Cowardice,corruption or compromised (sometimes two or more)
Also Dems are stuck in the past and Congress tradition of collegiality, compromise and bipartisanship. they never really existed, it was all kabuki theater but since Bush it has been put on steroids and since Trump, it's no holds barred,out of the closest, but it appears the chattering class, and Democrat politicians are also conservative. But Schiff and that former Congessman of NY, the guy responsible for the loss of 4 NY seats, were off junketeering in Paris, during the election.
Face it people, except the Progressive caucus, and not all of them, are in it for self promoton, ego trips and bragging rights, not to mention the benefits, especially those of corporations and foreign governments. Not to mention the lucrative lobbying jobs. and like Feinstein and McConnell staying in office to protect their investments and wealth.
Money is never enough, millionaires believe they are poor when weighed against billionaires.
And.... there are perks being in Congress that you don't have as a retiree.
As regards health care. I imagine that they are not too much different from the military.
Some decades ago, the Department of Defense, privatized their medicare. Retirees are elgible for Tricare for Life.For me Tricare is my teritary Medicare my primary,, and CalPers my secondary. My wife also has Medicare, but pays out of pocket because she does not receive social security. She worked for municipality's
Her municipal employers bought into the social security replacement program (401a), thus she doesn't receive a social security payment, from which the monthly Medicare payment of $164.0 is deducted so she has automatically deducted from her checking account.
Since congress constructs their own system. I well imagine that even in retirement they have a cadillac plan, paid for by the taxpayer., and if they pay anything out of pocket it is minimal.
By the way with my three forms of insurance, my Calpers cost over $300 a month, I have undergone a craniotomy, 10 bouts of radiation, 2 years of immunotherapy and CT Scan and MRI every three months for two years and every 6 months now, as well as visits with the oncologist.. all would have cost millions and I have yet to pay anything, other than premiums, not of co pays.
I suspect that Congress gets better than that.
Edit added: My wife as a beneficiary also gets Tricare, but so far only uses it for prescriptions from Express Scripts. I don't do medication, except for Metformin.
But it takes guts, and who will arrest them or even investigate them? Not Garland, He has not indicted Gaetz, a documented sexual predator and violator of Federal Laws, yet Garland lets him roam free to hazard our nation, our democracy and national security.
By the way I am upset with congressional Democrats for buckling to the MAGGOTS and not funding the defense of Ukraine. Democrats are too people pleasing to stand up and fight like Republicans
Yep, and sadly, to my utter dismay, the some people are by and large liberals, of the bleeding heart variety (I am not one of those and frankly this political correctness shit has gone too far, some of it was necessary, like whites calling blacks "N...., or straights calling gays queer, out of white mouths the N word is a denigrating slur, out of a black mouth it is a way to identify or refer to a racial peer,and also a way to desensitize the slur. Straights use queer as a slur, gays use queer among themselves as self identifications. But LGBT was all inclusive, but factions who seek to hide among LGBT, have created a raft of "identities" that actually hid some at least one disgusting criminal the pedophile, who hides under the Q in LGBTQ.
Then there is the proliferation of LGBTQI+ so many people that want to hide under a label.
Q for queer. In the majority culture all those that aren't heterosexual normative are queers, whether they are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Trans. Like cross dressers (not transgendered), cross dressers are covered in LGBT, and sexually are not gay or Lesbian, because clothes off, they are straight) DRAG ) DRessed As Girls are not cross dressers, they are entertainers with a sense of humor and style and also Gay,. Pedophiles (claim they are gay, when most are married with children, just weak m fers, who prey on the weak and naive. There are men and women who consider themselves straight,but (mostly with men like ex Sen Larry Craig of Idaho) like b.j.s from men or being the top in anal sex, or women who like cunnilingus,but only if they are the recipient.
Transgendered come in many forms, there are people that feel like the opposite sex, and are committed to the regime of hormones, surgery and electrolysis, expensive and painful and socially difficult, there are transvesities, who get a sexual thrill out of dressing up or wearing women's panties. and there are autogynephiliacs like Bruce Jenner who does not respect his own "community".m fer is a Trump Humper and an ally of the homophobes.
What is masturbation but same sex, self sex is same sex.
There are straight men that frequent gay bars and bath houses, for the b.j. or airport bathrooms like Larry Craig, they are found mostly in prisons, where they have prison wives, but are "straight" on the outside. And they vehemently deny, as did Larry Craig, that they are gay, because in their mind to be gay is to be the bottom in same sex, kind of like Clinton denying he had sexual relations with "that girl", because he did not have genital sex.
This LatinX is b.s.. it is bastardizing the Spanish language and most resent it.
Calling Native Americans "Indians" is offensive to the mindless, peer driven, left
Admitedly some Native Americans prefer to use the word Indian.
Calling the homeless unhoused is simply awkward and unnecessary.
Calling women cunts is an insult, unless where it is literally and genuinely deserved like MTG, Kari Lake, Sidney Powell and Boebert. They have earned the title, but most women I know haven't, and if someone used it my presence, they would be sorry, for at least I have the foulest mouth, and not afraid to use it.Also bear spray.
Now if any bleeding heart, or hapless crowd following idiot wants to take me to task, forget about, I will not be bullied or shamed and will respond in kind.
Beyond this stupid political correctness. I am a relentless advocate for civil rights, equal rights and diversity.
How do I know so much, well for starters I lived in Santa Cruz and partied in San Francisco on weekends.and had a rainbow of friends, all colors, creeds and sexual persuasions.
Democrats are weak when it comes to messaging, I would agree. But Biden has done quite a bit to get legislation thru. Republicans vote NO on every bit of legislation that Democrats try to push. It’s a miracle that anything gets done. It’s all about smoke and mirrors with them. The infrastructure act has created many jobs and we are getting roads and bridges and some infrastructure for renewables up and running. And now republicans want to take credit for something the majority voted no for. The only reason it got thru was because they stripped it down. God forbid the government help with child care. You need to pay attention to what Biden has actually done. Look at his track record before you make blanket accusations that “nothing” is being done. Then look at what the people YOU support are voting for. I don’t know what you mean by democrats are doing nothing. It likely relates to your own personal situation.
Jo the problem with Dems and Biden are that they are conservative, they live in the past. At the root of their thinking is James Carville's"its the economy stupid" Maybe in the 90's but not in this decade, it's the culture war stupid. Those that are comfy, could care less about the economy because they are clothed, housed, eating, on line shopping and buying toys. Those that are disadvantaged have run out of hope,are disengaged and don't trust the system. if anything they will vote for the party out of power. Minorities who feel they have been taken for granted, either sit on their hands or vote for nutcakes like Cornell West or RFK Jr.
Middle America bitches about the price of oil ($5.31 a gallon where I live). but it is always high, because it is ferried over on a special ferry.
Besides the President has no control over the price of oil, however who is president does. Saudi Arabia and OPEC dropped the price of oil for Trump and raised it for Biden. So what is Biden to do, bend over for Muhammad bin Salman al Saud, and abandon Israel. Give MBS a red carpet welcome and ignore his and S.A.s human rights violations.
