King hit every moral guardrail. Tom completed the statement of the case we must take on. Too much tickling the rules of this nation by the black force. Dying by a thousand minor cuts let to happen shall determine whether our democracy survives.
If you were moved by it, that is enough. That is what we must get back to. Democracy. Knowing you are enough and that you are not responsible for “hoping” others get it.
I'm perfectly content to let Section 3 do its job. My only caveat is the feeling that Trump would be the easiest Republican candidate for Smokin' Joe Biden to beat in 2024..... My fevered opium dream is for some even worse disaster to befall the Repubs, and have Biden and the Dems score such a wipe out that the House and Senate margins are large enough that we can reform the government, especially the crippled Senate, and get stuff done..... I'll let myself out through the servants' entrance.....:-)
For those non-trek fans, "City" is a "butterfly effect," story involving Kirk, Spock, McCoy and changing the timeline because of the actions of one person (and yes, Tom, I know the nearly 60-year story involving Harlan Ellison and Roddenberry) and how, because Edith Keeler lived, the Germans conquered the world. But Kirk and Spock figure out that in reality, THEIR reality, Edith died walking across the street. Of course, the key was Kirk's sense of duty and loyalty to his ship and Starfleet and his love for Edith. In the end, the timeline is preserved and Kirk says "lets get the hell out of here."
It's actually the story of Harlan and Gene L. Coon, who rewrote Harlan's pile of steaming ---- into the screenplay that won a Hugo and a Nebula - in Harlan's name because Gene saw his job as making things work, not taking credit - which Harlan never picked up. But the Wanker's Guild did give him a Laurel Award for the "steamer."
Yes, well, I read the original story, which changed a few things, but not much. Ellison was a bit steamed at Gene (then again, wasn't everyone?) for changing his story, but everyone's story gets changed in Hollywood.
The problem with Harlan is that he would break rules just because they were there. The Star Trek franchise had rules then and does now about thing that can/cannot happen, which have changed over the decades. But back then, the drug dealer couldn't be heroic and definitely couldn't win, so naturally Harlan did.... what? Also, the writer had to bear in mind that their budgets were not big. I used to know the set designer (through old airplanes) and he told me that when he got his first look at Harlan's version, "The SFX budget was spent in the introductory scene." Coon went in and made it work, but Harlan being the narcissist he was, he had to either win or be the Eternal Victim.
Ellison used to be "my hero" as a writer, and when you stay to the end of the dead sea scrolls on the Terminator movies, you find the last credit is, "The producers wish to recognize the work of Harlan Ellison." That's because he won a lawsuit over the first one for "misappropriation of intellectual property", and he won because there was a guy who wrote for Starlog Magazine, who did an interview with James Cameron, in which Cameron finally answered "what was your inspiration?" and basically said he had come up with the story from being a kid watching Harlan's episodes in two well-known s-f anthologies on TV at the time. I know that writer very extremely closely, and he got very upset when Harlan - who got rich on that decision and Hemdale's refusal to honor it till they got severely whacked - decided to treat him like he treated every other writer he was friends with, eventually. (In other words, I didn't cry over the news of his departure.)
I thought Hugos and Nebulas were only for works of prose fiction.
now, I know better.
generally, for narrative purposes in works in a series, it's best to stick to the rules.
but then again, I'm still not quite over the ridiculous invention of Red Kryptonite...the stuff that only made Superman "weird," as opposed to reliably dead (like the original green variety). that was...when? I'm thinking about 1958 or 9.
Yes, and all those first season shows were produced by Desilu, who also produced Mission: Impossible. (Desi was in bad health and Lucy and her second husband sold her company to Paramount) Most Sci-Fi writers think their ideas are the Next Big Thing. Trust me, they're not. Ellison was no different. If you think about that episode, the SFX was in the first scene. They used the Paramount lot for the rest of it.
did you ever wonder about the pictures of the MI team members who'd NEVER get picked?
what were their special talents? why were those talents never utilized? if they were never working, why didn't they just get shitcanned? were they on salary or retainer?
I watched the original when it aired and even then as a teenager, I knew I was watching an extraordinary story well-written and well-acted. It remains one of my favorite original Star Trek episodes.
I have an old, old friend (practically a cousin) named Lisa Rich, who had some script credits on one of the later Star Trek spinoffs. one of hers was definitely based on the Israeli/Palestinian thing. it was GOOD.
I remember when Battlestar Galactica did one on the Iraqi resistance to the American invasion, with the BG people the resisters who even did a suicide bombing. Really upset the wingers.
Agree agree with Linda and Maggie. you stated it all broadly but succinctly from history from our constitution from gathering that and more sources into a powerfully created piece.
Our free press has the responsibility to tell the truth. Without a true assessment of the danger, we are ignorant, some way more than others. It’s not that one failure that brought us here, it is many. Propaganda, Dark money, greedy bastards, Pharisees, haters looking for the “lesser,” and red state confederates. Not an exhaustive list, BTW. Cult nuts don’t care, and they think minority rule is just fine. The majority cry BULL SCHITT
The corporations or individuals who own media outlets consider it their responsibility to generate profits. If printing the facts and educating the public in a way to promote the general welfare brings in profits, great. If not... In my view, this is why Infotainment and click bait is often what you get. This is why internet literacy and media literacy in general is so crucial. FAIR.ORG is particularly good at calling out media for its weaknesses and bias.
