And now it appears that the six corrupt Republicans currently on the Court are preparing to make political bribery even easier for their well-heeled patrons…
Clarence Thomas has worked overtime to bastardize Justice . . . And I can see his crooked mind spinning his Grift as a “tip” for “public service from appreciative billionaires.” Alito and Roberts aren’t clean, either, although they don’t flaunt their gains quite like Thomas. (Seriously—WTF takes a picture of a superstore from their parked RV? Only a thief and liar looking to cover his tracks with a cynical “alibi.”)
It used to be a cornerstone of Marxism that a revolution only happens when things hit rock bottom. If we are not already there, November could well take us there. While no Marxist (true Communism, like true Christianity, requires that humans be better than they are), I fear that the ballot box is no longer adequate to dislodge or even regulate the insatiable grasping of the morbidly rich. It will take many of another word starting with “b”, and that will be the end of the American experiment. I lament that our beloved grandson may well be a victim of that. Still, with hope, I will continue to say as often as I can, vote in November, whatever it takes, and vote blue, everywhere and for every office. If you love this country’s stated ideals, and what it could be, you cannot do otherwise.
To protect American democracy, reach out to millions of unregistered likely Democrats using a dedicated database using every outreach method possible (phone and text, postcard, email and targeted ad, and in-person too), where new Democratic voters will make the most impact – in the most flippable states and districts.
Roy, If I read this correctly: "Communism, like true Christianity, requires that humans be better than they are".
You are saying that Communism and Christianity are aspirational. The only true examples of communism I can think about are co ops. The USSR wasn't it was a combine of seven trusts each trust run by a new class of elites.
But saying Christianity is aspirational is all the excuse that the religious fascists need.
With that underpinning their claim to moral authority, the excuse is "well we are only human but we are trying".
There are few real Communist governments left in the world today. They are corporate oligarchies like China. One family rule with lots of power and money.
First what constitutes a communist government. As it stands now OUR understanding of communism is a product of our media, and our media is and always has been controlled by corporations, and corporations are controlled by persons with religious and financial investments.
Commons, communal, community, communion, communism all have the same root and essential meaning, and that is the joining of one with the many.
Secondly there is not and never has been any real communist government, of anything be it a nation or a group, except the Quakers, whose assemblage was ruled by a group of elders, but even then there is always one MFWIC, the boldest, brashest, most orthodox bully that cows the others into submission.
Capitalism is an economic idea or theory, that fits into, and is accommodated by any political theory or state. It works in a Democracy, and works better in an authoritarian state. (Example Russia), it doesn't work for We the People, except for the crumbs that fall off the table onto the floor. We scrabble for the crumbs, and thank the master for dropping them.
Meanwhile, Fani Willis has been criticized for having a relationship with a colleague that in no way created a conflict of interest with the prosecution of the election interference case.
100% agree with Thom on this one. And Thom's right Senator Whitehouse has been the loudest voice in the wilderness. This corruption is the toxic brew that has been tearing our country apart, and weakened us against fending off oligarchy and dictatorship. Corruption is the toxin that holds our country's people & innovation back and dilutes our rule of law, just as it has turned Russia into a nuclear armed banana Republic. Republicans tell us the nation's problem is entitlements, they are right, only they're focused on the wrong area & cause, to ever bring it under control. Retirees & people needing a leg up are not the problem. It is the sense of entitlement, by the powerful, that has justified their corruption, that must be brought under control. The more extreme the corruption the greater the degree of entitlement. Donald J Trump and Clarence Thomas are exhibit A & B. It really does need to become a very major campaign issue, and calls for a major recommitment among agencies to root it out.