There is still slavery in S.A., they recruit hungry workers from Asia and when the arrive they commandeer their passports, and that is slavery, same shit in Kuwait, the UAE, Oman
Biden and Democrats were boring everyone but themselves yapping about the IRA, while ignoring the off shore oil leases he signed and the oil drilling in Alaska that he signed, while putting his face on environmental issues. People see through that, at least I do.
But unlike the somnolent's I am engaged with what is happening and will again hold my nose and vote Democrat, because the alternative means the end of Democracy and retribution, even death for Trump's "enemies" and free thinkers.
This is PRECISELY why I am not a card-carrying Democrat, but an AOC-leaning Independent..... The current feckless and ineffective Democratic senior leadership seems to be more afraid of being seen as "not nice" than they are in defeating the enemies of our democracy. That won't cut it for me.....
Same here, but I register Democrat to vote in Primaries. Otherwise I hold the party in complete disdain. I said, when Reagan was in office, that the two parties are two sides of the same coin, Humpty v Dumpty. And I will do anything to defeat a greedy, narcissistic, self centered, racist religious extremist and the Republican party is full of them
Unfortunately voting third party is a lost vote and you will only hand that vote to a republican. The Democratic Party is the only chance we have to move the party in the correct direction.
Rest assured Smokin' Joe Biden will get my vote..... I just won't officially join the party until the leadership wakes up. It has been bad enough to generate a library of memes.....
Lev Parnas admitted on Mea Culpa podcast months ago this illegally obtained info was a Russian pysop meant and designed to harm the Biden family. I’ve never witnessed such cowardice to refuse to fight for our First Family after the utter garbage that previously occupied the White House. This utter disrespect for our President is unspeakable.
The GOP want to steal the national Treasury. Instead of serving the people they want the people to serve them. The trump-humpers aren't smart enough to figure that out. Anything to harm the liberals who they blame which is propaganda from the right wing autocrats news media, for all the problems. The GOP is now a terrorist organization, like the mega Rich have been for thousands of years, building a society on unlimited greed is s like building castles at low tide in the sand.
And the corporate media for enabling and supporting the national terrorists. in the name of profits (readers and clicks, produce ads, ads are a main form of revenue.
I am a lifelong Democrat who has become increasingly frustrated and disgusted by the party mechanics. We did not land in this precarious state solely by the machinations of Republicans. The Democrats have been complicit, resulting in a loss of cohesion, not listening to their constituents and the birth of “bothsidesism”. To the point where, our Presidential race can be summed up as authoritarian or I’m not that guy. This is disgusting. The finest campaign promises will never be implemented. So don’t tell me they don’t know. They do. They benefit from not implementing them. Voting rights, taxing corporations, funding the IRS, benefits for citizens in need, regulating pollution, clean air and water standards, ... quality education and healthcare for all citizens.
These have been implementing by Democrats. Republicans block and tear these bills to shreds. Even tho the infrastructure bill was passed republicans had to shed it to bare minimum before they would have a vote. Remember it’s both parties that have to pass legislation unless you have a majority, which we don’t have at the moment.
If the Democratic party has any intention of leading this nation in any meaningful way, going on the offensive (with legitimate purpose) is an imperative, and it must be prompt. No wiggle room here from my point of view. The stakes are well beyond "too high" - Cain has been killing Able for 7,000 years - and this very well could be the 10th round of a 10 round bout. As a person who votes within the Democratic party, I am tired of playing defense - of trying to simply keep the dam from blowing. We need to get off our heels and make actual headway in society, not be hamstrung by the need to put out a 1,000 fires every day just to stay afloat. And we're not even staying afloat - we're falling further and further into the GOP inferno of greed, cruelty, and lies.
I can't answer why we, as Democrats, have lacked in aggressiveness. I can only submit my own observations for why people (including myself) fail to act. These are extremely general umbrellas, but I feel most other reasons are subcategories of the following:
1) Inconvenience
2) Coercion of some nature (incentivized to act -or- threatened into not acting)
3) Ignorance
I'd surmise that inconvenience and ignorance are the most common, and therefore, the most likely culprit of inaction. Unfortunately we have neither the luxury of ambivalence nor the warm swaddle of oblivion. The commercial break is over, the match is back on, and we're in the final 30 seconds...
Well no one likes responding to their own post, but here we have it...
I believe, judging by the volume of crickets in response to the 3 reasons I put forth (for why people don't act when they definitely should) in the above post, we have our answer for the # 1 cause of inaction: It is inconvenient, AND uncomfortable.
Reflecting upon our collective shoulder shrugging in past situations of dire consequence (Bush Jr's gift of the presidency from the Supreme Court, illegal wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, not taking a solid stand on upholding mask mandates during the Covid pandemic, on and on...), I can only conclude from my tiny and unimportant window that doing a thing, standing up, or (oh no!) - changing routine - are just too much to ask. It is, simply, inconvenient.
Me too. Some of the best posts I've read... filled with facts & thoughtful insight... are right here! That includes yours, W. Farrar! Yours are always smart & on point. Any topic. And learned things I did not know tonite, like about why blacks use that n-word that I take such offense to! (Long wondered about that 1)
I was a county chair in the democratic party in my past life. It was difficult to shake off the feeling that there is no such thing as "The Democratic Party." the Demos share, possibly only one thing in common: they prioritize the common citizen more than the Repubs. Which ain't sayin much. And even here we must recognize the obvious fakers: Manchin and Sinema, who is now an independent, read her as Republican. Manchin is a "Sleeper" for the Republican Party just as Bill Clinton was.
Clinton was the best Republican President we have had since Grover Cleveland. Both were Democrats in name only. The republicans ARE a Party. they ARE unified by their love of "The Morbidly Rich," Thank you for the label Mr. Hartman.
Do not be overly impressed by the commentators who talk about the "split" in the Republican Party. The Elephants are not as divided as you think.
By comparison, it is not a surprise to me that old Joe appointed Garland, only a disappointment. It is not surprising that the Donkeys are perhaps Jackasses who fail to exploit opportunities when they occur.
Bill Clinton betrayed and destroyed his base and the Democratic party, because he was actually not financially solvent, and the Plutocrats funded him after retirement through a non profit, which he headed called the Clinton Global Initiative, one of his programs brought havoc to Haiti, because he convinced some industries to set up shop in Haiti, because of their unemployment and eagerness to work, so they paid them slave wages, which only made the situation worse.
It was Newt Gringrich, constantly attacking him, that drove the people to the poles, in a reaction, and it was James Carville, who kept saying "It is the economy stupid". Frankly people were so turned off by Gingrich and the Republicans that they voted for Clinton despite the stains on Monica's dress. That was a problem between Bill and Hillary, Hillary turned a blind eye because she had presidential ambitions,and the DNC put their thumb on the scale for a tried and true, loyal race horse, that gained the credentials that the CFR and Plutocrats thought were necessary, foreign service credentials.
