Bill, thank you for watching it - as I didn't and it appeared to turn out as anticipated.
From what you, and others I read this morning, have said - there's something even more terrifying than these two men being candidates in November. That is dementia-riddled Joe Biden is President of the United States right now.
With war spreading in the Mideast; the escalation to direct conflict between the US and Russia; and the ratcheting up of tensions with both China and North Korea - he's clearly not directing anything. While it's been spoken of here on BV and other forums, last night showed everyone how bad he is.
Who's in charge (unconstitutionally)? Kamala Harris? Blinken? Obama? Doctor Jill?
We are in deep trouble and danger and something needs to change - now.
My spouse who endured to the end (I did not) says, "Boy, Bill sure got it right." I did hear “We finally beat Medicare.” Am I wrong to delight in the number of articles and editorials finally declaring the obvious?! Alas, what moron from the DNC will be served up next to bail them out of the mess?
Knowing what was to come, I told my wife I'd rather go in to the hospital to donate an organ than watch the debate, Then I saw a proposed drinking game by Matt Taibbi in which one was to take a sip every time certain phrases were said... and tho I haven't enough alcohol tolerance to play by the rules, I decided to sit with her just for the (sick) humor.
You're right, Bill, re. the post-debate response by pundits : "...almost as if they were reading from the same script." That was one of the most striking aspects. There clearly was a script...so what does that tell us?
About a year ago this time, as Biden's lacks became increasingly obvious even as the Party was tripping over itself to make it clear that Joe was going to be their guy, I was speculating that the Dem establishment might be planning an 11th hour switcheroo- perhaps substituting one of their other loyal servants of Empire- say, Dean Phillips, or Klobuchar, etc. for Joe.
As time went by and the Party seemed to be digging their heels in all the more intently for Biden, trying their best to keep his worst moments from view and (likely) force-feeding him pharmaceuticals for appearances, I began to think my forecast wrong; and that they were going to stick with him.
But the uniformity of the post-debate messaging makes clear to me that we should anticipate a stand-in (understudy). When they will announce that is not clear, and no doubt 'they' are deliberating about what makes the most strategic sense.
Now this will no doubt please a great many. They'll be delighted with a Dean Phillips, a Newsom, Tim Kaine or Mark Warner, or a Kamela , Killary or Klobuchar. After all, most of the (remaining) Party faithful are only of the VBNMW persuasion.
Whoever it is, it certainly won't make me happy, for the wars will continue and expand, the debt will continue its trajectory towards fiscal collapse and austerity for all but the billionaire class, and climate destabilization will move rapidly towards chaos.
Dennis, when the graduated income tax returns, you can lecture me about money making. As it is, great wealth increases without doing anything, simply on the holding of stocks or, most outrageously, stock buybacks the benefit the managers who arrange the buybacks. And this behavior is rewarded by taxing capital gains at a lower rate than income from real work.
No society has ever been able to control wealth and wealth has never been satisfied with any amount being enough. It always leads to what we are seeing now, more and more of the percentage of national wealth going to the richest and less and less going to the 99%, even as the rich begrudge the poor what little they get. Briefly, in the middle of the 20th century, the largest incomes were taxed the highest but since the "Reagan Revolution" this has been dismantled amid the constant cry that Social Security must be cut back, even as the "defense" budget grows without limit or any call for restraint.
The wealthy want to cut the gains for the 99% that were made with the New Deal even though the New Deal starting with the NRA was, as with Obamacare, designed in cooperation with big business, fearful of the power of the people who had nothing to lose. Unions were a terror for the rich as even the union leadership had trouble directing the membership's outrage.
As for derangement, what can one say of a man who calls himself a "very stable genius", who attempts to market anything and everything with his name on it. He is the modern equivalent of the traveling salesmen of the 19th century hawking miracle elixers promising cures for everything. Trump University ended with lawsuits for not delivering what was promised.
Dennis, if you think Trump has you or me or anyone but himself in mind after looking at his life history of deception and outright lying that he continues even in the debate the other night you are the one that needs to think again.
Our political system is completely corrupt and Trump will do absolutely nothing to address that, he the guy who paid $750 in income tax for one of the years we know about. As global warming threatens it is inconceivable that Trump will do anything to address it as that would hurt big profit. Israel? He has already moved the US embassy to Jerusalem for Sheldon Adelson. Adelson's wife, Miriam is now donating $100 million to get Trump back into position to grant her wish of the West Bank becoming part of Israel. He has told us that he will be out to get those who he thinks have wronged him once he is in office, as he continues threatening people. Think again, Dennis.
BTW, on Biden - he should be out of office immediately for the sake of national security. Right now we are rudderless with him as captain of the ship with two senseless wars going on that are being given unlimited funding, those wars disproportionately benefitting the wealthy while having nothing to do with US national security.
I tried to watch it and also watch Kennedy's answers, that didn't work too well for me, largely because I have a hard time understanding Kennedy when he talks. When I read what he has said I like that better, so I hope someone will put out a transcript, then I tried to watch Jill Stein who had a post debate thing going but you have to have zoom and I don't. I really don't know how to deal with this computerized world. I think she should have tried to do something that everyone could watch, but maybe that was not possible. This morning I got an email from her saying that the DNC is suing her for her Nebraska signatures that were submitted the other day and accepted by Nebraska so she could be on the ballot. Apparently the DNC has decided that they will attack her in every state that she attempts to get on the ballot, not because they'll win, but because it costs her money and time to deal with it, time, money and energy that could go to campaigning rather than coping with the very evil and nasty DNC. This is such a disgusting ploy for the DNC that I will never vote democratic again. and I hope our media shows the disgust they feel abut this behavior - assuming they have any. I guess we''ll find out soon.
