I think two factors fueled this: cult: 1. The triumphant victory of Barack Obama, so white men could not longerr feel superiorl. 2. That women are no longer beholden to men. So two ways of feeling superior, for certain white peplle, pafticuarlu white men, have vanished.
Not just racism and sexism. Intentional undermining of our government with the goal of securing power no matter the cost to our beliefs and values, followed up by greed to capitalize on divisions and anger stemming from those intents.
That is what a minority party must resort to if it has any hope of successfully competing for power. The end justifies the means. Mitch the Turtle, as skilled a politician as we have seen in a long time, as much as admitted that hypocrisy was a major ingredient in his game plan.
The hatred of Obama is deep...because he has darker skin than white folks. And because his name is associated with making healthcare available to more people (ACA=ObamaCare), the Sack.of.S**t in the WH along with the KKK, the followers of the Confederacy and similar cults want to destroy that ASAP. We need to suppress as much hatred as we can. It's the only way to restore our once great country.
When I watched a video of Obama greeting WWII veterans on a flight to DC it was so inspiring. Obama's sincerity in honoring and welcoming the veterans, ans their very positive response to him was wonderful to see.
It's a genuine tragedy that some White Americans cannot handle that a Black man was elected president-twice.
I think a 3rd factor is huge: the failure of most elected Dems to legislate in favor of the working class. This is how we now have 42 million people needing food assistance; why it takes 3 to 6 months to get in to see a doctor, why so many (the majority?) can no longer afford sufficient housing much less a house. Dems need to walk the talk.
She didn't blame the Democrats for all the current ills but let's be honest. Over the past 40 years Democrats have had full power over the federal government multiple times and most of those times the Democrats failed to act boldly, primarily because they were afraid the Republicans would say mean things about them. The Democrats are on the right side of every policy issue but they lack the courage of their convictions, and this failure to act has certainly contributed to where we are today.
You are eligible for the circular firing squad. Dems are not perfect, but they gave us the ACA, Medicaid, voted against the ugly budget bill, etc. They also tried to be humane on immigration regulation, to their and our detriment in 2024. The world changed and is still changing to the detriment of minimally educated working class folks. Don't blame Democrats for all that.
I think you missed my point. Yes, the Dems gave us the ACA but they could have done so much more when they had all the power. Time and time again they chose to play it safe and do the minimum or nothing at all. Medicaid was established 60 years ago, not exactly a recent accomplishment. And voting against stuff like the big ugly bill is strictly ceremonial as the Dems had no power to stop it. It's not what the Dems futilely tried to stop when they were powerless that ultimately matters but how they pathetically stopped themselves when they had all the power.
This is not true! Democrats have voted in favor of and passed MANY bills meant to benefit the "working class". Most couldn't pass the 60 vote threshold in the Senate or lately have not even been brought to the floor of the House.
I read today Lincoln's Gettysburgh address and ordered a framed copy. It is likely the most important presidential address of America. If this address is included as a standard curriculum in K-12 education, perhaps we could have prevented the transformation of Republican Party described here by Jenn. I also read the history of Israel people after David till their captivities. People may not have a lasting capacity to what made them in the beginning.
The current Republican Party most resembles the Taliban: a violent cult that tries to intimidate and control everyone, while destroying the best of the civilization.
Agree she is not courageous. She was MAGA when it suited her, until she became vested in the retirement system. She made money off MAGA and trump’s on again/off again tariffs and insider trading opportunities. She espoused all the worst MAGA lies and to my knowledge she has not disavowed them. But she’s not dumb - she’s a superb bottom-feeding opportunist. She’s trying to carve out her new role because she sees the end of trump and the implosion of trump’s party.
Yep, because the embracing of the christian evangelicals beginning with reagun was a strategic move to get more votes while using social issues as the flame for the fire. 1973 was pivotal (when one wants to bitch about the Dems not doing enough) for so many civil rights coming of age. And, it caused the religious folks who up til then eschewed any involvement in 'mans' political world to jump into voting whole heartedly. The 'right to life' religious movement was a significant political and social change for the US.
