Thanks for sharing Dale--I appreciate the call for something other than extreme partisanship. It's easy to complain about what the current administration has done, but several bipartisan efforts were accomplished--the CHIPS and Science Act, the infrastructure act, but once Republicans took the House, efforts at bipartisanship, the border bill for example that key Republicans helped craft, screeched to a halt. This is an over-simplification but post election, it's become a sort of giant "your body, my choice" kind of response--"we won" has devolved into calls for retribution, going after any media that criticized the nominee or published a poll that didn't flatter him, all accompanied by a whole bunch of name calling.
Perhaps I've missed it, but I haven't heard one Republican talk about working across the aisle to address issues facing the country. I used to hope that a new party would emerge, but I think that's naive. It's not a left and right issue or a cultural issue that would prevent it as much as it is an issue of money and the power that comes with it. Consider the influence of billionaires who control the media--not just the obvious right wing e.g., the FOX and Newsmax variety, but the WSJ and the Los Angeles Times and the Washington Post; the social media from X to FB all billionaire owned, the 15 billionaires currently proposed to serve in the incoming administration, where will compromise emerge in that group? Hearing Musk threaten to fund primary opponents for any Republican who doesn't bend the knee to his demands--is that how a democracy should function? Will we become a country where anyone of a different mind or holding a dissenting opinion is threatened and sued or imprisoned? I thought we were supposed to be free to disagree? This seems more like something that would happen in a dictatorship--if you disagree with me I'll crush you. Put another way, I'm rich and I can do what I want--but sure, it's the poor and immigrants that are the problem? Do we suddenly believe that being rich is synonymous with intelligence? That self-interest should take precedence over the general welfare, over liberty and justice, over the pursuit of happiness?
We desperately need campaign finance reform--and I don't know when character and integrity became unimportant in our leaders, but it would be nice to see character matter at least a little bit.
That said, the anger and disdain of the responses to your proposal don't give me much hope.
And Miriam Adelson donated millions directly to Trump and to GOP and he awarded her the same medal of freedom, doesn’t change my point, though if you look at what billionaires spent and for whom, the majority went to Republicans. Money is corrupting our political process
good grief. your girl blew through $2 billion, ended up $20 million in debt, and lost anyway. 90 billionaires for kamala. 40 billionaires for trump. you are absolutely gas-lighted.
if more money was the key to this race, kamala would have won. she lost, because people are tired of being bullied and lied to and robbed and micromanaged by hateful bullies. the people who were tired of it included people like elon musk, who used to be a democrat, and tulsi gabbard, who used to be a democrat, and joe rogan, who used to be a democrat, and tammy bruce, who used to be a democrat, just to name a few.
the election is over. try being happy for a little while.
Oh, sister, your misogyny is showing. My "girl"? Not sure where you get your info about billionaires--perhaps you're a billionaire?
Billionaires support their self-interest--party doesn't matter, take for instance the HB1 visa flip flopping of your "boy", absolutely opposed to the program for taking American's jobs before Elon told him he supported it, and suggested those who didn't support his position would find themselves with Elon-funded primary opponents or "fucked in the face" as he put it. Talk about a bully. Do you remember the time Harris made fun of that disabled reporter or mocked men for how they looked? Do you remember when she lied about immigrants eating cats and dogs? Do you remember when she couldn't identify a picture of her ex-husband? You don't because it never happened.
I do remember who did and does all those things. Even now the right wing blasts out that the NOLA terrorist "crossed the border" and the attack happened because of Biden's "open" border--when the terrorist was a US citizen, born in Texas, served in the US military--same as the terrorist with the explosives loaded Tesla in front of Trump's Vegas hotel. Talk about gaslighting.
And yes, just smile more and be happy and go back to your kitchen and to carrying your rapist's baby to term or, post-menopause, babysitting your grandchildren and just don't worry your pretty little head about what the men you serve are doing. We'll let you know when we need your input. In the meantime, just get on your knees and pray that the men in your life get what they want as Speaker Johnson's wife does--and stay out of things that don't concern you. And keep voting for billionaires--at least until we get back to the good old days when you couldn't vote.
