H. L. Mencken understood Don the Con's game around 100 years ago when he said:
The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by an endless series of hobgoblins, most of them imaginary.
“On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.” ~ Also H.L. Mencken
I like that one. I know I've posted it in the past, either here or in the WaPo before I cancelled my subscription when Jenn Rubin resigned. From what I gather about Mencken, I have no doubt he's laughing himself silly in his grave!
I, too, cancelled my subscription, which runs out in November. You cannot post that quote today, because WAPO has designated certain words as violating "community guidelines", the word "moron" being one of them.
I also cancelled my subscription to that newspaper because Jen was nolonger there and because they were misleading in headlines before the election and did not stand up for the deserving people, the people our country obviously needed and still needs. I still believe that paper is guilty of misleading voters by failing to be exact in the reporting, by limiting or controlling what some of their now past writers wanted to write, and by failing to support the person or people they should have backed. I had higher expectations and expected honesty.
I am very proud of their former writers who stood up and still stand up for truth and for what they believe. My thanks go to the wise, honest people who stood up for freedom of the press and for integrity.
Same here. But as long as you have access you can outsmart WaPo's AI censors by typing, e.g., mor_on. Quite some of the "old" readers who are waiting for their subscription to end do actually use this and similar tricks.
I have to resort to tricks all the time. Another issue for me is that they changed the format and don't give just an upvote, you choose from four rsponses They also have a ridiculous AI written "prompt" at the top, as if for a high school essay. The telling thing is when I post the same comment in the NYTimes and it's accepted.
I've also found the Editorial Board's "editorials" lacking in substance or actual stance. They also run an excessive amount of headlines with "Trump" in them, and few, very few articles about Democrats fighting Trump. Then they include so many editorials asking "where are the Democrats", as if the only Democrats are those holding office.
Norm, your dashes of ridicule are so welcome! Those poor innocent penguins. 🐧 “Whether it’s crime, immigration, energy, the economy, or mislaying blame for rising costs on an island of innocent penguins, the goal is the same—replace truth with fearful uncertainty, and democracy with one-man rule.”
Thanks for your work and giving us the deeper understanding of what’s happening. You, Jen and the rest of the crew are priceless. Honestly, there’s so many superlative words to describe you, I picked priceless out of the hat of many.
Thank you for the article, and thank you for calling trumps words, what they are, “a lie.” Kid gloves need to come off and trumps words need to be labeled honestly and openly for the “LIES” they are. All journalists need to use the proper language.
Too right, Bill! Judges taught me to use the word "lie" even in legal briefing.
The term “lie” commonly is used for brevity and clarity in legal proceedings. For decades, many dozens of Seventh Circuit opinions have emphasized that “pretext” means “a lie.” Marshall v. Indiana Dep't of Correction, 973 F.3d 789, 792 (7th Cir. 2020). “If the only reason” offered “is a lie, the inference that the real reason was a forbidden one” clearly “may rationally be drawn.” Shager v. Upjohn Co., 913 F.2d 398, 401 (7th Cir. 1990).
Eighth Circuit opinions did the same. “The evidence” may show that someone “lied to cover up.” United States v. Quick, 153 F. App’x 408, 409 (8th Cir. 2005). “If a man would lie about” any material fact, “a jury may reasonably infer that he would lie about other matters, even on the witness stand.” United States v. Ojeda, 23 F.3d 1473, 1477 (8th Cir. 1994). Any “evidence” of “lies” can “demonstrate pretext.” Brooks v. Ameren UE, 345 F.3d 986, 989 (8th Cir. 2003). Accord Euerle-Wehle v. United Parcel Serv., Inc., 181 F.3d 898, 900 (8th Cir. 1999) (“lied” and “encouraged others to lie”); Kneibert v. Thomson Newspapers, Michigan Inc., 129 F.3d 444, 454 (8th Cir. 1997) (“lied” amounts to “pretext”).
I'm sure many more circuit court opinions use the word "lie."
One example from SCOTUS is highly appropriate regarding Trump and Bondi: “Based on the vagueness and implausibility of” their “stories,” we all “could have reasonably inferred that they were lying and that their lies suggested a guilty mind.” District of Columbia v. Wesby, 138 S. Ct. 577, 587 (2018).