The responses to Trump’s screed about the Reiners is very telling “Mr. President, I love and respect you but this is too much” was one such post…Americans who could “love and respect “ such a monster have put us where we are, and they’ll keep us there. He can literally shoot someone on 5th Avenue and get away with it……
His rant about the murder of the Reiners was absolutely despicable. These are not the words of empathy a world leader would say. This world leader HAS no empathy. Perhaps doesn't even know the meaning of the word. I can't imagine how or why his family allows him to exhibit his real self as he further deteriorates into madness. Dementia? Possibly. But at any rate, if this were a relative of mine I'd be seeking medical help for him. Pronto.
It's unfortunate that we have a hand-picked cabinet of yes-men, toadies and lackeys. An objective one would have invoked the 25th Amendment long ago. Instead, we get support and compliance.
Absolutely right. I live in hope that the party of Trump will basically dissolve in the aftermath of all the highly illegal moves he's made, and his yes men and toadies as well, and there will be a blue tsunami next November. Actually my biggest hope is that more Republicans will take the path of MTG and leave their House seats before the midterms and then hope for special elections to fill the seats will be successful for the Dems. I wonder if there's any chance at all that the situation could change even before the midterms. I'm an optimist but don't hold out much hope for that. But we have got to begin the cleanup of all that he's destroyed.
If you had a relative w/serious mental health issues or addiction you know you can’t get “help” for that person unless they want it. Trump’s Chief of Staff is quoted today as saying he has the personality of an alcoholic. This will not end well.
Trump Declares Fentanyl a "Weapon of Mass Destruction"
Is There a Hidden Agenda in this Declaration?
On Monday, December 15, 2025 President Trump, surrounded by the nation’s military leaders in full uniform in his gold encrusted Oval Office, signed an "executive order" classifying fentanyl as a “weapon of mass destruction” (”WMD”), This purports to give the U.S. government additional legal justification for combatting the illegal trafficking of the synthetic drug.
Let us remember that claims that Iraq possessed WMDs were used as a legal justification for the invasion of Iraq and the overthrow of Saddam Hussein during the George W. Bush administration. This may lead to speculation that this declaration would provide legal cover for Trump to authorize military strikes against drug cartels within Venezuela, Colombia and Mexico trafficking in this drug.
The timing and context of this announcement should not go unnoticed, nor should the possible implications of Trump’s re-definition of this narcotic as a “weapon of mass destruction”.
To put this all in context, let’s remember that Trump recently hyperbolized the terms “drug smugglers” and “drug runners” as “Narco-Terrorists”, which he then used as a pretext to justify deploying the U.S. military to blow up boats on the high seas that were suspected of transporting drugs and the killing of everyone on board.
While Trump focused his attention on deploying the military to prevent the introduction of these “weapons of mass destruction” into the United States, he omitted the next logical question of whether he intends to use our military domestically to combat the sale of fentanyl within the United States. The absence at Trump’s press conference of representatives of the Drug Enforcement Administration, which is responsible for combatting the domestic introduction and sale of this newly defined “weapon of mass destruction” within the U.S. , was glaring.
And let us recall the remark that Trump made to our top military leaders when he convened them for his lecture: “We’re under invasion from within. No different than a foreign enemy but more difficult in many ways because they don’t wear uniforms.”This remark by Trump was reminiscent of and consistent with his notorious proclamations during the Presidential campaign that “We pledge to you that we will root out the communists, Marxists, fascists, and the radical left thugs that live like vermin within the confines of our country” and that “The threat from outside forces is far less sinister, dangerous, and grave than the threat from within. Our threat is from within”.
Does all this raise the prospect of the following two possible hidden agendas?
