"Lawlessness is the point." To that point, I started looking at the Constitutional Sheriff movement when one of their adherents started running for Sheriff in my county. "Constitutional Sheriffs" assert that the sheriff, being the highest elected official in a county--which is untrue in most cases--have a "responsibility" to ignore any state or federal laws they think are unconstitutional. Basically, it embraces lawlessness as "legal theory " it's a recipe for personalizing power, i.e. autocracy.
The one area of conversation that has not been mentioned or even referred to is the intellect of the American voter or the American citizen. I realize that this subject is taboo but the fact remains that the majority of the American population is highly uneducated and unfamiliar with critical thinking. Schools are inadequate and have been for many decades. As a result, the graduating classes of every school in America is comprised of students who were, for the most part babysat and just got by with an adequate amount of education for a job interview. And so, the result is that there are millions of Americans who support an uneducated narcissist and a person of extremely low character. This is an exaggeration of the snake-oil sales who sells the townsfolk his bottles of the cure-all Dr. Good, guaranteed to cure your cancer and your gout, your broken bones and your heart ailments. The great many ignorant and utterly self-centered persons who have been elected to public office are the result of the kind of education that has infected America for decades. It is no wonder to me that the practically unconscious behavior and decisions of the courts to give leniency to insurrectionists is appropriate for this nation's judges, prosecutors and jurors. And so, Trump and all of his followers who participated in the events of Jan. 6th are coddled and practically excused. D. Trump is going to get off simply because of the proclivity to treat the Caucasian race and conservative philosophy of these Caucasian with kid gloves and "consideration". Even if he is given a jail sentence, he will most probably not serve one day behind bars. Instead, his sentence will be confinement to his home or at the very most a few days in a country club prison if only to satisfy the democratic Victorian values of propriety. Try to remember what happened to the Rosenbergs when they sold atomic "secrets" to the Soviets. Those "secrets" would have and were found anyway by the scientists in the Soviet Union. (there are no secrets in science). Those who participated in the insurrection were given light sentences, even the leaders. Apparently, treason in not taken seriously by the courts anymore.
Months ago When I Started My Twitter "Bibliolisting" weekly lists that's grown to 12 currently NERD AVENGERS was first list I created and always begins my lists weekly. ALWAYS a huge fan of Nerd Avengers: When Does Nerd Avenger Tour 2 Start?? Excellent Way To Motivate Us Mary. Your Fan John Pillin ❤️🩷🧡💛💚💙🩵💜🤎🖤🩶🤍
As a UK citizen, fascinated by US politics for many years, I would have been astounded by the rise of Donald Trump, but for the parallel rise of our own version of a blatantly corrupt leader in Boris Johnson. I’m wary of rejoicing in his fall, since the far right establishment that enabled his ascendancy, is still very much in place, perpetuating the same abuse of power he helped consolidate. These neofascists have, in my opinion, been operating under the radar for decades, subverting the mainstream media, with the aid of the Murdoch empire and brainwashing the masses with their propaganda. As you Mary and your allies have said it’s now taken for granted that these arrogant, evil individuals can operate their criminal enterprises with impunity. Playing nice by permitting these wannabe dictators to exploit the system isn’t working. Trump’s unquestionably the most vile and corrupt of individuals imaginable and enabled by an equally corrupt Republican Party. I am like many others, reluctant to rejoice in this summary judgment revoking his licenses to operate businesses in New York, since he’s skated accountability on everything so far. But fervently hope that by hitting him where it hurts him the most, in the flabby underbelly of his finances, he’ll lose traction with his attempts to get the Republican nomination. I’m fully aware that he’ll crank up efforts in the one area he does excel at, in grifting money from his brain dead base, but will that be enough to keep him from going under? Who knows, maybe he’ll get financial assistance, secretly channeled from his buddies Vladimir and Kim to keep him in the game, to subvert democracy? The one thought that gives me some hope, is that the relentless pressure applied by the few courageous prosecutors and judges and politicians like Schiff et al, will bring about his demise. It could be the relatively lesser crimes, like fraud and tax evasion will be the catalyst that takes him down, like that other evil SOB Al Capone. I sincerely wish your voices and integrity will resonate enough to awaken the consciences of anyone with the power to make a difference. In the meantime, let us all hope that orange is the permanent color for that tangerine traitor.
