Let's keep Hitler and Napoleon out of our history; that is, dump the arch monument Trump wants to himself. To celebrate our 250 years let's have a statue of a running horse (movement and energy shared by Native Americans and early settlers) with a long tether to a rocket ship, symbolizing the remarkable sweep of our nation's movement from nature to human innovation. That's all I got because I don't think a monument to a chronic draft dodger belongs anywhere near Arlington (And I thought the same about Cheney.).
As the war with Iran widens to other countries, Trump thinks he's got a Peace Prize win with his personal"commandment" to both Hamas and Bibi to "cut it out." Clearly he believes in "The Triumph of the Will," but neither side has it, just him because he knows it's now his inescapable legacy.
Thank you, TC for TAFM today. The kitties are the bright spot of this day in TAFM history! I wonder if it will be possible to tear up everything that he gets completed or partially completed when we kick him out of office? I don't like the new former "Rose Garden". I don't like the looks of the outlandish ballroom, the pitiful reflecting pool, the inside of the golden oval office and heaven forbid that horrible arch. And get his name off of everything and the pictures burned. It is going to take a long time to get our country back to as far as we had progessed since I was born. The dollars he has burned not counting the so called "engagement" or whatever he has called it besides a WAR! Happy Friday!
That news of a drone attack on American assets in Egypt made me consider the possibility of a false flag operation by clandestine Israel forces operating in Iraq (not for the first time). Would not put it past them at all. I seriously doubt Iran would launch such a strike, although the Houthis might be undisciplined enough to uncharacteristically have done so.
So the whole "vote blue no matter who" phrase only means who the Schumer wing of the party approves. Perhaps, just possibly, if they did actually get behind the young Dem Socialists, who can win AND drop AIPAC etc etc. the Dem party might gain belief and trust once again.
Of course, their donors wouldnt approve, would they?
There's an article in Semafor today about how the DSA - which is having their national convention this weekend - has dropped/modified several of their platform points to "clarify" them (i.e., get rid of the loonie ones), and their candidates are making it clear that each has their own agenda, which isn't necessarily the DSA platform. I have to say that most people here are not aware that in the late 80s, the "leftovers" from the Socialist Worker's Party, the Progressivle Labor Party, the Revolutionary Youth (Marxist-Leninist) and the old CPUSA - just to name the "Bourgeois Bolsheviks" who destroyed SDS between 1967-70 - decided to fold their tents and join DSA the way the original "Bolsheviks" took over the Russian Democratic Socialist Party in 1905. The first things they did was push things to the point that DSA founder Michael Harrington, was forced out in 1995. DSA is an organization whose first response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine was to call for "ending NATO." The "campus activist" who defeated Dan Goldman is on the record for "closing prisons" and "ending" national borders. I think those two will go over like the proverbial "lead balloon" in November, and you know the GOP will find all that stuff. The DSA candidate for Governor in Wisconsin is very "on the record" calling for ending Thanksgiving because it's a "celebration of settler imperialism."
I remember back in 1968, organizing a meeting to set up a legal defense organization for activists in Texas, in which we got 85 Texas lawyers to attend, that saw the Maoists of PL and the "revolutionary communists" get into a fight over the proper usage of "communist rhetoric." By the time they got that Very Important Issue worked out, there weren't any lawyers left in the meeting. That's how the Marxist-Leninist left has never failed to lose an opportunity to actually do something that matters. I've long been in favor of letting those morons get a free flying lesson out a window. They wrecked the New Left, and if their bullshit loses us this Blue Wave in November, I'll be in favor of putting them "up against the wall, motherfucker!" as they're always fond of saying.
In Michigan we have a strong GOP candidate in Mike Rogers, a carpetbagger who's lived in Florida for the last two years (Just as Tommy Tuberville reps Alamba where he hadn't lived for a couple of years.). He's got creds: a record as a congressional rep from MI, a veteran, a former FBI agent, a working class background, and he's not tied to Trump the way most GOP incumbents are. The GOP is spending money to make El Sayed the Dem they want Rogers running against. Haley Stevens is a solid Dem candidate with ties to Obama and the auto industry bailout. She's not remarkable, but she's okay. El Sayed may win in SE Michigan and Ann Arbor, but the rest of the state will be wary of him because his only chops were made in Detroit. He hasn't paid enough dues to be a senator, and then there's the problem of that foreign sounding name. In the end voters here won't take a chance on him. So, yes, vote blue no matter who.
