"“I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts.” " (Abraham Lincoln)
And this, good friends, is the root of the problem. Lies. Ever since before the dawn of Faux News, a large contingent of the American people have been indoctrinated with propaganda not based upon truth. They are now convinced that up is down, day is night, and lies are truth. This condition is exceptionally difficult to combat. Currently, we aren't doing too well to change it.
Steve , there real modern push to mislead "we the people" started with Ronal Reagan insisting that the Government was the problem and began to roll down the hill everything that since the earlier 30's made American great. 45 years later, we had rolled down so far that now we are facing the abyss. We are art a point of no return. Collectively we have to find a way to stop the destruction of the Democratic system and start rebuilding it from the ground up, as a more perfect union.
Exactly so. Note I said "before the dawn of Faux News". Indeed it goes back to Richard Nixon who started people doubting our institutions, and made worse by Ronald Reagan and Newt Gingrich. The rest, as is said, is history.
It's the height of irony that they changed a perfectly named airport to include Reagan's name. It's still Washington National or just National Airport.
We can now say the same thing about the Gulf of Mexico.
I've been sayin' that Hakeem Jeffries can identify about 20 House Republicans who possibly could flip. Three are Cuban Americans from Miami. Here's a letter from a MAGAT, my rep, who represents a majority Dem district.
Yesteerday I posted a series of letters. I've written her several times. I reminded her about the prooblem with Treasury, and about the Ukraine vs Putin problem. She is a member of the Foreign Affairs committee.
I also reminded her that there are about a million humanitarian visas and most of the sponsors are in Miami, many in her district.
We have two others. Gimenez was our Democratic mayor until 2020 when he flipped for Trump. Diaz Barlart's brother, Jose, is a MSNBC talking head.
We have a Democratic majority, county wide. Psy ops was effective and many Dems voted for Trump and the 3 amigos.
Now thery are screwed.
Please identify all these reps and interview them. Pressure them.
Imagine if all those unhappy constituents and those affected show up every day to protest.
I think we need to do this...make it part of the dues for living in America's democracy. some are stupid ,and you need to tell them exactly what to do because apparently they are unable to figure it out for themselves and they have really messed it up for the rest of us. Lets copy Austrailia instead of Russia.
Misinformation is a very real problem. I do not think it helps to pinpoint the "start" of it. Lies are a very common thread in political life, anywhere and everywhere and anytime. We are going through just another cycle of it. Trust is a very scarce commodity; with it goes truth. Difficult times, my friends, difficult times. Perseverance, my friends, perseverance.
I watched a you Tube video this morning where he signed an EO with no understanding of the words in the EO. Musk is President. Trump is spokesman for Project 2025.
"Our stormy present moment." Funny. Like it could all change tomorrow, or next week.
What's the deal with the language? CNN calls it a "reshape" of the government. NYT calls it an "overhaul." Why won't someone use the word "destroy"? How about "demolish"?
And what a mandate behind it! A margin of one and one-half percentage points. But the electoral college allows them to think they have permission to tear it all down.
Trump/Musk/Vance defy the courts and SCOTUS will approve. That's what you're looking at, legacy media -- Our Lady of the Stormy Present Moment. I dare you to tell me this is not The End.
Tried that re 1/6 to zero effect, followed by betrayal at the polls and pardons for the criminals. I want zero French in this discussion. I want Americans to see what they've done in hard, pure, clear American English. Btw just in the past few minutes another NYT headline self-deception just rolled in, courtesy MSNBC, for a Peter Baker piece. What we're witnessing is "An Aggressive Flexing of Power." Why not the shorter, punchier "dictatorship"? Mainstream media is dropping rose petals in his path.
The media has been doing so since he descended that golden escalator at Trump Plaza in New York. For them, (I'll no longer call them journalists) Trump was their new cash cow and shiny object. He kept priming them with more and more weird prattle, hate, and fear, and has successfully turned the heads of a lot of the people
Bob, they are going to say anything to avoid the truth and prevent confrontation with the felon while a coup is in full swing. The traditional media doesn't have " big balls " anymore .
Honoring Abraham Lincoln on his birthday is so apt. I had remembered it, and I am glad you did, too. He was, of course, President during the Civil War, that time of history when our country was last divided to the extent it is now. From his wisdom and his heart, he helped bring about an end to that war and reunited our country. This at a time with none of the technology we enjoy today. If that can be done then, it can be done now. Remembering his legacy and our inheritance of that is our key. Thank you!
