Historian Heather Cox Richardson writes today about some recent votes in Congress that defined what Republicans are against.
Republicans believe that states should control which rights are protected inside their borders. They do not believe in abortion rights. They do not believe in the right to have access to contraception. They do not believe in marriage equality. They do not believe that women have the right to cross state lines if they are pregnant. (How Will states enforce that last belief? By administering pregnancy tests to every woman under 50 who is attempting to leave a state where abortion is illegal?)
What do they believe in? Not freedom or liberty, since they legislate constraints on private action. They do believe in censorship, bans on behavior in the privacy of your bedroom, bans on topics that may be discussed in the classroom. Republicans want to restore a mythical world of white male supremacy.
Richardson writes:
Far from rejecting the idea of minority rule after seeing where it led, Republican Party lawmakers have doubled down.
They have embraced the idea that state legislatures should dominate our political system, and so in 2021, at least 19 states passed 34 laws to restrict access to voting. On June 24, in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health decision, the Supreme Court said that the federal government did not have the power, under the Fourteenth Amendment, to protect the constitutional right to abortion, bringing the other rights that amendment protects into question. When Democrats set out to protect some of those rights through federal legislation, Republicans in Congress overwhelmingly voted to oppose such laws.
In the House, Republicans voted against federal protection of an individual’s right to choose whether to continue or end a pregnancy and to protect a health care provider’s ability to provide abortion services: 209 Republicans voted no; 2 didn’t vote. That’s 99% of House Republicans.
They voted against the right to use contraception: 195 out of 209 Republicans voted no; 2 didn’t vote. That’s 96% of House Republicans.
They voted against marriage equality: 157 out of 204 Republicans voted no; 7 didn’t vote. That’s 77% of House Republicans.
They voted against a bill guaranteeing a woman’s right to travel across state lines to obtain abortion services: 205 out of 208 Republicans voted no; 3 didn’t vote. That’s 97% of House Republicans.
Sixty-two percent of Americans believe abortion should be legal. Seventy percent support gay marriage. More than 90% of Americans believe birth control should be legal. I can’t find polling on whether Americans support the idea of women being able to cross state lines without restrictions, but one would hope that concept is also popular. And yet, Republican lawmakers are comfortable standing firmly against the firm will of the people. The laws protecting these rights passed through the House thanks to overwhelming Democratic support but will have trouble getting past a Republican filibuster in the Senate.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
RePUG-ni-CONS want to take us back to the DARK AGES.
I don’t agree with word one of what Republicans believe in, but they have a basis for their beliefs – mainly their twisted interpretation of the Bible. They have been delivering for their constituents on those beliefs, which is why their base continues to support them.
Meanwhile (I know, I know, “whataboutism!!!”), what is it that Democrats stand for? I mean, actually stand for, not just claim to stand for? What have they actually done? What have they delivered for their constituents? Healthcare? Climate action? COVID relief? Debt forgiveness? Codifying Roe? Protecting LGBTQ+ rights? Minimum wage increase? Anything? Anyone? Bueller? All they every do is use what they claim to “believe in” as opportunities to fundraise. Literally the minute they let Roe slip away they sent out massive email campaigns using Roe to beg for money from people choosing among rent, food or medicine.
Personally I prefer an enemy who tells me to my face that s/he’s an enemy rather than one who pretends to be my friend, but apparently I’m alone on that around here.
So I assume you feel more comfortable voting for people who are opposed to everything you want? If Biden had the kind of majority that FDR or LBJ had, he would have delivered everything he promised. Instead he has 50 votes, with one (Manchin) vetoing everything that Biden wants to do. Is that Biden’s fault? Why are you blaming him for what voters chose?
Please seek professional help. Or take a freshman high school civics class.
N.Y. Post, July 21, 2022, “Glenn Greenwald Defends Matt Gaetz”.
Dienne and Greenwald, bashing Dems.
Greenwald, Gaetz, Trump, and Putin
dienne77 says:
“Healthcare? Climate action? COVID relief? Debt forgiveness? Codifying Roe? Protecting LGBTQ+ rights? Minimum wage increase? Anything? Anyone?”
dienne77 seems to be ignorant of the fact that those things she pretends to support are in STRONGLY DEMOCRAT cities and states!
When Republicans have one party control of states and communities, not so much.
Why is dienne77 always so desperate to hijack a post about what the Republican party believes in with her lie that places controlled by strong Democratic parties do NOT have any rights for LGBTQ+ and no abortion rights and low minimum wage?
Whenever I see a post by Diane Ravitch whose subject is something negative about the Republican party, I bet myself that dienne77 will post to change the subject to how it is really the Dems who are the evil ones. I’m sorry to brag, but I am almost always right.
dienne77, you have been repeating the same lie about Democrats secretly wanting the same thing as Republicans since 2016.
You got exactly the Supreme Court you wanted. You kept pushing the lie that it didn’t matter whether a Democrat or Republican president filled the open Supreme Court seat in 2016. Why can’t you admit you were wrong? If a Democrat had won in 2016, you would not have to pretend you were upset about Roe since it would still be the law of the land.
But you don’t just post right wing propaganda about Democrats, you lie about the people of Ukraine. You don’t have a good reputation for telling the truth anymore. It’s too bad, because you occasionally have something important to say, but like Josh Hawley and Ted Cruz, the fact that you sometimes tell the truth is meaningless when coming from someone who is always willing to lie to further their agenda.
Here is another dienne77 over the top positive spin about Republicans:
“They have been delivering for their constituents on those beliefs, which is why their base continues to support them.”
It took them 50 years to “deliver” on repealing Roe v Wade. dienne77 says that means that the Republicans “delivered”.
Notice the POSITIVE framing of the Republicans delivering after 50 years? They keep their promises!
