i agree MTG is Trump without Trump. Trump is the pustule that erupted on the body politic, a virus that has been laying low and growing making itself felt, until it erupted in 2016.
MTG is part of that virus. The pustule has been too much, as it showed what the virus really is.
Why do you believe Kinzinger is a Trojan horse? I don't see that at all. I've been following his Country First organization since he started it and think he's genuine when he says "country above politics." He's one of only ten Republicans who voted to impeach Trump in 2021 and paid for it politically, just like Liz Cheney. He's undoubtedly a conservative, but he has integrity and principles and expects our leaders to have them, too. He certainly has not changed with the wind and is still calling Trump out on his Youtube channel.
Kinzinger was our Congressman, and he nearly always voted with Trump. If he could bring himself to say "people over politics", I might think he has changed. Republicans' ideas of what country means aren't mine. The purpose of government is for the people to meet the needs that they can't meet individually, collectively.
He is an opportunist, just like MTG. Kinzinger was redistricted out of his job when the Illinois map was redrawn. That is when he decided, "Country over politics." He never even bothered to answer questions from his constituents or try to help with problems concerning Social Security or anything else.
The “two Santas” strategy has worked for Republicans since the Reagan administration…drive up the national debt as high as possible with massive tax breaks for the very richest among us. Then Democrats come in to clean up the mess, which made it far more difficult to fund Medicare, Social Security & other domestic programs…because Republicans scream bloody murder about the national Debt when Democrats are in office.
I believe it is incumbent upon this post and others to ware people who are 63-64 about the disadvantages of medicare advantage. Maybe Thom can list them,so all of us who subscribe can talk to those becoming eligible. I believe that medicare advantage sale were suspended a few yrs ago,because of the fraud. I may need some help with this,if any other subscribers want to jump in with facts,not opinions,it would be much appreciated.
Tom i would also like to know from MTG how she went from a net value of 700 thousand before her faray into fascism and her exit with at, what is it, 25 miliion? How exactly did she accomplise that? How exactly do fascist and some democratic congressmen and senators do that?
Should I run for congress and accept checks from the NRA, the heritage foundations cronies, the insider traided stock deals. The deals from the rich who want to have their way? The... 🤔
A comment on the GI Bill. I worked my way through college as a busboy and in my senior year as an insurance fraud investigator, graduating in 1970 debt-free, only to go to war under the draft. After the vietnam War, I completed my MA on the GI Bill 18 months later. The GI Bill only paid tuition at a state university. I also had to work as a research assistant and run growth groups in the university Counseling Center to pay rent and eat. It took until 1980 to earn my doctorate. Again, I worked as a research assistant the entire time, which granted me free tuition and enough income to pay the rent and eat. I again graduated debt-free. Too late to do my peers and me any good, America's changing to the all-volunteer military raised pay from subsistence to a living wage, and the GI Bill finally could get you through college to a BA almost debt-free.
While in Grad school, I met Axel, my BFF from Germany, who was getting his MBA. That friendship led to annual visits to Europe starting in about 1984, when he married an American and returned to Stuttgart. With at minimum at least one visit to Europe every year, I became quite familiar with daily life in the EU. My growing familiarity with Europe led to periodic assignments in Europe, where I met my Bulgarian spouse. My EU work continued until retiring in 2012, including serving as the NIH liaison to the EU Research Council in Brussels.
I can say with 50 years of experience and living each summer since retiring in our house in Europe that not only does the average European live better than the average American, they do it on less income, working only 11 months a year due to a month's paid vacation. For most, healthcare is a right, not a paid privilege. Both factors extend life expectancy beyond that of the smug US proletariat who refer to themselves, rather than their country, as capitalists, despite living paycheck to paycheck like any prole. EU education is subsidized, from kindergarten through college - as long as one qualifies by aptitude (not super high). Wealthy EU citizens have the option of paying cash for health and education, so they cannot bitch that their rights are being trampled by "socialist" governance.
Nine EU countries still have a military draft, and thanks to President Bonspurs, his fellow racketeer, Putin, has encouraged several more EU countries (and apparently the USA) to reinstate their draft.