In McIntyre v. Ohio Elections Comm'n, 514 U.S. 334 (1995) Justice Scalia wrote a dissenting opinion in which Chief Justice Rehnquist joined. “I am sure,” they said, that “a person who is required to put his name to a document is much less likely to lie than one who can lie anonymously.” The nature of most “people” makes them “significantly less likely to lie in what they have signed.”
I wonder how the members of the MPD feel about the Trump takeover. This is the guy who encouraged his mob to attack the Capitol, did nothing once the carnage started and MPD members were being attacked, and then pardoned all the J6ers, calling them "patriots". Has anyone seen or read an interview with a current MPD member? I realize they may be unwilling to speak out and possibly lose their job.
Please also consider the words of Thomas Paine because he was phenomenally influential in leading Americans where they needed to go under similar circumstances. Paine published Common Sense 6 months before our Declaration of Independence from tyranny. Now, we're experiencing issues that are strikingly similar as we approach the 250th anniversary of our Declaration of Independence. So please consider "Common Sense: Ridicule Fake Kings and Keep the Constitution King"
Grreat column, Norm. But it seems to me that for every gain we make we lose more and more in many other areas. We have to stop talking tough and start acting in ways to get him out of office NOW, or, at the very least, hamstring him WORSE than the comments he constantly makes !!
Come on Norman! I can't believe no one in the media is pointing out the complete gaslighting of the nation that Trump is taking over DC because of 'crime'. This from the guy who pardoned all the J6 insurrectionists? And pardoned many others convicted of crimes? How stupid do they think the American public is??
Thank you for doing the important work on these legal battles. Makes me proud to be a subscriber! I will go with friends to the protest today in Oakland. I’m also glad to be a member of Indivisible where we are also fighting this fascist regime.
Another Trump failure with the Alaska summit. Why should he get a noble prize? If it ever happens on his watch it will likely mean that Ukraine will have to give up a lot of territory. I appreciate Jen and Mary McCord giving us the latest on the DC takeover. As always the analysis is very spot on. Enjoy your time off Norm you’ve earned it!
Like Trump's takeover of the Kennedy Center--if they give him the Nobel Peace Prize, it will be dirtied, smell to high heaven, and never mean the same again.
Having participated in multiple Ig-Nobel ceremonies, mainly as a photographer, I can tell you that Ig-Nobel prizes make you laugh, and then make you think. The scientific work that earns them always has an interesting catch to it. Here are some interesting examples:
I can think of quite a few "convicted criminals" worthy of a Nobel Peace Prize. Alexei Navalny for instance -- if he weren't dead. Much depends on who convicted them, and of what crime.
Norm Eisen is indifferent to US bipartisan support for Israel's genocide.
His comments on this over the past few weeks have been truly awful. He has made it abundantly clear that his only real concern is for Israeli lives. His focus has consistently been centered on how bad the 'conflict' is - for Israel's public image. Over several 'Coffee' discussions, he never even said the word 'Palestinian' once.
Excerpt: A Gallup poll released this week found that just 🔻32% of US adults support Israel’s military actions in Gaza — a record low since the war was launched in response to Hamas’ October 7, 2023, terror attack.
The poll also found the strongest partisan split yet: Support among those who identify themselves as 🔻Republicans remained strong, at 71%. 🔻
But just 8% of Democrats and 25% of independents say they back Israel’s military actions.
In perhaps the most ominous long-term sign for backers of Israel, the poll found just 9% support for its actions among those age 18-34 of all political parties.”
— myself, I can imagine the reasons for reluctance / inability of those of Jewish heritage to engage more fully or consistently with the issue. The social, emotional & cultural ties wd naturally make the matter weigh all the more heavily on them. It has taken many other Americans some time to begin pivoting in the issue also - and some refuse to change altogether.
If some of our Contrarian writers need some extra time to adjust, then I’m willing to give it to them, esp considering the many battles on so many other fronts they are waging on our mutual behalf.
Why do you ignore the Republican +/- 75% pro-Israeli contingent while you continue to berate Norm et al for insufficient pro-Palestinian sentiment? Some acknowledgement of his-their humanity & the difficulty in being ‘all things to all people’ might go a long way here. Try walking a mile in their shoes as a mental exercise sometime perhaps?
