WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 2017
Plus a bonus: This morning, at the coffee joint, a person we know from the coffee joint asked us a thoughtful question.
"Tell us, rabbi," she said. "Is this enough to get him impeached?"
We assumed she must mean Donald J. Trump. Thoughtfully, we answered:
"You have two choices," we thoughtfully said. "He'll get impeached, or he'll start a nuclear war. This can't go on forever."
As we left, we reassured her. "It won't be today," we said.
Could Donald J. Trump start a nuclear war? Actually, yes, he could. We aren't saying that he will. We're just saying that no one can seriously assure the world that he won't.
That's our first key point. Our second key point is this:
We hear the sound of cultural and tribal triumph in the air. The system is starting to work! The resistance [sic] is succeeding!
Carbon-based life-forms, please! The fact that Trump is where he is shows that the system has failed. Stating the obvious, the system has grotesquely failed over the past twenty-five years. This brings us to our third key point, and to our bonus point:
Over here in the liberal world, we're unable to conceive of the fact that we have massively failed. We think the error must all be Over There. In this way, we continue to fail.
Bonus point:
Can we really hope to survive a world of partisan media? A world in which every tribe gets to hear its own twaddle? Gets to believe the myth of its own tribal brilliance? The arrow keeps pointing to no.
Could Donald J. Trump start a nuclear war? In our view, he seems to be highly disordered, which of course is always a loss for the world. For that reason:
In our view, yes, he plainly could—which isn't to say that he will.
Full disclosure: We like that person at the coffee joint. At some point, we all have to decide:
Do we like people, or not?
The GOP would like nothing better than to replace President Trump with a mainstream conservative Republican but they won't. GOP voters will not permit the party's enemies in the media to succeed in removing the elected Republican president by inventing a fake Russia issue.
ReplyDeleteInteresting point; however, Trump's support amongst Republicans is down by over 10%. Additionally, the Russia issue may be real and provable. Trump's incompetent and corrupt presidency make it better for Democratics if Trump is still president for the 2018 election.
DeletePerhaps it is time to consider the possibility that Article II grants entirely too much power, and the constant fight for control of the Presidency helps to create the hyper-partisan climate we live in. Perhaps if there wasn't so much political power granted to one person, there would be space for more compromise.
ReplyDeleteWhat are the supposed grounds for impeachment? There's no agreement on this vital question. Alice in Wonderland would understand: Punishment first, Evidence later.
ReplyDeleteObstruction of justice by Trump informing Comey he thought Flynn did nothing wrong, and then telling him he hoped he'd drop it. In other words, no grounds. No one would take the bet that there would never be alleged grounds in the future resulting from investigations, as there were in Clinton's impeachment, because Trump doesn't know enough to know how to avoid traps. He will benefit from talk of impeachment by democrats now because it will go nowhere and they will lack credibility should credible grounds emerge on some other issue in the future.
DeleteObstruction of justice by removing Comey while he was investigating Trump and his campaign, suggestion that Comey drop the Flynn investigation (and later, the entire Russia-Trump investigation), firing of Yates when she was about to reveal Trump's disregard for Flynn's vulnerability, threatening Comey by hinting about tapes, allowing Sessions to participate in decision-making about the investigation after his recusal, coercing Rosenstein into writing a letter giving a false justification for firing Comey, and repeatedly lying about contacts with Russia by nearly all of the members of Trump's transition team. Lots of there there.
DeleteYou're wasting your time with Comrade DinC. He thinks Dems should thank tRump for firing Comey. bwahahahaha!!!
DeleteComrade DinC is a very warped troll. Period.
"What are the supposed grounds for impeachment?"
DeleteConsensual sex with an adult, obviously.
This situation doesn't suggest that our system has failed. It realizes the fears of the founding fathers that a democracy run by the masses might result in problems. We need to introduce more checks and balances via better education and better journalism in order to improve the quality of decision-making by the people (or go back to restricting the vote on the basis of stupidity and investment in society). This may be Trump's failure but it isn't our system's failure unless we do not impeach and remove him from office. The basis can be whatever congress specifies. I think there are plausible grounds of incompetence, obstruction of justice, failure to divest business interests, and treason. It is unclear to me whether he can be tried for his election manipulation with Russia after being impeached, or whether a lawsuit that challenges the election results to the supreme court might be the way to address what happened to Hillary Clinton.
ReplyDeleteImpeachment isn't happening.
