Brilliantly concise. "3) The major cause of the American Civil War was chattel slavery and the desire of a minority of Americans to enable its spread across the country to maintain their otherwise unsupportable economic structure. There can be no reasonable debate about the foundational value of equality under the law as the basis and moral justification for this country’s existence any more than there can be about the inherent equality of all of us as human beings." has particular meaning for me.
That information, in another time, would have sent Trumps approval numbers into the single digits. Not too long ago, a Senator named Gary Hart was a leading contender for the Democrat presidential nomination. One photo of a young woman sitting on his lap on a party boat quickly ended his political career. One picture, a few rumors - done and gone.
Some of us have replaced shame with brazen denial and astoundingly callous disregard for common decency and the respect for law.
To all those bible thumping self righteous supporters of Trump I ask: "How can you support a man accused of sexual assault by 19 women, CONVICTED of defaming a woman who he was convicted of raping, cheated on his wives, said he would love to date his daughter, paid off a porn star and paid off a Playboy bunny to keep his affairs with them quiet...how? Will there ever be a time when it will all add up for you? Will you ever see the morally bankrupt and insane hypocrisy of your views?"
And the other mind blowing aspect of this cult like following is that the man they are idolizing is a big shot real estate con man huckster business bankrupter from New York City! When did small town people of humble means start finding such a "carpet bagger" attractive?
The answer is in anger. Fury at disenfranchisement. They have a right to be upset. They just found a hero in the same class that sent their jobs overseas or to Mexico. Can you fix stupid?
Dave, do you follow Penfist? His last letter was an eye opener as well. Be sure to watch the Ted Talk.
What a firebreather of a newsletter, Dave!
Brilliantly concise. "3) The major cause of the American Civil War was chattel slavery and the desire of a minority of Americans to enable its spread across the country to maintain their otherwise unsupportable economic structure. There can be no reasonable debate about the foundational value of equality under the law as the basis and moral justification for this country’s existence any more than there can be about the inherent equality of all of us as human beings." has particular meaning for me.
Dave,
This is excellent and highly valuable analysis.
You put your challenge forward clearly and fairly and with full respect.
Thank you!
I fully agree that every Republican should be required
to answer these fundamental questions,
and none should be elected who do not answer justly.
At the same time, I suggest that every Democrat should be required to answer:
Why do you continuously demonize the millions of our fellow citizens
who remain under Trump's spell? Why do you speak of them like Trump in reverse?
The more our misguided fellow citizens are demeaned and castigated
and held in contempt as "ignorant" "racist" "deplorables",
the more we force them further into Trump's arms.
Where else can they go???
I have yet to see a single pro-democracy substack that would even
allow a Trump supporter to be a reader--if they reveal themselves as such--
unless they put on sackcloth and ashes
and promise never to utter a positive word about him or any of his policies.
Both sides are fanatical as they move toward the far end of their spectrum.
Both sides see in black and white.
Both sides are utterly certain they alone are entirely correct on all issues,
and have NOTHING to learn from the other side.
Both sides continuously vilify and hold in contempt those who see things differently.
Both sides are guilty of dividing us into two self righteous irreconcilable camps.
Both sides use increasingly violent rhetoric.
Both sides are stoking the flames.
Neither side takes the slightest responsibility
for pushing our country closer and closer to outright bloodshed and civil war.
Yes, Trump and the Republican Party IS a fascist force now, and must be stopped.
But we do not stop them by contempt, nor by war.
We stop them by LISTENING for what we CAN connect with.
We find the best in them and discover where we have common ground with our neighbor.
Thus we bring BOTH sides--them AND us--back from the brink!!!
And thus we re-build the CENTER of our beloved country
before it is too late.
That information, in another time, would have sent Trumps approval numbers into the single digits. Not too long ago, a Senator named Gary Hart was a leading contender for the Democrat presidential nomination. One photo of a young woman sitting on his lap on a party boat quickly ended his political career. One picture, a few rumors - done and gone.
Some of us have replaced shame with brazen denial and astoundingly callous disregard for common decency and the respect for law.
To all those bible thumping self righteous supporters of Trump I ask: "How can you support a man accused of sexual assault by 19 women, CONVICTED of defaming a woman who he was convicted of raping, cheated on his wives, said he would love to date his daughter, paid off a porn star and paid off a Playboy bunny to keep his affairs with them quiet...how? Will there ever be a time when it will all add up for you? Will you ever see the morally bankrupt and insane hypocrisy of your views?"
And the other mind blowing aspect of this cult like following is that the man they are idolizing is a big shot real estate con man huckster business bankrupter from New York City! When did small town people of humble means start finding such a "carpet bagger" attractive?
The answer is in anger. Fury at disenfranchisement. They have a right to be upset. They just found a hero in the same class that sent their jobs overseas or to Mexico. Can you fix stupid?
Dave, do you follow Penfist? His last letter was an eye opener as well. Be sure to watch the Ted Talk.
https://www.penfist.ink/p/have-a-plan-and-a-backup-plan?