“Misogyny”? Shall we add “racist” to the mix? And “homophobe” and “transphobe"? And “bigot”? To quote Inigo Montoya, "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.” It must be exhausting maintaining a constant level of outrage aimed at people who are happy and productive and not in need of your thought policing.
I wish you peace of mind. I really do. If the current outgoing administration doesn’t sign us up for yet another war in the next two weeks, we’re likely in for a smooth ride based on the war-less history of the previous admin.
Side Bar: President Castro of Honduras doesn’t want the over half million Hondurans back who are living illegally in the US. I guess that makes her a racist? A bigot?
Off to church soon. Have a great and peaceful, day.
You can add whatever description to the incoming president-elect that you want to—I think there’s plenty of evidence that all those descriptors are apt, and I don’t doubt you have a different definition of those words given your blindness to objective facts. Here’s another fact: The United States Armed Forces completed their withdrawal from Afghanistan on 30 August 2021, marking the end of the longest war in US history. Who ended that war and who was President during four years of that war?
You can relax though, I’m pretty sure we won’t be invading Mexico or attempting to annex Canada or invade Greenland or Panama in the next couple of weeks before your boy savior can assume office to Make America Great Again. I don’t “aim” outrage at anyone—nor do I want to police people’s thoughts—even yours. I can hold and defend a different position than you do, without being outraged. That said, it’s impossible to have a rational discussion with someone if you cannot agree on the facts and agree to suspend judgement in areas where the facts are unknown.
I don’t think peace of mind is the goal—a lobotomy can give you peace of mind as can blind faith in religious dogma. I’ve never spoken to President Castro and have never seen any statements from her regarding Honduran immigration to the US—but no, I think it unlikely that she’s a racist, but who knows?
When you get to church, why don’t you make up a prayer, claim that Thomas Jefferson said it every day, and use it to justify your political positions—then you can be just like Speaker Johnson. Pretty sure you won’t see 45 at church, he’s golfing which I believe he did religiously throughout his first term though I’m pretty sure you can still buy a copy of his God Bless the USA Made in China bible. Here’s a word that seems apropos, hypocrite. Wishing you the peace of mind you desire.
Amazing how many people still have not figured out yet that the tables have been flipped in the temple!
The American bar association has always given the vast majority of their donations to the Democrat party in hopes that more regulations will be put in place which in turn creates more litigation and lines the pockets of their membership! That has not changed! Here is the big flip!
The elites and big corporations prior to 2020 donated their money to republicans in hopes that there would be less regulations! COVID taught them that more regulations are not such a bad thing after all! Remember who got to keep their doors open?! The elites and the big corporations have figured out that more regulations actually work in their favor because they can afford to pay huge monthly retainer fees to attorneys to help them fight the regulations which will drive small businesses, who can’t afford the attorney fees, right out of business.
70% of the money in America voted Democrat in 2020! That is a huge swing. Good news is there are a lot more middle income and low income people than rich elites and now they have found places to get the other side of the story that they haven’t seen in decades. They figured out real quick that Trump is not Hitler among all the other lies. You can only call people racists and all the other names so much and they are gonna take action! Unless of course you are one of the far to many that fit the age old adage “those convinced against their will, are of the same opinion still!”
70% of THE money? Zero facts, no evidence, but sure, whatever. Elon alone spent 288 million dollars to elect his puppet. Did you know that 100% of the racists and misogynists and white supremacists and bigots and illiterate voted for the Republican. No, really, it's true. Look it up. I saw it on FOX, must be true.