Minor disagreement on one point. Obviously the Democrats are out. The war party- the crush the workers and blame it on Republicans party- is out. Never, ever trust those people. EVER!
I disagree that Trump is "temperamentally unfit". I don't care about his temperament, I care whether he will stop the Ukraine war. I know there is not much hope re the looming China war with Trump. But I have really come to understand that politicians' words do not matter. Trump is the only president in my lifetime to NOT start another war. Trump said some shit, and he did kill that high ranking Iranian official, which was cruel and cowardly and disgusting. But if I was forced to choose between Biden and Trump, Trump is the easy choice.
That being said, I want to remind everyone that the path to a real democracy, where Americans ACTUALLY run the gov for the benefit of Americans (instead of for the profits of a select few), is located in your neighborhood, in your apartment complex, in the traffic jam on the way to work.
We connect with our neighbors. We the people have the numbers, and I believe we can overcome these divisions pushed by the deep state and its controlled opposition operatives to take this country back. The people need to run it, for the good of the people.
I doubt Trump alone can stop the Russia-Ukraine War. And he's even more pro-Israel than Biden.
Still, Trump occasionally does question the Deep State and challenge the constant warmongering. But I don't think he has the fortitude and consistency to make a difference. He's too involved in his own drama.
Completely agree that we have to start among ourselves to make a better world. We can't count on old tired men like Trump and Biden. Especially Biden. He's almost fossilized.
Is there any evidence that Trump has any loyalty besides to himself and what he sees as his class? He is rhetorically a supporter of Israel, but if that somehow clashed with the class he identifies with accumulating more, who would be surprised at a complete about face?
It's clear that we have a chess game going on between black and white sides. Each wants to have power and will do anything to either keep it or try to take it from the other. Above all, the King piece must be protected, even if it is only a piece as is clear from Biden's performance last night.
This explains how Biden has been kept in his position, by underlings and supporters who do not care what condition he is in, only that he is the King piece staying in place.
I was going to vote for Cornel West but he has not been active enough in his campaign, to the point of me wondering if he has a campaign. He will not be on many state ballots though I did my best to get him on the Illinois ballot. But I do not hesitate to shift to Jill Stein, to vote for her again as I did in the last election. It will be interesting to see how she does.
There was once a serious third party, the Socialist Party in the teens and twenties of the last century. It was successful in getting many elected in a variety of positions in many states. It was a serious threat to capitalism and was crushed by the governments, state and federal who were, backed by wealth, determined to see it destroyed.
Now we have undeniable and clear evidence by way of lobby power (AIPAC in particular) that we the people are not in charge. One major party has been disabled as of last night and the other is under the spell of a man with no boundaries whose top priority is his wealth. If ever there were a chance for the people to desert the two party grip that we are told we must submit to, now is the time to jump.
BTW - has it ever been more clear that vice-presidential picks are pure theater? Nobody wants Harris and I think back to Sarah Palin. Theater, and now a real threat of the VP being put in the leading role to the horror of almost everyone. The American people are managed by those playing the Big Chess Game.
Clif, you know that Trump's net worth diminished when he was serving as the 45th POTUS.
In March 2016, Forbes estimated his net worth at $4.5 billion. A year later, shortly after his inauguration, they lowered it by $1 billion, and by the end of his presidential term, they had subtracted yet another $1 billion. Google it.
He is not in it for the money eh? If his top priority is his wealth, as you claim, he would not be running for POTUS again.
It's more likely Trump lied about how rich he was and Forbes finally got the figures right.
Unlike all the Presidential Candidates before him, he wouldn't release his income tax returns so the people would know the Truth.
The Democrats and Republicans finally got a bi-partisan Immigration Bill and Trump told his sycophants in the House to kill the bill so it would be a campaign issue, PROOF Trump cares more about himself than the Country.
I just don't understand how you can support a serial LIAR, a Bully and the most EGOCENTRIC Megalomaniac preaching Nihilism and American carnage. His election campaign appeals to FEAR, devoid of any Inspiration except to say he's the greatest!
You can't make much money in prison and we know there's plenty of money to be had by a former president just from making appearances. A man who poses himself with his family in a gilt penthouse in Manhattan and whose book is "The Art of the Deal" never has money far from mind. He was obsessed by his drop in the Forbes 500.
Clif my friend. You need to take a hard look in the mirror and contemplate whether you have a case of Trump Derangement Syndrome. TDS.
What is the crime with wanting to have a lot of money? Who has Donald Trump hurt with his goal to be rich? Trump never held a gun to the head of anybody forcing them to deal with him. In fact, it has usually been the opposite. E Jean Caroll willing to give up her soul and lie to rip him off for a lot of easy money being the best example. The women who could not remember the date she was "raped" on! Yeah right! And his personal Chauffeur who filed suit claiming Trump owned him big bucks. Eagerly taken up by greedy lawyers looking to get rich only to have the case fall apart as just a pack of lies. And the guy in reality had been well compensated above fair market value.
And he provided income for many many folks who worked for him and made out handsomely. Ask those guys who refurbished his 757 how they made out?
Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos the same. If folks though they were done wrong by these billionaires, nobody was stopping them using to courts to recover what they imagined they were cheated out of.
That he was "obsessed" by his drop in the Forbes 500 is tabloid stuff. You are better than that Clif.
And read my last sentence again~ if his top priority is his wealth why is he subjecting himself to all the abuse from bashers and haters of your ilk? He made his fortune well before he got into politics. And probably could have kept making the big bucks like any other NY property developer.
He went into politics because he cares about his country. Go ahead and laugh. But every day, and he works 15/7, he puts his life at risk as MLK and the Kennedy brothers did. And knows that despite the incredible work of his secret service detail his next day could be his last. He does not have to do that. That's how I prefer to look at the man Clif.