I am positive that she would be every bit of the corporatist neo liberal as Bill, and like Bill sell her base down the river especially racial minorities, the very ones that had her win the primary. those myopic "wise women" of South Carolina
Mr. Farrar,I did not know he was insolvent. I knew about Haiti. I had close friends who lived there and I have read about that place. I agree with all you said.
Gerald, that is a rather harsh criticism of Clinton, but I see where you are coming from. I wish we could return to the budget surpluses of those years without MAGA.
For one Clinton signed NAFTA into law and that sent many jobs over seas. That bill was executed by Reagan and doubt Clinton. He was somewhat a NEOLIBERAL.
Reagan was president from 1981 - 1989 .followed by Pappy Bush, then Clinton from 1993 -2001
Obviously Reagan did not write NAFTA and the updated GAAT which further empowered the Plutocrats.. The New GAAT was put together by Plutocrats while Clinton was in office, the same for NAFTA. If I am wrong then link please.
I will tell you the most authoritarian peace of legislation recently passed That is the PATRIOT act, but that was drawn up during Clinton's administration, shelved in a desk until the timing was right, and 9/11 provided that excuse. Such a legislation, generally takes many months, even a year to put together, but it was yanked out of drawer and put before Congress and signed by Dubya in an earth shattering month and a half (Oct 26, 2001), the bill is so complicated and consuming that it should have taken a year to hash together, and would have been met with an outcry.
In fact Julian Assange and Snowden performed a patriotic function by revealing the fascism of the PATRIOT act, initially the left applauded them, made them hero's,, but after Hillary as SoS, tried to extradite and punish him, and he retaliated by exposing her emails, he suddenly became the bugaboo of the very same people, despite the fact that Hillary was not reliable, trustworthy and the partner of a man that sold out his base (Women, gays, POC, and union, Biden who had no bank account that matters, left the office virtually penniless and was saved by the Plutocrats, as a reward for supporting them with NAFTA GATT and other measures, with his own 401(c) The Clinton Global Initiative from which he draws a lucrative salary.
It is past time to shed the tried and experienced candidates, who are old, tired, entrenched neo liberals and allow the cream to rise to the top, instead of skimming it off.
The DNC has had no luck with these old tired, loyal race horses who have been biding their time, growing old and entrenched in the past, such as Hillary, McAuliffe and even Biden.
Biden didn't win the election, Trump lost. The voters got off their asses, shook off the lethargy and turned out, 81 million strong, to show Trump the door, but the Democrats have wasted their opportunity, by staying silent and pretending that being moderate pays off, and that they are mired in bipartisanship, compromise and collegiality.
Those days are long gone, and it appears that Joe has waken up or his staff has, but it is probably too late. If the polls are right. However only the media loves polls, because they love a horse race, TV loves and needs competition, all reality shows are based on competition and betrayal, from Survivors and Hell's Kitchen and Now Golden bachelor, mind numbing B.S. for half awake, somnolent public.
Great night to be here reading posts of knowledgeable folks who have also spent much time thinking about these things & putting them in context with these & other facts. For me, a great night's read! Feeling less discouraged than usual thanks to ya'll. Thanks for that ~ I needed it!!
What about the people in the Great Lakes, from Wisconsin to Pennsylfania and NY? Clinton turned the unionized industrial states in to a rust belt, the swing states, that switched from Democrat to Republican and whose electoral votes made Trump President and it looks like they will be doing it again.
So much for being able to buy Pizza, wine,beer and drive a new car every three to six years. Clinton is where Democracy began it's death dance.
So your answer to someone who doesn’t agree with you is to shut them down?? Not very smart. Rather then have dialog , we will never agree.” A fossilized mind is not a healthy one. Have a grandiose day.
I agree with you about Manchin but at least he is still voting with democrats on most things and is giving us a majority in The senate. I can’t stand the guy but I doubt WV would vote for a democrat who didn’t support coal.
What is it with these imbeciles and their dick pics. Do they honestly think women swoon over their dicks. It is all narcissism and the desire to have self sex, as far as I can see. And it is pure stupidity to upload anything to "the cloud", just as social media is stupid, if one cares about their employability, reputation and the future Tick Tock challenges are examples of pure stupidity, what rational person honestly cares what forever strangers may think.
But that is the way we are raised. To devalue ourselves and to overvalue the opinions of others, which is ridiculous because, despite movies and books, there are no real mind readers.
There is no way we can know what someone else thinks, so the only thing we can do is project. Thus a person who takes selfies, especially of their genitals, are deep into self love. I will give an exception or two, for a selfie that show a person next to landmark, or the likes of a water fall.
If you are talking to me. I never have taken drugs,and not even prescription drugs, I fear PhRMA and pay attention to all of the dangers they mention, so fastly, in their lying ads.
How ever I started drinking at age 15, it built over time till I really screwed up my life at age 50, then I sobered up and everything changed, including my political world view.
Sobering up I went from a right winger to a progressive. It is amazing how the world looks when you aren't numbed by addictions.
Thanks I understand. At least you had more strength than me. It took me a third DUI, and time in jail, plus it cost me thousands of dollars for me to give up my addiction, yet I still had an addiction to tobacco, that started at age 12, finally quit at age 69, one year too late. genetically if I had quit one year earlier I would not have had lung cancer. Never ever did drugs, not even in Vietnam, even today I don't do prescription drugs, except metformin, for diabetes, I have the immune system of someone in their 20's, same with blood pressure.
As for Hunter legacy kids are a major problem in this country. Entitled assholes, who never had to earn a living on their own talents, they live on and succeed because of their rich and famous parents. True of Hollywood, Industry, and media. Famous examples are Bush, Daddy Bush was the son of Prescott Bush of Harriman Brown an investment banker, that bankrolled Hitler, at least at the start, Dubya got commissioned straight out of Basic training, never went to Officers Training school, there is so many examples in Hollywood that it would take a long paragraph, then there Trumps evil kids, and Hunter, who knows what else, and Chelsea Clinton is being groomed and making political noises. FDR's sons were
These kids do not have the skills and talents to make it on their own, at least not to live in the style to which they have become accustomed. Like the Kochs and Trump. How many heirs have become the chairman of the Board of a corporation, like Lachlan Murdoch. Too many to count.
SCOTUS says college admission based on race is unconstitutional, because it isn't in the constitution but they and the media are silent as lambs,when it comes to legacy brats.,
Nepotism rules,and it has from the beginning of time. Our 2nd Presidents son, John Quincy Adams was our 6th President. Dubya the son of G.H.W Bush.
There is and has been since the Revolution, a class of nobility, without the titles, bows and curtsy's of England. Which is actually better, because they live behind long, long driveways and gated communities, or gated estates.
Virginia had (and has) a Tidewater aristocracy, that is invisible now, but only joined the revolution, because they saw a chance to become the nobility in a new country.
This would be nobility in 1775 was comprised of the heirs of the Royalists who fled to Virginia in the wake of the Parliamentarian Victory in the English Civil war.. They produced 12 of the first presidents of this country.
The Virginians, and Carolinians wanted nothing to do with replacing one set of overlords (the British) with a set of homegrown nobility the Tidewater aristocrats, all of whom were planters and slave owners.