But dienne77 is angry that in 18 months Biden has “only” made small victories in the things that Democrats want. dienne77 says that means that Biden and the Democrats secretly want the same things as Republicans but are lying about it.
Notice the NEGATIVE framing? If Dems don’t deliver what dienne77 demands in 18 months, they are untrustworthy. If the Republicans deliver after 50 years, she admires them and defends them against any criticism because they are so honest.
Something is really wrong with this person. All the good things dienne77 cites came about because of DEMOCRATS. But this person spent the 2016 election shouting that there was no good reason for a Democrat to appoint a Supreme Court justice when there was an open seat.
In 2016, the Republicans cultivated a lot of useful idiots like dienne77 to spread the propaganda that it didn’t matter whether a Republican or Democratic president filled an open Supreme Court seat with the Supreme Court tied 4-4.
It sure takes a lot of chutzpah for those useful idiots who in 2016 insisted that the Supreme Court didn’t matter to blame the Dems because they had “18 months!!!” to fix the devastation caused in part by the useful idiots who got their wish and prevented the Democrat from winning and filling that open seat.
dienne77 knows full well that all of those issues she pretends to care about would be addressed if the Supreme Court was a 6-3 LIBERAL majority instead of a 6-3 far right majority.
Typical useful idiot — create a huge problem by pushing far right propaganda and then scapegoat the Democrats for not fixing the problem you helped create and WANTED. dienne77 WANTED to prevent the Democrat from filling the open Supreme Court seat and she got her wish. Scapegoating Dems for not fixing the problem because she doesn’t want to admit she got played.
I voted “against” Jimmy Carter in 1980, but I had the decency and integrity to blame my own ignorance. I am waiting for dienne77 to do the same instead of finding scapegoats to justify her huge error. It’s long past time for her to admit she made a mistake instead of looking for scapegoats.
NYC public school parent
Actually Republicans have delivered a lot more for their base than Roe. Critical to that question is how you define their base. Also how that base views themselves.
Starting with Nixon they coordinated the gutting of the Great Society programs. Say what you will about a voter in West Virginia ; he ain’t Black. Needing a lot of dental work is a far shade from having black skin. So what if those programs would have helped poor Whites
“don’t let my teeth fool you I ain’t poor” .
But Nixon did far more than that. He laid the ground work for Reagan. Carter in response went ‘Right’ to join him . The Regulatory State had created cartels that among other things protected workers in those industries from Trucking ,to Airlines to Telecommunications . Even as Health Insurance consisted of regulated non profits. The whole scheme actually not much different than European Industries which still remain far more regulated and Unionized. The guy you did not vote for in 1980 bought right into the illiberal neo- liberal spin paving the way for Reagan . Right about now a refund after a 2 hour non weather related delay and a free seat on the next flight would look as good to Airline Passengers as it did in the 60s.
Reagan came in and gutted regulations from OSHA to Wall Street to the EPA (your fault not mine I held my nose and voted for Carter) while he massively cut taxes. Taxes and Regulation have been cut in every subsequent Republican administration. The fact that the distribution of the cuts had the majority of benefits going to the top falls on deaf ears, to the guy who got a couple of Shekels back. Even better it was money that was no longer going to “Welfare Queens” .
There is an assertion and I have no reason not to believe it that Trumps name on the Covid Relief checks swayed some of the male Hispanic vote . So a couple of bucks a week in every Republican Administration was more effective than you think. The fact that Juniors State college Tuition went from near zero to a Kings ransom a bit more difficult to conceptually tie to Norquist. While attacks on minorities and “the other” were always delivered to the base .
But if we are looking to assign blame for Biden’s unpopularity on every level it is the moderates in the Democratic party who have blocked his programs , far more than just two Senators . And worse than blocking them they did so back in the Fall when inflation was TRANSIENT pre Russia a problem of supply much more so than one of excess demand. Never failing to parrot Republican talking points. Nor push Republican policy from Welfare Reform ,to a Crime bill, to Wall Street deregulation. Which reminds me can we lock up Larry Summers if Trump gets re-elected.
“it is the moderates in the Democratic party who have blocked his programs”
Do you mean “moderates” like Jimmy Carter?
Larry Summers isn’t in the administration nor is he in office. Janet Yellen is. Which is where I go back to the biased news media, which presents Summers’ broken clock as incredibly prescient because it tells the right time twice a day.
Which “moderates” in Congress blocked Biden’s proposals? I want to know so I can support their primary opponents. What I saw was the House passing proposed legislation and the Senate holding it up.
NYC public school parent
So last I checked the Congress consisted of 2 Houses so beside Manchin and Sinema you can be assured there were several others who would not have signed on if they thought their vote would have held them accountable with their corporate donors.
I kind of use the Pro act as my guide. There were 6 Senators who initially refused to sign on and in the end Manchin was not one of the 3 who did not. . But you can be assured he would have been if he thought the Filibusterer would be done away with to pass it. It doesn’t take a lot of courage to co sponsor a bill you know will never come to a vote or to vote for a bill you know will fail. As for the House again it takes no courage to vote for something that is going to die in the Senate .
Not a shovel of dirt from the Infrastructure Bill will come out of the ground in NY and probably the rest Nation before the Mid Terms. Yet BBB was separated from the Infrastructure Bill . You think Josh Gottheimer and Abigail Spanberger convinced Pelosi to seperate it alone.
“Thanks to the tireless work of the 10 House Democrats we now have a date certain for a vote on the infrastructure bill and it has been successfully decoupled from the reconciliation bill. ” US Chamber Twitter act.
10 was more than enough to kill BBB . They were not alone .
As for Summers and the media we agree. But he provided the cover for those right of center Democrats.
They want minority rule, and they are rigging the system to ensure they will get it. If they get the legislature along with president in 2024, heaven help us.
