In the summer of 1950, outraged by Joseph McCarthy’s anti-Communist inquisition, Margaret Chase Smith, a Republican senator from Maine, stood to warn her party that its own behavior was threatening the integrity of the American republic. “I don’t want to see the Republican Party ride to political victory on the four horsemen of calumny — fear, ignorance, bigotry and smear,” she said. “I doubt if the Republican Party could — simply because I don’t believe the American people will uphold any political party that puts political exploitation above national interest. Surely, we Republicans aren’t that desperate for victory.”
Senator Smith surely knew her “Declaration of Conscience” would not carry the day. Her appeal to the better angels of her party was not made in the expectation of an immediate change; sometimes the point is just to get people to look up. In the end, four more years passed before the bulk of the Republican Party looked up and turned on Senator McCarthy — four years of public show trials and thought policing that pushed the country so hard to the right that the effects lasted decades. The problem with politicians who abuse power isn’t that they don’t get results. It’s that the results come at a high cost to the Republic — and to the reputations of those who lack the courage or wisdom to resist.
The Republican Party is again confronting a crisis of conscience, one that has been gathering force ever since Donald Trump captured the party’s nomination in 2016. Afraid of his political influence, and delighted with his largely conservative agenda, party leaders have compromised again and again, swallowing their criticisms and tacitly if not openly endorsing presidential behavior they would have excoriated in a Democrat. Compromise by compromise, Donald Trump has hammered away at what Republicans once saw as foundational virtues: decency, honesty, responsibility. He has asked them to substitute loyalty to him for their patriotism itself.
[…]
The Constitution’s framers envisioned America’s political leaders as bound by a devotion to country above all else. That’s why all elected officials take an oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. By protecting Donald Trump at all costs from all consequences, the Republicans risk violating that sacred oath.
Senator Smith’s question once again hangs over the Republican Party: Surely they are not so desperate for short-term victory as to tolerate this behavior? We’ll soon find out.
mika and joe chanted “bedbugs, bedbugs” to get under the twit’s skin yesterday morning and Rachel made sure he didn’t sleep tight (letting the bedbugs bite) last night.Â
Rachel Maddow looks at the recent struggles of Donald Trump’s Doral resort, from a bed bug problem to drooping receipts, and the unconstitutionality of Trump taking payments directly from foreign leaders to engage with the United States. Aired on 10/18/19.
Prediction: if nothing changes on the administration’s plans for the next G7 meeting it will be the G6 and held somewhere nice in Europe.
And….there will be a G2 or 3 at Doral.
Mainly because he needs the renovations and the money.
Kierk
The Euros have about had it with this guy and his Johnson.
Speak out fools or you are going down with him. Â
Rhonda you are a moron
Mick Mulvaney frat boy has the catering contract for the G7n hmmmm franchise Mexican food
Watching Bernie on C-Span now at his New York rally. Not the same, slurring words, slower pace, many pauses, seems to be struggling. He referred to AOC (who did not explicitly endorse him in her introduction) as “Andrea”. Really think he needs to drop out and take care of himself, pass the torch.Â
bern’s probably still on medication this soon after surgery. they might have also increased blood pressure meds which kinda slow one down.  and then again he just might be tired.
Bernie rally on cspan. Several times for some reason he wiped his tongue with his finger. What’s that about? Twice said “flamilies“ and “unner-insured”. Sad faces in crowd, they’re cheering best they can but clearly see his obvious decline. A heart attack at 79 is a big dealÂ
the last hurrahs?
Bernie did his job; now he needs to go take care of himself. Â Â Warren will carry it home to the WH. Â
If that’s the way you want to go out…..gasping for breath in a public area, go for it, Pilgrim……get it off your chest
I think I saw that line in a Audie Murphy movie.)
Did jall know he was the most decorated warrior in all of history? Â Â
I too used to hear often from all my WWII relatives just how decorated Audie Murphy was.Â
Alls I could figure was he musta been pretty damned decorated.
Hey Sturge – Here’s a sailor for you. Maybe you’ve heard of him. He’s one of 32 Native Americans to win the MOH for actions in Vietnam and is the most decorated enlisted man in the history of the US Navy.
Boatswain’s Mate 1st Class James Williams (13 Nov 1930 – 13 Oct 1999). He was awarded the Medal of Honor, a Navy Cross, 2 Silver Stars, a Legion of Merit with Combat V, 2 Navy and Marine Corps Medals, 3 Bronze Stars with Combat V, 2 Navy Commendation Medals with Combat V.
He’s also got all the unit fruit salad plus ribbons for service in Korea and China. After his service he was appointed US Marshal in South Carolina.Â
And yeah – Audie Murphy (20 June 1925 – 28 May 1971) was pretty damn decorated. He’s a personal hero of mine for his determination and grit. He was awarded the Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, 2 Silver Stars, Legion of Merit, 2 Bronze Stars with Combat V, 3 Purple Hearts, all of the unit fruit salad, campaign medals for service in Europe/Africa/Middle East, WWII victory medal, plus French and Belgium medals for valor.
an omen? op ed in wapo yesterday late afternoonÂ
Mitch McConnell: Withdrawing from Syria is a grave mistake
.
some very interesting and very scary answers from bill’s guests last night
history repeating itself?