You're not wrong, but I guarantee the media is quaking in their boots, knowing full well that any Fair.org screeching means absolutely squat to the right-wing nuts. Next thing you'll be expecting the police to get out of their cars and read and understand the inscription on the sides of their cars "to protect and serve."
I once got out of jury duty in LA by saying that in 40 years of living here, I had never once been "served" or "protected" by the LAPD. (Of course they didn't like my recounting of unplanned participation in the LAPD's first police riot at Century City either)
I was actually interviewed once as a possible juror in the Abner Louima case. I walked in, took one look at the thuggish, ugly cops and thought "they're fucking guilty as sin and I'm gonna find them guilty, period." I doubt I would have been chosen, but the cops copped a plea within a week. I just checked and the worst of them, Volpe (who wouldn't have been out of place in a fistfucking video) was released last year, six years early. good behavior?
If I get your meaning, I agree that the traditional media are not concerned that fair.org is going to turn the heads of "right-wing nuts." Deep conservatives, MAGA, and/or conspiracy-favoring people are not who promoting the message of FAIR.ORG is for. I am hoping that a better educated independent voter, or a Democrat who is put off by the absence of a more effective response of the U.S. to the epic events in Gaza, even when fully recognizing that the attacks of 10/7 were horrific, may remain motivated to vote against the fascist takeover of government that looms over the country. If more people read the media more incisively, their dissatisfaction with Biden would pale in comparison to their heightened awareness and understanding of the danger to normalcy that the cult-like phenomenon of the deeplly-felt minority popularity of a fraudulent, narcissistic, immature, ignorant, entitled, non-Christian racist hopefully-soon-to-be-convicted criminal represents. I am perfectly happy to advocate to vote AGAINST, rather than FOR, as long as it drives turnout, which is crucial. Just to be clear, I am not expecting, any more than TC is, a fundamental change in the character of the current or future individuals who voluntarily choose to become peace officers, or the culture, legal and social, in which they are conditioned and function, or their behaviors. That is distinct from claiming that is impossible that some degree of progress might occur in policing. Here again, a really well-educated public, which understood overpolicing, discriminatory practices, the racial bias in the court system, etc., such as enumerated in detail in Michelle Alexander's "The New Jim Crow", might make a difference, but not like the dramatic one you describe. Even a small win would be cause for pride. (In my professional work as a physician evaluating workers' compensation claimants, I have interviewed probably a thousand peace officers over 40-years.)
For beginners, "dissatisfaction with Biden" is a completely manufactured umbrage for the intellectually lazy, and we need to point that out at every opportunity. Biden's progressive record already exceeds Obama's, who most of these same people and I happen to think also did a good job considering the Congress he had to work with (Mitch, et al.). As For Biden's handling of the Middle East, there's the single-issue (read self-absorbed) voters sanctimoniously whining about Israel-Hamas who would have us think they have access to all the same intelligence that Biden has, so their judgments are of course morally superior. I think it was Jeff Tiedrich who phrased it as Dunning and Kruger having a baby, then dropping it on its head.
In my professional work as an Oncologist/Hematologist/Internist for 34 years, I have become painfully aware that exponentially, I am unable to help patients understand anything about what's going on with them without first explaining some very basic science, math, and technology, and using little words to do it, while also having to explain why most of the time Dr. Google got it very wrong, or worse. Yeah, they're definitely reading all those books....
But more on these lovely books collecting dust on the left's bookshelves, which the most voters will never even crack open -- thankfully, it seems there's a never-ending parade of wannabe authors-in-the-know who leave office, having sequestered their knowledge for said book$, instead of putting it out where everyone could read for the betterment of our democracy, oh, except newspaper paywalls now also make that inaccessible too. No wonder the masses get their "knowledge" from 30 second sound bites from teevee. We are doomed, but at least we can point at the fabulously appointed bookshelves and say, "See, they told us so."
I agree with you that the reporting of a loss of support for Biden strikes me s overplayed, as well, but it's non non-existent, particularly with younger voters who have experienced the years of ~unopposed climate denial and Israeli support that older voters did. I also agree with you that Biden's record of accomplishments is truly impressive and I certainly hope that the messaging on this strengthens and continues right up to the election. You are again correct that claiming to have the final, unassailable opinion on the MIddle East is tough, even for those with extensive diplomatic experience and/or academic knowledge. I absolutely sympathize with your (and my) need to correct misconceptions that patients develop from looking into things online in an uninformed way, which is usually the case in medicine, since there are so many unscientific sites that are very skilled in locating their websites high up in the match lists. I also find the general level knowledge of medicine (the most basic fundamentals of physiology, pharmacology, anatomy) in the population is quite low. However, I also find that patients come to me not with misconceptions but with ignorance about the most basic nature of their problem, despite having seen multiple physicians (and I don't mean quacks) for some time. And OMG, forget statistics - no idea. It sounds like you take patient education seriously, and I applaud that.
Who do you consider to be an author regarding contemporary political and social analysis that you trust as honest and knowledgeable?
