Let's give a shout out and thanks to defenders of Democracy
Comments
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DE4173 said:
That's great! Now let's ask Ben Wikler to get of X because You-Know-Who profits from X (hint- it's one of the guys who Wikler wants us to fight back against.)mickeyrat said:brianlux said:mickeyrat said:why do you do this? leave it. please.
I do it because it pisses me off when people trash threads. But since you asked kindly, OK, it stays unless it gets trolled. I'm over it with trolling. Standing up to trolling is one of the two freedoms we have left in this country. The other is committing suicide, and no way am I going there.Ok, but shutting down a discussion does let them win, no? If that is true, then how is that standing up to them? I'm curious as to your thoughts on that?It took me a long time to come to understand something about the Constitution, long after I was out of USN. As distasteful and downright abhorrent folks can be in their speech, I raised my hand and swore an oath to preserve that very thing. Someones right to say shitty things. I then have the same right to respond with a counter argument. Speech isn't free, the consequences are the price that gets paid for that speech.To me a defender of Democracy is one who stands up for the very things that rub you the wrong way. Because these things are a part of the larger whole. Cant take this piece meal. Its an all or nothing proposition from where I sit.They can win all they want because sometimes winning is losing."To me a defender of Democracy is one who stands up for the very things that rub you the wrong way."Really? Sorry, but I can't stand up for trashing the environment, abusing minorities and women, making life miserable for migrants and LGBTQ people, or put a billionaire in charge of the country. And I have zero respect for people who are OK with those things.
"It's a sad and beautiful world"-Roberto Benigni0 -
brianlux said:DE4173 said:
That's great! Now let's ask Ben Wikler to get of X because You-Know-Who profits from X (hint- it's one of the guys who Wikler wants us to fight back against.)mickeyrat said:brianlux said:mickeyrat said:why do you do this? leave it. please.
I do it because it pisses me off when people trash threads. But since you asked kindly, OK, it stays unless it gets trolled. I'm over it with trolling. Standing up to trolling is one of the two freedoms we have left in this country. The other is committing suicide, and no way am I going there.Ok, but shutting down a discussion does let them win, no? If that is true, then how is that standing up to them? I'm curious as to your thoughts on that?It took me a long time to come to understand something about the Constitution, long after I was out of USN. As distasteful and downright abhorrent folks can be in their speech, I raised my hand and swore an oath to preserve that very thing. Someones right to say shitty things. I then have the same right to respond with a counter argument. Speech isn't free, the consequences are the price that gets paid for that speech.To me a defender of Democracy is one who stands up for the very things that rub you the wrong way. Because these things are a part of the larger whole. Cant take this piece meal. Its an all or nothing proposition from where I sit.They can win all they want because sometimes winning is losing."To me a defender of Democracy is one who stands up for the very things that rub you the wrong way."Really? Sorry, but I can't stand up for trashing the environment, abusing minorities and women, making life miserable for migrants and LGBTQ people, or put a billionaire in charge of the country. And I have zero respect for people who are OK with those things.not ok with any of what you describe. our founding document allows for those things though.all in or all out. no in between._____________________________________SIGNATURE________________________________________________
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '140 -
mickeyrat said:brianlux said:DE4173 said:
That's great! Now let's ask Ben Wikler to get of X because You-Know-Who profits from X (hint- it's one of the guys who Wikler wants us to fight back against.)mickeyrat said:brianlux said:mickeyrat said:why do you do this? leave it. please.
I do it because it pisses me off when people trash threads. But since you asked kindly, OK, it stays unless it gets trolled. I'm over it with trolling. Standing up to trolling is one of the two freedoms we have left in this country. The other is committing suicide, and no way am I going there.Ok, but shutting down a discussion does let them win, no? If that is true, then how is that standing up to them? I'm curious as to your thoughts on that?It took me a long time to come to understand something about the Constitution, long after I was out of USN. As distasteful and downright abhorrent folks can be in their speech, I raised my hand and swore an oath to preserve that very thing. Someones right to say shitty things. I then have the same right to respond with a counter argument. Speech isn't free, the consequences are the price that gets paid for that speech.To me a defender of Democracy is one who stands up for the very things that rub you the wrong way. Because these things are a part of the larger whole. Cant take this piece meal. Its an all or nothing proposition from where I sit.They can win all they want because sometimes winning is losing."To me a defender of Democracy is one who stands up for the very things that rub you the wrong way."Really? Sorry, but I can't stand up for trashing the environment, abusing minorities and women, making life miserable for migrants and LGBTQ people, or put a billionaire in charge of the country. And I have zero respect for people who are OK with those things.not ok with any of what you describe. our founding document allows for those things though.all in or all out. no in between.