It is true that every domestic terrorist as of late, NOLA, Las Vegas, the attempted "assassination" of the president elect, were ALL his supporters. Every person convicted of crimes for their behavior on January 6th were Trump supporters and the proof will be in the pardons. But sure, it's the lawyers that are lining their pockets? Even the one's Trump hasn't paid what he owes? Here's some facts for you that are verifiable from historian Heather Cox Richardson: "No U.S. troops are fighting in foreign wars, murders have plummeted, deaths from drug overdoses have dropped sharply, undocumented immigration is below where it was when Trump left office, stocks have just had their best two years since the last century. The economy is growing, real wages are rising, inflation has fallen to close to its normal range, unemployment is at near-historic lows, and energy production is at historic highs. The economy has added more than 700,000 manufacturing jobs among the 16 million total created since 2020.
Chief economist of Moody’s Analytics Mark Zandi, said: “President Trump is inheriting an economy that is about as good as it ever gets.” Let's see if we can say that in four years.
This is a lot of writing to say, in essence, I don't like President Trump or any of his followers.
There may be some valid points herein, but they are quite overshadowed by the palpable dislike the author has for the aforementioned. Hence the root cause of the division started well back into the Clinton Administration and further employed during each subsequent administration of "if they don't think, believe or act like we do, then they are unacceptable and dangerous to America." I need point no further than to Hillary Clinton referring to millions of Americans as a "basket of deplorable."
Not one to lose an opportunity, President Biden referred to President Trump's followers as "garbage." This op-ed smacks of the same.
The disdain clearly evident in this op-ed and throughout the current Democratic Party for those with opposing viewpoints is a dangerous contagion. One simply cannot refer to someone with an opposing viewpoint, in one sentence, as "garbage" then expect the same person to amicably work with them to resolve differences.
All other points made herein are made moot by the hateful rhetoric. One would think someone with such an esteemed career and position within the greater South Dakota legal and political spectrum would be possessed of the decorum necessary to address the differences and help foster an environment where all endeavor to resolve issues. Evidently this is not the case.
It's remarkable that Dale makes the point that extremist partisanship doesn't serve the country and then you, James, counter with extreme partisanship. Sure, he makes the point that Trump is bad for America, but he calls for working together -- he doesn't like Trumpers because they refuse to compromise. That seems very real. It's part of their motto to not compromise. Trump is all about force. Even the slogan, Make America Great Again, starts with the word, "Make," which is to force. And, I happen to think America has always had greatness. Can it be improved? Of course. But to imply it isn't now is overly negative to our nation and everyone that has contributed to preserving it. That's extremism. You do the Trump thing -- blame Democrats for everything -- but then say we should have decorum and not have division. Hypocritical much? If you don't like any of Dale's statements because you think they are partisan, maybe a mirror would help. Good luck to us all.
To your point of hypocrisy I provide this damning quote from the author's op-ed:
"When I look at the current Republican Party, I mostly see a cult of loyalty favoring Trump, his family and friends, and those driven to self-preservation based on “fear-based” issues. Republicans say they want to “go back,” to “Make America Great Again” compared to some ill-defined idyllic past. Democrats say they want to “go forward” to be more progressive. As I see it, Republicans most often say that they want to help themselves; while Democrats say they still strive to help others."
Who in their right mind would not consider being referred to as a cult then described with spurious and far fetched hot rhetoric as detrimental and divisive?
It seems to the random observer you overtly agree with the take this author presents on Conservatives; this makes you partisan and fully participative in the ongoing division.
Further, the recent rounds of inflation, billions upon billions poured into a war that we have no business participating in while those in disaster areas languish in wait of assistance as well as the Pentagon failing its seventh audit being unable to account for trillions are harbingers that we as a nation aren't able to trust the government with our tax dollars. That's not a "party" problem, that's a bloated bureaucracy problem combined with a foreign policy only intended to support and bolster the military industrial complex!
It's easy to point fingers as the editor and now you are doing. It's much harder to be the genesis of much needed change. Our government is neither accountable nor keeping the tax payer needs at the forefront of their operations. These need to change in order to restore the American Greatness that helped change the world..