With the Extreme Court in place to rubber stamp their vote restriction legislation, they will be invincible. And our on-again-off-again experiment with democracy will be at an end.
In addition, the GOP is also against Social Security (thanks, FDR), Medicare, Medicaid (thanks, LBJ), the ACA (grazie, Obama), public schools, unions and any social programs that help ordinary Americans. The GOP gave us the heavily slanted to the right SCOTUS. There is a difference between the 2 parties and I will vote D in 2024. Chris Hedges and Cornel West will not vote for an R or a D because they are so ideologically pure. I admire these 2 men in so many other ways and on so many other issues but to vote Green in a presidential or Congressional election is just stupid. I will vote for Biden or Harris, never a Trump or a DeSantis variant, thank you very much.
“Ordinary Americans” is the key phrase. I wish political discourse were more focused on the great social programs that impact ordinary Americans. There is so much that unites us.
Ron DeSantis is a good example. Most of the political discourse about DeSantis focuses on the things that the Online Left hates most about him, namely (1) his Covid/mask policies and (2) his culture war agenda in schools. The problem with that is that a huge chunk of ordinary Americans actually agree with DeSantis on those things. DeSantis sees (maybe correctly) these issues are his strengths, not his weaknesses. And if DeSantis were the Republican nominee in 2024 and his election is cast as a referendum on things like Covid/masking and culture (CRT and gender identity in schools), that’s bad news for Democrats.
So far, most “ordinary Americans” have voted in favor of teaching the truth about racism, in school board elections. The white supremacists are a minority. But very loud.
What is an “ordinary American”?
Sounds like he’s got your vote.
I wouldn’t vote for DeSantis because I believe that CRT and masking policies are not very important issues in the 2024 presidential election.
Ordinary Americans are the vast majority of people in this country. People who work for a living, and who would be in serious trouble if they lost their job and couldn’t find new work quickly, or if they had a serious medical problem that prevented them from working or that their insurance (assuming they had any) wouldn’t cover.
Also, of course, my vote doesn’t matter much, because I’m in New York. Your vote matters a lot more.
Why use the word “ordinary”? What’s the difference between an “ordinary” American a “real” American?
Matt Gaetz is garden variety (an ordinary American type) – the GOP’s acceptance of his latest comments about abortion rights activists which was delivered at a Turning Points USA event provides the proof of that (and, the proof that women who vote GOP are stupid).
Gaetz was elected to office by Republicans because he’s a uniter of misogynists.
Ask Joe Jersey why he used the term “ordinary Americans.” I’m echoing and responding to his comment.
I see the word “ordinary” as a good way to distinguish between, on the one hand, the small minority of extremely wealthy and privileged people who don’t need to rely on social programs, and, on the other hand, those that do. If you prefer another term, then feel free to use it.
And I also suppose “ordinary Americans” also includes the 99.9% of Americans who don’t earn their living talking about culture wars.
I just checked my voter registration card. Sadly, it says nothing about me being ordinary. I’ll have to check with them tomorrow if that’s an oversight (and not a legislative one). Perhaps I’ll have to turn it in.
The good thing about American fascism is that it won’t be unclear about definitions like this. We’ll know who’s an ordinary American and who’s not. White folks who are doing well now need not fear a thing. It’ll probably be an easier, simpler world for them.
I would hope that “ordinary Americans” would see DeSantis’ incredible authoritarian tendencies and flee from him, but that’s wishful thinking
Since you seen to appreciate DeSantis so much, FLERP, may I recommend the book “Ordinary Men” by Christopher Browning, one of the county’s preeminent Holocaust historians? Earth shattering book. Maybe your perspective on what “ordinary” people are willing to do will change
LOL, ok, but if the phrase “ordinary Americans” is now unacceptable because it somehow has fascist undertones, then Democrats are going to have to come up with a new term to describe, well, . . . ordinary Americans.
Also, the guy who purportedly asks people questions but never answers any questions directed to him is at it again, answering questions and not asking anybody any questions.
In terms of political power, “ordinary people” form coalitions that elect candidates.
DeSantis’ coalition includes women- haters from the religious right, racists, grifters, economic predators like Koch, etc. In general terms, we are able to attach a demographic profile to them.
The “ordinary people” who elected Biden have greater racial diversity, higher education levels, more empathy, use rational thought instead of emotion and their intelligence makes conspiracy theories appear bizarre to them.
McCain said he gave up to much of his soul to get voters when he said S.C. had a right to fly the Conferate flag.
“Ordinary Americans” is the key phrase.
Why would you characterize that as the key phrase in a well-reasoned comment with many other more salient points? You used the term “key phrase”. Many of us don’t understand that and would appreciate an explanation.
I simply wish what most Americans want could make it through all the money and special interests that keep what most Americans want from getting into policy.
As far as Gaetz and DeSantis go, DeSantis is the real threat because he can disguise his baser tendencies. This guy could fake his way into the White House, if he can convince people to buy his snake oil. Gaetz is slimy, but he is too cartoonish to be taken seriously by most people with brain, IMO.
“Ordinary Americans” is the key phrase because, as I said in my original comment, “there is so much that unites” ordinary Americans, and we should focus on those things.
I await your next question!
About “ordinary” Floridians- in the governor elections, 2014 and 2018, 51% and 63% of the pop. respectively, voted. The number of Floridians over 65 is about 21% of the population. If Social Security and Medicare cuts were on the GOP platform, rhetorically, how many DeSantis Floridians would become spokesmen for socialism?
To me, ordinary means working class, and neither party seems to want to do anything significant for the working class. Both parties are controlled by moneyed interests. Every couple years, we choose between two sides of the same coin. You get Koch or Gates. Those are the choices. Either way, Saudi Aramco et al. and Apple et al. rule together. It is so awesome. Gotta love the two party system President Washington warned us against. Oh, you do get to choose between active, overt, white male supremacy and passive, covert ,white male supremacy. Cool.
