Thanks Adam! The will of the people, the American Spirit, can take back the country from the crooks. Orban was Trump's hero because he was using his office to steal from his citizens. Using Magyar as an example of how to reach 80% of Americans, we need to plant a truth in everyone's mind. It is obvious but needs saying out loud, over and over.
Here's the new meme: "Trump is stealing from us." "DJT is stealing from us." "The Trump Family is stealing from us." "The GOP Senate is helping Trump steal from us." "The FBI and Attorney General and Speaker of the House are helping Trump steal from us." "The Supreme Court is excusing Trump stealing from us." "Dunce Donny is stealing from us. And we are letting him get away with it."
That is not only good news for our Sunday, but great news to hold onto, every single day!! We can do this,.....we have to stay engaged and hold onto HOPE! What a terrific 4 letter word!!! Thanks as always for your encouraging and uplifting words, Adam!
What needs doing here will be difficult, no doubt. First, we need to send them packing - read Andy Borowitz piece this morning. He is hinting that even ruby-red senators and congressmen may fall - and good riddance. Then comes the really difficult part. Given what we've seen these last 18 months from our 3 separate and co-equal branches of Government totally disregarding The Constitution and their duties to it, we need to have a really hard go at totally reforming all 3 in The Constitution. Statutory fixes will just be declared 'unconstitutional' by the supermajority on this corrupt court.
FYI: the US Constitution hasn't been changed yet. All that the neofascist GOP is doing is writing neofascist executive orders that override it (based on Project 2025), so when it comes to reform, all that will be needed is end all those executive orders.
The problem is not yet constitutional. For now, it's merely that a neofascist GOP disregards the Constitution, in all branches of government where "we the people" gave them the full power to do so.
If we take that power away, the institutions still stand and Democrats can go back to "good governance".
What worries me much more is the low political literacy at the level of society as a whole (both left and right).
Will the people this time understand that democratic progress is slow, or will they go for instantaneous gratification once more and then already throw out Democrats again in 2030 and 2032... ?
But that is the fatal flaw of our Constitution. It relies on norms and some people still exhibiting honorable behavior.... I think we need to liberate and elevate DOJ and the Inspectors General to separate branches of Government. Give the Inspectors General the power to indict and try high Government officials for provable unconstitutional acts.
It's not a flaw of Constitution. All Constitutions are always merely documents stipulating the "law of the land".
In the end, whether a country thrives or not will always depend on the moral character of its people.
The idea that a mere document could somehow force society as a whole to adopt moral behavior is a myth.
In the meantime, a democratic Constitution CAN lead to the welfare of all, as Northern Europe has shown (with education and health levels much higher than in the US and the income gap and poverty levels much lower than in the US), IF you have high quality media, free access to high quality education for all, outstanding education methods (valuing transmission rather than "validation" of the student as an individual), strong unions, and a robust political debate among citizens.
None of this is created overnight or the automatic result of a democratic Constitution.
In the US, the GOP had adopted neoliberalism since Reagan, and the founders of neoliberalism have always claimed that capitalism and democracy are incompatible. So in the US, one major party has systematically lied to its own voter base and actively tried to undermine the Constitution, for decades and decades.
Today's neofascist assault on the Constitution is the result of the belief in neoliberalism as an ideology, combined with the appetite of Americans to "break the rules" and "be a rebel" rather than learn from the past. That's on "we the people", not on the Constitution itself.
I am optimistic for the future of our democracy and it feels as though we have the winds at our back. My concern right now is recouping the money the chump wasted. His, his family’s and his cronies’ assets need to be frozen NOW.
Thank you Adam. Worth nothing (very much worth I think) is that Magyar is no flaming leftie. He's a centrist, quietly Catholic and religious, and did not run on anything resembling what we here might call political correctness. Yet I'm certain practically every gay person in Hungary voted for him, as opposed to the scheming Orbán, who used sexual orientation and gender identification as weapons to damage the whole country.
A reminder also that Governor Andy Beshear of Kentucky, a two-time Democrat in a red state, vetoed his own legislature's attempt to demonize transgender folk, and has long been a supporter of LGBT rights in that state. There is room for the center-left, despite whatever nonsense Faux News babbles to its viewers.
You've been reading what others speculate about. He hasn't said anything -- way too busy fighting floods in Kentucky and trying his best to make up for FEMA's disastrous lack of leadership in the meantime.
So, WTF is wrong with "socialism" in a democratic republic? Is acting to improve the lives of those frozen out of decent housing, reasonable rents, food assistance, daycare, decent public school education, affordable means of getting to and from work, raising families in a decent environment, breathing safe air and drinking clean water, enjoying religious or spiritual or whatever freedom a bad thing? Is the GOP permitting women to think for, act for, decide for, live for, vote for, register to vote for, love whomever, parent based upon their socio-cultural roots in a free society, is that the GOP model? No fucking way! So, the billionaire/trillionaire class is now in the business of placing yet more contrictions of the "great unwashed masses" of struggling Americans and their captured party of wannabe Trumpers, wishful billionaires, throwaway commitment to our Founding Beliefs, they just wannabe left to milk to suck to drain the life out of the "underclasses" that feed their burgeoning billionaire/trillionaire coffers. So, what does one call that kind of VAMPIRE CAPITALISM? YES. Use the term, VAMPIRE CAPITALISM freely and, watch your neck for the bite marks!!!!