NYTimes editorial board:
In the summer of 1950, outraged by Joseph McCarthy’s anti-Communist inquisition, Margaret Chase Smith, a Republican senator from Maine, stood to warn her party that its own behavior was threatening the integrity of the American republic. “I don’t want to see the Republican Party ride to political victory on the four horsemen of calumny — fear, ignorance, bigotry and smear,” she said. “I doubt if the Republican Party could — simply because I don’t believe the American people will uphold any political party that puts political exploitation above national interest. Surely, we Republicans aren’t that desperate for victory.”
Senator Smith surely knew her “Declaration of Conscience” would not carry the day. Her appeal to the better angels of her party was not made in the expectation of an immediate change; sometimes the point is just to get people to look up. In the end, four more years passed before the bulk of the Republican Party looked up and turned on Senator McCarthy — four years of public show trials and thought policing that pushed the country so hard to the right that the effects lasted decades. The problem with politicians who abuse power isn’t that they don’t get results. It’s that the results come at a high cost to the Republic — and to the reputations of those who lack the courage or wisdom to resist.
The Republican Party is again confronting a crisis of conscience, one that has been gathering force ever since Donald Trump captured the party’s nomination in 2016. Afraid of his political influence, and delighted with his largely conservative agenda, party leaders have compromised again and again, swallowing their criticisms and tacitly if not openly endorsing presidential behavior they would have excoriated in a Democrat. Compromise by compromise, Donald Trump has hammered away at what Republicans once saw as foundational virtues: decency, honesty, responsibility. He has asked them to substitute loyalty to him for their patriotism itself.
[…]
The Constitution’s framers envisioned America’s political leaders as bound by a devotion to country above all else. That’s why all elected officials take an oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. By protecting Donald Trump at all costs from all consequences, the Republicans risk violating that sacred oath.
Senator Smith’s question once again hangs over the Republican Party: Surely they are not so desperate for short-term victory as to tolerate this behavior? We’ll soon find out.
mika and joe chanted “bedbugs, bedbugs” to get under the twit’s skin yesterday morning and Rachel made sure he didn’t sleep tight (letting the bedbugs bite) last night.Â
Prediction: if nothing changes on the administration’s plans for the next G7 meeting it will be the G6 and held somewhere nice in Europe.
And….there will be a G2 or 3 at Doral.
Mainly because he needs the renovations and the money.
Kierk
The Euros have about had it with this guy and his Johnson.
Speak out fools or you are going down with him. Â
Rhonda you are a moron
Mick Mulvaney frat boy has the catering contract for the G7n hmmmm franchise Mexican food
Well, nothing to note came of the State Dept. investigation into emails under Hillary’s watch.  Let’s see if SFB will stfu about it. I’m guessing he won’t.Â
Stop The Massacre of the Kurds
Guardian ArticleÂ
Watching Bernie on C-Span now at his New York rally. Not the same, slurring words, slower pace, many pauses, seems to be struggling. He referred to AOC (who did not explicitly endorse him in her introduction) as “Andrea”. Really think he needs to drop out and take care of himself, pass the torch.Â
bern’s probably still on medication this soon after surgery. they might have also increased blood pressure meds which kinda slow one down.  and then again he just might be tired.
Bernie rally on cspan. Several times for some reason he wiped his tongue with his finger. What’s that about? Twice said “flamilies“ and “unner-insured”. Sad faces in crowd, they’re cheering best they can but clearly see his obvious decline. A heart attack at 79 is a big dealÂ
the last hurrahs?
Bernie did his job; now he needs to go take care of himself. Â Â Warren will carry it home to the WH. Â
If that’s the way you want to go out…..gasping for breath in a public area, go for it, Pilgrim……get it off your chest
I think I saw that line in a Audie Murphy movie.)
Did jall know he was the most decorated warrior in all of history? Â Â
I too used to hear often from all my WWII relatives just how decorated Audie Murphy was.Â
Alls I could figure was he musta been pretty damned decorated.
Hey Sturge – Here’s a sailor for you. Maybe you’ve heard of him. He’s one of 32 Native Americans to win the MOH for actions in Vietnam and is the most decorated enlisted man in the history of the US Navy.
Boatswain’s Mate 1st Class James Williams (13 Nov 1930 – 13 Oct 1999). He was awarded the Medal of Honor, a Navy Cross, 2 Silver Stars, a Legion of Merit with Combat V, 2 Navy and Marine Corps Medals, 3 Bronze Stars with Combat V, 2 Navy Commendation Medals with Combat V.
He’s also got all the unit fruit salad plus ribbons for service in Korea and China. After his service he was appointed US Marshal in South Carolina.Â
And yeah – Audie Murphy (20 June 1925 – 28 May 1971) was pretty damn decorated. He’s a personal hero of mine for his determination and grit. He was awarded the Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, 2 Silver Stars, Legion of Merit, 2 Bronze Stars with Combat V, 3 Purple Hearts, all of the unit fruit salad, campaign medals for service in Europe/Africa/Middle East, WWII victory medal, plus French and Belgium medals for valor.
Saturday night at the juke joint
jack, your musical research for Sunday’s selection? or just off on a tangent?
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