I have been retired for 32+ years from the Federal Government. While as a civilian with the Air Force and also a Army and Air Force reservist for six years and the remainder of my career spent with the Office of Personnel Management I gained a deep appreciation for our Federal workforce, both military and civilian. My position with OPM gave me a wide exposure to a large number of our civilian agencies and regardless of comments from brainless idiots in the curent administration I must say I am very proud of the service our Federal employees give to this great country. I recently had the pleasure watching the Frank Figlucci show with Barry McCaffery as his guest and it is with sheer respect and admiration for one of the finest general officers this nation thas produced that I was able to hear his comments regarding the total mess that "Pickled Peter" and the "Orange Cheato" have made of our Defense Department. I'm in the same age group of this GREAT general and I think he wouldmake an outstanding President (despite his age).
This last comment from the Orange Cheato is the straw that "breaks the camel's back" and the Repubs ought to initiate action to IMPEACH this demented $%^&Y*UI IMMEDIATELY!!! We can't wait any longer. Even if we succeed in changing the Congress, the demented jerk can still cause a lot of damage right now. Vance would be an improvement as he doesn't hold sway over anyone in his party.
Sorry but it is far too early to take a victory lap. TRUMP WILL STOP AT NOTHING. It’s also too early to slap ourselves on the back because there is no guarantee that if we do win, Dems will know what to do with winning the presidency. AGAIN.
There is no such thing as too radical when it comes to undoing everything. That immunity he was given? An expanded SCOTUS reverses itself. A real jurist will eviscerate that opinion for the self-dealing that it is. Next, clawback all the ill-gotten gains. And not just for him. Strip musk of his citizenship for being an enemy of the state, clawback all ill-gotten gains, freeze the rest, and deport him. And on and on. Those who are thinking we can never do anything like this are essentially saying that if you are so good at stealing from us and wounding us that you become the most powerful men in the world, you enter a sacred space of peace and protection not afforded to anyone else. WE CANNOT ACCEPT THAT THERE IS SUCH A SPACE. We have to learn how to punish white men. We have to learn how to say no to white men. We will not make permanent progress until we do. Failure to hang the leaders of the confederacy - regardless of the reason - writes into our history that there can be exceptions for punishing atrocities against African Americans. Those exceptions, when seen to have worked, spread from atrocities to encompass endless types of racist conduct. The Racist: “It doesn’t even cross my mind that I won’t be able to get away with this.” This will haunt us in new ways if future aspiring lunatics haven’t seen this current cast tarred and feathered. So to speak.
The trend in poll numbers is almost all Trump's doing and not the product of Dems offering real world solutions to the problems caused by MAGA and an obviously deranged Trump. Dems may indeed win big in the midterms and fail to restore American democracy.
Slogans like "Trump is Bad" and "MAGA is Worse" may win in November but do nothing to restore hope and eagerness in a population that is, in fact, at an existential crossroads. Somehow Dems need to address the disease that has festered at the heart of politics and stand up for the people, the Constitution, and America. We don't need slogans but real leadership that listens to the people and actually hears and cares about the things Americans face every day and then articulate who they are, what they believe and stand for, and specific plans, policies, and programs for saving everyday Americans from this Trumptopian nightmare. But listening is not enough. Real concrete action is needed. Posturing and ideological purity are not.
I frankly don't think the Democratic Socialists have a clue about addressing the crisis before us but I am absolutely sure that MAGA does not. Let's find some leaders who can get real and stand up. Much opportunity for positive change was lost to equivocation in Obama's first year in office and even in W's administration. We have to do better and to do so we need new rational leadership in the Democratic party who are decisive and willing to take a chance.
We are not out of the woods yet. The damage already done will take years, perhaps generations to repair. One of the thorniest problems is that, even after the debacle of Trump’s first term when he proved himself a traitor utterly unfit for office, enough people actually voted him back in, and gave Republicans control of Congress to rubber stamp his corruption. Even if Democrats win big this November and take the majority of both houses of Congress, how can we address the sheer ignorance of so many voters?
Robert, the big problem isn't "sheer ignorance." By the time 2024 rolled around, voters knew what Trump was about -- and many of them were all in with it. Seriously: they saw what went down on January 6, 2021. Did they all develop amnesia before November 2024? The problem is that for decades the Republican Party has been living on, and encouraging, backlash to the civil rights and women's rights advances made since the mid-1960s. Why do so many of us who lived through it and/or know their history pretend either that it never happened or that it doesn't matter?
I agree, Susanna--those people seemed to live vicariously through Trump's life of lies, hatred of minorities, and sexual predation and to reject the values that most had instilled in them as youngsters. Think of the gutless lack of moral courage displayed by Sen. Johnson of Wisconsin as he described the Jan. 6th riot, in which several policemen died, as "just another day enjoyed by tourists to the Capitol." And a majority of people of that state later re-elected him. With all due respect to other Wisconsinites, some of them friends of mine, who voted against him.
