158 Comments
User's avatar
Richard France, Ph.D.'s avatar

Of course it's China and nor Russia that's hacking our elections. Of course Ukraine started the war with Russia. Of course he believes Putin over our own intelligence agencies. Trump is a Russian "asset" and, according to "The Guardian" (1/29/21), he has been for decades. WHEN THE HELL ARE YOU GOING TO WAKE UP, AMERICA !!!

tamar's avatar

he is too dumb to be any kind of asset... he is a narcissist, a lier and a rapist AND a mafia don with his republican followers being scammed daily.... The question is when is the 30% (maybe less) of voters going to be hurt enough to be willing to admit that they fell for his lies....

Michael E Davis's avatar

If he is in fact a Russian asset he would be viewed by Putin as “a useful idiot.”

Nancy's avatar

As for the 30%, maybe they never let go of their bigotry and misogyny. They're always been there. How many supported the KKK? McCarthyism? However, they do not have to run the country as they are doing now!

Anca Vlasopolos's avatar

No one's too dumb to be an asset, not when he has access to the nuclear codes and, alas, commands the greatest armed forces in the world.

Christine's avatar

I think we need to qualify the ‘greatest armed forces in the world’ description. We were until Hegseth showed up. Now the best and the brightest have been kicked out or retired.

Signe K.'s avatar

“Mr. T” (Kegsbreath) is apparently suffering the effects of an excess of testosterone supplements. Instead of the old saw, “3 sheets to the wind” I guess it is now “3 T’s to the wind.” Or in his case, perhaps both.

Christine's avatar

I kind of believe your opinion. He is too dumb to be a true asset, but he will continue to pander to Putin. Putin must have a very huge file on Trump that Trump fears exposure.

Daniel Solomon's avatar

None dare call out Krasnov.

Charles's avatar

Au contraife. His stupidity and vanity make Trump a perfect target for a former KGB agent!

Gary Walters's avatar

Agreed. The ones he conned will likely never admit it but I'm fairly sure they are well aware of it by now.

Kim Slocum's avatar

“Agent Krasnov” to be specific. He was supposedly identified as a potentially useful person decades ago and co-opted with money—the Russians would lend to him when no regular financial institution would touch him. That kept him afloat through the really bad years before “The Apprentice” shored up his finances more definitively. I’m sure that Putin couldn’t believe his luck when Trump wound up as President. What interests me even more is how many other people working in the regime are also paid assets of the Russian government. I would wager a significant sum that Trump’s not the only one in the West Wing doing Putin’s bidding these days.

Susan Iwanisziw's avatar

Offhand, Gabbard and Tucker. Maybe Murdoch himself—Putin’s mistress becoming Murdoch’s wife. Many right-wing podcasters. All the July 4th US officials in Russia plus Stein, Manafort, Flynn …

Robert Welker's avatar

Amen! Let’s retake the true meaning of being awake.

Susan Iwanisziw's avatar

We have a great voice in our protests: this woman’s “Wake Up, America” really carries. It’s a superpower.

Science Curmudgeon's avatar

It's a shame tRump didn't meet Joe McCarthy.

Steve 218's avatar

Trump didn't need to meet McCarthy, he acts like the reincarnation. Without evidence, he raises the red flag of Communism (as did McCarthy) and Chinese election interference. McCarthy came to a bad end. Trump is fast headed that way.

Guy McCandless's avatar

They both had Roy Cohen in common.

Science Curmudgeon's avatar

McCarthy was focused on Russia as the enemy! That was my primary point. I heard some of his rantings on the radio when I was a kid. He sounded crazy and dangerous. There are plenty of similarities as you have described.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_McCarthy:

McCarthy was reelected in 1952 and died in office in 1957.

1952:

Republican Joseph McCarthy 870,444 54.2

Democratic Thomas E. Fairchild 731,402 45.6

Net positive rating in 1954 was +21% right before his censure.

He was an alcoholic and morphine addict at the end and died of cirrhosis of the liver.

Mary-Chilton van Hees's avatar

👏👏👏 Ossoff!! I’ve been waiting for more guts from our elected officials.

donna woodward's avatar

Democratic presidential wanna-be's need to do what the Maine Democratic wanna-be Senatorial candidates did over the weekend and rally round the leading candidate. It's early for the presidentjal hopefuls to do this but when the time comes, let them remember Jordan Woods' words: “fight is bigger than any one person.”

Anastasia Pantsios's avatar

As long as Bernie doesn't run again, we should be OK.

donna woodward's avatar

So long as whoever runs is as progressive as Bernie's always been and stands for the same change.