Merkley and Wyden are the senators from my state. In addition to Supreme Court reform, Merkley is a leading advocate in the Senate for ending the filibuster as a tool of obstruction. I email them constantly in support of their efforts to protect our civil liberties. In addition, I’m so proud of Oregon for being the first state to implement vote by mail, which has run with astounding success for 26 years. We also have motor voter, automatic voter registration with the issuance of every new driver’s license. In 1973, Oregon became the first state to decriminalize marijuana and passed the nation's first bottle bill in 1971. Landmark legislation in Oregon, passed in 1967, established public ownership of Oregon beaches. While not perfect, Oregon is a leader in progressive issues, despite a large population of regressive Republicans.
So, not only would the bribe have to be specified as such beforehand, someone would have to be able to prove that it was. Why anyone giving or taking such a bribe would document it as such is inconceivable. To accept this argument is to dismiss all sense. Tips are bribes when you get right down to it.
OT: I am going to state the obvious. The usual suspects when they have a chance to deflect the conversation for Putin, have been noticeably quiet, since the treasonous Republican party and it's leader Trump, have shut down aid to Ukraine.
Yes. They get millions of grift and don't care who dies...young pregnant women to old people and children starving, shot in their beds, etc. for a Fascist agenda. The "bullies" are back in the world. I'm seeing them twice in my lifetime.
As always , the Republicans are fostering more and more corruption and the GOP appointed Justices welcome it with open arms.
They seem eager to continue to get rid of any law and regulations that monitor monied individuals( themselves included) to have any checks and balances on what has become routine
Bribery.
Endorsed , even encouraged by them.
There are no ethics for these six Justices, as they lack integrity to live up to their responsibilities.
Some people are truly self governing morally. Not this crew.
Corruption is rampant under Republicans.
And has hit a new low with the Supreme Court . All their recent cases have gone to Maga Causes .
We must go after this corruption as it allows a minority to control the majority.
The Republicans are not the majority in this country, but their devious dealings since Nixon on all levels have carved a trench that we can’t climb out of . It doesn’t have to be this way but we need to act .
How many of us when we see a number to call to express our opinion, actually make the call.
Take the time and call the Supreme Court and express your views directly .
Instead, enlist more Democratic voters. Reaching out to strangers. It’s the proven #1 way to win elections. 60% of unregistered voters have never been asked to register. Field Team 6 has lists. JOIN! We’ve helped register almost 2.9 million Democratic voters, the vast majority in swing states... and now we need to do it again. Sign up for an event today, and help save the world!
Thanks for laying this out. This is exactly what Democrats should be highlighting in their ads. By this, I mean the wealth inequality and who is responsible for it. It should be spelled out in great detail. While I am living abroad and will not call my local senators, I will write them right now.
Get rid of scotus. Appoint new ones pdq. Change the rules so they can be fired if corrupt. Hang a few of them to get the message accross. Because, if we do not do it … von trump will not hesitate when he is back to the white house. Cristal clear!
Your sentiments are right on, but I wouldn't wait on Biden for any single one of them. Nor Pelosi. Schumer, nope. Any advocacy from Merrick "ghost" Garland? Laughable. Vote for Biden, and if he prevails, energize all efforts to make the Blue Party truly blue.
They already broke what few rules they have. They did not claim it on their taxes or records. Where is the punishment? Don't add more laws when the few are being ignored.
I can think of 3 SCOTUS that could just be impeached for illegal, unconstitutional decisions based on biased decisions in laws passed. POTUS voted them in why can't they just be voted out or simply impeach for corruption. The American people are not going to accept or tolerate much more of this activity. If they vote to allow this criminal to go free without conviction it will be a different kind of march madness.
Absolutely right and facts as we are seeing now each day by Trump, and the wrong going on in the middle class by the wealthy to us! Gas will be going up to $6 by November and it is no Biden’s fault!
Clarence Thomas has worked overtime to bastardize Justice . . . And I can see his crooked mind spinning his Grift as a “tip” for “public service from appreciative billionaires.” Alito and Roberts aren’t clean, either, although they don’t flaunt their gains quite like Thomas. (Seriously—WTF takes a picture of a superstore from their parked RV? Only a thief and liar looking to cover his tracks with a cynical “alibi.”)
