Is this all a continuation of Trump’s January 6th coup attempt and his desire to convert America from a democracy into a despotic strongman-rule nation aligned with Russia?
I’m sure you could find many more connections between the hostage-taking reps and Russia if you follow the money. Their funding, their backers, even trips to Putin World, perhaps.
Glad you wrote this up, Thom. I've been referring to the new GOP as Putinistas for a long time. It's extraordinary that one single, diabolically evil man, is systematically destroying the planet and the humans who live here. And far too many Americans keep voting Putin's useful fools into office.
Anyone know how to put the brakes on this madness?
This is a perfectly logical conclusion. Is it being done wittingly or are their agendas simply aligned? With our weak laws, Russian money can come to these members without them understanding the origin, not to mention some would not WANT to know the origin.
When McCarthy made his Trump-is-on-Putin's-payroll remark, other Republicans in the room laughed, and then he said "Swear to God!". Paul Ryan swore the room to secrecy. A large group of Republicans have known about Russian influence all this time and have been part of a cover-up. They have chosen Trump, his Russian connections, and his lies concerning Russian influence.
All of this is KGB/FSB 101 stuff; that is exactly what Putin has been doing for 40 years. The thing that's changed is the platform---it's much easier to interfere because of the internet. His little-boy dream of being the spymaster has been realized beyond anything he could imagine. He owns all the spies, the spy toys, and you can bet that he owns some Americans too. It is all paid for by the money he has stolen from the Russian people. Putin, just like Trump, is a true psychopath. He will not stop until he is dead.
I think you're right. What I can't figure out is how McCarthy got out from under the thumb too? Everyone knows that Trump couldn't get anyone to loan to him in the 90's after he blew through $600, $700 who knows how much, millions. Even the Chinese turned him down. So, he goes to Russia, they give him money and 'compromat' him. Later, it's the Saudi's, UAE, Qatar, you name it. Then we have Ukraine; a horribly corrupt country up until a few years ago. I still think Hunter Biden was all up in that mess and that Russia just wants the nukes back (and the uranium that Ukraine has a lot of). Anyhow, why did McCarthy's cabal get to bail and turn against Trump? As Cathy said in her comment, follow the money but.... Jeez, I know one thing for sure; the money trail ends with the off-shore banks who won't tell you a thing!
It would be great to see some critical thinking in these reports on the Democratic Party Speaker of the House who is just a male black version of Nancy Pelosi, continuing the party trend of the political expediency and corporate subservience that ushered in Trumpism in the first place. Putin has nothing, zero, to do with the core problems of austerity, militarism and failing institutions that our causing suffering for those who are not millionaires and billionaires. Your feeding the beast of partisan media, simply offering information that appeases an underinformed base and avoiding criticism they might find offensive, has contributed to the downward spiral of whatever democracy we had. Supporting nationalism and potential nuclear conflict to protect a political party while criticizing the nationalism of the other party will not solve any problems or push either party to change their misguided ways.
A lot of "critical thinking" has already been brought to bear on Russian interference in the 2016 Presidential Election, and if you think Trump's term didn't set the stage for more austerity and corporate subservience you are mistaken. Militarism always follows appeasement, and Trump's term was all about appeasing Russia, from Afghanistan to Libya down to southern Africa. While dreaming about annexing Ukraine for over 30 years, Putin would have never dared had Trump not handed him a royal flush including control of the global oil price, a U.S. surrender agreement with Afghanistan guaranteeing a problematic departure, Trump's silence about Russia taking military control of Libya's vast oil reserves in the south, and his undermining NATO for four years. In effect, Trump did everything in his power to help Putin, including leading an Insurrection, piling up trillions in debt, and if not for the Federal Reserve, leaving our country in its second Great Depression:
Germany under Hitler made a concerted effort to prevent the U.S. from entering the "European War" which was actually a concerted global war, and there were American politicians aligned with German objectives the Nazis had on their payroll. The Trump presidency also pushed China towards Russia and increased its military preparations. Taking everything into account it is important to view those in the R Party with great suspicion and concern, for the institutional departure they represent. Remember, on the whole it was the D Party who tried to reverse the reckless R deregulation and tax policies of the complete corporate subservience of the Trump Republicans that are now blocking our government from functioning.