You write: "Who has Donald Trump hurt with his goal to be rich? Trump never held a gun to the head of anybody forcing them to deal with him. "
WHAT!? You are being sarcastic, please tell me you are.
Wealth is power. Over and over again Trump has used his wealth to intimate and force people to do what he wants. He has deceived people and made a profit from it. Have you not heard of his projects such as Trump University that was forced out of business for defrauding the students? He stiffed his lawyer, Michael Cohen. A jury of 12 people convicted him unanimously in the E. Jean Carroll case after hearing everything Trump could present for his defense. For you, they are all wrong.
You wrote, "That he was "obsessed" by his drop in the Forbes 500 is tabloid stuff. You are better than that Clif." Please follow this link: https://tinyurl.com/5n7e979y
Wealth is power and it has completely corrupted our democracy, yet you are oblivious, wondering how this money power has been bad for anyone. Wealth does not need to put a gun to the head of anyone, it easily accomplishes what it wants with corruption.
Trump did not want us to know what we suspected and then found out, that he paid only $750 in income tax one year. You seem to believe that Trump has you and me in mind rather than his wealth and you also have no problem with a tiny number of people holding a good percentage of national wealth with the control that gives them. It doesn't bother you that we see time and again how for the wealthy no amount is enough. Management arranges stock buybacks to enrich themselves, forgetting about whatever product or service their companies are supposed to be producing for the good of all.
In his first term, Trump delivered the US embassy in Jerusalem for one big donor, Sheldon Adelson. No problem for you? Now Adelson's widow, an Israeli, is giving Trump what she proudly declares is the biggest donation ever -$100 million to get him back in office. Her demand is that Israel annex the West Bank with US approval.
Trump has repeatedly declared that if elected he will go after people he believes have wronged him. We've been down that road before with Nixon. It has nothing to do with the welfare of we the people and everything to do with personal vindictiveness.
Again, our political system is completely corrupted by money, held by the 1%. AIPAC boasts of their power which is exhibit 1 for that corruption. Surely you don't believe that Trump will do a thing about it if elected, do you? Democracy cannot survive unlimited wealth in the hands of the few and a legislature and judiciary (surely you are aware of the Clarence Thomas case) that are subservient to it.
This is all set before you, but to read what you write one would think Trump is a magnanimous humanitarian, a man of the people.
So what are you and me, going to do about this Clif?
Vote for Jill Stein or Cornell West? Yeah right. Surely you don't believe that one of them will be able to do a thing about ANYTHING if elected, do you?
And yes this was going on under Nixon, and before. Democracy in America has survived then and since then hasn't it?
I don't think Trump is a magnanimous humanitarian; but I also don't think he is a Monster, the second coming of Mussolini or the threat to democracy you and Rachel Maddow imagine he is. Did America implode under his first term? Of course it didn't! Many say it was better off.
I'm sorry Clif, me and my two daughters who live happy productive lives in WI and NY in a wonderful America do not buy this hyperbolic "the sky is falling". Life goes on. Life is what you make it.
You only get back what you put into it eh? If you see everything as fucked up, you are in for a fucked up and sad life. (How did typing all that hate make you feel? Good? Have you ever tried typing an essay about all the good things you have going for you in America? I'm serious?)
Watch Al Jazeera TV and thank God you live in America Clif my friend.
It was Trump saying everything in the US is fucked up. And in a rare moment speaking the Truth at his Las Vegas rally Trump said to his supporters, "I DON'T CARE ABOUT YOU. I just want your vote!"
My Personal Reference Bible was printed in 1855, before the US Civil War, and before CanaDa and Israel existed.
It's the same Edition on which Lincoln and Obama took their Oaths of Office. Pages were coming loose and I had it rebound with my name printed on the cover. It's not for sale.
I recall Nancy Reagan being attacked for her protection of Ronnie in his declining days in office. Where the hell is Jill?! As Glenn Greenwald put it, this was like watching elder abuse.
Dr. Jill is a Joke. She basks (like a Basking Shark on the beach) in the Limelight . Forget her. "If you're not part of the solution you're part of the problem" fits Dr. Jill to a T.
I fell for the liberal defense of Jill during the 2020 election. But now, omg. You have to be devoid of morality if you put your completely demented partner up like she just did. And how she has done for the last 4 years.
It's absolutely disgusting. Jill Biden is a wolf in sheep's clothing.
I think Jill is trying to spare herself having to listen to a future of hearing her husband grumble about the awesome job he would have done if he hadn't been replaced on the ticket.
It amazes me. Biden is no different then Trump, in terms of motivation. The guy just has to have that second Super Bowl ring.
Not that the outcome in this case is assured, of course- less so than ever. But the Dim Establishment doesn't want to offend Biden. At least not yet. Because the default stance of being Establishment Dim is to earnestly seek to mollify every last fractious constituent, even if it eventually proves necessary or expedient to doublecross them later.
Hence, the Emperor is still said to have clothes on, so far. Notwithstanding the fact that the incumbent has demonstated that he's too incoherent and non compos mentis to think on his feet- especially in the presence of opposition pressure. (Remember how one onstage memory lapse doomed Rich Perry's bid for the GOP nomination, not long ago?)
For all of their dire warnings about the perils of a revived Trump presidency, the People Who Matter in the Dim Establishment are evidently up for assuming the additional risk burden of sticking with Joe Biden. Their personal Career Success has allowed them to accumulate sufficient wealth to not have to take their own loudly trumpeted Worst Case Scenario conjectures seriously; they can always move.
I've increasingly wondered if "Doctor Jill" is Lady Macbeth or a protective mother who knows her children may go to jail if Biden is forced out before he can pardon everyone (in a second term).
