I live in Aurora, Colorado. My Congressman is Jason Crow, a former army ranger who served in Afghanistan. In the opinion of his district's citizens, he, too, is a national treasure. He actually is, like Senator Kelly, a combat veteran who knows a thing or two about the military. After the video came out with the 6 congressmen and women standing firm about our Constitution, the rule of law, and urging our servicemen and women NOT to obey illegal orders, his family has received death threats, many of them. Aurora is the same community that DJT said was being run by drug cartels, a clearly "Fake News" utterance that was loudly denied by the Republican mayor of Aurora. Sadly, pretty much everything that comes out of the mouths of DJT and his incompetent cabinet is "Fake News" and lies. It is a sad and outrageous thing that Kash Patel's girlfriend gets to have a security detail to "protect her" but nothing is done to protect the children of our war hero congressman. Oh yes, and then there is Caroline Leavitt's comments that, basically, anything and everything put forth by DJT IS LEGAL and true just because DJT is POTUS, when the real truth is that most everything emerging from the White House these days has zero relationship to truth. I am 78 and have lived through a thing or two myself. I would never have believed that America could sink this low.
77 and right with you, though I am less surprised by the gullibility of so many people: I've seen so much of it over the years. The legacy media, fawning over Trump and giving him so much free coverage without significant analysis hasn't helped to keep the public informed.
Broomfield, CO resident here. Jason Crow is indeed a treasure. Remember when Lisa Murkowski famously said that republicans are just “afraid” and so that’s why they won’t stand up to DJT. Classic bully behavior. It’s disgusting. All just to hold their precious jobs. There’s hope in the way Aurora elected a decent city council. MAGA be gone.
I also think it's worth asking why rich, grown-up Republicans are so afraid. Are they all getting death threats, not just Kelly and Crow and the others? Who is making the death threats? Random individuals? Are they organized in some way? Is the government related to it? Why is no one asking these questions? A commentator said above that Crow and his family got "many" death threats. Who is making them? Why are police not investigating them, arresting the threat-makers, and informing the public that they have been taken off the streets?
Kim, I agree they are afraid of primary opponents. But I don't think it's enough to explain their fear-laden behavior, their zombie-hood in Congress, their marching in complete lockstep with Trump. I seriously wonder if he or his goons threaten them with some kind of physical harm if they go against him, as well as the threat of being primaried. (But often they put up such weird poor-quality MAGA-nut candidates that even Republicans don't vote for the primary competitors in sufficient numbers, so primaries are not a strong enough threat to account for the behavior.) I think that those of us who oppose the Trump Crime Family taking over our democracy, should look deeper into Murkowski's fear, why Liz Cheney had to hire security, etc. And maybe ask ourselves, What would Tony Soprano do if someone refused to obey *him*?
One of the FBI offices that has been neutered by the regime is the one that tracks right-wing terrorists. In fact a number of crime-tracking efforts have been shut down by Trump. Convenient! Let us never forget he is steeped in the NYC organized crime scene.
Not only is Trump steeped in the NYC organized crime scene, he is steeped deeply in the Russian mafia--the worldwide organized crime machine that essentially functions as Putin's "Department of the Treasury," putting many billions at Putin's disposal at will. There's an amazing little documentary that details not only Trump becoming a Russian asset, but the whole "follow-the-money" analysis of Trump's actions, that springs from Russian control and Russian funding. The documentary is called Active Measures. It's well-done, easy to watch (but hard to swallow) and you can rent it on Amazon. I really recommend watching it.
Thank you for the recommendation! To be honest, I will postpone watching it until after the holidays, which I am finding quite enough to navigate on their own. My fam would (not) be so interested to get another download of political scumbaggery.
The sad, sad thing about this president is that Mitch McConnell didn't realize that not convicting the p45 of the Jan. 6 riots, we wouldn't be in this situation. p45 could never run for public office ever again. And to add insult to injury, the SCOTUS failed to understand how dangerous and power-hungry p47 is, as evidenced by the near-total immunity ruling for current and past presidents in Trump v. United States.
71 here, also in Aurora CO. I share your admiration of Kelly and Crow, and believe that their honesty and intelligence will prevail. I'm looking forward to the 2026 midterms in which MAGA believers / republicans will be unceremoniously pushed out of office.