We ought to be paying far more attention to Lincoln’s insights then we do. And although the quotes contained in this post are completely relevant, I’d suggest a far more well-known ‘bit’ is even more so.
“Now we are engaged in a great Civil War, testing whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated can long endure”.
To many, I suppose, his voice seems to come muted, as from a long distance. Yet at the age of nearly 80, I could have spoken to a man who, had he been in the area at the time, could have heard Lincoln in person. We are also that close.
“It rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us .... that government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish from the earth.”
I really appreciate uplifting words, so thank you, James Quinn. While we all are horrified by current events, I'd like to look upwards instead of moaning. There have been worse times, and better times. Earlier today I saw on C Span very uplifting civil servants at Capitol speaking up and being literally up. Power, speaking up and courage.
Today is actually my birthday too. It’s been an honor to share it with Abraham Lincoln and thank you for this piece. It is encouraging. I’m 100% behind everything you’re doing. Thank you again.
We are surely two countries right now. What is the one communication that doesn’t divide us into channels? Billboards. We need to grab up the 350,000 billboards and start a campaign. We ALL see those. And there are more in red states than blue.
Dropping flyers from above is far more effective. It forces people to pick something up and possibly read it. It worked during WWII —! We need much more direct human interaction. Relying solely on the internet is the death of democracy.
I wish...when was the last time you saw an american pick something up ?? There is trash everywhere(quite often steps from a trash can) I'm not sure how this translates to americans being idiots but am sure it does....
We are here with you, and gathering in strength. The courts decide what is legitimate and what is illegitimate. That is their job, not JD Vance’s, and the courts are standing strong. Where they need to be backed up, we will back them up by taking to the streets en masse. On every street in which Mump plans to travel, it will not be possible. When they ignore the courts, our first wave of protestors will cross the Rappahannock and the Potomac. We will be in the hundreds of thousands, but only until our reserves arrive after crossing the Susquehanna and the Delaware. Then we will be in the millions. https://hotbuttons.substack.com/p/peaceful-and-lawful?r=3m1bs
I’m reminded of a comment from Hubert Humphrey: Never underestimate the intelligence of the people, but never overestimate the level of their [accurate] information.
"A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it." - Kay (Tommy Lee Jones), Men in Black (1997), written by Lowell Cunningham and Ed Solomon
Lincoln would indeed be ashamed, I imagine, at the degradation of his Republican Party!
Is there anything stopping the convicted felon and his Rasputin musk from simply delaying and delaying responding to the many lawsuits? That’s been his tactic and it was successful EXCEPT in my state NY!
"Lincoln would indeed be ashamed, I imagine, at the degradation of his Republican Party!"
I think Washington had it right about how far our country has strayed away from the Founders' vision when he allegedly said, "Me and my homies woulda been stacking bodies by now."
"“I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts.” " (Abraham Lincoln)
And this, good friends, is the root of the problem. Lies. Ever since before the dawn of Faux News, a large contingent of the American people have been indoctrinated with propaganda not based upon truth. They are now convinced that up is down, day is night, and lies are truth. This condition is exceptionally difficult to combat. Currently, we aren't doing too well to change it.
Steve , there real modern push to mislead "we the people" started with Ronal Reagan insisting that the Government was the problem and began to roll down the hill everything that since the earlier 30's made American great. 45 years later, we had rolled down so far that now we are facing the abyss. We are art a point of no return. Collectively we have to find a way to stop the destruction of the Democratic system and start rebuilding it from the ground up, as a more perfect union.
Exactly so. Note I said "before the dawn of Faux News". Indeed it goes back to Richard Nixon who started people doubting our institutions, and made worse by Ronald Reagan and Newt Gingrich. The rest, as is said, is history.
I would add Rush Limbaugh and G. Gordon Liddy.
Good point 👍
It's the height of irony that they changed a perfectly named airport to include Reagan's name. It's still Washington National or just National Airport.
We can now say the same thing about the Gulf of Mexico.
I was working in the airlines during PATCO. It was a nightmare.
Absolutely right!!!
"And this too shall pass"
I've been sayin' that Hakeem Jeffries can identify about 20 House Republicans who possibly could flip. Three are Cuban Americans from Miami. Here's a letter from a MAGAT, my rep, who represents a majority Dem district.
https://files.constantcontact.com/1849eea4801/cd2e90be-43c8-4171-b3c6-a357621f7db9.pdf?_gl=1*uo1jgf*_ga*MDMwMjhjMzctZTFlNy00YzExLWE3NTEtZGUxMmY1OGY0YjEw*_ga_14T5LGLSQ3*MTczNzc0NTk1My4zLjEuMTczNzc0Njg2Ny44LjAuMA..