You like most of the liberal population have been trained to turn your attention from what the US and NATO, a glorified weapons clearinghouse, have wrought, which includes a failed state in Libya (cue Hillary Clinton's hilarious "we came, we saw, he died"), to that "demon" Putin who somehow fooled Americans to vote for a judgment-addled, lying billionaire over a judgment-addled, lying hundred millionaire. For each respective political party it is always an external factor responsible for that party's failings, evidenced in our current downward spiral that can hardly be the responsibility of a single party in a two-party system. What has killed democracy is the echo chamber defending racist warmongering neoliberals like Biden instead of holding them accountable for the horrors they have wrought, whether its championing mass incarceration for black males, publicly denying a black woman witnesses to get Clarence Thomas confirmed to the Supreme Court, making impassioned speeches about how "American values" must be upheld by massacring half a million in a false war in Iraq...the list could go on for pages. And for the record, if you look at international news sources and not just Rachel Maddow and Thom Hartmann. Putin was frustrated by Trump because he was too ignorant of political process to do anything of consequence. To suggest January 6th was related to Putin is more evidence of how the Democrstic Party had become the party of McCarthyism. Putin did not make our health care system more unaffordable and inaccessible. He did not kill nearly a million Muslims over the past two decades. He did not cause record wealth inequality. He did not ship millions of manufacturing jobs overseas. Our democracy was lost long ago, and your refusal to hold those responsible accountable will enable the continuing unraveling of our institutions long after Putin is gone.
You have asserted several allegations against both parties without providing historical context, or assigning primary responsibility for specific policies or their enduring consequences. At other points of your reply, you have excused Trump, based upon Putin's frustration with his incompetence, as if either is a reliable source, and/or as if your assertion refutes all of the evidence gathered by U.S. intelligence and Trump's foreign policy ledger. While there may be areas of convergence among U.S. leaders as a result of succession, I disagree with your false equivocations and straw man arguments.
No one has argued that Putin is the reason for wealth inequality, sending jobs overseas, or high medical costs. However, their are fundamental ideological and competence differences between the R's and D's. I would be happy to go into detail and refute your claims with evidence, provided that you clearly state your argument(s). I have never claimed Putin was responsible for killing a half million Muslims, but that doesn't exonerate him for being an actual demon, who used chemical weapons on Syrian civilians and attacked a sovereign nation, while committing genocide and other war crimes against a population of that was once over 40 million people.
Excusing Trump and allying with Putin. That's what happens when one points out Biden's terrible judgment or the culpability the Democratic Party has had in the current failings of our institutions. No I have not spent time watching the 50 million dollar woman spend hundreds of hours on the Putin conspiracy because the problem in our country is not Putin. Although focusing on that certainly takes the heat off those who should be held accountable. So you go work on Putin and Trump and I'll work on my representatives and non-corporate Democrats and we can both be satisfied then.
Can you please give a blurb for the first edition print of my Christmas book about the Speaker’s squeaker drama. It’s a Miracle on Capitol Hill where the GOP leader has visions of our founding fathers and a change of heart. A bit of a Christmas Carol, The Night Before Christmas, and Alice in Wonderland.
I can send you a free pdf or Use “Christmas” code to get the eBook for 95 cents.
If You Give the House a Cookie-How the Squeaker of the House Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Democracy.
"Governance exists. But it is not seen. It is certainly not democratic. It is done by the armies of lobbyists and corporate executives, from the fossil fuel industry, the arms industry, the pharmaceutical industry and Wall Street. Governance happens in secret. Corporations have seized the levers of power, including the media. Growing obscenely rich, the ruling oligarchs have deformed national institutions, including state and federal legislatures and the courts, to serve their insatiable greed. They know what they are doing. They understand the depths of their own corruption. They know they are hated. They are prepared for that too. They have militarized police forces and have built a vast archipelago of prisons to keep the unemployed and underemployed in bondage. All the while, they pay little to no income tax and exploit sweatshop labor overseas. They lavishly bankroll the political clowns who speak in the vulgar and crude idiom of an enraged public or in the dulcet tones used to mollify the liberal class."
I’m sure you could find many more connections between the hostage-taking reps and Russia if you follow the money. Their funding, their backers, even trips to Putin World, perhaps.
We still don't know the story behind the mysterious woman claiming to be a Rothschild -- delivering bags of money in exchange for classified docs?