I hope we still have a constitution.
"It's a sad and beautiful world"-Roberto Benigni0 -
We do it’s been renamed P25! That old outdated scribbled piece of paper from the 17th century is worthless!brianlux said:mickeyrat said:brianlux said:DE4173 said:
That's great! Now let's ask Ben Wikler to get of X because You-Know-Who profits from X (hint- it's one of the guys who Wikler wants us to fight back against.)mickeyrat said:brianlux said:mickeyrat said:why do you do this? leave it. please.
I do it because it pisses me off when people trash threads. But since you asked kindly, OK, it stays unless it gets trolled. I'm over it with trolling. Standing up to trolling is one of the two freedoms we have left in this country. The other is committing suicide, and no way am I going there.Ok, but shutting down a discussion does let them win, no? If that is true, then how is that standing up to them? I'm curious as to your thoughts on that?It took me a long time to come to understand something about the Constitution, long after I was out of USN. As distasteful and downright abhorrent folks can be in their speech, I raised my hand and swore an oath to preserve that very thing. Someones right to say shitty things. I then have the same right to respond with a counter argument. Speech isn't free, the consequences are the price that gets paid for that speech.To me a defender of Democracy is one who stands up for the very things that rub you the wrong way. Because these things are a part of the larger whole. Cant take this piece meal. Its an all or nothing proposition from where I sit.They can win all they want because sometimes winning is losing."To me a defender of Democracy is one who stands up for the very things that rub you the wrong way."Really? Sorry, but I can't stand up for trashing the environment, abusing minorities and women, making life miserable for migrants and LGBTQ people, or put a billionaire in charge of the country. And I have zero respect for people who are OK with those things.not ok with any of what you describe. our founding document allows for those things though.all in or all out. no in between.
I hope we still have a constitution.jesus greets me looks just like me ....0 -
josevolution said:
We do it’s been renamed P25! That old outdated scribbled piece of paper from the 17th century is worthless!brianlux said:mickeyrat said:brianlux said:DE4173 said:
That's great! Now let's ask Ben Wikler to get of X because You-Know-Who profits from X (hint- it's one of the guys who Wikler wants us to fight back against.)mickeyrat said:brianlux said:mickeyrat said:why do you do this? leave it. please.
I do it because it pisses me off when people trash threads. But since you asked kindly, OK, it stays unless it gets trolled. I'm over it with trolling. Standing up to trolling is one of the two freedoms we have left in this country. The other is committing suicide, and no way am I going there.Ok, but shutting down a discussion does let them win, no? If that is true, then how is that standing up to them? I'm curious as to your thoughts on that?It took me a long time to come to understand something about the Constitution, long after I was out of USN. As distasteful and downright abhorrent folks can be in their speech, I raised my hand and swore an oath to preserve that very thing. Someones right to say shitty things. I then have the same right to respond with a counter argument. Speech isn't free, the consequences are the price that gets paid for that speech.To me a defender of Democracy is one who stands up for the very things that rub you the wrong way. Because these things are a part of the larger whole. Cant take this piece meal. Its an all or nothing proposition from where I sit.They can win all they want because sometimes winning is losing."To me a defender of Democracy is one who stands up for the very things that rub you the wrong way."Really? Sorry, but I can't stand up for trashing the environment, abusing minorities and women, making life miserable for migrants and LGBTQ people, or put a billionaire in charge of the country. And I have zero respect for people who are OK with those things.not ok with any of what you describe. our founding document allows for those things though.all in or all out. no in between.
I hope we still have a constitution.The good thing about P25, of course, is that it will give all of us working stiffs or semi-retired working stiffs a great deal of pride in knowing we will be giving even more support to the billionaires whose main goal in life is to give us purpose... to make them MORE rich.OH BOY!
