It continues to astound me that the Republican members of Congress say nothing and do nothing. Are they so afraid of what Trump will do to them that their conjones have shrunk? Or, are they all truly in line with destroying our republic?
Trump is tracking Hitler's formula for dictatorship closely. I put the US somewhere in 1933 on Hitler's timeline since both were granted immunity from the law and were started converting the government to a dictatorship.
Republicans should bear closely in mind that in about a year from that point, Hitler murdered hundreds of Germans, including some of the very people who put him into power to ensure that no one in Germany would be left to oppose him. (See: The Night of the Long Knives)
Trump is ahead of schedule since he has already created his first concentration camp at Guantanamo.
“Or, are they all truly in line with destroying our republic?”
YES. This is what I have called, (since 2016): THE REPUBLICAN-FEDERALIST-PUTIN COUP AGAINST AMERICA.
For me the first warning was Gore vs. Bush and SCOTUS interference. Now, Trump’s installed EXTREME Court is seeing Project 2025 through. The coup is tearing up our Constitution, destabilizing, destroying.
It does boggle one’s mind. I have to wonder what they think they stand to gain by such obvious disregard - trump’s favor, perhaps? That’s truly laughable. They will be dirt under his shoes unless he deigns to decide otherwise. Which is a coin toss.
Chuck Edwards (R-NC) said he was proud of Doge! This is what I wrote to him in response. You sir, are on the absolutely WRONG SIDE of history here!! You and your Republican “coup members” are helping this traitor and his sidekick Musk take over this wonderful country!! I don’t know how you can be proud of DOGE! A bunch of teenagers—one Big Balls who has been fired for sharing secrets from his former company!! You can be sure he will be sharing/selling America’s secrets for sure!! Your biggest JOB is to defend the Constitution FOR WHICH MANY AMERICANS have died defending. Your JOB is to be a part of the legislative BRANCH!! Your JOB is spending—not letting an unelected oligarch and his teenage minions gut LEGITIMATE government agencies. LEGAL agencies that do a lot of good. Is it too late? Have they already stolen my ss number? Have they already reprogrammed the computers of the UNITED STATES GOVERNMENTS????? It is unconscionable what they are doing and you are doing ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO STOP THEM.
DO YOUR JOB!!!
I don’t know how you can sleep at night!!!
I am going to do EVERYTHING I can to defeat you in the next election. I may not succeed but I will try.
THIS AMERICA is greater than you or musk or your president. (Yep no caps for him)!
‘In a real sense, US democracy has died’: how Trump is emulating Hungary’s Orbán
I am one of what must be many who opted to “take a walk in the park and get some sun” after the election, convinced that nothing matters anymore. In starting to see how damaging that attitude was, and I am really concerned for what lies ahead for this country.
While resistance is necessary in this time of grave peril for American democracy, let’s not forget that deprogramming half of the American electorate is also an important goal if we are to return America to her former glory.
A little background on me. There was a time, many years ago that I used to listen to our adversaries as part of the Military Intelligence Service. I served in both Korea and Germany in this role. My colleague and I listened to propaganda coming out of North Korea, China, East Germany and the former USSR. What these adversaries broadcast as factual news accounts were actually propaganda.
Like any person involved in a cult, bringing them out is long, arduous process. Does a crazy person realize that they are crazy, no. In short, I believe that some MAGA cultists can be reprogrammed, but it will not be an easy task; however, it is incumbent upon us to help to guide them to the light of truth.
P. Skinner., Thanks for your service and insight. I understand the concept of and need for deprogramming as I am an exile from the fundamentalist Christianity that put T into office, My question is sincere. How do you propose deprogramming folks who believe they have a mandate from their god to righteously rule the world “in Jesus’ name?
In another substack someone said a good day to have a nationwide PEACEFUL protest would be April 19th on the 250th anniversary Battle of York Town. We cannot let this autocracy stick. We know we love our country!
