So here it is, a precise blueprint for how an already unwell American democracy will perish under our incoming disadministration.
Thom, you really couldn't have spelled it out any more clearly or distilled it to a more basic level. I believe your words. They're in harmony with what is.
My question is this: what can we average vermin do about it? I might be wrong, but power only respects power - and "our" powerful seem to be MIA for the most critical battle in American history.
I'm afraid, my friend, that we can do nothing to prevent our democracy's demise. We must prepare for the impact by getting our houses in order—paying down debt, stocking up on essentials, holding our loved ones closer, etc.—and then waiting out the storm. We may also have to protect the most vulnerable from persecution through nonviolent passive resistance and civil disobedience.
There you go Stephen, passive restance and guerilla warfare by sabotage,passive resistance, throwing a monkey wrench into the gears, pouring sugar into the gas tank..
Be careful of what you say on the internet or celll phones.
In the wake of 9/11 Bush pulled out of a drawer a plan that was formulated and refined during the Clinton Administration, for a national security state, called the PATRIOT Act, in it was authorization for the creation of a humongous data center, and it was build as fast as possible in Bluffdale, UT it has the ability and does sniff all electronic communications but was initially restricted to communications between the states and foreign entitities. Initially I said. It has since been authorized to sniff all communications period, but has supposedly restricted to those that pertain to Islamic terrorism.
With the DNI under the control of a Russia asset named Tulsi Gabbard, and Trump paranoid, you can assume that all electronic communications are being sniffed, at the speed of light, especially now that they have AI as a tool.
Do they still hang traitors who foment violence against the government? Because, see, I know this bloviating, puss-gut, dick-head, asshole hypocrite on January 6th, 2021, who ... oh, never mind.
As civilized people, we don't advocate for a physically violent revolution but rather a more profound revolution of thought and mind. An honest, deep-down change must take place psychologically, first individually and then collectively, that will catch fire, reach a critical mass of people, and change the zeitgeist of our era — a genuine passion for life instead of death, for truth instead of lies, like having a thousand, a million, a 100 million Thom Hartmann blogs in the face of every fascist everywhere, every hateful racist, misogynist, xenophobe, religious bigot, science denier, and moneyed-up bastard crawling or slithering across the land.
Why use guns when you can change minds? It's been done before to the nth degree in our recent history: For decades, from Rush Limbaugh to Trump and every reprobate in between, our filthy rich, right-wing overlords have been enthusiastically funding the takeover of our media ecosystem, fomenting a "true revolution" of hate and lies that have brought us to the brink of disaster, the downfall of our democracy and everything we hold dear, changing the spirit and very idea of what we call the "American way."
If the bad guys can win, why can't the good guys (and gals)? Sure, to take back what rightfully belongs to the people is a daunting, seemingly impossible task, especially when the "evil ones" hold most of the cards after stealing the wealth of our nation and consolidating so much power. But we have to begin somewhere.
And that starts with ourselves. If I can't change, how can I expect others to? But if I can resist the pressure of wicked plutocrats in my daily life in every way possible, why can't others resist with the same intensity? And when one voice becomes many, shouting from the rooftops, the media landscape will inevitably change, echoing an irresistible movement.
And so must the Democratic Party change if it will survive as the only political organization big enough to counteract the Republican Party. As Thom says, motivated politicians looking for votes will grab a flag and run to the head of the parade. They represent OUR will and OUR interests; that's how democracy is supposed to work.
When the colonies broke away from the English monarchy, the revolution began in the hearts and minds of citizens fed up with tyranny, who overcame despair and took matters into their own hands to create a better future for themselves, their children, and succeeding generations.
It was a hard-won victory with many pitfalls; still, the revolutionaries finally prevailed in throwing off the yoke of monarchical authoritarianism and creating a government of, by, and for the people, however flawed. It was a novel form of government at the time, thought sure to fail by contemporary nations.
But it survived. Minus armed rebellion, we have to believe that the same spirit of revolution still exists in the hearts and minds of American citizens today, who are oppressed by a similar tyranny of wealth and power that our ancestors rallied against and ultimately defeated against all odds. That unrepressed spirit can and should be reawakened.
Good thoughts Deep Space but not in reality, If good deeds did the job, if well wishes were welcomed, then Trump would not be president, much less a candidate or a billionaire.