Whoa, big topic. I think most people have a more negative opinion about the workers' compensation system than is warranted. Yes, there is fraud, but that is a relatively small percentage. There is a lot of exaggeration, but that is something that the system itself, at least here in California, promotes. The experience for the claimant, even with a 100% valid claim, is typically one of denial and delay, and just getting a simple claim through the system is difficult. Even basic care for an accepted claim is a giant headache since the claims administrators deny and delay everything. The reason for that is just as much the fault of the demands of the insurers and employers, to save money, as it is the result of efforts by claimants and their attorneys to game the system. As I said, it's a complicated question. Gary
Thank you for this. I can believe that claimants have trouble getting any positive results. Seems the bureaucracy is stacked against so much. Social workers are better at such than I was as a counselor, but still....
Thank you, things sure have changed since Walter’s day. News was not a money maker and I guess shareholders weren’t greedy bastards. Was it Reagan who pointed the way to the trough…
Getting rid of the fairness doctrine was part of it, and general deregulation, which allowed those who were partisan, venal and clever to do whatever worked for them. Right-wing radio and Fox News grew out of it - using repetition and the psychology of resentment and victimhood and fear to literally mine money those people most harmed, financially, from the policies of trickle down (wealth inequality) and deregulation (subprime crisis). Bill Clinton playing Republican lite and working with the business/finance establishment and libertarian interests (Alan Greenspan, his Federal Reserve chairman, was a long-time serious devotee of Ayn Rand's vision that only the elites should run things, with a dismissive, even disgusted view of the average person), with his massive crime bill, trimming of the safety net (e.g., "work-fare" in place of welfare) and the financial deregulation that guaranteed the subprime collapse. Just the Internet itself ,as a phenomenon, contributed to a coarsening of dialog as anonymous people could pose as toughs, as well as unleash the true racists, Trump took advantage of most. The internet is siphoning advertising money away from print media - it's no surprise they are largely failing or choking along. The valuations of Apple and Google are in the stratosphere.
Bill Clinton was way down on my list of who to blame for the messes of the 90’s (zippergate notwithstanding.). Do you remember Rupert, Newt, Tom Delay, Dick Armey and the crew of evil ushered in as Daddy Bush was kicked out? (And don’t forget Dick Morris.) Fox was top dog in a flash and Clinton looked damn good to me. Sort of like today. The repubs brought their worst, the crooks, the sexual predators, the Pharisees, haters, and the greedy bastards. Anything the Dems brought to the table was tastier by a country mile.
after that bullshit crime bill and "welfare reform," I just couldn't vote for Clinton in '96 and did my usual protest vote for the most outrageously left-wing person on the ballot.
I like to refer to him as the best Republican president of the twentieth century.
I didn't vote for that southern-fried piece of shit twice. And the only reason I voted for his wife was because of her opponent. When I read the whole story of how he fucked around with the draft, I realized you couldn't trust the bastard further than you could see him with your eyes closed.
I GOT it. I think I might be fonder of Hilary than you are.
I feel this way because she made three or four "outrageous" charges which the other side mocked merrily until those charges turned out to be entirely true. but I also get that she and Bill were (or are or whatever) a team of sorts.
feels like a wash to me. but we don't have them to kick around anymore.
The U.S. legal system is so screwy. None of the 91 indictments Trump currently faces nor any resulting convictions would disqualify his 2024 presidential candidacy, but a felony conviction will see him lose for life the right to vote in his home state of Florida, unless the Governor restores that right. Here's what I don't understand as I've watched the situatation unfold over these last three years. Three years! The U.S Constitution Amendmment 14, S3 disqualifies from political, civil, military, or judicial office any person who having taken an oath to support the Constitution of the United States and then engages in insurrection or rebellion against it, or gives aid or comfort to the enemies of. It referred to the Civil War. Was the occurence at the Capitol on January 6, 2021 an insurrection or rebellion?
"Insurrection: an organized attempt by a group of people to defeat their government and take control of their country, usually by violence."
"Rebellion: violent action organized by a group of people who are trying to change the political system in their country."
I can understand why the DOJ has shied away from trying to prove to a jury that one of those occured. Twenty two months after the events of Jan. 6 2021, five Oathkeepers were found guilty of obstructing an official proceeding, among other charges, with two also convicted for seditious conspiracy (which is not the same as insurrection or rebellion). None were office holders having given oaths to the Constitution. “The seditious conspiracy charge alleges as one of its two objects to prevent, hinder, or delay the execution of any law of the United States by force. The law of the United States, for the purposes of this charge, are the laws governing the transfer of power” (outlined in the Constitution) - District Judge Amit Mehta.
Six months later (May 2023) four Proud Boys were also found guilty of seditious conspiracy, again with other charges such as obstruction of an official proceeding.
So now, three years and a month later the "Sedition" has been proven and recorded, some foot soldiers are incarcerated and your legal system is flailing about with attempts to disqualify the figurehead from appearing on the ballot papers for an election day 39 weeks away. Meanwhile your nation's entire legislative process involving budgets and borders has stalled and is a seized hostage like an Israeli citizen, being held by your very own Hamas who, having tunnelled under the walls of the Rebublican party, appear to have found 250 or so Congressional members with instant Stockholm syndrome.