You are such a talented writer! One other advantage of your leaving CNN is that I get to enjoy your writing now. Also: you are brave and smart and hardworking and focused and determined, and I am so glad you are out there doing the good work you're doing. Keep it up! Keep going! We are under siege and you are part of the resistance, with your bright light of courage and your refusal to give in to the fear and the lies.
U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols on Friday, February 7, 2025, ordered Secretary of State Marco Rubio to: reinstate 500 USAID workers stop putting 2,200 USAID workers on administrative leave, and stop recalling 1,400 USAID workers from overseas posts. Nichols also pointed out that Trump’s own legal representatives could not and would not offer (risking perjury in court) a single piece of evidence to back up Trump’s USAID “corruption and fraud” claims. Suffering extreme but typical “ diarrhée verbale ”, Trump has gurgling blowouts when “fermer la bouche” is indicated. Trump made up these accusations. We will recover following a known course of action. We will grow in numbers by gathering the reformers in their party. We will grow numbers, diversity, and socioeconomic stratas. https://open.substack.com/pub/hotbuttons/p/krewe-kleptos-parade-route-psycho?r=3m1bs&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
The latest CBS/YouGov polling of 2,000+ Americans showed 53% approve of Trump's presidency so far. That is his highest approval ever. They only disagree on Trump's migrant detention plan. The U.S. is no longer operating like a democracy, but enough people are in denial that Trump is reforming government rather than destroying it, that it doesn't seem to matter.
I think protestors often generalize to the larger population the hopefulness and personal impact they derive from uniting in small groups. That generalization doesn't seem to be happening. Trump has been able to do significant damage to checks and balances in several weeks as POTUS.
The GOP has made it clear it does not care what Democrats think or propose. The standards and protocols of dissent are falling on deaf ears because Americans have not been impacted directly enough by Trump's abuse of power. The Supreme Court gave him the power to do as he pleases, as long as he can say he is doing it for the benefit of the country. Right now, a majority agrees with that.
Today the Consumer Protection Bureau was ordered to stop all work. The website cannot be accessed. The CBS/YouGov poll shows that 70 percent believe Trump is doing what he promised to do.
Chris Murphy said this is the worst Constitutional crisis since Watergate. I think it's far worse than that, maybe in a category of its own.
“The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.” Thomas Jefferson
I’m ready to refresh the Tree of Liberty 🗽
Calling my Republican Senators here in Florida every day. Joined the League of Women Voters. Planning to vote for Gay Valimont to replace Matt Gaetz’s empty seat.
This has been coming for years, and why the government did not see the danger of Fox News, Limbaugh and all day AM radio propaganda boggles the mind. Decisive action should have been taken. And while we had the Senate why not “pack” the Court with some normal judges? No meaningful gun reform I could go on and on but what’s the use? Why have I been giving my hard earned money to such a feckless bunch of cowards?
I do feel as though the 2024 election totally flat footed the democrats. I am not sure what we are going to do, except not doing anything is an answer. Hopefully, we the people, will make so much noise everyone hears us. Looks like some in congress are waking up but not enough yet. I did not think Trump had a chance in hell in 2016 and yet, he pulled it off. To think that we are here again, makes me wonder about people. How enough in this country could vote him back in. When Biden was still in the race, people were yelling anyone but Biden. Of course, a woman and woman of color, was a bridge too far for people. I was born and raised in Bergen County, NJ. A ‘burb of NYC, hated Trump way back when, he was always in the news. Looking forward to 4:00, Jim
GREAT to have you with us Jim! We have always loved the way you speak truth to power!!! We attended the 50501 anti-Trump protests that rolled across the country at noon last Wednesday and will no doubt be very active with any upcoming protests...Thanks for all you do!
It continues to astound me that the Republican members of Congress say nothing and do nothing. Are they so afraid of what Trump will do to them that their conjones have shrunk? Or, are they all truly in line with destroying our republic?