I couldn't help but think back to "let Reagan be Reagan" when he would wander off the rails. That was nothing compared to Joe and it appears we must let Joe be Joe for at least another 7 months. It looks like Trump Hate is all Joe has going for him now and that isn't enough to overcome the clear lack of competence we saw displayed last night. Staying with Joe will guarantee a loss in November. The world's only superpower now drifting and under the control of...of...who?
Re.: "Who is running the US today?". You know who they are. The "managers" who really work for the MICIMATT complex and asssorted oligarchs. The same ones who've essentially been running the ship of state for many years.
With apologies to Miss Peggy Lee "But as I sat there watching I had a feeling that something was missing, I don't know what, when it was all over I said to myself-- is that all there is to the Circus?""Giant Meteor 2024-- "Just End It All Already!"
No one with such virtues would be let anywhere near the nomination for either of these dinosaur parties; for there is no one among their owners with such attributes. In a way, I'm grateful that they lack leadership. Who'd want to be led by their ilk?
The Presidency is where a man needs to be at the peak of his powers. Think here of JFK after his Trip to W.Berlin in June of 1963. A man needs to grow into his role as prez. of the United States, and leader of the free world. Its a job that will leave you emotionally as well as physically drained. Air Force One needs to take J.Biden into the Sunset!!!
I deliberately didn’t watch last night’s debate; got some snippets when I walked into the living where my wife watched it. So, I can’t comment on what platitudes either candidate spouted. I have watched American politics for sixty years and I was, with the exception of 1972, never impressed by the caliber of presidential candidates. I summarize my thinking by paraphrasing a biblical text from the Hebrew scriptures: “A people perishes where there is no vision” Proverbs 27:18.
I resent the emphasis on age. Some people age better than others. My mother passed away at 102 and had all her mental faculties working perfectly. At least she could focus on the topic and would have beaten both of these clowns in any debate.
We should be focusing on the candidates' knowledge, skills and ability, and not on age. We should be focusing on the substance of their answers to probing questions and their vision of how to solve the real problems of our nation and not on their age.
Sadly, regardless of age, these two clowns are totally unqualified for public office of any kind as was clearly demonstrated last night.
The Future of Freedom Foundation’s Jacob Hornberger today asks DOES BIDEN’S DEGRADED MENTAL STATE MATTER?
And concludes:
“Would the United States be better off with a president who suffers from a severe downgrade in mental faculties being in charge rather than with generals and CIA officials being in charge? The question is irrelevant because THE REALITY IS THAT IT’S THE MILITARY-INTELLIGENCE ESTABLISHMENT THAT IS ACTUALLY IN CHARGE. And that’s why we are getting ever closer to the prospect of a life-ending nuclear war.”
And his conclusion would be the same if Trump ~ or Biden’s replacement ~ gets elected. As regards who is actually “in charge,” that hasn’t changed in a long, long time. Mr Hornberger explains how and why in his article.
The Blob is definitely in charge, and in this current situation my best guess is that Biden is not doing much of anything other than maybe napping between ice cream cones. Blinken and Sullivan are mostly in charge (just like Cheney was in charge during Bush the Second). And who was their closest working partner in the Obama administration? You guessed it, Hillary Clinton. My guess is she is now acting as the shadow president. Blinken and Sullivan probably give Hillary a call any time they are not sure about some additional escalation somewhere.
So the question becomes: Who owns, operates, commands, and controls Blinken and Sullivan, and thus Biden and the rest of his Team? And who owns, operate, commands, and controls Hillary Clinton?
And the answer is: The same Ruling Political Class that owned, operated, commanded, and controlled Trump and his Team, Obama and his, Cheney and his [starting with Bush II], Clinton and his, Bush I and his [starting with Reagan], and Carter and his.
And the follow-up question is: What ~ if anything ~ can the American Peoples do to change all ~ or even any ~ of that? Or is it already too late for any kind of a change except for things to get worse?
And if it isn't already too late, exactly what sort of changes are required? And Who is going to make those changes happen? And How?
This is the question I ask everyone when the topic of "how do we fix things?" comes up. The Red and Blue Team news work 24/7 to keep the US public divided, so a good start would be to convince everyone to stop watching or listening to the "division-corps". Russophobia, Trump derangement syndrome and immigrant-hatred all come directly from the division-corps. The US is more divided now than ever in my lifetime, and it is by design. So getting voters on the left and right to stop listening to the division-corps and start talking to each other (rather than calling each other MAGA-nuts and shit-libs) might be a good start.
It would be an Excellent start, John. So again, the Question is: How does one go about making exactly that happen?
How are a critical mass of those on the Left and those on the Right [and those in the Muddled Middle, as applicable] going to be convinced that it is time to start Talking to and with each other?
And, even more importantly, actually Listening to each other?
Ain't going to be easy seeing as we and others who are like minded aren't billionaires and don't own the news. But as I mentioned, shows like Judge Napolitano's would be a great place to point people to. He just reached 400K subscribers yesterday, let's keep that going.
Bill, thank you for watching it - as I didn't and it appeared to turn out as anticipated.
From what you, and others I read this morning, have said - there's something even more terrifying than these two men being candidates in November. That is dementia-riddled Joe Biden is President of the United States right now.
With war spreading in the Mideast; the escalation to direct conflict between the US and Russia; and the ratcheting up of tensions with both China and North Korea - he's clearly not directing anything. While it's been spoken of here on BV and other forums, last night showed everyone how bad he is.
Who's in charge (unconstitutionally)? Kamala Harris? Blinken? Obama? Doctor Jill?
We are in deep trouble and danger and something needs to change - now.
My read is that Federal agencies are being allowed to do what is in their interests. Whee!
My spouse who endured to the end (I did not) says, "Boy, Bill sure got it right." I did hear “We finally beat Medicare.” Am I wrong to delight in the number of articles and editorials finally declaring the obvious?! Alas, what moron from the DNC will be served up next to bail them out of the mess?
