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What is wrong with this country? In a word: "us", as in ALL of us. We have finally succombed to our own lies, with the exception of a rare few like our host.

We continually crow about our virtue as a nation that abides by "the rule of law" and yet, when the chips are down, we can't quite muster the courage to enforce our own laws!

And now comes Donald Trump. A known grifter, psychopath and multiply convicted felon who, "somehow" (with the aid of BILLIONS of unreported dark money contributions from his buddies) has managed to slither into a second presidential term.

Setting aside the fact that morally and intellectually the man is simply a swine, this idiot's policy positions alone should have disqualified him from consideration for POTUS. What is wrong with the people of this country? Have we grown fat, lazy and complacent? I think so.

We had the goods on this jerk years ago. With an effective and well motivated Attorney General, Trump would be sitting in a cell in a federal prison right now. But Merick Garland was a plant. A do nothing place holder put in position to guarantee side stepping accountability by another old man, Joe Biden, a career politician consumed with his "legacy".

Before this, came Robert Mueller III, Special Council appointed to oversee the investigation into Russian intervention into the 2016 presidential election which went exactly....nowhere. And Jack Smith, the one guy apparently motivated to see justice served is effectively castrated by a judiciary beholden to the great cheeseburger.

Is there a pattern to be found in this putrid mess? I believe there is, and its name is cowardice. Cowardice and unabated rapacious manipulation of our institutions from the Supreme Court to the congress to the fourth estate, the media. And our own apathy.

Here we are again. The same old players playing the same old games, except we now have the billionaire class "all in".

Please don't tell me to fight this by supporting the Democratic Party which serves the same master as the Republican. I'd be better served by supporting the SPCA. What's going to happen is that this completely malignant system will come crashing down around our ears and, if we are extremely lucky as a SPECIES, something of value will arise from the ashes.

Buckle up, folks. And prepare. We asked for it.

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Les Moine, my opinion of Jack Smith plummeted when he made no motion to remove the Documents case from Florida, and worse when he made no motion to the circuit court to have Cannon replaced. There have been sufficient grounds for having her removed, he didn't even file a motion with the Circuit court.

Also the excuse given by Garland for moving the trial to Florida is specious, actually a lie. His excuse was, that is where the crime occurred. It did not, the Crime occurred in DC when Waltine Nauta moved the boxes from the White House onto a truck, argue that, and I counter when Waltine Nauta unloaded the truck into Trumps airplane.

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William, I can't disagree that Jack Smith might have done more. But at least he seemed to be trying to make progress against seemingly unsurmountable odds for a long time. And with no one above him in the judicial or political food chains apparently willing to give him àn assist, I can't judge him too harshly.

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I sympathize with your sentiments, but I am long past apologia and making excuses.

We have been in a battle for the soul of our nation, our freedoms, our democracy since like forever. Reactionary forces, the forces of the elite, the elect have been eroding our freedom and health (national, economic, personal) since the beginning, but the effort has accelerated with Reagan and went into overdrive with Trump in 2016,, and I see giving anyone a pass, an excuse as not a slippery slope but a cliff.

As Yoda said "Do or not do"

Jack Smith might have failed, but at least he would have tried, he didn't even try and that is the problem and that is why I judge harshly.

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William, I do believe Smith tried. I have no legal background so I can't quote the exact term, but I believe he was trying right up to the eve of the election to get the word in front of the voters as to the depth of Trumps crimes by filing some very damning information, publicly, that as I recall was considered a serious breach of protocol. A trial would have achieved this more effectively but was headed off by Cannon with no objection via the appeals court. I believe Smith took a professional risk in doing this, if not a personal one. At some point a rational person must cut their losses. I lay far more blame at the feet of Joe Biden, who from the start was all about protecting his image as a "hands off" guy where the DOJ is concerned. A word in the ear of the right people by Biden, quietly, would have had Eileen Cannon canned for malfeasance two years ago and this whole disaster would have worked out much differently. I won't leave Smith twisting in the wind for what those in much more powerful positions didn't have the guts to do.

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You are more generous than I LeMoine, but it takes all kinds.

I insist on my suspicion of Smith, whatever his motives,as he didn't even file a request for her removal with the Southern District of Florida, and he had plenty of grounds, time and again.

It is not a matter of leaving him twisting the winds, it is hold him to account for actions that he could have, should have, but did not take, irrespective of those n much more powerful positions than he.

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Touche, Mr. Farrar.

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Didn't he ask for the case to be dismissed "without prejudice" so that it could be resumed when Trump is no longer president? Oops. Another reason for there not to be another election.

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Looks like the number of paying attention critical thinkers is growing Gloria.

How right you are, that is a balloon that went over my head, good catch.

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Gloria, Andrew Wiseman and Neal Katyal said as much yesterday on the Lawrence O'Donnell-MSNBC program at 7:00 pm Pacific.

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You are completely right on!

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Circular firing squad -- shoot yourself in the ass.

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You obviously aren't well acquainted with firearms.

