You are either making me laugh my ass off or cry my eyes out, C.B. I think we are doing it to the best of our abilities with what we have to work with by talking and revealing all that we find out. I saw a clip set to rap in D.C. of a huge peaceful crowd with all of their phones held up high filming backing up ICE very effectively on the sidewalk and it was magnificent. You and I grew up in those before times so we see the story unfolding with a perspective the kids cannot feel even though they have seen the movies and heard the stories. I skipped many days of school to go down to campus in Norman and protest the Viet Nam war. When we had the draft. Something the kids today cannot conceive of. To me this is the new revolution headed to possibly a new paradigm. Since what we are living in now is basically not going to hold up because it sucks. The kids (mine do & their friends) hate this shit that they are seeing and having to live with and they are definitely expressing it. Brilliantly in my book. This is a whole new style of revolution and I am in. If we didn't have the citizen journalists filming the evidence we would be screwed. I say we keep talking. Keep reporting. Keep backing folks up with audio and video. This reminds me of the Arab Spring where people connected themselves by technology and got together to do something about something. I think the last ten years has been so painful that there is just no way for it to flourish and grow. I don't care how much gold the other side throws at it. We want to be free to ride our machines in the immortal words of Peter Fonda. Vance will have to obey the law. He is not the cult leader. And he is hopelessly dense and obnoxious. There are 384 cases being tracked on Just Security dot org against this administration. We actually are doing something about it. It is just slow and complex. You have to admit the citizens have shown a lot of intelligence and restraint in keeping things non violent and I am duly impressed. No Weather Underground yet. Let's keep the faith and stay hopeful and positive. All the best, My Dear, so glad I can read what you write and be together. I admire and appreciate your genius. Thank god we have electricity. We will beat this. The humans are still here and righteously pissed even in lawless Jesus freak cow country where folks are starting to go nope. p.s. the comedy is vital and essential in this endeavor. It is a real force.
Thank you so much. I love your positive messaging. I think you make a great point about the *type* of resistance that is developing, especially in regard to ICE.
Maybe I should have prefaced this essay by directing my wrath at Democratic leaders.
All of US will find a way, I think. But it would be nice to have their help.
Thoughtful, reasoned essay, that for me is equal parts anguish and hmmmm. Thinking. I do not agree with every sentence, but the whole is a poetic political grievance. What can we do that's meaningful, to be rid of not just the felonpotus, but the whole regime. It can't be done in a day, can it? But what can be done? And how soon?
Thanks. I'll probably disagree with some of it, too, tomorrow. My mind is swimming in a stew of frustration sometimes. I do think that I could have directed this more towards Dem leaders, but if it fires up a few people, that can't be a bad thing, either, I guess.
Excellent piece Charles. One of the best I’ve read on Substack. I’m always a little wary when someone mentions or quotes Reagan in a positive light, but in this case I understand where you are coming from and have no objections. Reagan understood that immigrants played a part in building this country and came for a better life in a country that was then and in the Before Times looked upon as a beacon of freedom where hard work stood a chance of paying off. I think he was also an opportunist that needed a compromise to deal with the immigration issue in the mid-eighties with a then Democratic lock on Congress. Some immigrants eventually become citizens and they vote. They also historically become the previous wave of immigrants that having put down roots, established families, started small businesses, and working in factories don’t want to see any of that lost to the next wave of immigrants. So some tend to vote for the anti-immigrant candidate. It’s not lost on me that many a last name of persons in the current administration, including Trumpf (the German spelling of his grandfather), don’t sound like they could claim membership in the Mayflower crowd (unlike three surnames of my four grandparent branches). But that this adds to the hypocrisy of the current times.
PS: I always believed Nixon’s pivot toward China wasn’t to make the lives better of the average Chinese citizen or open a source of near slave wage labor for corporate America, but a “the enemy of my enemy” could be used as a friend move. The Chinese and Vietnamese are historically enemies and China and the USSR had been having border tensions and squirmishes for over a decade.
Thank you for the kind words. Yeah, speaking of Reagan in a positive light made me throw up a little in my mouth, but I felt like a point needed to be made. I'm glad you understood where I was coming from. Sometimes when writing, some of what we try to say remains in our head unawares.