Overall, I agree. But experts of fascism (see Paul Krugman's interview with Schepele right after Magyar's victory) have pointed out that what made people finally rise up was a social media campaign that used AI-based fake videos and then inadvertently focused on Orban's corruption week after week.
In other words: fascism was defeated by coincidence, in Hungary. If one of the unrelated things in that social media string of events hadn't happened, Orban would still be in place.
Since it was a victory based on coincidence, I'm less optimistic than you, Adam, that it can be copy-pasted to the US.
On the other hand, the US is only in year 2 of its power grab, and it took Orban an entire decade before he managed to transform a democracy into a fascist regime. And at the time, Hungary was a very young democracy, compared to the US today.
Still, the GOP's propaganda machine has been built since Reagan and then especially Fox "News", and has put one-third of the country under a huge "alternative facts" bubble. So what will prevent them to vote for Rubio or even Vance in 2028, once Trump endorses either of them? Or a third neofascist whose image isn't spoiled by the first four years of neofascism in the US yet...?
Finally! An inspirational message on how to turn our country around and get rid of the pig! How many Kinzinger and Contrarian followers do we have now? Is it a number large enough to get our message across in November??? Every single one of us needs to talk to the youngest generation of voters to convince them of just how important it is NOW for them to vote these creeps out of office! I may be old and unable to march but I will certainly do my part!
HOPE. Thank you Adam. You gave me Hope.
Thanks Adam! The will of the people, the American Spirit, can take back the country from the crooks. Orban was Trump's hero because he was using his office to steal from his citizens. Using Magyar as an example of how to reach 80% of Americans, we need to plant a truth in everyone's mind. It is obvious but needs saying out loud, over and over.
Here's the new meme: "Trump is stealing from us." "DJT is stealing from us." "The Trump Family is stealing from us." "The GOP Senate is helping Trump steal from us." "The FBI and Attorney General and Speaker of the House are helping Trump steal from us." "The Supreme Court is excusing Trump stealing from us." "Dunce Donny is stealing from us. And we are letting him get away with it."
Hope!! I want my country back!!
That is not only good news for our Sunday, but great news to hold onto, every single day!! We can do this,.....we have to stay engaged and hold onto HOPE! What a terrific 4 letter word!!! Thanks as always for your encouraging and uplifting words, Adam!
What needs doing here will be difficult, no doubt. First, we need to send them packing - read Andy Borowitz piece this morning. He is hinting that even ruby-red senators and congressmen may fall - and good riddance. Then comes the really difficult part. Given what we've seen these last 18 months from our 3 separate and co-equal branches of Government totally disregarding The Constitution and their duties to it, we need to have a really hard go at totally reforming all 3 in The Constitution. Statutory fixes will just be declared 'unconstitutional' by the supermajority on this corrupt court.
Andy’s column this morning was wonderous!
As always!
FYI: the US Constitution hasn't been changed yet. All that the neofascist GOP is doing is writing neofascist executive orders that override it (based on Project 2025), so when it comes to reform, all that will be needed is end all those executive orders.
The problem is not yet constitutional. For now, it's merely that a neofascist GOP disregards the Constitution, in all branches of government where "we the people" gave them the full power to do so.
If we take that power away, the institutions still stand and Democrats can go back to "good governance".
What worries me much more is the low political literacy at the level of society as a whole (both left and right).
Will the people this time understand that democratic progress is slow, or will they go for instantaneous gratification once more and then already throw out Democrats again in 2030 and 2032... ?
But that is the fatal flaw of our Constitution. It relies on norms and some people still exhibiting honorable behavior.... I think we need to liberate and elevate DOJ and the Inspectors General to separate branches of Government. Give the Inspectors General the power to indict and try high Government officials for provable unconstitutional acts.
It's not a flaw of Constitution. All Constitutions are always merely documents stipulating the "law of the land".
In the end, whether a country thrives or not will always depend on the moral character of its people.
The idea that a mere document could somehow force society as a whole to adopt moral behavior is a myth.
In the meantime, a democratic Constitution CAN lead to the welfare of all, as Northern Europe has shown (with education and health levels much higher than in the US and the income gap and poverty levels much lower than in the US), IF you have high quality media, free access to high quality education for all, outstanding education methods (valuing transmission rather than "validation" of the student as an individual), strong unions, and a robust political debate among citizens.
None of this is created overnight or the automatic result of a democratic Constitution.
