All of your reasons apply…… if I were to add a few……Our Senators have been bought by Corporate and/or foreign money thanks to Citizens United……Our Representatives are afraid of being primaried and losing their cushy jobs. Our Representatives lack any spine or morality and are beholden to a demiurgic thunder god. Our Senators, like our populace, have been programmed by AI to believe the authoritarian mindset. Christian Nationalism requires obedience for total hegemony
I think it's the inevitable outcome when the law says money votes. The guy with the most money votes the most. The guy with the least scruples and a head start gets his little snow ball of money rolling and then he's able to run that immense money ball right up to the crowd of representatives and say "vote the way this guy (for now, because I am showing him my usefulness) says to vote, or I will run this over you" and they do.
I think the Musk mElon telling them he'll "primary" them if they don't do his/FFOTUS' bidding is a way of saying take your jobs, pursue you to the ends of the earth and ruin your home, family and friends if you don't click your heels and say "Yes Sir" when we speak. Just being pursued by the government for no crime at all can ruin a person's reputation, empty their bank account and isolate them from family and friends so it's not necessary to find a crime. These people know that to be targeted by the likes of mElon would go far beyond losing their jobs. They're still cowards, but they have reason, and they created that reason themselves when they first went short-sightedly into the pursuit of laws to let money vote.
Thanks, Bill. I've been trying to understand what happened last night - I watched it live on MSNBC, where Rachel Maddow was following the voting. All your reasons are valid. The Senate and House of Representatives needed to be cleaned out of all the members who in any way supported the insurrection of January 6. But that didn't happen, and the corrupt Supreme Court has been of no use in the defense of the Constitution. So here we are. And this is just the beginning.
Bill I don't understand this vote to make this person the Sec Def at all. The fact that there was not 1 more Republican Senator who would vote to block this nomination is beyond me....this vote should have been 75 to 25 against confirmation at best. Maybe some of them just believe that Pete will implode on his own and be gone before he can do to much damage. He's going to have a lot of eyes watching his every move very closely. It's hard for abusers to stop cold turkey...especially when they are stressed.
I'll go with all of the above. And I disagree with your characterization of Hegseth as having "almost no suitable experience or qualifications": He has NO experience or qualifications for the job.
Bismillah No. We will not let you go. Yehawes raises the point about MuskMoneyMelon funding primaries against anyone who crosses the Trumpista agenda and is probably largely correct. What we need is some candidates in both parties who would say in response to that threat "Bring it on and be damned to you" and who don't derive most of their self-image and ego gratification from their positions in government. I'd like to know what happened to Will Hurd, Anthony Gonzalez and the rest of the people in the bipartisan group who've left Congress in the past decade or so because they "can be more effective" outside.
I am worried about his use of the military within US borders. We keep saying things like: "They can't do that, it's against the law. It's against the Constitution." And they say, we don't give a shit, we're doing it anyway. Go ahead and sue us. We have lots of lawyers and lots of money. And we have the Supreme Court in our pocket".
Well, one thing, not much of a thing, but SCOTUS doesn't hear ALL cases. Even if they decide to hear this b.s. by Trump lawyers, it will take a long time. It has to go to the Federal courts first. (look already at the case regarding the birthright citizenship issue guaranteed by the 14th Amendment. Already a Federal Judge put a stay on that, and that is nationwide, because it's Federal . Sorry, sounds redundant but I was trying to emphasize the point. And most judges at the federal level are NOT Trump appointees.
I hate that I am convinced of this, but America won't be what it has tried to be (a democracy that values human rights for all) without another internal war. It is coming.
I hate that I "liked" your comment. I hate that I agree that some sort of revolutionary and counter revolutionary conflict feels inevitable.
I can't imagine what it would feel like to be serving in law enforcement or a military role and hear my comrades in arms speak of suppressing and persecuting political dissidents and innocents.
I felt something similar in the 1970s as a member of the MA National Guard. We were being trained in crowd control. I remember thinking that I had a sworn duty to follow orders. But then I remembered the Kent State shooting and realized I might have a problem. Especially since I thought the crowds were right on the issue. Fortunately I was never tested.
Back in those days, the "Guard" was an underfunded, rarely used asset. Our company was issued M1s. For those who don't know, they are made of wood. I served my 6 years and gratefully exited before those units were called up. By then we had M-14s.
Pen, it was only by virtue of timing and a birthdate that I didn't end up serving as you did. I don't know how I would have handled it. I really have no idea...
And I don't know how I will react if I end up on Kash Patel's enemies list.
Wish I could help, Bill, but I'm just as confused as you, trump's reasoning I can understand. He wants nothing but yes men and bimbos surrounding himself. Preferably ones who are even dumber than trumpscum himself. However if this were a multiple choice test, I'd select A,B,C, and E
All of your reasons apply…… if I were to add a few……Our Senators have been bought by Corporate and/or foreign money thanks to Citizens United……Our Representatives are afraid of being primaried and losing their cushy jobs. Our Representatives lack any spine or morality and are beholden to a demiurgic thunder god. Our Senators, like our populace, have been programmed by AI to believe the authoritarian mindset. Christian Nationalism requires obedience for total hegemony
I think it's the inevitable outcome when the law says money votes. The guy with the most money votes the most. The guy with the least scruples and a head start gets his little snow ball of money rolling and then he's able to run that immense money ball right up to the crowd of representatives and say "vote the way this guy (for now, because I am showing him my usefulness) says to vote, or I will run this over you" and they do.