Al Capone went to jail, but his cell was luxurious when compared to the other inmates. He had his cigars, radio, constant visitors, and the comforts of a small apartment. His food was a finer quality than the other inmates. He died of syphilis but would have been well treated had the anti-biotic been discovered for the disease.
I don’t doubt if the currently Teflon Don does get incarcerated he will receive preferential treatment, but expect he’ll be barred from ever getting elected to any political office. As long as he’s not given access to the internet or any social media to foment some sort of conspiracy or insurrection, I’d settle for that. Being cut off from bragging rights would I imagine be the worst kind of punishment for that egomaniacal douchebag. The other thing I’d pray for if I were religious, would be accountability for his entitled spawn, Don Jr, Eric and Ivanka along with her blood sucking louse of a spouse. They truly are the most appalling creatures and deserve to inhabit a cell like the malignancy that helped inflict them on the world.
Barry, I just read your comment of Sept 29 and my reaction to it is based upon the nonsense of equality under the law. Your satisfaction with his losing his ability to brag will not be realized until he is either dead or imprisoned. People like trump have followings and these uneducated buffoons that make up more than 50% or this population are the kind of stimulus that fascists need to continue their rantings. I suspect that the judge in this case and the judges in the other cases will not even have a clue as to why their sentences will be lenient. The reason of course is that there is an underlying cause for racism and bigotry in this nation and it all stems from the ignorance of parents, caregivers, and the American educational system. White Caucasian males are treated much differently than other people especially if they are rich or older. the ignorance of our judicial system is that there is no such thing as objectivity, equality, nonbiased opinions or any other suggestion of fair play. If it were you or I in the place of trump we'd be in jail already for that last couple of years. I'm assuming you are not ultra-rich. D. trump is teflonized only because of the "understandings" of the judges that have allowed this miscreant to get away with his crimes against humanity (other people). Capone was understood by the judges in all of his dealings. Judges are rich. Most prosecutors are rich. Most lawyers are rich. They understand one another. Like politicians and other would-be thieves, these people "understand each other.
I'm so glad that I took the time to read the entire transcript. So much good writing and astute analysis. Dahlia's pithy comments on the "circusy" nature of American politics, and how the Republicans get it and the Democrats don't, was pure gold. I hope somebody at the DNC reads it.
Thank you Mary, this was great! I love to read and boy this is long but good. What got me was the building is at 666 Fifth Avenue.? The devils house. And the devil do live there.
I just want to scream, cry, explode, whatever. I recall 2015: "He's a fool to run for anything because it will expose his decades of fraud, even complicity in the murder of casino executives." It's damning us all to hell that he even got nominated.
Mary and Avengers, I think we need to modify some labels. Don Jr and Eric = Beavis and Butthead. Don’t let an hour go by without telling this to the world. If republicans think they are going to make a mockery of a president or ex president, let start here and don’t stop. Hunter a drug user? Let’s talk about Loren Bobert practically having sex with her clothes on and vaping in a public setting . This is current news. It was seen by millions of Americans. The difference is that she holds a Congressional seat, Hunter doesn’t. We have to be on our game until November 2024. We need to make sure that anyone who has committed any fraud whatsoever, is made accountable immediately. This dragging cases on forever needs to stop. Anyone that has been exposed and is awaiting trial should be waiting in jail until their trial. I’ll be you’ll see some accountability then.
Thank you all. Focus and push hard for speedy justice. The other guy spent years and all of American dollars to make fools of us. I barely knew much about trump at all until the Apprentice . I took a look because I liked Joan Rivers. 20 minutes is all it took. I could have written the next 9 years, chapter and verse how this was going to go down. I wasn’t wrong either. I used my brain and my own two eyes. I don’t let other people in my head or try to persuade me.
Oh dear! There is a new chapter, Avengers. Peace be with you all.
I haven't listened yet, but I will; I've watched the six of you once and loved it.
I also wanted to make you aware of this article from 2015. It's off topic, but it's probably the most important article I've ever read, and it also reads exceptionally well, and I've been reading serious stuff for 50 years. It's about aspects of humanity that most GOPers don't understand, and that most of the Scandinavian countries do understand--notably why a solid social safety net is so important.
It is off topic but that article is extremely interesting and seems quite relevant to addressing a number of societal issues that have been ongoing throughout history - do you know if there's any further follow-up articles? I suppose I should try googling for more articles on the same topic.