"It's a sad and beautiful world"-Roberto Benigni0 -
😂😂 yes please take my $$$$$brianlux said:josevolution said:
We do it’s been renamed P25! That old outdated scribbled piece of paper from the 17th century is worthless!brianlux said:mickeyrat said:brianlux said:DE4173 said:
That's great! Now let's ask Ben Wikler to get of X because You-Know-Who profits from X (hint- it's one of the guys who Wikler wants us to fight back against.)mickeyrat said:brianlux said:mickeyrat said:why do you do this? leave it. please.
I do it because it pisses me off when people trash threads. But since you asked kindly, OK, it stays unless it gets trolled. I'm over it with trolling. Standing up to trolling is one of the two freedoms we have left in this country. The other is committing suicide, and no way am I going there.Ok, but shutting down a discussion does let them win, no? If that is true, then how is that standing up to them? I'm curious as to your thoughts on that?It took me a long time to come to understand something about the Constitution, long after I was out of USN. As distasteful and downright abhorrent folks can be in their speech, I raised my hand and swore an oath to preserve that very thing. Someones right to say shitty things. I then have the same right to respond with a counter argument. Speech isn't free, the consequences are the price that gets paid for that speech.To me a defender of Democracy is one who stands up for the very things that rub you the wrong way. Because these things are a part of the larger whole. Cant take this piece meal. Its an all or nothing proposition from where I sit.They can win all they want because sometimes winning is losing."To me a defender of Democracy is one who stands up for the very things that rub you the wrong way."Really? Sorry, but I can't stand up for trashing the environment, abusing minorities and women, making life miserable for migrants and LGBTQ people, or put a billionaire in charge of the country. And I have zero respect for people who are OK with those things.not ok with any of what you describe. our founding document allows for those things though.all in or all out. no in between.
I hope we still have a constitution.The good thing about P25, of course, is that it will give all of us working stiffs or semi-retired working stiffs a great deal of pride in knowing we will be giving even more support to the billionaires whose main goal in life is to give us purpose... to make them MORE rich.OH BOY!jesus greets me looks just like me ....0 -
josevolution said:
😂😂 yes please take my $$$$$brianlux said:josevolution said:
We do it’s been renamed P25! That old outdated scribbled piece of paper from the 17th century is worthless!brianlux said:mickeyrat said:brianlux said:DE4173 said:
That's great! Now let's ask Ben Wikler to get of X because You-Know-Who profits from X (hint- it's one of the guys who Wikler wants us to fight back against.)mickeyrat said:brianlux said:mickeyrat said:why do you do this? leave it. please.
I do it because it pisses me off when people trash threads. But since you asked kindly, OK, it stays unless it gets trolled. I'm over it with trolling. Standing up to trolling is one of the two freedoms we have left in this country. The other is committing suicide, and no way am I going there.Ok, but shutting down a discussion does let them win, no? If that is true, then how is that standing up to them? I'm curious as to your thoughts on that?It took me a long time to come to understand something about the Constitution, long after I was out of USN. As distasteful and downright abhorrent folks can be in their speech, I raised my hand and swore an oath to preserve that very thing. Someones right to say shitty things. I then have the same right to respond with a counter argument. Speech isn't free, the consequences are the price that gets paid for that speech.To me a defender of Democracy is one who stands up for the very things that rub you the wrong way. Because these things are a part of the larger whole. Cant take this piece meal. Its an all or nothing proposition from where I sit.They can win all they want because sometimes winning is losing."To me a defender of Democracy is one who stands up for the very things that rub you the wrong way."Really? Sorry, but I can't stand up for trashing the environment, abusing minorities and women, making life miserable for migrants and LGBTQ people, or put a billionaire in charge of the country. And I have zero respect for people who are OK with those things.not ok with any of what you describe. our founding document allows for those things though.all in or all out. no in between.
I hope we still have a constitution.The good thing about P25, of course, is that it will give all of us working stiffs or semi-retired working stiffs a great deal of pride in knowing we will be giving even more support to the billionaires whose main goal in life is to give us purpose... to make them MORE rich.OH BOY!Gladly!
"It's a sad and beautiful world"-Roberto Benigni0 -
Lets stay on topic guys. Thanks!Shout out to US District Judge Paul Engelmayer for protecting democracy. See folks, you are all safe now. Luckily we have an unbreakable democracy where checks and balances prevail.On to the next fake outrage. Tariffs sent you all spiraling, then never happened. Elon Musk is the new flavor of the week, thats not going to happen. What is on the menu for week of 2/10?We will win, America and world. Just not in the voice of Chuck Schumers embarrassing chant.0
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I would be remiss in not mentioning Dan Rather. I can think of few finer true great defenders of Democracy.