You left out the women who stood up against Trump and against following illegal orders: Elissa Slotkin, Maggie Goodlander, and Chrissy Houlahan. Don't just pick out the guys.
Remember that Trump sent two survivors of any earlier strike back to their countries, very quickly. He would not have done that if he could have proved they were criminals. The men were released when they arrived home. One of the countries' leaders had the temerity to say out loud that the man wasn't a drug smuggler.
I'm grateful that we have people like Jennifer Rubin, Norm Eisen, Dan Rather, and a few other unbowed (and unbought) journalsts who bring us these informative reports.
"Pardoning" the Honduran drug lord (jailed under Biden) - even the BBC remarked that this was an unusual move. It looks to me as warped as it's unusual - He's still working through the destruction of anything done by President Biden.
I saw a piece by Judd Legum (maybe, who tracks oligarchical overreach) linking the Honduras pardon to Peter Thiel’s Palantir project in Honduras—a libertarian community living the dream.
Yes, call Prospero. It will be ruled by Thiel, Mark Andreson and other tech bro billionaires. No government or laws , but a corporation run by them. More needs to be said about this. I think it was Krugman who brought it up and where I saw it.
Someone who read the Cliff Notes for Shakespeare’s Tempest was getting arty with the name, I guess. Two Prosperos spring to mind—the original, with Miranda’s father who holds Caliban and Ariel as slaves, and the movie (can’t remember whose) in which I saw more naked men in a couple of hours than anyone but a Molly house proprietor was likely to see in their entire life. Wonder which Prospero Thiel and Co. are honoring?
Robert Reich had a long discussion about Palantir and Thiel just recently. I'm not sure if Krugman also had an essay on Palantir recently. By the way, everyone should read Reich's article: it is like the end of the world if Thiel and Palantir can pull it off.
It will be Epstein Island on steroids. It's a place where they will do whatever they want to whoever they want. A high tech Lord of the Flies. I wonder what they'll do when a Cat 5 hurricane hits their perverse little Camelot?
Only Donald J Trump, in his deranged and psychopathic mind, could have come up with the idea of calling drug runners "narco-terrorists" so that he could have them murdered on sight. And both Hegseth and Bradley are his knowing and willing accomplices.
Admiral Bradley was clearly designated as the fall guy, who was assigned to take the weight for murdering the two survivors of the missile attack who were clinging to the wreckage from the first missile attack. His explanation for murdering the two helpless survivors ( of 11 ) because he thought that they could right-size the boat and continue with their mission (if there were any drugs salvageable) was patently preposterous.. If Bradley intends to stick to his story, he should be aware that the next administration will court marshal him whether he is still on active duty or is retired. He is a disgrace to the Navy!
"...clinging to the wreckage from the first missile attack..." So the two murdered crew members were going to "continue with their mission"?? The boat was wrecked. How could Admiral Bradley believe that there would be any continuation? The argument for their murder is preposterous. The unredacted video is clear.
Kind of reminds you of another Arizona senator, doesn't it? The one who signaled thumbs down when the ACA was one vote away from doom? Kelly's flown hundreds of hours of combat missions. He's not going to be intimidated by a couple of turds like The Grifter and the so-called "secretary of war." His descriptions of both are spot on. He realizes Trump just has one talent, if one could call it a talent. He tries to bully and intimidate. (You could throw lie, cheat and steal into that mix, too.) But if you bop a bully on the beak, they'll go away. Sen. Kelly knows that. The MAGA regime is crumbling, and it would be fitting if Sen. Kelly made the last little push to make it come crashing to the ground.
I miss John McCain. Had he been elected over Barack Obama, I think the financial disaster the idiots on Wall Street dumped in our laps would have swallowed him up, but no one can doubt his true patriotism and human decency. That despicable POS stinking up the White House trashed him and half this country shrugged and voted for the POS anyway. We get exactly what we vote for.
all the cowboy singing"real american" dolts didn't have a problem with trump trashing an actual American, McCain ? They are beyond stupid...which cannot be fixed
Thank you for sharing this. My greatest hope is that more military and legislators will step up to the plate and continue to point out the unbelievable abuses to our laws and constitution.