Thomas Jefferson wrote that “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.”
The MAGAts the Militias co opted that phrase but it doesn't mean that TJ was wrong. Tump said that the media was the enemy of the people, and he was right, it is because of the media we have to suffer him and MAGAt.
I look to history,how tyranny was overcome. Either from outside,or from inside with violence and sacrifice. violence or as inthe case of India the threat of violence.
I hope you're wrong but fear you're right that violence and/or the threat of widespread violence is in America's near future as a response to tyranny. If anything, history is the tale of human nature acting out. And let's face it: our base instincts haven't evolved as much as our mental acuity.
I doubt said violence will come from the outside since the U.S. is so powerful. So it will be citizen against citizen, a civil war. We're pretty much there, anyway. Tensions are already high — mix in a few more guns, some smuggled explosives, a dash of guerilla warfare, and voilà.
And it will escalate rapidly as Trump's police state will crack down mercilessly, committing ever greater atrocities, pissing off more and more people. It's a frightening scenario, but it's what happens when fascists block the peaceful and legal avenues of protest and resistance.
That’s my question too. Very few seem interested in stopping it before it starts by demanding investigations and obtaining proof of the glaringly obvious fact that the election was stolen. Get proof, jail tramp and associates, problem solved (mostly).
Unfortunately as usually you are so so right besides being a great writer!
My husband and I are Brazilians and LIVED!!! through the stages you described....
But what concerns me the most is that Americans are not reading anything and give me the answer.....o not here....Trump will not be so bad and we can vote in 2 years.....really!!!!I am willing to bet we will not have any elections in 2 years.....
Sorry have PTSD and still remember having treated tortured people while a medical student in the ER under the eyes of the DOPS militia!!!!!
Thank you so much, Sonia, for your all-important contribution to this dialogue — the wisdom of experience.
You are so right about Americans' general naivety about the fatal threat to our democracy that a Trump administration poses. Whistling past the graveyard and hoping for the best is absolutely the wrong approach. A compliant, dishonest media environment in this country has groomed an enormous population of ignorant fools.
The predicate is whether the election was valid. If not, SCOTUS has handed Biden the tools to fix it.
On another site, I said Musk may be vulnerable.In September, DOJ asserted that Sergey Kiriyenko had created some 30 internet domains to spread Russian disinformation, including on Elon Musk’s X which was formerly known as Twitter. In October, the Wall Street Journal disclosed that Musk had been in contact with Kiriyenko and Vladimir Putin which Dmitry Peskov affirmed.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergey_Kiriyenko
Russian businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin said he had interfered in U.S. elections and would continue doing so in future, We have interfered (in U.S. elections), we are interfering and we will continue to interfere. Carefully, accurately, surgically and in our own way, as we know how to do." https://www.reuters.com/world/us/russias-prigozhin-admits-interfering-us-elections-2022-11-07/ What does Musk know and if he does know, when did he know it?
No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.
Evan Burnick and Laurence Tribe on Jessica Denson.
WASHINGTON, Dec 17 (Reuters) - Elon Musk and SpaceX face at least three federal reviews over whether they have complied with federal reporting rules aimed at protecting national security, the New York Times reported on Tuesday.
This is not the first time the security practices of the SpaceX founder have been questioned by the Pentagon.
The Times said the new reviews were initiated by the Air Force, the Defense Department's Inspector General and the undersecretary of defense for intelligence and security. It cited eight people with knowledge of the rocket company and internal documents.
How much money does one narcissistic multi-billionaire need? Read Tolstoy, How Much Land Does a Man Need? How many must die to feed these idiots' egos?
The "singular moment" I fear most is when the Thom Hartmann show and this website are suddenly no longer here. That day will tell us where we all stand. Are we powerless to prevent it from coming to pass? Things are not looking favorable right now. I believe Biden has decided that all hope is lost and the people have done this to themselves, despite his best efforts.
We all must plan for the time when we will need to leave the Internet and find other, more secure, and private ways of communicating. See my Substack for some ideas.
Okay, thanks. I will check it out. I think we will be mostly on our own and forced to wait for attempt #3 to be successful, cholesterol to do its work, or some unforeseen event to dramatically change the landscape. Musk is overplaying his hand and there will be jealousy and rancor from the right and the other billionaires who want power. Let's hope the fight is vicious.
