69 Comments
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John McDonald's avatar

The fact that all of this is true, and all of it is totally ignored by the Republicans elected and selected simply proves that IF the people of America don't vote these elected Republicans out of office it will prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that this country is finished.

IF the Democrats take over both houses of congress and then do not expand the Supreme Court it will prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that they should be finished too.

D. Earl Stephens ✍️'s avatar

Agree with all of that, but dammit, the press and people who know better need to call the Republican Party what it is: revolting, dishonest, and anti-American.

John McDonald's avatar

Absolutely... but people who know better can never call them out because they do not have access to the microphone. And the press will get not get richer by calling out the crooks either. The politics in this country runs on one thing: GREED

Susan Rose's avatar

That's the sad truth - greed!

Agree with everything you said in your comments!!!

Judith68's avatar

They're running them all off. Look what happened at CBS. I do hope there are consequences for all those who were afraid to speak up. They shouldn't get a do-over if we ever see Democrats in power again.

Constance Tavares's avatar

Very true but unlikely. We keep looking for that “bridge too far” and most haven’t gotten there…yet anyway.

Jane's avatar

I’m so glad that you wrote this piece. Don’t stop shouting from the rooftops.

D. Earl Stephens ✍️'s avatar

Couldn't if I tried, Jane.

James R. Carey's avatar

Who normalizes GOP rot?

Barack Obama answered that question for David Axelrod at the 20 minute mark of The Axe Files, E538, when he quoted Putin as saying, "I don't have to get anyone to believe anything. All I have to do is convince enough people not to believe in anything." And now, the GOP thinks the way Putin told them to think. Ref: https://www.cnn.com/audio/podcasts/axe-files/episodes/d1da1b16-d9a5-4b91-8397-b021016e0494.

I seeketh and findeth that ... shame on Putin.

D. Earl Stephens ✍️'s avatar

Nice find, James.

Sam Ray's avatar

Important to know that those who need to feel shame the most are incapable.

Megan Ross's avatar

We can thank the RepubliCons and the 90 million people who didn't bother to vote for the Convicted Felon being elected again. Living in this country and a watching our constitutional republic circling the drain has been one of the most infuriating and sad times in my lifetime. Here in California, (CALIFORNIA!!) I'm seeing a far-right-wing Fox News contributor, from Great Britain, who's only been a US citizen since 2021, winning the June 2nd Republican candidate primary. It's mind-boggling. Now, I don't fear that he'll become our next governor, because people who didn't bother to vote in the primary will (hopefully!) get off their lazy asses and vote for Xavier Becerra in November. It just breaks my heart to see that so many people are fooled by these sickening RepubliCons and their lies. We are on the brink of extinction and everyone needs to VOTE BLUE in November!!🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲

D. Earl Stephens ✍️'s avatar

They aren't fooled. They LIKE them, Meg. They are also the toxic minority of America.

Lazlo's avatar

I could not agree more. The way dumpster, rubio and blanche lie without batting an eye is stunning! Do they really think we are that stupid?

Judith68's avatar

War crimes can't be pardoned. They should all remember that. I also hope when there are mass pardons be doled out that State AGs step up and prosecute whatever people they can, especially in Minnesota.

Susan Rose's avatar

No, I absolutely cannot let that happen and will not let that happen without putting up an all out fight!

You knocked it out of the park with this piece - again! But every point you make is so accurate it hurts, and so thorough at covering all the details of our hideous, disgraceful nightmare. There really is nothing more that can possibly be said that you haven't stated here perfectly about our dire situation. I will say two things, COMPLETELY AGREE and THANK YOU!

D. Earl Stephens ✍️'s avatar

Well, I appreciate your readership, activism and support, Susan.

David Holst-Grubbe's avatar

The greatest asset the destructive MAGA machine has is the RW media machine. It’s not an accident, it’s a plan and it works. Dems have no such machine.

MAGA fails without FOX. FOX CAN BE EVISCERATED with a fast acting strategy. Ask me how if you’re connected to those who can create and fund the organization required.

D. Earl Stephens ✍️'s avatar

It's not just the RW media, it's the media overall, David.

That's what makes this moment so dangerous.

Ann Anderson's avatar

Exactly. Bezos, the Ellisons etc now own what we used to call mainstream media. The only independent voices I can find are on Substack.

Susan Rose's avatar

You are so right! Thank God we have Substack and the journalists who left mainstream media so they could actually inform us of the truth. They are are hope at staying informed!!!

Judith68's avatar

The fact that approximately 35% of the country still supports this guy and his morally bankrupt appointees is what makes me cringe more everyday.

Ann Anderson's avatar

A tip of the hat to everyone who's hanging on to their sanity in these crazy times, and a whole lot of empathy if you're not. Understandable.

VJ's avatar

We can never allow ourselves to normalize one moment of this. No matter how much they try to demoralize us.

Sarah Gillian Bower's avatar

Yeah. IF. IF. IF. IF. IF. YEAH. 🙄

Madeline Deponte's avatar

It is not almost too much to bear, it is too much to bear.

Robbie Roberts's avatar

Right and Wrong, Earl. There was a difference. There were public servants. Now? Bottomed out and reclaiming those basic definitions ? Or going lower still?

Jean Andreasen's avatar

I may be able to forgive those that voted for that circus peanut in 2016 (tho I’ll never understand their reasoning) but to vote for him a second time, and then after J6 a third time? WTF? Were they not paying attention?

D. Earl Stephens ✍️'s avatar

Yep ...

And there were the millions who couldn't be bothered to vote at all, Jean.

Argument can be made our democracy has run its course.

W. Thuma's avatar

keep up these comparisons! If you want to really hit a home run, watch the documentary Hitler and the Nazis - Evil on Trial and tie all those steps the Nazis took and you'll see the exact match with Trump and his gang. Even pardoning of the J6 rabble is setting the table for his version of 'Brown Shirts'.

Book burning?-Check. Scape goats?-Check. Targeting political enemies?-Check. Attacking other nations?-Check. Silencing the press and media?-Check. Proliferation of flags and other nationalist emblems?-Check. Staging Rallies?-Check. Manipulating sports events?-Check. Propaganda?-Check. Even Hitler's spending a lot of time at his Eagle's Nest retreat is like Trump's Mar-a-Lago.