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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsHow Bad Does It Have to Get?
https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/04/27/how-bad-does-it-have-get?fbclid=IwAR3MRimbkp9rg0mUTEXi6pTUnwX03CNu3qnpJa34RWvAYRRNxBIPSK8pvTcSaturday, April 27, 2019
by Common Dreams
How Bad Does It Have to Get?
by Robert Freeman
How Bad Does It Have to Get? (cc/DonkeyHotey)
Its bad enough that the Russians helped him get elected by manipulating social media in critical electoral college states.
Its bad enough that he helped the Russians do that by providing them confidential polling data to guide their Facebook ad targeting.
Its bad enough that those ads were seen by more than 100,000,000 people when the total electoral college difference over three states was 70,000 votes.
Its bad enough that those involved with his campaign who were also engaged with the Russians lied repeatedly, both publicly and under oath, about that engagement.
Its bad enough that many tens of millions of dollars mysteriously disappeared from his inauguration committee, and he feels no compunction to explain where it went.
Its bad enough that he brags about groping women and grabbing them by the pussy. Is there an honest woman in the country who admires that? Wants that?
Its bad enough that hes been credibly accused of sexual assault by more than 20 women.
Its bad enough that he is an unindicted co-conspirator in the felony to commit election finance fraud by paying hush money to a Playboy bunny and a porn star.
Its bad enough that he filed for bankruptcy six times, stiffing workers, contractors, and lenders for tens of millions of dollars.
Its bad enough that his resorts and other properties for years hired undocumented aliens, even as he railed against a tidal wave of illegal immigrants.
Its bad enough that he inherited $413,000,000 from his father, much of it through illegal tax dodges, but pretends to be a self-made man.
Its bad enough that his charitable foundation was ordered shut down after having been revealed to be a sham, used to help promote his business and political interests.
Its bad enough he claims he was a good student, but threatens to sue any schools that release his grades.
Its bad enough he claims to be a brilliant businessman but refuses to release his taxes which would prove it. Or, disprove it.
Its bad enough that he says the Mueller report totally exonerates him, yet refuses to allow it to be released, or, for critical witnesses to be able to testify about it.
Its bad enough that he grossly understated the value of his assets to dodge taxes, while grossly overstating their value to secure bank loans.
Its bad enough that the Mueller report detailed 10 instances of obstruction of justice that would be criminal, were he not the president and, so, immune from indictment.
Its bad enough that hes a pathological liar, telling almost 10,000 lies since assuming office, literally not being able to deal with reality.
Its bad enough, his boot-licking of Putin at Helsinki, where he said he believed Putin about Russian interference in the 2016 election, but not his own intelligence chiefs.
Its bad enough that he has separated thousands of immigrant children from their parents, put them in cages, and then lost track of them.
Its bad enough that he praised neo-Nazi marchers in Charlottesville two years ago, then re-defended them just a few days ago.
Its bad enough that, though sworn to ensure that the laws are faithfully executed, he told immigration officials to break the law, promising to pardon them if they were convicted.
Its bad enough that he told senior White House aides to lie to the Mueller commission about his efforts to obstruct the same commissions investigation.
Its bad enough that he smeared a Gold Star Family whose son was killed in Iraq.
Its bad enough that he repeatedly smeared bona-fide Vietnam war hero, John McCain, while he, himself, wrangled five draft deferments to dodge service in the same war.
Its bad enough he promised to help the working man, but immediately passed a $1.5 trillion tax cut that went almost exclusively to corporations and the wealthy.
Its bad enough he continues to claim hes building The Wall when not a single inch of new wall has been built since he took office.
Its bad enough he promised to protect Social Security but just two weeks ago submitted a budget that cuts benefits to millions, including seniors in poverty.
Its bad enough that he refuses to cooperate with Congressional hearings, trashing the Constitution and the checks and balances at the very heart of our form of government.
We could go on. And on. And on. And on. But as bad as all of this is, the real question is, When does it get so bad that we will no longer tolerate this scum running the country, dividing us against each other, desecrating our values, degrading our civic spaces, and destroying our institutions? When does it get bad enough that WE will actually do something to stop being so mocked, so humiliated, and so defiled? When will we have Republican Congressmen who will get up off their knees before him and represent us, the people who actually elected them, and defend our country against the greatest domestic threat it has faced in over a century?
watoos
(7,142 posts)Start the impeachment hearings now.