In the US, the GOP had adopted neoliberalism since Reagan, and the founders of neoliberalism have always claimed that capitalism and democracy are incompatible. So in the US, one major party has systematically lied to its own voter base and actively tried to undermine the Constitution, for decades and decades.
Today's neofascist assault on the Constitution is the result of the belief in neoliberalism as an ideology, combined with the appetite of Americans to "break the rules" and "be a rebel" rather than learn from the past. That's on "we the people", not on the Constitution itself.
I am optimistic for the future of our democracy and it feels as though we have the winds at our back. My concern right now is recouping the money the chump wasted. His, his family’s and his cronies’ assets need to be frozen NOW.
🇺🇸America 253!🇺🇸
Amen. But do Americans have the same courage when confronted with the same situation?
Please see my comment about Hungarians years of anti-Orban commitment.
Thank you Adam. Worth nothing (very much worth I think) is that Magyar is no flaming leftie. He's a centrist, quietly Catholic and religious, and did not run on anything resembling what we here might call political correctness. Yet I'm certain practically every gay person in Hungary voted for him, as opposed to the scheming Orbán, who used sexual orientation and gender identification as weapons to damage the whole country.
A reminder also that Governor Andy Beshear of Kentucky, a two-time Democrat in a red state, vetoed his own legislature's attempt to demonize transgender folk, and has long been a supporter of LGBT rights in that state. There is room for the center-left, despite whatever nonsense Faux News babbles to its viewers.
Don't forget that in Europe, what is called "progressive" in the US is called "center-left".
Just saw a news clip that Beshear will put his hat in the ring for POTUS. Great!
You've been reading what others speculate about. He hasn't said anything -- way too busy fighting floods in Kentucky and trying his best to make up for FEMA's disastrous lack of leadership in the meantime.
Thank you! I'm thrilled that we have you working as you do to preserve our country for the future happiness of our children and grandchildren!!
Good morning to you too!! Nice to wake up to Good News & Hope! Thanks!
Hear! Hear, Adam!!!
So, WTF is wrong with "socialism" in a democratic republic? Is acting to improve the lives of those frozen out of decent housing, reasonable rents, food assistance, daycare, decent public school education, affordable means of getting to and from work, raising families in a decent environment, breathing safe air and drinking clean water, enjoying religious or spiritual or whatever freedom a bad thing? Is the GOP permitting women to think for, act for, decide for, live for, vote for, register to vote for, love whomever, parent based upon their socio-cultural roots in a free society, is that the GOP model? No fucking way! So, the billionaire/trillionaire class is now in the business of placing yet more contrictions of the "great unwashed masses" of struggling Americans and their captured party of wannabe Trumpers, wishful billionaires, throwaway commitment to our Founding Beliefs, they just wannabe left to milk to suck to drain the life out of the "underclasses" that feed their burgeoning billionaire/trillionaire coffers. So, what does one call that kind of VAMPIRE CAPITALISM? YES. Use the term, VAMPIRE CAPITALISM freely and, watch your neck for the bite marks!!!!
Great news -hopeful news - for our Sunday. Thank you, Adam.
Overall, I agree. But experts of fascism (see Paul Krugman's interview with Schepele right after Magyar's victory) have pointed out that what made people finally rise up was a social media campaign that used AI-based fake videos and then inadvertently focused on Orban's corruption week after week.
In other words: fascism was defeated by coincidence, in Hungary. If one of the unrelated things in that social media string of events hadn't happened, Orban would still be in place.
Since it was a victory based on coincidence, I'm less optimistic than you, Adam, that it can be copy-pasted to the US.
On the other hand, the US is only in year 2 of its power grab, and it took Orban an entire decade before he managed to transform a democracy into a fascist regime. And at the time, Hungary was a very young democracy, compared to the US today.
Still, the GOP's propaganda machine has been built since Reagan and then especially Fox "News", and has put one-third of the country under a huge "alternative facts" bubble. So what will prevent them to vote for Rubio or even Vance in 2028, once Trump endorses either of them? Or a third neofascist whose image isn't spoiled by the first four years of neofascism in the US yet...?
Sorry, Adam., I digressed from the topic of Hungary's freedom from Orbondage. I hope you don't mind my "Vampire Capitalism" screed.
Finally! An inspirational message on how to turn our country around and get rid of the pig! How many Kinzinger and Contrarian followers do we have now? Is it a number large enough to get our message across in November??? Every single one of us needs to talk to the youngest generation of voters to convince them of just how important it is NOW for them to vote these creeps out of office! I may be old and unable to march but I will certainly do my part!
1) Refresh my memory, please. Did Orban leave like a gentleman or did he try an insurrection?
2) Do your colleagues have a way to increase the odds of having a trustworthy election? And,
3) If we have an election and come out with some strength, what can we do now to improve the odds of staying on track?
Good questions for Ask Me Anything!