DeleteLet's hope not. It would be way better for the citizens of the nation and world, to have an incompetent Conservative President, like Trump, than a monster who might make things worse, like the rest of modern Conservatives, running the show.
DeleteActually, the error is not all over there, but it is mostly over there.
ReplyDelete"Do we like people, or not?"
ReplyDeleteLove the sinner, hate the sin.
Lucy once said to Linus "You can never be a great humanitarian because you do not love humanity."
ReplyDeleteLinus answered "I love humanity."
next panel
"It's people that I can't stand."
Sometimes it can be hard for me to love people, they are so full of either venom or undisciplined energy and so many are incapable of what should be basic things. Our species seems incapable of recycling. First, bins are often not provided and almost nobody cares. Second when bins are provided there always seems to be trash in the recycling and recycling in the trash.
Then again, we cannot seem to get a significant portion of our society to even use a trash can at all.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteIf dumping Trump leads to President Pence it ain't a win - unless you're a right wing religious nutcase.
ReplyDeletePeople forget that the other GOP candidates over whom Trump prevailed were as bad or worse than Trump (with the possible exception of Kasich) - Trump stood out in that he was more bizarre, with his junior high level rank outs, ridiculously over the top boasting and promises, and crazy claims. That he got elected is quite troubling for what it says about a huge portion of voters. There is a bigger picture here which hardly ever is depicted in an intelligent way, by "our side" or the other one.
DeleteKasich seems to have been successful in portraying himself as acceptable to people, just as he seems to have done with you. However, his policies are just as bad as the rest.
DeleteI felt like ending it i lost my husband to another woman 2 weeks ago after 27 years of marriage . We had a lovely marriage but he started a relationship with a co worker who chased after him . He is living away near his work, and he refuses to talk to me or to come home . I am devastated and am finding it hard to cope i was emotionally down . I wish I did not love him and that I could move on but I can't . I don't know how to stop feeling like this I wish I could and its eating me away and I m starting to feel ill. I have degraded myself begging him to come home all to no avail. I became very worried and needed help. As I was browsing through the internet one day, I came across a website that suggested that Dr obasi can help solve marital problems, restore broken relationships and I also came across several testimonies about this particular man so on. So, I felt I should give him a try. I contacted him and he did a spell for me. two days later, my husband came to me and apologized for the wrongs he did and promise never to do it again. Ever since then, everything has returned back to normal. I and my family are living together happily again.. All thanks to Dr obasi. If you need a spell caster that can cast a spell that truly works, I suggest you contact him. He will not disappoint you. if you have any problem contact him, I give you 100% guarantee that he will help you, This is his details, E-mail: obasispelltemple@gmail.com ,or call +2348145643630 Thank you all for reading.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth Diem USA Los Angeles California
Hey Guys i am so excited am a Complete woman Again, I Was Infected With Herpes virus since 3 Years now I am devastated and am finding it hard to cope i was emotionally down I Have Been Seriously Praying To God And Searching For Cure.So as I was browsing through the Internet one day, I came across a website that suggested that Dr Obasi can help cure any type of virus like Herpes, Hiv/Aids cancer and Asthma…e.t.c And I Contacted Him, He Sent Me A Medicine And Directed Me On How I Will Take The Medicine For 7 Days, I Did So And Went For A Test And My Result Came Out As Negative. I Am So Happy, I Shared Tears Of Happiness And I Have Taken It Upon My Self To Always Testify About How God Used Dr.Obasi To Solve My Problem. I Am A Clean woman Now, Without Any Virus If You Are Infected With Any Disease Like HIV AIDS, CANCER ,HERPES Or Any Other Disease You Can Also Be Happy Like Me By Contacting Dr Obasi Through His Email obasispelltemple@gmail.com or call him on his tell +2348145643630 thanks.
