February 17: Featuring Jen Rubin in conversation with Heather Cox Richardson and with HW Brands, April Ryan, the New Deal Descendants, Ted Widmer--plus a special presidential reel
But where is the Contrarian? With WAY OVER 50 protests in 50 states with 1 theme - and a dearth of coverage by legacy media, I had expected the Contrarian to pick up the slack. You seem to be MIA?
"If we are to have another (Civil War) , I predict that the dividing line will not be the Mason and Dixon line, but between patriotism and intelligence on one side, and superstition, ambition, and ignorance on the other." President Ulysses S. Grant
Our foreign policy lacks adult leadership. The world is dumbfounded by our dummies going abroad. At least our leaders are not yet shooting our citizens, but they will crack skulls and shoot us. We need to be ready for that fork in the road.
Geeze, all I am reading about is how the sky is falling in. It is.
There is no secret about it. Trump told us what he was going to do if elected, and guess what? He’s doing it! No surprise there but what is the DNC and the other talking heads doing about it? Nada, just talking and writing about how the sky is falling in. #$@%#
All I would like to see is one strong Dem take charge of this moment and lead the way to getting Trump and his lackys, run out on a rail. But who is that? It would have to be someone who is not afraid of losing the next election as so many of our current leaders are.
The Dems keep asking me for more money, hell, I gave them money, what did they do with it, they got Trump elected with their stupidity. After 60 years, I’m looking for another party.
Fair criticism of Democratic leadership (sic), but Chris Murphy, AOC, and a few others aren’t letting fear of losing the next election keep them from opposing Trump’s and Musk’s autocratic moves. We need to reward them with enthusiastic support. When will it sink in on Schumer or Jeffries that protecting Dems in 2026 is futile if democracy-loving voters see them as dithering cowards?
I agree too that fundraising appeals from incumbents who are doing nothing about the current crisis are just annoying. I’m especially tired of freshmen whose texts and emails suggest that having got themselves elected last year is enough in this moment, and I know we’re not alone.
Another aspect to all of this is the loss of institutional knowledge for our country. I read this morning that there is an order at OSHA to dump all past instruction publications on safety regulations - including any hard copies of past standards. This is the most ignorant thing to be doing anywhere throughout government.
Trump has also stopped security briefings for past presidents and generals and Secretary of States which means that their institutional knowledge will not be factored into new situations where critical decisions must be made. That’s also just plain stupid.
This morning Trump fired his recent (3 weeks ago) appointment as the person in charge of our National Archives…you know, that place where the documents related to the history of our country are stored? Trump will now name his personal personal replacement for that job.
What a perfect setup to have any historical documentation related to our country that Trump dislikes - as well as damaging records about himself - disappear.
Here is a comment from the tombstone of a B-17 pilot from WW-II. It comes from the same sentiment and helps provide a lighthouse to guide the way: "The quality of ideas is the foundation of true authority". Power without authority quickly rots into evil. Power derived from such authority is necessary in choosing a better path. Sufficiency comes from eternal vigilance.
Your Substack Live at 2 pm Eastern today conflicts with “Not My President” demonstrations starting at noon local time in the western half of the country. Public action is needed. You should get out of the way.
I'm curious about two things today - did any politician show up to the protests to stand with their constituents? And why am I only seeing local media covering these events? Where are the national news outlets?
WE used to celebrate real, honest-to-goodness presidents! Now, we have the perfect example of a phony 100% no count! Nothing is real or truthful. Just an orange TV entertainer who does not even know his lines. A man who never stops talking while saying nothing! He is a fake thru and thru! What a sad shame that the next generation may never know what real presidents are made of instead of this mixture of disposal trash that stands for zero!
Is there a single place where someone has LISTED ALL THE FIRINGS IN THE US GOVERNMENT government? I would love to see that to show others how extreme these movements by Elon Musk are!
It’s a TRAVESTY that there is a non-elected dufus in the Oval Office. Neither the Felon nor the FElon are my President. I emailed my Congressman and my Senators this morning to ask them what they plan to do to remedy this, and the latter’s efforts to seize my tax info. Happy Contrarians’ Day!
Has anyone heard about the ‘Economic black out February 28- 24 hours’? Is this a real thing that could work or just the internet trying to get something going? I’ve been forwarded it a couple of times but it seems dubious to me on it having an effect.
Regarding truth and integrity I should have said Jimmy Carter, rather than Washington and Lincoln, as great and presidential as they were--and you related in your discussion. Pls correct. Thank you.
My celebration of Contrarions Day today in DC - protesting on the Mall with thousands of others. Let our voices be heard!
WE the People are listening! Speak up!
Way up! We need to hear.
Come forth from your silence!
You will have our support!
thank you for doing that
But where is the Contrarian? With WAY OVER 50 protests in 50 states with 1 theme - and a dearth of coverage by legacy media, I had expected the Contrarian to pick up the slack. You seem to be MIA?
There’s more than one way to skin a cat.