I'm afraid trump learned Too Much his last term and has been setting up his next administration so that it's going to Work without a hitch. The only way he could be stopped, is if Democrats get the majority in both the House and Senate?!! Good article this morning ☕ Thom, and will reStack ASAP 💯
Yesterday they officially started the season of chaos and they are not even officially in office yet .. please God, help us! We aren’t capable of doing it ourselves .. other than the resistance … which shall live on!
Mark my words: if Trump attempts to send the military into California, there WILL be civil war. As usual, Republicans only tout "states rights" when it suits them.
This reminds me of the 3rd Season of "The Twilight Zone."
Trump promised certain low-info, American Idiots a Nirvana of race hate in exchange for their vote.
Episode 24 "To Serve Man."
Michael Chambers lies on a cot in an otherwise empty, locked room. A voice offers him a meal, delivered through a small aperture in the wall. He grimly declines.
The setting changes. Several months earlier, on Earth. The Kanamits, a race of 9-foot-tall (2.7 m) aliens, land on Earth as international crises beset the planet.
As the Secretary-General of the United Nations announces the landing at a news conference, one of the aliens arrives and addresses the assembled delegates and journalists using an artificially created voice. He states that his race's motive in coming to Earth is to provide humanitarian aid by sharing their advanced technology that can easily and inexpensively solve all energy and food shortages and prevent international warfare.
After answering questions, the Kanamit departs without comment and leaves behind a book in his language; Chambers, a cryptographer working for the United States government, is pressed into service to decipher it.
International leaders are wary of the Kanamits' uninvited arrival on Earth but start to believe their claims of benevolence upon seeing their advanced technology at work. Patty, a member of Chambers' staff, translates the book's title as To Serve Man, further bolstering public trust in the Kanamits. One member of the race submits to polygraph-monitored interrogation and is determined to be telling the truth.
The Kanamits deliver on their promise to turn the world into a Utopia, transforming barren deserts into blooming fields. Each nation is given an impenetrable force field that leads to the virtual disbandment of all militaries. Humans soon begin volunteering to travel to the Kanamits' home planet, which is described as a paradise. The Kanamits set up embassies in every country on Earth and weighed all passengers boarding their ships.
Even though Chambers' staff no longer have any real work to do, due to worldwide declarations of peace and the dissolution of the United States Armed Forces, Patty continues her efforts to decode the Kanamits' book. Chambers decides to enjoy the newfound paradise and signs up for his trip to the Kanamits' planet.
As Chambers boards a Kanamit ship, Patty pushes through the waiting line and shouts for him not to go. She has successfully translated To Serve Man and discovered that it is not a book about humanitarian aid, but a COOK book.
Chambers tries to flee, but a guard forces him onto the ship and closes the hatch so it can lift off.
In the present, Chambers angrily throws another meal across the room when it is offered to him.
A Kanamit picks up the food and encourages him to eat so that he will not lose weight.
Chambers addresses the viewers directly and asks whether they have left Earth yet. Then he remarks that the Kanamits will eventually cook and eat all of humanity.
He begins eating his dinner, ending his hunger strike, and surrendering to the Kanamits.
Some (not all) Low-Info, Idiot voters have surrendered their Freedom to an ugly, fat, orange, golf-cheating, wife-raping, daughter-craving Kanamit doofus of a Putin-Puppet.
All because he hates designated out-groups, as do said voters. . . . What a price to pay.
Musk and Trump have gigantic egos. At some point they will clash. Perhaps the best strategy is to help that clash come sooner. Always refer to them as President Musk and his vice president Donald J. Trump.
Thom--You are likely right that the process will continue unless abated by an external shock. Could that shock be dissolving the existing country? There are dozens of hidden land mines in the history of how the U.S. was formed and grew. For example--Could 9 of the original States revoke ratification of the Constitution? Could any State admitted under an enabling act declare that one party to the agreement, the United States, has ceased to exist and, therefore, the State is free to go its own way as independent? Could States pass laws directing that all federal income tax payments be made to the State and distributed within the State? The defense is not to an ordinary issue and should not be ordinary.