I invite you to read this July 31st CNN article & take some encouragement from other Dems pivoting also. I hate the Gaza situation immensely too, but am not sure if ongoing needling our Contrarian friends is going to accomplish your objectives …
I'm a Jew, I think Palestinians deserve to have their own territory. But it took me at least several months to come around to this view. Good comment, Jay Jay eh!
Re: “I'm a Jew, I think Palestinians deserve to have their own territory. But it took me at least several months to come around to this view”:
— You are to be commended for your moral insight & courage, and are not alone! Entire nations have been ‘blinkered’ on the topic for decades now …
"The free world easily hung the debt it owed the Jews around the Arabs' necks," author Amos Kenan once wrote. And primarily, around the Palestinians' necks.
I have no interest in giving anyone, especially a political pundit who should know better, 'time to adjust' when concerning a genocide happening in front of our eyes for many months.
I also have no expectation that he will change. My comments are more for others.
People around the world have been loudly condemning Israel's war crimes for years now. The Contrarian has only recently said anything, and still downplays the pivotal, and bipartisan, role the US has played and continues to play. The Contrarian has barely even mention that daily massacres in Gaza..not to mention there hasn't been a word about the West Bank in The Contrarian at all that I know of, even though the US is also supporting the constant war crimes there as well.
I focus on this glaring omission because I am commenting in The Contrarian, which criticizes Trump and the GOP constantly (and rightly) . There is no lack of condemnation there. But the Contrarian has entirely ignored the unwavering support for Israel's war crimes given by congressional Democrats, not to mention Biden himself.
Is that not, by definition, the role of what an actual 'contrarian' is? Even The Contrarian's home page about page says 'The Contrarian contributors may not agree on all issues (and, in fact, enjoy lively debate),'
Also, discussion of 'the reluctance of those of Jewish heritage' is a bit of a red herring. Most the strong supporters of Israel in Congress are not Jewish. Many of its biggest critics are Jewish, such as Sen. Bernie Sanders...such as groups like Jewish Voices for Peace, and IFNotNow, who have needed no 'time to adjust'.
Even the mainstream Jewish advocacy group J Street has affirmed Israel is committing genocide, something that has not been said once in any Contrarian piece.
The Israeli human rights groups B'Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights have said the same thing..as have many Israeli genocide scholars. Historian Omer Bartov wrote this last month in the NY Times:
'My inescapable conclusion has become that Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people. Having grown up in a Zionist home, lived the first half of my life in Israel, served in the I.D.F. as a soldier and officer and spent most of my career researching and writing on war crimes and the Holocaust, this was a painful conclusion to reach, and one that I resisted as long as I could. But I have been teaching classes on genocide for a quarter of a century. I can recognize one when I see one.'
Eisen's constant refrain that this is bad for Israelis while not even mentioning Palestinians is despicable, straight up. I don't have any problem saying that. Supporters of Israel like him are a part of the problem, not part of the solution.
You are right that Democratic voters are shifting, and a (very) few Democratic leaders are shifting as well, which is encouraging......but this shift is too late and too slow. Most elected national Democrats still wholeheartedly support Israel. These atrocities didn't just art last month.
I appreciate your many recent comments and your thoughts, truly, and I believe you are 'immensely' upset by this, as I am. I encourage you to try a more conciliatory approach if you think that is best.
For me, I am past that. You are firmly and emphatically against genocide, as you are and I am...or you aren't.
Genocide: I’m against, of course, but realize others may have blind spots, esp re: very public condemnation/ taking the issue to task. I don’t know what ‘walking a mile in their (Contrarian) shoes’ wd look like, much easier to visualize Palestinians’ plight.
— But perhaps your needling him-them *may cause them to address this issue, as painful as that might be.
* I grew up in N. Canada, a white girl among a fairly First Nations citizenry, a few of whom became my best friends … but even decades later sometimes I catch myself thinking ‘colonial thoughts’ of how inconvenient their environmental protests are, and ‘Why are they all so fat & f’d up?’ etc. I know many of the unflattering-to-colonialists answers, but such niggling gut feelings still occasionally occur. 🙄
I don’t get up early enough to view the coffee talks so can’t comment on what is, or isn’t said. But I do believe that until we clean up our own act of kidnapping, unjustly incarcerating and treating others inhumanly before shipping them out of the country; that none of us have the right to judge others. Inhumanity is wrong. Which countries sponsor it is beside the point. We must all keep working to stop it worldwide.