There is little point of further debate because you won't move an inch. You don't want to know that the US support of Ukraine is based on a treaty -- an agreement that the US will come to the aid of Ukraine if Russia attacks. This we gave to get Ukraine to give up their nuclear weapons, which were former Soviet Union stockpiles. Russia also agreed to protect Ukraine but Putin didn't see the need to abide by his country's word.
And, the recent inflation has less to do with the war than the growth of our national debt. It grew because the first Trump administration cut taxes for the rich AND that action together with doling out PPE money (again Trump and mostly to the wealthy), that has never been fully accounted for, increased our federal debt by about a third. A third! During one administration, Trump's first. If you are interested in better government, why would you expect someone that led such a disasterous term to do better the second time?
I agree that our government can't seem to account for major expenditures, but that's not a problem limited to Democratic administrations. And, the defense industry has a grip on both parties which supports Dale's idea to create a third party.
I want better, more responsible government that interferes in peoples lives the least ways possible, with full accountability of expenditures. I wasn't a fan of either party's presidential candidates but Trump was and is the scarier of the two.
I expect President Trump to compromise and get along just like crazy man Biden, and the moron. Chuck Schumer compromised for the last four years. In other words, not a damn bit. It’s often said payback is a bitch and I guess we’ll find out.
Thanks for making my point. MAGA people (not Republicans necessarily) seem bent on retaliation or revenge and have no apparent appreciation for all the work many people did to bring the country to where it is today. Sure, some mistakes were made, some corrections are warranted which is always the case, but to take such a hard line is divisive, by definition. Such anger gets us no where but more anger and we can thank Trump for rationalizing anger upon everyone but himself. It's a poison that many have consumed to vent their frustrations and anger.
Trump has said he wants revenge against anyone who has challenged or wronged him. And MAGA people support him 100% even calling him "King" or their god. So, by reasoning, MAGA people want revenge for Trump.
I repeat, for what? What things has Trump experienced that would inspire a desire for revenge? PS: I'd love to see a video of him saying he wants revenge against anyone who challenged or wronged him. I haven't so far.
I never claimed to be 100% satisfied. By the same token, it seems unfair to claim to be 100% disappointed. Some mistakes is the case with every administration and times change -- what was right five or twenty years ago is no longer the right course. That doesn't amount to a mistake even though an adjustment or change is in order. Who doesn't make some mistakes? You? The only person that I know that claims to have never made a mistake has been your hero, DJT, which on its face makes him untrustworthy.
Biden's administration didn't accidentally make mistakes - THEY WERE 100% INTENTIONAL. 1) They eliminated our borders and funded it - including the importation of those from countries wishing to empty their prisons. Just wait until those "New Immigrants" lose their snap benefits and free phones and free rent and free utilities in two years - the doodoo is going to hit the fan. 2) Afghanistan was the most pathetic military action ever taken which destroyed the reputation of the US - a fifth grader could have designed a better exit plan. But to the useful idiots, these were just mistakes.
Did Jamie Raskin write this for you? Or Rachel Maddow?
"Trump is surrounded by autocrats and anarchists. With this election, many of the normal Constitutional checks and balances could well be vaporized. This action is a convincing turn toward the Dark Ages and the possible death of the American democratic experiment."
What a patronizing article. Just one comment about working across the aisle: Trump has nominated two former Democratic presidential candidates (RFK, Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard) to two of the highest positions in his government.
Thanks for sharing Dale--I appreciate the call for something other than extreme partisanship. It's easy to complain about what the current administration has done, but several bipartisan efforts were accomplished--the CHIPS and Science Act, the infrastructure act, but once Republicans took the House, efforts at bipartisanship, the border bill for example that key Republicans helped craft, screeched to a halt. This is an over-simplification but post election, it's become a sort of giant "your body, my choice" kind of response--"we won" has devolved into calls for retribution, going after any media that criticized the nominee or published a poll that didn't flatter him, all accompanied by a whole bunch of name calling.