Thom, do you read the Bowers report? The writer(s) of that online publication seem to be quite optimistic (at least today) about congressional Democrats' chances to, basically, give the fascists a ROYAL screwing for the next two years. I'll try and send you a copy of their e-mail.
It's not unlikely that someone MAGA will feel empowered to go after Democratic governors, such as Michelle Lujan Grisham. Not like they planned to do against Gretchen Whitmer in Michigan; that didn't turn out well. But by undermining their authority, like they did and do against Tony Evers in Wisconsin and Roy Cooper/Josh Stein in North Carolina.
I’m hoping the billionaires of conscience and attorneys who value democracy will support the legal defenses of all attacked in order to silence us. They must set up a defense fund so journalists won’t be afraid to report the truth. Then there must be counter lawsuits making them pay for using the law to take over the country.
As one who has spent a lot of money trying to fight power I understand why most will give up. The good people with extraordinary wealth must use their wealth to keep the truth alive whether it be for Cassidy Hutchinson, Liz Chaney, Adam Kinzinger or any journalist.
Biden must also give sweeping pardons for the “crime” of supporting democracy to both foil the autocratic use of courts to demolish us and to teach the morons who never learned what democracy is and have little knowledge of history due to our corrupt schools- see WhiteChalkCrime.com - and thus chose cheaper eggs over democracy.
Biden must use sarcasm or whatever it takes to teach that democracy is now a crime. Since it wasn’t taught in our schools he must teach democracy through his actions. It’s time he learned what’s been going on in our schools.
He and all leaders who write about what’s going on must teach democracy as they write. Do not just write for the intelligent people at these sites. Write for the people who were undereducated so they’d let this happen. Write for the teachers unions who knew how corrupt administrators are but complied because they were afraid just like soon all will be afraid of Trump. Write so the unions will fess up and admit what they did to teachers like me who were trying to do the right thing because we care about democracy. Listen to some of the whistleblowing teachers at WhiteChalkCrime.com so when you write pieces like these you’ll help the intelligent people understand how this happened and what they can do such as run for school boards on a save democracy platform.
You described what is happening well. Please learn how it happened and describe that as well. That’s what we need. We won’t solve a problem until we understand how it happened. It was our schools. Look into that. Read my book that takes you inside our corrupt schools - A Graver Danger - and help us stand strong.
It boggles my mind that Americans are sleepwalking into exactly what Thom describes. I'm a retired blue collar worker with a high school education and I've seen this coming for quite some time. The population is too distracted with social media, culture wars and the price of fucking eggs to see what lies ahead. My Dad fought in WWII and if he were still alive he would be appalled at what his country has become. I certainly am.
Well depending on how the applications are counted we could be as close as 3 states away from having enough to call an Article V convention. (The history is long and confused, but even 6 more or so isn't that many.) If that occurs there are no rules on what it can propose to amend the Constitution. That doesn't mean these changes would get through the required 2/3rds of the states, but it would go a long way towards that and give a blueprint for what the fascists want. And remember, "amending" can lead to "rewriting". This is exactly what happened in 1787 when the Constitutional Convention threw out the Articles of Confederation and started over. That time it worked out well, next time it won't.
What is left to call an Article V convention are Red States Dr Weil. Red States have attained what they have sought since 1860, why would they join in an article V convention?
So here it is, a precise blueprint for how an already unwell American democracy will perish under our incoming disadministration.
Thom, you really couldn't have spelled it out any more clearly or distilled it to a more basic level. I believe your words. They're in harmony with what is.
My question is this: what can we average vermin do about it? I might be wrong, but power only respects power - and "our" powerful seem to be MIA for the most critical battle in American history.
I'm afraid, my friend, that we can do nothing to prevent our democracy's demise. We must prepare for the impact by getting our houses in order—paying down debt, stocking up on essentials, holding our loved ones closer, etc.—and then waiting out the storm. We may also have to protect the most vulnerable from persecution through nonviolent passive resistance and civil disobedience.
There you go Stephen, passive restance and guerilla warfare by sabotage,passive resistance, throwing a monkey wrench into the gears, pouring sugar into the gas tank..
Or not so passive resistance.
Be careful of what you say on the internet or celll phones.
