In his weekend e-mail to subscribers this past Saturday, Charles P. Pierce went on in detail at how the Good Guys should not accept one Richard Cheney, former Vice President of the United States, into the fight to preserve this constitutional democratic republic.
You're preaching to the choir here TC but, with a few strong leads like you, Heather Richardson and Robert Hubbell maybe the rest of us can pump up the volume enough to be heard. The enemy of my enemy may not be my friend, but I'll take his help now and that might even help work out some of our differences.
One of my biggest worries is how we will defeat Trump and his cult. You are right, we must take in every. body. who will join the fight! And start yesterday!
This was exactly my sentiment regarding Sen Mike Rounds (R-SD) saying Trump lost the 2020 election on ABC’s This Week with George Stephanopoulos, Sen Mitt Romney lauding Rounds on Twitter and Sen Lisa Murkowski mocking Trump to the press for his conditional endorsement of a Republican candidate for Governor Alaska (the condition being said candidate must agree NOT to endorse Murkowski—another Trump tit for tat). Many feel these Republicans offer too little, too late. I say, welcome aboard the Stop Trump Train. We need them.
"My point is, both men knew that the other was their mortal enemy (and when it comes to killing people, there are folks in India who will point out that Churchill was no slouch in that respect, and they are right), but they were both supreme realists, and had no problem doing what was needed to fight the Existential Threat the Nazis posed. And despite all the Republican propaganda to the contrary that FDR didn’t know what he was doing, FDR knew who Stalin was. He also knew he wanted to defeat Hitler."
I too cringe at the Cheney's. I cringe at what has become the United States over the years even before Reagan took us all down a terrible road of economic dislocation for most people and the rise of oligarchical dynasties in the U.S. The current gop is indeed an existential threat to the nation. It should be renamed to neo-fascist or something as appropriate. The leadership and the trumpists have decided ideas no longer matter - of course their ideas have been nothing but crap forever but too many have somehow been unable to see their so-called policies for what they are - their stated goal is power for power's sake in order to remake democracy into authoritarian and dare I say government by dictatorship. The gop has laid the groundwork really well. Too many of us who stand appalled by what has been happening have ignored what this crowd have been doing through their think tanks, positions at universities, in economic circles, in the military and their incredibly astute use of media to magnify their message via Fox among other right wing channels. Fascist ideas did not die with Hitler and his crowd of criminals. Too much has been left to happen almost automatically because the people want to walk away once they have cast their ballot - IF they cast a ballot at all at any time. Now we the people must declare we will stand up against these forces even if doing that means standing beside the Cheney's. I too shuddered to see the old villain with his younger progeny who voted with the former "president" 90% of the time during 4 years of constant disaster. The oath of office should mean something to us who have elected people as much as to the people who take the oath. That is one reason the 163 reps and senators who sought to overturn the 2020 presidential election results, although they themselves were elected on the same ballots, should never be allowed to run for office again - not even for dog catcher and certainly not for school boards or anything else. They made a choice to crash the Constitution and support an attempted coup. It appears many of them even helped the attackers. (I hope the congressional committee is also looking into the rally held on January 5.) I have no idea how these folks sleep at night and still pull down a salary and perks that we the people are paying them.
TFG and the insurrectionists also have the advantage of the Nazi’s playbook (Melania informed us this was TFG’s bedside reading) and the major advantage of Putin, an experienced Russian Apparatchnik, playing on their side. There is so much of Third Reich history and positioning repeating itself and then being supercharged by social Media that this is truly a Five Alarm 🚨 🔥🚨💣🚨Moment!
Looking a little deeper into the crystal ball I see a situation where there must be an enormous amount of jockeying to take the place of an aging weaker than he seems despot with no viable heir to his power (read Donor List)). I am sure DeSantis and Abott are feverishly flipping thru records of the Stalinist and Maoist purges to find what went wrong.
My profound hatred for Dick Cheney is not altered by my gratitude for his support in this fight. I never thought I would be as grateful to any Cheney, as I am to his daughter, Liz. When she speaks out about Trump, I assume that Darth Vader is behind her with his support. And, our country needs both of them right now. And many more Republicans like them to get on board. I hope Dick Cheney is working the phones with his corporate buddies, telling them not to support anyone who refused to certify the election on January 7th. In my twisted screwed-up version of “history echoes over time”, Liz Cheney is the only person who currently reminds me of the silver-tongue, tough-talking bulldog that was Churchill. She may not have a silver tongue, but she’s tough: My enemy is my friend. ❤️🤍💙
I especially like this: "The German conservatives and liberals couldn’t bring themselves to ally in the face of Hitler. They looked at each other and saw too many old enemies, rather than seeing the Great Enemy.