To sway the common man, the farmer, the tradesman, the merchant, the laborer to support the revolution, they appointed Committees for Public Safety, whose job was to monitor the behavior and thoughts (through speech) of the public, to isolate and punish loyalists.
That was not enough so they turned to pamphleteers like Thomas Paine (Rights of Man, Common Sense) published in Philadelphia by Ben Franklin and Rittenhouse, but worked but all too well, because the common man was not about to permit a new class of overlords, a homegrown nobility, however their reluctance saved the arses of the new class. They maintained power and control, because of their wealth and through their wealth, political power and influence, but now instead of the visibility that being titled and called my Lord, or My Grace. They were able to hide in their plantation homes, at the end of a long, long driveway, out of public view, and that proved to be better at protecting their lives, lifestyle and wealth.
With the restoration of Charles II, the grandsons, great grandsons of those Royalists who fled to Virginia, were wealthy planters and members of the House of Burgess, displacing the original upper class, who were adventurers of purse and person., like my 9th great grandfather.
As they were cousins of the English nobility, they displayed their wealth by making an aliyah to England, and the more trips, the more wealth (keeping up with and impressing your peers was then as important to the obscenely wealthy upper class as it is today.
Problem for them was that in London, Warwickshire, Oxfordshire they were considered country bumpkins, because of their speech and manners.
The southern brogue, is a product of the speech of Surrey, from which most of the indentured servants and tradesman that were transported to Virginia called home.
The Surrey Speechway was too vulgar for the London ear, and was a derivative of Saxon speech, so around 1700 George III issued a decree outlawing the brogue, however since the Southern speechway, is a descendant of the Surrey accent, modified by adoption of the speech of the slaves, and immigrants. The nobility of England considered it ridiculous, and made fun of the Tidewater Aristocrats that journeyed to England.
Thus the motivation for the Tidewater aristocrats to join the revolution and become nobility.
These people were wealthy, in fact invoices from George Washington's estate, shows him purchasing fine goods, silverware, cloths, furniture and China from Richard Farrar and Company of London,as late as 1775. The taxes and stamp act placed no burden on them, and South Carolina , which produced the most Loyalist Militias) was just happy being a colony, as its planters were just fine with trade with England, as England was its primary buyer for it's agricultural products, especially cotton.
Whereas in Boston, the merchants were heavily penalized by taxes and finally the Stamp Act, which forced the most prominent merchants like John Hancock, the Adams and Paul Revere to lead a revolt, as they were forced into smuggling, and the penalty for smuggling hanging, thus Ben Franklins, we hang alone or hang together. The motivation of the Philadelpians and the Bostonians was economic, the motivation of the Virginians was social and privilge, as they were rich planters and not at all disadvantaged by the taxes and Stamp Act.
Bet you were never taught that in school or college.
Thanks to Thom and Marcy, I now have a more clear explanation of Hunter's laptop scam. Could Hunter have been that gullible and the Russians that organized and technically competent to get away with this capper? Boggles my mind. I originally had a hope that Ukraine had a chance but looking at the Russian economy and their plans for the future, I have sobered up. Russia is stronger than I thought and they don't give a damn about how many humans are lost in their attempt at great Russia. Putin, it is said to have survived four assassination attempts so far and he appears to be healthy. MAGA wants to stop Ukraine aid as well. I just don't know if Ukraine can do it now.
Russia hacked Hunter's cloud, transferred the data to a computer, which some agent dropped off at a blind man's "computer repair shop". Only a fool uploads data to the cloud. Google tells me every so often that I have an empty drop box,but it will remain forever empty. Momma didn't raise a fool.
I watch the hearings on C-Span quite a bit. The Democrats certainly have not been silent about the Trumps and their corruption. When a committee member mentions the Bidens, the Democratic members bring-up the Trumps.
The whole strategy of the Republicans and Trump is to declare victory and then ignore the facts. They declared victory about Russian influence, and the nuances of Robert Mueller's report helped them convince their base that there was NO influence. These are people who don't do nuance. We know what Putin did and is still doing---they do not want to know.
But here's the problem, Hunter WAS hanging out with Russians, and that along with the sex, drugs, and selling your name does not play well with anyone. Seems both candidates have kids like that. The difference is Biden tried to help his son get away, but Trump was the one that set his children on the path to Putin.
I cannot disagree,in fact I agree, the onus is on the Democrats, because the only place you see the Democrats stand up is on CSPAN, even on MSBNC, I watch them wiggle, distract and obfuscate to change the subject when asked raw questions. Party loyalty above all, even loyalty to country.
But worst of all it is the corporate media, which tones down the criticism of the Right Wing, while harping on pecadillos of some Democrats that say nothing about eh same when it comes to Republicans. For instance they are all over Hunter Biden, even on "liberal MSNBC,WAPO and NYT, but nary a word about Ivanka and Jr, especially their cozy and financially rewarding relationship with China the Kingdom and the Gulf States,not to mention Russia via Daddy.
Want to put your finger on the problem? The corporate media, any media that is financed via advertising is under the thumb of the advertising monopoly who monitors their performance and direct ads to those that have the most viewers, and those who have the most viewers are those with news readers and hosts, who hype the culture war and defend corporations and the Plutocrats.
I have NO idea why the Dems. are not going after Jared and Ivanka?
Time to stop messing around and get the facts out.
The mainstream press have done NOTHING to my knowledge. Why?
Ivanka and Jr are guilty of crimes worse than Hunters, and Garland has never investigated them..hmmm.
Like the hundreds of copyrights given to Ivanka by China, and still Trump accuses Gen Milley of treason. Then there is that 2 billion gift from MBS
And one of the patents was for voting machines!!!!! Why is nobody investigating that!!!
Yes.
BUT why are the Dems. not doing anything?
The three C's.
Cowardice,corruption or compromised (sometimes two or more)
Also Dems are stuck in the past and Congress tradition of collegiality, compromise and bipartisanship. they never really existed, it was all kabuki theater but since Bush it has been put on steroids and since Trump, it's no holds barred,out of the closest, but it appears the chattering class, and Democrat politicians are also conservative. But Schiff and that former Congessman of NY, the guy responsible for the loss of 4 NY seats, were off junketeering in Paris, during the election.
Face it people, except the Progressive caucus, and not all of them, are in it for self promoton, ego trips and bragging rights, not to mention the benefits, especially those of corporations and foreign governments. Not to mention the lucrative lobbying jobs. and like Feinstein and McConnell staying in office to protect their investments and wealth.
I agree with everything you say BUT:
Feinstein/McConnell are rich enough to be able to afford Private Healthcare.
Money is never enough, millionaires believe they are poor when weighed against billionaires.
And.... there are perks being in Congress that you don't have as a retiree.
As regards health care. I imagine that they are not too much different from the military.
