Those grinning faces from the seat of power & wealth make me sick. How can Iowans be so happy to hurt their fellow citizens and so many around the world?
I make no apology for the Republicans who have authored this terrible legislation and supported it with their majority. However, the Democratic Party has not responded effectively to contain this inhuman wave of disgust and literal murder over many years of failed elections. Having a winning President gave us little edge in the fight against these heartless money hogs. Elections are not horse races! Who does the best job of convincing people controls the stage. The stage filled with people like we have now, it spells disaster for many! Each day they are left to root around in our politics, even down to the state level, things get considerably worse. Each year they stay, the harder it is to reverse the trends they set into motion. Iowa is a prime example: policies that take away human rights for any of our population are wrong! Destroying our public school system by giving money to private entities with no strings attached is dead wrong! Reducing the number of options for people to vote or finding ways to cancel out those votes is keeping these sycophants in power. The Democrats not finding answers to some of the basic questions or selecting people to run that don't represent the majority of the people simply because they have money to run, is WRONG! Choosing someone they think has a chance to win because of "name recognition" (Culver for instance) have turned out to be complete failures as they get lost in the push-pull of politics where small mistakes can turn into complete washouts. It has gotten so bad that even the mention of the word "Democrat" sends people running! Can this be stopped? Can the Democratic Party rescue itself without sticking their hand into every conceivable pocket looking for money, and spending it on the same people who are not responding well enough to even hold onto the politicians they considered safe? Quite obviously ignoring the smaller voter turn out locations for the one's with more population is securing a few Democratic wins in places that should have been safe in the first place, but the one's where a few hundred votes would spell the difference between winning and losing aren't getting the help they need to secure these wins. Those representatives and senators in those little districts are now controlling both houses and the Governors office! It isn't rocket science! The failure to secure the votes needed simply is insurance you won't win! If you don't put up a good fight for these votes, you are succumbing to the wishes of the opposing side! In this case, open fascism and the destruction of the values we have all subscribed to for over 250 years! Enough!!!!
Appreciate the candid emotional reaction and the logical appeal. But. I don't believe that deaths and suffering far away will sway most if not nearly all MAGA GOP folks. I keep returning to the concept of "what will it take to tip the balance-what will it take to turn on the light bulb-at least bright enough-to make MAGA GOP change their views?" Perhaps the "light bulb" is very, very, very slowly getting powered on with each outrageous incident or event. Democrats and others are frustrated with how slowly that light bulb is being illuminated, and keep thinking "isn't this the time the MAGA GOP gets it?" only to find it wasn't enough, and then the thought becomes "what will it take to wake them up?" So much push back on the concept of woke/waking up, so that's a tough direction to go-to focus on waking up to facts, etc. My pessimism is based on seeing so many things happen that common sense and logic (not universal-obviously) have not tipped the balance or turned on the light. My best example is January 6 and Marion County Sherrif Sandhold proudly attends the 2025 Trump inaguration with much appreciation for being invited, and then Trump pardons all of the convicted January 6th terrorists, expunges their records, and then again relables them as patriots-how does our county law enforcement leader proudly stand by Trump who praises those rebels who violently assaulted so many law enforcement who were protecting the Capitol and all of the elected officials and staff at the Capitol, with several of them dying as a consequence? If that is not enough to tip the balance for Jason Sandhold, then folks dying many miles away won't even move his eye balls. We have to figure out "what it will take to turn on the light bulb." Unfortunately, I'm thinking it will take something very, very personal, sadly something so personal and so stupidly personal. Such as losing all satellite transmission of TV signals, severe gas shortage, water or electricity being cut off (all that didn't seem to tip the balance in TX during their energy crisis), losing access to alcohol, etc., closing all roads----whatever it takes to get them to "hey, now you are pissing me off." January 6, foreign aid, etc. haven't really pissed them off. Hoping the light bulb gets turned on for most of them very, very soon without severe consequences for us all, but...that's common sense and logic.
Thanks for speaking to the atrocities without pulling any punches. Elevating voices like yours is the difference between keeping our democracy and losing it.
An episode of Yellowstone has Beth and a fly fisherman sparring over whether fish feel pain. The fisherman says fish don't feel pain. Beth wonders how is it that the only vertebrate that doesn't use pain as a survival method just happens to be the one he likes to hook in the mouth as it fights for its life. How convenient.
In Ernst's "apology" she insulted the crowd in a condescending manner by suggesting they didn't know everyone dies and ignoring the real issue. She then adds further insult by equating them with not knowing the Tooth Fairy isn't real. She then shifts gears to preach to us that everlasting life is attained by accepting Jesus Christ.
People can believe whatever they want. A person's Religion has generally been off limits for criticism and the Constitution wisely protects a person's religious freedom to believe or not believe. However, these conservative religious beliefs are infiltrating the laws the rest of us have to live by. It is not a coincidence that 6 of the justices of the Supreme Court are Catholic and Roe v. Wade was reversed.
There are those who believe that no matter how disgusting a life you live, no matter how many children you starve to death or how many people you kill, it makes no difference if you accept Christ. You will rise from the dead and go to heaven. To many of us, this is nothing but the Tooth Fairy on steroids. There are real world consequences when those beliefs become a policy of governing without morals, empathy or with a mind boggling level of cruelty. However, it is the religious belief so many of our elected leaders have chosen--say the magic words and you are good to go. No accountability or responsibility. They are going to heaven no matter how much they ignore the other teachings of Jesus regarding the poor or how people are to treat others.