In the wake of 9/11 Bush pulled out of a drawer a plan that was formulated and refined during the Clinton Administration, for a national security state, called the PATRIOT Act, in it was authorization for the creation of a humongous data center, and it was build as fast as possible in Bluffdale, UT it has the ability and does sniff all electronic communications but was initially restricted to communications between the states and foreign entitities. Initially I said. It has since been authorized to sniff all communications period, but has supposedly restricted to those that pertain to Islamic terrorism.
With the DNI under the control of a Russia asset named Tulsi Gabbard, and Trump paranoid, you can assume that all electronic communications are being sniffed, at the speed of light, especially now that they have AI as a tool.
Do they still hang traitors who foment violence against the government? Because, see, I know this bloviating, puss-gut, dick-head, asshole hypocrite on January 6th, 2021, who ... oh, never mind.
I share your sentiments, but the last traitors executed were Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, and IMO, they were scapegoats.
As civilized people, we don't advocate for a physically violent revolution but rather a more profound revolution of thought and mind. An honest, deep-down change must take place psychologically, first individually and then collectively, that will catch fire, reach a critical mass of people, and change the zeitgeist of our era — a genuine passion for life instead of death, for truth instead of lies, like having a thousand, a million, a 100 million Thom Hartmann blogs in the face of every fascist everywhere, every hateful racist, misogynist, xenophobe, religious bigot, science denier, and moneyed-up bastard crawling or slithering across the land.
Why use guns when you can change minds? It's been done before to the nth degree in our recent history: For decades, from Rush Limbaugh to Trump and every reprobate in between, our filthy rich, right-wing overlords have been enthusiastically funding the takeover of our media ecosystem, fomenting a "true revolution" of hate and lies that have brought us to the brink of disaster, the downfall of our democracy and everything we hold dear, changing the spirit and very idea of what we call the "American way."
If the bad guys can win, why can't the good guys (and gals)? Sure, to take back what rightfully belongs to the people is a daunting, seemingly impossible task, especially when the "evil ones" hold most of the cards after stealing the wealth of our nation and consolidating so much power. But we have to begin somewhere.
And that starts with ourselves. If I can't change, how can I expect others to? But if I can resist the pressure of wicked plutocrats in my daily life in every way possible, why can't others resist with the same intensity? And when one voice becomes many, shouting from the rooftops, the media landscape will inevitably change, echoing an irresistible movement.
And so must the Democratic Party change if it will survive as the only political organization big enough to counteract the Republican Party. As Thom says, motivated politicians looking for votes will grab a flag and run to the head of the parade. They represent OUR will and OUR interests; that's how democracy is supposed to work.
When the colonies broke away from the English monarchy, the revolution began in the hearts and minds of citizens fed up with tyranny, who overcame despair and took matters into their own hands to create a better future for themselves, their children, and succeeding generations.
It was a hard-won victory with many pitfalls; still, the revolutionaries finally prevailed in throwing off the yoke of monarchical authoritarianism and creating a government of, by, and for the people, however flawed. It was a novel form of government at the time, thought sure to fail by contemporary nations.
But it survived. Minus armed rebellion, we have to believe that the same spirit of revolution still exists in the hearts and minds of American citizens today, who are oppressed by a similar tyranny of wealth and power that our ancestors rallied against and ultimately defeated against all odds. That unrepressed spirit can and should be reawakened.
Good thoughts Deep Space but not in reality, If good deeds did the job, if well wishes were welcomed, then Trump would not be president, much less a candidate or a billionaire.
Exactly!!!
... a shot in the dark.
Thomas Jefferson wrote that “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.”
The MAGAts the Militias co opted that phrase but it doesn't mean that TJ was wrong. Tump said that the media was the enemy of the people, and he was right, it is because of the media we have to suffer him and MAGAt.
MAGA is a creation of the Media.
I look to history,how tyranny was overcome. Either from outside,or from inside with violence and sacrifice. violence or as inthe case of India the threat of violence.
I hope you're wrong but fear you're right that violence and/or the threat of widespread violence is in America's near future as a response to tyranny. If anything, history is the tale of human nature acting out. And let's face it: our base instincts haven't evolved as much as our mental acuity.
I doubt said violence will come from the outside since the U.S. is so powerful. So it will be citizen against citizen, a civil war. We're pretty much there, anyway. Tensions are already high — mix in a few more guns, some smuggled explosives, a dash of guerilla warfare, and voilà.