'None of us have the right to judge others' misses the point that the US is the primary 'sponsor' of Israel's genocide. It is very much our business what our country does, and the fact that our country's financial, military and political support for Israel's war crimes has been a decisive factor all along, Israel never would have been able to do what it has done without the US.
All the recordings of the 'Coffee' sessions are posted on The Contrarian's home page btw.
Actually, Norm, we do have a National Emergency, it's called donald john trump. So mar it has killed thousands of children world wide, destroyed the good reputation of what used to be the United States of America, put our economy at dire risk, attacked Los Angeles, CA and California, Washington, DC, Used storm troopers to attack, imprison, and killed a few legal residents who have done nothing but work for a living. If this isn't a National Emergency, I don't knows what is!
For you, 108 protest signs for the fight. This is for Occupied D.C. Many signs are revised to sing. 🎶. I recommend using a local printer, but national print companies offer great pricing, shipping included. There is time to get the lot printed for your protest group, assuming you have a gathering of 300 to 1,000. This would help fill the hands of the signless.
Trump is now, and always has been, afraid of Black people. Black men are strong, and some of them are angry, especially at bigots like Trump. Trump is even more afraid of Black women. Black women are not as physically strong as Black men, but they are ready to say things out loud and directly. They can spot phonies and bigots in 2 seconds, and they are not afraid, and don't take no shit. Trump uses everyone else to go after them. His henchmen, the courts, ICE, and other frighten men such as Rubio and Hegseth. Trump thinks women are there for his pleasure, beginning when they are 13. He thinks they should be thrilled to be fondled or raped by him. He's a star. He's Putin's equal.
We have a pathetic, paranoid, pedophile for a president, and he is abusing all of use. Remember, the statute of limitations never runs out for sexually molesting someone under 16.
Love the overview as usual Norm, except for referring to Trump as "the president." He doesn't deserve that title. Never did and never will. He should be called a felon or referred to by a number on his orange jumpsuit. That so many people, from SCOTUS to congressmen and women to contstituents have allowed this corrupt fool to occupy the Oval Office again is beyond comprehension.
Donald Trump has just demonstrated to the world that he is a traitor to the United States of America. He gave a backstage tour of one of our most critical forward operating air bases — storied Elmendorf Air Force Base — to the dictator of one of the worst enemies of our democracy.
He. Will. Sell. Us. Out. Emphasis on SELL. Millions of us have known this for 10 years but now there can be no doubt in any mind:
H. L. Mencken understood Don the Con's game around 100 years ago when he said:
The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by an endless series of hobgoblins, most of them imaginary.
“On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.” ~ Also H.L. Mencken
I like that one. I know I've posted it in the past, either here or in the WaPo before I cancelled my subscription when Jenn Rubin resigned. From what I gather about Mencken, I have no doubt he's laughing himself silly in his grave!
I also posted it in the Washington Post, on more than one occasion.
That, of course, was before I cancelled my subscription.
I, too, cancelled my subscription, which runs out in November. You cannot post that quote today, because WAPO has designated certain words as violating "community guidelines", the word "moron" being one of them.
I also cancelled my subscription to that newspaper because Jen was nolonger there and because they were misleading in headlines before the election and did not stand up for the deserving people, the people our country obviously needed and still needs. I still believe that paper is guilty of misleading voters by failing to be exact in the reporting, by limiting or controlling what some of their now past writers wanted to write, and by failing to support the person or people they should have backed. I had higher expectations and expected honesty.
I am very proud of their former writers who stood up and still stand up for truth and for what they believe. My thanks go to the wise, honest people who stood up for freedom of the press and for integrity.
Same here. But as long as you have access you can outsmart WaPo's AI censors by typing, e.g., mor_on. Quite some of the "old" readers who are waiting for their subscription to end do actually use this and similar tricks.
I have to resort to tricks all the time. Another issue for me is that they changed the format and don't give just an upvote, you choose from four rsponses They also have a ridiculous AI written "prompt" at the top, as if for a high school essay. The telling thing is when I post the same comment in the NYTimes and it's accepted.