His latest letter on Steady @ Substack:
https://steady.substack.com/p/the-purge
"It's a sad and beautiful world"-Roberto Benigni0 -
And here's another superb defender of Democracy, Rob Bonta!
In the United States, no one is above the law—not even the President. In just a few weeks, the Trump Administration has demonstrated that they are willing to throw that basic tenet of our democracy out the window. I refuse to let them.
On Friday, I sued the Trump Administration for illegally providing Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) unauthorized access to the U.S. government’s payment system and Americans’ private and sensitive information. Within hours, a federal district court granted our request, immediately blocking access for the DOGE team while our court case proceeds.
That same day, I asked another federal district court to ensure that the Trump Administration fully complies with an order to reinstate the $3 trillion in federal funds that they attempted to freeze more than a week ago. By refusing to fully comply with the original court order, the administration has jeopardized critical state funding that strengthens domestic energy security and supports critical infrastructure projects. I also asked the court to block the administration from instituting the funding freeze that impacts our state’s ability to provide healthcare services, feed and educate children, and support the elderly.
As Attorney General, it’s my job to hold all people accountable to the law—even the President. You’ve got my word that I always will.
In your service,
Rob
"It's a sad and beautiful world"-Roberto Benigni0 -
_____________________________________SIGNATURE________________________________________________
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '140 -
mickeyrat said:
I'm not familiar with them. What are they about?"It's a sad and beautiful world"-Roberto Benigni0 -
brianlux said:mickeyrat said:
I'm not familiar with them. What are they about?about page of their website.independent, investigative journalism_____________________________________SIGNATURE________________________________________________
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '140 -
Another excellent defender of Democracy is Robert Reich, Chancellor's Professor of Public Policy at the University of California at Berkeley and Senior Fellow at the Blum Center.
Reich also writes for Substack and this latest submission is well worth the quick read:
"It's a sad and beautiful world"-Roberto Benigni0 -
He’s great I’ve been listening to him for years! Too bad most of the country hasn’t a cluebrianlux said:Another excellent defender of Democracy is Robert Reich, Chancellor's Professor of Public Policy at the University of California at Berkeley and Senior Fellow at the Blum Center.Reich also writes for Substack and this latest submission is well worth the quick read:jesus greets me looks just like me ....0 -
josevolution said:
He’s great I’ve been listening to him for years! Too bad most of the country hasn’t a cluebrianlux said:Another excellent defender of Democracy is Robert Reich, Chancellor's Professor of Public Policy at the University of California at Berkeley and Senior Fellow at the Blum Center.Reich also writes for Substack and this latest submission is well worth the quick read:
We'll just keep spreading the word.
"It's a sad and beautiful world"-Roberto Benigni0 -
We Might Have to “Shut Down the Country”
In less than a month, Donald Trump has come through on his promise to exact retribution on his enemies and to set about overhauling the federal government. Whole agencies are potentially being tossed, to use Elon Musk’s heedless language, into “the wood chipper.” To understate matters radically, Trump has sparked many debates. One of them is how close is the United States to a constitutional crisis: Are we headed toward one, on the brink, or already there?
If there is going to be a concerted resistance to Trump’s blizzard of executive actions, it will likely play out largely in courts across the country and, ultimately, in the Supreme Court. And if the Administration spurns court orders, what happens next will conceivably determine the fate of democracy and the rule of law in our time. Chief Justice John Roberts himself said in December, as the Biden Administration began closing shop and the incoming Trump Administration made its intentions increasingly clear, that in our current politics, we now live with the “specter of open disregard for federal court rulings.” And what would such a conflict look like with MAGA loyalists like Pam Bondi leading the Justice Department, Pete Hegseth leading the Department of Defense, and Kash Patel leading the F.B.I.? Some legal scholars recommend a keep-your-powder-dry attitude for the time being. But there has arguably not been such a potentially dramatic test of the country’s constitutional order since the Civil War era.