Glad you wrote this up, Thom. I've been referring to the new GOP as Putinistas for a long time. It's extraordinary that one single, diabolically evil man, is systematically destroying the planet and the humans who live here. And far too many Americans keep voting Putin's useful fools into office.
Anyone know how to put the brakes on this madness?
You said it: World's most dangerous man: Vladimir Putin. The U.S.'s most dangerous man: DJT.
This is a perfectly logical conclusion. Is it being done wittingly or are their agendas simply aligned? With our weak laws, Russian money can come to these members without them understanding the origin, not to mention some would not WANT to know the origin.
When McCarthy made his Trump-is-on-Putin's-payroll remark, other Republicans in the room laughed, and then he said "Swear to God!". Paul Ryan swore the room to secrecy. A large group of Republicans have known about Russian influence all this time and have been part of a cover-up. They have chosen Trump, his Russian connections, and his lies concerning Russian influence.
All of this is KGB/FSB 101 stuff; that is exactly what Putin has been doing for 40 years. The thing that's changed is the platform---it's much easier to interfere because of the internet. His little-boy dream of being the spymaster has been realized beyond anything he could imagine. He owns all the spies, the spy toys, and you can bet that he owns some Americans too. It is all paid for by the money he has stolen from the Russian people. Putin, just like Trump, is a true psychopath. He will not stop until he is dead.
Thank you Alis. Well said!
I think you're right. What I can't figure out is how McCarthy got out from under the thumb too? Everyone knows that Trump couldn't get anyone to loan to him in the 90's after he blew through $600, $700 who knows how much, millions. Even the Chinese turned him down. So, he goes to Russia, they give him money and 'compromat' him. Later, it's the Saudi's, UAE, Qatar, you name it. Then we have Ukraine; a horribly corrupt country up until a few years ago. I still think Hunter Biden was all up in that mess and that Russia just wants the nukes back (and the uranium that Ukraine has a lot of). Anyhow, why did McCarthy's cabal get to bail and turn against Trump? As Cathy said in her comment, follow the money but.... Jeez, I know one thing for sure; the money trail ends with the off-shore banks who won't tell you a thing!
It would be great to see some critical thinking in these reports on the Democratic Party Speaker of the House who is just a male black version of Nancy Pelosi, continuing the party trend of the political expediency and corporate subservience that ushered in Trumpism in the first place. Putin has nothing, zero, to do with the core problems of austerity, militarism and failing institutions that our causing suffering for those who are not millionaires and billionaires. Your feeding the beast of partisan media, simply offering information that appeases an underinformed base and avoiding criticism they might find offensive, has contributed to the downward spiral of whatever democracy we had. Supporting nationalism and potential nuclear conflict to protect a political party while criticizing the nationalism of the other party will not solve any problems or push either party to change their misguided ways.
A lot of "critical thinking" has already been brought to bear on Russian interference in the 2016 Presidential Election, and if you think Trump's term didn't set the stage for more austerity and corporate subservience you are mistaken. Militarism always follows appeasement, and Trump's term was all about appeasing Russia, from Afghanistan to Libya down to southern Africa. While dreaming about annexing Ukraine for over 30 years, Putin would have never dared had Trump not handed him a royal flush including control of the global oil price, a U.S. surrender agreement with Afghanistan guaranteeing a problematic departure, Trump's silence about Russia taking military control of Libya's vast oil reserves in the south, and his undermining NATO for four years. In effect, Trump did everything in his power to help Putin, including leading an Insurrection, piling up trillions in debt, and if not for the Federal Reserve, leaving our country in its second Great Depression:
https://www.chicagotribune.com/columns/steve-chapman/ct-column-trump-oil-deal-gas-pricesi-chapman-20200415-iwwn3cpegngo5krsm6tfdycqvy-story.html
Germany under Hitler made a concerted effort to prevent the U.S. from entering the "European War" which was actually a concerted global war, and there were American politicians aligned with German objectives the Nazis had on their payroll. The Trump presidency also pushed China towards Russia and increased its military preparations. Taking everything into account it is important to view those in the R Party with great suspicion and concern, for the institutional departure they represent. Remember, on the whole it was the D Party who tried to reverse the reckless R deregulation and tax policies of the complete corporate subservience of the Trump Republicans that are now blocking our government from functioning.
Bravo Robert. A great addendum to Thom's essay. 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
Thanks! I could go on but I have a very busy day ahead.