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Didn't Elmer Fudd have a shotgun that bent around corners sometimes? Maybe it was the coyote in the Road Runner cartoons.

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Actually.....

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This can't be emphasized enough:

"Define its message. Identify unambiguously the “enemies” of American democracy and call them out daily. Fully embrace the American working class. Declare class warfare. Express outrage, offer opposing policies, and point out GOP hypocrisy. Stop “obeying in advance.”

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While I do not disagree that there is a leadership void now among Democrats, I do not share the premise that it is the fault of Biden and Harris. Both produced a lot of great news for our economy and other initiatives. Harris was everywhere. Biden gave a lot of speeches. (Then he often got fact-checked.) THEY WERE NOT COVERED. There might have been a small headline that only stayed up for a few hours on the website. I read a lot on the Daily Kos about what the White House was going each week. It is called governing. Media hates stories about governing. They want negative stuff. Whoever is loudest and most controversial, wins. I do not know how you fix that, since we do not have anything remotely like their "media." And MSNBC is probably gone. And if someone emerges (AOC?), let me guess who will get the most coverage.

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The Dem Party has not been leading the country for a very long time. Maybe as long as Clinton stopped supporting unions in 92. The lack of media horns for the agenda of the Dem party the truth simply has never been enough. As the GOP knows kabuki theater is number one. The republican advisors of the Dem party has lead them to destruction. Has anyone seen the firing of these idiots? The inbreeding of these institutions marks catastrophe for democracy. The rich guys media companies always suggest to the Dems to go more to the center to pick up more votes. But the half of the population that does not bother to vote are center independents where parties go to die. Anybody hear the news ask the Republican's stop being so radical and go to the center? Dem low information voters did not hear a simple message of 3 or 4 economic issues that drive them to the voting booth. Culture wars and other non economic issues are not enough to move low information base Dem voters to go to the polls. These simple facts continue to not be accepted for the facts they are. The republican advisors always drive the Dem party to other distractions and losses that are self-inflicted. I wish I could get highly paid for bad advice and never have anyone make me accountable for the results.

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If Clinton hadn't tripped on his apendage.....

We lost not to the Republicans as much as to Russian psy ops. They learned it from us. We used it successfully many times since WW II. We failed to fully prosecute the 2016 election interference, and although we had advance notice did little to stop it.

Tempus fugit, but Biden can step up and be a hero. Given the threats by an inchoate unitary executive, who beleieves that his elction is redemption for being victimized and threatens recrimination, he should grant tens of thosuands of pardons to folks like us.

Are crimes of election interference acts of war? We should be discussing war powers. What about Biden as unitary executive for a month?

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I agree Daniel, Biden should grant blanket pardons, as Carter did to draft resisters.

He also has one month to use his new powers of immunity granted by SCOTUS, to save us, but he won't.

As Bill Maher famously says, I can't prove it but I know for certainty, that he is not running the country, but is being run. One of those running him is Jake Tapper, and that is why Ukraine will fall to Putin.

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They Dems are asking for donations for the next spineless campaign! I was behind Biden and Harris but where are they now to help save our Democracy before this traitor takes office? Why hasn’t Biden done something about spineless Merrick Garland!

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I am a trained tracker. I can go into the woods and read the story from what I observe in the bush. Right now, as we speak, major companies are all huddled around their conference tables and, speaking in hushed voices, asking themselves what they are going to do if Trump actually does what he says he is going to do. These aren't lightweight companies. They are terrified that if they make the wrong move their stock will start falling. But, because they function on certainty in their business making decisions, they are finding themselves in a very uncertain environment. This isn't all the companies. Some are downright giddy at the economic prospects that they believe are on the horizon. However, consider this: Trump survived an assassination attempt and multiple criminal convictions. He had a Messiah Complex before this happened. Where do you suppose his head is now? People asking themselves if he will really do what he says. Really? Hell yes he will. This country has never seen what is about to come down on it. Everyone is in denial and hoping that someway we will not have to suffer. Somebody needs to grow a pair and start acting like there is a war on because there is.

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Actually, let’s get some Dems to have a spine and act on some of T’s promises:

- Propose to abolish the federal income tax and let States negotiate with how much they pay the Feds. The taker States MIGHT just have an awakening. Dispatch from Cheyenne?

- Yes, move Federal agencies out of DC. Start with SCOTUS to Fargo. It will do wonders for the local economy. Fox “News” broadcasting from the Red River Valley?

- Hand over the border to border states. Yes, Texas y’all it’s all yours!

Just a start but think of the social media!

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Dr. Gilbert: I am not a fan of the Feds. In the 90's the IRS broke me with illegal assessments and an attitude of "You can't do shit to us." That said, it seems to me that there is a very massive effort to separate and divide the US on many levels. I'm sure the Chinese are sitting back and telling themselves that this is working out just great. If I were you, I'd think this through a little more. The only prayer this country has is to keep together until the world is a lot more balanced. I don't see that happening any time soon.