Knowing what was to come, I told my wife I'd rather go in to the hospital to donate an organ than watch the debate, Then I saw a proposed drinking game by Matt Taibbi in which one was to take a sip every time certain phrases were said... and tho I haven't enough alcohol tolerance to play by the rules, I decided to sit with her just for the (sick) humor.
You're right, Bill, re. the post-debate response by pundits : "...almost as if they were reading from the same script." That was one of the most striking aspects. There clearly was a script...so what does that tell us?
About a year ago this time, as Biden's lacks became increasingly obvious even as the Party was tripping over itself to make it clear that Joe was going to be their guy, I was speculating that the Dem establishment might be planning an 11th hour switcheroo- perhaps substituting one of their other loyal servants of Empire- say, Dean Phillips, or Klobuchar, etc. for Joe.
As time went by and the Party seemed to be digging their heels in all the more intently for Biden, trying their best to keep his worst moments from view and (likely) force-feeding him pharmaceuticals for appearances, I began to think my forecast wrong; and that they were going to stick with him.
But the uniformity of the post-debate messaging makes clear to me that we should anticipate a stand-in (understudy). When they will announce that is not clear, and no doubt 'they' are deliberating about what makes the most strategic sense.
Now this will no doubt please a great many. They'll be delighted with a Dean Phillips, a Newsom, Tim Kaine or Mark Warner, or a Kamela , Killary or Klobuchar. After all, most of the (remaining) Party faithful are only of the VBNMW persuasion.
Whoever it is, it certainly won't make me happy, for the wars will continue and expand, the debt will continue its trajectory towards fiscal collapse and austerity for all but the billionaire class, and climate destabilization will move rapidly towards chaos.
"Both men eagerly supported Israel."
And that is one of the main reasons the U.S. is doomed!
Zionism is a disease. Speaking TRUTH is the cure! Free Palestine 🇵🇸
Bill, thanks for watching the circus clowns, so we don't have to waste our time. Good mourning, America!
Dennis, when the graduated income tax returns, you can lecture me about money making. As it is, great wealth increases without doing anything, simply on the holding of stocks or, most outrageously, stock buybacks the benefit the managers who arrange the buybacks. And this behavior is rewarded by taxing capital gains at a lower rate than income from real work.
No society has ever been able to control wealth and wealth has never been satisfied with any amount being enough. It always leads to what we are seeing now, more and more of the percentage of national wealth going to the richest and less and less going to the 99%, even as the rich begrudge the poor what little they get. Briefly, in the middle of the 20th century, the largest incomes were taxed the highest but since the "Reagan Revolution" this has been dismantled amid the constant cry that Social Security must be cut back, even as the "defense" budget grows without limit or any call for restraint.
The wealthy want to cut the gains for the 99% that were made with the New Deal even though the New Deal starting with the NRA was, as with Obamacare, designed in cooperation with big business, fearful of the power of the people who had nothing to lose. Unions were a terror for the rich as even the union leadership had trouble directing the membership's outrage.
As for derangement, what can one say of a man who calls himself a "very stable genius", who attempts to market anything and everything with his name on it. He is the modern equivalent of the traveling salesmen of the 19th century hawking miracle elixers promising cures for everything. Trump University ended with lawsuits for not delivering what was promised.
Dennis, if you think Trump has you or me or anyone but himself in mind after looking at his life history of deception and outright lying that he continues even in the debate the other night you are the one that needs to think again.
Our political system is completely corrupt and Trump will do absolutely nothing to address that, he the guy who paid $750 in income tax for one of the years we know about. As global warming threatens it is inconceivable that Trump will do anything to address it as that would hurt big profit. Israel? He has already moved the US embassy to Jerusalem for Sheldon Adelson. Adelson's wife, Miriam is now donating $100 million to get Trump back into position to grant her wish of the West Bank becoming part of Israel. He has told us that he will be out to get those who he thinks have wronged him once he is in office, as he continues threatening people. Think again, Dennis.
BTW, on Biden - he should be out of office immediately for the sake of national security. Right now we are rudderless with him as captain of the ship with two senseless wars going on that are being given unlimited funding, those wars disproportionately benefitting the wealthy while having nothing to do with US national security.
I tried to watch it and also watch Kennedy's answers, that didn't work too well for me, largely because I have a hard time understanding Kennedy when he talks. When I read what he has said I like that better, so I hope someone will put out a transcript, then I tried to watch Jill Stein who had a post debate thing going but you have to have zoom and I don't. I really don't know how to deal with this computerized world. I think she should have tried to do something that everyone could watch, but maybe that was not possible. This morning I got an email from her saying that the DNC is suing her for her Nebraska signatures that were submitted the other day and accepted by Nebraska so she could be on the ballot. Apparently the DNC has decided that they will attack her in every state that she attempts to get on the ballot, not because they'll win, but because it costs her money and time to deal with it, time, money and energy that could go to campaigning rather than coping with the very evil and nasty DNC. This is such a disgusting ploy for the DNC that I will never vote democratic again. and I hope our media shows the disgust they feel abut this behavior - assuming they have any. I guess we''ll find out soon.
I couldn't bear to watch but now I wish I had. 🤣
Minor disagreement on one point. Obviously the Democrats are out. The war party- the crush the workers and blame it on Republicans party- is out. Never, ever trust those people. EVER!
I disagree that Trump is "temperamentally unfit". I don't care about his temperament, I care whether he will stop the Ukraine war. I know there is not much hope re the looming China war with Trump. But I have really come to understand that politicians' words do not matter. Trump is the only president in my lifetime to NOT start another war. Trump said some shit, and he did kill that high ranking Iranian official, which was cruel and cowardly and disgusting. But if I was forced to choose between Biden and Trump, Trump is the easy choice.