Speaking of bipartisanship, this from the NPE blog: https://networkforpubliceducation.org/blog-content/nancy-bailey-students-need-teachers-not-tutors-whos-pushing-tutors-and-why/ Both parties want to degrade the quality of democracy-based life on earth.
leftcoastteacher,
Thanks for the link. I noticed this sentence: “Those who support tutors include the AFT and the NEA”.
I appreciate you pointing out that the teachers union is controlled by moneyed interests. Every couple years, we choose between two sides of the same coin. I can look for a non-union school for my kid with teachers who aren’t controlled by moneyed interests or a union school controlled by moneyed interests. Koch or Gates. Those are the choices. Parents get to choose whether they want their kid in a school with active, overt, white male supremacy or passive, covert ,white male supremacy. Cool. You’ve made a great argument for homeschooling.
I guess I’m one of the folks who thinks this is more complex and despite the teachers’ union being far from perfect, I don’t believe the teachers’ union is controlled by moneyed interests. I believe there IS a difference between a public school system with union teachers and one without union teachers. But reading your posts is certainly make me think I should perhaps change my mind about that.
The national teachers unions’ folks are often on the side of the political party to which they aspire, just like corporate folks, instead of being on the side of educators. It’s frustrating.
Joe, Greg wants to know why you used the term “ordinary Americans.”
Why did I use the term “ordinary Americans?” I meant most Americans, the great mass of Americans, not the economic or political elites, who benefit from Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and the ACA for example. I was not using ordinary in a pejorative way. Geezus, why all the hoopla over ordinary Americans. Chill out.
Yes, that’s exactly what I meant by the term. Not sure why Greg had a problem with it. Agree we need to chill.
Here’s the difference: If I were to claim something is “key” or that effect, something I know I have done often, I follow it up with an explanation of why I would think such a thing. I’m not scared to have people know why I have certain political views. You seem to be. This is your chance to prove me wrong.
Flerp, we’ve seen evidence of your contempt for any Black person with a thought, we seen plenty of evidence of your contempt for people with identities you cannot or will not try to understand, we’ve seen evidence of you agreeing with many right wing tropes that effectively skew the debate from actual issues affecting Americans, “ordinary” in your view, or not. And we’ve also seen evidence that you could pick a mass murderer out of crowd because of his looks. I know what Joe means. Why won’t you have the honesty to admit it. Based on the answer above, your solution is that Democrats should be just as dishonest as republicans when campaigning. You claim not to care about CRT as an issue, but your comments would suggest otherwise. One hundred-eighty degrees. That’s not personal. That’s based on many, many comments printed here in virtual ink. Let’s try a test: Kamala Harris. Now, sic.
I’ve described my political views to you at length in the past. If you weren’t paying attention, I’m not going to do it again. I’m also tired of being deposed by you in this thread.
More important: You’re chasing shadows, Greg. I’m not trying to trick you. When I say that I wish political discourse focused on the meat-and-potato issues that align the interests of all ordinary Americans, that’s exactly what I mean.
Greg, I didn’t say here that I don’t care about inserting political agendas into K-12 teaching. I do care about that. What I said here is that I don’t think CRT or gender ideology are important issues for the 2024 Presidential campaign. I choose my words for a reason. Have the courtesy to read them. Frankly sometimes you make me wonder if your reputation as a brilliant guy is well-founded.
As for your statement that “we’ve seen evidence of your contempt for any Black person with a thought,” you can go screw yourself. Just because, unlike you, I am not enamored with the work of Nicole Hannah Jones or Ibram Kendi does not mean I have contempt for any Black person with a thought. I’ve tried to patch things up with you, despite some really awful stuff that you’ve said in the past, and I am generally very polite to you even as you make nasty, baseless accusations like this over and over because Diane has said that she doesn’t like to see personal squabbles in the blog. But I’ll make an exception today and I hope she forgives me: You are an absolute POS who is high on his own supply of self-righteousness. Go screw yourself, literally.
The inference that I drew from Flerp’s (not from Joe’s) comment was colored by a comment thread to a different, recent post. In that thread, the term Flerp used, perhaps inadvertently, was “normal” for a group that I Inferred he meant included him and a majority of Americans who he believes share his views.
It’s felt at such a deep part of the soul, Americans’ anger at the perpetuation of the raw deal inflicted on gay people and Black people, that it’s impossible to process and accept that “most” don’t prioritize it as a national issue. To me, it says something intolerable about our fellow citizens and I can’t or am unwilling to reconcile it with the re-election of a Black president just 10 years ago.
Linda, I agree, and thank you for that reminder.
FLERP! says: “I don’t think CRT or gender ideology are important issues for the 2024 Presidential campaign.”
What goes unmentioned by FLERP! is that it is REPUBLICANS who made CRT and gender ideology “campaign issues”. FLERP! should be lecturing to Republicans about them not being important, not Dems!
When REPUBLICANS make these things an issue, Democrats can either defend them as many have, or disavow them as FLERP! seems to do with his incomprehensible criticisms of Nikole Hannah-Jones and Kendi, where they are held to a double standard that white writers never have to meet and are discredited for not meeting this impossible standard.
Just because REPUBLICANS make this an issue is not a reason for Dems to disavow what is right. The reason Dems get defeated is they too often have listened to bad advice from folks telling them to “disavow” the issues that REPUBLICANS want to talk about.
Doing what FLERP! advises, which is to join the Republicans to criticize and attack CRT and gender issues, just LEGITIMIZES those attacks. Joining the Republicans to attack things that concerned no voters until the REPUBLICAN propaganda machine told voters to be concerned is not good advice.
Republicans will always manufacture some issue or another. It’s long past time for Dems to stop pulling their punches and point out that it is the Republicans doing very bad things.