Yesteerday I posted a series of letters. I've written her several times. I reminded her about the prooblem with Treasury, and about the Ukraine vs Putin problem. She is a member of the Foreign Affairs committee.
I also reminded her that there are about a million humanitarian visas and most of the sponsors are in Miami, many in her district.
We have two others. Gimenez was our Democratic mayor until 2020 when he flipped for Trump. Diaz Barlart's brother, Jose, is a MSNBC talking head.
We have a Democratic majority, county wide. Psy ops was effective and many Dems voted for Trump and the 3 amigos.
Now thery are screwed.
Please identify all these reps and interview them. Pressure them.
Imagine if all those unhappy constituents and those affected show up every day to protest.
imagine if everyone gave a damn and voted....
Maybe the Australians have the right idea. You can be fined for not voting.
I think we need to do this...make it part of the dues for living in America's democracy. some are stupid ,and you need to tell them exactly what to do because apparently they are unable to figure it out for themselves and they have really messed it up for the rest of us. Lets copy Austrailia instead of Russia.
Too right.
I suggest sending this along to her:
https://www.wonkette.com/p/an-open-letter-to-the-17-sane-congressional
That letter is way too long. Not even the office help of any politician will bother to read it.
Whatever we do, we had better do it soon!
As my friends in Minnesota say, "ya damn betcha!"
You mean it's not the Gulf of America? Gee, you could have fooled me!
Misinformation is a very real problem. I do not think it helps to pinpoint the "start" of it. Lies are a very common thread in political life, anywhere and everywhere and anytime. We are going through just another cycle of it. Trust is a very scarce commodity; with it goes truth. Difficult times, my friends, difficult times. Perseverance, my friends, perseverance.
I do not see an active link to read the two stories.
Apologies, friends! It's fixed now but we're grateful to those of you who helped point others to the articles.
Thanks for the quick fix.
Go to the home page:
https://contrarian.substack.com
You will see both articles. Here is link to first one.
https://contrarian.substack.com/p/trumps-chaos-creation-and-its-consequences
Thanks
Me either.
I don't either.
Same
It seems something isn't working this morning....
I watched a you Tube video this morning where he signed an EO with no understanding of the words in the EO. Musk is President. Trump is spokesman for Project 2025.
"Our stormy present moment." Funny. Like it could all change tomorrow, or next week.
What's the deal with the language? CNN calls it a "reshape" of the government. NYT calls it an "overhaul." Why won't someone use the word "destroy"? How about "demolish"?
And what a mandate behind it! A margin of one and one-half percentage points. But the electoral college allows them to think they have permission to tear it all down.
Trump/Musk/Vance defy the courts and SCOTUS will approve. That's what you're looking at, legacy media -- Our Lady of the Stormy Present Moment. I dare you to tell me this is not The End.
"Our stormy present moment" was a nod to the Lincoln quote
Why not recognize and use the term coup? That's literally what we are facing.
Tried that re 1/6 to zero effect, followed by betrayal at the polls and pardons for the criminals. I want zero French in this discussion. I want Americans to see what they've done in hard, pure, clear American English. Btw just in the past few minutes another NYT headline self-deception just rolled in, courtesy MSNBC, for a Peter Baker piece. What we're witnessing is "An Aggressive Flexing of Power." Why not the shorter, punchier "dictatorship"? Mainstream media is dropping rose petals in his path.
The media has been doing so since he descended that golden escalator at Trump Plaza in New York. For them, (I'll no longer call them journalists) Trump was their new cash cow and shiny object. He kept priming them with more and more weird prattle, hate, and fear, and has successfully turned the heads of a lot of the people
Excellent comment Bob. We are being brain washed by any means possible 24/7 and we still don't have a loud, clear and simple message to counteract.
Seconds ago, the new CNN (Fox News Lite) used "upend." For those scoring at home, Trump is trying to "upend" government.
With an assist from a 19-year-old who calls himself "Big Balls," of course.
Bob, they are going to say anything to avoid the truth and prevent confrontation with the felon while a coup is in full swing. The traditional media doesn't have " big balls " anymore .
Not just Lincoln who was born on 12 February 1809. Charles Darwin was born on the same day (same year).
