I encourage readers to watch as much of the GOP convention as you can stomach.
I watched last night and was appalled by Chris Christie’s speech, in which he “prosecuted” Hillary for her “crimes” and invited the audience to shout “Guilty or Not Guilty.” Of course, they happily shouted “Guilty!” every time. Guilty! Guilty! Guilty! Christie seemed to be auditioning for the job of Attorney General in the Trump administration.
The vitriol directed towards the Democratic candidate for president was truly disgusting. There were repeated chants of “Lock her up! Lock her up!”
I had the sick feeling in my stomach that if Hillary were to walk into the Quicken Loan Convention Center, the mob would burn her at the stake.
The Hillary Hatred was over the top.
When the election is over, one of the two major party candidates will be president. How can they govern when so much hatred is fomented? I would say the same about Democrats: They can rail about Trump’s inexperience, but they should not make him an object of hatred and contempt.
Fortunately I missed the spectacle on the first night when two black speakers ridiculed the Black Lives Matter movement and were lustily applauded by a nearly all-white audience.
But I did see Donald Trump Jr. compare American public schools to Soviet department stores, where the employees take care of themselves but not their customers.
If you want to see the most extreme rightwing convention in our nation’s history, you must watch. It is fueled by anger, hatred, and rage.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Yes, Donald Trump Jr hit a bipartisan note with his anti teacher screed. They can unite on that front for sure.
Similar sentiments have be spewed by Dems: Rahm, Malloy, Cuomo just to name a few.
There is a difference he would have been booed off stage in Philadelphia instead of cheered.
Yes Dems are slicker when it comes to their disgust for public school teachers. They lie better.
Donnie Jr. has the same arrogant demeanor of his father. I wonder how much the Trump progeny are being paid for their adoring performances? A few weeks ago, it was reported that Trump’s ‘charge back’ billing to his campaign included paying his kids.
Today it is reported that his favorite old vet, with whom he is photographed, wants Hillary indicted for treason…and then put in front of a firing squad.
Wonder if he will have his fascist butler, Senecal, speak in his behalf and tell the world, as he did online recently, that Obama should be murdered?
Also wonder how much the fall girl speech writer got paid to fall on her petard for Melania, who is too dumb and too entitled to do anything that requires effort. Her main effort was squeezing into that virginal white dress with the high neckline, to refute her real naked woman lifetime occupation.
This whole scenario is so dangerously manipulated by Dictator Trump who brags that it is all going as he alone directs.
It is so ludicrous that extreme Religious Rightie, Pence, and his Christian Family Values supporters, join in with all this. Cash and power does Trump morality with these folks.
There IS a huge difference between the Democrats and the GOP on the K-12 education issue:
100% of the Republicans despise the very concept of public schools and are committed to getting rid of it: they only differ within the GOP as to what TACTICS might be more effective—immediate destruction or a….gradual…long range…plan to phase them out slowly but steadily…hopefully under the radar where no one will notice until it’s too late…
The Democrats have been very disappointing on this issue, led by the last two Democratic presidents whose education secretaries went from bad to abysmal—the latter being Arne Duncan.
BUT, slowly, on the local and state level, Democrats ARE starting to understand the Big Picture about The Privatization of Public Education and who is driving that vile agenda.
Right now, I’d estimate that about 1/3 of Democrats in congress and in governor’s offices GET IT, when it comes to the threat posed by charters, vouchers, ultra testing and other tactics designed to eliminate our public schools. I’d estimate that 1/3 are essentially ignorant due to not paying attention to this, and the other 1/3 are currently in the pocket of the privatizers.
And the only ones who can change them for the better—using some combination of both carrots and sticks—are all of us. I’ve already seen real progress here in Washington State just by contacting our elected officials, meeting them for a cup of coffee, or attending one of their public meeting, writing them a letter, etc.
We’ve turned a handful of former charter advocates to opponents, whether out of genuine conviction or just pragmatic fear of our growing movement. Who cares as long as it works!
So, please, remember to make the fine distinctions and use a fine blade to dissect what is going on as opposed to a sweeping set of statements that are both unfair and inaccurate if you’re talking about “The Democrats.”
I’ve found that unlike the Republicans, they are NOT an ideological monolith and there are still many signs of hope that we parents and teachers ARE having an impact.
Will let you know when these benefits trickle down to the classroom teacher and his/her students. Still bound and gagged by CCS, SBAC, Teval, NWEA MAP, rankings, ratings, shaming – all of which state and local Dems still approve of and are a part of ESSA. But we got a seat at the table. Woohoo!
One can only hope that the Clinton campaign see’s young Donnies anti teacher screed for the opportunity that it is and exploits it to the fullest. Contrary to young Donnie’s sales pitch, the choices that the hyper wealthy have bear no resemblance to the “choice” that is offered, indeed imposed on the poor and middle class, which is not actually choice at all. What rank hypocrisy for Donnie to praise people that actually work for a living and then turn around and stab the most trusted of those, teachers, in the back. None of that common sense he claims to value was on display there, that’s for sure. Donnie should be thanked for telegraphing the GOPs punches on Ed policy though, that’s an unforced error. If the Clinton campaign flubs the response due to appeasement or wishing to not offend the reformers, then we have a hard road ahead of us.
Ellen you mentioned that Trump has been paying his kids during his campaign. I was wondering last night while watching the spectacle what will happen if Trump wins the Presidency and then goes on vacation to the Trump Tower? Will we all be paying him for his stay there?
Linda some time ago the Democratic political class,went to bed with Wall Street and the donor class. This primary was about the divide in the party that on many issues. It pitted the progressives in the party base against the establishment political class. . But as much as I loath them ,I would rather fight their policy on a bad day then Republican policy on a good day. Just look at the states where the right has control . Public Education, workers living standards are being decimated.
X out that
I tried to watch but I couldn’t breathe after awhile–I felt I was at a virtual lynching that could become real any moment– what has happened to us?
Did you catch when Ben Carson accused Hillary of being a Satanist? that was pretty over-the-top.
Leonie,
I turned off the TV before Dr. Carson spoke. There’s only so much vitriol one can cope with at a single sitting
Carson called Clinton a secularist. It’s a bit like calling her a Gulenist. (Sorry, I couldn’t resist.)
Junior’s speech was a hurtful argument in favor of fascist, absolutist corporatism over communism. Neither have anything to do with social democracy.