It’s like all the advice to Dems to “shut up” about the January 6 insurrection. Finally, finally, the House committee didn’t listen. They “ignored” the very bad advice to shut up.
And that is a good thing. Voters need to be reminded of how horrible the Republicans are.
But when Dems join the Republicans to amplify how awful those supposedly “woke” Dems are teaching our kids to be gay and to be “anti-white”, that misinforms voters that it is the Dems who are horrible, not the Republicans.
FLERP!
“Ordinary Americans are the vast majority of people in this country. People who work for a living, and who would be in serious trouble if they lost their job and couldn’t find new work quickly, or if they had a serious medical problem that prevented them from working or that their insurance (assuming they had any) wouldn’t cover”
So who is it that is calling for programs to help those ordinary. And who is it that is focused on Mr Potato Head , Sponging down Bob and CRT .
And why do your “ordinary America ” frequently vote for people who will make all those things you describe in what I quoted worse.
Kermit is the only Green I will ever vote for!
We’ve recently been going back and watching all the Ken Burns documentaries — Civil War (& Lincoln), Ben Franklin (& Independence), Jefferson, so far — and it makes us cry at times remembering all we used to think Our Country fought and (however aspirationally and falteringly) eventually came to stand for. But the Republican Party is the greatest travesty and tragedy of them all … what the devil happened to them ???
These were all great. And I had no idea how large Burns’ body of work is.
https://kenburns.com/the-films/
My favorite “Burns” documentary is Ric Burns’ “New York,” though. It never fails to make me fall in love again with the place I complain about all the time.
This fall Ken Burns will be premiering a documentary (3 or 4 parts) on Americans and the Holocaust. It will be amazing, but should cause a lot of introspection because a lot of the same things are happening now
Good. Lots of Americans need a refresher course in the Holocaust, although it will likely be banned in schools in certain states. It might make some students “uncomfortable.”
One of my favorite historians is Ray Ginger. In Altgelt’s America, he treats the transitional phase of the then new Republican Party from the “Lincoln ideal” to the party of American business as set against the labor movement, Haymarket Square riots, and what he termed the changing realities of Altgelt’s day. I feel this is a really important book, for it evaluates the career of a leader at a time of great change in society.
The Republicans in modern times want to hold onto the mantle of champion of entrepreneurial effort through laissez faire economics. Like the later 18880s, they are having a hard time claiming this as their policies favor mega-business over mom and pop. So they have appealed to social issues, attempting to divert attention from their real lack of a cohesive message.
Like the Republican Party of the Gilded Age, they use the coat they wore in the past, but it does not fit. Pat Nixon no more wore the plain cloth coat than any of the modern Republicans wear the badge of populism that catapulted Trump to victory in 2016. Republicans in 1880 continued to try to sound like the freedom fighters of the Civil War, but the bloody shirt was worn out.
Modern Republicans find themselves at that point again. What will they become? Would they ever accept a new TR? Don’t hold your breath.
The Burns Jazz documentary is truly outstanding. I loved it so much that I bought the CD set and the book.
I have a suggestion for Burns. He should do a 124-part documentary on “The Unpunished Crimes of Teflon Don Trump.” He could dedicate it to, I don’t know, Merrick Garland.
I have a feeling we will see that someday.
He could call it “All the Decadent’s Men”
My favorite title of any Trump documentary borrowed one of Trump’s mistweets:
Unpresidented
Reblogged this on Lloyd Lofthouse and commented:
The Republican Party reveals its fascist leadership in how Republicans vote in Congress and in the states controlled by Republicans.
Actions are more powerful than lies and misinformation, because those action are facts that cannot be denied except by liars. And fascism has always succeeded due to BIG LIES and the dangerous fools that believe them.
Adolf Hitler in Germany, Benito Mussolini in Italy, Francisco Franco in Spain and Juan Perón in Argentina were the most well-known fascist leaders of the 20th century.
Hitler’s enablers murdered more than 16-million people, not counting troops that died fighting Nazi fascism.
In Italy, from 1920 to 1922, Mussolini’s armed fascist squads faced minimal interference from the police or army as they roamed the country causing property damage and killing an estimated 2,000 political opponents.
In Spain, historical analysis and investigations estimate the number of executions by Franco facist regime during this time to be between 100,000 and 200,000 dead.
In Argentine, under fascist leadership, up to 30,000 people “disappeared” by the state during Peron’s “Dirty War,” a period during which the country’s military dictatorship turned against its own people.
And all of these estimates may be much higher.
In the 21st century, the fascist leaders in the Repulibican party are: Traitor Trump, Republican governors Ron DeSantis, Greg Abbot and all the other Republican governors signing state laws that restrict the people’s individual freedoms for abortion, who to marry, how to have sex, the choice to wear condoms while having sex with a willing partner of legal age, restricting the ability to vote unless you are a fascist supporter, et al. These American fascists even want to make it illegal for raped children of any age from having abortions. They’ll throw the child and her parents in prison, but not the rapist.
How many Americans will be murdered, and how many lives ruined, by our Republican fascist leaders if they end up leading the United States?
The Republican Party reveals its fascist leadership in how Republicans vote in Congress and in the states controlled by Republicans.
Actions are more powerful than lies and misinformation, because those action are facts that cannot be denied except by liars. And fascism has always succeeded due to BIG LIES and the dangerous fools that believe them.
Adolf Hitler in Germany, Benito Mussolini in Italy, Francisco Franco in Spain and Juan Perón in Argentina were the most well-known fascist leaders of the 20th century.
Hitler’s enablers murdered more than 16-million people, not counting troops that died fighting Nazi fascism.
In Italy, from 1920 to 1922, Mussolini’s armed fascist squads faced minimal interference from the police or army as they roamed the country causing property damage and killing an estimated 2,000 political opponents.