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We need to create a new media ecosystem, based online that is not controlled by billionaires and corporate interests. The traditional media is corrupt beyond saving and caters to an old audience. It’s starting to happen with Substack and Bluesky. We haven’t lost Democracy yet, and as Trump and his enablers begin their infighting and unlawful behavior, we will fight back. They may have all power now, but Trump is crazy and incompetent and it will be clear the chaos is all in the R. party. The pendulum will swing back hard and hit them in the face before we lose our democracy.

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Hope you're right. Wish I felt as confident. Grateful I don't have kids or grandkids at this point, for their sakes.

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It's time for me to pay my property taxes. I don't want to, I'd rather spend it on the holidays or donating to my favorite non-profit or pro-democracy or pro-choice organization. So, see it's not all about me not wanting to pay my fair share so I could buy some politician or favor, it's about me sharing the wealth. So whaddya think? Can I get away with that? I mean if trump can walk away from all his $hit, why can't I? Oh, crap! That's right I'm not immune, & to top it off I'm a female Democrat! Uh, oh, I can hear it now: "Off with her head"

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I've come to see that conservatives, especially the hard right, view the world as hostile and themselves as warriors. In fact, they relish the role of fighters, and will search for new enemies once their current enemies are vanquished. This is why they are so well organized politically (like an army), and why they seem to win so easily; Democrats still don't realize they are in a war; they think of politics as a sport, with rules enforced by honest referees. But no matter what the replay camera shows, the officials will never uphold the Democrats' challenge.

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I keep saying that they should Clockwork Orange Democratic operatives, and have them watch Mickey's Chicago Way speech in The Untouchables on a loop for a week straight. Dems constantly bring a textbook to a gunfight and get slaughtered.

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There is Queensberry Rules, and then there is a street fight.

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Except THEY didn't win...but for Russian psy ops, we wudda won.

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It's high time we, as working people, demand better leadership. We need to stop following leaders from both parties who pretend to care about us. After all, middle-class people are also working people, and we all deserve better.

Nurse educators tried to convince me and other nursing students that we aren't working class and should only have a "professional association." That turned out to be bull. The Teamsters helped us organize the crappiest nursing home I had ever seen. The INA told me they couldn't help. Why couldn't they couldn't even educate or tell us about card signing and organizing an election?

Over the past four years, our local economy has been characterized by a lack of construction. The only structures I saw being built were banks and an addition to an industrial building, but no housing subdivisions. However, we did have cables laid for the internet, and the Pritzger administration implemented a solar panel program on residential housing.

The perception was that not much had changed except for higher grocery costs. Kamala should have hitched her star to Bernie and taken off from there.

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So long as it’s acceptable for the supposed leaders of the Dems to ask, with a straight face, “Did the Harris campaign veer to far to the left” we know we have exactly horsepoop for leadership. Stupid people asking stupid questions.

The Dems have been veering way too far right for way too long … that’s why we lost this election.

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I think Elizabeth Warren and others are right. Let's see what he does and doesn't do for the working class. Let's use specific examples of hardship and pain that result, just like the Republicans have done with immigration. Let's hold him accountable when he doesn't do the things he promised would help the working class. Let's show how tariffs affect real people, not general estimates of how much the average family will pay. Let's avoid over-generalizations and abstract concepts.

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As long Democrats consider non-neoliberals “radical”, we’ll have no leaders.

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Enough with the weeping and lamentations over Jack Smith’s very strategic dismissals of his cases. He dismissed them “without prejudice.” Which means they can be refiled later. Had he not, Ms. Bondi could have dismissed them WITH prejudice as her first official act and killed them for all time.

The only out for the defendant will be self-pardons. Not a result to be excited about but it does cause “he who shall not be named” embarrassment and political capital.

Given existing policy, court law, prohibiting prosecution of a sitting president; I suggest that the applicable statutes of limitations are tolled (stopped from running) while a president is in office.

Thus, on January 20, 2028, the succeeding president can call forth the furies of the law once again and, after lots of litigation, potentially put the scoundrel behind bars.

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Here is how I see the Democratic "leadership". it ruthlessly beats its own family into submission, but is inept if not cowardly at defending them and defeating the enemy.

The most important problem is that they are pigs that slop at the same trough as the opposition, and elbow out of the way, those that don't or won't. Like Bernie Sanders and the progressive caucus.

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The first two living, breathing embodiments of leadership failure and fecklessness that need to be removed from positions of authority are Chuck Schumer and Dick Durbin. What a couple of spineless, sniveling get-along guys. Talk about cowards, our very own versions of Nero, fiddling and groveling while it all burns down.

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And Garland

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The Democrats need to launch "The Peoples Project 2028" quickly.

www.thepeoplesproject2028.org

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Needs to be more than a press release, which is the usual way of the DNC to bring a water pistol to a shoot out.

How about something radical like abolishing the Federal income tax and interstate compacts that are a new constitution? Funding would be determined by the contributions of the States. If a state, e.g. Wyoming, wants to have zero taxes then it will have zero services.

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