And it will escalate rapidly as Trump's police state will crack down mercilessly, committing ever greater atrocities, pissing off more and more people. It's a frightening scenario, but it's what happens when fascists block the peaceful and legal avenues of protest and resistance.
That’s my question too. Very few seem interested in stopping it before it starts by demanding investigations and obtaining proof of the glaringly obvious fact that the election was stolen. Get proof, jail tramp and associates, problem solved (mostly).
Unfortunately as usually you are so so right besides being a great writer!
My husband and I are Brazilians and LIVED!!! through the stages you described....
But what concerns me the most is that Americans are not reading anything and give me the answer.....o not here....Trump will not be so bad and we can vote in 2 years.....really!!!!I am willing to bet we will not have any elections in 2 years.....
Sorry have PTSD and still remember having treated tortured people while a medical student in the ER under the eyes of the DOPS militia!!!!!
Best regards
Sonia Obermeyer Imaizumi, MD
Thank you so much, Sonia, for your all-important contribution to this dialogue — the wisdom of experience.
You are so right about Americans' general naivety about the fatal threat to our democracy that a Trump administration poses. Whistling past the graveyard and hoping for the best is absolutely the wrong approach. A compliant, dishonest media environment in this country has groomed an enormous population of ignorant fools.
The predicate is whether the election was valid. If not, SCOTUS has handed Biden the tools to fix it.
On another site, I said Musk may be vulnerable.In September, DOJ asserted that Sergey Kiriyenko had created some 30 internet domains to spread Russian disinformation, including on Elon Musk’s X which was formerly known as Twitter. In October, the Wall Street Journal disclosed that Musk had been in contact with Kiriyenko and Vladimir Putin which Dmitry Peskov affirmed.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergey_Kiriyenko
Russian businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin said he had interfered in U.S. elections and would continue doing so in future, We have interfered (in U.S. elections), we are interfering and we will continue to interfere. Carefully, accurately, surgically and in our own way, as we know how to do." https://www.reuters.com/world/us/russias-prigozhin-admits-interfering-us-elections-2022-11-07/ What does Musk know and if he does know, when did he know it?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_interference_in_the_2024_United_States_elections
Did Musk violate both state and federal election law? In Pa, the penalty can be 7 years in a workhouse.
Plus 14th Amendment Clause 3.
Section 3 Disqualification from Holding Office
No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.
Evan Burnick and Laurence Tribe on Jessica Denson.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOXsuiyWu4w&t=163s
SCOTUS left the fact finding -- Trump as insurrectionist -- and Congressional action open in Colorado v Anderson.
WASHINGTON, Dec 17 (Reuters) - Elon Musk and SpaceX face at least three federal reviews over whether they have complied with federal reporting rules aimed at protecting national security, the New York Times reported on Tuesday.
This is not the first time the security practices of the SpaceX founder have been questioned by the Pentagon.
The Times said the new reviews were initiated by the Air Force, the Defense Department's Inspector General and the undersecretary of defense for intelligence and security. It cited eight people with knowledge of the rocket company and internal documents.
Neither the Times or Reuters reported that Federal government contractors are prohibited from making contributions or expenditures, or promising to make any such contribution or expenditure, to any political party, committee, or can didate for federal office, or to any person for any political purpose or use. https://www.fec.gov/help-candidates-and-committees/federal-government-contractors/#:~:text=Federal%20government%20contractors%20are%20prohibited,any%20political%20purpose%20or%20use.
Others are asking about the nature of Musk's relationship with China.
So how is it that Musk can fund Trumps campaign for millions of dollars and the Government does nothing about it?
https://www.mind-war.com/p/wheres-president-musks-birth-certificate
All three posts are true Daniel, all three are remedies, The stickler is Joseph R Biden, he will do nothing, though SCOTUS said that he could.
Could President Biden enforce this via Executive Order? Will he have the balls to do it?
How much money does one narcissistic multi-billionaire need? Read Tolstoy, How Much Land Does a Man Need? How many must die to feed these idiots' egos?
We think he plays Monopoly. Trump, Putin and now Musk are in a game of Risk. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Risk_(game)#:~:text=The%20standard%20version%20is%20played,results%20determined%20by%20dice%20rolls.