I hated the draft because it disrupted my education for 4 years while I risked my life for an unwinnable, pointless war in Asia. However, as I moved into middle age, I realized that I was first in my class in grad school, and highly successful in my subsequent career in part because of my military experiences and the maturity derived from the mandated self-discipline. So maybe mandatory government service might not be such a bad idea after all. Who knows? It might make voters more careful about who they choose to govern the nation.
Tom, you are a master writer and master thinker. I wish I had your talents. I now have read 16 of your works that should live on forever. You are a genius.
Ok. I now feel like i am kissing...
Moving forward. You are totally right on all of this. I would love to hear fascists and billionaires on your show explaining themselves calmly and rarionally without this fear, disgust and hate against liberals and liberalism they seem to possess. Please, i say, tell us what is on your mind so we can decide if we are for your or against your ideas. They don't do that however. They fear people who think. They fear rejection of their ideas and ideals. They know that most people in America are against racism, bigotry, white supremacy, nazism, the kkk, misogyny, the greed and gluttony of the rich and the would be rich. They know it in their bones. These fascists are very defensive. Who wants to talk to a crowd of educated people who do not really believe in your goals. They need to talk to people who will take orders. Remember these are con men, grifters, who want to talk to those they can bamboozal , who will accept their promises at face value. Who will buy their snake oil ,if you will.
Take the Rump cult members from the rust belt for example. They themselves are a financially poor minority. The democratic governments have not made them rich, millionaires thay want to become. Along comes tRump, the "Apprentice" millionaire they have seen on tv who promises them riches, a way out of their financial mess. All is good, he tells them as long as you vote for me. I can fix your problems. These folks are desperate. They want the American dream they were promised ( that repubiicans took away from them) so they sign on. Only he can save us. So, they sign on. He is our savior they think. ONLY, he can save us Only he can save us. The dems have not helped us. They don't realize it's a con until it's too late.
I could go on but this is a comment after all not a dissertation. Think about it though. Think of what these cult members are going through and why they have signed on to -the tRump cult. If you are an educated dem this will help make things more clear.
The message needs to be not only the fascist failures, the con-con, but what we can do for them. That will win the next election if we actually have one.
It would not solve all the great problems of the Trumpist era, but could start the ball rolling on one or more of the topics you have listed - keep trrying - and perhaps there are other significant Republicans who could bring similar surprises by joining you -
Just as Mayor Pete goes willingly into their "Lions' dens"... Bravery personified!
I have no problem with listening to someone, but MTG was part and parcel of MAGA and look where we are now. That recently she has said a few things the rest of have said for years doesn't rehabilitate her in my view. The Strait of Hormuz is or should be the focal point of the world. Trump, Hegseth, show no signs of deescalating. If they are stupid enough to attack Iranian energy infrastructure and the Iranians attack other countries energy infrastructure we are looking at worldwide recession maybe depression. If someone can tell me how we can extricate ourselves from this highly possible outcome I'm all ears. I'll even listen to Marge.
Do it MTG! Thom's are reasonable questions and we the American public deserve real answers that will lead us to a future that is affordable and sustainable. Be a leader that makes a difference! Start by discussing where we are with Thom, and go from there.
Excellent writing Thom .I see and love the fact that you pulled out the older Republicans who actually started the mess we have today .My Dad loved Reagan. Wrote him letter after letter and never showed me one of them .He knew I wasn't a chip off his Goldwater stump
.I told him time after time that the man was a liar and that those lining up behind him were crazy men who felt they deserved to follow him in History. But cancer took hm before we ever had the "REAL" debate. My dad was a good man. Bad beliefs, but he let me grow up on my own and I love him for that1
All very convincing, Thom, but how do we get it across to the masses in today's siloed medial landscape, where false conscious is king? I'm about to read "Shadow Network" by Anne Nelson, which addresses this very question. To my mind, that effective veil of untruth stabilizes our downward slide into national decline and disintegrating democracy. Our only hope is that enough people feel disgusted to embrace enough progressive office holders, but this feels like a long shot, if it's even possible in some long run.
Very clever and classy way to extend the invitation 👍
MTG may be a Trojan Horse, as I believe Adam Kinzinger is. When somebody changes with the wind, be careful.
i agree MTG is Trump without Trump. Trump is the pustule that erupted on the body politic, a virus that has been laying low and growing making itself felt, until it erupted in 2016.