RVN VET71
(2,690 posts)The GOP will never go along with it, of course; but every one of those soulless bastards will have to stand up publicly and be counted as enablers of treason and corruption.
triron
(22,003 posts)Chin music
(23,002 posts)I'm anxious in the extreme for all of us.
Repubs are just MIA. When you're sitting on a pile of dough, theres no real need for urgency. After ll, THEY"RE ok right? Don't rock the boat.
Money in politics has been a bane. After Citizens United, we turned a hard corner, and it hasn't been good.
Response to babylonsister (Original post)
Name removed Message auto-removed
crazytown
(7,277 posts)Mr.Bill
(24,292 posts)is a stock market crash. It's all about money.
anarch
(6,535 posts)I get the sense that technology has allowed the stock market to nearly entirely ignore the "economy" as it relates to average working class families, as long as profits are being made at the top. You'd think the extended period of wage stagnation in the face of a steadily increasing corporate profits would be unsustainable, but between the systematic assaults on unions over the past couple decades, and the switch from an actual product/manufacturing based economy, to a consumer-based economy, then to a debt-based economy, and now to whatever the fuck this is (attention-based economy?), those at the top seem to have found a nifty way to keep peoples' attention focused...well, anywhere but on them really, and on how fucked over the average worker is at this point.
Yes, it's all about money, but since 2008 I don't feel there's as much connection between the various stock-market indicators and the strength of the actual economy, or the purchasing power of your average working class person. That is to say, I think the stock market could be effectively manipulated at this point such that any "crash" would have to involve all of society, not just stock prices, because there's always some computer program waiting to snatch up stock on the cheap whenever there's a price drop, etc., and you're just not going to see the same kind of human panic affect the numbers as we used to. I dunno; it's just my pet theory, I have not substantiating evidence. I just don't think the stock market has so much direct correlation to the financial security of the average American as it's made out to have.
unblock
(52,232 posts)your last sentence is the most accurate. the stock market doesn't care about the average american or the long-term security of the economy or fair distribution of wealth or anything like that. the stock market cares only about the expected net present value of corporate profits. period.
the stock market is amoral. it doesn't care where corporations get their profits from. they're happy to see profits if a company markets a better product that helps people, but it's also happy if a company gets profits by cutting wages and benefits or laying off a ton of people.
automation, lower wages in other countries, and weakened unions have combined to make it very difficult for ordinary people to get a share of the profits.
so the overall economy can look good by aggregate measures like gdp, and the stock market can grow as corporate profits grow, but the rest of us feel left out.
eventually we will suffer as the next recession will crush many, many people. it's going to be really bad recession and the government will not likely be in a position to really help the masses the way we will need.
but in the meanwhile, hey, there are profits to be made. and investors won't be overly bothered because once american consumers are sucked dry, they will simply turn their attention to the growing market of indian and chinese consumers....
ginnyinWI
(17,276 posts)Remember how the Mid-terms turned out. That's what us people out here really think of this guy. I think the beltway has to remember that.
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)He is a fucking nightmare. I honestly can't wait until he kicks the bucket because I never want to see or hear from him again.
× infinity....
uponit7771
(90,339 posts)Oh wait
Giuliani: 'There's nothing wrong with taking information from Russians'
https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/21/politics/rudy-giuliani-trump-russia-cnntv/index.html
Initech
(100,076 posts)It's just bile and garbage piled on top of bile and garbage to sell us junk. Advertising wants to target us, and the Russians exploited that for political gain. It's the reason why I will never turn off my ad blocker and the reason why I think it's garbage.
wryter2000
(46,045 posts)They're the ones preventing us from doing anything.
FailureToCommunicate
(14,014 posts)Good compilation. Thanks for posting.
kacekwl
(7,017 posts)and I'm sure there's more to add , we hesitate to even file an impeachment hearing. Time is quickly running out.
Paladin
(28,261 posts)...
N_E_1 for Tennis
(9,724 posts)Senate investigates...McConnell is majority leader ...in depth legitimate investigations?...not a chance.
Nerves and patience wearing real thin right now.
notinkansas
(1,096 posts)Ditch Mitch!
pangaia
(24,324 posts)ON TV, NEWSPAPERS, RADIO, SOCIAL MEDIA --- did I say SOCIAL MEDIA !!!!