That being said, I want to remind everyone that the path to a real democracy, where Americans ACTUALLY run the gov for the benefit of Americans (instead of for the profits of a select few), is located in your neighborhood, in your apartment complex, in the traffic jam on the way to work.
We connect with our neighbors. We the people have the numbers, and I believe we can overcome these divisions pushed by the deep state and its controlled opposition operatives to take this country back. The people need to run it, for the good of the people.
I doubt Trump alone can stop the Russia-Ukraine War. And he's even more pro-Israel than Biden.
Still, Trump occasionally does question the Deep State and challenge the constant warmongering. But I don't think he has the fortitude and consistency to make a difference. He's too involved in his own drama.
Completely agree that we have to start among ourselves to make a better world. We can't count on old tired men like Trump and Biden. Especially Biden. He's almost fossilized.
I was seriously wondering if they were going to use a hologram of Biden.
We are definitely at a low point of the empire. Quite low.
Is there any evidence that Trump has any loyalty besides to himself and what he sees as his class? He is rhetorically a supporter of Israel, but if that somehow clashed with the class he identifies with accumulating more, who would be surprised at a complete about face?
It's clear that we have a chess game going on between black and white sides. Each wants to have power and will do anything to either keep it or try to take it from the other. Above all, the King piece must be protected, even if it is only a piece as is clear from Biden's performance last night.
This explains how Biden has been kept in his position, by underlings and supporters who do not care what condition he is in, only that he is the King piece staying in place.
I was going to vote for Cornel West but he has not been active enough in his campaign, to the point of me wondering if he has a campaign. He will not be on many state ballots though I did my best to get him on the Illinois ballot. But I do not hesitate to shift to Jill Stein, to vote for her again as I did in the last election. It will be interesting to see how she does.
There was once a serious third party, the Socialist Party in the teens and twenties of the last century. It was successful in getting many elected in a variety of positions in many states. It was a serious threat to capitalism and was crushed by the governments, state and federal who were, backed by wealth, determined to see it destroyed.
Now we have undeniable and clear evidence by way of lobby power (AIPAC in particular) that we the people are not in charge. One major party has been disabled as of last night and the other is under the spell of a man with no boundaries whose top priority is his wealth. If ever there were a chance for the people to desert the two party grip that we are told we must submit to, now is the time to jump.
BTW - has it ever been more clear that vice-presidential picks are pure theater? Nobody wants Harris and I think back to Sarah Palin. Theater, and now a real threat of the VP being put in the leading role to the horror of almost everyone. The American people are managed by those playing the Big Chess Game.
Clif, you know that Trump's net worth diminished when he was serving as the 45th POTUS.
In March 2016, Forbes estimated his net worth at $4.5 billion. A year later, shortly after his inauguration, they lowered it by $1 billion, and by the end of his presidential term, they had subtracted yet another $1 billion. Google it.
He is not in it for the money eh? If his top priority is his wealth, as you claim, he would not be running for POTUS again.
It's more likely Trump lied about how rich he was and Forbes finally got the figures right.
Unlike all the Presidential Candidates before him, he wouldn't release his income tax returns so the people would know the Truth.
The Democrats and Republicans finally got a bi-partisan Immigration Bill and Trump told his sycophants in the House to kill the bill so it would be a campaign issue, PROOF Trump cares more about himself than the Country.
I just don't understand how you can support a serial LIAR, a Bully and the most EGOCENTRIC Megalomaniac preaching Nihilism and American carnage. His election campaign appeals to FEAR, devoid of any Inspiration except to say he's the greatest!
You can't make much money in prison and we know there's plenty of money to be had by a former president just from making appearances. A man who poses himself with his family in a gilt penthouse in Manhattan and whose book is "The Art of the Deal" never has money far from mind. He was obsessed by his drop in the Forbes 500.
Clif my friend. You need to take a hard look in the mirror and contemplate whether you have a case of Trump Derangement Syndrome. TDS.
What is the crime with wanting to have a lot of money? Who has Donald Trump hurt with his goal to be rich? Trump never held a gun to the head of anybody forcing them to deal with him. In fact, it has usually been the opposite. E Jean Caroll willing to give up her soul and lie to rip him off for a lot of easy money being the best example. The women who could not remember the date she was "raped" on! Yeah right! And his personal Chauffeur who filed suit claiming Trump owned him big bucks. Eagerly taken up by greedy lawyers looking to get rich only to have the case fall apart as just a pack of lies. And the guy in reality had been well compensated above fair market value.
And he provided income for many many folks who worked for him and made out handsomely. Ask those guys who refurbished his 757 how they made out?
Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos the same. If folks though they were done wrong by these billionaires, nobody was stopping them using to courts to recover what they imagined they were cheated out of.
That he was "obsessed" by his drop in the Forbes 500 is tabloid stuff. You are better than that Clif.
And read my last sentence again~ if his top priority is his wealth why is he subjecting himself to all the abuse from bashers and haters of your ilk? He made his fortune well before he got into politics. And probably could have kept making the big bucks like any other NY property developer.
He went into politics because he cares about his country. Go ahead and laugh. But every day, and he works 15/7, he puts his life at risk as MLK and the Kennedy brothers did. And knows that despite the incredible work of his secret service detail his next day could be his last. He does not have to do that. That's how I prefer to look at the man Clif.
Dennis, do you follow the news?
You write: "Who has Donald Trump hurt with his goal to be rich? Trump never held a gun to the head of anybody forcing them to deal with him. "
WHAT!? You are being sarcastic, please tell me you are.
Wealth is power. Over and over again Trump has used his wealth to intimate and force people to do what he wants. He has deceived people and made a profit from it. Have you not heard of his projects such as Trump University that was forced out of business for defrauding the students? He stiffed his lawyer, Michael Cohen. A jury of 12 people convicted him unanimously in the E. Jean Carroll case after hearing everything Trump could present for his defense. For you, they are all wrong.