I am convinced that Mark Kelly telling them all where they could shove it was something that took them by complete surprise. Their unbridled arrogance and lack of fitness to serve blinds them to real service, honest patriotism. Cowards don't understand true courage any more than scoundrels have a clue about real integrity.
And Kelly's actions give others the courage they need to fight for integrity too. Like begets like and all that, you know.
We need this man front and center for the Democratic Party. Whether he runs for office or not, he should be one of the flag bearers for our fight. I’m thinking a Newsome/Kelly ticket could be a winner although I’d hate to lose his Senate seat.
It appears we only elect straight, tall (and usually white) men in this country. So, if that’s what it takes to get someone decent in the Oval Office I’m all for it, though I weep at the thought that my more than competent sisters are left in the dust,
I am an AZ resident. I have closely watched Mark Kelly go from candidate to Senator. He has honed his skills, increased his passion, and righteous indignation. He has become more confident. He will make a fine president. A REAL president. POSUS (piece of shit) is such a fake and the people who follow him will fall off the cliff. They have guzzled the poison Kool Aid.
A superb piece, Jennifer! We all stand behind Senator Mark Kelly!
I agree! We could use more true stand-up guys who will truly lead with honor and integrity!
Follow you, Teresa. Senator Kelly for President.
I live in Aurora, Colorado. My Congressman is Jason Crow, a former army ranger who served in Afghanistan. In the opinion of his district's citizens, he, too, is a national treasure. He actually is, like Senator Kelly, a combat veteran who knows a thing or two about the military. After the video came out with the 6 congressmen and women standing firm about our Constitution, the rule of law, and urging our servicemen and women NOT to obey illegal orders, his family has received death threats, many of them. Aurora is the same community that DJT said was being run by drug cartels, a clearly "Fake News" utterance that was loudly denied by the Republican mayor of Aurora. Sadly, pretty much everything that comes out of the mouths of DJT and his incompetent cabinet is "Fake News" and lies. It is a sad and outrageous thing that Kash Patel's girlfriend gets to have a security detail to "protect her" but nothing is done to protect the children of our war hero congressman. Oh yes, and then there is Caroline Leavitt's comments that, basically, anything and everything put forth by DJT IS LEGAL and true just because DJT is POTUS, when the real truth is that most everything emerging from the White House these days has zero relationship to truth. I am 78 and have lived through a thing or two myself. I would never have believed that America could sink this low.
77 and right with you, though I am less surprised by the gullibility of so many people: I've seen so much of it over the years. The legacy media, fawning over Trump and giving him so much free coverage without significant analysis hasn't helped to keep the public informed.
Broomfield, CO resident here. Jason Crow is indeed a treasure. Remember when Lisa Murkowski famously said that republicans are just “afraid” and so that’s why they won’t stand up to DJT. Classic bully behavior. It’s disgusting. All just to hold their precious jobs. There’s hope in the way Aurora elected a decent city council. MAGA be gone.
I also think it's worth asking why rich, grown-up Republicans are so afraid. Are they all getting death threats, not just Kelly and Crow and the others? Who is making the death threats? Random individuals? Are they organized in some way? Is the government related to it? Why is no one asking these questions? A commentator said above that Crow and his family got "many" death threats. Who is making them? Why are police not investigating them, arresting the threat-makers, and informing the public that they have been taken off the streets?
Republicans are afraid of being primaried and losing their seats. That’s a major threat. As to the rest of your questions, I don’t know.
Kim, I agree they are afraid of primary opponents. But I don't think it's enough to explain their fear-laden behavior, their zombie-hood in Congress, their marching in complete lockstep with Trump. I seriously wonder if he or his goons threaten them with some kind of physical harm if they go against him, as well as the threat of being primaried. (But often they put up such weird poor-quality MAGA-nut candidates that even Republicans don't vote for the primary competitors in sufficient numbers, so primaries are not a strong enough threat to account for the behavior.) I think that those of us who oppose the Trump Crime Family taking over our democracy, should look deeper into Murkowski's fear, why Liz Cheney had to hire security, etc. And maybe ask ourselves, What would Tony Soprano do if someone refused to obey *him*?