It used to be a cornerstone of Marxism that a revolution only happens when things hit rock bottom. If we are not already there, November could well take us there. While no Marxist (true Communism, like true Christianity, requires that humans be better than they are), I fear that the ballot box is no longer adequate to dislodge or even regulate the insatiable grasping of the morbidly rich. It will take many of another word starting with “b”, and that will be the end of the American experiment. I lament that our beloved grandson may well be a victim of that. Still, with hope, I will continue to say as often as I can, vote in November, whatever it takes, and vote blue, everywhere and for every office. If you love this country’s stated ideals, and what it could be, you cannot do otherwise.
To protect American democracy, reach out to millions of unregistered likely Democrats using a dedicated database using every outreach method possible (phone and text, postcard, email and targeted ad, and in-person too), where new Democratic voters will make the most impact – in the most flippable states and districts.
https://www.fieldteam6.org/actions
Roy, If I read this correctly: "Communism, like true Christianity, requires that humans be better than they are".
You are saying that Communism and Christianity are aspirational. The only true examples of communism I can think about are co ops. The USSR wasn't it was a combine of seven trusts each trust run by a new class of elites.
But saying Christianity is aspirational is all the excuse that the religious fascists need.
With that underpinning their claim to moral authority, the excuse is "well we are only human but we are trying".
There are few real Communist governments left in the world today. They are corporate oligarchies like China. One family rule with lots of power and money.
Serious questions:
First what constitutes a communist government. As it stands now OUR understanding of communism is a product of our media, and our media is and always has been controlled by corporations, and corporations are controlled by persons with religious and financial investments.
Commons, communal, community, communion, communism all have the same root and essential meaning, and that is the joining of one with the many.
Secondly there is not and never has been any real communist government, of anything be it a nation or a group, except the Quakers, whose assemblage was ruled by a group of elders, but even then there is always one MFWIC, the boldest, brashest, most orthodox bully that cows the others into submission.
Capitalism is an economic idea or theory, that fits into, and is accommodated by any political theory or state. It works in a Democracy, and works better in an authoritarian state. (Example Russia), it doesn't work for We the People, except for the crumbs that fall off the table onto the floor. We scrabble for the crumbs, and thank the master for dropping them.
Meanwhile, Fani Willis has been criticized for having a relationship with a colleague that in no way created a conflict of interest with the prosecution of the election interference case.
Office romance. What else is new?
Greg Palast's book title says it all: The Best Democracy Money can Buy
Be sure to watch Greg Palast's videos if you can. He goes undercover to expose voter suppression and it's really an eye-opener.
Love Greg and his truth journalism.
SCOTUS can ban voting rights but can not ban Citizens United. Billionaires love SCOTUS.
100% agree with Thom on this one. And Thom's right Senator Whitehouse has been the loudest voice in the wilderness. This corruption is the toxic brew that has been tearing our country apart, and weakened us against fending off oligarchy and dictatorship. Corruption is the toxin that holds our country's people & innovation back and dilutes our rule of law, just as it has turned Russia into a nuclear armed banana Republic. Republicans tell us the nation's problem is entitlements, they are right, only they're focused on the wrong area & cause, to ever bring it under control. Retirees & people needing a leg up are not the problem. It is the sense of entitlement, by the powerful, that has justified their corruption, that must be brought under control. The more extreme the corruption the greater the degree of entitlement. Donald J Trump and Clarence Thomas are exhibit A & B. It really does need to become a very major campaign issue, and calls for a major recommitment among agencies to root it out.
Merkley and Wyden are the senators from my state. In addition to Supreme Court reform, Merkley is a leading advocate in the Senate for ending the filibuster as a tool of obstruction. I email them constantly in support of their efforts to protect our civil liberties. In addition, I’m so proud of Oregon for being the first state to implement vote by mail, which has run with astounding success for 26 years. We also have motor voter, automatic voter registration with the issuance of every new driver’s license. In 1973, Oregon became the first state to decriminalize marijuana and passed the nation's first bottle bill in 1971. Landmark legislation in Oregon, passed in 1967, established public ownership of Oregon beaches. While not perfect, Oregon is a leader in progressive issues, despite a large population of regressive Republicans.