In Spain, historical analysis and investigations estimate the number of executions by Franco facist regime during this time to be between 100,000 and 200,000 dead.
In Argentine, under fascist leadership, up to 30,000 people “disappeared” by the state during Peron’s “Dirty War,” a period during which the country’s military dictatorship turned against its own people.
And all of these estimates may be much higher.
In the 21st century, the fascist leaders in the Repulibican party are: Traitor Trump, Republican governors Ron DeSantis, Greg Abbot and all the other Republican governors signing state laws that restrict the people’s individual freedoms for abortion, who to marry, how to have sex, the choice to wear condoms while having sex with a willing partner of legal age, restricting the ability to vote unless you are a fascist supporter, et al.
These American fascists even want to make it illegal for raped children of any age from having abortions. They’ll throw the child and her parents in prison, but not the rapist.
How many Americans will be murdered, and how many lives ruined, by our Republican fascist leaders if they end up leading the United States?
GOP philosophy: you’re free to do what we tell you.
Freedumb!
The GOPee believes in funding, promoting and benefitting from an Imposter Christianity.
Imposter Christianity is Violent, Heretical and Anti-Democratic.
It uses Christian language to cloak sexism. It is hostile to Black people and non-White immigrants. It is on a quest to create a White Tribal Christian USA.
Imagining a Warrior Jesus who compels them to engage in punching Police, using flagpoles as spears and lynching the VP.
Samuel Perry/University of Oklahoma
https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/24/us/white-christian-nationalism-blake-cec/index.html
A couple summers ago, I was in Marysville, Ohio, on the 4th of July and was dragged to the celebrations by friends. I wandered off to the concessions. There, just past the place selling fried dough, was one selling Trump merch and decorative plates picturing Jesus holding an AR-15. I wish I were making this up.
Marysville has a large Honda plant and a lot of Japanese nationals who live and work there. I have wondered what they made of this kind of kookiness. Something to text back home about.
Bob, since Ohio is now arming teachers, they’re probably selling plates of teachers w/Jesus (hey, that could be a new right-wing group!) also holding AR-15s. They could sell them as t-shits, & the back would say, “Good guys w/guns stop bad guys w/guns.”
Also, I really like your comments @4:23 PM & 5:24 PM. I think, though that it45 actually Tweeted that it was the “precedent” (sic–but also sic, because should be spelled SICK) of the United States.
In actuality, it45 was the Precedent of the Untied States.
Actually, he tweeted about ” an unpresidented act”:
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/trump-sends-unpresidented-tweet/
It’s crazy to consider that I’ve commented on this blog for over ten years, almost from the very beginning. That’s crazy to considerI’ve had a lot of fun and it’s been interesting for the most part. Thanks, Diane, for creating the blog. Thanks for your willingness to engage with me. And thank you also for the kind words you’ve had for me over the years, even when on occasion I was less than kind.
It’s become clear that there isn’t really room for my perspective here. I seem to have few if any allies, and my comments invariably seem to upset a core group of three or four commenters, which results in a bunch of useless clutter on the blog. And frankly I don’t get much out of the exchanges. I comment out of habit more than anything else, and it’s become a bad habit that I need to break.
Best wishes to all, and especially all the old-timers: the brilliant and kind Bob Shepherd; Dienne, who was very kind to me in my darkest moments a couple years ago; the fair-minded bethree; fellow hockey parent LisaM; Duane Swacker (I apologize for never understanding a word Noel Wilson wrote!); retired teacher, retiredbutmissthekids, LeftCoastTeacher, Threatened Out West, and many others. Even to NYCPSP, my old “nemesis” — I’m quite certain that we would have gotten along well in real life.
I intend and truly hope that this will be the last comment I make on this blog. I’d sure hate to look like one of those people who makes a grand departure announcement but then slinks back months later.
Bye!
Lol, just want to note how perfect it is that my last comment (actually penultimate comment) has some garbled text in the middle of it. Some things never change.
Bye for real this time!
Don’t be a stranger, Flerp.
I do hope that you will reconsider, Flerp. Democracy is messy. People disagree, sometimes vehemently. The back and forth is often clarifying and interesting. In the many years in which I have been commenting on this blog, there was only one person whom I would have blocked, and I’m not even sure about that one. This guy got onto just about every thread and found an excuse to peddle racist eugenicist theories about the supposed genetic superiority of people of Caucasian/Aryan and Chinese Han descent. He had extraordinarily crude and backward 1920s-vintage notions about genetics and IQ testing, but even his extremely repugnant posts provided an opportunity for discussing the problems with IQ tests, the reasons why twin studies of heritability were disastrously flawed, the modern science of epigenetics, and other such topics. Yes, I think that there are many who disagree with you about various issues here, Flerp, but you are a catalyst for interesting and important conversation, and I would hate to see you go.
And thank you for your kind words and your willingness, over the years, to engage.
“Even to NYCPSP, my old “nemesis” — I’m quite certain that we would have gotten along well in real life.” Quite possibly we have already crossed paths as fellow NYC public school parents.
“I intend and truly hope that this will be the last comment I make on this blog.”
To that I have only one comment, hat tip to Michael Corleone:
“Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!”
Reading the above does not do justice to watching Al Pacino’s body language and delivery when he says “pull me back in”. (The Godfather 3)
Auf Wiedersehen, flerp!
LOL, Bob, I didn’t know The Sopranos had their own take on that.
Is that Stevie Van Zandt imitating Al Pacino in that episode? I love that he was such a good actor and in Bruce Springsteen’s band!
Yes, that’s the marvelous Steven Van Zandt as Silvio Dante in the best serial ever to run on television, The Sopranos. Dramatic, funny, beautifully written, acted, and filmed. Brilliant cast. Superb direction.