You wrote, "That he was "obsessed" by his drop in the Forbes 500 is tabloid stuff. You are better than that Clif." Please follow this link: https://tinyurl.com/5n7e979y
Wealth is power and it has completely corrupted our democracy, yet you are oblivious, wondering how this money power has been bad for anyone. Wealth does not need to put a gun to the head of anyone, it easily accomplishes what it wants with corruption.
Trump did not want us to know what we suspected and then found out, that he paid only $750 in income tax one year. You seem to believe that Trump has you and me in mind rather than his wealth and you also have no problem with a tiny number of people holding a good percentage of national wealth with the control that gives them. It doesn't bother you that we see time and again how for the wealthy no amount is enough. Management arranges stock buybacks to enrich themselves, forgetting about whatever product or service their companies are supposed to be producing for the good of all.
In his first term, Trump delivered the US embassy in Jerusalem for one big donor, Sheldon Adelson. No problem for you? Now Adelson's widow, an Israeli, is giving Trump what she proudly declares is the biggest donation ever -$100 million to get him back in office. Her demand is that Israel annex the West Bank with US approval.
Trump has repeatedly declared that if elected he will go after people he believes have wronged him. We've been down that road before with Nixon. It has nothing to do with the welfare of we the people and everything to do with personal vindictiveness.
Again, our political system is completely corrupted by money, held by the 1%. AIPAC boasts of their power which is exhibit 1 for that corruption. Surely you don't believe that Trump will do a thing about it if elected, do you? Democracy cannot survive unlimited wealth in the hands of the few and a legislature and judiciary (surely you are aware of the Clarence Thomas case) that are subservient to it.
This is all set before you, but to read what you write one would think Trump is a magnanimous humanitarian, a man of the people.
And you say I am deranged?
So what are you and me, going to do about this Clif?
Vote for Jill Stein or Cornell West? Yeah right. Surely you don't believe that one of them will be able to do a thing about ANYTHING if elected, do you?
And yes this was going on under Nixon, and before. Democracy in America has survived then and since then hasn't it?
I don't think Trump is a magnanimous humanitarian; but I also don't think he is a Monster, the second coming of Mussolini or the threat to democracy you and Rachel Maddow imagine he is. Did America implode under his first term? Of course it didn't! Many say it was better off.
I'm sorry Clif, me and my two daughters who live happy productive lives in WI and NY in a wonderful America do not buy this hyperbolic "the sky is falling". Life goes on. Life is what you make it.
You only get back what you put into it eh? If you see everything as fucked up, you are in for a fucked up and sad life. (How did typing all that hate make you feel? Good? Have you ever tried typing an essay about all the good things you have going for you in America? I'm serious?)
Watch Al Jazeera TV and thank God you live in America Clif my friend.
Did you pay attention to the debate?
It was Trump saying everything in the US is fucked up. And in a rare moment speaking the Truth at his Las Vegas rally Trump said to his supporters, "I DON'T CARE ABOUT YOU. I just want your vote!"
Trump's obsessed with RETRIBUTION!
Trump screwed a lot of Contractors and BANKRUPTED a Casino. Most of his business ventures were FRAUDS.
But he's got his own Bible, Ray, and some great golden sneakers. All for sale!
For sale at outrageous prices!
My Personal Reference Bible was printed in 1855, before the US Civil War, and before CanaDa and Israel existed.
It's the same Edition on which Lincoln and Obama took their Oaths of Office. Pages were coming loose and I had it rebound with my name printed on the cover. It's not for sale.
I recall Nancy Reagan being attacked for her protection of Ronnie in his declining days in office. Where the hell is Jill?! As Glenn Greenwald put it, this was like watching elder abuse.
Dr. Jill is a Joke. She basks (like a Basking Shark on the beach) in the Limelight . Forget her. "If you're not part of the solution you're part of the problem" fits Dr. Jill to a T.
I fell for the liberal defense of Jill during the 2020 election. But now, omg. You have to be devoid of morality if you put your completely demented partner up like she just did. And how she has done for the last 4 years.
It's absolutely disgusting. Jill Biden is a wolf in sheep's clothing.
Or, she is seriously misguided, i.e. fooling herself. Believing her own BS.
I think Jill is trying to spare herself having to listen to a future of hearing her husband grumble about the awesome job he would have done if he hadn't been replaced on the ticket.
It amazes me. Biden is no different then Trump, in terms of motivation. The guy just has to have that second Super Bowl ring.
Not that the outcome in this case is assured, of course- less so than ever. But the Dim Establishment doesn't want to offend Biden. At least not yet. Because the default stance of being Establishment Dim is to earnestly seek to mollify every last fractious constituent, even if it eventually proves necessary or expedient to doublecross them later.
Hence, the Emperor is still said to have clothes on, so far. Notwithstanding the fact that the incumbent has demonstated that he's too incoherent and non compos mentis to think on his feet- especially in the presence of opposition pressure. (Remember how one onstage memory lapse doomed Rich Perry's bid for the GOP nomination, not long ago?)
https://seymourhersh.substack.com/p/who-is-running-the-country
For all of their dire warnings about the perils of a revived Trump presidency, the People Who Matter in the Dim Establishment are evidently up for assuming the additional risk burden of sticking with Joe Biden. Their personal Career Success has allowed them to accumulate sufficient wealth to not have to take their own loudly trumpeted Worst Case Scenario conjectures seriously; they can always move.
I've increasingly wondered if "Doctor Jill" is Lady Macbeth or a protective mother who knows her children may go to jail if Biden is forced out before he can pardon everyone (in a second term).
After watching her yesterday, it's Lady Macbeth all the way.