Perhaps I've missed it, but I haven't heard one Republican talk about working across the aisle to address issues facing the country. I used to hope that a new party would emerge, but I think that's naive. It's not a left and right issue or a cultural issue that would prevent it as much as it is an issue of money and the power that comes with it. Consider the influence of billionaires who control the media--not just the obvious right wing e.g., the FOX and Newsmax variety, but the WSJ and the Los Angeles Times and the Washington Post; the social media from X to FB all billionaire owned, the 15 billionaires currently proposed to serve in the incoming administration, where will compromise emerge in that group? Hearing Musk threaten to fund primary opponents for any Republican who doesn't bend the knee to his demands--is that how a democracy should function? Will we become a country where anyone of a different mind or holding a dissenting opinion is threatened and sued or imprisoned? I thought we were supposed to be free to disagree? This seems more like something that would happen in a dictatorship--if you disagree with me I'll crush you. Put another way, I'm rich and I can do what I want--but sure, it's the poor and immigrants that are the problem? Do we suddenly believe that being rich is synonymous with intelligence? That self-interest should take precedence over the general welfare, over liberty and justice, over the pursuit of happiness?
We desperately need campaign finance reform--and I don't know when character and integrity became unimportant in our leaders, but it would be nice to see character matter at least a little bit.
That said, the anger and disdain of the responses to your proposal don't give me much hope.
George Soros, who just got the Presidential medal of freedom, has donated approximately $39 billion to Democrats and Dem wish-list nonprofits.
And Miriam Adelson donated millions directly to Trump and to GOP and he awarded her the same medal of freedom, doesn’t change my point, though if you look at what billionaires spent and for whom, the majority went to Republicans. Money is corrupting our political process
good grief. your girl blew through $2 billion, ended up $20 million in debt, and lost anyway. 90 billionaires for kamala. 40 billionaires for trump. you are absolutely gas-lighted.
if more money was the key to this race, kamala would have won. she lost, because people are tired of being bullied and lied to and robbed and micromanaged by hateful bullies. the people who were tired of it included people like elon musk, who used to be a democrat, and tulsi gabbard, who used to be a democrat, and joe rogan, who used to be a democrat, and tammy bruce, who used to be a democrat, just to name a few.
the election is over. try being happy for a little while.
Oh, sister, your misogyny is showing. My "girl"? Not sure where you get your info about billionaires--perhaps you're a billionaire?
Billionaires support their self-interest--party doesn't matter, take for instance the HB1 visa flip flopping of your "boy", absolutely opposed to the program for taking American's jobs before Elon told him he supported it, and suggested those who didn't support his position would find themselves with Elon-funded primary opponents or "fucked in the face" as he put it. Talk about a bully. Do you remember the time Harris made fun of that disabled reporter or mocked men for how they looked? Do you remember when she lied about immigrants eating cats and dogs? Do you remember when she couldn't identify a picture of her ex-husband? You don't because it never happened.
I do remember who did and does all those things. Even now the right wing blasts out that the NOLA terrorist "crossed the border" and the attack happened because of Biden's "open" border--when the terrorist was a US citizen, born in Texas, served in the US military--same as the terrorist with the explosives loaded Tesla in front of Trump's Vegas hotel. Talk about gaslighting.
And yes, just smile more and be happy and go back to your kitchen and to carrying your rapist's baby to term or, post-menopause, babysitting your grandchildren and just don't worry your pretty little head about what the men you serve are doing. We'll let you know when we need your input. In the meantime, just get on your knees and pray that the men in your life get what they want as Speaker Johnson's wife does--and stay out of things that don't concern you. And keep voting for billionaires--at least until we get back to the good old days when you couldn't vote.
“Misogyny”? Shall we add “racist” to the mix? And “homophobe” and “transphobe"? And “bigot”? To quote Inigo Montoya, "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.” It must be exhausting maintaining a constant level of outrage aimed at people who are happy and productive and not in need of your thought policing.