Stevie Van Zandt is an amazing man. He was an original member of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street band. He was a featured actor on The Sopanos, his first acting role. He is deeply committed to students and public schools. He funded a curriculum that integrates music into the curriculum and makes it available for free. He came to the NPE conference in Philadelphia a few months ago, and we had a dialogue about kids, teachers, politics, whatever. He is a great guy.
Indeed! Brilliantly talented and funny and decent and smart. A truly wonderful human like, say, Diane Ravitch.
Thank you! I wish I had half Stevie’s talents. In addition to his many other gifts, he loves and admired teachers. He made a video celebrating World Teachers Day.
I remember that you shared a wonderful pic that you took with him, Diane. I treasure that pic!
His Lilyhammer series is also awesome. He’s a wonderful actor.
The thing about this living room is that people with a brain are welcome. Even if they differ. That is why I keep knocking on the door.
Roy, you have your own reserved chair in my living room. I enjoy your deep knowledge and thinking.
FLERP,
If you change your mind, and I hope you do, you are always welcome. Your comments spiced up discussions and made everyone think. We need more of that. No reason for you to leave.
To me, this blog, authored by an intellectual giant who worked in the first Bush administration and supported the development of learning standards, and then realized there was something wrong and CHANGED, this blog is based on the premise that, in debate of ideas with the revelation of new facts, it is possible for intelligent people to change their minds.
You, Flerp, have changed your mind and changed my mind in debate with me a few times that I can name if you ask. It happened because of your intellectual flexibility and also because I learned over the years, from Diane, to keep from making my arguments personal. I used to insult the heck out of certain charter school board members. As a matter of fact, the very second comment I made on this blog was an angry tirade against someone. But I changed. You are right, the debate among a few commenters has devolved into arguing about each other instead of ideas. It’s a reflection of the national discourse during the last few years.
Try this: In the search bar of the blog, look up “my new blog”, and use the ‘newer’ and ‘older’ buttons to read some comments from the first few days of the blog. Might change a perspective. That is the point of coming here.
Ooops–as to my comment I, of course, meant to type “t-shiRts.”
Although that may have been a Freudian slip. (A slip, NOT a shirt.)
Sorry to see you go, FLERP! I don’t often agree with you–and often I have wondered if my disagreement stems from the fact that I am not reading your comments with sufficient clarity. In any event, I think yours is an important voice here. So I hope you won’t stay gone long.
For Republican votes =
Gun laws, abortion, and deregulation.
Obama (popular Black man), Hillary (smart woman), “Minorities” in authority, and “Elites”
6 things blue collar and billionaire and bikers all and white males all hate but couldn’t say it outloud.
In 2016, the proud playboy loudmouth candidate stood on the stage and said and did things no one had every done about those things (except he could care less about guns and abortions but that’s often the only reason vote gop so they were in the bag already)
He knew people were really, really, really ticked off and no one listens to them.
Tax laws. Wearing a helmet. Emissions. Anything with the word “climate” in it. Lax immigration laws.
He figured out they wanted to DEREGULATE INCLUSION. Smart women, Hispanic population anywhere, anything a black person did in a position of authority, or Black kids elected class president or getting into colleges they wanted their white kids to go. Affirmative action, anything LGBTQ that brought anything not normal to them in the mainstream, anyone with a disability, “diversity” and any progress on social awareness since the (due to the) ’60s.
And he portrayed the government (aka Obama and youth) as the kids at the cool kids table, he was sick of it and was going to yell and scream in their faces.
He knew the game; RATINGS! The presidency was his next Prime Time TV gig.
As for the GOP. The guns and abortion and tax law haters held their noses and voted for him.
The rest like the old boys and the climbers and coattails kids sold their souls and integrity , downplayed their college degrees, and learned how to dance.
They danced the Trump dance and weren’t even embarrassed by this. Often, their wives or husbands were embarrassed for them. Seriously, you are going to grovel before this, this imbecilic criminal?
This is a good synopsis. But not a pretty picture.
Free trade deals and far flung wars made it all possible.
leftcoastteacher
As a left wing populist I would like to believe that there is an economic basis to what we are seeing. I am not sure that is the case.
It’s not what we’re seeing; it’s what led to what we’re seeing.
Free trade deals & so much more, leftcoast, so much more.
Some of us in IL always wanted Jan Schakowsky to run for president.
Evidently, there is a minimum age requirement of 98.
retiredbutmissthekids
The Obama operator at the W.H. switchboard is still nursing her ears from my calls in 16 about TPP and fast track. While it is true that both Clinton and Obama pushed these proposals it is also true that more Republicans than Democrats supported them . So why do voters in the states most affected by trade keep voting for these Republicans who supported these trade deals.
Also of note in spite of a lot of talk Trumps trade deal with China did nothing for American Manufacturing . And did little for farming as the Chinese never followed through on the commitment that wasn’t !
More Democrats than Republicans voted for NCLB.
In my comment I was implying starting new countries with new governments, reflecting the desires and needs of the people. Maybe NCLB Dems could create their own separate country. My focus has not been on NCLB because the pandemic has left behind most children’s academic advancement. I was thinking about the assault of innocent children. I tend to prioritize most urgent issues and I see the protection of children as one of the top issues we are facing because assault weapons are still legal.