I've also found the Editorial Board's "editorials" lacking in substance or actual stance. They also run an excessive amount of headlines with "Trump" in them, and few, very few articles about Democrats fighting Trump. Then they include so many editorials asking "where are the Democrats", as if the only Democrats are those holding office.
Right? I couldn’t do it without The Contrarians and a couple of other Substacks.
Ditto, and I owe it to Jen that I even learned of Substack at all, all because of her wise career change.
Happened the same way for me!
"Democrats are the only reason to vote for Republicans"
"The short memories of the American voters is what keeps our politicians in office."
"I remember when being liberal meant being generous with your own money."
"I am not a member of any organized political party. I am a Democrat."
Will Rogers
Norm, your dashes of ridicule are so welcome! Those poor innocent penguins. 🐧 “Whether it’s crime, immigration, energy, the economy, or mislaying blame for rising costs on an island of innocent penguins, the goal is the same—replace truth with fearful uncertainty, and democracy with one-man rule.”
Thanks for your work and giving us the deeper understanding of what’s happening. You, Jen and the rest of the crew are priceless. Honestly, there’s so many superlative words to describe you, I picked priceless out of the hat of many.
Addendum: just read through your weekly roundup. My head is spinning!😵💫 Norm, enjoy your vacay!
Thank you for the article, and thank you for calling trumps words, what they are, “a lie.” Kid gloves need to come off and trumps words need to be labeled honestly and openly for the “LIES” they are. All journalists need to use the proper language.
Too right, Bill! Judges taught me to use the word "lie" even in legal briefing.
The term “lie” commonly is used for brevity and clarity in legal proceedings. For decades, many dozens of Seventh Circuit opinions have emphasized that “pretext” means “a lie.” Marshall v. Indiana Dep't of Correction, 973 F.3d 789, 792 (7th Cir. 2020). “If the only reason” offered “is a lie, the inference that the real reason was a forbidden one” clearly “may rationally be drawn.” Shager v. Upjohn Co., 913 F.2d 398, 401 (7th Cir. 1990).
Eighth Circuit opinions did the same. “The evidence” may show that someone “lied to cover up.” United States v. Quick, 153 F. App’x 408, 409 (8th Cir. 2005). “If a man would lie about” any material fact, “a jury may reasonably infer that he would lie about other matters, even on the witness stand.” United States v. Ojeda, 23 F.3d 1473, 1477 (8th Cir. 1994). Any “evidence” of “lies” can “demonstrate pretext.” Brooks v. Ameren UE, 345 F.3d 986, 989 (8th Cir. 2003). Accord Euerle-Wehle v. United Parcel Serv., Inc., 181 F.3d 898, 900 (8th Cir. 1999) (“lied” and “encouraged others to lie”); Kneibert v. Thomson Newspapers, Michigan Inc., 129 F.3d 444, 454 (8th Cir. 1997) (“lied” amounts to “pretext”).
I'm sure many more circuit court opinions use the word "lie."
One example from SCOTUS is highly appropriate regarding Trump and Bondi: “Based on the vagueness and implausibility of” their “stories,” we all “could have reasonably inferred that they were lying and that their lies suggested a guilty mind.” District of Columbia v. Wesby, 138 S. Ct. 577, 587 (2018).
In McIntyre v. Ohio Elections Comm'n, 514 U.S. 334 (1995) Justice Scalia wrote a dissenting opinion in which Chief Justice Rehnquist joined. “I am sure,” they said, that “a person who is required to put his name to a document is much less likely to lie than one who can lie anonymously.” The nature of most “people” makes them “significantly less likely to lie in what they have signed.”
I wonder how the members of the MPD feel about the Trump takeover. This is the guy who encouraged his mob to attack the Capitol, did nothing once the carnage started and MPD members were being attacked, and then pardoned all the J6ers, calling them "patriots". Has anyone seen or read an interview with a current MPD member? I realize they may be unwilling to speak out and possibly lose their job.
We all should feel the same and see this the same. We've been down this road before.