1. Is Trump’s proclamation among his military staff redefining the narcotic fentanyl as a “weapon of mass destruction” designed to eventually mobilize the U.S. military to put boots on the ground within the United States to carry this war into our cities and countryside, leaving the DEA to address other less threatening narcotics? Is this all part of a pretext by Trump to ultimately expand the presence of our military throughout the United States with Trump as the Commander-in-Chief of our armed forces? Such a prevalent presence might give rise to further speculation that we’re turning into a fascist state.
2. Let us remember that Trump has, on more than one occasion, either engaged in active warfare, as in bombing Iran, or deployed the military to blow up boats and kill its occupants on the high seas, both of which distracted the public’s attention away from serious personal humiliations for Trump. Therefore, one has to wonder how coincidental it is that this press conference was being held only 4 days before the Trump administration is legally required to divulge the huge quantity of the Jeffrey Epstein related photos and documents to the American people. This is, indeed, an incredible coincidence.
Robert Reich in yesterday‘s sub stack wrote, “American politics today is divided between two groups — fanatics who view politics as a form of warfare, and institutionalists who view politics as a means of implementing democracy.
To fanatics, winning is everything. To institutionalists, democracy is everything.”
The Republican Party used to consist of leaders intent on sustaining democracy (individual freedom and the opportunity to participate in self rule). Now, it includes people that are only interested in winning elections and ruling for self aggrandizement, self interest, self promotion, and self empowerment. While they have some cultish elements, perhaps they are more like mercenaries who destroy any opposition and plunder the spoils of their warfare. How are mercenaries neutralized? Engaging in warfare, leads to a prolonged hostility, and plays into their hands. Better is to freeze their source of funding. I intend to expose the donors of Republican officials in my state as supporters of racism and voter suppression and enemies of democracy. I hope to create an impactful boycott of local businesses who are supporting Republican officials.
Individual freedom requires an even playing field with no special advantage due to race, religion, gender or wealth. Each has played a role in our current dilemma. Wealth and the abuse of it is what we need to focus on now.
Thank you for this list. It has taken me a while, and now I see the connection to worship. You mentioned worship of Trump, and it turns out that what we worship really does define us, doesn't it? Idolatry is still as real as ever.
Well said as usual, Jennifer. I would add that I've been using "Trumplican Cult" (or "Trumplican Party" when I'm feeling charitable, which isn't often these days) in place of the Republican Party since 2017. RIP, GOP.
And along the same lines, Trump regime, not Trump administration. The latter term implies respect for the rule of law and democratic norms, something conspicuously missing from Trump's court.
This is embarrassing to admit since cursing somehow seems singularly inappropriate for genteel old ladies such as myself, but I most often refer to the GOP these days as "those f---ers". I guess I should wash out my own mouth with soap.
The destruction of the Republican Party began quite a few years ago, and it is now in an advanced state. It was certainly evident in the 2016 primaries. The dessication was obvious in the second impeachment trial. Today, only the bleached and dried skeleton is left.
There are still two "political parties" left. One is the party which hopes to save the Constitution, our laws, and our civil society. The other is the Trump party, made up of ignorant and triumphant boosters of Jim Crow and proponents of "Christian Nationalism" and misogyny. (Their hero, Peter Thiel, claims he no longer believes democracy and freedom are compatible.)
Most Americans, I have to hope, are in the former and not the latter.
A picture often speaks more than a thousand words.
That was his arraignment photo. A business phony found guilty on 30-some-odd counts of fraud and deception trying to pretend how tough he is. Grumpy Cat fobbing himself off as Winston Churchill. All pretense, all just for show. All worth a bucket of warm spit. "I can has cheezeburger now?"
If I recall there was a smarmy commentator/comedian who remarked admiringly that "He really nailed that picture'. As though it was an appropriate response to the humiliation and shame of conviction. What is that guy's name?
I must say there is a really funny fox comedian on Sat night, jimi faill he does his routine first . he doesn't exactly respect trump . I watch him then turn it off for obvious reasons !