The whole world saw the the little shits on Jan. 6. The C Jan. 6 committee showed us the big orange turd, they referred him and others to the Justice Department on criminal charges. And others! Enablers such as John Eastman (obstruction of an official proceeding and conspiracy to defraud the United States). They also referred four members of Congress to the House’s Ethics Committee after those members did not comply with the subpoenas from the panel (Enablers Kevin McCarthy, Jim Jordan, Andy Biggs, Scott Perry). What I want to know is; why have some of the politicians (particularly those Freedom Caucus members who met with officials at Trump's White House in December 2020 and/or objected to the counting of the electoral votes on Jan. 6-7 2021) not been indicted for one or more of the following same charges as Trump?
a) Conspiracy to defraud the United States. For spreading false claims about the November 2020 election while knowing they were not true and for allegedly attempting to illegally discount legitimate votes all with the goal of overturning the 2020 election.
b) Conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding. For conspiring, with Trump, to block the official certification proceeding in Congress.
Why have those enablers not been held to account for their complicity? Squandered opportunity. Had the charges been laid and those middle shits been prosecuted there's every possibility that a clean budget bill wold have passed and Ukraine and Israel would have their aid by now. Democrats might even be holding a majority in the House. Probably not, realisticaly, but you never know how the timing of the elections for those vacated seats may have affected results. Instead you currently have this Trojan Horse minority of insurrectionists operating operating without violence to overthrow your government from within and take control of the country.
It may upset some, but this is how the world is beginning to view you. America's actions and lack thereof belie the noble words spoken and the high opinion you hold of your systems and your self. Fickle. Can't keep the promises made to Ukraine. Can't influence Israel to stop murdering women and children.
You've laid it out entirely right. It turns out that our system was developed with a big assumption in it - that truly bad men would not be elected to office. It was, to say the least, naive. Today, with the way the other side has skewed the public perception and understanding of politics (most don't really understand, because even the simple civics education that was available when I was in school no longer exists), there is fear on the part of people who never thought they would ever have to deal with such a situation, about what would happen if they did take action. Yeah, the world's strongest country is a helpless giant, tied down by the Lilliputians.
Just brilliant, TC. This stepwise rundown of "Don't worry" assurances is genius, even thought it's just a simple list of sequential events that everyone is familiar with. Hat's off to this formulation. Gary
P.S. - The Angus King speech was equally impressive rhetoric, yet was largely plainly stated incontrovertible facts.
The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Marvelous clarity. All this has been jumbled in my thoughts until this piece straightened it out.
I don't think Trump was smart enough to figure out how to shred democracy, but he has been surrounded with the likes of Bannon, Miller, Flynn, Clark, Meadows, etc., all of whom have used him as a "celebrity" tool who'd set the table of power where they'd have their own labeled seats. Trump knows Mob hustle but far less about history and the Constitution. He's crass and stupid, but he's not without his special venom. Therefore, the Constitution must be used to exclude him, and if the six cultists in the SCOTUS don't define insurrection and apply the third paragraph of the 14th, then all hope is lost. The best thing happening now, next to Trump being beaten by girls, Carroll, Kaplan and James, is that the legal eagles on TV are educating the public nonstop, and nonstop is what it will take. (Frontline on PBS had a terrific review and response piece on 1/6 that will surely be part of our history and will counter the revisionism that's gone on on the right. Check it out on YouTube.)
...and yes, it's a terrific episode. I especially like the way it documented TFF's tendency to call elections "rigged" going back a long, long time. he even uses the same language now that he did THEN. does he think nobody notices?
I need to keep reminding myself that the way regular people experience their lives offers no guidance for trying to figure out the nature of TFF's inner life. and that's assuming he has anything that would pass muster for an "inner life."
The speech by Sen. King is a lodestar as you say. Moment to choose sides Thank you TC. As I’ve written somewhere this is The Battle. One side will be left standing.
Just as long as it's not MY face the Hyenas are eating, sniveled Bill O'Reilly, heard faintly from the back, dark corner of a Moms For Liberty banned book warehouse. I don't recall the date exactly, but it had to have been one of those Thursdays when they weren't shooting porn there.
That Angus King speech was truly moving. I only hope some of the right people were moved by it.
King hit every moral guardrail. Tom completed the statement of the case we must take on. Too much tickling the rules of this nation by the black force. Dying by a thousand minor cuts let to happen shall determine whether our democracy survives.
If you were moved by it, that is enough. That is what we must get back to. Democracy. Knowing you are enough and that you are not responsible for “hoping” others get it.
Salud!
🗽
I called Senator King’s office to thank and support him.They were very appreciative.➡️ (202) 224-5344
Christine is right,being moved is not enough. As said on Colbert last night by the DNC Chair..
…” This a a no hand-wringing zone….Get a plan.”
✍️📲💲📣🚶🏻
True. Thank you - I will too. It's a shame that true things, well said, disappear from the nation's memory so quickly, pushed under by the sludge.
I can add nothing to what you have written. You are absolutely correct.
That says it all!
I'm perfectly content to let Section 3 do its job. My only caveat is the feeling that Trump would be the easiest Republican candidate for Smokin' Joe Biden to beat in 2024..... My fevered opium dream is for some even worse disaster to befall the Repubs, and have Biden and the Dems score such a wipe out that the House and Senate margins are large enough that we can reform the government, especially the crippled Senate, and get stuff done..... I'll let myself out through the servants' entrance.....:-)
I'll join you. :-)
As a lifelong Star Trek superfan, I must commend you on your flawless storytelling. Bravo!