Robert, I'm also not as optimistic as Lincoln Square about the predicted collapse of voter support for Republicans and their loss of both houses of Congress. Voter susceptibility to unending GOP lies financed by their overwhelming treasure chest of dark money and MAGA donations could offset the affordability crisis that might usually spell doom for them. It happened during the Vietnam War, when Presidents Johnson and Nixon's constant lies and deceit led low-information voters to support years of war crimes against a country that never threatened the U. S. I see many voters complaining about the high prices but not much criticism of murder on the high seas and in Iran.
I came of political age in 1968. When Trump was first elected in 2016, I was shocked but not surprised: Between the racism that was obvious to many of us with Nixon's "Southern Strategy" and the misogyny that was unleashed by the SCOTUS decision in Roe v. Wade, the Republican Party has been sliding toward Trump and taking much of the country, especially the white people, along for the ride. Would Reagan, whose economic policies weren't exactly friendly to working people, have been so popular without the racist, sexist, anti-DEI rhetoric? Then Clinton turned out to be Republican lite with his "welfare reform." Obama had his hands more than full trying to repair the damage done by Bush II, and Biden did his best, but the decks were stacked against him -- and the country -- by the Citizens United decision of 2010. (You'll never, ever persuade me that this wasn't part of the white-wing reaction to the election of a Black president.)
Short version: The rot in the body politic was present before Trump was elected the first time. It was especially obvious in the Republican Party -- remember the clown car of 2015–16 from which Trump emerged victorious? -- but most of the upper-level Democrats were totally unequal to the task of dealing with Trump. Remember how caught unawares they were at the beginning of Trump II?
Here's hoping that the Dems who take control of the Senate and the House on January 3, 2027, politely kick Schumer and Jeffries upstairs and choose leaders who understand what our democracy is up against.
The problem is that people voted for Trump twice. It is extremely hard to explain this rationally - yeah it is racism I guess. Republicans had the trifecta and the supreme court since Jan 2025. And all of this after Jan 6. And what could dems do? They don't have much federal power.
I got so annoyed reading this column that I came over to comment on it -- whereupon I learned that I'd already commented on it four days ago. Oops. <g>
Your article touched me. I too felt our country was lost--particularly after 2024 election. Took me days take down my yard signs. Anyway I already said this, but decided to comment again. Thanks for all you do. Take Care.
I have been retired for 32+ years from the Federal Government. While as a civilian with the Air Force and also a Army and Air Force reservist for six years and the remainder of my career spent with the Office of Personnel Management I gained a deep appreciation for our Federal workforce, both military and civilian. My position with OPM gave me a wide exposure to a large number of our civilian agencies and regardless of comments from brainless idiots in the curent administration I must say I am very proud of the service our Federal employees give to this great country. I recently had the pleasure watching the Frank Figlucci show with Barry McCaffery as his guest and it is with sheer respect and admiration for one of the finest general officers this nation thas produced that I was able to hear his comments regarding the total mess that "Pickled Peter" and the "Orange Cheato" have made of our Defense Department. I'm in the same age group of this GREAT general and I think he wouldmake an outstanding President (despite his age).
This last comment from the Orange Cheato is the straw that "breaks the camel's back" and the Repubs ought to initiate action to IMPEACH this demented $%^&Y*UI IMMEDIATELY!!! We can't wait any longer. Even if we succeed in changing the Congress, the demented jerk can still cause a lot of damage right now. Vance would be an improvement as he doesn't hold sway over anyone in his party.
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Sorry but it is far too early to take a victory lap. TRUMP WILL STOP AT NOTHING. It’s also too early to slap ourselves on the back because there is no guarantee that if we do win, Dems will know what to do with winning the presidency. AGAIN.
There is no such thing as too radical when it comes to undoing everything. That immunity he was given? An expanded SCOTUS reverses itself. A real jurist will eviscerate that opinion for the self-dealing that it is. Next, clawback all the ill-gotten gains. And not just for him. Strip musk of his citizenship for being an enemy of the state, clawback all ill-gotten gains, freeze the rest, and deport him. And on and on. Those who are thinking we can never do anything like this are essentially saying that if you are so good at stealing from us and wounding us that you become the most powerful men in the world, you enter a sacred space of peace and protection not afforded to anyone else. WE CANNOT ACCEPT THAT THERE IS SUCH A SPACE. We have to learn how to punish white men. We have to learn how to say no to white men. We will not make permanent progress until we do. Failure to hang the leaders of the confederacy - regardless of the reason - writes into our history that there can be exceptions for punishing atrocities against African Americans. Those exceptions, when seen to have worked, spread from atrocities to encompass endless types of racist conduct. The Racist: “It doesn’t even cross my mind that I won’t be able to get away with this.” This will haunt us in new ways if future aspiring lunatics haven’t seen this current cast tarred and feathered. So to speak.
Sofia, I was about to write a message quite similar to this one, but no way could I have said it any better. BRAVO!!!