Some decades ago, the Department of Defense, privatized their medicare. Retirees are elgible for Tricare for Life.For me Tricare is my teritary Medicare my primary,, and CalPers my secondary. My wife also has Medicare, but pays out of pocket because she does not receive social security. She worked for municipality's
Her municipal employers bought into the social security replacement program (401a), thus she doesn't receive a social security payment, from which the monthly Medicare payment of $164.0 is deducted so she has automatically deducted from her checking account.
Since congress constructs their own system. I well imagine that even in retirement they have a cadillac plan, paid for by the taxpayer., and if they pay anything out of pocket it is minimal.
By the way with my three forms of insurance, my Calpers cost over $300 a month, I have undergone a craniotomy, 10 bouts of radiation, 2 years of immunotherapy and CT Scan and MRI every three months for two years and every 6 months now, as well as visits with the oncologist.. all would have cost millions and I have yet to pay anything, other than premiums, not of co pays.
I suspect that Congress gets better than that.
Edit added: My wife as a beneficiary also gets Tricare, but so far only uses it for prescriptions from Express Scripts. I don't do medication, except for Metformin.
Biden has done quite a lot to help Americans.
Majority RULES.
Trump had the Senate for 4 years and the House for 2 years. Give that to Biden and see if he can with it.
DO you speak English?
I find it hard to comprehend this comment.
Is it that you think Biden is any different?
Dems do not want to offend anyone?
If they can arrest Trump, they can arrest any billionaires.
But it takes guts, and who will arrest them or even investigate them? Not Garland, He has not indicted Gaetz, a documented sexual predator and violator of Federal Laws, yet Garland lets him roam free to hazard our nation, our democracy and national security.
By the way I am upset with congressional Democrats for buckling to the MAGGOTS and not funding the defense of Ukraine. Democrats are too people pleasing to stand up and fight like Republicans
Some people get penalize for doing the right thing. Some people don't want to make waves. And criminals walk free amongst us.
Yep, and sadly, to my utter dismay, the some people are by and large liberals, of the bleeding heart variety (I am not one of those and frankly this political correctness shit has gone too far, some of it was necessary, like whites calling blacks "N...., or straights calling gays queer, out of white mouths the N word is a denigrating slur, out of a black mouth it is a way to identify or refer to a racial peer,and also a way to desensitize the slur. Straights use queer as a slur, gays use queer among themselves as self identifications. But LGBT was all inclusive, but factions who seek to hide among LGBT, have created a raft of "identities" that actually hid some at least one disgusting criminal the pedophile, who hides under the Q in LGBTQ.
Then there is the proliferation of LGBTQI+ so many people that want to hide under a label.
Q for queer. In the majority culture all those that aren't heterosexual normative are queers, whether they are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Trans. Like cross dressers (not transgendered), cross dressers are covered in LGBT, and sexually are not gay or Lesbian, because clothes off, they are straight) DRAG ) DRessed As Girls are not cross dressers, they are entertainers with a sense of humor and style and also Gay,. Pedophiles (claim they are gay, when most are married with children, just weak m fers, who prey on the weak and naive. There are men and women who consider themselves straight,but (mostly with men like ex Sen Larry Craig of Idaho) like b.j.s from men or being the top in anal sex, or women who like cunnilingus,but only if they are the recipient.
Transgendered come in many forms, there are people that feel like the opposite sex, and are committed to the regime of hormones, surgery and electrolysis, expensive and painful and socially difficult, there are transvesities, who get a sexual thrill out of dressing up or wearing women's panties. and there are autogynephiliacs like Bruce Jenner who does not respect his own "community".m fer is a Trump Humper and an ally of the homophobes.
What is masturbation but same sex, self sex is same sex.
There are straight men that frequent gay bars and bath houses, for the b.j. or airport bathrooms like Larry Craig, they are found mostly in prisons, where they have prison wives, but are "straight" on the outside. And they vehemently deny, as did Larry Craig, that they are gay, because in their mind to be gay is to be the bottom in same sex, kind of like Clinton denying he had sexual relations with "that girl", because he did not have genital sex.
This LatinX is b.s.. it is bastardizing the Spanish language and most resent it.
Calling Native Americans "Indians" is offensive to the mindless, peer driven, left
Admitedly some Native Americans prefer to use the word Indian.
Calling the homeless unhoused is simply awkward and unnecessary.
Calling women cunts is an insult, unless where it is literally and genuinely deserved like MTG, Kari Lake, Sidney Powell and Boebert. They have earned the title, but most women I know haven't, and if someone used it my presence, they would be sorry, for at least I have the foulest mouth, and not afraid to use it.Also bear spray.
Now if any bleeding heart, or hapless crowd following idiot wants to take me to task, forget about, I will not be bullied or shamed and will respond in kind.
Beyond this stupid political correctness. I am a relentless advocate for civil rights, equal rights and diversity.
How do I know so much, well for starters I lived in Santa Cruz and partied in San Francisco on weekends.and had a rainbow of friends, all colors, creeds and sexual persuasions.
Weaponized words for dummies???
Because they are bought and paid for by republicans.
Nothing to do with Reps. The Dems. are doing nothing!
You really have not been paying attention,have you?
NOT at alllll!
Democrats are weak when it comes to messaging, I would agree. But Biden has done quite a bit to get legislation thru. Republicans vote NO on every bit of legislation that Democrats try to push. It’s a miracle that anything gets done. It’s all about smoke and mirrors with them. The infrastructure act has created many jobs and we are getting roads and bridges and some infrastructure for renewables up and running. And now republicans want to take credit for something the majority voted no for. The only reason it got thru was because they stripped it down. God forbid the government help with child care. You need to pay attention to what Biden has actually done. Look at his track record before you make blanket accusations that “nothing” is being done. Then look at what the people YOU support are voting for. I don’t know what you mean by democrats are doing nothing. It likely relates to your own personal situation.
Jo the problem with Dems and Biden are that they are conservative, they live in the past. At the root of their thinking is James Carville's"its the economy stupid" Maybe in the 90's but not in this decade, it's the culture war stupid. Those that are comfy, could care less about the economy because they are clothed, housed, eating, on line shopping and buying toys. Those that are disadvantaged have run out of hope,are disengaged and don't trust the system. if anything they will vote for the party out of power. Minorities who feel they have been taken for granted, either sit on their hands or vote for nutcakes like Cornell West or RFK Jr.
Middle America bitches about the price of oil ($5.31 a gallon where I live). but it is always high, because it is ferried over on a special ferry.
Besides the President has no control over the price of oil, however who is president does. Saudi Arabia and OPEC dropped the price of oil for Trump and raised it for Biden. So what is Biden to do, bend over for Muhammad bin Salman al Saud, and abandon Israel. Give MBS a red carpet welcome and ignore his and S.A.s human rights violations.
There is still slavery in S.A., they recruit hungry workers from Asia and when the arrive they commandeer their passports, and that is slavery, same shit in Kuwait, the UAE, Oman
Biden and Democrats were boring everyone but themselves yapping about the IRA, while ignoring the off shore oil leases he signed and the oil drilling in Alaska that he signed, while putting his face on environmental issues. People see through that, at least I do.