I keep wondering if Mitch McConnell regrets his decades-long poisonous policy of undermining the idea of cooperation between the parties for the benefit of the country in favor of establishing his cabal as the party of divine right. Does he still have enough mind or conscience left to understand what he has unleashed not only on America but also on the world by his hypocritical support of the Felon that opened the door for his reelection? Pandora's Box never freed the Evils that McConnell and his crew of power-hungry anti-democracy minions have unleashed through the malevolence and corruption of the Felon and his coterie of sycophantic nazis. McConnell is one of the founding fathers of the POF--Party of the Felon. You are right, Jen. The party of Lincoln and the beacon on the hill is gone.
I wonder. It's definitely a case of "sow the wind, reap the whirlwind." Mitch was definitely in it for the power, but I think he realized that he set in motion something beyond his control. There's nothing good about him, but I don't think he wanted the total chaos and evil that's going on now.
Thank you for articulating exactly what I have thought since the day I realized that Donald Trump's ride down the escalator in New York was not a joke. I honestly thought his announcement that he was running for President was just another publicity stunt. You have articulated my exact thoughts. The Trump Party and The Peoples Temple cult are one and the same.
Notably, when he ran for the Senate, now Indiana Gov. Mike Braun's platform was "I'll do whatever Pres. Trump wants me to." Regrettably it worked then and is still his controlling political ethic.
Isn't a state's governor supposed to think about what is good for the people of their state? Braun seems to have lost the ability to think objectively. Even his "Republicans" in the state government balked at Trump's redistricting threat. That ought to tell him something.
He is a Trump cultist. If the Indiana legislature does not impeach and convict him, removing him from office, and no primary challenger comes for him, he will learn nothing.
Actually, I think MAGA fits it better and better. The sight and sound of "MAGA" produces that shiver that "Nationalsozialismus" did. The words "Nazi" and "fascist" remain an indelible reminder of Hitler and Mussolini (who adopted the "fascio" (sheaf, or bundle) - the ancient Roman symbol of the fasces - a bundle of rods (representing unity) containing an axe.
I think two factors fueled this: cult: 1. The triumphant victory of Barack Obama, so white men could not longerr feel superiorl. 2. That women are no longer beholden to men. So two ways of feeling superior, for certain white peplle, pafticuarlu white men, have vanished.
1. IMHO we wuz robbed in 2016 and 2024. E.G. Did Trump admit that Musk stole Pennsylvania?
2. We failed to convict outright criminals. Our leaders were cowards. Our prosecutors were duds.
As to what fueled the cult, also read this Contrarian essay: https://contrarian.substack.com/p/the-cancer-of-tribalism
Not just racism and sexism. Intentional undermining of our government with the goal of securing power no matter the cost to our beliefs and values, followed up by greed to capitalize on divisions and anger stemming from those intents.
That is what a minority party must resort to if it has any hope of successfully competing for power. The end justifies the means. Mitch the Turtle, as skilled a politician as we have seen in a long time, as much as admitted that hypocrisy was a major ingredient in his game plan.
YES. Mitch, more than most, can claim credit for our highly partisan Supreme Court and the gut-wrenching damage done to our precedents and legacy.
I hope you are using "the ends justifies the means" ironically...because, the means because the means becomes the end....
@Lisa Jean - excellent link, thank you.
The hatred of Obama is deep...because he has darker skin than white folks. And because his name is associated with making healthcare available to more people (ACA=ObamaCare), the Sack.of.S**t in the WH along with the KKK, the followers of the Confederacy and similar cults want to destroy that ASAP. We need to suppress as much hatred as we can. It's the only way to restore our once great country.
When I watched a video of Obama greeting WWII veterans on a flight to DC it was so inspiring. Obama's sincerity in honoring and welcoming the veterans, ans their very positive response to him was wonderful to see.
It's a genuine tragedy that some White Americans cannot handle that a Black man was elected president-twice.
@Michele Clark - agreed 100%.
My father was racist, my daughters are not.
There is hope.
Working for Nov. 2026 positive results.