One of the FBI offices that has been neutered by the regime is the one that tracks right-wing terrorists. In fact a number of crime-tracking efforts have been shut down by Trump. Convenient! Let us never forget he is steeped in the NYC organized crime scene.
Not only is Trump steeped in the NYC organized crime scene, he is steeped deeply in the Russian mafia--the worldwide organized crime machine that essentially functions as Putin's "Department of the Treasury," putting many billions at Putin's disposal at will. There's an amazing little documentary that details not only Trump becoming a Russian asset, but the whole "follow-the-money" analysis of Trump's actions, that springs from Russian control and Russian funding. The documentary is called Active Measures. It's well-done, easy to watch (but hard to swallow) and you can rent it on Amazon. I really recommend watching it.
Thank you for the recommendation! To be honest, I will postpone watching it until after the holidays, which I am finding quite enough to navigate on their own. My fam would (not) be so interested to get another download of political scumbaggery.
We should commend all 6 who spoke up along with Kelly and Crow. They put to shame all those who slink around [Murkowski a great example].
The sad, sad thing about this president is that Mitch McConnell didn't realize that not convicting the p45 of the Jan. 6 riots, we wouldn't be in this situation. p45 could never run for public office ever again. And to add insult to injury, the SCOTUS failed to understand how dangerous and power-hungry p47 is, as evidenced by the near-total immunity ruling for current and past presidents in Trump v. United States.
71 here, also in Aurora CO. I share your admiration of Kelly and Crow, and believe that their honesty and intelligence will prevail. I'm looking forward to the 2026 midterms in which MAGA believers / republicans will be unceremoniously pushed out of office.
You left out the women who stood up against Trump and against following illegal orders: Elissa Slotkin, Maggie Goodlander, and Chrissy Houlahan. Don't just pick out the guys.
Remember that Trump sent two survivors of any earlier strike back to their countries, very quickly. He would not have done that if he could have proved they were criminals. The men were released when they arrived home. One of the countries' leaders had the temerity to say out loud that the man wasn't a drug smuggler.
They killed them because they would talk. "Dead men tell no tales." Whiskey Pete thinks he's back in his tent playing Call of Duty.
I'm so grateful that we have people like Senator Kelly speaking for us in Washington, resisting the chaos and speaking the truth
.
I'm grateful that we have people like Jennifer Rubin, Norm Eisen, Dan Rather, and a few other unbowed (and unbought) journalsts who bring us these informative reports.
"Pardoning" the Honduran drug lord (jailed under Biden) - even the BBC remarked that this was an unusual move. It looks to me as warped as it's unusual - He's still working through the destruction of anything done by President Biden.
I saw a piece by Judd Legum (maybe, who tracks oligarchical overreach) linking the Honduras pardon to Peter Thiel’s Palantir project in Honduras—a libertarian community living the dream.
Yes, call Prospero. It will be ruled by Thiel, Mark Andreson and other tech bro billionaires. No government or laws , but a corporation run by them. More needs to be said about this. I think it was Krugman who brought it up and where I saw it.
Read More Everything Forever. These billionaires are determined to make their adolescent sci-fi fantasies into reality.
Someone who read the Cliff Notes for Shakespeare’s Tempest was getting arty with the name, I guess. Two Prosperos spring to mind—the original, with Miranda’s father who holds Caliban and Ariel as slaves, and the movie (can’t remember whose) in which I saw more naked men in a couple of hours than anyone but a Molly house proprietor was likely to see in their entire life. Wonder which Prospero Thiel and Co. are honoring?
Robert Reich had a long discussion about Palantir and Thiel just recently. I'm not sure if Krugman also had an essay on Palantir recently. By the way, everyone should read Reich's article: it is like the end of the world if Thiel and Palantir can pull it off.
It will be Epstein Island on steroids. It's a place where they will do whatever they want to whoever they want. A high tech Lord of the Flies. I wonder what they'll do when a Cat 5 hurricane hits their perverse little Camelot?
They have bunkers.
He also pardoned Ross Ulbright, of the silk road site, who was a drug trafficker. In January.
Only Donald J Trump, in his deranged and psychopathic mind, could have come up with the idea of calling drug runners "narco-terrorists" so that he could have them murdered on sight. And both Hegseth and Bradley are his knowing and willing accomplices.