But unlike the somnolent's I am engaged with what is happening and will again hold my nose and vote Democrat, because the alternative means the end of Democracy and retribution, even death for Trump's "enemies" and free thinkers.
GOPIGS have the majority in the house.
This is PRECISELY why I am not a card-carrying Democrat, but an AOC-leaning Independent..... The current feckless and ineffective Democratic senior leadership seems to be more afraid of being seen as "not nice" than they are in defeating the enemies of our democracy. That won't cut it for me.....
Same here, but I register Democrat to vote in Primaries. Otherwise I hold the party in complete disdain. I said, when Reagan was in office, that the two parties are two sides of the same coin, Humpty v Dumpty. And I will do anything to defeat a greedy, narcissistic, self centered, racist religious extremist and the Republican party is full of them
Agree.
Unfortunately voting third party is a lost vote and you will only hand that vote to a republican. The Democratic Party is the only chance we have to move the party in the correct direction.
Rest assured Smokin' Joe Biden will get my vote..... I just won't officially join the party until the leadership wakes up. It has been bad enough to generate a library of memes.....
Understood
Lev Parnas admitted on Mea Culpa podcast months ago this illegally obtained info was a Russian pysop meant and designed to harm the Biden family. I’ve never witnessed such cowardice to refuse to fight for our First Family after the utter garbage that previously occupied the White House. This utter disrespect for our President is unspeakable.
The GOP want to steal the national Treasury. Instead of serving the people they want the people to serve them. The trump-humpers aren't smart enough to figure that out. Anything to harm the liberals who they blame which is propaganda from the right wing autocrats news media, for all the problems. The GOP is now a terrorist organization, like the mega Rich have been for thousands of years, building a society on unlimited greed is s like building castles at low tide in the sand.
And the corporate media for enabling and supporting the national terrorists. in the name of profits (readers and clicks, produce ads, ads are a main form of revenue.
Unlimited greed, not grade be as rrgh!
You can edit your comments, alas lots will see the error before you edit.
I am a lifelong Democrat who has become increasingly frustrated and disgusted by the party mechanics. We did not land in this precarious state solely by the machinations of Republicans. The Democrats have been complicit, resulting in a loss of cohesion, not listening to their constituents and the birth of “bothsidesism”. To the point where, our Presidential race can be summed up as authoritarian or I’m not that guy. This is disgusting. The finest campaign promises will never be implemented. So don’t tell me they don’t know. They do. They benefit from not implementing them. Voting rights, taxing corporations, funding the IRS, benefits for citizens in need, regulating pollution, clean air and water standards, ... quality education and healthcare for all citizens.
Yes and BOTH Party's run by big corporations!
What Carla said.
These have been implementing by Democrats. Republicans block and tear these bills to shreds. Even tho the infrastructure bill was passed republicans had to shed it to bare minimum before they would have a vote. Remember it’s both parties that have to pass legislation unless you have a majority, which we don’t have at the moment.
Don't forget that Demopub, from West Virginia.
Right, Manchin. DINO
Punch. Back. Hard. NOW.
If the Democratic party has any intention of leading this nation in any meaningful way, going on the offensive (with legitimate purpose) is an imperative, and it must be prompt. No wiggle room here from my point of view. The stakes are well beyond "too high" - Cain has been killing Able for 7,000 years - and this very well could be the 10th round of a 10 round bout. As a person who votes within the Democratic party, I am tired of playing defense - of trying to simply keep the dam from blowing. We need to get off our heels and make actual headway in society, not be hamstrung by the need to put out a 1,000 fires every day just to stay afloat. And we're not even staying afloat - we're falling further and further into the GOP inferno of greed, cruelty, and lies.
I can't answer why we, as Democrats, have lacked in aggressiveness. I can only submit my own observations for why people (including myself) fail to act. These are extremely general umbrellas, but I feel most other reasons are subcategories of the following:
1) Inconvenience
2) Coercion of some nature (incentivized to act -or- threatened into not acting)
3) Ignorance
I'd surmise that inconvenience and ignorance are the most common, and therefore, the most likely culprit of inaction. Unfortunately we have neither the luxury of ambivalence nor the warm swaddle of oblivion. The commercial break is over, the match is back on, and we're in the final 30 seconds...
Well no one likes responding to their own post, but here we have it...
I believe, judging by the volume of crickets in response to the 3 reasons I put forth (for why people don't act when they definitely should) in the above post, we have our answer for the # 1 cause of inaction: It is inconvenient, AND uncomfortable.
Reflecting upon our collective shoulder shrugging in past situations of dire consequence (Bush Jr's gift of the presidency from the Supreme Court, illegal wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, not taking a solid stand on upholding mask mandates during the Covid pandemic, on and on...), I can only conclude from my tiny and unimportant window that doing a thing, standing up, or (oh no!) - changing routine - are just too much to ask. It is, simply, inconvenient.
"Give me convenience, or give me death".
Embarrassing.
I might have disagreed with or corrected you on another thread, but man I am with you 100% on this post and others of yours on this thread.
Me too. Some of the best posts I've read... filled with facts & thoughtful insight... are right here! That includes yours, W. Farrar! Yours are always smart & on point. Any topic. And learned things I did not know tonite, like about why blacks use that n-word that I take such offense to! (Long wondered about that 1)
I was a county chair in the democratic party in my past life. It was difficult to shake off the feeling that there is no such thing as "The Democratic Party." the Demos share, possibly only one thing in common: they prioritize the common citizen more than the Repubs. Which ain't sayin much. And even here we must recognize the obvious fakers: Manchin and Sinema, who is now an independent, read her as Republican. Manchin is a "Sleeper" for the Republican Party just as Bill Clinton was.
Clinton was the best Republican President we have had since Grover Cleveland. Both were Democrats in name only. The republicans ARE a Party. they ARE unified by their love of "The Morbidly Rich," Thank you for the label Mr. Hartman.
Do not be overly impressed by the commentators who talk about the "split" in the Republican Party. The Elephants are not as divided as you think.
By comparison, it is not a surprise to me that old Joe appointed Garland, only a disappointment. It is not surprising that the Donkeys are perhaps Jackasses who fail to exploit opportunities when they occur.
Bill Clinton betrayed and destroyed his base and the Democratic party, because he was actually not financially solvent, and the Plutocrats funded him after retirement through a non profit, which he headed called the Clinton Global Initiative, one of his programs brought havoc to Haiti, because he convinced some industries to set up shop in Haiti, because of their unemployment and eagerness to work, so they paid them slave wages, which only made the situation worse.
It was Newt Gringrich, constantly attacking him, that drove the people to the poles, in a reaction, and it was James Carville, who kept saying "It is the economy stupid". Frankly people were so turned off by Gingrich and the Republicans that they voted for Clinton despite the stains on Monica's dress. That was a problem between Bill and Hillary, Hillary turned a blind eye because she had presidential ambitions,and the DNC put their thumb on the scale for a tried and true, loyal race horse, that gained the credentials that the CFR and Plutocrats thought were necessary, foreign service credentials.