The New Confederacy, exactly.
Tom, a good analogy, however, I can think of a better one. "The City On The Edge Of Forever," which I wrote, in both 2016 and 2020, https://medium.com/@kentanderson-17716/edith-keeler-must-die-again-560a5720abb9, a plea to anyone reading my stuff to not vote for Adolph Trump.
For those non-trek fans, "City" is a "butterfly effect," story involving Kirk, Spock, McCoy and changing the timeline because of the actions of one person (and yes, Tom, I know the nearly 60-year story involving Harlan Ellison and Roddenberry) and how, because Edith Keeler lived, the Germans conquered the world. But Kirk and Spock figure out that in reality, THEIR reality, Edith died walking across the street. Of course, the key was Kirk's sense of duty and loyalty to his ship and Starfleet and his love for Edith. In the end, the timeline is preserved and Kirk says "lets get the hell out of here."
It's actually the story of Harlan and Gene L. Coon, who rewrote Harlan's pile of steaming ---- into the screenplay that won a Hugo and a Nebula - in Harlan's name because Gene saw his job as making things work, not taking credit - which Harlan never picked up. But the Wanker's Guild did give him a Laurel Award for the "steamer."
Yes, well, I read the original story, which changed a few things, but not much. Ellison was a bit steamed at Gene (then again, wasn't everyone?) for changing his story, but everyone's story gets changed in Hollywood.
The problem with Harlan is that he would break rules just because they were there. The Star Trek franchise had rules then and does now about thing that can/cannot happen, which have changed over the decades. But back then, the drug dealer couldn't be heroic and definitely couldn't win, so naturally Harlan did.... what? Also, the writer had to bear in mind that their budgets were not big. I used to know the set designer (through old airplanes) and he told me that when he got his first look at Harlan's version, "The SFX budget was spent in the introductory scene." Coon went in and made it work, but Harlan being the narcissist he was, he had to either win or be the Eternal Victim.
Ellison used to be "my hero" as a writer, and when you stay to the end of the dead sea scrolls on the Terminator movies, you find the last credit is, "The producers wish to recognize the work of Harlan Ellison." That's because he won a lawsuit over the first one for "misappropriation of intellectual property", and he won because there was a guy who wrote for Starlog Magazine, who did an interview with James Cameron, in which Cameron finally answered "what was your inspiration?" and basically said he had come up with the story from being a kid watching Harlan's episodes in two well-known s-f anthologies on TV at the time. I know that writer very extremely closely, and he got very upset when Harlan - who got rich on that decision and Hemdale's refusal to honor it till they got severely whacked - decided to treat him like he treated every other writer he was friends with, eventually. (In other words, I didn't cry over the news of his departure.)
I thought Hugos and Nebulas were only for works of prose fiction.
now, I know better.
generally, for narrative purposes in works in a series, it's best to stick to the rules.
but then again, I'm still not quite over the ridiculous invention of Red Kryptonite...the stuff that only made Superman "weird," as opposed to reliably dead (like the original green variety). that was...when? I'm thinking about 1958 or 9.
Movie scripts and the movie itself. I got into SFWA for writing "The Terror Within," it waulaified the same as having a novel published.
Yes, and all those first season shows were produced by Desilu, who also produced Mission: Impossible. (Desi was in bad health and Lucy and her second husband sold her company to Paramount) Most Sci-Fi writers think their ideas are the Next Big Thing. Trust me, they're not. Ellison was no different. If you think about that episode, the SFX was in the first scene. They used the Paramount lot for the rest of it.
did you ever wonder about the pictures of the MI team members who'd NEVER get picked?
what were their special talents? why were those talents never utilized? if they were never working, why didn't they just get shitcanned? were they on salary or retainer?
I watched the original when it aired and even then as a teenager, I knew I was watching an extraordinary story well-written and well-acted. It remains one of my favorite original Star Trek episodes.
Credit Gene L. Coon for "well-written."
I have an old, old friend (practically a cousin) named Lisa Rich, who had some script credits on one of the later Star Trek spinoffs. one of hers was definitely based on the Israeli/Palestinian thing. it was GOOD.
I remember when Battlestar Galactica did one on the Iraqi resistance to the American invasion, with the BG people the resisters who even did a suicide bombing. Really upset the wingers.
It was. I'm going to update it and repost it on here (consider subscribing to my blog) and on Medium with a few extra notes.
Excellent, Tom. Sharing.
Ditto here. Excellent, Tom. Sharing.
Response from a Trekker family member: "That article is cool. Fascinating comparison."
Agree agree with Linda and Maggie. you stated it all broadly but succinctly from history from our constitution from gathering that and more sources into a powerfully created piece.
Our free press has the responsibility to tell the truth. Without a true assessment of the danger, we are ignorant, some way more than others. It’s not that one failure that brought us here, it is many. Propaganda, Dark money, greedy bastards, Pharisees, haters looking for the “lesser,” and red state confederates. Not an exhaustive list, BTW. Cult nuts don’t care, and they think minority rule is just fine. The majority cry BULL SCHITT
The corporations or individuals who own media outlets consider it their responsibility to generate profits. If printing the facts and educating the public in a way to promote the general welfare brings in profits, great. If not... In my view, this is why Infotainment and click bait is often what you get. This is why internet literacy and media literacy in general is so crucial. FAIR.ORG is particularly good at calling out media for its weaknesses and bias.