This excerpt especially resonates with me (and likely anyone else realizing that now there are fewer years in front of us than behind us).
“Bandwidth is a core resource,” Mullainathan and Shafir argue—one just as powerful, limited, and influential in people’s decision-making process as the dollars in their bank account. If we begin to look at bandwidth and the factors affecting it in the same way we measure economic circumstances, the authors claim, we can design and evaluate social programs based on how people actually act—not simply how numbers and statistics tell us they should.
I don't think there's any follow up in Harvard Magazine. Some very nice woman on their staff went to some trouble to find this one... There may be something similar somewhere else--I'm not aware of anything else but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist. This one is so good, though, it's hard for me to imagine anything else.
I think I will email it to Arlie Hochschild--my sociology professor at Berkeley from nearly 50 years ago. If there is anything else, she might know.
I have been pining and yowling for #NerdAvengers because you all tell the truth to the American people, who desperately need to hear it -- and you lay it all out plainly so that everyone can understand it
So glad you're back 🤗🤗🤗
We need to hear from all of you NOW MORE THAN EVER
(I know you saw Rep Moskowitz DARE the clowns carrying water for Donald on the Hill today to TRY to impeach POTUS Joe but I also know you all also know every minute and dollar spent on this circus is time wasted not funding the government and getting Americans services we need)
The entropy of accountability in our political DNA is rapidly accelerating. It has now decayed into intractability. Tragically, there seems to be no effective remedies, absent a forthcoming dire circumstance.
Hey you wunnerful nerds! I just wanted to stop by & mention I posted my first Substack today. My Substack is called "Night Flight" & can be found at https://open.substack.com/pub/roslynreid/p/invasive-poetry?r=cqrou&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Thanks for all you do, & keep it up!!!
"Lawlessness is the point." To that point, I started looking at the Constitutional Sheriff movement when one of their adherents started running for Sheriff in my county. "Constitutional Sheriffs" assert that the sheriff, being the highest elected official in a county--which is untrue in most cases--have a "responsibility" to ignore any state or federal laws they think are unconstitutional. Basically, it embraces lawlessness as "legal theory " it's a recipe for personalizing power, i.e. autocracy.
The one area of conversation that has not been mentioned or even referred to is the intellect of the American voter or the American citizen. I realize that this subject is taboo but the fact remains that the majority of the American population is highly uneducated and unfamiliar with critical thinking. Schools are inadequate and have been for many decades. As a result, the graduating classes of every school in America is comprised of students who were, for the most part babysat and just got by with an adequate amount of education for a job interview. And so, the result is that there are millions of Americans who support an uneducated narcissist and a person of extremely low character. This is an exaggeration of the snake-oil sales who sells the townsfolk his bottles of the cure-all Dr. Good, guaranteed to cure your cancer and your gout, your broken bones and your heart ailments. The great many ignorant and utterly self-centered persons who have been elected to public office are the result of the kind of education that has infected America for decades. It is no wonder to me that the practically unconscious behavior and decisions of the courts to give leniency to insurrectionists is appropriate for this nation's judges, prosecutors and jurors. And so, Trump and all of his followers who participated in the events of Jan. 6th are coddled and practically excused. D. Trump is going to get off simply because of the proclivity to treat the Caucasian race and conservative philosophy of these Caucasian with kid gloves and "consideration". Even if he is given a jail sentence, he will most probably not serve one day behind bars. Instead, his sentence will be confinement to his home or at the very most a few days in a country club prison if only to satisfy the democratic Victorian values of propriety. Try to remember what happened to the Rosenbergs when they sold atomic "secrets" to the Soviets. Those "secrets" would have and were found anyway by the scientists in the Soviet Union. (there are no secrets in science). Those who participated in the insurrection were given light sentences, even the leaders. Apparently, treason in not taken seriously by the courts anymore.