I wish you peace of mind. I really do. If the current outgoing administration doesn’t sign us up for yet another war in the next two weeks, we’re likely in for a smooth ride based on the war-less history of the previous admin.
Side Bar: President Castro of Honduras doesn’t want the over half million Hondurans back who are living illegally in the US. I guess that makes her a racist? A bigot?
Off to church soon. Have a great and peaceful, day.
You can add whatever description to the incoming president-elect that you want to—I think there’s plenty of evidence that all those descriptors are apt, and I don’t doubt you have a different definition of those words given your blindness to objective facts. Here’s another fact: The United States Armed Forces completed their withdrawal from Afghanistan on 30 August 2021, marking the end of the longest war in US history. Who ended that war and who was President during four years of that war?
You can relax though, I’m pretty sure we won’t be invading Mexico or attempting to annex Canada or invade Greenland or Panama in the next couple of weeks before your boy savior can assume office to Make America Great Again. I don’t “aim” outrage at anyone—nor do I want to police people’s thoughts—even yours. I can hold and defend a different position than you do, without being outraged. That said, it’s impossible to have a rational discussion with someone if you cannot agree on the facts and agree to suspend judgement in areas where the facts are unknown.
I don’t think peace of mind is the goal—a lobotomy can give you peace of mind as can blind faith in religious dogma. I’ve never spoken to President Castro and have never seen any statements from her regarding Honduran immigration to the US—but no, I think it unlikely that she’s a racist, but who knows?
When you get to church, why don’t you make up a prayer, claim that Thomas Jefferson said it every day, and use it to justify your political positions—then you can be just like Speaker Johnson. Pretty sure you won’t see 45 at church, he’s golfing which I believe he did religiously throughout his first term though I’m pretty sure you can still buy a copy of his God Bless the USA Made in China bible. Here’s a word that seems apropos, hypocrite. Wishing you the peace of mind you desire.
Amazing how many people still have not figured out yet that the tables have been flipped in the temple!
The American bar association has always given the vast majority of their donations to the Democrat party in hopes that more regulations will be put in place which in turn creates more litigation and lines the pockets of their membership! That has not changed! Here is the big flip!
The elites and big corporations prior to 2020 donated their money to republicans in hopes that there would be less regulations! COVID taught them that more regulations are not such a bad thing after all! Remember who got to keep their doors open?! The elites and the big corporations have figured out that more regulations actually work in their favor because they can afford to pay huge monthly retainer fees to attorneys to help them fight the regulations which will drive small businesses, who can’t afford the attorney fees, right out of business.
70% of the money in America voted Democrat in 2020! That is a huge swing. Good news is there are a lot more middle income and low income people than rich elites and now they have found places to get the other side of the story that they haven’t seen in decades. They figured out real quick that Trump is not Hitler among all the other lies. You can only call people racists and all the other names so much and they are gonna take action! Unless of course you are one of the far to many that fit the age old adage “those convinced against their will, are of the same opinion still!”
70% of THE money? Zero facts, no evidence, but sure, whatever. Elon alone spent 288 million dollars to elect his puppet. Did you know that 100% of the racists and misogynists and white supremacists and bigots and illiterate voted for the Republican. No, really, it's true. Look it up. I saw it on FOX, must be true.
It is true that every domestic terrorist as of late, NOLA, Las Vegas, the attempted "assassination" of the president elect, were ALL his supporters. Every person convicted of crimes for their behavior on January 6th were Trump supporters and the proof will be in the pardons. But sure, it's the lawyers that are lining their pockets? Even the one's Trump hasn't paid what he owes? Here's some facts for you that are verifiable from historian Heather Cox Richardson: "No U.S. troops are fighting in foreign wars, murders have plummeted, deaths from drug overdoses have dropped sharply, undocumented immigration is below where it was when Trump left office, stocks have just had their best two years since the last century. The economy is growing, real wages are rising, inflation has fallen to close to its normal range, unemployment is at near-historic lows, and energy production is at historic highs. The economy has added more than 700,000 manufacturing jobs among the 16 million total created since 2020.