Trump is tracking Hitler's formula for dictatorship closely. I put the US somewhere in 1933 on Hitler's timeline since both were granted immunity from the law and were started converting the government to a dictatorship.
Republicans should bear closely in mind that in about a year from that point, Hitler murdered hundreds of Germans, including some of the very people who put him into power to ensure that no one in Germany would be left to oppose him. (See: The Night of the Long Knives)
Trump is ahead of schedule since he has already created his first concentration camp at Guantanamo.
“Or, are they all truly in line with destroying our republic?”
YES. This is what I have called, (since 2016): THE REPUBLICAN-FEDERALIST-PUTIN COUP AGAINST AMERICA.
For me the first warning was Gore vs. Bush and SCOTUS interference. Now, Trump’s installed EXTREME Court is seeing Project 2025 through. The coup is tearing up our Constitution, destabilizing, destroying.
It does boggle one’s mind. I have to wonder what they think they stand to gain by such obvious disregard - trump’s favor, perhaps? That’s truly laughable. They will be dirt under his shoes unless he deigns to decide otherwise. Which is a coin toss.
The lust for power is rampant.
In most cases, peaceful protests are the only power we have. We must use it when possible.
Chuck Edwards (R-NC) said he was proud of Doge! This is what I wrote to him in response. You sir, are on the absolutely WRONG SIDE of history here!! You and your Republican “coup members” are helping this traitor and his sidekick Musk take over this wonderful country!! I don’t know how you can be proud of DOGE! A bunch of teenagers—one Big Balls who has been fired for sharing secrets from his former company!! You can be sure he will be sharing/selling America’s secrets for sure!! Your biggest JOB is to defend the Constitution FOR WHICH MANY AMERICANS have died defending. Your JOB is to be a part of the legislative BRANCH!! Your JOB is spending—not letting an unelected oligarch and his teenage minions gut LEGITIMATE government agencies. LEGAL agencies that do a lot of good. Is it too late? Have they already stolen my ss number? Have they already reprogrammed the computers of the UNITED STATES GOVERNMENTS????? It is unconscionable what they are doing and you are doing ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO STOP THEM.
DO YOUR JOB!!!
I don’t know how you can sleep at night!!!
I am going to do EVERYTHING I can to defeat you in the next election. I may not succeed but I will try.
THIS AMERICA is greater than you or musk or your president. (Yep no caps for him)!
‘In a real sense, US democracy has died’: how Trump is emulating Hungary’s Orbán
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/07/trump-viktor-orban-electoral-autocracy?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
Way to go Jane! You have truely inspired me!
I am one of what must be many who opted to “take a walk in the park and get some sun” after the election, convinced that nothing matters anymore. In starting to see how damaging that attitude was, and I am really concerned for what lies ahead for this country.
While resistance is necessary in this time of grave peril for American democracy, let’s not forget that deprogramming half of the American electorate is also an important goal if we are to return America to her former glory.
P. Skinner - You think that is even possible for the Magats to be reprogrammed?
A little background on me. There was a time, many years ago that I used to listen to our adversaries as part of the Military Intelligence Service. I served in both Korea and Germany in this role. My colleague and I listened to propaganda coming out of North Korea, China, East Germany and the former USSR. What these adversaries broadcast as factual news accounts were actually propaganda.
Like any person involved in a cult, bringing them out is long, arduous process. Does a crazy person realize that they are crazy, no. In short, I believe that some MAGA cultists can be reprogrammed, but it will not be an easy task; however, it is incumbent upon us to help to guide them to the light of truth.
Great post, I would love to hear more from you!
Thank you. I appreciate the kind words.
P. Skinner., Thanks for your service and insight. I understand the concept of and need for deprogramming as I am an exile from the fundamentalist Christianity that put T into office, My question is sincere. How do you propose deprogramming folks who believe they have a mandate from their god to righteously rule the world “in Jesus’ name?
In another substack someone said a good day to have a nationwide PEACEFUL protest would be April 19th on the 250th anniversary Battle of York Town. We cannot let this autocracy stick. We know we love our country!