I am positive that she would be every bit of the corporatist neo liberal as Bill, and like Bill sell her base down the river especially racial minorities, the very ones that had her win the primary. those myopic "wise women" of South Carolina
Mr. Farrar,I did not know he was insolvent. I knew about Haiti. I had close friends who lived there and I have read about that place. I agree with all you said.
Gerald, that is a rather harsh criticism of Clinton, but I see where you are coming from. I wish we could return to the budget surpluses of those years without MAGA.
For one Clinton signed NAFTA into law and that sent many jobs over seas. That bill was executed by Reagan and doubt Clinton. He was somewhat a NEOLIBERAL.
Reagan was president long before Clinton signed NAFTA and the new NAFTA like GAAT.
No, The Reagan admin wrote the bill then Clinton signed it into law when he was elected.
Reagan was president from 1981 - 1989 .followed by Pappy Bush, then Clinton from 1993 -2001
Obviously Reagan did not write NAFTA and the updated GAAT which further empowered the Plutocrats.. The New GAAT was put together by Plutocrats while Clinton was in office, the same for NAFTA. If I am wrong then link please.
I will tell you the most authoritarian peace of legislation recently passed That is the PATRIOT act, but that was drawn up during Clinton's administration, shelved in a desk until the timing was right, and 9/11 provided that excuse. Such a legislation, generally takes many months, even a year to put together, but it was yanked out of drawer and put before Congress and signed by Dubya in an earth shattering month and a half (Oct 26, 2001), the bill is so complicated and consuming that it should have taken a year to hash together, and would have been met with an outcry.
In fact Julian Assange and Snowden performed a patriotic function by revealing the fascism of the PATRIOT act, initially the left applauded them, made them hero's,, but after Hillary as SoS, tried to extradite and punish him, and he retaliated by exposing her emails, he suddenly became the bugaboo of the very same people, despite the fact that Hillary was not reliable, trustworthy and the partner of a man that sold out his base (Women, gays, POC, and union, Biden who had no bank account that matters, left the office virtually penniless and was saved by the Plutocrats, as a reward for supporting them with NAFTA GATT and other measures, with his own 401(c) The Clinton Global Initiative from which he draws a lucrative salary.
It is past time to shed the tried and experienced candidates, who are old, tired, entrenched neo liberals and allow the cream to rise to the top, instead of skimming it off.
The DNC has had no luck with these old tired, loyal race horses who have been biding their time, growing old and entrenched in the past, such as Hillary, McAuliffe and even Biden.
Biden didn't win the election, Trump lost. The voters got off their asses, shook off the lethargy and turned out, 81 million strong, to show Trump the door, but the Democrats have wasted their opportunity, by staying silent and pretending that being moderate pays off, and that they are mired in bipartisanship, compromise and collegiality.
Those days are long gone, and it appears that Joe has waken up or his staff has, but it is probably too late. If the polls are right. However only the media loves polls, because they love a horse race, TV loves and needs competition, all reality shows are based on competition and betrayal, from Survivors and Hell's Kitchen and Now Golden bachelor, mind numbing B.S. for half awake, somnolent public.
Great night to be here reading posts of knowledgeable folks who have also spent much time thinking about these things & putting them in context with these & other facts. For me, a great night's read! Feeling less discouraged than usual thanks to ya'll. Thanks for that ~ I needed it!!
NAFTA was/is a great treaty.
How? It pushed industry out of the US where corporations could now exploit labor across the world and screw American labor out of decent wages.
We will always disagree. Peace.
Explain why.
Increases trade with neighbor countries and saves the average American family $$$. Needs to be adjusted every few years.
What about the people in the Great Lakes, from Wisconsin to Pennsylfania and NY? Clinton turned the unionized industrial states in to a rust belt, the swing states, that switched from Democrat to Republican and whose electoral votes made Trump President and it looks like they will be doing it again.
So much for being able to buy Pizza, wine,beer and drive a new car every three to six years. Clinton is where Democracy began it's death dance.
So your answer to someone who doesn’t agree with you is to shut them down?? Not very smart. Rather then have dialog , we will never agree.” A fossilized mind is not a healthy one. Have a grandiose day.
Right, Like we are saving currently? Corporations are gouging the bejesus out of us all. I think NAFTA screwed us big time.
The criticism of Clinton is well earned and accurate. He is and always have been a self centered man, with no principles or moral center.
I agree with you about Manchin but at least he is still voting with democrats on most things and is giving us a majority in The senate. I can’t stand the guy but I doubt WV would vote for a democrat who didn’t support coal.
What is it with these imbeciles and their dick pics. Do they honestly think women swoon over their dicks. It is all narcissism and the desire to have self sex, as far as I can see. And it is pure stupidity to upload anything to "the cloud", just as social media is stupid, if one cares about their employability, reputation and the future Tick Tock challenges are examples of pure stupidity, what rational person honestly cares what forever strangers may think.
But that is the way we are raised. To devalue ourselves and to overvalue the opinions of others, which is ridiculous because, despite movies and books, there are no real mind readers.
There is no way we can know what someone else thinks, so the only thing we can do is project. Thus a person who takes selfies, especially of their genitals, are deep into self love. I will give an exception or two, for a selfie that show a person next to landmark, or the likes of a water fall.
The pictures are to compensate for their small brains.
LOL.
Obviously you have never taken drugs or become an Alcoholic.
If you are talking to me. I never have taken drugs,and not even prescription drugs, I fear PhRMA and pay attention to all of the dangers they mention, so fastly, in their lying ads.
How ever I started drinking at age 15, it built over time till I really screwed up my life at age 50, then I sobered up and everything changed, including my political world view.
Sobering up I went from a right winger to a progressive. It is amazing how the world looks when you aren't numbed by addictions.
I think I was replying to you.
On drugs people do the most ridiculous things including alcohol. I've had a few bad times too but not for any length of time.
I was talking about Hunter.
Thanks I understand. At least you had more strength than me. It took me a third DUI, and time in jail, plus it cost me thousands of dollars for me to give up my addiction, yet I still had an addiction to tobacco, that started at age 12, finally quit at age 69, one year too late. genetically if I had quit one year earlier I would not have had lung cancer. Never ever did drugs, not even in Vietnam, even today I don't do prescription drugs, except metformin, for diabetes, I have the immune system of someone in their 20's, same with blood pressure.
As for Hunter legacy kids are a major problem in this country. Entitled assholes, who never had to earn a living on their own talents, they live on and succeed because of their rich and famous parents. True of Hollywood, Industry, and media. Famous examples are Bush, Daddy Bush was the son of Prescott Bush of Harriman Brown an investment banker, that bankrolled Hitler, at least at the start, Dubya got commissioned straight out of Basic training, never went to Officers Training school, there is so many examples in Hollywood that it would take a long paragraph, then there Trumps evil kids, and Hunter, who knows what else, and Chelsea Clinton is being groomed and making political noises. FDR's sons were
These kids do not have the skills and talents to make it on their own, at least not to live in the style to which they have become accustomed. Like the Kochs and Trump. How many heirs have become the chairman of the Board of a corporation, like Lachlan Murdoch. Too many to count.