Absolutely on the Nixon motives. Republicans haven't had benign motives since they switched allegiances after the civil war. Loved the comment and observations. Thanks.
Excellent essay, Charles. Things have become dire and grim when an entire planet holds its breath waiting for a maniac to die before he destroys us all.
In Canada, we have MAiD (Medical Assistance in Dying). I'm willing to submit his name for its tender mercies but somehow Canadian Law doesn't allow for volunteering despots and tyrants to be eliminated this way. That's a shame. (wry grin) So now we wait...on tenterhooks...for Mother Nature to finally remove him and put him where he belongs - 6 feet deep under a golf course.
Thanks, Ellen. The latest thing I'm seeing is folks watching his hand bruise grow each day. It's like watching an alien being transform into its next stage.
"Whilst nobody does anything meaningful"is what has had me steadily tearing my hair out for the last 10 or so years,everyone talks us to death,but no one steps up to actually DO.SOMETHING.But we wait for what never comes.
So to this I say,from the mouths of wiser than me hillbillies,"Shit or get off the pot"and,"Do something,even if it's wrong!!"
It's tough because it feels like we're on our own here. Where is the Democratic leadership? We've got a few active congress critters like Bernie and AOC and others, but the ones in leadership positions like Schumer and Jeffries, especially Schumer, are worthless.
That's what bothers me,the actual leadership talks to excess about stupid meaningless bullshit,but don't actually DO anything that would help.They need to be shoved out airlocks,and put in people like AOC,Jasmine Crockett and Bernie,who have absolutely no heartburn in putting the stupid people square in their places.
THIS,THIS,is the leadership we need right now,not wimpy leadership who backs down mostly for non reasons.They aren't helping us at all!!The people who ARE helping,should be the ones in the actual leadership positions!!
In appreciation of Karen Silkwood's comment about how YOU ALL are trying your best:
Maybe I should have prefaced this essay by directing my wrath at Democratic leaders.
All of US will find a way, I think, I hope. But it would be nice to have their help.
You are either making me laugh my ass off or cry my eyes out, C.B. I think we are doing it to the best of our abilities with what we have to work with by talking and revealing all that we find out. I saw a clip set to rap in D.C. of a huge peaceful crowd with all of their phones held up high filming backing up ICE very effectively on the sidewalk and it was magnificent. You and I grew up in those before times so we see the story unfolding with a perspective the kids cannot feel even though they have seen the movies and heard the stories. I skipped many days of school to go down to campus in Norman and protest the Viet Nam war. When we had the draft. Something the kids today cannot conceive of. To me this is the new revolution headed to possibly a new paradigm. Since what we are living in now is basically not going to hold up because it sucks. The kids (mine do & their friends) hate this shit that they are seeing and having to live with and they are definitely expressing it. Brilliantly in my book. This is a whole new style of revolution and I am in. If we didn't have the citizen journalists filming the evidence we would be screwed. I say we keep talking. Keep reporting. Keep backing folks up with audio and video. This reminds me of the Arab Spring where people connected themselves by technology and got together to do something about something. I think the last ten years has been so painful that there is just no way for it to flourish and grow. I don't care how much gold the other side throws at it. We want to be free to ride our machines in the immortal words of Peter Fonda. Vance will have to obey the law. He is not the cult leader. And he is hopelessly dense and obnoxious. There are 384 cases being tracked on Just Security dot org against this administration. We actually are doing something about it. It is just slow and complex. You have to admit the citizens have shown a lot of intelligence and restraint in keeping things non violent and I am duly impressed. No Weather Underground yet. Let's keep the faith and stay hopeful and positive. All the best, My Dear, so glad I can read what you write and be together. I admire and appreciate your genius. Thank god we have electricity. We will beat this. The humans are still here and righteously pissed even in lawless Jesus freak cow country where folks are starting to go nope. p.s. the comedy is vital and essential in this endeavor. It is a real force.
Thank you so much. I love your positive messaging. I think you make a great point about the *type* of resistance that is developing, especially in regard to ICE.
Maybe I should have prefaced this essay by directing my wrath at Democratic leaders.
All of US will find a way, I think. But it would be nice to have their help.