I couldn't help but think back to "let Reagan be Reagan" when he would wander off the rails. That was nothing compared to Joe and it appears we must let Joe be Joe for at least another 7 months. It looks like Trump Hate is all Joe has going for him now and that isn't enough to overcome the clear lack of competence we saw displayed last night. Staying with Joe will guarantee a loss in November. The world's only superpower now drifting and under the control of...of...who?
Jill was making sure all the incoming mail says "Dr." Jill.
I lasted 4 minutes!
Biden has not been told people wonder why he does not blink, still!
Tapper saved Biden early enforcing the time limit, I left.
Who is running the US today?
Re.: "Who is running the US today?". You know who they are. The "managers" who really work for the MICIMATT complex and asssorted oligarchs. The same ones who've essentially been running the ship of state for many years.
No one. The ship of state is adrift.
With apologies to Miss Peggy Lee "But as I sat there watching I had a feeling that something was missing, I don't know what, when it was all over I said to myself-- is that all there is to the Circus?""Giant Meteor 2024-- "Just End It All Already!"
What's missing is obvious: leadership, vision, intelligence, integrity, honesty, charity and a few other virtues.
No one with such virtues would be let anywhere near the nomination for either of these dinosaur parties; for there is no one among their owners with such attributes. In a way, I'm grateful that they lack leadership. Who'd want to be led by their ilk?
Missing and in the Limbo of the"Lost" I must say... And that's not a good thing!
The Presidency is where a man needs to be at the peak of his powers. Think here of JFK after his Trip to W.Berlin in June of 1963. A man needs to grow into his role as prez. of the United States, and leader of the free world. Its a job that will leave you emotionally as well as physically drained. Air Force One needs to take J.Biden into the Sunset!!!
I deliberately didn’t watch last night’s debate; got some snippets when I walked into the living where my wife watched it. So, I can’t comment on what platitudes either candidate spouted. I have watched American politics for sixty years and I was, with the exception of 1972, never impressed by the caliber of presidential candidates. I summarize my thinking by paraphrasing a biblical text from the Hebrew scriptures: “A people perishes where there is no vision” Proverbs 27:18.
I resent the emphasis on age. Some people age better than others. My mother passed away at 102 and had all her mental faculties working perfectly. At least she could focus on the topic and would have beaten both of these clowns in any debate.
We should be focusing on the candidates' knowledge, skills and ability, and not on age. We should be focusing on the substance of their answers to probing questions and their vision of how to solve the real problems of our nation and not on their age.
Sadly, regardless of age, these two clowns are totally unqualified for public office of any kind as was clearly demonstrated last night.
The Future of Freedom Foundation’s Jacob Hornberger today asks DOES BIDEN’S DEGRADED MENTAL STATE MATTER?
And concludes:
“Would the United States be better off with a president who suffers from a severe downgrade in mental faculties being in charge rather than with generals and CIA officials being in charge? The question is irrelevant because THE REALITY IS THAT IT’S THE MILITARY-INTELLIGENCE ESTABLISHMENT THAT IS ACTUALLY IN CHARGE. And that’s why we are getting ever closer to the prospect of a life-ending nuclear war.”
And his conclusion would be the same if Trump ~ or Biden’s replacement ~ gets elected. As regards who is actually “in charge,” that hasn’t changed in a long, long time. Mr Hornberger explains how and why in his article.
Available at https://www.fff.org/2024/06/28/does-bidens-degraded-mental-state-matter/ ; EMPHASIS added.
The Blob is definitely in charge, and in this current situation my best guess is that Biden is not doing much of anything other than maybe napping between ice cream cones. Blinken and Sullivan are mostly in charge (just like Cheney was in charge during Bush the Second). And who was their closest working partner in the Obama administration? You guessed it, Hillary Clinton. My guess is she is now acting as the shadow president. Blinken and Sullivan probably give Hillary a call any time they are not sure about some additional escalation somewhere.
So the question becomes: Who owns, operates, commands, and controls Blinken and Sullivan, and thus Biden and the rest of his Team? And who owns, operate, commands, and controls Hillary Clinton?
And the answer is: The same Ruling Political Class that owned, operated, commanded, and controlled Trump and his Team, Obama and his, Cheney and his [starting with Bush II], Clinton and his, Bush I and his [starting with Reagan], and Carter and his.
And the follow-up question is: What ~ if anything ~ can the American Peoples do to change all ~ or even any ~ of that? Or is it already too late for any kind of a change except for things to get worse?
And if it isn't already too late, exactly what sort of changes are required? And Who is going to make those changes happen? And How?
This is the question I ask everyone when the topic of "how do we fix things?" comes up. The Red and Blue Team news work 24/7 to keep the US public divided, so a good start would be to convince everyone to stop watching or listening to the "division-corps". Russophobia, Trump derangement syndrome and immigrant-hatred all come directly from the division-corps. The US is more divided now than ever in my lifetime, and it is by design. So getting voters on the left and right to stop listening to the division-corps and start talking to each other (rather than calling each other MAGA-nuts and shit-libs) might be a good start.
YES.
It would be an Excellent start, John. So again, the Question is: How does one go about making exactly that happen?
How are a critical mass of those on the Left and those on the Right [and those in the Muddled Middle, as applicable] going to be convinced that it is time to start Talking to and with each other?
And, even more importantly, actually Listening to each other?
Ain't going to be easy seeing as we and others who are like minded aren't billionaires and don't own the news. But as I mentioned, shows like Judge Napolitano's would be a great place to point people to. He just reached 400K subscribers yesterday, let's keep that going.
https://www.youtube.com/@judgingfreedom/streams
Heh. Well, You know what they say: "If it was easy, Anybody could and would do it."
Politico reports that Putin "snored through" the debate. Smart man.
Only watched a couple of minutes. Biden was like a ghost. The Leader of the Free World (sarc). God help us.