MTG is part of that virus. The pustule has been too much, as it showed what the virus really is.
MTG is a political opportunist.
Among other things
Why do you believe Kinzinger is a Trojan horse? I don't see that at all. I've been following his Country First organization since he started it and think he's genuine when he says "country above politics." He's one of only ten Republicans who voted to impeach Trump in 2021 and paid for it politically, just like Liz Cheney. He's undoubtedly a conservative, but he has integrity and principles and expects our leaders to have them, too. He certainly has not changed with the wind and is still calling Trump out on his Youtube channel.
Kinzinger was our Congressman, and he nearly always voted with Trump. If he could bring himself to say "people over politics", I might think he has changed. Republicans' ideas of what country means aren't mine. The purpose of government is for the people to meet the needs that they can't meet individually, collectively.
He is an opportunist, just like MTG. Kinzinger was redistricted out of his job when the Illinois map was redrawn. That is when he decided, "Country over politics." He never even bothered to answer questions from his constituents or try to help with problems concerning Social Security or anything else.
On the other hand, sometimes converts are more passionate and effective, although I'm not sure that MTG is a convert, except for certain problems.
As usual, this was a great post by Mr. Hartmann.
The “two Santas” strategy has worked for Republicans since the Reagan administration…drive up the national debt as high as possible with massive tax breaks for the very richest among us. Then Democrats come in to clean up the mess, which made it far more difficult to fund Medicare, Social Security & other domestic programs…because Republicans scream bloody murder about the national Debt when Democrats are in office.
I believe it is incumbent upon this post and others to ware people who are 63-64 about the disadvantages of medicare advantage. Maybe Thom can list them,so all of us who subscribe can talk to those becoming eligible. I believe that medicare advantage sale were suspended a few yrs ago,because of the fraud. I may need some help with this,if any other subscribers want to jump in with facts,not opinions,it would be much appreciated.
Tom i would also like to know from MTG how she went from a net value of 700 thousand before her faray into fascism and her exit with at, what is it, 25 miliion? How exactly did she accomplise that? How exactly do fascist and some democratic congressmen and senators do that?
Should I run for congress and accept checks from the NRA, the heritage foundations cronies, the insider traided stock deals. The deals from the rich who want to have their way? The... 🤔
A comment on the GI Bill. I worked my way through college as a busboy and in my senior year as an insurance fraud investigator, graduating in 1970 debt-free, only to go to war under the draft. After the vietnam War, I completed my MA on the GI Bill 18 months later. The GI Bill only paid tuition at a state university. I also had to work as a research assistant and run growth groups in the university Counseling Center to pay rent and eat. It took until 1980 to earn my doctorate. Again, I worked as a research assistant the entire time, which granted me free tuition and enough income to pay the rent and eat. I again graduated debt-free. Too late to do my peers and me any good, America's changing to the all-volunteer military raised pay from subsistence to a living wage, and the GI Bill finally could get you through college to a BA almost debt-free.
While in Grad school, I met Axel, my BFF from Germany, who was getting his MBA. That friendship led to annual visits to Europe starting in about 1984, when he married an American and returned to Stuttgart. With at minimum at least one visit to Europe every year, I became quite familiar with daily life in the EU. My growing familiarity with Europe led to periodic assignments in Europe, where I met my Bulgarian spouse. My EU work continued until retiring in 2012, including serving as the NIH liaison to the EU Research Council in Brussels.
I can say with 50 years of experience and living each summer since retiring in our house in Europe that not only does the average European live better than the average American, they do it on less income, working only 11 months a year due to a month's paid vacation. For most, healthcare is a right, not a paid privilege. Both factors extend life expectancy beyond that of the smug US proletariat who refer to themselves, rather than their country, as capitalists, despite living paycheck to paycheck like any prole. EU education is subsidized, from kindergarten through college - as long as one qualifies by aptitude (not super high). Wealthy EU citizens have the option of paying cash for health and education, so they cannot bitch that their rights are being trampled by "socialist" governance.
Nine EU countries still have a military draft, and thanks to President Bonspurs, his fellow racketeer, Putin, has encouraged several more EU countries (and apparently the USA) to reinstate their draft.