Christie’s speech was — I can’t watch Chris Christie.
I have the feeling most will not be voting for secularism or corporatism, but instead for the stars of Happy Days and Duck Dynasty or the stars of Jersey Shore and Won’t Back Down. (My thoughts from Hollywood, California.)
Lou Holtz, who coached an NCAA champion team (Notre Dame 1988), really lost it, but not on the convention floor, unfortunately. This ardent Trump-ist and ex-Democrat ran his mouth with a lot of racist mess during a speech he gave at a Republican luncheon. (So far, no video has emerged.)
http://occupydemocrats.com/2016/07/19/former-ncaa-coach-lou-holtz-just-went-crazy-racist-rant-republican-convention/
——————
“At a Republican National Convention (RNC) luncheon, the legendary former Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz decided that he had some strong anti-immigration sentiments to share with the other attendees.
” (Holtz) tried to make the case that the current ‘invasion’ of immigrants is detrimental, and that they need to ‘become us’ if they want to stay.
“He continued,
” ‘I don’t want to become you. I don’t want to speak your language, I don’t want to celebrate your holidays, I sure as hell don’t want to cheer for your soccer team!’
“Fortunately for Holtz, in America you don’t have to celebrate any holidays you don’t like; and we are no more obligated to root for São Paolo than he is required to support USC football. Furthermore, immigrants do have entrepreneurial qualities that native-born Americans seem to lack.
“As of 2012, immigrants comprised 18% of small business owners while making up only 13% of the population. They were also twice as likely to start a business as native-born citizens, and almost half of the top 50 startups were founded or cofounded by immigrants. In 2014, immigrants launched over a quarter of new businesses established that year.
“So rather than stipulating that immigrants must ‘become us,’ perhaps we should insist on putting their talents to use to grow our economy. Immigrants introduce vitality into sluggish markets by starting businesses that in turn increase the number of jobs available. America is a nation of immigrants, and we should not turn our backs on the greatness the came along with our immigrant roots.”
Jack, I agree with the author that immigration and tolerance are vital American ideals. I wouldn’t go so far as to call one group of people better or worse than another regarding entrepreneurial skill, but I like the main idea. I hope you weren’t referring to the same entrepreneurial, venture philanthropist immigrant I was, though. Gulenism is a cult and an example of legal immigration gone afoul.
I wondered if he understands this from personal experience. By the way, there’s something going around that says that portion of his speech was plagiarized, sort of.
Apparently Jr’s speech was written by the guy who created the elevator metaphor
He doesn’t know. He is a private school brat like all of the Trump kids.
Eeeeee. Susan, I understand where the sentiment comes from, but wince at watching The Donald’s kids be called “brats.” For starters, they did not pick their parents, nor their educations — tainted by them though they may be.
I agree that their upbringings may have left them without the bandwidth for understanding or compassion, or for any appreciation of public schools they never set foot inside of — but I cannot know how I would have turned out had I had the misfortune to be born a Trump. I am happy to condemn what he said last night (predictably deplorable though it was) — I just hate to see clueless young adults whose lives have been warped by being raised by and among 1%-ers called names due to that misfortune.
JEM,
Young adults are responsible for their behavior. They are not children.
Somehow the Kennedy’s seemed to have a little more compassion for those less fortunate, in spite of being born with silver spoons.
JEM, spare your sympathy. Trump kids have an easy ride, including as many pre-paid hrs w/hi-qual shrinks as they may decide they need in later years. Meanwhile, that such pre-digested claptrap is put forth to citizens as support of a contender for the highest office in the land is an embarrassment. Compare to Bo Biden.
Nope. I am caring for my young grandkids this week. What could have been an educational experience is something I will not expose to a 7 year old’s mind. (I did view Christie’s hysteria and up until minute 8.5 of THE Junior’s through the part that he blabbered about public ed. This party has been a corpse for some time. Not that the other isn’t on life support. Time to just bury this faction (or maybe declare it a cadaver and pull the plug on the other. Future generations deserve better than these two have offered. Nothing productive can be accomplished by viewing the political vomit spewing. There are not enough barf bags.
I’m glad you are doing your civic duty Diane, but I’m not watching that 🙂
Sorry. Most of these people are millionaires or multi-millioniares. I’m not donating 6 hours of my own time to watching them scream at their “enemies”.
They should pay us like they pay jurors. At least a stipend.
I was wondering if the RNC was paying people to occupy seats in that convention center. It looked much more full on Tuesday than it did on Monday.
I think it is very hard to get into the convention. Security must be very tight. If there are empty seats, it means bored delegates.
I had more important things to do. The cat litter needed changing, and the hummingbird feeders were low.
I would bet money Chris Christie already has a lucrative private sector job lined up in case this Trump deal falls thru.
“So long, suckers!”
It took Eric Cantor like 15 minutes to quadruple his salary when he lost. It makes your head spin how well this system operates for insiders. It’s a beautiful thing. They literally can’t lose.
Good call Chiara…this all makes Eric Cantor look like a moderate Repub gentleman. What next? Will they behead someone at tonight’s hate fest?
I always thought of Cantor, who is a foul creature at best, as a “Pink Boy” as described by The Church of Bob. He was always so giddy with delight at his power, that he got to stand up in front of the nation and spread lies and then be rewarded for it.
Ellen’s message made me think of Lord of the Flies. The kids reverting to their true ages, their descent into savagery, etc.
Mathcs…I just posted a longish comment about tonight’s speakers. You might be interested in reading it on the page of new comments, It is about #100. Would like to know your reaction.
And yes, Lord of the Flies is apt.
Ellen
I watch until it becomes unbearable which is quite often and then quickly switch channels. Antonio Sabato (he insists that Obama is a Muslim) and the female AG of Arkansas were vile, obnoxious, strident and over the top. If this wrecking crew gains the total reins of power, we are in for a hellish 4 years. An extreme right wing convention produces an extreme right wing political platform.
Interesting to note, though, Joe — there was very little talk about the platform or policy at all. Most of it was pure anti-Hillary invective. I guess Trump’s position is — who needs to discuss ideas if you can just hurl insults, call people “losers” and criminals, etc.
That is all he has got — (though he is now aligned with much more malignant forces, who DO have an actual policy agenda). Unfortunately, to date, that is all he has needed.
Donald Trump, Jr is too young to have set foot in a Soviet Department Store and he went to a private boarding school in Pennsylvania. He, of course, doesn’t know what he is talking about. But that is the theme of the entire convention so far.