Admiral Bradley was clearly designated as the fall guy, who was assigned to take the weight for murdering the two survivors of the missile attack who were clinging to the wreckage from the first missile attack. His explanation for murdering the two helpless survivors ( of 11 ) because he thought that they could right-size the boat and continue with their mission (if there were any drugs salvageable) was patently preposterous.. If Bradley intends to stick to his story, he should be aware that the next administration will court marshal him whether he is still on active duty or is retired. He is a disgrace to the Navy!
He should have remembed that the excuse of doing his job didn’t fly at Nuremberg and it won’t work here.
Yep. Claiming ‘the devil made me do it’ didn’t work at Nuremberg and it won’t work in America.
"...clinging to the wreckage from the first missile attack..." So the two murdered crew members were going to "continue with their mission"?? The boat was wrecked. How could Admiral Bradley believe that there would be any continuation? The argument for their murder is preposterous. The unredacted video is clear.
Bradley made a fool out of himself, and Congress will make a fool of itself if they buy his story.
Bradley LIED, just like everyone in the regime. He should be put on trial for murder.... but then we have become a country of total lawlessness.
uh...
Hear hear!!
I agree with your comment, but think it gave too much credit to Trump. His mind is gone. Perhaps, Stephen Miller was the architect of the plan.
He is indeed a natioal treasure.
Thank you, Jen, and Sen. Kelly. Really. Thank you to everyone standing for Truth, Justice and Compassion.
Kind of reminds you of another Arizona senator, doesn't it? The one who signaled thumbs down when the ACA was one vote away from doom? Kelly's flown hundreds of hours of combat missions. He's not going to be intimidated by a couple of turds like The Grifter and the so-called "secretary of war." His descriptions of both are spot on. He realizes Trump just has one talent, if one could call it a talent. He tries to bully and intimidate. (You could throw lie, cheat and steal into that mix, too.) But if you bop a bully on the beak, they'll go away. Sen. Kelly knows that. The MAGA regime is crumbling, and it would be fitting if Sen. Kelly made the last little push to make it come crashing to the ground.
I miss John McCain. Had he been elected over Barack Obama, I think the financial disaster the idiots on Wall Street dumped in our laps would have swallowed him up, but no one can doubt his true patriotism and human decency. That despicable POS stinking up the White House trashed him and half this country shrugged and voted for the POS anyway. We get exactly what we vote for.
all the cowboy singing"real american" dolts didn't have a problem with trump trashing an actual American, McCain ? They are beyond stupid...which cannot be fixed
It's Hegseth who should be charged with first degree murder and the officers who carried out his orders should also be charge with murder.
Sen. Cotton and all of the other apologists should be indicted for aiding and abetting.
So should everyone who voted to confirm this idiot.
Thank you Mark Kelly! And thank you Jennifer, this is outstanding.
Thank you for sharing this. My greatest hope is that more military and legislators will step up to the plate and continue to point out the unbelievable abuses to our laws and constitution.
I am convinced that Mark Kelly telling them all where they could shove it was something that took them by complete surprise. Their unbridled arrogance and lack of fitness to serve blinds them to real service, honest patriotism. Cowards don't understand true courage any more than scoundrels have a clue about real integrity.
And Kelly's actions give others the courage they need to fight for integrity too. Like begets like and all that, you know.
well said!
Indeed!!!
We need this man front and center for the Democratic Party. Whether he runs for office or not, he should be one of the flag bearers for our fight. I’m thinking a Newsome/Kelly ticket could be a winner although I’d hate to lose his Senate seat.
It appears we only elect straight, tall (and usually white) men in this country. So, if that’s what it takes to get someone decent in the Oval Office I’m all for it, though I weep at the thought that my more than competent sisters are left in the dust,
Kelly/Newsom. !
Kelly/Newsom.
Mark Kelly for President.
I am an AZ resident. I have closely watched Mark Kelly go from candidate to Senator. He has honed his skills, increased his passion, and righteous indignation. He has become more confident. He will make a fine president. A REAL president. POSUS (piece of shit) is such a fake and the people who follow him will fall off the cliff. They have guzzled the poison Kool Aid.
Only Congress can stop the Monster. Elect decent humans.
I hope more leaders follow his example.