You're not wrong, but I guarantee the media is quaking in their boots, knowing full well that any Fair.org screeching means absolutely squat to the right-wing nuts. Next thing you'll be expecting the police to get out of their cars and read and understand the inscription on the sides of their cars "to protect and serve."
I once got out of jury duty in LA by saying that in 40 years of living here, I had never once been "served" or "protected" by the LAPD. (Of course they didn't like my recounting of unplanned participation in the LAPD's first police riot at Century City either)
I was actually interviewed once as a possible juror in the Abner Louima case. I walked in, took one look at the thuggish, ugly cops and thought "they're fucking guilty as sin and I'm gonna find them guilty, period." I doubt I would have been chosen, but the cops copped a plea within a week. I just checked and the worst of them, Volpe (who wouldn't have been out of place in a fistfucking video) was released last year, six years early. good behavior?
If I get your meaning, I agree that the traditional media are not concerned that fair.org is going to turn the heads of "right-wing nuts." Deep conservatives, MAGA, and/or conspiracy-favoring people are not who promoting the message of FAIR.ORG is for. I am hoping that a better educated independent voter, or a Democrat who is put off by the absence of a more effective response of the U.S. to the epic events in Gaza, even when fully recognizing that the attacks of 10/7 were horrific, may remain motivated to vote against the fascist takeover of government that looms over the country. If more people read the media more incisively, their dissatisfaction with Biden would pale in comparison to their heightened awareness and understanding of the danger to normalcy that the cult-like phenomenon of the deeplly-felt minority popularity of a fraudulent, narcissistic, immature, ignorant, entitled, non-Christian racist hopefully-soon-to-be-convicted criminal represents. I am perfectly happy to advocate to vote AGAINST, rather than FOR, as long as it drives turnout, which is crucial. Just to be clear, I am not expecting, any more than TC is, a fundamental change in the character of the current or future individuals who voluntarily choose to become peace officers, or the culture, legal and social, in which they are conditioned and function, or their behaviors. That is distinct from claiming that is impossible that some degree of progress might occur in policing. Here again, a really well-educated public, which understood overpolicing, discriminatory practices, the racial bias in the court system, etc., such as enumerated in detail in Michelle Alexander's "The New Jim Crow", might make a difference, but not like the dramatic one you describe. Even a small win would be cause for pride. (In my professional work as a physician evaluating workers' compensation claimants, I have interviewed probably a thousand peace officers over 40-years.)
For beginners, "dissatisfaction with Biden" is a completely manufactured umbrage for the intellectually lazy, and we need to point that out at every opportunity. Biden's progressive record already exceeds Obama's, who most of these same people and I happen to think also did a good job considering the Congress he had to work with (Mitch, et al.). As For Biden's handling of the Middle East, there's the single-issue (read self-absorbed) voters sanctimoniously whining about Israel-Hamas who would have us think they have access to all the same intelligence that Biden has, so their judgments are of course morally superior. I think it was Jeff Tiedrich who phrased it as Dunning and Kruger having a baby, then dropping it on its head.
In my professional work as an Oncologist/Hematologist/Internist for 34 years, I have become painfully aware that exponentially, I am unable to help patients understand anything about what's going on with them without first explaining some very basic science, math, and technology, and using little words to do it, while also having to explain why most of the time Dr. Google got it very wrong, or worse. Yeah, they're definitely reading all those books....
But more on these lovely books collecting dust on the left's bookshelves, which the most voters will never even crack open -- thankfully, it seems there's a never-ending parade of wannabe authors-in-the-know who leave office, having sequestered their knowledge for said book$, instead of putting it out where everyone could read for the betterment of our democracy, oh, except newspaper paywalls now also make that inaccessible too. No wonder the masses get their "knowledge" from 30 second sound bites from teevee. We are doomed, but at least we can point at the fabulously appointed bookshelves and say, "See, they told us so."
I agree with you that the reporting of a loss of support for Biden strikes me s overplayed, as well, but it's non non-existent, particularly with younger voters who have experienced the years of ~unopposed climate denial and Israeli support that older voters did. I also agree with you that Biden's record of accomplishments is truly impressive and I certainly hope that the messaging on this strengthens and continues right up to the election. You are again correct that claiming to have the final, unassailable opinion on the MIddle East is tough, even for those with extensive diplomatic experience and/or academic knowledge. I absolutely sympathize with your (and my) need to correct misconceptions that patients develop from looking into things online in an uninformed way, which is usually the case in medicine, since there are so many unscientific sites that are very skilled in locating their websites high up in the match lists. I also find the general level knowledge of medicine (the most basic fundamentals of physiology, pharmacology, anatomy) in the population is quite low. However, I also find that patients come to me not with misconceptions but with ignorance about the most basic nature of their problem, despite having seen multiple physicians (and I don't mean quacks) for some time. And OMG, forget statistics - no idea. It sounds like you take patient education seriously, and I applaud that.
Who do you consider to be an author regarding contemporary political and social analysis that you trust as honest and knowledgeable?