Right here, right now, there is only one question on the test: “Do you oppose Trump and the Trumpists and all their works and will you devote your heart and soul to their total and complete destruction?”
Yeah, TC, I love my Charlie. And he can be wrong. Here's my gripe, not only with the Cheney's but the entire Lincoln Project; they want to go back to the Bush/Reagan regimes. Remember Florida, 2000.
I don't trust these bastards.
Another thing that drives me bat shit is why does the media in all its forms bend over backwards when a Republican says or does the right thing?
When my husband and I met, he was divorced with young children. We shared custody and Rich paid child support. For over 20 years, he never missed a payment. I would tell that to people and they thought, "isn't that great!" I would reply NO. It was his obligation and you don't get a trophy for doing the right thing.
I will welcome our Republican war criminals so we may put in jail members of the worst administration ever, filled with traitors, liars, thieves, groveling to the 1%, treating Americans like they are trash.
And when it's done I'm kicking those motherfuckers to the curb.
I knew you were a Skinner man!😼 You are correct of course, and none of us is morally pure. I just get so damned angry at any republican who were with 45 from the get go: the bigotry, misogyny, the hate he spewed about everybody, that it took THIS to turn them around. Then again our eyes don't deceive us when we see three republicans in the House for a moment of silence ( oh and just fuck the prayers rap. It's old and useless) and only one Republican from Kentucky went with Biden to visit that state after the storms a few weeks ago.
How anybody can vote for these knuckle draggers, is beyond my comprehension. Thanks for letting me vent, TC!
A little late to this party today..... I really like this.
There is a larger issue and we can sort out the other stuff later! Much as many Dems despise Dick, it may have taken some balls for the elder Cheney to come into the chamber that day. I think he did it because he hates Trump and loves his daughter. This does not "magic wand" either Cheney into RINO's!!!! They have their own agendas and she especially has done a risk assessment and decided it was worth it, as well as right, to fight this political battle. I am glad she is for the moment. She may be the Cheney with balls!!!!
I always appreciate your WWII contexts which you write so well. Thanks again!
You're preaching to the choir here TC but, with a few strong leads like you, Heather Richardson and Robert Hubbell maybe the rest of us can pump up the volume enough to be heard. The enemy of my enemy may not be my friend, but I'll take his help now and that might even help work out some of our differences.
So, in other words, let’s get it right this time. All hands on deck to defeat the “real monster”.
United. 🙋🏻🙋🏼🙋🏽🙋🏾🙋🏿
I'm all in, TC. Good to know my lay perspective aligns with yours!
One of my biggest worries is how we will defeat Trump and his cult. You are right, we must take in every. body. who will join the fight! And start yesterday!
This was exactly my sentiment regarding Sen Mike Rounds (R-SD) saying Trump lost the 2020 election on ABC’s This Week with George Stephanopoulos, Sen Mitt Romney lauding Rounds on Twitter and Sen Lisa Murkowski mocking Trump to the press for his conditional endorsement of a Republican candidate for Governor Alaska (the condition being said candidate must agree NOT to endorse Murkowski—another Trump tit for tat). Many feel these Republicans offer too little, too late. I say, welcome aboard the Stop Trump Train. We need them.
Thanks for the history, TC.
This section really got me:
"My point is, both men knew that the other was their mortal enemy (and when it comes to killing people, there are folks in India who will point out that Churchill was no slouch in that respect, and they are right), but they were both supreme realists, and had no problem doing what was needed to fight the Existential Threat the Nazis posed. And despite all the Republican propaganda to the contrary that FDR didn’t know what he was doing, FDR knew who Stalin was. He also knew he wanted to defeat Hitler."
I too cringe at the Cheney's. I cringe at what has become the United States over the years even before Reagan took us all down a terrible road of economic dislocation for most people and the rise of oligarchical dynasties in the U.S. The current gop is indeed an existential threat to the nation. It should be renamed to neo-fascist or something as appropriate. The leadership and the trumpists have decided ideas no longer matter - of course their ideas have been nothing but crap forever but too many have somehow been unable to see their so-called policies for what they are - their stated goal is power for power's sake in order to remake democracy into authoritarian and dare I say government by dictatorship. The gop has laid the groundwork really well. Too many of us who stand appalled by what has been happening have ignored what this crowd have been doing through their think tanks, positions at universities, in economic circles, in the military and their incredibly astute use of media to magnify their message via Fox among other right wing channels. Fascist ideas did not die with Hitler and his crowd of criminals. Too much has been left to happen almost automatically because the people want to walk away once they have cast their ballot - IF they cast a ballot at all at any time. Now we the people must declare we will stand up against these forces even if doing that means standing beside the Cheney's. I too shuddered to see the old villain with his younger progeny who voted with the former "president" 90% of the time during 4 years of constant disaster. The oath of office should mean something to us who have elected people as much as to the people who take the oath. That is one reason the 163 reps and senators who sought to overturn the 2020 presidential election results, although they themselves were elected on the same ballots, should never be allowed to run for office again - not even for dog catcher and certainly not for school boards or anything else. They made a choice to crash the Constitution and support an attempted coup. It appears many of them even helped the attackers. (I hope the congressional committee is also looking into the rally held on January 5.) I have no idea how these folks sleep at night and still pull down a salary and perks that we the people are paying them.