But Steven's "ties to Obama" are from 2008. The impression her ads give is that he has endorsed her! He has not. And way way too much AIPAC money backing her - very pro-Israel.
Sounds to me as if the GOP is doing a bit of ghosting - approving of El Sayed.
The GOP has a long record of finding the looniest far leftie (like Sinema) and pushing them. The "proressive PAC" that is funding most of El-Sayed's campaign right now was put together by a MAGA activist, Does that tell you something?
So we should continue to support Israel genocide, forget about reforming our health care, keep on voting for the US donor class - both parties, and keep on keeping on with these freaking wars. How many countries is it now? And the US - democrat and republican - has been making war way too long way before trump.
Of course there are loonies - Sinema, Manchin, Fetterman, plus the senior generation of senators and representatives on both sides.
We (some of us) voted them in.
Watching the Democrats and their donors push out or badmouth anyone who doesnt toe the line is getting really old - and so am I - and fed up.
It's a problem. But putting up a candidate for a "must win" Senate seat who can be blown out of the water with his own words doesn't strike me as a winning idea. It's not about "toeing the line" - it's about getting mjorities in Michigan counties beyond Wayne County.
Thanks for the clarity and insight. So spot on re: Don tha Con/FOTUS’ inability to understand most foreign affairs and issues; negotiations from a six-time bankrupted businessperson are suspect, but in each case, he lies and cheats as always.
They were brother and sister. Interestingly, Cary spent his life within six feet of me always (before he succumbed to urethral blockage in 2019) while Phantom acts like she thinks I'm going to eat her if she gets close.
Bummer about Cary. Condolences—family members whether furry or not are still there for us in our memories—there’s always a smile or chuckle that arrives from time to time when a familiar activity comes along. As for Phantom, who knows what crosses in her mind; perhaps she needs more time, more energy. Eight years is normally a lot…but some cats are def different. Be well, all of youse!
Bravo for those journalists that wouldn't give up! Now I really want them to take up the "Tiedrich challenge."
And just an observation: as YouTube's "Belle of the Ranch" always says "Trump is NOT A SOURCE."
Let's keep Hitler and Napoleon out of our history; that is, dump the arch monument Trump wants to himself. To celebrate our 250 years let's have a statue of a running horse (movement and energy shared by Native Americans and early settlers) with a long tether to a rocket ship, symbolizing the remarkable sweep of our nation's movement from nature to human innovation. That's all I got because I don't think a monument to a chronic draft dodger belongs anywhere near Arlington (And I thought the same about Cheney.).
As the war with Iran widens to other countries, Trump thinks he's got a Peace Prize win with his personal"commandment" to both Hamas and Bibi to "cut it out." Clearly he believes in "The Triumph of the Will," but neither side has it, just him because he knows it's now his inescapable legacy.
This arch is an example of Trump’s narcissism and self-glorification.
Thank you, TC for TAFM today. The kitties are the bright spot of this day in TAFM history! I wonder if it will be possible to tear up everything that he gets completed or partially completed when we kick him out of office? I don't like the new former "Rose Garden". I don't like the looks of the outlandish ballroom, the pitiful reflecting pool, the inside of the golden oval office and heaven forbid that horrible arch. And get his name off of everything and the pictures burned. It is going to take a long time to get our country back to as far as we had progessed since I was born. The dollars he has burned not counting the so called "engagement" or whatever he has called it besides a WAR! Happy Friday!
Knocking it all down to rubble should be Job No. 1 in 2029.
I would love to help! LOL
That news of a drone attack on American assets in Egypt made me consider the possibility of a false flag operation by clandestine Israel forces operating in Iraq (not for the first time). Would not put it past them at all. I seriously doubt Iran would launch such a strike, although the Houthis might be undisciplined enough to uncharacteristically have done so.
Jeff Tiedrich needs to see this: reporters kept asking the same question.
So the whole "vote blue no matter who" phrase only means who the Schumer wing of the party approves. Perhaps, just possibly, if they did actually get behind the young Dem Socialists, who can win AND drop AIPAC etc etc. the Dem party might gain belief and trust once again.
Of course, their donors wouldnt approve, would they?
Thanks, Tom for another informational post!