Get organized, hire somebody who knows how to spread memes and truthful info just like the fascists spread lies and propaganda.
What the fuck is the matter with you?????
It's simple!
A college PR freshman could figure it out.
Shit, even I could figure it out..
Haggis for Breakfast
(6,831 posts)Seriously. Wake up.
The M$M is not invested in getting the truth out to the public. Excuse me, but where has everyone been ? No less than Jeff Zucker (President, Chairman, of NBC/CNN) said that trmp was a horrible person but that he was GREAT FOR RATINGS. And THAT, my friends, is ALL the M$M gives a fuck about.
If it weren't true, there would be hoards of investigative journalists or reporters (Anybody remember those guys ?) out there, kicking over every rock, digging up every lead, compiling the facts and FOLLOWING THE MONEY to the truth and fearlessly reporting it out.
What do we have now ? CRICKETS !!!
You hear anyone on ANY network/platform ANYWHERE doing this ? CRICKETS !!!
The M$M is interested in ONE thing and ONE thing only. RATINGS. Ratings = money. They don't want to see him indicted, tried and put in prison - which is exactly what any functioning democracy would do. They want trmp to stay around because he runs the news cycle. When was the last time you thought that you didn't need to tune in to find out what fuckery he engaged in today ? People are afraid to not tune in, in case he does something that affects their lives, families, jobs, security.
But do NOT look to the media to do anything that would take their cash cow off the screen. It isn't in their interest. They don't give a fuck about you, me or this country. The are too busy worshipping their GOD -- $$$$$$$$$$.
c-rational
(2,593 posts)exercises I had the sinking feeling they were putting Trump in a good light. I could and could not fathom why. M$M is complicit.
Haggis for Breakfast
(6,831 posts)pangaia
(24,324 posts)Where did "CRICKETS come from, anyway. I have no clue.
MarcA
(2,195 posts)McKim
(2,412 posts)This!!! I will never forget how the MSM made a god out of Trump during the presidential elections.
They just couldnt cover his antics enough!
RobertDevereaux
(1,857 posts)Grasswire2
(13,570 posts)How do we neutralize that?
RobertDevereaux
(1,857 posts)Ford_Prefect
(7,901 posts)RVN VET71
(2,690 posts)anyone in Nixon's staff who ignored a subpoena to appear. I think Cummings and Schiff are certainly empowered to do the same -- and I pray they will if Barr attempts to ignore the subpoena he's going to get.
StarfishSaver
(18,486 posts)He said that, if it looked like it would take two or three years to go to court to compel cooperation, he would recommend that the Senate send the sergeant-at-arms to make arrests.
New York Times, March 19, 1973
...
Senator Ervin said on the Columbia Broadcasting System television program Face the Nation that he, too, would welcome a court test because the President has stretched the doctrine of executive privilege far beyond its true boundaries and far beyond any precedmit on the subject.
But, he added, if it appeared that the committee's investigation was going to be delayed two or three years while it's getting to the Supreme Court, he would be prepared to take more severe steps.
I'd recommend to the Senate they send the sergeant‐at arms of the Senate to arrest a White House aide or any other witness who refuses to appear, he said, and let the Senate try him.
https://www.nytimes.com/1973/03/19/archives/ervin-suggests-penalizing-aides-of-nixon-who-balk-ervin-suggests.html
This was framed as a "suggestion," not a threat - which makes sense since Ervin didn't have the authority to order anyone's arrest.
RVN VET71
(2,690 posts)Congress can certify contempt and refer it to the U.S. Attorney who could then present it to a grand jury -- if he wants to. Apparently, when the Republicans attempted to take this action against Eric Holder, the U.S. Attorney's Office refused to act on it. In basketball, I think, a guard might pass the ball to the center standing unguarded beneath the basket. But the center is at liberty to hold the ball until the clock runs out.
Damn! But thanks for the information.
Xipe Totec
(43,890 posts)1.- The price of a gallon of gas
2.- The price of a six-pack of beer.
Nuggets
(525 posts)possibly for getting the names and address of those making donations. All of them obvious Dem voters to be knocked off voter rolls in areas where needed.