The reference to Lamorisse makes me quite happy. He was a brilliant film-maker.
The "singular moment" I fear most is when the Thom Hartmann show and this website are suddenly no longer here. That day will tell us where we all stand. Are we powerless to prevent it from coming to pass? Things are not looking favorable right now. I believe Biden has decided that all hope is lost and the people have done this to themselves, despite his best efforts.
We all must plan for the time when we will need to leave the Internet and find other, more secure, and private ways of communicating. See my Substack for some ideas.
Okay, thanks. I will check it out. I think we will be mostly on our own and forced to wait for attempt #3 to be successful, cholesterol to do its work, or some unforeseen event to dramatically change the landscape. Musk is overplaying his hand and there will be jealousy and rancor from the right and the other billionaires who want power. Let's hope the fight is vicious.
I'm afraid trump learned Too Much his last term and has been setting up his next administration so that it's going to Work without a hitch. The only way he could be stopped, is if Democrats get the majority in both the House and Senate?!! Good article this morning ☕ Thom, and will reStack ASAP 💯
See above.
Yesterday they officially started the season of chaos and they are not even officially in office yet .. please God, help us! We aren’t capable of doing it ourselves .. other than the resistance … which shall live on!
Pray to Biden and to Congress for an amnesty bill.
Mark my words: if Trump attempts to send the military into California, there WILL be civil war. As usual, Republicans only tout "states rights" when it suits them.
This reminds me of the 3rd Season of "The Twilight Zone."
Trump promised certain low-info, American Idiots a Nirvana of race hate in exchange for their vote.
Episode 24 "To Serve Man."
Michael Chambers lies on a cot in an otherwise empty, locked room. A voice offers him a meal, delivered through a small aperture in the wall. He grimly declines.
The setting changes. Several months earlier, on Earth. The Kanamits, a race of 9-foot-tall (2.7 m) aliens, land on Earth as international crises beset the planet.
As the Secretary-General of the United Nations announces the landing at a news conference, one of the aliens arrives and addresses the assembled delegates and journalists using an artificially created voice. He states that his race's motive in coming to Earth is to provide humanitarian aid by sharing their advanced technology that can easily and inexpensively solve all energy and food shortages and prevent international warfare.
After answering questions, the Kanamit departs without comment and leaves behind a book in his language; Chambers, a cryptographer working for the United States government, is pressed into service to decipher it.
International leaders are wary of the Kanamits' uninvited arrival on Earth but start to believe their claims of benevolence upon seeing their advanced technology at work. Patty, a member of Chambers' staff, translates the book's title as To Serve Man, further bolstering public trust in the Kanamits. One member of the race submits to polygraph-monitored interrogation and is determined to be telling the truth.
The Kanamits deliver on their promise to turn the world into a Utopia, transforming barren deserts into blooming fields. Each nation is given an impenetrable force field that leads to the virtual disbandment of all militaries. Humans soon begin volunteering to travel to the Kanamits' home planet, which is described as a paradise. The Kanamits set up embassies in every country on Earth and weighed all passengers boarding their ships.
Even though Chambers' staff no longer have any real work to do, due to worldwide declarations of peace and the dissolution of the United States Armed Forces, Patty continues her efforts to decode the Kanamits' book. Chambers decides to enjoy the newfound paradise and signs up for his trip to the Kanamits' planet.
As Chambers boards a Kanamit ship, Patty pushes through the waiting line and shouts for him not to go. She has successfully translated To Serve Man and discovered that it is not a book about humanitarian aid, but a COOK book.
Chambers tries to flee, but a guard forces him onto the ship and closes the hatch so it can lift off.
In the present, Chambers angrily throws another meal across the room when it is offered to him.
A Kanamit picks up the food and encourages him to eat so that he will not lose weight.
Chambers addresses the viewers directly and asks whether they have left Earth yet. Then he remarks that the Kanamits will eventually cook and eat all of humanity.
He begins eating his dinner, ending his hunger strike, and surrendering to the Kanamits.
Some (not all) Low-Info, Idiot voters have surrendered their Freedom to an ugly, fat, orange, golf-cheating, wife-raping, daughter-craving Kanamit doofus of a Putin-Puppet.
All because he hates designated out-groups, as do said voters. . . . What a price to pay.