Yeah I think both Trump boys went to The Hill School … current tuition around 50K. It really takes chutzpah for Junior to say he wants every child th have the choice he did. Obviously he had no idea what he was talking about but was merely regurgitating right wing propaganda.
I’m flipping back and forth between CNN and Fox. Some of the CNN people at least recognize how far the Republican Party has veered off into a hate-fest; Fox is treating it as a normal convention. A really good read is Andrew Sullivan’s liveblog in New York magazine. He hates Hillary of course but he is appalled by the spectacle in Cleveland.
I am likely watching too much coverage of this horrifying show. I agree a bit with another comment made. While one might want to have their intermediate level and older children to watch these historic events, it has been too horrifying with statements of “send her to jail” and comparing a presidential candidate to Satan/Lucifer, accusations of plagiarism, and racism, baby killers, and even much worse. A very sad commentary on the leadership in this country. Not the kind of adult behaviors one wants to see modeled for future voters and leaders in our country. I have no idea why anyone in this country would ever want to run for president of this country based on what we have been seeing displayed. There are so many people who could provide effective leadership for this country, but who would want to open themselves up to all the hate-mongering?
Diane, you said: There’s only so much vitriol one can cope with at a single sitting.
I agree. I watched more last night than the night before. I can recall the excesses of the McCarthy hearings but they were quite mild compared to the trial by mob consensus stirred up by so many speakers, including Christie.
Several CNBC commentators praised the Junior Trump’s performance. They were caught up in the style, range of topics with policy hints, and skillful use of the teleprompter. There seemed to be a longing for such coherence in big Daddy-O.
I am dreadfully afraid that Trump will pull off a victory given the tons of money being poured into defeating Hillary, and the slash and burn tactics so evident at the Republican convention.
..and then we will all be called before the Sessions/Pence hearings, and with Christie as AG, most of us will be headless.
Why should anyone in his or her right mind actually watch the GOP convention?
What is there to learn?
Other than the fact that the party officials and convention-goers are cuckoo, that is — which we already knew, at any rate.
Exactly. You’d be better off with a B movie horror show. It would pollute your mind less.
I disagree dear Poet…a rare thing in our friendship. It is imperative to listen closely to these fascists and it is only with our first hand knowledge that we can be truly educated as to their tactics so we can productively refute them.
How does it help me to know that Trump’s wife plagiarized Michelle Obama? I was not going to buy her book anyway. or his, for that matter. I don’t believe a single word ANYONE says at these conventions — Republican of Democratic.
I have never watched a GOP convention and don’t intend to start now.
Come to think of it, I have never watched the Democratic convention either.
I’ve always been an independent and these things just depress me.
Whenever humans get together in very large groups, they start behaving like herds of wildebeest
They loseall ability of independent, rational thought.
Oh dear… let me suggest why it is important.
1-This man who would be king, wants HER to be FIRST Lady! When we elect a president we get the spouse to represent us, too.
2- This little antic, and the DENIALS OF EASILY VERIFIABLE AND UNDENIABLE REALITY, that came after when the TRUTH EMERGED, was DIFFERENT then the lies this charlatan puts out with such regularity, to which we have become inured!
This was clear instance of BEHAVIOR, NOT MEREly DIALOGUE and demonstrated how insidious his behavior is on those around him. I am playwright, and the only way a play offers INSIGHT INTO CHARACTER — and plot, is through BEHAVIOR: actions+DIALOGUE… WHAT THOSE ON STAGE DO AND SAY.
Her behavior is important, as is the way the campaign tried to spin it… after all Trump’s sh*t passes for shinola, why not hers?
Well… she ain’t him….
3- it really insults not only Michelle, whom we ladies really admire, but Jackie, and Barbara, Nancy, Mary Todd, and Dolly, too. it insults the public, too,.
As Sylvain says at Oped, theirs is “The Arrogance of Ignorance!”
http://www.opednews.com/articles/The-Arrogance-of-Ignorance-by-Sylvain-Lamoureux-Arrogance_Ignorance_Living_Questions-160718-202.html is that this GOP ignorance”,
4- And seriously, you have such a great sense of humor… do not Miss this spoof of the Melania Trump fiasco, which everyone knows by now..see her plagiarize Dr. Seuss and Shakespeare.
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/07/melania-trump-stephen-colbert-convention-speech-spoof
5- Finally, although you are tired of it all, and you ‘get it’ seeing the montage of the fear and hate spewing forth that first day to set the tone — THE TONE that this party of NO wants to bring FRONT & CENTER in OUR NATION, is chilling… needs to be seen!
http://www.cc.com/full-episodes/g6v0bm/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah-july-19–2016—michael-steele-season-21-ep-21132
pS did you know if you message me at OPED, I will give you my email, and share my photography with you.
http://www.opednews.com/populum/messagesend.php?to=40790&from=40790&a=n&o=&entry=%2Fauthor%2Fauthor40790.html&submit=Send+Message
Large groups of people act the same way at sporting events — eg, soccer games and concerts where people actually get trampled just like stampeding wildebeest
Seems to me that you are being unfair to wildebeests here!
JEM
You are probably right.
Wildebeest undoubtedly have a more rational way of choosing their leaders than humans do.
Otherwise, they would have gone extinct ages ago.
I may not be in my right mind at the end of this week, but I have been watching a good bit of it. What keeps it interesting is to be watching twitter at the same time. What’s trending that’s related to the convention. I’ve been watching #RNCinCLE and tweeting to that fairly regularly. So in my own small way, I’m participating in the democratic process.
There have been some pretty funny tags also, like #RNCRockAnthems and #FamousMelaniaTrumpQuotes were priceless. Here’s a few of the many good ones.
Give Chris Christie a dozen hot Krispy Kremes and I bet he’ll sweat and tell the truth. #RNCinCLE
#RNCRockAnthems Stealin’, by Queen (of course)
Open-Carry On, My Wayward Son #RNCRockAnthems
#RNCRockAnthems
“Is this the real life?
Is this just fantasy?
Caught in a landslide,
No escape from reality.”