You like most of the liberal population have been trained to turn your attention from what the US and NATO, a glorified weapons clearinghouse, have wrought, which includes a failed state in Libya (cue Hillary Clinton's hilarious "we came, we saw, he died"), to that "demon" Putin who somehow fooled Americans to vote for a judgment-addled, lying billionaire over a judgment-addled, lying hundred millionaire. For each respective political party it is always an external factor responsible for that party's failings, evidenced in our current downward spiral that can hardly be the responsibility of a single party in a two-party system. What has killed democracy is the echo chamber defending racist warmongering neoliberals like Biden instead of holding them accountable for the horrors they have wrought, whether its championing mass incarceration for black males, publicly denying a black woman witnesses to get Clarence Thomas confirmed to the Supreme Court, making impassioned speeches about how "American values" must be upheld by massacring half a million in a false war in Iraq...the list could go on for pages. And for the record, if you look at international news sources and not just Rachel Maddow and Thom Hartmann. Putin was frustrated by Trump because he was too ignorant of political process to do anything of consequence. To suggest January 6th was related to Putin is more evidence of how the Democrstic Party had become the party of McCarthyism. Putin did not make our health care system more unaffordable and inaccessible. He did not kill nearly a million Muslims over the past two decades. He did not cause record wealth inequality. He did not ship millions of manufacturing jobs overseas. Our democracy was lost long ago, and your refusal to hold those responsible accountable will enable the continuing unraveling of our institutions long after Putin is gone.
Hi Barry,
You have asserted several allegations against both parties without providing historical context, or assigning primary responsibility for specific policies or their enduring consequences. At other points of your reply, you have excused Trump, based upon Putin's frustration with his incompetence, as if either is a reliable source, and/or as if your assertion refutes all of the evidence gathered by U.S. intelligence and Trump's foreign policy ledger. While there may be areas of convergence among U.S. leaders as a result of succession, I disagree with your false equivocations and straw man arguments.
No one has argued that Putin is the reason for wealth inequality, sending jobs overseas, or high medical costs. However, their are fundamental ideological and competence differences between the R's and D's. I would be happy to go into detail and refute your claims with evidence, provided that you clearly state your argument(s). I have never claimed Putin was responsible for killing a half million Muslims, but that doesn't exonerate him for being an actual demon, who used chemical weapons on Syrian civilians and attacked a sovereign nation, while committing genocide and other war crimes against a population of that was once over 40 million people.
Excusing Trump and allying with Putin. That's what happens when one points out Biden's terrible judgment or the culpability the Democratic Party has had in the current failings of our institutions. No I have not spent time watching the 50 million dollar woman spend hundreds of hours on the Putin conspiracy because the problem in our country is not Putin. Although focusing on that certainly takes the heat off those who should be held accountable. So you go work on Putin and Trump and I'll work on my representatives and non-corporate Democrats and we can both be satisfied then.
Hey Tom,
Can you please give a blurb for the first edition print of my Christmas book about the Speaker’s squeaker drama. It’s a Miracle on Capitol Hill where the GOP leader has visions of our founding fathers and a change of heart. A bit of a Christmas Carol, The Night Before Christmas, and Alice in Wonderland.
I can send you a free pdf or Use “Christmas” code to get the eBook for 95 cents.
If You Give the House a Cookie-How the Squeaker of the House Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Democracy.
https://www.liberty-cookies.com/product-page/ebook-if-you-give-the-house-a-cookie
Who isn't "in the bag" for the worlds oligarchs?
"Governance exists. But it is not seen. It is certainly not democratic. It is done by the armies of lobbyists and corporate executives, from the fossil fuel industry, the arms industry, the pharmaceutical industry and Wall Street. Governance happens in secret. Corporations have seized the levers of power, including the media. Growing obscenely rich, the ruling oligarchs have deformed national institutions, including state and federal legislatures and the courts, to serve their insatiable greed. They know what they are doing. They understand the depths of their own corruption. They know they are hated. They are prepared for that too. They have militarized police forces and have built a vast archipelago of prisons to keep the unemployed and underemployed in bondage. All the while, they pay little to no income tax and exploit sweatshop labor overseas. They lavishly bankroll the political clowns who speak in the vulgar and crude idiom of an enraged public or in the dulcet tones used to mollify the liberal class."
https://chrishedges.substack.com/p/americas-theater-of-the-absurd
Twitter almost let me twitt this