Please consider "Trump's Blunder: Boston Remembered" https://open.substack.com/pub/blackcollarcrime/p/trumps-blunder-boston-remembered?r=30ufvh&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
Please also consider the words of Thomas Paine because he was phenomenally influential in leading Americans where they needed to go under similar circumstances. Paine published Common Sense 6 months before our Declaration of Independence from tyranny. Now, we're experiencing issues that are strikingly similar as we approach the 250th anniversary of our Declaration of Independence. So please consider "Common Sense: Ridicule Fake Kings and Keep the Constitution King"
https://blackcollarcrime.substack.com/p/common-sense-ridicule-would-be-kings?r=30ufvh
Grreat column, Norm. But it seems to me that for every gain we make we lose more and more in many other areas. We have to stop talking tough and start acting in ways to get him out of office NOW, or, at the very least, hamstring him WORSE than the comments he constantly makes !!
Our democracy cannot take much more.
Come on Norman! I can't believe no one in the media is pointing out the complete gaslighting of the nation that Trump is taking over DC because of 'crime'. This from the guy who pardoned all the J6 insurrectionists? And pardoned many others convicted of crimes? How stupid do they think the American public is??
"I can't believe no one in the media is pointing out the complete gaslighting of..."
Well, the media has a good track record of gaslighting for the Democrats.
Thank you for doing the important work on these legal battles. Makes me proud to be a subscriber! I will go with friends to the protest today in Oakland. I’m also glad to be a member of Indivisible where we are also fighting this fascist regime.
Another Trump failure with the Alaska summit. Why should he get a noble prize? If it ever happens on his watch it will likely mean that Ukraine will have to give up a lot of territory. I appreciate Jen and Mary McCord giving us the latest on the DC takeover. As always the analysis is very spot on. Enjoy your time off Norm you’ve earned it!
Trump wants a Nobel Peace Prize because Obama got one. He has no idea what it's about. Q.E.D.
Apparently he has referred to it as the ‘Noble’ prize … another reason why he will never get it … but perhaps the ‘IG-noble prize’?
Like Trump's takeover of the Kennedy Center--if they give him the Nobel Peace Prize, it will be dirtied, smell to high heaven, and never mean the same again.
It would be ruined forever!
Having participated in multiple Ig-Nobel ceremonies, mainly as a photographer, I can tell you that Ig-Nobel prizes make you laugh, and then make you think. The scientific work that earns them always has an interesting catch to it. Here are some interesting examples:
https://cosmosmagazine.com/science/our-top-five-ig-nobel-prize-winners/
PS: Nobel Prize, not Noble Prize.
I didn’t realize such a thing existed! thanks! Good mag there too.
Interesting line of work you had there!
* I intentionally copied Trump’s misspelling of ‘Noble’ …
In the unlikely event that it happened, would Trump be the first convicted criminal ever awarded a Nobel Prize?
I can think of quite a few "convicted criminals" worthy of a Nobel Peace Prize. Alexei Navalny for instance -- if he weren't dead. Much depends on who convicted them, and of what crime.
"...would Trump be the first convicted criminal ever awarded a Nobel Prize?
Nelson Mandela comes to mind.
I would hope that would be taken into account especially if there’s others who are deserving.
So now Trump, in his endless habit of projection, will say that he is "deserving." The devil really is in the details.
"Why should he get a noble prize?"
Why did Obama get one?
Norm Eisen is indifferent to US bipartisan support for Israel's genocide.
His comments on this over the past few weeks have been truly awful. He has made it abundantly clear that his only real concern is for Israeli lives. His focus has consistently been centered on how bad the 'conflict' is - for Israel's public image. Over several 'Coffee' discussions, he never even said the word 'Palestinian' once.
It is a huge stain on his otherwise solid work.
As a Jew, I feel strongly that what Israel is doing to Gaza is reprehensible. The Palestinians should have a right to their own territory--Gaza.
CNN — https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/31/politics/us-support-israel-gaza-republicans-democrats
Excerpt: A Gallup poll released this week found that just 🔻32% of US adults support Israel’s military actions in Gaza — a record low since the war was launched in response to Hamas’ October 7, 2023, terror attack.
The poll also found the strongest partisan split yet: Support among those who identify themselves as 🔻Republicans remained strong, at 71%. 🔻
But just 8% of Democrats and 25% of independents say they back Israel’s military actions.
In perhaps the most ominous long-term sign for backers of Israel, the poll found just 9% support for its actions among those age 18-34 of all political parties.”
— myself, I can imagine the reasons for reluctance / inability of those of Jewish heritage to engage more fully or consistently with the issue. The social, emotional & cultural ties wd naturally make the matter weigh all the more heavily on them. It has taken many other Americans some time to begin pivoting in the issue also - and some refuse to change altogether.