Months ago When I Started My Twitter "Bibliolisting" weekly lists that's grown to 12 currently NERD AVENGERS was first list I created and always begins my lists weekly. ALWAYS a huge fan of Nerd Avengers: When Does Nerd Avenger Tour 2 Start?? Excellent Way To Motivate Us Mary. Your Fan John Pillin ❤️🩷🧡💛💚💙🩵💜🤎🖤🩶🤍
As a UK citizen, fascinated by US politics for many years, I would have been astounded by the rise of Donald Trump, but for the parallel rise of our own version of a blatantly corrupt leader in Boris Johnson. I’m wary of rejoicing in his fall, since the far right establishment that enabled his ascendancy, is still very much in place, perpetuating the same abuse of power he helped consolidate. These neofascists have, in my opinion, been operating under the radar for decades, subverting the mainstream media, with the aid of the Murdoch empire and brainwashing the masses with their propaganda. As you Mary and your allies have said it’s now taken for granted that these arrogant, evil individuals can operate their criminal enterprises with impunity. Playing nice by permitting these wannabe dictators to exploit the system isn’t working. Trump’s unquestionably the most vile and corrupt of individuals imaginable and enabled by an equally corrupt Republican Party. I am like many others, reluctant to rejoice in this summary judgment revoking his licenses to operate businesses in New York, since he’s skated accountability on everything so far. But fervently hope that by hitting him where it hurts him the most, in the flabby underbelly of his finances, he’ll lose traction with his attempts to get the Republican nomination. I’m fully aware that he’ll crank up efforts in the one area he does excel at, in grifting money from his brain dead base, but will that be enough to keep him from going under? Who knows, maybe he’ll get financial assistance, secretly channeled from his buddies Vladimir and Kim to keep him in the game, to subvert democracy? The one thought that gives me some hope, is that the relentless pressure applied by the few courageous prosecutors and judges and politicians like Schiff et al, will bring about his demise. It could be the relatively lesser crimes, like fraud and tax evasion will be the catalyst that takes him down, like that other evil SOB Al Capone. I sincerely wish your voices and integrity will resonate enough to awaken the consciences of anyone with the power to make a difference. In the meantime, let us all hope that orange is the permanent color for that tangerine traitor.
Al Capone went to jail, but his cell was luxurious when compared to the other inmates. He had his cigars, radio, constant visitors, and the comforts of a small apartment. His food was a finer quality than the other inmates. He died of syphilis but would have been well treated had the anti-biotic been discovered for the disease.
I don’t doubt if the currently Teflon Don does get incarcerated he will receive preferential treatment, but expect he’ll be barred from ever getting elected to any political office. As long as he’s not given access to the internet or any social media to foment some sort of conspiracy or insurrection, I’d settle for that. Being cut off from bragging rights would I imagine be the worst kind of punishment for that egomaniacal douchebag. The other thing I’d pray for if I were religious, would be accountability for his entitled spawn, Don Jr, Eric and Ivanka along with her blood sucking louse of a spouse. They truly are the most appalling creatures and deserve to inhabit a cell like the malignancy that helped inflict them on the world.
Barry, I just read your comment of Sept 29 and my reaction to it is based upon the nonsense of equality under the law. Your satisfaction with his losing his ability to brag will not be realized until he is either dead or imprisoned. People like trump have followings and these uneducated buffoons that make up more than 50% or this population are the kind of stimulus that fascists need to continue their rantings. I suspect that the judge in this case and the judges in the other cases will not even have a clue as to why their sentences will be lenient. The reason of course is that there is an underlying cause for racism and bigotry in this nation and it all stems from the ignorance of parents, caregivers, and the American educational system. White Caucasian males are treated much differently than other people especially if they are rich or older. the ignorance of our judicial system is that there is no such thing as objectivity, equality, nonbiased opinions or any other suggestion of fair play. If it were you or I in the place of trump we'd be in jail already for that last couple of years. I'm assuming you are not ultra-rich. D. trump is teflonized only because of the "understandings" of the judges that have allowed this miscreant to get away with his crimes against humanity (other people). Capone was understood by the judges in all of his dealings. Judges are rich. Most prosecutors are rich. Most lawyers are rich. They understand one another. Like politicians and other would-be thieves, these people "understand each other.
There is a prison in CO where he could have a private room, a daily hour of sunlight and three square meals. (No TV or phone if I were the judge.)
That is what he deserves!
Well done.
Good news! Coffee on and settling down to listen
I'm so glad that I took the time to read the entire transcript. So much good writing and astute analysis. Dahlia's pithy comments on the "circusy" nature of American politics, and how the Republicans get it and the Democrats don't, was pure gold. I hope somebody at the DNC reads it.
Yes, but, can the court’s ruling be overturned on appeal as to any one of the defendants (she asks politely)?
Sorry I can’t afford to pay. Thanks a lot.