Honoring Abraham Lincoln on his birthday is so apt. I had remembered it, and I am glad you did, too. He was, of course, President during the Civil War, that time of history when our country was last divided to the extent it is now. From his wisdom and his heart, he helped bring about an end to that war and reunited our country. This at a time with none of the technology we enjoy today. If that can be done then, it can be done now. Remembering his legacy and our inheritance of that is our key. Thank you!
We ought to be paying far more attention to Lincoln’s insights then we do. And although the quotes contained in this post are completely relevant, I’d suggest a far more well-known ‘bit’ is even more so.
“Now we are engaged in a great Civil War, testing whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated can long endure”.
To many, I suppose, his voice seems to come muted, as from a long distance. Yet at the age of nearly 80, I could have spoken to a man who, had he been in the area at the time, could have heard Lincoln in person. We are also that close.
“It rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us .... that government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish from the earth.”
I doubt any American ever put it better.
I really appreciate uplifting words, so thank you, James Quinn. While we all are horrified by current events, I'd like to look upwards instead of moaning. There have been worse times, and better times. Earlier today I saw on C Span very uplifting civil servants at Capitol speaking up and being literally up. Power, speaking up and courage.
Today is actually my birthday too. It’s been an honor to share it with Abraham Lincoln and thank you for this piece. It is encouraging. I’m 100% behind everything you’re doing. Thank you again.
We are surely two countries right now. What is the one communication that doesn’t divide us into channels? Billboards. We need to grab up the 350,000 billboards and start a campaign. We ALL see those. And there are more in red states than blue.
Dropping flyers from above is far more effective. It forces people to pick something up and possibly read it. It worked during WWII —! We need much more direct human interaction. Relying solely on the internet is the death of democracy.
I wish...when was the last time you saw an american pick something up ?? There is trash everywhere(quite often steps from a trash can) I'm not sure how this translates to americans being idiots but am sure it does....
go to Europe no trash on the ground ANYWHERE.
I like your idea because I suggested it two weeks ago. Get flyers out and step them in every door
problem with that : red states can't read
We are here with you, and gathering in strength. The courts decide what is legitimate and what is illegitimate. That is their job, not JD Vance’s, and the courts are standing strong. Where they need to be backed up, we will back them up by taking to the streets en masse. On every street in which Mump plans to travel, it will not be possible. When they ignore the courts, our first wave of protestors will cross the Rappahannock and the Potomac. We will be in the hundreds of thousands, but only until our reserves arrive after crossing the Susquehanna and the Delaware. Then we will be in the millions. https://hotbuttons.substack.com/p/peaceful-and-lawful?r=3m1bs
Contempt. https://www.newsweek.com/what-judges-can-do-if-trump-ignores-court-orders-opinion-2029455
Double penalties for ensuing violations to infinity.
Can you please boost details of the February 17 national day of protest? Some of us plan to be contrary and would like company.
I’m reminded of a comment from Hubert Humphrey: Never underestimate the intelligence of the people, but never overestimate the level of their [accurate] information.
"A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it." - Kay (Tommy Lee Jones), Men in Black (1997), written by Lowell Cunningham and Ed Solomon
There were some great thoughtful lines in that movie.
On another topic that this regime declared as its primary purpose, finding government fraud & abuse, I wonder about these questions too.
Where are the reports of fraud & abuse?
How much $ are we saving for the people because we found it?
How are the people's lives improved as a result of finding this fraud & abuse?
I'm sure there's more we need to find out about this data but I'll leave that to those more privy to these frauds & abuses.
Lincoln would indeed be ashamed, I imagine, at the degradation of his Republican Party!
Is there anything stopping the convicted felon and his Rasputin musk from simply delaying and delaying responding to the many lawsuits? That’s been his tactic and it was successful EXCEPT in my state NY!
"Lincoln would indeed be ashamed, I imagine, at the degradation of his Republican Party!"
I think Washington had it right about how far our country has strayed away from the Founders' vision when he allegedly said, "Me and my homies woulda been stacking bodies by now."
Help! When I click on the title of an article, all I get is the image, enlarged. How can I read the articles? I am a subscriber. Thanks!
https://contrarian.substack.com/p/trumps-chaos-creation-and-its-consequences
thank you! But this is only one of the articles. I was hoping to be able to read all of them.
Sincere apologies, Roxana. That was a Contrarian glitch--the links are now there (but thank you Deborah for sharing the first)!
Let’s Declare our Independence from King Donald, and his Rasputin: Musk!
king don the john the first...we need to make sure there is no 2nd