Queen
“That’s one small step for man. One giant leap for mankind.” #FamousMelaniaTrumpQuotes
“Barack Obama is still the same man I fell in love with all those years ago.” #FamousMelaniaTrumpQuotes
Exception, SomeDAMPoet (4:23 comment)! While a few Uk soccer crowds qualify, many of today’s music fans are mellow. 20-something youngest just attended ColdSpring concert at MetLife NJ stadium. Coded wrist-bracelets were handed to ticket-holders, synched to the live percussion & color-show. 83k young adults participating with pleasure in all that non-verbal, non-partisan arty-ness.
Ah so…love you Susie Lee…and wish we could be kayaking right now on your beautiful lake, sipping dry martinis, and listening to the crappers convention. Poet, take her up on the photography..it is Ansel Adams quality…gorgeous. And yes to you, Susie, all the points you make of why it is imperative to know the enemy…from the overflowing bellies of this confluence of gargoyles is best to beating them back. Trump’s hair,and personality, reminds me of that other famous gargoyle, Medusa.
Hey there Ellen… Lenny says he is going to fly out here someday, but right now he is busy tilting with windmills.
You are certainly welcome to visit. The guest room has a tv, a computer (my old mac) and a view of the gardens,the woodlands and the mountains; the lakes are 25 minutes away.
This summer we are canoeing , as a leg injury makes it hard for me to arise from a kayak, which is like rising from the floor, with nothing to push up from and no way to turn onto ones knees and rise. My grandkids are coming for 2 weeks. He is 10 and she 13 going on twenty.
Susan
I think these conventions (not just the Republican ones) are an insult to the intelligence of any thinking person.
I can’t imagine what anyone could possibly get out of what some described above as “trial by mob”.
I don’t need to watch this stuff to know what kind of person Trump is or Clinton is for that matter.
First, you can’t really tell from a convention because the whole thing is a show — a charade.
Second, one can know them from the things they have said and done over the years and there is more than ample evidence to convict them both.
Finally, I actually don’t care what Melania Trump said — nor do i care what Michelle Obama originally said. Both speeches were basically a bunch of cliches strung together. Pathetic by any legitimate standard.
I actually think the whole “First Lady” thing is rather bizarre. These people were NOT elected and not even selected for their expertise and knowledge. I thought that our revolution was about giving up the whole royalty thing, but maybe i was wrong.
I have better ways to spend my time than watching circuses of performing elephants and jackasses
I don’t mean to endorse a particualr candidate, but this ad called “Children are Watching” is pretty powerful: https://youtu.be/mrX3Ql31URA?list=PLt9jO9QkAAoeF7SSQFHqPEyq2dqIA6hZD
Or this video, it’s endless on both sides. These are our choices?
Not sure the link will work, will try:
https://t.co/E8beGWqRbg
Ray, that is an impressive video
Linda’s video is powerful, too. However it spans many years. Senators & Cabinet members, i.e., people involved in hands-on governing, experience the consequences of their policies– which cause them to grow & evolve their policies.
Whereas the Trump clips in the pro-Hillary video are all from recent months, spoken by a candidate who has never held any office. And– unlike the Hillary clips– they are full of swear-words, gross graphic description, & ethnic slurs. Of far more concern to the ‘children are watching’ theme.
Linda’s attempt to counter the pro-Hillary video with the pro-Trump video fails.
That’s an opinion and I agree that one candidate is nastier than the other. And it’s not my video. Hillary’s words are her words.
It’s not pro Trump. It merely sheds light on Hillary. You can be anti Trump and also leery of HRC as many are.
If they are worried about going to hell, they need not be. They are already there.
Chris Christie—with his demagogic mendacity and bombast was arguably the most vile Republican speaker of them all last night.
But I will concede that in this unhinged and very scary mob, he’s got some formidable competition.
Christie calling someone else “corrupt” is like Joseph Goebbels criticizing someone for being anti-Semitic. It’s both outrageous and laughable, coming from the likes of HIM!
Here’s a list of FIFTEEN specific instances of Christie Corruption…and it’s NOT even comprehensive: http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/01/15-chris-christie-controversies-you-missed-101999?paginate=false
As vile as Trump and Christie are, Hillary tweeting about a lack of ethics for Christie last night is remarkable given all of her issues and scandals. Pot calling kettle. She is better of the two candidates but that’s not saying much. More options please…someday.
There are no Clinton “scandals,” you doofus. I suppose you backed the liar and sexist Bernie Sanders.
No scandals. Haha! Very funny Gallant and Goofus.
You’re slipping, the new slogan is #strongertogether.
Get back on message. #Heel.
Linda, your attemp to put Christie and Clintin in the same pot-calling-kettle doesn’t wash. First of all Christie doesn’t swim in the same waters (had he, his scandal-list would no doubt have had deeper repercussions!). But just as NJ gov he’s got at least 5 not even counting his petty revenge-move Bridgegate:
http://www.salon.com/2015/05/16/5_chris_christie_scandals_that_blow_bridgegate_out_of_the_water_partner/
What are Hillary’s scandals? There’s one from the ’70’s including both Clintons before WClinton’s presidency (somethingGate, I forget). Recent so-called scandals (Benghazi & the emails) are no more ‘scandals’ than other steps taken by other officials while in office that the opposite party pumps up in an attempt to drum them out of the corps. Benghazi can easily be blamed on obstructionist Repubs who refused to put State Dept funds where needed. And the email bit is a ‘ho-hum’ to most Americans: we’ve all experienced that shift from ‘I can keep my emails private like this’ to ‘OMG deletions can be retrieved, & hackers can find everything!’ — which is why it’s ‘ho-hum’– we get that tech changed over that period– for Hillary & for all of us, who have in recent yrs had our ‘identities’ stolen & our bank accounts/ credit cards/ dept store accts hacked.
Susan Nunes: “the liar and sexist Bernie Sanders.” Are you joking? Bernie is one of the most honest and decent politicians in the US. He is a strong feminist and for woman’s rights both civil and reproductive. I voted for Bernie but he lost, so I will vote for Hillary to block Trump who is the worst of the worst.
And…it only gets worse for The BIG BOY sociopathic pizza gobbler from my old home state. This man…talking about SOMEONE ELSE being “corrupt” is both bizarre and hilarious. What’s next: Scott Walker decrying unfair treatment of workers, or Michelle Rhee denouncing those who exploit indigent schoolchildren to line their own pockets?
AND…believe it or not, there’s STILL more Christie Corruption beyond this!
http://www.salon.com/2015/05/16/5_chris_christie_scandals_that_blow_bridgegate_out_of_the_water_partner/
Are DC people contractually barred from mentioning public schools?