I live in Florida. Wish they were my representatives.
So, not only would the bribe have to be specified as such beforehand, someone would have to be able to prove that it was. Why anyone giving or taking such a bribe would document it as such is inconceivable. To accept this argument is to dismiss all sense. Tips are bribes when you get right down to it.
An agreement ahead of time isn't required when the norm is a tip for "good service". Thanks Thom for keeping us informed.
Public servants retiring with billions says it all.
OT: I am going to state the obvious. The usual suspects when they have a chance to deflect the conversation for Putin, have been noticeably quiet, since the treasonous Republican party and it's leader Trump, have shut down aid to Ukraine.
Inescapable conclusion. If you aren’t rich you don’t qualify as a citizen or even a human being.
Yes. They get millions of grift and don't care who dies...young pregnant women to old people and children starving, shot in their beds, etc. for a Fascist agenda. The "bullies" are back in the world. I'm seeing them twice in my lifetime.
As always , the Republicans are fostering more and more corruption and the GOP appointed Justices welcome it with open arms.
They seem eager to continue to get rid of any law and regulations that monitor monied individuals( themselves included) to have any checks and balances on what has become routine
Bribery.
Endorsed , even encouraged by them.
There are no ethics for these six Justices, as they lack integrity to live up to their responsibilities.
Some people are truly self governing morally. Not this crew.
Corruption is rampant under Republicans.
And has hit a new low with the Supreme Court . All their recent cases have gone to Maga Causes .
We must go after this corruption as it allows a minority to control the majority.
The Republicans are not the majority in this country, but their devious dealings since Nixon on all levels have carved a trench that we can’t climb out of . It doesn’t have to be this way but we need to act .
How many of us when we see a number to call to express our opinion, actually make the call.
Take the time and call the Supreme Court and express your views directly .
Just makes it worse.
Instead, enlist more Democratic voters. Reaching out to strangers. It’s the proven #1 way to win elections. 60% of unregistered voters have never been asked to register. Field Team 6 has lists. JOIN! We’ve helped register almost 2.9 million Democratic voters, the vast majority in swing states... and now we need to do it again. Sign up for an event today, and help save the world!
https://www.fieldteam6.org/volunteer-ops-old
Thanks for laying this out. This is exactly what Democrats should be highlighting in their ads. By this, I mean the wealth inequality and who is responsible for it. It should be spelled out in great detail. While I am living abroad and will not call my local senators, I will write them right now.
Get rid of scotus. Appoint new ones pdq. Change the rules so they can be fired if corrupt. Hang a few of them to get the message accross. Because, if we do not do it … von trump will not hesitate when he is back to the white house. Cristal clear!
Your sentiments are right on, but I wouldn't wait on Biden for any single one of them. Nor Pelosi. Schumer, nope. Any advocacy from Merrick "ghost" Garland? Laughable. Vote for Biden, and if he prevails, energize all efforts to make the Blue Party truly blue.
They already broke what few rules they have. They did not claim it on their taxes or records. Where is the punishment? Don't add more laws when the few are being ignored.
I can think of 3 SCOTUS that could just be impeached for illegal, unconstitutional decisions based on biased decisions in laws passed. POTUS voted them in why can't they just be voted out or simply impeach for corruption. The American people are not going to accept or tolerate much more of this activity. If they vote to allow this criminal to go free without conviction it will be a different kind of march madness.
They don't have the votes to punish them. Laws were broken and they get arrogant to our faces. AG Garland sits and does nothing.
Absolutely right and facts as we are seeing now each day by Trump, and the wrong going on in the middle class by the wealthy to us! Gas will be going up to $6 by November and it is no Biden’s fault!