I hated the draft because it disrupted my education for 4 years while I risked my life for an unwinnable, pointless war in Asia. However, as I moved into middle age, I realized that I was first in my class in grad school, and highly successful in my subsequent career in part because of my military experiences and the maturity derived from the mandated self-discipline. So maybe mandatory government service might not be such a bad idea after all. Who knows? It might make voters more careful about who they choose to govern the nation.
Respect.
Tom, you are a master writer and master thinker. I wish I had your talents. I now have read 16 of your works that should live on forever. You are a genius.
Ok. I now feel like i am kissing...
Moving forward. You are totally right on all of this. I would love to hear fascists and billionaires on your show explaining themselves calmly and rarionally without this fear, disgust and hate against liberals and liberalism they seem to possess. Please, i say, tell us what is on your mind so we can decide if we are for your or against your ideas. They don't do that however. They fear people who think. They fear rejection of their ideas and ideals. They know that most people in America are against racism, bigotry, white supremacy, nazism, the kkk, misogyny, the greed and gluttony of the rich and the would be rich. They know it in their bones. These fascists are very defensive. Who wants to talk to a crowd of educated people who do not really believe in your goals. They need to talk to people who will take orders. Remember these are con men, grifters, who want to talk to those they can bamboozal , who will accept their promises at face value. Who will buy their snake oil ,if you will.
Take the Rump cult members from the rust belt for example. They themselves are a financially poor minority. The democratic governments have not made them rich, millionaires thay want to become. Along comes tRump, the "Apprentice" millionaire they have seen on tv who promises them riches, a way out of their financial mess. All is good, he tells them as long as you vote for me. I can fix your problems. These folks are desperate. They want the American dream they were promised ( that repubiicans took away from them) so they sign on. Only he can save us. So, they sign on. He is our savior they think. ONLY, he can save us Only he can save us. The dems have not helped us. They don't realize it's a con until it's too late.
I could go on but this is a comment after all not a dissertation. Think about it though. Think of what these cult members are going through and why they have signed on to -the tRump cult. If you are an educated dem this will help make things more clear.
The message needs to be not only the fascist failures, the con-con, but what we can do for them. That will win the next election if we actually have one.
Well said.
Very well put:
It would not solve all the great problems of the Trumpist era, but could start the ball rolling on one or more of the topics you have listed - keep trrying - and perhaps there are other significant Republicans who could bring similar surprises by joining you -
Just as Mayor Pete goes willingly into their "Lions' dens"... Bravery personified!
I have no problem with listening to someone, but MTG was part and parcel of MAGA and look where we are now. That recently she has said a few things the rest of have said for years doesn't rehabilitate her in my view. The Strait of Hormuz is or should be the focal point of the world. Trump, Hegseth, show no signs of deescalating. If they are stupid enough to attack Iranian energy infrastructure and the Iranians attack other countries energy infrastructure we are looking at worldwide recession maybe depression. If someone can tell me how we can extricate ourselves from this highly possible outcome I'm all ears. I'll even listen to Marge.
Amen!
I think this would be a fascinating conversation, honestly.
Do it MTG! Thom's are reasonable questions and we the American public deserve real answers that will lead us to a future that is affordable and sustainable. Be a leader that makes a difference! Start by discussing where we are with Thom, and go from there.
I hope she accepts your invitation! 🥰
Excellent writing Thom .I see and love the fact that you pulled out the older Republicans who actually started the mess we have today .My Dad loved Reagan. Wrote him letter after letter and never showed me one of them .He knew I wasn't a chip off his Goldwater stump
.I told him time after time that the man was a liar and that those lining up behind him were crazy men who felt they deserved to follow him in History. But cancer took hm before we ever had the "REAL" debate. My dad was a good man. Bad beliefs, but he let me grow up on my own and I love him for that1
Or is Marjorie just re-positioning herself to run for governor? She would know she has to move a little left of that far red district she took over.
All very convincing, Thom, but how do we get it across to the masses in today's siloed medial landscape, where false conscious is king? I'm about to read "Shadow Network" by Anne Nelson, which addresses this very question. To my mind, that effective veil of untruth stabilizes our downward slide into national decline and disintegrating democracy. Our only hope is that enough people feel disgusted to embrace enough progressive office holders, but this feels like a long shot, if it's even possible in some long run.