The trend in poll numbers is almost all Trump's doing and not the product of Dems offering real world solutions to the problems caused by MAGA and an obviously deranged Trump. Dems may indeed win big in the midterms and fail to restore American democracy.
Slogans like "Trump is Bad" and "MAGA is Worse" may win in November but do nothing to restore hope and eagerness in a population that is, in fact, at an existential crossroads. Somehow Dems need to address the disease that has festered at the heart of politics and stand up for the people, the Constitution, and America. We don't need slogans but real leadership that listens to the people and actually hears and cares about the things Americans face every day and then articulate who they are, what they believe and stand for, and specific plans, policies, and programs for saving everyday Americans from this Trumptopian nightmare. But listening is not enough. Real concrete action is needed. Posturing and ideological purity are not.
I frankly don't think the Democratic Socialists have a clue about addressing the crisis before us but I am absolutely sure that MAGA does not. Let's find some leaders who can get real and stand up. Much opportunity for positive change was lost to equivocation in Obama's first year in office and even in W's administration. We have to do better and to do so we need new rational leadership in the Democratic party who are decisive and willing to take a chance.
And rather than voting for Democrats, what solution are you proposing for the pesent time?
Vote for a dem in every election this midterm and then raise up some Paul Wellstone-like leaders in the Democratic party.
We are not out of the woods yet. The damage already done will take years, perhaps generations to repair. One of the thorniest problems is that, even after the debacle of Trump’s first term when he proved himself a traitor utterly unfit for office, enough people actually voted him back in, and gave Republicans control of Congress to rubber stamp his corruption. Even if Democrats win big this November and take the majority of both houses of Congress, how can we address the sheer ignorance of so many voters?
Robert, the big problem isn't "sheer ignorance." By the time 2024 rolled around, voters knew what Trump was about -- and many of them were all in with it. Seriously: they saw what went down on January 6, 2021. Did they all develop amnesia before November 2024? The problem is that for decades the Republican Party has been living on, and encouraging, backlash to the civil rights and women's rights advances made since the mid-1960s. Why do so many of us who lived through it and/or know their history pretend either that it never happened or that it doesn't matter?
I agree, Susanna--those people seemed to live vicariously through Trump's life of lies, hatred of minorities, and sexual predation and to reject the values that most had instilled in them as youngsters. Think of the gutless lack of moral courage displayed by Sen. Johnson of Wisconsin as he described the Jan. 6th riot, in which several policemen died, as "just another day enjoyed by tourists to the Capitol." And a majority of people of that state later re-elected him. With all due respect to other Wisconsinites, some of them friends of mine, who voted against him.
Robert, I'm also not as optimistic as Lincoln Square about the predicted collapse of voter support for Republicans and their loss of both houses of Congress. Voter susceptibility to unending GOP lies financed by their overwhelming treasure chest of dark money and MAGA donations could offset the affordability crisis that might usually spell doom for them. It happened during the Vietnam War, when Presidents Johnson and Nixon's constant lies and deceit led low-information voters to support years of war crimes against a country that never threatened the U. S. I see many voters complaining about the high prices but not much criticism of murder on the high seas and in Iran.
I came of political age in 1968. When Trump was first elected in 2016, I was shocked but not surprised: Between the racism that was obvious to many of us with Nixon's "Southern Strategy" and the misogyny that was unleashed by the SCOTUS decision in Roe v. Wade, the Republican Party has been sliding toward Trump and taking much of the country, especially the white people, along for the ride. Would Reagan, whose economic policies weren't exactly friendly to working people, have been so popular without the racist, sexist, anti-DEI rhetoric? Then Clinton turned out to be Republican lite with his "welfare reform." Obama had his hands more than full trying to repair the damage done by Bush II, and Biden did his best, but the decks were stacked against him -- and the country -- by the Citizens United decision of 2010. (You'll never, ever persuade me that this wasn't part of the white-wing reaction to the election of a Black president.)
Short version: The rot in the body politic was present before Trump was elected the first time. It was especially obvious in the Republican Party -- remember the clown car of 2015–16 from which Trump emerged victorious? -- but most of the upper-level Democrats were totally unequal to the task of dealing with Trump. Remember how caught unawares they were at the beginning of Trump II?
Here's hoping that the Dems who take control of the Senate and the House on January 3, 2027, politely kick Schumer and Jeffries upstairs and choose leaders who understand what our democracy is up against.
Spacex
Spacex
The problem is that people voted for Trump twice. It is extremely hard to explain this rationally - yeah it is racism I guess. Republicans had the trifecta and the supreme court since Jan 2025. And all of this after Jan 6. And what could dems do? They don't have much federal power.
Some people voted for Trump three times.
I got so annoyed reading this column that I came over to comment on it -- whereupon I learned that I'd already commented on it four days ago. Oops. <g>
Your article touched me. I too felt our country was lost--particularly after 2024 election. Took me days take down my yard signs. Anyway I already said this, but decided to comment again. Thanks for all you do. Take Care.