100%. What you wrote was perfect. I just love talking to you. Hope the holiday weekend is a fun one for you!
You, too. Thanks.
Thoughtful, reasoned essay, that for me is equal parts anguish and hmmmm. Thinking. I do not agree with every sentence, but the whole is a poetic political grievance. What can we do that's meaningful, to be rid of not just the felonpotus, but the whole regime. It can't be done in a day, can it? But what can be done? And how soon?
Thanks. I'll probably disagree with some of it, too, tomorrow. My mind is swimming in a stew of frustration sometimes. I do think that I could have directed this more towards Dem leaders, but if it fires up a few people, that can't be a bad thing, either, I guess.
Excellent piece Charles. One of the best I’ve read on Substack. I’m always a little wary when someone mentions or quotes Reagan in a positive light, but in this case I understand where you are coming from and have no objections. Reagan understood that immigrants played a part in building this country and came for a better life in a country that was then and in the Before Times looked upon as a beacon of freedom where hard work stood a chance of paying off. I think he was also an opportunist that needed a compromise to deal with the immigration issue in the mid-eighties with a then Democratic lock on Congress. Some immigrants eventually become citizens and they vote. They also historically become the previous wave of immigrants that having put down roots, established families, started small businesses, and working in factories don’t want to see any of that lost to the next wave of immigrants. So some tend to vote for the anti-immigrant candidate. It’s not lost on me that many a last name of persons in the current administration, including Trumpf (the German spelling of his grandfather), don’t sound like they could claim membership in the Mayflower crowd (unlike three surnames of my four grandparent branches). But that this adds to the hypocrisy of the current times.
PS: I always believed Nixon’s pivot toward China wasn’t to make the lives better of the average Chinese citizen or open a source of near slave wage labor for corporate America, but a “the enemy of my enemy” could be used as a friend move. The Chinese and Vietnamese are historically enemies and China and the USSR had been having border tensions and squirmishes for over a decade.
Thank you for the kind words. Yeah, speaking of Reagan in a positive light made me throw up a little in my mouth, but I felt like a point needed to be made. I'm glad you understood where I was coming from. Sometimes when writing, some of what we try to say remains in our head unawares.
Absolutely on the Nixon motives. Republicans haven't had benign motives since they switched allegiances after the civil war. Loved the comment and observations. Thanks.
Excellent essay, Charles. Things have become dire and grim when an entire planet holds its breath waiting for a maniac to die before he destroys us all.
In Canada, we have MAiD (Medical Assistance in Dying). I'm willing to submit his name for its tender mercies but somehow Canadian Law doesn't allow for volunteering despots and tyrants to be eliminated this way. That's a shame. (wry grin) So now we wait...on tenterhooks...for Mother Nature to finally remove him and put him where he belongs - 6 feet deep under a golf course.
Thanks, Ellen. The latest thing I'm seeing is folks watching his hand bruise grow each day. It's like watching an alien being transform into its next stage.
We'll be rid of him when that bruising covers his entire body like a shroud.
This is a shame for America to choose such a way of resistance -- wait and see.
Magnificent work.
Thank you, sir!
"Whilst nobody does anything meaningful"is what has had me steadily tearing my hair out for the last 10 or so years,everyone talks us to death,but no one steps up to actually DO.SOMETHING.But we wait for what never comes.
So to this I say,from the mouths of wiser than me hillbillies,"Shit or get off the pot"and,"Do something,even if it's wrong!!"
And Yoda,"Do not try,just Do."
It's tough because it feels like we're on our own here. Where is the Democratic leadership? We've got a few active congress critters like Bernie and AOC and others, but the ones in leadership positions like Schumer and Jeffries, especially Schumer, are worthless.
That's what bothers me,the actual leadership talks to excess about stupid meaningless bullshit,but don't actually DO anything that would help.They need to be shoved out airlocks,and put in people like AOC,Jasmine Crockett and Bernie,who have absolutely no heartburn in putting the stupid people square in their places.
THIS,THIS,is the leadership we need right now,not wimpy leadership who backs down mostly for non reasons.They aren't helping us at all!!The people who ARE helping,should be the ones in the actual leadership positions!!