I think he helped the Russians by providing them polling data so they could delete, or otherwise list Democrats as non registered in state voter registration databases as well as for Facebook ad targeting.
I also believe getting a list of registered Democratic voters and precisely where they live is exactly what Trumps election commission was after.
BUT, in answer to your question, I think it will take at least until the 2020 elections because many people believe Democrats will gain majorities and turn this ship around.
If that doesnt happen, it wont be until enough of the upper middle class starts getting hit hard due to Republican policies.
pazzyanne
(6,556 posts)Grasswire2
(13,570 posts)...that critical mass is building for people to take to the streets.
Not with pussy hats and stilt walkers and crepe paper whales.
But following the example of the Civil Rights marches.
Just a mass of people gathering, walking perhaps, singing perhaps.
THAT is what will scare the hell out of the RW.
It must be peaceful, or it will be turned against Dems.
It must be wise, and avoid any possibility of a false flag incident.
Just a show of solidarity on behalf of the Rule of Law and the Constitution.
It would work.
McKim
(2,412 posts)Its about time for this new March on Washington!!!!!
VOX
(22,976 posts)NOW.
Fiendish Thingy
(15,615 posts)Blue Owl
(50,374 posts)n/t
Cha
(297,240 posts)colsohlibgal
(5,275 posts)Not only is this excuse for a human being a terrible illegitimate President he is ultra unlikeable to a comfortable majority of us.
I hate the Electoral College with a passion. Minus that hocus pocus no Dubya, no dumb Donnie.
sandensea
(21,635 posts)It's the only thing that seems to wake enough people up to the sheer horror, incompetence - and treasonousness - of recent GOP presidents, sadly.
yuiyoshida
(41,831 posts)He is an Asshole.
lindysalsagal
(20,686 posts)Editor's note May 8, 2018: This column originally published December 15, 2017. New allegations about $500k in payments from a Russian oligarch made to Trump attorney Michael Cohen have placed it back in the news.
As Special Counsel Robert Mueller's team probes deeper into potential collusion between Trump officials and representatives of the Russian government, investigators are taking a closer look at political contributions made by U.S. citizens with close ties to Russia.
Buried in the campaign finance reports available to the public are some troubling connections between a group of wealthy donors with ties to Russia and their political contributions to President Donald Trump and a number of top Republican leaders. And thanks to changes in campaign finance laws, the political contributions are legal. We have allowed our campaign finance laws to become a strategic threat to our country.
In 2017, donations continued, with $41,000 going to both Republican and Democrat candidates, along with $1 million to McConnell's Senate Leadership Fund.
Until the press finally runs this truth: Many of our leaders should be impeached, nothing will change.
pdsimdars
(6,007 posts)Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)We don't have the power to DO anything about Trump, really. The Republicans are in charge. We CAN impeach on paper, for historical reasons. But that doesn't actually DO anything about him, does it?
What's your game plan to get rid of him?
pdsimdars
(6,007 posts)It was put there for a reason. If they don't do their duty, they are normalizing this behavior which means, if our Democracy survives, it will be worse next time because they were afraid to do their JOB.
On an assembly line, I have MY duties, my job, just because someone else later down the line does a lousy job doesn't mean I shouldn't do MY job to the best of my abilities. Impeachment is their JOB in cases of someone UNFIT. Do you seriously think Trump is fit to be president? If not, the House's JOB is to impeach. You can wiggle and spin all you want, but it is their JOB to IMPEACH someone UNFIT. I think he is unfit. Apparently you and Pelosi don't. You are mistaken.
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)Read my post again. I didn't say he shouldn't be impeached on paper. Neither did Pelosi.
So let's say they decide to impeach. What evidence would you use to draw up the impeachment papers? The Mueller Report? Well...that's not evidence. That's a report of evidence. Exactly what evidence, we don't know, because Congress hasn't obtained that part of the report.
The Mueller Report is an impression of the evidence. That's not a basis for impeachment by itself, without having the evidence attached to it, is my understanding.
The people with legal counsel know what they're doing. When they do it, it will be done right. It's not like you think...you just type out "I think Trump did some things wrong! I say we impeach him. How 'bout it? Sign at the bottom if you agree."
It's a legal process that lists with specificity WHAT Trump has done that supports impeachment, and refers to the impeachment guidelines and the supporting evidence for the claims. It's a legal document.