Anastasia Pantsios's avatar

We have plenty! Have you followed Joe Neguse, Melanie Stansbury, Becca Balint, Maxwell Frost, Shontel Brown, Chris Murphy ... that's just for starters.

Elizabeth Horton's avatar

I like Ossoff and I donate to him, but could he, just once, show that he has a sense of humor?

I don't want him to be another Gavin Newsome (horrors), just slightly in the Obama vein.

I want him to win!

John Gregory's avatar

though Newsom has a sense of humor (or the person who did his videos trolling Trump certainly did/does.)

Ma's avatar

Vote your socks ossoff as my bling says. What a victory born out in time. Unique these days.

Jim Miller's avatar

The Con never ceases to prove the adage,

"It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt"

no_fascism's avatar

Impeachment/conviction/removal is the first step, but I am pining for the day that I see that that lowlife died in prison.

Gloria Marconi's avatar

Everything you say is true, but it is a waste of time trying to parse the unhinged babble that is spewing from the Offal Office. This country is being led by a very sick person who, in a normal world, would be in an institution or at home under the care of a keeper . The fact that the mainstream media and even independent media try to explain the actions of a madman, is in itself, a form of insanity. The non answer that Jay Clayton gave is the Republican party in a nutshell: corrupt, complicit and spineless.

Steve 218's avatar

So was the Blanche comment that when he was questioned said that he was Trump's attorney. That he had to quickly correct himself shows his lack of integity and further indicates that he has no business being the people's Attorney General.

Anastasia Pantsios's avatar

I think Blanche pretty much shows a "lack of integrity" just by existing. His entire life is constructed around being a Trump puppet. If Trump dies, his active existence will essentially end. Trump is the host animal.

Steve 218's avatar

It isn't "if" Trump dies, but "when". Blanche, like many before him will fall under the bus - in this case, the weight of Trump's coffin, but hopefully before.

William Darian Boggs's avatar

As Trump's former attorney, Blanche is ethically bound to protect Trump's interests on any matter related to Blanche's previous representation.

If Blanche wanted to demonstrate his commitment to justice, he would set up a formal recusal system to firewall past matters. He hasn't done that, but if he did, no one would believe him because of his constant lies and deceptions. Blanche is indignant when people won't take him at his word.

Trust does not come with position. It is earned by acting in good faith consistently over time. It is lost in an instant.

This applies to every member of the executive, legislative, and judicial branch, but the standard is even higher for the DOJ, judges, and justices. They start with a greater burden to prove their trustworthiness, because of the power they have.

Steve 218's avatar

Your first paragraph says it all. Blanche should not be confirmed, nor should have been made acting Attorney General. His dual allegiance precludes impatiality leaving his integrity severely compromised.

donna woodward's avatar

And yet he will probably win confirmation. It's all insane.

Ann M Haley's avatar

Offal Office!! 💙

Noah Dowd's avatar

Or maybe Offal Orifice.

Signe K.'s avatar

Thank you, Gloria, for “Offal Office” — best moniker of the day.

Clifford Fewel's avatar

Democrats AND REPUBLICANS AND INDEPENDENTS WITH INTEGRITY must ensure voters grasp that election denial, disinformation, and deception are the last-gasp tactics of a failing regime with no other way to retain power.

Carole Langston's avatar

🍊 A$$ was bought and paid for years ago by Russia. Blew Daddy's money and suddenly he's rich again?

And he can't run on what he did for Americans, because he didn't do anything. He never intended to do anything but Rape and Pillage, which he's done on a global level.

Do some of the brick brains get it yet?!

No. Just saw a post where one thinks The Grift is great. Jebus.

Michelle Jordan's avatar

It’s always the same old tired bs from him. None of it should have been aired. Even some realize he sounds like a sore loser. All it serves is to make him look crazier after everything he spouts has already been disproven.

Stephen Brady's avatar

Apparently nobody in the MAGA movement has any familiarity with Games Theory... A virtually guaranteed way to lose is to choose the worst possible option at every turn - which seems to be tRump's go-to strategy. And not standing up to the Orange Ogre will produce the epic loss the rest of the rethugs so richly deserve.

William Darian Boggs's avatar

Good point. John Nash ("A Beautiful Mind") and John von Neumann made contributions to it. Game theory is the mathematical study of situations that can be described as games. A classic example and one of the first big uses of it was the nuclear arms strategy. When you hear "zero sum game", that's game theory. It's not numbers like statistics. Instead abstract mathematical reasoning about strategy. It is especially powerful when it proves non-intuitiive strategies maximize gains.

Nancy's avatar

I'm not familiar with Games Theory, but based on your description it seems to be defining the Rs strategy!

Stephen Brady's avatar

It was very popular in 1950-60s Science Fiction. That’s where I picked up my small knowledge of it.