“Donald Trump hasn’t said a lot about education over the course of his campaign, but at least one Republican congressman is confident the would-be president is on the side of school choice.
“I think there’s every reason to believe, if we could get education choice policies in front of a President Trump, he would sign those bills into law,” said Rep. Luke Messer of Indiana.
(School choice advocates aren’t so sure that Trump’s support helps their cause.)
The GOP convention is meant to show not what Republicans are against, but what they’re for, including school choice, Messer said ahead of a panel discussion on the issue.”
“Education” in DC = “charters and vouchers”. It’s amazing. It’s as if they’ve eradicated public schools already.
Did anyone think to ask the GOP nominee what plans to do with the public schools 90% of kids attend? Apparently not, because who cares, right?
https://www.the74million.org/article/2016-gop-convention-live-blog?utm_content=buffer478b3&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
I hope the Secret Service is taking notes. Some of the demagogues last night were skating on very thin ice.
Nope!
I’ve opted out of that nonsense.
Follow John Prine’s advice:
“Blow up your t.v. throw away your paper
Go to the country, build you a home
Plant a little garden, eat a lot of peaches. . .”
Duane, I never watch TV, although I do read the papers, and the news and some blogs online.
But we did build a home in the country, we have a huge garden, and a working farm.
That keeps us grounded.
I haven’t watched the RNC, and have no intention of watching the DNC, either. I’m too busy picking broccoli, tomatoes, green beans, and digging new potatoes from our garden. Summer squash will be ready soon. 🙂
Makes two of us on the no TV watching! I also live in the woods, had been gardening with my neighbors (around here a neighbor is usually a bit more than a stones throw away) but I currently have back issues and other reminders of long ago fun times that prevent me from doing too much of the bending, hacking, digging, pulling, etc. . . that gardening takes. Oh, well, I still can get some from the “community” garden.
Thanks for your astute comments, I enjoy reading your cogent analyses.
Duane: Will you be blowing up your computer or I-phone? If yes, we will miss your pungent comments.
Joe, believe me I understand the irony involved. Kind of like I like to say I prefer my reality not mediated by technology (and what am I saying that through now, eh). Don’t have an I-phone or cell phone either, just a land line because I’m a skinflint and don’t like to pay twice for something.
While I’m pretty much done commenting on political stuff until after the elections, I will continue to comment on educational matters (and, yes I am fully aware of the political nature of public education). If I feel a need to blow up a computer I’ll get an old one out of the barn and get the shotgun out–KaBlammm!!
All the same I reserve the right to change my mind anytime I see fit or not fit!
And if you cannot, here is a montage of the rage, in this first night coverage from The Daily Show, as that Trevor Noah reviews the convention.
http://www.cc.com/full-episodes/g6v0bm/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah-july-19–2016—michael-steele-season-21-ep-21132
and do no this this spoof of the Melania Trump fiasco, which everyone knows by now.
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/07/melania-trump-stephen-colbert-convention-speech-spoof AND Robert himself, jumping up on the stage dressed as the Hunger Games politico,
http://jezebel.com/stephen-colbert-hijacks-the-rnc-stage-delivers-anti-tr-1783829143
and if you missed Leslie Stahl’s interview with an unscripted Donald http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/07/melania-trump-stephen-colbert-convention-speech-spoof
and this wonderful video on Trump Unscripted… or what to expect when this airhead oaks to world leaders.
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2016/06/the-mind-of-donald-trump/480771/
and finally Atlantic does the issue on his state of mind.
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2016/06/the-mind-of-donald-trump/480771/
I write at at news-site, as many of you know, so I keep lots of links to ‘stuff’ that reveals the OBSERVABLE REALITY, which is ALL, I ever write about, especially when I wrote about education (two of my series at Oped News… where I think that YOU should get the DAILY HEADLINE email, and become readers!!!!
http://www.opednews.com/Series/15-880-Districts-in-50-Sta-by-Susan-Lee-Schwartz-140921-34.html
or the environment.
http://www.opednews.com/Series/Environmental-issues-by-Susan-Lee-Schwartz-160102-16.html
Oh the horrors that Melania Trump would say words that are similar, or same as those spoken by Michelle Obama. What a shame that there is possible plagiarism. The shame is that Michelle spoke words that that were far from the truth. What hard work did Barack Obama do? What words he spoke were a bond? Barack Obama’s apology tour showed his love for this country and its history. Even Michelle “finally” hurt own words, could love this country. The shameful horror is that news print and talking heads never looked at the slogans that Michelle and Melania used – the words have been used by a great number of people praising friend and relations.
But “At this point what difference does it make?”
It is a good thing you missed the 2 black men upset over the vitriolic chants of some of the Black Lives Matter and other chants of pigs in a blanket etc and the murdering of police in cities – yes, I guess that would have been too much for you and the left wingers complaining here other than the fact of the murdering of officers there to protect them – talk about screwed twisted thinking. I guess you couldn’t watch the news of Kansas – upset your stomach? Getting tired of cop killings? It is interesting that Obama invited the leaders of BLM into the White House –
“At this point what difference does it make?”
And leonie – the book written by Clinton has an intro dedicating it to Lucifer…you must have skipped that in your ‘Close reading”
The “Hillary hatred over the top” comment doesn’t match those from the left newspaper headlines today – LA TIMES calling for a coup like Turkey in commentary let alone other headlines of hatred —
Hypocrisy on your side?
Plagiarism – do some history – Trump’s wife joins Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and Joe Biden as accused plagiarists. Even Michelle Obama was accused of plagiarizing part of her own 2008 DNC speech.
Barack Obama: “Don’t tell me words don’t matter.” As then-Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) surpassed Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary, largely on the strength of his oratory, Clinton said that Obama’s record was “just words.” Obama responded in a speech whose refrain was lifted from then-Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick. The Obama campaign did not even bother to refute the claim. Instead, it circulated examples of lines that it said Clinton herself had borrowed from Obama. The left media defended Obama, saying that he had not committed plagiarism, but merely, at worst, “poor footnoting.”
Hillary Clinton: “No bank can be too big to fail, no executive too powerful to jail.” After the Obama campaign accused Clinton of stealing lines in 2008 — a claim supplemented by The New Republic, which accused her of stealing lines from then-Sen. John Edwards (D-NC) — she ought to have learned her lesson. But in 2016, she stole lines from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), who responded by telling NBC News’ Meet the Press, jokingly: “We’re looking into the copyright issues here.” Clinton was accused of lifting other lines, too — and Sanders supporters responded on Twitter with the wry hashtag: #StealtheBern.