The House of Rep is getting their ducks in a row. Mueller will be testifying in May. The public has to be behind it, or we could win the battle but lose the war. Right now, most of the public thinks Trump was cleared. They need to see that he wasn't. At least the non-Trumpers.
pdsimdars
(6,007 posts)But as far as I understand it impeachment is a process, like an investigation. And investigation gathers the facts and information and then writes an indictment or doesn't. Like that at the end of the House process they write up articles of impeachment or not. It doesn't "become" impeachment at the end when the articles of impeachment are written up, but is a process.
And it is that word "impeachment" that the Democrats are afraid of because the Republicans are daring them to come into that briar patch.
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)Impeachment in the House is a vote that says he's impeached for _____________ (then lists the charges against him, and cites the evidence in support).
In the House, it's on paper. It passes to the Senate, which if voted to impeach, then and only then can they remove him.
The Republican Senate will not vote to impeach. So only the House can vote to impeach, not remove him. So it will be a record in the historical records, like Bill Clinton's is.
We shouldn't be rash, just because it will feel good. We get one shot at it. It needs to be done right. And the public needs to be behind it.
Our reps have legal counsel. They know what they're doing. But it's not an easy 1-2-3 like some people think.
The word "impeach" carries a lot of weight. It's important, if not critical, that the public be on board as much as possible, or the Republicans may not only win the Presidency, but may win even more seats in the Senate.
(The Republicans won the Presidential election after the House impeached Bill Clinton, but lost seats in the House.)
pdsimdars
(6,007 posts)buh bye
BSdetect
(8,998 posts)And little is being done to stop them doing similar things in 2020 - assuming there is even an election then.
They have used every flaw in this democracy to insert confusion and hatred.
Ferrets are Cool
(21,106 posts)who is this "WE" you speak of?
What can YOU and I do besides call our reps and vote?
Pepsidog
(6,254 posts)BlueJac
(7,838 posts)Eyeball_Kid
(7,432 posts)The GOP leadership sees everything as just fine. It matters little to them whether Trumpy suspends the Constitution-- something that's nearly a guarantee if he's not stopped in his tracks. The logic of his actions, when we survey the above "it's bad enough" litany, is that the only way he can protect himself from defeat is if he continues to ignore Congress. Doing so then places him at risk of being cut off at the knees by the Judiciary, something that he also must not risk. His only alternative is to render both branches as inferior to his position by suspending the Constitution (He can call a National Emergency, and under the Patriot Act, he can install martial law). That's the odd thing about GOP acquiescence. Enabling Trumpy means that they are disabling themselves. But they are blind to their own demise. If Trumpy respects the Rule of Law, he'll be defeated at the polls or sooner. He can't afford to respect the Rule of Law. He must win at any and all costs. He's lawless and does not view laws as constraining. He simply ignores them and "wins."
GOPers refuse to take lessons from history. They are in the position of Hitler's own enablers from the 1930s. Trumpy is not Hitler, but he's also not a benevolent dictator. But Dictator he is, and he's in the process, RIGHT NOW, of securing his position as the unitary head of all of government. GOPers may or may not understand this. Either way, they do so at their own peril. Whether Trumpy wins or loses, the GOP loses. Their status as a national political party is approaching the sycophantic, which means that they lick Trumpy's ass as a matter of course. There is no opposition to Trumpy within the GOP.
If the GOP acts in opposition to Trumpy, they can save themselves from irrelevancy. But they won't. They don't have the nerve, they don't have the guts. They are cowards.
Oneironaut
(5,495 posts)Its always been like that. Its partially why Trump won.
Minorities are INVADING and stealing YOUR money. Ill keep those useless brown eaters out of the country.
Ill make the economy great so that your 401K grows, even if its at the expense of other people.
Ill keep your job safe from the brown job stealers!
Ill take charge from the evil government that wants to steal your money through taxes and Cadillac-driving, Obama-Phone dialing Welfare Queens! THEY dont deserve your hard earned money!
- Ill oppress the undesirables - especially those vile LGBTQs that want to destroy YOUR family structure! This is our America, not theirs!
It doesnt matter how bad it gets, so long as the main group in society is convinced they can maintain dominance over everyone else. They can be kings of the trash heap.
Blaukraut
(5,693 posts)We should have believed him.