Marianne Kendrick's avatar

I am worried about the upcoming elections because Trump and his minions have dismantled much of the infrastructure that kept elections safe from foreign interference. He has put idiots in charge of our defense dept and the FBI. Trump is creating the conditions for fraud that he is talking about.

Mark D Olson's avatar

MK I have the same worries as you,and I'm sure many others,about these elections. I believe we will see the untrained armed ice militia at some of our election sights here in Minnesota and around other primarily blue voting states. I hope at least most of us understand the importance of getting out to vote these corrupt people out of office.

It astounds me just how deep the right wing Christian culture has instilled white male supremacy into these peoples heads to the point where they are unable to see real Christian virtues and vote these thugs out.

Steve 218's avatar

Remember that the operations of elections are constitutionally set to belong to the states. Much this proposed meddling is unconstitutional and will, if enacted, end up in the courts.

Anastasia Pantsios's avatar

Actually, they haven't. They've just talked about it so much that they have CONVINCED people they have — and that's bad. WE need to stop saying this because what it does (what they hope it does!) is get people too discouraged to vote.

Steve 218's avatar

"Sowing seeds of doubt", especially if, like lies, they are repeated for long enough, will come to influence SOME voters. The rest of us don't buy it. We employ critical thinking skills.

Sandra A. Jones's avatar

Jon Ossoff is beginning to show more and more presidential potential.

Anastasia Pantsios's avatar

He might have some but we need to tamp down on our worst tendency: proclaiming people for president when they make a fiery speech or say something we agree with. Ossoff is certainly likely more qualified than some potential candidates I've seen Democrats swoon over. But considering the damage that will need to be repaired and how we'll have to rebuild our government and our country from the ground up, we need to be careful and look mostly at qualifications and experience.

Steve 218's avatar

Just a warning: Do not neglect the good in a quest for the perfect.

donna woodward's avatar

So long as we don't give in to a candidate who is too compromised to lead true progressive change. We've given in too much for the sake of winning, and in the end have lost our values. It's possible to lose even when we win.

Julee Jackson's avatar

This is so true!! We will need someone who can get all the damage repaired, and our government rebuilt. He or she, needs to have an extensive resume demonstrating their ability and knowledge to do so. Jon Ossoff may be that one or Josh Shapiro or others not named yet. Another republican president after trump like Vance or anyone else in trump’s circle could end our democracy and likely would.

Signe K.'s avatar

No one individual can “get all the damage repaired.” It will take a strong cabinet and secretaries across the [reconstructed] departments, like Education. And it requires an AG with an ethical compass [Letitia James?]. I look forward to seeing a Power Team assembled.

Sandra A. Jones's avatar

Probably take years to repair the damage, even with the best team assembled.

Sandra A. Jones's avatar

Ossoff and Cortez-Pres and VP?? Both accomplished progressives with some charisma and excellent speaking skills to communicate good democratic government to uphold strong values of we, the people???

donna woodward's avatar

Even though I'm looking at Ossoff as the one, I think you're correct, Anastatia. We become tempted by the flavor of the month too easily. There are some very self-ambitious types among the Dems who've been positioning themselves for this presidential run for years, and that's about the height of their 'accomplishments.' There are others who look very qualified. But the party needs to be more careful this time then ever before, because we need to transform the party from the inside.

Sandra A. Jones's avatar

Could not agree more. We need another FDR to lead us through this. I don't know who that would be yet.

Mary T. Pytelewski's avatar

Republicans do not care about the people who elected them, nor do they respect them. Will these hard working folks never understand this sad fact?

Steve 218's avatar

That is a good question. Many people have been voting against their own interests for decades. "Owning the liberals" is proving to be expensive, and it's also well past its use-by date.

J Circosta's avatar

The two most dangerous people in the world right now? Trump & Hegseth. Trump is unhinged, demented, ignorant, & motivated rage & hate. Hegseth is a “Christian” white nationalist fanatic trying to turn the most powerful military on earth into his crusade army. And Congress (mostly the Rs) is willing to up the funding for the war machine I expect T & his despicable cohorts will dream up some phony reason to call a national emergency to stop midterms. I just hope Dems are prepared. This country is coming unglued, & a lot of credit must go to Trump, Murdoch, Republicans.

donna woodward's avatar

The weird irony is that hegseth has broken every commandment in the Christian rulebook.

Ronnie Bennett's avatar

People with loud voices need to encourage the media to make exactly these points. More noise on more platforms that are used by gullible Republicans..

Charles G. Masi's avatar

This is what happens when a f*****g moron tries to be a dictator.

I AM ANTIFA!