Let me suggest we take over the Capital by voting and not storming.
I think a 3rd factor is huge: the failure of most elected Dems to legislate in favor of the working class. This is how we now have 42 million people needing food assistance; why it takes 3 to 6 months to get in to see a doctor, why so many (the majority?) can no longer afford sufficient housing much less a house. Dems need to walk the talk.
Blaming the Democrats for all the current ills is just wrong.
She didn't blame the Democrats for all the current ills but let's be honest. Over the past 40 years Democrats have had full power over the federal government multiple times and most of those times the Democrats failed to act boldly, primarily because they were afraid the Republicans would say mean things about them. The Democrats are on the right side of every policy issue but they lack the courage of their convictions, and this failure to act has certainly contributed to where we are today.
You are eligible for the circular firing squad. Dems are not perfect, but they gave us the ACA, Medicaid, voted against the ugly budget bill, etc. They also tried to be humane on immigration regulation, to their and our detriment in 2024. The world changed and is still changing to the detriment of minimally educated working class folks. Don't blame Democrats for all that.
I think you missed my point. Yes, the Dems gave us the ACA but they could have done so much more when they had all the power. Time and time again they chose to play it safe and do the minimum or nothing at all. Medicaid was established 60 years ago, not exactly a recent accomplishment. And voting against stuff like the big ugly bill is strictly ceremonial as the Dems had no power to stop it. It's not what the Dems futilely tried to stop when they were powerless that ultimately matters but how they pathetically stopped themselves when they had all the power.
They have NOT had all the power. Get your facts right. The GOP opposition has always been powerful.
This is not true! Democrats have voted in favor of and passed MANY bills meant to benefit the "working class". Most couldn't pass the 60 vote threshold in the Senate or lately have not even been brought to the floor of the House.
Don't blame Democrats, please!
As in "Why do you think they call it the White House" and "Get it yourself, BOB!"😂
I read today Lincoln's Gettysburgh address and ordered a framed copy. It is likely the most important presidential address of America. If this address is included as a standard curriculum in K-12 education, perhaps we could have prevented the transformation of Republican Party described here by Jenn. I also read the history of Israel people after David till their captivities. People may not have a lasting capacity to what made them in the beginning.
The current Republican Party most resembles the Taliban: a violent cult that tries to intimidate and control everyone, while destroying the best of the civilization.
Bingo. I've been calling them the Christian Taliban for some time now.
love this
Except they are NOT Christian. White nationalists, yes, but nothing about them bears any semblance to Christian values.
Their ship is sinking rapidly, but they are far from shore. How many have the courage of MTG, to say “ I was wrong about him?”
MTG is not courageous. She's just afraid of MAGA threats, which she knows are seriously dangerous. She didn't care when they were directed at others.
Agree she is not courageous. She was MAGA when it suited her, until she became vested in the retirement system. She made money off MAGA and trump’s on again/off again tariffs and insider trading opportunities. She espoused all the worst MAGA lies and to my knowledge she has not disavowed them. But she’s not dumb - she’s a superb bottom-feeding opportunist. She’s trying to carve out her new role because she sees the end of trump and the implosion of trump’s party.
That doesn't mean they can't repent.
That doesn't mean some of them can't step forward.
Perhaps some need an off ramp to step away from Trump
They are. They are the American Taliban. Well said.
Yep, because the embracing of the christian evangelicals beginning with reagun was a strategic move to get more votes while using social issues as the flame for the fire. 1973 was pivotal (when one wants to bitch about the Dems not doing enough) for so many civil rights coming of age. And, it caused the religious folks who up til then eschewed any involvement in 'mans' political world to jump into voting whole heartedly. The 'right to life' religious movement was a significant political and social change for the US.