"If we are to have another (Civil War) , I predict that the dividing line will not be the Mason and Dixon line, but between patriotism and intelligence on one side, and superstition, ambition, and ignorance on the other." President Ulysses S. Grant
How correct he was. Dang!
Our foreign policy lacks adult leadership. The world is dumbfounded by our dummies going abroad. At least our leaders are not yet shooting our citizens, but they will crack skulls and shoot us. We need to be ready for that fork in the road.
https://bit.ly/4b5wkL4
Geeze, all I am reading about is how the sky is falling in. It is.
There is no secret about it. Trump told us what he was going to do if elected, and guess what? He’s doing it! No surprise there but what is the DNC and the other talking heads doing about it? Nada, just talking and writing about how the sky is falling in. #$@%#
All I would like to see is one strong Dem take charge of this moment and lead the way to getting Trump and his lackys, run out on a rail. But who is that? It would have to be someone who is not afraid of losing the next election as so many of our current leaders are.
The Dems keep asking me for more money, hell, I gave them money, what did they do with it, they got Trump elected with their stupidity. After 60 years, I’m looking for another party.
Fair criticism of Democratic leadership (sic), but Chris Murphy, AOC, and a few others aren’t letting fear of losing the next election keep them from opposing Trump’s and Musk’s autocratic moves. We need to reward them with enthusiastic support. When will it sink in on Schumer or Jeffries that protecting Dems in 2026 is futile if democracy-loving voters see them as dithering cowards?
I agree too that fundraising appeals from incumbents who are doing nothing about the current crisis are just annoying. I’m especially tired of freshmen whose texts and emails suggest that having got themselves elected last year is enough in this moment, and I know we’re not alone.
the only party I'm looking for right now is the one with free wine
An amazingly important article.
Another aspect to all of this is the loss of institutional knowledge for our country. I read this morning that there is an order at OSHA to dump all past instruction publications on safety regulations - including any hard copies of past standards. This is the most ignorant thing to be doing anywhere throughout government.
Trump has also stopped security briefings for past presidents and generals and Secretary of States which means that their institutional knowledge will not be factored into new situations where critical decisions must be made. That’s also just plain stupid.
This morning Trump fired his recent (3 weeks ago) appointment as the person in charge of our National Archives…you know, that place where the documents related to the history of our country are stored? Trump will now name his personal personal replacement for that job.
What a perfect setup to have any historical documentation related to our country that Trump dislikes - as well as damaging records about himself - disappear.
This is serious business. It has got to stop.
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/02/career-civil-servant-end/681712/?gift=otEsSHbRYKNfFYMngVFweMfq5p_iTo295mc0_M3lQp8&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0GP4gfx9LZTY_eGofwSB2OEQ83YCd17FV0B1NRtAfskBEY9xNd-uvznmk_aem_iLqpuerHgmRaaKWeImvY-w
Here is a comment from the tombstone of a B-17 pilot from WW-II. It comes from the same sentiment and helps provide a lighthouse to guide the way: "The quality of ideas is the foundation of true authority". Power without authority quickly rots into evil. Power derived from such authority is necessary in choosing a better path. Sufficiency comes from eternal vigilance.
Your Substack Live at 2 pm Eastern today conflicts with “Not My President” demonstrations starting at noon local time in the western half of the country. Public action is needed. You should get out of the way.
sadly my local "not my president" event in Burlington VT was hijacked by the palestinians.... I left before they took hostages but am very sad.....
I'm curious about two things today - did any politician show up to the protests to stand with their constituents? And why am I only seeing local media covering these events? Where are the national news outlets?
Where is The Contrarian?
(No politicians in Trenton, NJ, and I didn't see any local media either.)
We had a great day in NY in the streets. We need more!
WE used to celebrate real, honest-to-goodness presidents! Now, we have the perfect example of a phony 100% no count! Nothing is real or truthful. Just an orange TV entertainer who does not even know his lines. A man who never stops talking while saying nothing! He is a fake thru and thru! What a sad shame that the next generation may never know what real presidents are made of instead of this mixture of disposal trash that stands for zero!
OUR country deserves better!
Could not find how to sign up for Contrarians Day. Nothing I could see on home page ... Dang.
Is there a single place where someone has LISTED ALL THE FIRINGS IN THE US GOVERNMENT government? I would love to see that to show others how extreme these movements by Elon Musk are!
The only way to stop the lunatics is a general strike to shut down the nation. Everything else is just pipe dreams.
It’s a TRAVESTY that there is a non-elected dufus in the Oval Office. Neither the Felon nor the FElon are my President. I emailed my Congressman and my Senators this morning to ask them what they plan to do to remedy this, and the latter’s efforts to seize my tax info. Happy Contrarians’ Day!
Has anyone heard about the ‘Economic black out February 28- 24 hours’? Is this a real thing that could work or just the internet trying to get something going? I’ve been forwarded it a couple of times but it seems dubious to me on it having an effect.
Regarding truth and integrity I should have said Jimmy Carter, rather than Washington and Lincoln, as great and presidential as they were--and you related in your discussion. Pls correct. Thank you.