George Orwell, it would appear. I would follow Paul Krugman except he's bundled with the fascists.
Correction: "not experienced the decades..." - sorry.
I’m all for small wins. Wouldn’t mind hearing your opinion on worker’s comp claims.
Whoa, big topic. I think most people have a more negative opinion about the workers' compensation system than is warranted. Yes, there is fraud, but that is a relatively small percentage. There is a lot of exaggeration, but that is something that the system itself, at least here in California, promotes. The experience for the claimant, even with a 100% valid claim, is typically one of denial and delay, and just getting a simple claim through the system is difficult. Even basic care for an accepted claim is a giant headache since the claims administrators deny and delay everything. The reason for that is just as much the fault of the demands of the insurers and employers, to save money, as it is the result of efforts by claimants and their attorneys to game the system. As I said, it's a complicated question. Gary
Thank you for this. I can believe that claimants have trouble getting any positive results. Seems the bureaucracy is stacked against so much. Social workers are better at such than I was as a counselor, but still....
Thank you, things sure have changed since Walter’s day. News was not a money maker and I guess shareholders weren’t greedy bastards. Was it Reagan who pointed the way to the trough…
Getting rid of the fairness doctrine was part of it, and general deregulation, which allowed those who were partisan, venal and clever to do whatever worked for them. Right-wing radio and Fox News grew out of it - using repetition and the psychology of resentment and victimhood and fear to literally mine money those people most harmed, financially, from the policies of trickle down (wealth inequality) and deregulation (subprime crisis). Bill Clinton playing Republican lite and working with the business/finance establishment and libertarian interests (Alan Greenspan, his Federal Reserve chairman, was a long-time serious devotee of Ayn Rand's vision that only the elites should run things, with a dismissive, even disgusted view of the average person), with his massive crime bill, trimming of the safety net (e.g., "work-fare" in place of welfare) and the financial deregulation that guaranteed the subprime collapse. Just the Internet itself ,as a phenomenon, contributed to a coarsening of dialog as anonymous people could pose as toughs, as well as unleash the true racists, Trump took advantage of most. The internet is siphoning advertising money away from print media - it's no surprise they are largely failing or choking along. The valuations of Apple and Google are in the stratosphere.
Bill Clinton was way down on my list of who to blame for the messes of the 90’s (zippergate notwithstanding.). Do you remember Rupert, Newt, Tom Delay, Dick Armey and the crew of evil ushered in as Daddy Bush was kicked out? (And don’t forget Dick Morris.) Fox was top dog in a flash and Clinton looked damn good to me. Sort of like today. The repubs brought their worst, the crooks, the sexual predators, the Pharisees, haters, and the greedy bastards. Anything the Dems brought to the table was tastier by a country mile.
Yes, compared to the competition, Clinton looked OK. Which is a sad commentary on the 90s.
Not as sad as today. It's the 90's on steroids.
after that bullshit crime bill and "welfare reform," I just couldn't vote for Clinton in '96 and did my usual protest vote for the most outrageously left-wing person on the ballot.
I like to refer to him as the best Republican president of the twentieth century.
I didn't vote for that southern-fried piece of shit twice. And the only reason I voted for his wife was because of her opponent. When I read the whole story of how he fucked around with the draft, I realized you couldn't trust the bastard further than you could see him with your eyes closed.
I GOT it. I think I might be fonder of Hilary than you are.
I feel this way because she made three or four "outrageous" charges which the other side mocked merrily until those charges turned out to be entirely true. but I also get that she and Bill were (or are or whatever) a team of sorts.
feels like a wash to me. but we don't have them to kick around anymore.
Are you happy about that. Guess I have been lucky in knowing that the least disgusting was the better choice in politics.
The U.S. legal system is so screwy. None of the 91 indictments Trump currently faces nor any resulting convictions would disqualify his 2024 presidential candidacy, but a felony conviction will see him lose for life the right to vote in his home state of Florida, unless the Governor restores that right. Here's what I don't understand as I've watched the situatation unfold over these last three years. Three years! The U.S Constitution Amendmment 14, S3 disqualifies from political, civil, military, or judicial office any person who having taken an oath to support the Constitution of the United States and then engages in insurrection or rebellion against it, or gives aid or comfort to the enemies of. It referred to the Civil War. Was the occurence at the Capitol on January 6, 2021 an insurrection or rebellion?
"Insurrection: an organized attempt by a group of people to defeat their government and take control of their country, usually by violence."
"Rebellion: violent action organized by a group of people who are trying to change the political system in their country."
I can understand why the DOJ has shied away from trying to prove to a jury that one of those occured. Twenty two months after the events of Jan. 6 2021, five Oathkeepers were found guilty of obstructing an official proceeding, among other charges, with two also convicted for seditious conspiracy (which is not the same as insurrection or rebellion). None were office holders having given oaths to the Constitution. “The seditious conspiracy charge alleges as one of its two objects to prevent, hinder, or delay the execution of any law of the United States by force. The law of the United States, for the purposes of this charge, are the laws governing the transfer of power” (outlined in the Constitution) - District Judge Amit Mehta.
Six months later (May 2023) four Proud Boys were also found guilty of seditious conspiracy, again with other charges such as obstruction of an official proceeding.