ReplyDeleteBEST DIVORCE SPELL CASTER
ReplyDeleteI recently saw a testimony about a spell caster of some sort in a blog I visit for relationship and dating counseling problems because i had been having serious issues with my husband and we had been married for 3 years,he just suddenly changed, he was returning my calls ,he started cheating, he was hurting me in so many ways i never thought possible and I just thought I should try it maybe out of desperation of some sort ..and I think for a thought about the spell caster called DR UGO WONDERS I contacted him At first everything felt dreamy and unbelievable, their consultations and solution was a little bit easy and strange and I was scared a little cos I heard read and heard lots of stories of fake spell casters, scams and i never really believed in magic.. I played along with a little hope and and faith and I was sent some few stuffs after everything and it worked like a miracle, everything went to a while new direction, I guess it was all good faith that made me read That particular post that faithful day.. I hope they could help other people too like they did a little and I got everything I wanted and wished for my husband, my family and my life back to contact the DR UGO WONDERS through is email and cell number at ::: generalspelltemple@gmail.com or his mobile number on +1 386-336-9876
MY Name Hanna Rosin, form, (USA) After 12years of marriage, me and my husband has been into one quarrel or the other until he finally left me and moved to California to be with another woman. I felt my life was over and my kids thought they would never see their father again. i tried to be strong just for the kids but i could not control the pains that torments my heart, my heart was filled with sorrows and pains because i was really in love with my husband. Every day and night i think of him and always wish he would come back to me, I was really upset and i needed help, so i searched for help online and I came across a website that suggested that Dr Osasu can help get ex back fast. So, I felt I should give him a try. I contacted him and he told me what to do and i did it then he did a Love spell for me. 28 hours later, my husband really called me and told me that he miss me and the kids so much, So Amazing!! So that was how he came back that same day,with lots of love and joy,and he apologized for his mistake,and for the pain he caused me and the kids. Then from that day,our Marriage was now stronger than how it were before, All thanks to Dr Osasu . he is so powerful and i decided to share my story on the internet that Dr. Osasu real and powerful spell caster who i will always pray to live long to help his children in the time of trouble, if you are here and you need your Ex back or your husband moved to another woman, do not cry anymore, contact this powerful spell caster now. Here’s his contact
ReplyDeleteCall/WhatsApp: +2347064365391
Email: drosasu25@gmail.com
MY Name Hanna Rosin, form, (USA) After 12years of marriage, me and my husband has been into one quarrel or the other until he finally left me and moved to California to be with another woman. I felt my life was over and my kids thought they would never see their father again. i tried to be strong just for the kids but i could not control the pains that torments my heart, my heart was filled with sorrows and pains because i was really in love with my husband. Every day and night i think of him and always wish he would come back to me, I was really upset and i needed help, so i searched for help online and I came across a website that suggested that Dr Osasu can help get ex back fast. So, I felt I should give him a try. I contacted him and he told me what to do and i did it then he did a Love spell for me. 28 hours later, my husband really called me and told me that he miss me and the kids so much, So Amazing!! So that was how he came back that same day,with lots of love and joy,and he apologized for his mistake,and for the pain he caused me and the kids. Then from that day,our Marriage was now stronger than how it were before, All thanks to Dr Osasu . he is so powerful and i decided to share my story on the internet that Dr. Osasu real and powerful spell caster who i will always pray to live long to help his children in the time of trouble, if you are here and you need your Ex back or your husband moved to another woman, do not cry anymore, contact this powerful spell caster now. Here’s his contact
ReplyDeleteCall/WhatsApp: +2347064365391
Email: drosasu25@gmail.com
I am so happy for making the right choice by contacting Dr. Irosi who helped me in getting my ex back by casting a love spell on him. One of the best decision i ever made was contacting Dr. Irosi to help me get my lover back, I was life filled with happiness after i contacted Dr. Irosi because he didn't just bring my lover back to me he also made our love for each other more unique and superb. If you need to spice your relationship with more love and attention contact Dr. Irosi on his Email Address [drirosisolutioncenter@gmail.com] and be happy just like i am, thanks Dr. Irosi for your great work.
ReplyDeleteI am so happy for making the right choice by contacting Dr. Irosi who helped me in getting my ex back by casting a love spell on him. One of the best decision i ever made was contacting Dr. Irosi to help me get my lover back, I was life filled with happiness after i contacted Dr. Irosi because he didn't just bring my lover back to me he also made our love for each other more unique and superb. If you need to spice your relationship with more love and attention contact Dr. Irosi on his Email Address [drirosisolutioncenter@gmail.com], call or whatsapp him via his contact +2348118829771 and be happy just like i am, thanks Dr. Irosi for your great work.
ReplyDeleteI am so happy for making the right choice by contacting Dr. Irosi who helped me in getting my ex back by casting a love spell on him. One of the best decision i ever made was contacting Dr. Irosi to help me get my lover back, I was life filled with happiness after i contacted Dr. Irosi because he didn't just bring my lover back to me he also made our love for each other more unique and superb. If you need to spice your relationship with more love and attention contact Dr. Irosi on his Email Address [drirosisolutioncenter@gmail.com], call or whatsapp him via his contact +2348118829771 and be happy just like i am, thanks Dr. Irosi for your great work.