The responses to Trump’s screed about the Reiners is very telling “Mr. President, I love and respect you but this is too much” was one such post…Americans who could “love and respect “ such a monster have put us where we are, and they’ll keep us there. He can literally shoot someone on 5th Avenue and get away with it……
His rant about the murder of the Reiners was absolutely despicable. These are not the words of empathy a world leader would say. This world leader HAS no empathy. Perhaps doesn't even know the meaning of the word. I can't imagine how or why his family allows him to exhibit his real self as he further deteriorates into madness. Dementia? Possibly. But at any rate, if this were a relative of mine I'd be seeking medical help for him. Pronto.
It's unfortunate that we have a hand-picked cabinet of yes-men, toadies and lackeys. An objective one would have invoked the 25th Amendment long ago. Instead, we get support and compliance.
Absolutely right. I live in hope that the party of Trump will basically dissolve in the aftermath of all the highly illegal moves he's made, and his yes men and toadies as well, and there will be a blue tsunami next November. Actually my biggest hope is that more Republicans will take the path of MTG and leave their House seats before the midterms and then hope for special elections to fill the seats will be successful for the Dems. I wonder if there's any chance at all that the situation could change even before the midterms. I'm an optimist but don't hold out much hope for that. But we have got to begin the cleanup of all that he's destroyed.
Yes. And we will.
and praise. constant, nauseating praise for dear leader.
He has been a demented figure for decades. He is more secure in his invincibility having tested the limits and received no appreciable resistance.
If you had a relative w/serious mental health issues or addiction you know you can’t get “help” for that person unless they want it. Trump’s Chief of Staff is quoted today as saying he has the personality of an alcoholic. This will not end well.
does it mean anything that his chief of staff said that in public? i was shocked that she said he has the personality of an alcoholic.
maybe she meant the more more more aspect of his personality. I would call him a malignant siciopathic narcicist craphead.
craphead! that's my favorite!!! thanks for that.
I wonder if she knows what OTD means ??
I’ll hve to read more from my Substack commentators to find out!
his family lives off him
He just wants the attention put back on himself. He doesn't even believe what he said. Ignore him is the best reaction.
Anyone who loves and respects Trump is as bad as he is. No exceptions.
GOP=Guardians of Pedophiles.
Or the Greedy Oligarchical Posse
Trump Declares Fentanyl a "Weapon of Mass Destruction"
Is There a Hidden Agenda in this Declaration?
On Monday, December 15, 2025 President Trump, surrounded by the nation’s military leaders in full uniform in his gold encrusted Oval Office, signed an "executive order" classifying fentanyl as a “weapon of mass destruction” (”WMD”), This purports to give the U.S. government additional legal justification for combatting the illegal trafficking of the synthetic drug.
Let us remember that claims that Iraq possessed WMDs were used as a legal justification for the invasion of Iraq and the overthrow of Saddam Hussein during the George W. Bush administration. This may lead to speculation that this declaration would provide legal cover for Trump to authorize military strikes against drug cartels within Venezuela, Colombia and Mexico trafficking in this drug.
The timing and context of this announcement should not go unnoticed, nor should the possible implications of Trump’s re-definition of this narcotic as a “weapon of mass destruction”.
To put this all in context, let’s remember that Trump recently hyperbolized the terms “drug smugglers” and “drug runners” as “Narco-Terrorists”, which he then used as a pretext to justify deploying the U.S. military to blow up boats on the high seas that were suspected of transporting drugs and the killing of everyone on board.
While Trump focused his attention on deploying the military to prevent the introduction of these “weapons of mass destruction” into the United States, he omitted the next logical question of whether he intends to use our military domestically to combat the sale of fentanyl within the United States. The absence at Trump’s press conference of representatives of the Drug Enforcement Administration, which is responsible for combatting the domestic introduction and sale of this newly defined “weapon of mass destruction” within the U.S. , was glaring.
And let us recall the remark that Trump made to our top military leaders when he convened them for his lecture: “We’re under invasion from within. No different than a foreign enemy but more difficult in many ways because they don’t wear uniforms.”This remark by Trump was reminiscent of and consistent with his notorious proclamations during the Presidential campaign that “We pledge to you that we will root out the communists, Marxists, fascists, and the radical left thugs that live like vermin within the confines of our country” and that “The threat from outside forces is far less sinister, dangerous, and grave than the threat from within. Our threat is from within”.
