government,” including 21 percent who agree strongly and 34 percent who agree somewhat.”
And can you really blame them? Our form of government does not protect them from mass shooting, provide physical or mental health, the ability to afford an education, or a plan to be independent, buy a home, start a family, Robert Reich has a great quick history.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFhEoeA5Yj0. I don’t think we need to fear an oligarchy, a theocracy, or fascist rule, in many ways it is already here.mmNow,we just need to figure out how to get rid of them again.
There’s an untimely and unfortunate confluence of forces within members of the Republican Party and some former members who have switched to Independent. There are those that will always stick to TFG because like him they are racist and/or misogynistic to the core. There are those who will always stick to the Republican Party based upon principles of small government and low to non-existent taxes. There are those who will always stick to the Republican Party based upon their religious convictions, false and misguided as they are. There are those who will always stick to the Republican Party in the belief that there can never be enough guns and ammunition to protect oneself from ever lurking “others”.
But what they all have in common is being single (sometimes multi) issue red meat voters, that regardless of any other political outcome, candidate qualifications or flaws, or issue, will refuse to vote anything other than Republican.
I’ve known these people, had them as co-workers, heck, my father was one, but all are way beyond “dyed in the wool”. Zealots.
So now they are lock stepped with an anti-democracy, Putin lover, dictator wannabe. Blinders on, doesn’t matter, Republican all the way.
My $.02 is that Trumps key leadership skill is bullying. Merriam-Webster defines a bully as ""one who is habitually cruel, insulting, or threatening to others who are weaker, smaller, or in some way vulnerable". Putin is not weaker, smaller, or in some way more vulnerable than the likes of Trump, and Trump knows it. And Putin knows it. PUT the two IN a room and within minutes Trump is offering everything from free life membership at all his clubs, to direct consultation with the shorter fellow on national security issues.
Putin had a good chance to observe Trump's Commander in Chief skills in the final four years of our defeat by the Taliban, so he knows Trump is worth grooming as an adversary.
Thank you for your education experience in the journalism field. It is essential for those of us who care and those who remember, to be reminded of the patterns of social evolution in this country and in Europe. I think our educational system fell short of including the history of order around the world that directly affects the USA. Just focusing on what kind of religion, guns and or what kind of hamburger and booze to have, while we watch football, is socially redeeming to a certain extent, bit it does nothing to regenerate and recreate, US. Again, it is refreshing to read about some of the more recent American realities that may determine the fate of our country in the near future.
Thank you for your excellent historical review of US- Russia relations and for continuing to sound the alarm about the threat to our fundamental democracy. I wonder what kind of role Nikki Haley & her backers will play in resurrecting a reformed Republican Party?
Just wondering…did anyone ever find out what the documents were that a senator was sent to deliver to Putin, a few years ago? I don’t even remember the traitor’s name…was it Rand Paul?
And remember the funds that were found in Brett Kavenaugh’s background? Anyone ever find out where that $$ came from? Maybe ask Clarence Thomas’ contributors. They seem to have tons of $ to give away to traitors.
Elliot, the contrast between how Republicans in the past viewed Jane Fonda or stigmatized John Kerry is in striking contrast to how they might characterize themselves if they ever looked in the mirror. Of all the esteemed commentators out there, you are the first to point out this glaring hypocrisy. But the bigger question is what is behind this shift in the mindset of too many Americans that they no longer treasure democracy and how do we reverse that problem? Maybe you can train your keen insight on that topic soon.
Agreed! It seems obvious by those of us who see what is happening that Trump and all of his Nationalist partners are working against Democracy and therefore are traitors to our country. There are laws against this kind of organized domestic threat isn't there?
If Trump is so enamored with Putin and Russia why doesn’t he move there? And he can take Tucker Carlson with him…..that way they can shop in those “clean supermarkets where you get a $100 worth of stuff that would cost 3x the price in the US”. And they can ride on those “new and sparkling subway trains” that Moscow has. Just make sure they get a one way ticket.
Let’s make your nicknames go viral! Duma Don probably won’t even get the reference!
Not only will Donald not get the reference, but neither will his base. They have no idea that the Duma is Russia's legislature.
Every day I wonder how we have wound up in this hellish wonderland where wrong is right, up is down and the sky is not blue but green.
He definitely has no idea of what the reference is, I’m sure. I’d bet few - if any - of his advisors would, either.
Hey hey hey!
This beyond belief behavior of the MAGA crowd and Donald is just that, beyond belief. I wish we could wake up and know it was some apocalyptic dream, but alas, we're actually living it. Being the eternal optimist, I still have hope that right will win out and the peanut gallery will ride off into the ocean🤷♀️ But in the meantime, thank you for your essays and keeping all this in the forefront of our minds!
Excellent piece, Mr. Kirschner.... I just keep walking around, shaking my head, and wondering what the hell good they think will come of this. Biting off their nose to spite their face.