The American Civil Liberties Union, a major player in this drama, has been quick to file lawsuits on, among other issues, birthright citizenship, which the Administration seeks to eliminate. Anthony Romero, who is fifty-nine and grew up in public housing in the Bronx and later in New Jersey, has been the executive director of the A.C.L.U. since 2001. I spoke with him recently for The New Yorker Radio Hour. His sense of resolve and confidence were all in evidence. But if things go south and Trump defies the courts, he said, “we’ve got to shut down this country.” What does that mean? Our conversation has been edited for clarity and length.
transcript follows or look for the pod.
_____________________________________SIGNATURE________________________________________________
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '140 -
“we’ve got to shut down this country.” What does that mean?mickeyrat said:We Might Have to “Shut Down the Country”In less than a month, Donald Trump has come through on his promise to exact retribution on his enemies and to set about overhauling the federal government. Whole agencies are potentially being tossed, to use Elon Musk’s heedless language, into “the wood chipper.” To understate matters radically, Trump has sparked many debates. One of them is how close is the United States to a constitutional crisis: Are we headed toward one, on the brink, or already there?
If there is going to be a concerted resistance to Trump’s blizzard of executive actions, it will likely play out largely in courts across the country and, ultimately, in the Supreme Court. And if the Administration spurns court orders, what happens next will conceivably determine the fate of democracy and the rule of law in our time. Chief Justice John Roberts himself said in December, as the Biden Administration began closing shop and the incoming Trump Administration made its intentions increasingly clear, that in our current politics, we now live with the “specter of open disregard for federal court rulings.” And what would such a conflict look like with MAGA loyalists like Pam Bondi leading the Justice Department, Pete Hegseth leading the Department of Defense, and Kash Patel leading the F.B.I.? Some legal scholars recommend a keep-your-powder-dry attitude for the time being. But there has arguably not been such a potentially dramatic test of the country’s constitutional order since the Civil War era.
The American Civil Liberties Union, a major player in this drama, has been quick to file lawsuits on, among other issues, birthright citizenship, which the Administration seeks to eliminate. Anthony Romero, who is fifty-nine and grew up in public housing in the Bronx and later in New Jersey, has been the executive director of the A.C.L.U. since 2001. I spoke with him recently for The New Yorker Radio Hour. His sense of resolve and confidence were all in evidence. But if things go south and Trump defies the courts, he said, “we’ve got to shut down this country.” What does that mean? Our conversation has been edited for clarity and length.
transcript follows or look for the pod.
What a tease, haha! (just kidding
)
"It's a sad and beautiful world"-Roberto Benigni0 -
mickeyrat said:We Might Have to “Shut Down the Country”
In less than a month, Donald Trump has come through on his promise to exact retribution on his enemies and to set about overhauling the federal government. Whole agencies are potentially being tossed, to use Elon Musk’s heedless language, into “the wood chipper.” To understate matters radically, Trump has sparked many debates. One of them is how close is the United States to a constitutional crisis: Are we headed toward one, on the brink, or already there?
If there is going to be a concerted resistance to Trump’s blizzard of executive actions, it will likely play out largely in courts across the country and, ultimately, in the Supreme Court. And if the Administration spurns court orders, what happens next will conceivably determine the fate of democracy and the rule of law in our time. Chief Justice John Roberts himself said in December, as the Biden Administration began closing shop and the incoming Trump Administration made its intentions increasingly clear, that in our current politics, we now live with the “specter of open disregard for federal court rulings.” And what would such a conflict look like with MAGA loyalists like Pam Bondi leading the Justice Department, Pete Hegseth leading the Department of Defense, and Kash Patel leading the F.B.I.? Some legal scholars recommend a keep-your-powder-dry attitude for the time being. But there has arguably not been such a potentially dramatic test of the country’s constitutional order since the Civil War era.
The American Civil Liberties Union, a major player in this drama, has been quick to file lawsuits on, among other issues, birthright citizenship, which the Administration seeks to eliminate. Anthony Romero, who is fifty-nine and grew up in public housing in the Bronx and later in New Jersey, has been the executive director of the A.C.L.U. since 2001. I spoke with him recently for The New Yorker Radio Hour. His sense of resolve and confidence were all in evidence. But if things go south and Trump defies the courts, he said, “we’ve got to shut down this country.” What does that mean? Our conversation has been edited for clarity and length.
transcript follows or look for the pod.
I found a little more of this article on FB, and it gave a link, but I hit a paywall. Please tell us what comes after:“we’ve got to shut down this country.” What does that mean?What did he say it means?
"It's a sad and beautiful world"-Roberto Benigni0
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