I think the Musk mElon telling them he'll "primary" them if they don't do his/FFOTUS' bidding is a way of saying take your jobs, pursue you to the ends of the earth and ruin your home, family and friends if you don't click your heels and say "Yes Sir" when we speak. Just being pursued by the government for no crime at all can ruin a person's reputation, empty their bank account and isolate them from family and friends so it's not necessary to find a crime. These people know that to be targeted by the likes of mElon would go far beyond losing their jobs. They're still cowards, but they have reason, and they created that reason themselves when they first went short-sightedly into the pursuit of laws to let money vote.
Thanks, Bill. I've been trying to understand what happened last night - I watched it live on MSNBC, where Rachel Maddow was following the voting. All your reasons are valid. The Senate and House of Representatives needed to be cleaned out of all the members who in any way supported the insurrection of January 6. But that didn't happen, and the corrupt Supreme Court has been of no use in the defense of the Constitution. So here we are. And this is just the beginning.
Yes, to all the above. On to Tulsi.
Another traitor. The Republican Party is completing its transformation from the party of Lincoln and Eisenhower to the Party of Putin.
My long departed Republican parents, who fought with Ike, are spinning in their graves with disgust and fury.
I hear you and resonate with every fiber of my being.
Bill I don't understand this vote to make this person the Sec Def at all. The fact that there was not 1 more Republican Senator who would vote to block this nomination is beyond me....this vote should have been 75 to 25 against confirmation at best. Maybe some of them just believe that Pete will implode on his own and be gone before he can do to much damage. He's going to have a lot of eyes watching his every move very closely. It's hard for abusers to stop cold turkey...especially when they are stressed.
I'll go with all of the above. And I disagree with your characterization of Hegseth as having "almost no suitable experience or qualifications": He has NO experience or qualifications for the job.
I stand corrected. You are correct, of course.
Bismillah No. We will not let you go. Yehawes raises the point about MuskMoneyMelon funding primaries against anyone who crosses the Trumpista agenda and is probably largely correct. What we need is some candidates in both parties who would say in response to that threat "Bring it on and be damned to you" and who don't derive most of their self-image and ego gratification from their positions in government. I'd like to know what happened to Will Hurd, Anthony Gonzalez and the rest of the people in the bipartisan group who've left Congress in the past decade or so because they "can be more effective" outside.
Most of those choices seem valid .😬. Sorry, Bill, I wish I understood any of this Idiocracy..
I wonder how soon we'll hear about an embarrassing, alcohol-fueled 'incident'‼️
I am worried about his use of the military within US borders. We keep saying things like: "They can't do that, it's against the law. It's against the Constitution." And they say, we don't give a shit, we're doing it anyway. Go ahead and sue us. We have lots of lawyers and lots of money. And we have the Supreme Court in our pocket".
Americans have been naive and clueless.
Well, one thing, not much of a thing, but SCOTUS doesn't hear ALL cases. Even if they decide to hear this b.s. by Trump lawyers, it will take a long time. It has to go to the Federal courts first. (look already at the case regarding the birthright citizenship issue guaranteed by the 14th Amendment. Already a Federal Judge put a stay on that, and that is nationwide, because it's Federal . Sorry, sounds redundant but I was trying to emphasize the point. And most judges at the federal level are NOT Trump appointees.
I hate that I am convinced of this, but America won't be what it has tried to be (a democracy that values human rights for all) without another internal war. It is coming.
I hate that I "liked" your comment. I hate that I agree that some sort of revolutionary and counter revolutionary conflict feels inevitable.
I can't imagine what it would feel like to be serving in law enforcement or a military role and hear my comrades in arms speak of suppressing and persecuting political dissidents and innocents.
I felt something similar in the 1970s as a member of the MA National Guard. We were being trained in crowd control. I remember thinking that I had a sworn duty to follow orders. But then I remembered the Kent State shooting and realized I might have a problem. Especially since I thought the crowds were right on the issue. Fortunately I was never tested.
Back in those days, the "Guard" was an underfunded, rarely used asset. Our company was issued M1s. For those who don't know, they are made of wood. I served my 6 years and gratefully exited before those units were called up. By then we had M-14s.
Pen, it was only by virtue of timing and a birthdate that I didn't end up serving as you did. I don't know how I would have handled it. I really have no idea...
And I don't know how I will react if I end up on Kash Patel's enemies list.
I suspect if someone would release Cassidy Hutchinson's text messages most of them could cross option B. off their list.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/gop-fears-jan-6-probe-will-expose-their-x-rated-and-embarrassing-texts/
Here's a possible reason: the most efficient way to get rid of Trump is to allow his clown cabinet to fail so badly that no one can claim otherwise.
Could be. But how many will suffer before the Orange Menace is removed and placed in a secure mental hospital?
The answer is plenty of people will suffer—we resist to keep hope alive.
Richard Reich has a 10-point "carry on" plan.
If you friends-of-bill don't get him on substak...google it
you did it again, bill.
fantastic post...I think you have found your calling.
don't stop.
don't go to sleep.
carry on. carry on.
please
Wish I could help, Bill, but I'm just as confused as you, trump's reasoning I can understand. He wants nothing but yes men and bimbos surrounding himself. Preferably ones who are even dumber than trumpscum himself. However if this were a multiple choice test, I'd select A,B,C, and E
Excellent Bill!! Thanks for posting.
Rob