Joe Biden: “My ancestors who worked in the coal mines…”. Biden was found to have borrowed heavily from the oratory — and the biography — of British Labour Party leader Neal Kinnock, without attribution. In addition, it was discovered he had committed plagiarism while in law school. The scandal helped bring down Biden’s presidential campaign in 1988 — though Biden’s angry outburst at a reporter — “I think I probably have a much higher IQ than you do, I suspect” — didn’t help, either.
Michelle Obama: “…the world as it should be.” In 2008, the aspiring First Lady was accused by bloggers of lifting lines for her DNC speech from Saul Alinsky. Alinsky wrote, in Rules for Radicals (emphasis added): “The standards of judgment must be rooted in the whys and wherefores of life as it is lived, the world as it is, not our wished-for fantasy of the world as it should be.” Michelle Obama said: “And Barack stood up that day, and he spoke words that have stayed with me ever since. He talked about ‘the world as it is‘ and ‘the world as it should be.’”
“At this point what difference does it make?”
Is there hatred anger and rage – for some yes…but after 7 and half years of the Obama regime and the prevaricating Hillary on her entire political career…what would you expect -disappointment – after 15 minutes by Attorney General delineating every lie she told and then again crossed examined by Trey Gowdy he confirmed the lies…politics over justice?
Comey basically called her guilty –
An extreme lefty wing convention will produce an extreme left wing political platform.
@jscheidell “And leonie – the book written by Clinton has an intro dedicating it to Lucifer…you must have skipped that in your ‘Close reading””
It was the introduction to a book written by Saul Alinski NOT Clinton. Perhaps you need to practice some close reading to see the irony in the original introduction.
1. RE: Melanie Trump speech (occupying most of your diatribe): nobody cares. Even lib news analyst media have been gentle, not wanting to attack her. The only point being made in media is that a presidential campaign which does not adequately vet such an important speech is typical of Trump’s fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants, which does not bode well for the White House to which he aspires.
2. “the prevaricating Hillary on her entire career”? That is an overreach, & smacks of the Repub meme aimed at low-info mainstream voter, “Hillary lies”. I have my problems w/ Hillary but would never summarize them as “she lies”. What, is mainstream US only just waking up? Every president in my memory has lied profligately, most especially on the campaign trail.
I remember my mother telling me in the ’60’s that no one ever thought their govt lied to them– until DDE claimed that no US spy plane was shot down in the USSR [Gary Powers] & had to eat his words. I’m not sure what lies JFK told us, but surely when electing him we had no clue he was sending ‘advisors’ into Viet Nam which embroiled us in a 12-yr war. Both LBJ & Nixon claimed they were de-escalating in Viet Nam [not]. Carter seems to have lied [minimally] in his bio description as a presidential candidate. Reagan lied mightily in his claims that dereg would lower the natl debt (which accelerated 4-fold during his 8 yrs). I’ll give Bush Sr a pass since his yrs were devoted to cleaning up Reagan’s mess. Between W Clinton & George W Bush: both claimed that global trade deals & privatizing public goods would return us to previous prosperity. & Obama claimed ‘change’ yet doubled-down on trade deals & privatization.
See, I’m not even mentioning the disastrous Iraq War, which implicates both Bush & Hillary.
So where are we as regards Hillary the lying presidential candidate? Well, she has evolved her thoughts/ policies in some areas over the yrs (called lies by Repubs). While Secy of State, a few died under her command (did she lie re: Benghazi? Or simply report what she knew at the time? And was that fiasco perhaps due to obstructive Repub Congr refusing to put funds where they were needed?)
And what of the hubbub over emails while Secy of State? I don’t see lying there. I see the same phenomenon that happened to every emailing American over that decade: at first we thought we could protect our privacy. Eventually as tech updated, we learned that deleted data can be re-captured– & worse, that global bad-guys can hack into just about anything & even re-construct deleted data. Despite all that, the FBI after long study of Hillary’s emails determined that there were just a very few threads of classified data that had been transmitted– and that that had happened unintentionally– & that they had not been hacked.
Perhaps they should shout the same for Gov. Christie. As I recall, there is a little thing referred to as Bridgegate in which individuals will soon be going to trial – including his former Deputy Chief of Staff. Christie denies knowledge, but I say, “LOCK HIM UP!”
I so agree!
I don’t vote for evil.
I watched the first night only to fall asleep as the speech by Trump’s wife began. I waited for the hateful tone to change. It did not. When I awoke to find she’d repeated much of a speech made by Michelle O. I just shook my head. It is painful to watch. Has Trump Jr. spoken to Bill Gates and his wife? Is he familiar with what throwing billions of $ at education produces? The teacher union hatred is over the top.
Dear Diane—
I’m looking for info re Gulen the Muslim cleric hidden away in the Poconos of Pennna—- why or how is he heading up or influencing some 150 charter schools—tapping $500million/year from the US treasury.
Would like to know all the facts: history, legality, Muslim control, etc. Anyone have the details? Please advise.
Garth Bishop Los Angeles bixxo1@gmail.com
On Wed, Jul 20, 2016 at 11:01 AM, Diane Ravitchs blog wrote:
> dianeravitch posted: “I encourage readers to watch as much of the GOP > convention as you can stomach. I watched last night and was appalled by > Chris Christie’s speech, in which he “prosecuted” Hillary for her “crimes” > and invited the audience to shout “Guilty or Not Guilty” >
Try charterschoolscandals.blogspot.com for info on not only Gulen, but on what is arguably the single most corrupt market sector in the nation, the charter school sector. Gulen has big problems but does not stand out from the rest in any significant way.
FYI, the blog is a collection of articles and investigative journalism reports from across the nation going back for years and years. It is not merely one persons opinion, as there is so much material that a single,person couldn’t keep up with it even if they never slept again.
Diane has posted a lot about Gulen. Go down to the bottom of the page under “Search All Posts” and type in Gulen. You’ll get enough to keep you reading for a while, most of which have links to other sources which link to other sources and so on. Happy reading.