If some of our Contrarian writers need some extra time to adjust, then I’m willing to give it to them, esp considering the many battles on so many other fronts they are waging on our mutual behalf.
Why do you ignore the Republican +/- 75% pro-Israeli contingent while you continue to berate Norm et al for insufficient pro-Palestinian sentiment? Some acknowledgement of his-their humanity & the difficulty in being ‘all things to all people’ might go a long way here. Try walking a mile in their shoes as a mental exercise sometime perhaps?
I invite you to read this July 31st CNN article & take some encouragement from other Dems pivoting also. I hate the Gaza situation immensely too, but am not sure if ongoing needling our Contrarian friends is going to accomplish your objectives …
I'm a Jew, I think Palestinians deserve to have their own territory. But it took me at least several months to come around to this view. Good comment, Jay Jay eh!
Re: “I'm a Jew, I think Palestinians deserve to have their own territory. But it took me at least several months to come around to this view”:
— You are to be commended for your moral insight & courage, and are not alone! Entire nations have been ‘blinkered’ on the topic for decades now …
"The free world easily hung the debt it owed the Jews around the Arabs' necks," author Amos Kenan once wrote. And primarily, around the Palestinians' necks.
HAARETZ https://apple.news/AisLWN4QPQTK16otEi2dDQA
Opinion | After 80 years, 🔻the world 🔻 is sobering up to the other side of Israel's story
I have no interest in giving anyone, especially a political pundit who should know better, 'time to adjust' when concerning a genocide happening in front of our eyes for many months.
I also have no expectation that he will change. My comments are more for others.
People around the world have been loudly condemning Israel's war crimes for years now. The Contrarian has only recently said anything, and still downplays the pivotal, and bipartisan, role the US has played and continues to play. The Contrarian has barely even mention that daily massacres in Gaza..not to mention there hasn't been a word about the West Bank in The Contrarian at all that I know of, even though the US is also supporting the constant war crimes there as well.
I focus on this glaring omission because I am commenting in The Contrarian, which criticizes Trump and the GOP constantly (and rightly) . There is no lack of condemnation there. But the Contrarian has entirely ignored the unwavering support for Israel's war crimes given by congressional Democrats, not to mention Biden himself.
Is that not, by definition, the role of what an actual 'contrarian' is? Even The Contrarian's home page about page says 'The Contrarian contributors may not agree on all issues (and, in fact, enjoy lively debate),'
Also, discussion of 'the reluctance of those of Jewish heritage' is a bit of a red herring. Most the strong supporters of Israel in Congress are not Jewish. Many of its biggest critics are Jewish, such as Sen. Bernie Sanders...such as groups like Jewish Voices for Peace, and IFNotNow, who have needed no 'time to adjust'.
Even the mainstream Jewish advocacy group J Street has affirmed Israel is committing genocide, something that has not been said once in any Contrarian piece.
The Israeli human rights groups B'Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights have said the same thing..as have many Israeli genocide scholars. Historian Omer Bartov wrote this last month in the NY Times:
'My inescapable conclusion has become that Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people. Having grown up in a Zionist home, lived the first half of my life in Israel, served in the I.D.F. as a soldier and officer and spent most of my career researching and writing on war crimes and the Holocaust, this was a painful conclusion to reach, and one that I resisted as long as I could. But I have been teaching classes on genocide for a quarter of a century. I can recognize one when I see one.'
Eisen's constant refrain that this is bad for Israelis while not even mentioning Palestinians is despicable, straight up. I don't have any problem saying that. Supporters of Israel like him are a part of the problem, not part of the solution.
You are right that Democratic voters are shifting, and a (very) few Democratic leaders are shifting as well, which is encouraging......but this shift is too late and too slow. Most elected national Democrats still wholeheartedly support Israel. These atrocities didn't just art last month.
I appreciate your many recent comments and your thoughts, truly, and I believe you are 'immensely' upset by this, as I am. I encourage you to try a more conciliatory approach if you think that is best.
For me, I am past that. You are firmly and emphatically against genocide, as you are and I am...or you aren't.