Chief economist of Moody’s Analytics Mark Zandi, said: “President Trump is inheriting an economy that is about as good as it ever gets.” Let's see if we can say that in four years.
This is a lot of writing to say, in essence, I don't like President Trump or any of his followers.
There may be some valid points herein, but they are quite overshadowed by the palpable dislike the author has for the aforementioned. Hence the root cause of the division started well back into the Clinton Administration and further employed during each subsequent administration of "if they don't think, believe or act like we do, then they are unacceptable and dangerous to America." I need point no further than to Hillary Clinton referring to millions of Americans as a "basket of deplorable."
Not one to lose an opportunity, President Biden referred to President Trump's followers as "garbage." This op-ed smacks of the same.
The disdain clearly evident in this op-ed and throughout the current Democratic Party for those with opposing viewpoints is a dangerous contagion. One simply cannot refer to someone with an opposing viewpoint, in one sentence, as "garbage" then expect the same person to amicably work with them to resolve differences.
All other points made herein are made moot by the hateful rhetoric. One would think someone with such an esteemed career and position within the greater South Dakota legal and political spectrum would be possessed of the decorum necessary to address the differences and help foster an environment where all endeavor to resolve issues. Evidently this is not the case.
It's remarkable that Dale makes the point that extremist partisanship doesn't serve the country and then you, James, counter with extreme partisanship. Sure, he makes the point that Trump is bad for America, but he calls for working together -- he doesn't like Trumpers because they refuse to compromise. That seems very real. It's part of their motto to not compromise. Trump is all about force. Even the slogan, Make America Great Again, starts with the word, "Make," which is to force. And, I happen to think America has always had greatness. Can it be improved? Of course. But to imply it isn't now is overly negative to our nation and everyone that has contributed to preserving it. That's extremism. You do the Trump thing -- blame Democrats for everything -- but then say we should have decorum and not have division. Hypocritical much? If you don't like any of Dale's statements because you think they are partisan, maybe a mirror would help. Good luck to us all.
To your point of hypocrisy I provide this damning quote from the author's op-ed:
"When I look at the current Republican Party, I mostly see a cult of loyalty favoring Trump, his family and friends, and those driven to self-preservation based on “fear-based” issues. Republicans say they want to “go back,” to “Make America Great Again” compared to some ill-defined idyllic past. Democrats say they want to “go forward” to be more progressive. As I see it, Republicans most often say that they want to help themselves; while Democrats say they still strive to help others."
Who in their right mind would not consider being referred to as a cult then described with spurious and far fetched hot rhetoric as detrimental and divisive?
It seems to the random observer you overtly agree with the take this author presents on Conservatives; this makes you partisan and fully participative in the ongoing division.
Further, the recent rounds of inflation, billions upon billions poured into a war that we have no business participating in while those in disaster areas languish in wait of assistance as well as the Pentagon failing its seventh audit being unable to account for trillions are harbingers that we as a nation aren't able to trust the government with our tax dollars. That's not a "party" problem, that's a bloated bureaucracy problem combined with a foreign policy only intended to support and bolster the military industrial complex!
It's easy to point fingers as the editor and now you are doing. It's much harder to be the genesis of much needed change. Our government is neither accountable nor keeping the tax payer needs at the forefront of their operations. These need to change in order to restore the American Greatness that helped change the world..
There is little point of further debate because you won't move an inch. You don't want to know that the US support of Ukraine is based on a treaty -- an agreement that the US will come to the aid of Ukraine if Russia attacks. This we gave to get Ukraine to give up their nuclear weapons, which were former Soviet Union stockpiles. Russia also agreed to protect Ukraine but Putin didn't see the need to abide by his country's word.