Here’s what I think is happening. Donald Trump was a young man in the 1960s–in the era of Richard Nixon and George Wallace and Hugh Hefner. He grew up with the Archie Bunker-style beliefs that were common in the era. AND he inherited an enormous amount of money from his father, which he squandered because he is a TERRIBLE businessman. He was on the verge of losing everything, but the Russians bailed him out, and he became a major money launderer for Putin’s kleptocratic state. Meanwhile, in the U.S. a great many people of Donald Trump’s age, especially in the Midwest, South, and West, did not lose their sexism, racism, homophobia, jingoistic nationalism, fundamentalist Christian superstitions, xenophobia, and so on. Rather, they learned to hold their tongues in public because they would, if they said what they really believed and felt in public, they would have been mocked, scorned, derided. The point is that none of this backwardness from the 1950s and earlier actually disappeared. It simply lay dormant, like, say, untreated syphilis–a terrible, lurking disease of the body politic. And then Vlad and company decided that it would be a genius move to foist their useful idiot, Don the Con, on the country as a whole as president, and he was perfect. He was the perfect incarnation of the backward beliefs and values of Americans who had been silenced by progress. And this is the shocking thing. We thought we had moved forward, that we had made enormous strides on race, gender equality, sexual freedom, and so on. We thought we had defeated fascism. We though that people were throwing off fundamentalist superstition. But no, it was still there, in the woodworks. And Donald Trump said to these folks, “Come on out. It’s OK to be you again, in all your primitive, provincial, hillbilly backwardness. I’m dumb and ignorant like you and proud of it. Dumb and proud. Say it loud.
In Utah, Trump-supporting Sen. Mike Lee has a competitor, independent Evan McMullin. If McMullin can get Romney’s endorsement, it would be a good for the country.
Mike Lee was a speaker at Turning Point USA Student Action Summit 2022. The event became infamous for Matt Gaetz’ disparagement of women and for the Neo-Nazi gathering at the entrance to the “summit.” The chihuahua-like runner, Josh Hawley, was scheduled along with Laura Ingraham.
That running joke, or josh
The first in the air?
He was just joshing us.
Fist
And not even partly.
Hawley joshing.
The Democrats cannot turn that support for abortion, contraception, free travel, etc into votes because the Democrats cannot stop being stupid. Even the article used the idiotic term “white supremecy” when in the U.S. blacks and Latinos are held to separate and lower standards than whites.
When the Democratic Party is pushing for free movement across borders, race-based reparations, and a universal basic income, then the Democratic Party leaders and establishment are signaling that they really do not care that much about abortion, contraception, education, or anything else that have over 50% support from white voters.
Superdestroyer: Excuse me, but no lying is permitted on this blog.
Which Democrat advocates open borders? Name him or her. When did the Democratic Party adopt “race-based reparations”? Name the date and place. When did the Democratic Party endorse a “universal basic income”?
White supremacy is the energizing idea behind the Republican Party attack on teaching about racism. Fascism is the motivation for demanding censorship of books and ideas.
Liar. I don’t invite liars into my living room. Get out and stay out. Go to a Trump blog, join your crowd.
Democratic Party leaders and establishment are signaling that they really do not care that much about abortion, contraception, education, or anything else that have over 50% support from white voters
This makes zero sense. It’s not intelligible. It’s barely English.
THE long term plan that brought the nation to the insurrection is detailed by Raw Story,
7-24-2022, “Inside the close and personal relationships (of) Clarence and Ginni Thomas .. key players in Jan. 6.” Raw Story peels away the umbrella term, Christian nationalism. And, the article establishes the Koch tie-in.
How many battles does democracy have to lose before there is engagement? The PR playbook the right wing is using calls for demonization of outsider groups. The powerful in the religious right have the advantage of an accepted pattern of exclusionary language. They should pay a price for the descriptor, “non-Catholic.” The politicized right wing Catholic Church should pay a price for the labeling, “the one and only true church.” What are the odds that there is a win for democracy with the past and current strategy- remaining silent or masking the truth by generalizing rhetoric like Christian nationalism and culture wars?
Our political system is obsolete. America needs a new government written by women, since this failing system was written by men, and the Repubblican states should secede and create their own country.
The nation of DeSantistan.
Their flag could be. Hypodermic syringe with a slash through it and their motto could be God Save the Fetus
I predict it would last less than a year before it would devolve into a Taliban like religious caliphate, led by bearded, MAGA hat wearing men.
Of course, Mullah DeSantis would be the Supreme leader of DeSantistan — with a full Z Z Top beard,,of course.
What I am saying is: let DeSantis and other like governors run their states in such a fashion, but let them be a separate government and a subdivision of the US. Close down DC and let the states create new governments in small clusters. The original plan for this government system was designed for 13 states, not 50. I recommend reading Thoreau, “Civil Disobedience”. We out number them. Let’s calmly begin to design a CB new blueprint for our country.
Clearly, mfsoli, you don’t understand (1) the threat of Koch’s ALEC
(2) that the protection for women comes from federal law – consider Utah back in the day and, (3) that a large number of White women voted for Trump, a misogynist. Women who value their rights oppose state rights. Roe provides the proof of federal protection- same story for POC.
But, you may be part of the libertarian predation crowd, pretending otherwise. Btw, freedom from religious tyranny was protected at the national level in the founding documents.
The Con Artists Formerly Known As The GOP (CAFKATGOP) are the principal advertising firm representing whatever consortium of Global Corporate Interests have bid the highest for their services at any given time. As with any other Gang of Madmen, job one is selling the suckers any corporate-serving goods the suckers can be rendered dumb enough to buy. They will use any line that hooks, free of the slightest scruple of duty to reality or truth.
That sad state of affairs developed bit by bit but it ramped up to a new level back in the 80s when Glob Corp discovered they could hire a third rate “talent” from Death Valley Days, whose chief talent was always holding the label on the can to the camera, to sell any damn product they wanted to sell.
This article is total progressive liberal biased crap. Most of what she ascribes to Republicans appears to be projection of actual beliefs of the liberal progressives in the Biden administration. Tyne simplistic statements about banning books is ludicrous. A policy that certain books should be limited to age appropriate for example is very far from censorship or book banking. Much of the rest of her arguments are similar simplistic demagoguery. Truly an education wasted on a closed mind.