I went to public schools my whole life except for pre-Kindergarten, and have great respect for teachers, many of whom were there for me when I was having difficult family problems. Seeing Junior’s speech last night made me angry and depressed at the same time. I am 18 years old and was in 10th grade when most of the Race to the Top reforms were implemented in my state (New York). I saw firsthand the way that these reforms frustrated and lowered the morale of the teachers at my high school and even caused a few beloved educators to retire early. Many of them advised me against chosing a career in education, but here I am starting my second year in the TESOL program at the Ohio State University. Seeing the strong grassroots support for public school teachers through the massive opt out movement in New York in 2015 made me feel more confident about my decision. But now, seeing the nastiness directed at teachers by the likes of Trump Junior and Chris Christie, as well as Campbell Brown and other liberals makes me once again feel terribly insecure about my future as an educator. Many of my fellow education majors express similar sentiment, and a few have even switched their majors. As these attacks continue, the teacher shortage will only get worse. At times I think it’s deliberate: maybe these teacher-bashers want to eliminate the teaching occupation and abolish public education for good. It drives me crazy. In the end, though, seeing people like the ones on this blog support public education resoundingly gives me assurance that I am on the right career and gives me hope for the future. Thank you all.
Dear Thughes,
The people you refer to who bash teachers are 1) reactionaries, not “liberals”; 2) could not last as a classroom teacher through one class period
thughes: I am a retired ESL teacher, and I had a wonderful, rewarding career serving ELLs and their families. I do not regret one moment of my long career, and I hope all this “reform” will run its course, and teachers can focus on how to best serve their students. I wish you a great career.
@Dr. Ravitch, you are right, and thank you for replying.
@retired teacher, thank you!
thughes, thank god for people like you. Once you’ve got your credentials, I hope you head for states like mine (NJ) whose local taxpayers still commit alarge part of our income into the public schools. We need dedicated public-school teachers.
You don’t realize how people can hate …
they can hate so much they’ll tear the world to pieces …
― Arthur Miller • All My Sons
That line about the soviet stores was again word for word taken from an article written about Trump! Will have to find the details again tho someone else might already know them.
If I watched, I’d lose a lot of sleep and my trigger finger would start twitching.
Does anyone get a little jealous that when it comes to police, people are really quick to [rightfully] clarify that most are good, but that the same method of thinking isn’t applied to teachers?
If a teacher gets busted for inappropriate conduct with a child, not performing basic job tasks, not getting good academic results, gets a DUI, etc., that LONE teacher’s actions are just further confirmation that we need to abolish unions and so called “tenure,” privitize our schools, judge teachers by test scores alone, and so forth. There’s rarely a clarificatoin that most are good and that they are only talking about a small set of bad teachers.
That method of thinking (or not thinking) was on full display during Trump Jr.’s speech last night.
Huffpo reports that Tim Kaine, on Hillary’s short list of V.P. candidates, supports TPP, the trade agreement. IMO, if she selects Valsic or Kaine, its a signal to progressives that she prefers Republican voters to the Democratic base.
I guess Vilsack and Kaine are “safe” choices, disappointing but better than VP Pence. I’m listening to the hate fest via Mike Malloy…….”LOCK HER UP! LOCK HER UP! LOCK HER UP!” Geez, disgusting.
Agree with you Linda. Both Dems she is considering for VP are wrong to garner Bernie voters. Hillary has enough of our angst over having to vote for her as the only viable candidate, that to choose VP candidates who are traditionalists, and Kaine as a religious non-choice guy, is really stupid. Female Dems are not going to flock to that ticket. I am feeling grim about her chances if she alienates both women voters, and Bernie voters.
As to the Repub Convention tonight. I am still watching and it is fascinating. Nothing beats seeing body language, and faces, and eyes….and all the morons and lemmings in the cheering and booing crowd. Ted Cruz, for the first time, had me concentrating on his words…..and I am impressed that he bucked the system cleverly by NOT endorsing Trump….but joined the chorus of the real Repub power brokers who did endorse half heartedly, Ryan, McConnell, and those others who do not mention Trump’s name but keep reminding their base that they have to vote for all their party members for every office up and down the ticket. They also picked up our Dem line about SCOTUS and are hitting it hard. Thank goodness for Ruth B-G…long may she wave…and Breyer…may they stay well and active on the Court with their younger colleagues, Kagan and Sotomayor…and occasionally even Kennedy. It is SCOTUS that influences my, ugh!, Hillary vote.
But the really fascinating speech and speaker, IMO, was Gingrich. So comfortable shredding Cruz, and so direct in laying out how they must win. Hate his guts but he is one smart and savvy pol.
The rest was pure hyperbole…and Pence is so WEAK…he only looks the part like and actor from Central Casting….pathetic.
I disagree with some of my colleagues here about watching all this play out. I am a true believer that texts and tweets have degraded society and devalued human interaction. NOTHING replaces looking up from the phone, and at each other.
Linda and Joe, you’re right about her courting conservatives instead of liberals. If she picks a so-called centrist I think it will show her true, fiscal conservative colors.
Ellen, I’m with you as usual. It is vital to listen to others speak, to watch their facial expressions, and to do so for much longer than a sound byte or a tweet. (By the way, speaking of watching faces, if you look real close at Mike Pence’s hairline during tonight’s speech, you’ll see that his skin is not the same color as his makeup.) It drives me crazy watching all this. I have literally laughed and cried my way through yet another week of televised assault on the senses and on sense.
I so very much long for a time not too long ago, when each day brought a buoying message from Bernie Sanders. But I’ll keep paying attention to it all, both conventions, even if it’s just Scott Baio talking. Even if it’s just Clint Eastwood talking to an empty chair. And I won’t stop talking and writing about true progressivism and real social values — for longer than a sound byte or a tweet.
If Clinton selected Labor Secretary Perez, I could have a small measure of hope.
I’m listening to Mike Malloy react to the GOP convention. He’s doing the watching and the reacting.
As we approach a general election, I too, was hopeful for a change in American “leadership” across the board. The presidency under Barack Obama has been a disgrace for the American middle class. Riding the coat tails of a message for change, he has proven to be the corporatist puppet that the 1% desired. The presidential candidate who promised to put on his “walking sneakers” and stand with unions actually embraced leather loafers to kick the working class in the behind. The selection of an Arne Duncan will be remembered as one of his biggest disgraces that connects to him for always.
Obama inherited multiple middle eastern wars and instability, and instead of projecting American power in precisioned and logical fashion, he has embraced and offered olive branches of concessions to sworn enemies such as Iran, while snubbing allies such as Israel at every chance he had.