And, the recent inflation has less to do with the war than the growth of our national debt. It grew because the first Trump administration cut taxes for the rich AND that action together with doling out PPE money (again Trump and mostly to the wealthy), that has never been fully accounted for, increased our federal debt by about a third. A third! During one administration, Trump's first. If you are interested in better government, why would you expect someone that led such a disasterous term to do better the second time?
I agree that our government can't seem to account for major expenditures, but that's not a problem limited to Democratic administrations. And, the defense industry has a grip on both parties which supports Dale's idea to create a third party.
I want better, more responsible government that interferes in peoples lives the least ways possible, with full accountability of expenditures. I wasn't a fan of either party's presidential candidates but Trump was and is the scarier of the two.
I expect President Trump to compromise and get along just like crazy man Biden, and the moron. Chuck Schumer compromised for the last four years. In other words, not a damn bit. It’s often said payback is a bitch and I guess we’ll find out.
Thanks for making my point. MAGA people (not Republicans necessarily) seem bent on retaliation or revenge and have no apparent appreciation for all the work many people did to bring the country to where it is today. Sure, some mistakes were made, some corrections are warranted which is always the case, but to take such a hard line is divisive, by definition. Such anger gets us no where but more anger and we can thank Trump for rationalizing anger upon everyone but himself. It's a poison that many have consumed to vent their frustrations and anger.
Revenge for what? What do you think MAGA people want revenge for?
Trump has said he wants revenge against anyone who has challenged or wronged him. And MAGA people support him 100% even calling him "King" or their god. So, by reasoning, MAGA people want revenge for Trump.
I repeat, for what? What things has Trump experienced that would inspire a desire for revenge? PS: I'd love to see a video of him saying he wants revenge against anyone who challenged or wronged him. I haven't so far.
Anyone who uses the word some with mistakes is probably satisfied with the government actions the last four years.
I never claimed to be 100% satisfied. By the same token, it seems unfair to claim to be 100% disappointed. Some mistakes is the case with every administration and times change -- what was right five or twenty years ago is no longer the right course. That doesn't amount to a mistake even though an adjustment or change is in order. Who doesn't make some mistakes? You? The only person that I know that claims to have never made a mistake has been your hero, DJT, which on its face makes him untrustworthy.
I can’t think of a single thing Sleepy Joe did that was favorable in my mind or improved my life. Not a single thing.
Biden's administration didn't accidentally make mistakes - THEY WERE 100% INTENTIONAL. 1) They eliminated our borders and funded it - including the importation of those from countries wishing to empty their prisons. Just wait until those "New Immigrants" lose their snap benefits and free phones and free rent and free utilities in two years - the doodoo is going to hit the fan. 2) Afghanistan was the most pathetic military action ever taken which destroyed the reputation of the US - a fifth grader could have designed a better exit plan. But to the useful idiots, these were just mistakes.
Dale: Check out No Labels...it's a group trying hard to do much of what you suggest.
Did Jamie Raskin write this for you? Or Rachel Maddow?
"Trump is surrounded by autocrats and anarchists. With this election, many of the normal Constitutional checks and balances could well be vaporized. This action is a convincing turn toward the Dark Ages and the possible death of the American democratic experiment."
Geez Dale where have you been the last 4 years under Democrat President Joe Biden and his administration ??
Clutch those pearls any tighter & they'll turn to dust.
I agree
What a patronizing article. Just one comment about working across the aisle: Trump has nominated two former Democratic presidential candidates (RFK, Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard) to two of the highest positions in his government.
Thanks, Dale. Two reminders. first it took Hitler 53 days to use the German constitution to destroy the German constitution. The US is well on its way to destroy the US constitution thanks to the recent intransigence of McConnell, senate republicans including thune and rounds, and the courts. https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/01/hitler-germany-constitution-authoritarianism/681233/?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us
Second, Scott does a masterful job exposing parts of the current threat. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fqi90xTs7dA