Does all this raise the prospect of the following two possible hidden agendas?
1. Is Trump’s proclamation among his military staff redefining the narcotic fentanyl as a “weapon of mass destruction” designed to eventually mobilize the U.S. military to put boots on the ground within the United States to carry this war into our cities and countryside, leaving the DEA to address other less threatening narcotics? Is this all part of a pretext by Trump to ultimately expand the presence of our military throughout the United States with Trump as the Commander-in-Chief of our armed forces? Such a prevalent presence might give rise to further speculation that we’re turning into a fascist state.
2. Let us remember that Trump has, on more than one occasion, either engaged in active warfare, as in bombing Iran, or deployed the military to blow up boats and kill its occupants on the high seas, both of which distracted the public’s attention away from serious personal humiliations for Trump. Therefore, one has to wonder how coincidental it is that this press conference was being held only 4 days before the Trump administration is legally required to divulge the huge quantity of the Jeffrey Epstein related photos and documents to the American people. This is, indeed, an incredible coincidence.
Thanks Jen. I always look forward to your columns as they are intelligent and complete.
Robert Reich in yesterday‘s sub stack wrote, “American politics today is divided between two groups — fanatics who view politics as a form of warfare, and institutionalists who view politics as a means of implementing democracy.
To fanatics, winning is everything. To institutionalists, democracy is everything.”
The Republican Party used to consist of leaders intent on sustaining democracy (individual freedom and the opportunity to participate in self rule). Now, it includes people that are only interested in winning elections and ruling for self aggrandizement, self interest, self promotion, and self empowerment. While they have some cultish elements, perhaps they are more like mercenaries who destroy any opposition and plunder the spoils of their warfare. How are mercenaries neutralized? Engaging in warfare, leads to a prolonged hostility, and plays into their hands. Better is to freeze their source of funding. I intend to expose the donors of Republican officials in my state as supporters of racism and voter suppression and enemies of democracy. I hope to create an impactful boycott of local businesses who are supporting Republican officials.
Individual freedom requires an even playing field with no special advantage due to race, religion, gender or wealth. Each has played a role in our current dilemma. Wealth and the abuse of it is what we need to focus on now.
Thank you for this list. It has taken me a while, and now I see the connection to worship. You mentioned worship of Trump, and it turns out that what we worship really does define us, doesn't it? Idolatry is still as real as ever.
Well said as usual, Jennifer. I would add that I've been using "Trumplican Cult" (or "Trumplican Party" when I'm feeling charitable, which isn't often these days) in place of the Republican Party since 2017. RIP, GOP.
And along the same lines, Trump regime, not Trump administration. The latter term implies respect for the rule of law and democratic norms, something conspicuously missing from Trump's court.
I appreciate your comment, but don't want to do them the honor of resting in peace, because they have destroyed peace for the rest of us/
That's a fair point, Pam. I use the phrase because I like the rhyme!
This is embarrassing to admit since cursing somehow seems singularly inappropriate for genteel old ladies such as myself, but I most often refer to the GOP these days as "those f---ers". I guess I should wash out my own mouth with soap.
I have the mouth of a sailor at the age of 61. I'm not genteel, I'm furious!
Try a glass of good Californian wine.
Port is good...
A fine idea but isn't the effect of wine supposed to loosen the tongue rather than rehabilitate it?
Yes, "administration" has been bothering me. Regime is a close fit. Here's an oddity: in modern French, "régime" means a stringent diet.
A stringent diet would certainly would benefit King Donald!
Yep. It would be a regime change of benefit to quite a few of us. The sooner the better.
The destruction of the Republican Party began quite a few years ago, and it is now in an advanced state. It was certainly evident in the 2016 primaries. The dessication was obvious in the second impeachment trial. Today, only the bleached and dried skeleton is left.