Genocide: I’m against, of course, but realize others may have blind spots, esp re: very public condemnation/ taking the issue to task. I don’t know what ‘walking a mile in their (Contrarian) shoes’ wd look like, much easier to visualize Palestinians’ plight.
— But perhaps your needling him-them *may cause them to address this issue, as painful as that might be.
* I grew up in N. Canada, a white girl among a fairly First Nations citizenry, a few of whom became my best friends … but even decades later sometimes I catch myself thinking ‘colonial thoughts’ of how inconvenient their environmental protests are, and ‘Why are they all so fat & f’d up?’ etc. I know many of the unflattering-to-colonialists answers, but such niggling gut feelings still occasionally occur. 🙄
The fact that you have even that level of introspection is a positive thing and puts you past many others who never do this, IMO.
Ps I dream of north Canada. I love going to Canada! Despite Canada s own colonial history . It’s night and day compared to this country.
I’m happy enough with southern Vancouver Island, for sure.
Grew up in the interior on Stuart Lake … beautiful lake, great location, 4 seasons.
There are trade-offs no matter where we live, it seems, in the current system of things.
I don’t get up early enough to view the coffee talks so can’t comment on what is, or isn’t said. But I do believe that until we clean up our own act of kidnapping, unjustly incarcerating and treating others inhumanly before shipping them out of the country; that none of us have the right to judge others. Inhumanity is wrong. Which countries sponsor it is beside the point. We must all keep working to stop it worldwide.
'None of us have the right to judge others' misses the point that the US is the primary 'sponsor' of Israel's genocide. It is very much our business what our country does, and the fact that our country's financial, military and political support for Israel's war crimes has been a decisive factor all along, Israel never would have been able to do what it has done without the US.
All the recordings of the 'Coffee' sessions are posted on The Contrarian's home page btw.
Actually, Norm, we do have a National Emergency, it's called donald john trump. So mar it has killed thousands of children world wide, destroyed the good reputation of what used to be the United States of America, put our economy at dire risk, attacked Los Angeles, CA and California, Washington, DC, Used storm troopers to attack, imprison, and killed a few legal residents who have done nothing but work for a living. If this isn't a National Emergency, I don't knows what is!
With rhetoric like that, Fay, you should be running for office...or applying for a job at The Contrarian.
Why stop at two penguin islands? Why not slap a hefty tariff on every unoccupied island around the world? MPGA!
Remember the Penguin's motto:
"We don't fly, and you can't make us!"
I read all articles. The work you is amazing.
For you, 108 protest signs for the fight. This is for Occupied D.C. Many signs are revised to sing. 🎶. I recommend using a local printer, but national print companies offer great pricing, shipping included. There is time to get the lot printed for your protest group, assuming you have a gathering of 300 to 1,000. This would help fill the hands of the signless.
https://hotbuttons.substack.com/p/protest-sign-sign-everywhere-a-sign
Trump is now, and always has been, afraid of Black people. Black men are strong, and some of them are angry, especially at bigots like Trump. Trump is even more afraid of Black women. Black women are not as physically strong as Black men, but they are ready to say things out loud and directly. They can spot phonies and bigots in 2 seconds, and they are not afraid, and don't take no shit. Trump uses everyone else to go after them. His henchmen, the courts, ICE, and other frighten men such as Rubio and Hegseth. Trump thinks women are there for his pleasure, beginning when they are 13. He thinks they should be thrilled to be fondled or raped by him. He's a star. He's Putin's equal.
We have a pathetic, paranoid, pedophile for a president, and he is abusing all of use. Remember, the statute of limitations never runs out for sexually molesting someone under 16.
Love the overview as usual Norm, except for referring to Trump as "the president." He doesn't deserve that title. Never did and never will. He should be called a felon or referred to by a number on his orange jumpsuit. That so many people, from SCOTUS to congressmen and women to contstituents have allowed this corrupt fool to occupy the Oval Office again is beyond comprehension.
Donald Trump has just demonstrated to the world that he is a traitor to the United States of America. He gave a backstage tour of one of our most critical forward operating air bases — storied Elmendorf Air Force Base — to the dictator of one of the worst enemies of our democracy.
He. Will. Sell. Us. Out. Emphasis on SELL. Millions of us have known this for 10 years but now there can be no doubt in any mind:
Trump is a traitor to America.
This must be the top story bar none.