Trump admires Putin to the point of adoration because he sees himself in Putin, and Putin knows all the carrots to dangle in front of the trumpster's nose - a trump tower in Moscow, admittance to Putin's exclusive oligarchal center. Trump sees Putin as the 'epitome' of masculinity. You and I may see him as the caricature, he is. A braggart. But so is Trump. Putin is only 6 years younger than trump, but he is in far better physical shape. All these things excite a man as much in love with himself as trump is..
But our recognition of these faults in trump are useless if what the majority of people see and read stick to their idiotic "both sidesism" I agree there are two sides - a slightly flawed democratic
representative Republic versus a sadistic fascist dictatorship; but I see no comparison in these.
All true, unfortunately. Thank you for speaking out!
What else did we expect. For the past 40 years democracy has been eroded by theological determinism and big money taking away more freedoms and making more laws for their advantage while decreasing protections for most Americans and the environment. The tobacco industry entered the food industry and Big Ag and chemical companies followed suit providing us with more processed, low, quality and dangerous food. This affects everyone’s brains. More dangerous chemicals, plastics, factory farmed meat, etc have further degraded the planet systems, humans included. Just a few now own the means of communicating the truth to people and they believe in profits over people. Education, healthcare, prisons, homes, etc have all been allowed to consolidate and are ruled by a few . Many of our judges now don’t feel the need to follow the Constitution.
“ Only 54 percent of U.S. adults ages 18-29 agree with the statement, “Democracy is the greatest form of government,” including 21 percent who agree strongly and 34 percent who agree somewhat.”
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4370114-about-half-young-americans-democracy-best-form-government/#:~:text=Only%2054%20percent%20of%20U.S.,34%20percent%20who%20agree%20somewhat.
And can you really blame them? Our form of government does not protect them from mass shooting, provide physical or mental health, the ability to afford an education, or a plan to be independent, buy a home, start a family, Robert Reich has a great quick history.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFhEoeA5Yj0. I don’t think we need to fear an oligarchy, a theocracy, or fascist rule, in many ways it is already here.mmNow,we just need to figure out how to get rid of them again.
The unfortunate part is that Putin, like Trump, will never allow another to be greater than he is. And so the battle will ensue.
There’s an untimely and unfortunate confluence of forces within members of the Republican Party and some former members who have switched to Independent. There are those that will always stick to TFG because like him they are racist and/or misogynistic to the core. There are those who will always stick to the Republican Party based upon principles of small government and low to non-existent taxes. There are those who will always stick to the Republican Party based upon their religious convictions, false and misguided as they are. There are those who will always stick to the Republican Party in the belief that there can never be enough guns and ammunition to protect oneself from ever lurking “others”.
But what they all have in common is being single (sometimes multi) issue red meat voters, that regardless of any other political outcome, candidate qualifications or flaws, or issue, will refuse to vote anything other than Republican.
I’ve known these people, had them as co-workers, heck, my father was one, but all are way beyond “dyed in the wool”. Zealots.
So now they are lock stepped with an anti-democracy, Putin lover, dictator wannabe. Blinders on, doesn’t matter, Republican all the way.
My $.02 is that Trumps key leadership skill is bullying. Merriam-Webster defines a bully as ""one who is habitually cruel, insulting, or threatening to others who are weaker, smaller, or in some way vulnerable". Putin is not weaker, smaller, or in some way more vulnerable than the likes of Trump, and Trump knows it. And Putin knows it. PUT the two IN a room and within minutes Trump is offering everything from free life membership at all his clubs, to direct consultation with the shorter fellow on national security issues.
Putin had a good chance to observe Trump's Commander in Chief skills in the final four years of our defeat by the Taliban, so he knows Trump is worth grooming as an adversary.
Thank you for your education experience in the journalism field. It is essential for those of us who care and those who remember, to be reminded of the patterns of social evolution in this country and in Europe. I think our educational system fell short of including the history of order around the world that directly affects the USA. Just focusing on what kind of religion, guns and or what kind of hamburger and booze to have, while we watch football, is socially redeeming to a certain extent, bit it does nothing to regenerate and recreate, US. Again, it is refreshing to read about some of the more recent American realities that may determine the fate of our country in the near future.
Thank you for your excellent historical review of US- Russia relations and for continuing to sound the alarm about the threat to our fundamental democracy. I wonder what kind of role Nikki Haley & her backers will play in resurrecting a reformed Republican Party?
The clam way you’ve derived such caustic news impresses me with a little calm. How do you do it? More please.
I meant delivered.
Elliott, Pandering or Owned?
Just wondering…did anyone ever find out what the documents were that a senator was sent to deliver to Putin, a few years ago? I don’t even remember the traitor’s name…was it Rand Paul?
And remember the funds that were found in Brett Kavenaugh’s background? Anyone ever find out where that $$ came from? Maybe ask Clarence Thomas’ contributors. They seem to have tons of $ to give away to traitors.