Wednesday already – and so much going on. Well, let’s dig in.
Cartoon
Short Takes
The Hill – The Memo – For years I was predicting a French-Revolution-style uprising based on the way government was ignoring, not just the will of the people, but also the needs of the people, including needs the people didn’t themselves recognize (such as climatee change). Then the Trump** presidency seemed so much more like the rise of Hitler that I shifted my concerns. But now it seems I was wrong. We are re-living, in some ways, the French Revolution – and we are now approaching the Reign of Terror stage, and mob rule. A mob with no leaders with any power to restrain it. Empty Greene seems like an unlikely Mme. Defarge (and I’d be astonished if she can knit), but there it is. (And, believe it or not, I wrote this first – and then found TC’s cartoon. My timing could not have been better.)
QConference – The “Conference” at which Michael Flynn made the remarks on camera which he now denies having made was observed by the author of this Twitter thread. I’m sorry, it’s not in a neat thread reader, but I found it worth going through. The chief “takeaways” – This a near-religious movement, and they are preparing to enact violence if they don’t get their way in future elections. The talk of war is now preparation for it.
Robert Reich – H/T Mitch – Of course the Reich on the left is right. What may be more of personal annoyance to me than a major danger to democracy – but it seems that, having lived through four years of a Trump** presidency (not to mention the campaign before and the insurrections after), we seem to have all forgotten who has the authority to doo whatm and who does not have authority to do certain things. This sentence from the article: “So there will be no investigation.” – I won’t say it’s just wrong, but it’s not an established fact. A House Select Committee has not beed ruled out. A DOJ investigation (has not been ruled out (and if they are already investigating and have not told us, they are not going to tell us before it’s over.) But it kind of gives a wrong impression. Keith makes a similar error as to who can do what, and I’ll address that in the video thread. I’m sure a big part of it is that those of us who recognize the enormity of what we are facing are somewhat in a panic. But a better handle on who can and should do what would, for one thing, help us target the right people in petitions. And it should also help us to think more rationally, and God knows we’ll need that.
14 Responses to “Open Thread for June 2, 2021”
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QConference: WOW!!! I had NO idea tickets to that seditious event cost $500!
But not surprised that 1/3 of the attendees participated in the 1/6/21 Seditious Insurrection at our Capitol.
Well, it require money to travel. So yes, the two tiems together do make sense.
Thanks, JD. I just read these 3. Yes, what logical approach for us to take when the other side is soooo out there? The religious-like fervor +gunz&ammo! You were in the military;can’t M. Flynn be held accountable under military code (at least while waiting for DoJ)? Stay safe.
You may have seen the Keith video and the article I linked to it , so you know the answer is yes. But The Geral of the Army, I think, has to recall him to active duty (the one on the Joint Chiefs of Staff – Mark Milley I believe but don’t quote me.) Possibly the Secretary of the Army or the Secretary of Defense could. With that done, the Army’s JAG (Judge Advocate General) could take over. I really hope they do. I suspect it will depend on how his pardon applies. I can’t believe it would apply toacts done after it was given, so I’d say that’s the best bet.
The Memo – Good grief. She’ll say and do anything she wants, (very disrespectful, imho) , as she’s not been reprimanded for her conduct.
DU: Yikes, that’s a ton of $$ to spend…..for an event..
RR: Scary.. indeed.
Thanks, Joanne for post.
*This just in: “Pro Tip – “Don’t talk about Trump being magically reinstated as President. You sound like a sad idiot.” ~ Jeff Tiedrich ~
2. “There was never any doubt about it. Newsome and the Democrats are strong and solid in the Golden State.” ~ John N. ~
3. Democrat Stansbury wins special election for Haaland’s House seat. “New Mexico state Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D) on Tuesday defeated Republican state Sen. Mark Moores in the special election to fill the House seat formerly held by Interior Secretary Deb Haaland.” h/t JD
4. “Fauci urges trump to attack the Corona Virus as if it were an Inspector General.” ~ Andy Borowitz ~
TJI #1 – Glenn Kirschner would agree.
TJI #2 – This is good news! If you think Democrats are bad at voting in midterms, and worse about special elections, they are aorst of all about recalls. The last recall we had in Colorado was for the President of the State Senate and two other Senate Democrats, whoch would have, if it succeeded in full, given the Rethugs control of the Senate. One of the three resigned so the Governor could replace her with a Democrat and keep that control. The other two lost. Most people in their districts didn’t even know it was happening. It was tragic.
TJI #3 – I was worried about this one too. So glad to hear it!
TJI #4 – I just subscribed to the New Yorker so I’ll be able to post from it occasionally. Andy is not the only one who is right on the nailhead there.
‘Toon: Scary!
The Memo: She almost makes Palin seem human! Palin and Greene are like GWB and TOT.
QConference: As has been stated before, this movement is likely to become a religion, and what we see here is suggestive of the early days of a new religion’s forming. this could turn out to be super dangerous, in not much time. Indicting, and imprisoning a Mike Flynn, is both necessary, because of his seditiousness, and scary, as he could become the movement’s first sainted martyr. At this point, it strikes me, that TOT is not of relevance to these fools, but don’t count him out, he loves the limelight.
RR: Yes, there is clearly a need for, and there are still some options for investigations, happily. But, with reference to the Q craziness, investigations could energize the loonies.
Perfect analogy.
TJI#1: TOT, who could to get a blog-thing to work? In today’s electronic world?
TJI#2: Sounds good.
TJI#3: YES!
TJI#4: Borowitz continues to rock!
Cartoon: Despicable …. Looking at it makes me think of what’s been happening ever since January 6th.
The Memo: Like tRump, makes me wonder how and why this bi*ch even got elected? She’s not for the people or our country.
QConference: Shameful to think that Flynn can’t be held accountable for what he said at this conference. All of the pardons that tRump granted should be thrown out.
RR: Awful that Mitch did a total 180 degree turn around regarding the January 6 insurrection. His wife, Elaine Chao quits her job as Transportation Secretary due to the violence act. Yet her dumba*s mate still kisses tRump’s a*s?? It’s so Frustrating.
Thanks Joanne
Ooops – that wasn’t the Mitch I was giving tha hat tip to – it was our Mitch who sent me the article.
But of course everything you say abou BBMM is absolutely correct.
AND, I’m not married to Chao! lol
Cartoon: Who wants more proof that history repeats itself because we don’t learn from it?
TM: Biden is doing a good job and all seems well. But the layer of veneer is very thin indeed and already cracking. So Democrats do what they do best and retreat into complacency. No, things are far from over, it’s only just starting. This complacency lost them the 2016 elections and it is going to cost them the 2022 elections, and any election after that for as far they’ll still be held.
QC: REpublicans are preparing for war; that much should by now be clear. Democrats still believe they can shift Republicans away from it instead of preparing to counter it.
RR: “American democracy is at an inflection point.” I’m sorry, Joanne, but perhaps Democrats should stop being so damned rational and trying to talk sense into Republicans. It’s time to follow their gut feeling and stop pretending that Republicans can be persuaded. Not this bunch.
Don’t be sorry wehen you’re right. I do think Robert is trying to wake people up. That he doesn’t appear to know how isn’t surprising – I don’t either, nor do I know anyone who does. Democrats can be as hard to convince as Republicans – for different reasons, but equally dangerous.