Brilliant TC!
TFG and the insurrectionists also have the advantage of the Nazi’s playbook (Melania informed us this was TFG’s bedside reading) and the major advantage of Putin, an experienced Russian Apparatchnik, playing on their side. There is so much of Third Reich history and positioning repeating itself and then being supercharged by social Media that this is truly a Five Alarm 🚨 🔥🚨💣🚨Moment!
Looking a little deeper into the crystal ball I see a situation where there must be an enormous amount of jockeying to take the place of an aging weaker than he seems despot with no viable heir to his power (read Donor List)). I am sure DeSantis and Abott are feverishly flipping thru records of the Stalinist and Maoist purges to find what went wrong.
Interesting times.
My profound hatred for Dick Cheney is not altered by my gratitude for his support in this fight. I never thought I would be as grateful to any Cheney, as I am to his daughter, Liz. When she speaks out about Trump, I assume that Darth Vader is behind her with his support. And, our country needs both of them right now. And many more Republicans like them to get on board. I hope Dick Cheney is working the phones with his corporate buddies, telling them not to support anyone who refused to certify the election on January 7th. In my twisted screwed-up version of “history echoes over time”, Liz Cheney is the only person who currently reminds me of the silver-tongue, tough-talking bulldog that was Churchill. She may not have a silver tongue, but she’s tough: My enemy is my friend. ❤️🤍💙
Makes sense to me. Thank you, TC.
Agree with your analogy re Cheney. I'd have to check my history books to see why the early alliance with Stalin was turned down.
Finished Bridgebusters. Enjoyable. Taking a break and then on to Tonkin Gulf
I especially like this: "The German conservatives and liberals couldn’t bring themselves to ally in the face of Hitler. They looked at each other and saw too many old enemies, rather than seeing the Great Enemy.
Right here, right now, there is only one question on the test: “Do you oppose Trump and the Trumpists and all their works and will you devote your heart and soul to their total and complete destruction?”
Everybody who says “Yes” is on our side."
Yeah, TC, I love my Charlie. And he can be wrong. Here's my gripe, not only with the Cheney's but the entire Lincoln Project; they want to go back to the Bush/Reagan regimes. Remember Florida, 2000.
I don't trust these bastards.
Another thing that drives me bat shit is why does the media in all its forms bend over backwards when a Republican says or does the right thing?
When my husband and I met, he was divorced with young children. We shared custody and Rich paid child support. For over 20 years, he never missed a payment. I would tell that to people and they thought, "isn't that great!" I would reply NO. It was his obligation and you don't get a trophy for doing the right thing.
I will welcome our Republican war criminals so we may put in jail members of the worst administration ever, filled with traitors, liars, thieves, groveling to the 1%, treating Americans like they are trash.
And when it's done I'm kicking those motherfuckers to the curb.
I knew you were a Skinner man!😼 You are correct of course, and none of us is morally pure. I just get so damned angry at any republican who were with 45 from the get go: the bigotry, misogyny, the hate he spewed about everybody, that it took THIS to turn them around. Then again our eyes don't deceive us when we see three republicans in the House for a moment of silence ( oh and just fuck the prayers rap. It's old and useless) and only one Republican from Kentucky went with Biden to visit that state after the storms a few weeks ago.
How anybody can vote for these knuckle draggers, is beyond my comprehension. Thanks for letting me vent, TC!
AMEN! Let it be so!
Thanks for several reminders, TC. I agree.
A little late to this party today..... I really like this.
There is a larger issue and we can sort out the other stuff later! Much as many Dems despise Dick, it may have taken some balls for the elder Cheney to come into the chamber that day. I think he did it because he hates Trump and loves his daughter. This does not "magic wand" either Cheney into RINO's!!!! They have their own agendas and she especially has done a risk assessment and decided it was worth it, as well as right, to fight this political battle. I am glad she is for the moment. She may be the Cheney with balls!!!!
I always appreciate your WWII contexts which you write so well. Thanks again!