I hoped that someone like a Trump would bring constructive change…with is messages of strongly dealing with terrorism, and enforcing immigration laws that previous administrations have failed to follow.
Hillary Clinton is a member of the “established class”. Her lack of honesty, as well as integrity, are shameful. Her sleeping with Wall Street, only to move the proceeds into the Clinton Foundation are unethical and immoral. And when she stands up for the rights of women, then takes Saudi, Kuwaiti, and Bahraini money, demonstrate her lack of ethics as well as her mastery of deception.
The candidacy of a Donald Trump for president increasingly illuminates the yellow, cautionary lights. While I first embraced some of his messages, with each passing day, I am both screwed and horrified by a possible presidency with Tump. The selection of Mike Pence was scary…as is a Chris Christie in charge of a transition team, hopeful of a future cabinet position. Trump had a golden opportunity to at least try to right the wrongs that are endemic in America.
But his hatred for public education, and him surrounding himself with the likes of a Pence, a Christie, a Scott Walker (currently reciting a diatribe at the convention) demonstrate to me that Trump is no savior of the American Dream.
While I do not trust or take comfort in a Hillary Clinton presidency, perhaps….just perhaps, she can be reasoned with to make the right decisions that would benefit the American people. It is a big hope, but not an impossible one.
A Trump candidacy…I feel…would set the American Dream further away from the American people…back to the age of the 1850s to the early 1900s…when robber barons ruled with an iron fist.
While the office of the President of the United States may right now be beyond being saved by the American people, perhaps the best hope is to vote out the “established” senators and representatives, and elect those who would not sell out their conscience.
Once we eliminate the McConnells’, the Boehner’s, the Pelosi’s, and the Feinstein’s…and bring in a new generation, one that supports pro-American values….will this country reclaim the leadership bestowed upon us by Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, both Theodore and Franklin D Roosevelt, by Truman.
I worry that this nation will further fall into the bowels of humanity under each candidate…and sincerely wish we had done better…
While I fear Hillary Clinton may be a continuation of the failed policies of the last 16 years, there is a trickle of light not evident under Trump.
I must follow my conscience.
Diane, I can barely stand to watch– but just as I was passing thro the room where TV was on, I learned that Ted Cruz DID NOT endorse, simply advised folks to vote their conscience. Never thought I’s have a positive thought about Cruz… !
Cruz stole the limelight from Pence! Cruz will get the headlines tomorrow. In a way, I’m glad he’s not the candidate…..even Republicans hate him.
bethree5, call me a hypocrite, but I didn’t watch. Last night was enough for me. I will watch the highlights. Maybe.
Watch how Trump enters the arena while Cruz is still speaking. And see Jr.’s expression throughout his brother’s speech. Pissed off doesn’t begin to describe it. Tomorrow they will be yelling to “Lock Cruz UP!!”
” It is fueled by anger, hatred, and rage.”
Since their usual, conservative agendas don’t work anymore, and their only choice is the Donald, they clearly are desperate, and all they can do is get mad.
Angry people can’t fight well, and they win a battle only when they get lucky. Hillary will have an easy win.
Diane Ravitch you state
“I watched last night and was appalled by Chris Christie’s speech, in which he “prosecuted” Hillary for her “crimes” and invited the audience to shout “Guilty or Not Guilty.” Of course, they happily shouted “Guilty!” every time. Guilty! Guilty! Guilty! Christie seemed to be auditioning for the job of Attorney General in the Trump administration”
Few months ago you assumed the prosecutorial role and accused one Darnel Early, an appointed emergency manager of Flint, Michigan of poisoning the the poor African Americans and killing 10 of them with the spreading of Legionnaires disease and racism. Your supporters chimed in and one Robert Rendo assumed the role of the judge and sentenced Darnel Early in absentia to death by hanging. He also added that Michigan Governor Snyder, a Republican, should also be hanged.
All the investigations by the Michigan Attorney General, US Attorney General, US congress, FBI, University of Michigan Flint Course on Flint water Crisis, the FBI and many other respectable organizations did not find Darnel Early guilty.
Based on your posting on the Flint Water Crisis, I am appalled at your position on Governor Chris Christie’s speech and the response of the crowd.
I strongly condemn both Governor Christie’s speech, your former position on the Flint water crisis and your current post.
Raj,
You are making ridiculous assertions. There is something in our country called the First Amendment. Any citizen can say whatever they want. But when you say it on national television to an audience of 25-30 million people, you must take care to be responsible and choose your words carefully so as not to incite a mob. What I or any reader of this blog writes will not, never has, incited a mob.
Chris Christie’s speech was abhorrent, irresponsible, and despicable. He incited the crowd in front of him to chant “Lock her up, lock her up,” referring to the Democratic president for president.
That you can’t tell the difference between what is written on this blog and what is spoken from the podium at the Republican convention to a national audience is astonishing.
Raj does not astonish me with his total ignorance. One cannot cry fire in a crowed room.
Freedom of speech, intended to ensure that TRUTH cannot be hidden, is not the same as freedom of expression. One can express one’s opinion in many ways in private,, but not it lacks TRUTH, and incites a riot, or endangers people en masse
Allowing propaganda and liars to prevail is in no way the INTENTION of the law.
Today, lies have become the new reality… and the ‘false equivalency’ argument has put us in a place where a monster might become president.
I posted this here, yesterday, but since it’s appearance I have heard many pundits talk about the false equivalency that the liars use so well to ‘balance’ the news.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/18/opinion/both-sides-now.html?ref=international&_r=0
This man can’t deal with reason whatsoever. Compared to highly densed toxic white foam of poisonous invective coming out from their mouths, your claim sounds nothing more than a cranked up robo voice.
This keeps disappearing on the Internet I wonder why. Concerns many have about Hillary.
View at Medium.com
Linda,
Most of the allegations in that article are a rehash of long discredited charges. Why would Bernie Sanders support her if he believed even half the stuff that this writer said?
I partially watched the convention online. All I could come up with was gross, disturbing, mind-numbing, brain-draining. I felt like I was watching Marylin Mason’s triple-bill Shock Rock Horror: “Portrait of American Family” “Sweet Dreams” and “Anti-Christ Superstar.”
No, I can’t watch. What is the point of getting upset over all that hatred. I know who I am voting for.