Poor spoiled entitled legacy brats, Hunter included.
SCOTUS says college admission based on race is unconstitutional, because it isn't in the constitution but they and the media are silent as lambs,when it comes to legacy brats.,
I did crash my car, that is when I stopped.
Yes I agree entitlement for rich kids is deplorable as HC would say!
Nepotism rules,and it has from the beginning of time. Our 2nd Presidents son, John Quincy Adams was our 6th President. Dubya the son of G.H.W Bush.
There is and has been since the Revolution, a class of nobility, without the titles, bows and curtsy's of England. Which is actually better, because they live behind long, long driveways and gated communities, or gated estates.
Virginia had (and has) a Tidewater aristocracy, that is invisible now, but only joined the revolution, because they saw a chance to become the nobility in a new country.
This would be nobility in 1775 was comprised of the heirs of the Royalists who fled to Virginia in the wake of the Parliamentarian Victory in the English Civil war.. They produced 12 of the first presidents of this country.
The Virginians, and Carolinians wanted nothing to do with replacing one set of overlords (the British) with a set of homegrown nobility the Tidewater aristocrats, all of whom were planters and slave owners.
To sway the common man, the farmer, the tradesman, the merchant, the laborer to support the revolution, they appointed Committees for Public Safety, whose job was to monitor the behavior and thoughts (through speech) of the public, to isolate and punish loyalists.
That was not enough so they turned to pamphleteers like Thomas Paine (Rights of Man, Common Sense) published in Philadelphia by Ben Franklin and Rittenhouse, but worked but all too well, because the common man was not about to permit a new class of overlords, a homegrown nobility, however their reluctance saved the arses of the new class. They maintained power and control, because of their wealth and through their wealth, political power and influence, but now instead of the visibility that being titled and called my Lord, or My Grace. They were able to hide in their plantation homes, at the end of a long, long driveway, out of public view, and that proved to be better at protecting their lives, lifestyle and wealth.
With the restoration of Charles II, the grandsons, great grandsons of those Royalists who fled to Virginia, were wealthy planters and members of the House of Burgess, displacing the original upper class, who were adventurers of purse and person., like my 9th great grandfather.
As they were cousins of the English nobility, they displayed their wealth by making an aliyah to England, and the more trips, the more wealth (keeping up with and impressing your peers was then as important to the obscenely wealthy upper class as it is today.
Problem for them was that in London, Warwickshire, Oxfordshire they were considered country bumpkins, because of their speech and manners.
The southern brogue, is a product of the speech of Surrey, from which most of the indentured servants and tradesman that were transported to Virginia called home.
The Surrey Speechway was too vulgar for the London ear, and was a derivative of Saxon speech, so around 1700 George III issued a decree outlawing the brogue, however since the Southern speechway, is a descendant of the Surrey accent, modified by adoption of the speech of the slaves, and immigrants. The nobility of England considered it ridiculous, and made fun of the Tidewater Aristocrats that journeyed to England.
Thus the motivation for the Tidewater aristocrats to join the revolution and become nobility.
These people were wealthy, in fact invoices from George Washington's estate, shows him purchasing fine goods, silverware, cloths, furniture and China from Richard Farrar and Company of London,as late as 1775. The taxes and stamp act placed no burden on them, and South Carolina , which produced the most Loyalist Militias) was just happy being a colony, as its planters were just fine with trade with England, as England was its primary buyer for it's agricultural products, especially cotton.
Whereas in Boston, the merchants were heavily penalized by taxes and finally the Stamp Act, which forced the most prominent merchants like John Hancock, the Adams and Paul Revere to lead a revolt, as they were forced into smuggling, and the penalty for smuggling hanging, thus Ben Franklins, we hang alone or hang together. The motivation of the Philadelpians and the Bostonians was economic, the motivation of the Virginians was social and privilge, as they were rich planters and not at all disadvantaged by the taxes and Stamp Act.
Bet you were never taught that in school or college.
Nails it again!
Thanks to Thom and Marcy, I now have a more clear explanation of Hunter's laptop scam. Could Hunter have been that gullible and the Russians that organized and technically competent to get away with this capper? Boggles my mind. I originally had a hope that Ukraine had a chance but looking at the Russian economy and their plans for the future, I have sobered up. Russia is stronger than I thought and they don't give a damn about how many humans are lost in their attempt at great Russia. Putin, it is said to have survived four assassination attempts so far and he appears to be healthy. MAGA wants to stop Ukraine aid as well. I just don't know if Ukraine can do it now.
Russia hacked Hunter's cloud, transferred the data to a computer, which some agent dropped off at a blind man's "computer repair shop". Only a fool uploads data to the cloud. Google tells me every so often that I have an empty drop box,but it will remain forever empty. Momma didn't raise a fool.
Same here. I’ve always figured that the cloud could be compromised.
The phone number provided to call and complain disconnects immediately when the call goes through.
Oh really!?! Figures. So many things are just for show... no substance!
I watch the hearings on C-Span quite a bit. The Democrats certainly have not been silent about the Trumps and their corruption. When a committee member mentions the Bidens, the Democratic members bring-up the Trumps.
The whole strategy of the Republicans and Trump is to declare victory and then ignore the facts. They declared victory about Russian influence, and the nuances of Robert Mueller's report helped them convince their base that there was NO influence. These are people who don't do nuance. We know what Putin did and is still doing---they do not want to know.
But here's the problem, Hunter WAS hanging out with Russians, and that along with the sex, drugs, and selling your name does not play well with anyone. Seems both candidates have kids like that. The difference is Biden tried to help his son get away, but Trump was the one that set his children on the path to Putin.
What a damn mess!
I cannot disagree,in fact I agree, the onus is on the Democrats, because the only place you see the Democrats stand up is on CSPAN, even on MSBNC, I watch them wiggle, distract and obfuscate to change the subject when asked raw questions. Party loyalty above all, even loyalty to country.
But worst of all it is the corporate media, which tones down the criticism of the Right Wing, while harping on pecadillos of some Democrats that say nothing about eh same when it comes to Republicans. For instance they are all over Hunter Biden, even on "liberal MSNBC,WAPO and NYT, but nary a word about Ivanka and Jr, especially their cozy and financially rewarding relationship with China the Kingdom and the Gulf States,not to mention Russia via Daddy.
Want to put your finger on the problem? The corporate media, any media that is financed via advertising is under the thumb of the advertising monopoly who monitors their performance and direct ads to those that have the most viewers, and those who have the most viewers are those with news readers and hosts, who hype the culture war and defend corporations and the Plutocrats.
Thom Hartman on Free speech media is doing a brilliant job.
An excellent, brilliant job. Jeez... if only the smarter, informed minds here could run the Country for a bit, we'd be better off!
So true, that!
RASKIN made a motion to supeana Rudy and Les. Panel voted 20 19 to table. Gopigs got the majority. 80 million eligible voters did not vote in 2020.
That’s obscene
Billionaires for jingoism and citizens united. Billionaires love SCOTUS and Trump.