You are such a talented writer! One other advantage of your leaving CNN is that I get to enjoy your writing now. Also: you are brave and smart and hardworking and focused and determined, and I am so glad you are out there doing the good work you're doing. Keep it up! Keep going! We are under siege and you are part of the resistance, with your bright light of courage and your refusal to give in to the fear and the lies.
Time for Citizens Arrest!!
U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols on Friday, February 7, 2025, ordered Secretary of State Marco Rubio to: reinstate 500 USAID workers stop putting 2,200 USAID workers on administrative leave, and stop recalling 1,400 USAID workers from overseas posts. Nichols also pointed out that Trump’s own legal representatives could not and would not offer (risking perjury in court) a single piece of evidence to back up Trump’s USAID “corruption and fraud” claims. Suffering extreme but typical “ diarrhée verbale ”, Trump has gurgling blowouts when “fermer la bouche” is indicated. Trump made up these accusations. We will recover following a known course of action. We will grow in numbers by gathering the reformers in their party. We will grow numbers, diversity, and socioeconomic stratas. https://open.substack.com/pub/hotbuttons/p/krewe-kleptos-parade-route-psycho?r=3m1bs&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
The latest CBS/YouGov polling of 2,000+ Americans showed 53% approve of Trump's presidency so far. That is his highest approval ever. They only disagree on Trump's migrant detention plan. The U.S. is no longer operating like a democracy, but enough people are in denial that Trump is reforming government rather than destroying it, that it doesn't seem to matter.
I think protestors often generalize to the larger population the hopefulness and personal impact they derive from uniting in small groups. That generalization doesn't seem to be happening. Trump has been able to do significant damage to checks and balances in several weeks as POTUS.
The GOP has made it clear it does not care what Democrats think or propose. The standards and protocols of dissent are falling on deaf ears because Americans have not been impacted directly enough by Trump's abuse of power. The Supreme Court gave him the power to do as he pleases, as long as he can say he is doing it for the benefit of the country. Right now, a majority agrees with that.
Today the Consumer Protection Bureau was ordered to stop all work. The website cannot be accessed. The CBS/YouGov poll shows that 70 percent believe Trump is doing what he promised to do.
Chris Murphy said this is the worst Constitutional crisis since Watergate. I think it's far worse than that, maybe in a category of its own.
Looking forward to it Jim!!!
“The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.” Thomas Jefferson
I’m ready to refresh the Tree of Liberty 🗽
Calling my Republican Senators here in Florida every day. Joined the League of Women Voters. Planning to vote for Gay Valimont to replace Matt Gaetz’s empty seat.
What else?
This has been coming for years, and why the government did not see the danger of Fox News, Limbaugh and all day AM radio propaganda boggles the mind. Decisive action should have been taken. And while we had the Senate why not “pack” the Court with some normal judges? No meaningful gun reform I could go on and on but what’s the use? Why have I been giving my hard earned money to such a feckless bunch of cowards?
I do feel as though the 2024 election totally flat footed the democrats. I am not sure what we are going to do, except not doing anything is an answer. Hopefully, we the people, will make so much noise everyone hears us. Looks like some in congress are waking up but not enough yet. I did not think Trump had a chance in hell in 2016 and yet, he pulled it off. To think that we are here again, makes me wonder about people. How enough in this country could vote him back in. When Biden was still in the race, people were yelling anyone but Biden. Of course, a woman and woman of color, was a bridge too far for people. I was born and raised in Bergen County, NJ. A ‘burb of NYC, hated Trump way back when, he was always in the news. Looking forward to 4:00, Jim
GREAT to have you with us Jim! We have always loved the way you speak truth to power!!! We attended the 50501 anti-Trump protests that rolled across the country at noon last Wednesday and will no doubt be very active with any upcoming protests...Thanks for all you do!
Why does it feel like we are bringing a knife to this gun fight??