So now, three years and a month later the "Sedition" has been proven and recorded, some foot soldiers are incarcerated and your legal system is flailing about with attempts to disqualify the figurehead from appearing on the ballot papers for an election day 39 weeks away. Meanwhile your nation's entire legislative process involving budgets and borders has stalled and is a seized hostage like an Israeli citizen, being held by your very own Hamas who, having tunnelled under the walls of the Rebublican party, appear to have found 250 or so Congressional members with instant Stockholm syndrome.
The whole world saw the the little shits on Jan. 6. The C Jan. 6 committee showed us the big orange turd, they referred him and others to the Justice Department on criminal charges. And others! Enablers such as John Eastman (obstruction of an official proceeding and conspiracy to defraud the United States). They also referred four members of Congress to the House’s Ethics Committee after those members did not comply with the subpoenas from the panel (Enablers Kevin McCarthy, Jim Jordan, Andy Biggs, Scott Perry). What I want to know is; why have some of the politicians (particularly those Freedom Caucus members who met with officials at Trump's White House in December 2020 and/or objected to the counting of the electoral votes on Jan. 6-7 2021) not been indicted for one or more of the following same charges as Trump?
a) Conspiracy to defraud the United States. For spreading false claims about the November 2020 election while knowing they were not true and for allegedly attempting to illegally discount legitimate votes all with the goal of overturning the 2020 election.
b) Conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding. For conspiring, with Trump, to block the official certification proceeding in Congress.
Why have those enablers not been held to account for their complicity? Squandered opportunity. Had the charges been laid and those middle shits been prosecuted there's every possibility that a clean budget bill wold have passed and Ukraine and Israel would have their aid by now. Democrats might even be holding a majority in the House. Probably not, realisticaly, but you never know how the timing of the elections for those vacated seats may have affected results. Instead you currently have this Trojan Horse minority of insurrectionists operating operating without violence to overthrow your government from within and take control of the country.
It may upset some, but this is how the world is beginning to view you. America's actions and lack thereof belie the noble words spoken and the high opinion you hold of your systems and your self. Fickle. Can't keep the promises made to Ukraine. Can't influence Israel to stop murdering women and children.
You've laid it out entirely right. It turns out that our system was developed with a big assumption in it - that truly bad men would not be elected to office. It was, to say the least, naive. Today, with the way the other side has skewed the public perception and understanding of politics (most don't really understand, because even the simple civics education that was available when I was in school no longer exists), there is fear on the part of people who never thought they would ever have to deal with such a situation, about what would happen if they did take action. Yeah, the world's strongest country is a helpless giant, tied down by the Lilliputians.
very beautifully put, Craig.
nothing "vague" here at all...mebbe time to change your handle?
Just brilliant, TC. This stepwise rundown of "Don't worry" assurances is genius, even thought it's just a simple list of sequential events that everyone is familiar with. Hat's off to this formulation. Gary
P.S. - The Angus King speech was equally impressive rhetoric, yet was largely plainly stated incontrovertible facts.
That was King's best moment of his career.
Hopefully he's just warming up....
The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Marvelous clarity. All this has been jumbled in my thoughts until this piece straightened it out.
I don't think Trump was smart enough to figure out how to shred democracy, but he has been surrounded with the likes of Bannon, Miller, Flynn, Clark, Meadows, etc., all of whom have used him as a "celebrity" tool who'd set the table of power where they'd have their own labeled seats. Trump knows Mob hustle but far less about history and the Constitution. He's crass and stupid, but he's not without his special venom. Therefore, the Constitution must be used to exclude him, and if the six cultists in the SCOTUS don't define insurrection and apply the third paragraph of the 14th, then all hope is lost. The best thing happening now, next to Trump being beaten by girls, Carroll, Kaplan and James, is that the legal eagles on TV are educating the public nonstop, and nonstop is what it will take. (Frontline on PBS had a terrific review and response piece on 1/6 that will surely be part of our history and will counter the revisionism that's gone on on the right. Check it out on YouTube.)
Thank you, I missed it
I LOVE Frontline and thanks for reminding me to DVR every episode.
...and yes, it's a terrific episode. I especially like the way it documented TFF's tendency to call elections "rigged" going back a long, long time. he even uses the same language now that he did THEN. does he think nobody notices?
I need to keep reminding myself that the way regular people experience their lives offers no guidance for trying to figure out the nature of TFF's inner life. and that's assuming he has anything that would pass muster for an "inner life."
The speech by Sen. King is a lodestar as you say. Moment to choose sides Thank you TC. As I’ve written somewhere this is The Battle. One side will be left standing.
For all those who yearn for a third party, the Leopards Eating Faces Party sure is gaining momentum.
Leopards Eating people's Faces Party. :-)
(We wouldn't care if it were hyena's faces, right?)
Just as long as it's not MY face the Hyenas are eating, sniveled Bill O'Reilly, heard faintly from the back, dark corner of a Moms For Liberty banned book warehouse. I don't recall the date exactly, but it had to have been one of those Thursdays when they weren't shooting porn there.
Good one - I laughed out loud.
I thought the Leopards Eating Faces Party was Trump’s party known as the Republicans. If not them, who IS the LEF party?
Yes, you are right.
This one's going to my list of 70-plus. Thanks Tom!