There's an article in Semafor today about how the DSA - which is having their national convention this weekend - has dropped/modified several of their platform points to "clarify" them (i.e., get rid of the loonie ones), and their candidates are making it clear that each has their own agenda, which isn't necessarily the DSA platform. I have to say that most people here are not aware that in the late 80s, the "leftovers" from the Socialist Worker's Party, the Progressivle Labor Party, the Revolutionary Youth (Marxist-Leninist) and the old CPUSA - just to name the "Bourgeois Bolsheviks" who destroyed SDS between 1967-70 - decided to fold their tents and join DSA the way the original "Bolsheviks" took over the Russian Democratic Socialist Party in 1905. The first things they did was push things to the point that DSA founder Michael Harrington, was forced out in 1995. DSA is an organization whose first response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine was to call for "ending NATO." The "campus activist" who defeated Dan Goldman is on the record for "closing prisons" and "ending" national borders. I think those two will go over like the proverbial "lead balloon" in November, and you know the GOP will find all that stuff. The DSA candidate for Governor in Wisconsin is very "on the record" calling for ending Thanksgiving because it's a "celebration of settler imperialism."
I remember back in 1968, organizing a meeting to set up a legal defense organization for activists in Texas, in which we got 85 Texas lawyers to attend, that saw the Maoists of PL and the "revolutionary communists" get into a fight over the proper usage of "communist rhetoric." By the time they got that Very Important Issue worked out, there weren't any lawyers left in the meeting. That's how the Marxist-Leninist left has never failed to lose an opportunity to actually do something that matters. I've long been in favor of letting those morons get a free flying lesson out a window. They wrecked the New Left, and if their bullshit loses us this Blue Wave in November, I'll be in favor of putting them "up against the wall, motherfucker!" as they're always fond of saying.
In Michigan we have a strong GOP candidate in Mike Rogers, a carpetbagger who's lived in Florida for the last two years (Just as Tommy Tuberville reps Alamba where he hadn't lived for a couple of years.). He's got creds: a record as a congressional rep from MI, a veteran, a former FBI agent, a working class background, and he's not tied to Trump the way most GOP incumbents are. The GOP is spending money to make El Sayed the Dem they want Rogers running against. Haley Stevens is a solid Dem candidate with ties to Obama and the auto industry bailout. She's not remarkable, but she's okay. El Sayed may win in SE Michigan and Ann Arbor, but the rest of the state will be wary of him because his only chops were made in Detroit. He hasn't paid enough dues to be a senator, and then there's the problem of that foreign sounding name. In the end voters here won't take a chance on him. So, yes, vote blue no matter who.
But Steven's "ties to Obama" are from 2008. The impression her ads give is that he has endorsed her! He has not. And way way too much AIPAC money backing her - very pro-Israel.
Sounds to me as if the GOP is doing a bit of ghosting - approving of El Sayed.
The GOP has a long record of finding the looniest far leftie (like Sinema) and pushing them. The "proressive PAC" that is funding most of El-Sayed's campaign right now was put together by a MAGA activist, Does that tell you something?
So we should continue to support Israel genocide, forget about reforming our health care, keep on voting for the US donor class - both parties, and keep on keeping on with these freaking wars. How many countries is it now? And the US - democrat and republican - has been making war way too long way before trump.
Of course there are loonies - Sinema, Manchin, Fetterman, plus the senior generation of senators and representatives on both sides.
We (some of us) voted them in.
Watching the Democrats and their donors push out or badmouth anyone who doesnt toe the line is getting really old - and so am I - and fed up.
It's a problem. But putting up a candidate for a "must win" Senate seat who can be blown out of the water with his own words doesn't strike me as a winning idea. It's not about "toeing the line" - it's about getting mjorities in Michigan counties beyond Wayne County.
Thanks for the clarity and insight. So spot on re: Don tha Con/FOTUS’ inability to understand most foreign affairs and issues; negotiations from a six-time bankrupted businessperson are suspect, but in each case, he lies and cheats as always.
P.S. Cary and Phantom are definitely buds!
They were brother and sister. Interestingly, Cary spent his life within six feet of me always (before he succumbed to urethral blockage in 2019) while Phantom acts like she thinks I'm going to eat her if she gets close.
Bummer about Cary. Condolences—family members whether furry or not are still there for us in our memories—there’s always a smile or chuckle that arrives from time to time when a familiar activity comes along. As for Phantom, who knows what crosses in her mind; perhaps she needs more time, more energy. Eight years is normally a lot…but some cats are def different. Be well, all of youse!