Thank you Mary, this was great! I love to read and boy this is long but good. What got me was the building is at 666 Fifth Avenue.? The devils house. And the devil do live there.
I just want to scream, cry, explode, whatever. I recall 2015: "He's a fool to run for anything because it will expose his decades of fraud, even complicity in the murder of casino executives." It's damning us all to hell that he even got nominated.
Mary and Avengers, I think we need to modify some labels. Don Jr and Eric = Beavis and Butthead. Don’t let an hour go by without telling this to the world. If republicans think they are going to make a mockery of a president or ex president, let start here and don’t stop. Hunter a drug user? Let’s talk about Loren Bobert practically having sex with her clothes on and vaping in a public setting . This is current news. It was seen by millions of Americans. The difference is that she holds a Congressional seat, Hunter doesn’t. We have to be on our game until November 2024. We need to make sure that anyone who has committed any fraud whatsoever, is made accountable immediately. This dragging cases on forever needs to stop. Anyone that has been exposed and is awaiting trial should be waiting in jail until their trial. I’ll be you’ll see some accountability then.
Thank you all. Focus and push hard for speedy justice. The other guy spent years and all of American dollars to make fools of us. I barely knew much about trump at all until the Apprentice . I took a look because I liked Joan Rivers. 20 minutes is all it took. I could have written the next 9 years, chapter and verse how this was going to go down. I wasn’t wrong either. I used my brain and my own two eyes. I don’t let other people in my head or try to persuade me.
Oh dear! There is a new chapter, Avengers. Peace be with you all.
Beavis & Butthead I'll have to Agree
Fitting
I haven't listened yet, but I will; I've watched the six of you once and loved it.
I also wanted to make you aware of this article from 2015. It's off topic, but it's probably the most important article I've ever read, and it also reads exceptionally well, and I've been reading serious stuff for 50 years. It's about aspects of humanity that most GOPers don't understand, and that most of the Scandinavian countries do understand--notably why a solid social safety net is so important.
https://www.harvardmagazine.com/2015/04/the-science-of-scarcity
It is off topic but that article is extremely interesting and seems quite relevant to addressing a number of societal issues that have been ongoing throughout history - do you know if there's any further follow-up articles? I suppose I should try googling for more articles on the same topic.
This excerpt especially resonates with me (and likely anyone else realizing that now there are fewer years in front of us than behind us).
“Bandwidth is a core resource,” Mullainathan and Shafir argue—one just as powerful, limited, and influential in people’s decision-making process as the dollars in their bank account. If we begin to look at bandwidth and the factors affecting it in the same way we measure economic circumstances, the authors claim, we can design and evaluate social programs based on how people actually act—not simply how numbers and statistics tell us they should.
I don't think there's any follow up in Harvard Magazine. Some very nice woman on their staff went to some trouble to find this one... There may be something similar somewhere else--I'm not aware of anything else but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist. This one is so good, though, it's hard for me to imagine anything else.
I think I will email it to Arlie Hochschild--my sociology professor at Berkeley from nearly 50 years ago. If there is anything else, she might know.
It is a very interesting (and important) article. Thanks.
You're most welcome!
Nerd Avenger's Assemble! I've missed you all - I mean I love you all individually but absolutely adore the group together. Thanks for what you do!
I have been pining and yowling for #NerdAvengers because you all tell the truth to the American people, who desperately need to hear it -- and you lay it all out plainly so that everyone can understand it
So glad you're back 🤗🤗🤗
We need to hear from all of you NOW MORE THAN EVER
(I know you saw Rep Moskowitz DARE the clowns carrying water for Donald on the Hill today to TRY to impeach POTUS Joe but I also know you all also know every minute and dollar spent on this circus is time wasted not funding the government and getting Americans services we need)
Thank you again for all you do ❤💙🤍
https://twitter.com/AOC/status/1707548210519023638?t=QE-C63h1aknY0D6JCog7rg&s=19
https://twitter.com/mehdirhasan/status/1707426837637284271?t=ovvKx39uzTUv0GDHgE1iQQ&s=19
https://twitter.com/mehdirhasan/status/1707476045798989931?t=Tc4mQtv-ImnWkfTIYTyfdA&s=19
The entropy of accountability in our political DNA is rapidly accelerating. It has now decayed into intractability. Tragically, there seems to be no effective remedies, absent a forthcoming dire circumstance.