There are still two "political parties" left. One is the party which hopes to save the Constitution, our laws, and our civil society. The other is the Trump party, made up of ignorant and triumphant boosters of Jim Crow and proponents of "Christian Nationalism" and misogyny. (Their hero, Peter Thiel, claims he no longer believes democracy and freedom are compatible.)
Most Americans, I have to hope, are in the former and not the latter.
A picture often speaks more than a thousand words.
That was his arraignment photo. A business phony found guilty on 30-some-odd counts of fraud and deception trying to pretend how tough he is. Grumpy Cat fobbing himself off as Winston Churchill. All pretense, all just for show. All worth a bucket of warm spit. "I can has cheezeburger now?"
If I recall there was a smarmy commentator/comedian who remarked admiringly that "He really nailed that picture'. As though it was an appropriate response to the humiliation and shame of conviction. What is that guy's name?
I must say there is a really funny fox comedian on Sat night, jimi faill he does his routine first . he doesn't exactly respect trump . I watch him then turn it off for obvious reasons !
I haven't seen Jimi but Bill Marr is the guy I was thinking of.
I think you meant Bill Maher.
What an apt misspelling:-)
Bullseye.
b
I keep wondering if Mitch McConnell regrets his decades-long poisonous policy of undermining the idea of cooperation between the parties for the benefit of the country in favor of establishing his cabal as the party of divine right. Does he still have enough mind or conscience left to understand what he has unleashed not only on America but also on the world by his hypocritical support of the Felon that opened the door for his reelection? Pandora's Box never freed the Evils that McConnell and his crew of power-hungry anti-democracy minions have unleashed through the malevolence and corruption of the Felon and his coterie of sycophantic nazis. McConnell is one of the founding fathers of the POF--Party of the Felon. You are right, Jen. The party of Lincoln and the beacon on the hill is gone.
No. He was part of it and knew what he was doing. He worked for this for decades.
I wonder. It's definitely a case of "sow the wind, reap the whirlwind." Mitch was definitely in it for the power, but I think he realized that he set in motion something beyond his control. There's nothing good about him, but I don't think he wanted the total chaos and evil that's going on now.
Thank you for articulating exactly what I have thought since the day I realized that Donald Trump's ride down the escalator in New York was not a joke. I honestly thought his announcement that he was running for President was just another publicity stunt. You have articulated my exact thoughts. The Trump Party and The Peoples Temple cult are one and the same.
I loved it when another, much bigger, escalator stopped dead when he put his foot on it.
Notably, when he ran for the Senate, now Indiana Gov. Mike Braun's platform was "I'll do whatever Pres. Trump wants me to." Regrettably it worked then and is still his controlling political ethic.
Isn't a state's governor supposed to think about what is good for the people of their state? Braun seems to have lost the ability to think objectively. Even his "Republicans" in the state government balked at Trump's redistricting threat. That ought to tell him something.
Yeah well, a President is supposed to do what's best for the country, but here we are.
He is a Trump cultist. If the Indiana legislature does not impeach and convict him, removing him from office, and no primary challenger comes for him, he will learn nothing.
Ought to, probably won't. His personal fortune insulates him from having to behave responsibly.
That’s John Cornyn’s approach in his Senate reelection campaign. “Vote for me! I’ll be your Trump sycophant in Texas!”
Oooo, excellent burn, Jen!
They should be renamed the American Fascist Party
In keeping with the theme of the 1930s to which the MAGA desperately want us to return, the National Fascists party, NAFAs.
Actually, I think MAGA fits it better and better. The sight and sound of "MAGA" produces that shiver that "Nationalsozialismus" did. The words "Nazi" and "fascist" remain an indelible reminder of Hitler and Mussolini (who adopted the "fascio" (sheaf, or bundle) - the ancient Roman symbol of the fasces - a bundle of rods (representing unity) containing an axe.
No, that would be "AFP", which means "Agence France Presse", which is right up there with Reuters.