Haha, saw that episode. Thanks for the recap and analogy. Makes you wonder about the "beef" in Trump's McDonald's burgers. 😲
The mystery meat? . . . His voters.
Musk and Trump have gigantic egos. At some point they will clash. Perhaps the best strategy is to help that clash come sooner. Always refer to them as President Musk and his vice president Donald J. Trump.
Thom--You are likely right that the process will continue unless abated by an external shock. Could that shock be dissolving the existing country? There are dozens of hidden land mines in the history of how the U.S. was formed and grew. For example--Could 9 of the original States revoke ratification of the Constitution? Could any State admitted under an enabling act declare that one party to the agreement, the United States, has ceased to exist and, therefore, the State is free to go its own way as independent? Could States pass laws directing that all federal income tax payments be made to the State and distributed within the State? The defense is not to an ordinary issue and should not be ordinary.
Thoughtful solutions, that seemingly have passed by the consciousness of others.
Thanks Dr Doug
Thom, do you read the Bowers report? The writer(s) of that online publication seem to be quite optimistic (at least today) about congressional Democrats' chances to, basically, give the fascists a ROYAL screwing for the next two years. I'll try and send you a copy of their e-mail.
Copy and paste a link Brian.
It's not unlikely that someone MAGA will feel empowered to go after Democratic governors, such as Michelle Lujan Grisham. Not like they planned to do against Gretchen Whitmer in Michigan; that didn't turn out well. But by undermining their authority, like they did and do against Tony Evers in Wisconsin and Roy Cooper/Josh Stein in North Carolina.
I’m hoping the billionaires of conscience and attorneys who value democracy will support the legal defenses of all attacked in order to silence us. They must set up a defense fund so journalists won’t be afraid to report the truth. Then there must be counter lawsuits making them pay for using the law to take over the country.
As one who has spent a lot of money trying to fight power I understand why most will give up. The good people with extraordinary wealth must use their wealth to keep the truth alive whether it be for Cassidy Hutchinson, Liz Chaney, Adam Kinzinger or any journalist.
Biden must also give sweeping pardons for the “crime” of supporting democracy to both foil the autocratic use of courts to demolish us and to teach the morons who never learned what democracy is and have little knowledge of history due to our corrupt schools- see WhiteChalkCrime.com - and thus chose cheaper eggs over democracy.
Biden must use sarcasm or whatever it takes to teach that democracy is now a crime. Since it wasn’t taught in our schools he must teach democracy through his actions. It’s time he learned what’s been going on in our schools.
He and all leaders who write about what’s going on must teach democracy as they write. Do not just write for the intelligent people at these sites. Write for the people who were undereducated so they’d let this happen. Write for the teachers unions who knew how corrupt administrators are but complied because they were afraid just like soon all will be afraid of Trump. Write so the unions will fess up and admit what they did to teachers like me who were trying to do the right thing because we care about democracy. Listen to some of the whistleblowing teachers at WhiteChalkCrime.com so when you write pieces like these you’ll help the intelligent people understand how this happened and what they can do such as run for school boards on a save democracy platform.
You described what is happening well. Please learn how it happened and describe that as well. That’s what we need. We won’t solve a problem until we understand how it happened. It was our schools. Look into that. Read my book that takes you inside our corrupt schools - A Graver Danger - and help us stand strong.
It boggles my mind that Americans are sleepwalking into exactly what Thom describes. I'm a retired blue collar worker with a high school education and I've seen this coming for quite some time. The population is too distracted with social media, culture wars and the price of fucking eggs to see what lies ahead. My Dad fought in WWII and if he were still alive he would be appalled at what his country has become. I certainly am.
Well depending on how the applications are counted we could be as close as 3 states away from having enough to call an Article V convention. (The history is long and confused, but even 6 more or so isn't that many.) If that occurs there are no rules on what it can propose to amend the Constitution. That doesn't mean these changes would get through the required 2/3rds of the states, but it would go a long way towards that and give a blueprint for what the fascists want. And remember, "amending" can lead to "rewriting". This is exactly what happened in 1787 when the Constitutional Convention threw out the Articles of Confederation and started over. That time it worked out well, next time it won't.
What is left to call an Article V convention are Red States Dr Weil. Red States have attained what they have sought since 1860, why would they join in an article V convention?