Thanks for going there, Ray. One day when I was about 17 a friend and I were driving to our summer construction job. A cat started crossing the road, and he started driving toward it. I grabbed the steering wheel and pulled the car away from the cat. When I asked him why he had done such a terrible thing, he replied, "The Lord put the animals on the earth for us to use for our purposes." I called BS and he shrugged. Today this good "Christian" is a Trump voter.
The more we learn about the atrocities committed by Republican politicians by actions or indifference, is mind numbing. Your appeal for shouting, screaming for our neighbors, media and especially our elected officials to stop this madness is met with silence. And, now with even sarcasm or contempt. The torpid response and malevolent rhetoric leaves me stunned. I’m somewhere between shock and disbelief, but always disturbed, wondering why they’re doing this. When did all of these Republicans lose their souls, their hearts and humanity? I’m with you, Dr. Leonard, like the Howard Beal character in the movie, “Network”, I’m wanting to open my window and shout, “I’m mad as hell, And I’m not going to take this anymore!” The problem is will anyone listen? They’re like zombies with an insatiable desire that’s morphed from desiring not power and money, but blood.
How about a means test to see if billionaires really need to be subsidized with keeping the tax cut? Damn few dollars from this go directly back into the economy to create jobs.
Maybe we need a work requirement, where they earn $7.50 an hour for each and every tax deduction they get so they aren't "free loading" off the system! While we are at it, because whether they like it or not, they are getting "public assistance" make them show how they need a yacht or any other luxury item they want a write off for, just like making Candy and potato chips off limits for SNAP, because it isn't good for them!
This outline of Republican callousness is so very accurate. These are the very reasons I have such trouble having any respect for, any reason other than simple courtesy to associate with, and just such puzzlement about the character of, current Republicans. Current Republicans seem almost a different species.
Two responses come from my R friends when the point is brought up for discussion: "I don't want to talk politics." or "We have to cut spending, and USAID doesn't affect anyone in OUR country." Close your eyes and turn your back and your conscious will not be affected.
Bob, Sidenote. During Friday's PBS News Hour, Jonathan Capehart mentioned Nathan Sage. Clip on You Tube if you have not seen
Those grinning faces from the seat of power & wealth make me sick. How can Iowans be so happy to hurt their fellow citizens and so many around the world?
I make no apology for the Republicans who have authored this terrible legislation and supported it with their majority. However, the Democratic Party has not responded effectively to contain this inhuman wave of disgust and literal murder over many years of failed elections. Having a winning President gave us little edge in the fight against these heartless money hogs. Elections are not horse races! Who does the best job of convincing people controls the stage. The stage filled with people like we have now, it spells disaster for many! Each day they are left to root around in our politics, even down to the state level, things get considerably worse. Each year they stay, the harder it is to reverse the trends they set into motion. Iowa is a prime example: policies that take away human rights for any of our population are wrong! Destroying our public school system by giving money to private entities with no strings attached is dead wrong! Reducing the number of options for people to vote or finding ways to cancel out those votes is keeping these sycophants in power. The Democrats not finding answers to some of the basic questions or selecting people to run that don't represent the majority of the people simply because they have money to run, is WRONG! Choosing someone they think has a chance to win because of "name recognition" (Culver for instance) have turned out to be complete failures as they get lost in the push-pull of politics where small mistakes can turn into complete washouts. It has gotten so bad that even the mention of the word "Democrat" sends people running! Can this be stopped? Can the Democratic Party rescue itself without sticking their hand into every conceivable pocket looking for money, and spending it on the same people who are not responding well enough to even hold onto the politicians they considered safe? Quite obviously ignoring the smaller voter turn out locations for the one's with more population is securing a few Democratic wins in places that should have been safe in the first place, but the one's where a few hundred votes would spell the difference between winning and losing aren't getting the help they need to secure these wins. Those representatives and senators in those little districts are now controlling both houses and the Governors office! It isn't rocket science! The failure to secure the votes needed simply is insurance you won't win! If you don't put up a good fight for these votes, you are succumbing to the wishes of the opposing side! In this case, open fascism and the destruction of the values we have all subscribed to for over 250 years! Enough!!!!
Only narcissists and fools have no regrets. Ernst doesn’t even regret possibly being misunderstood? Okay, then which is she, or perhaps both?
Appreciate the candid emotional reaction and the logical appeal. But. I don't believe that deaths and suffering far away will sway most if not nearly all MAGA GOP folks. I keep returning to the concept of "what will it take to tip the balance-what will it take to turn on the light bulb-at least bright enough-to make MAGA GOP change their views?" Perhaps the "light bulb" is very, very, very slowly getting powered on with each outrageous incident or event. Democrats and others are frustrated with how slowly that light bulb is being illuminated, and keep thinking "isn't this the time the MAGA GOP gets it?" only to find it wasn't enough, and then the thought becomes "what will it take to wake them up?" So much push back on the concept of woke/waking up, so that's a tough direction to go-to focus on waking up to facts, etc. My pessimism is based on seeing so many things happen that common sense and logic (not universal-obviously) have not tipped the balance or turned on the light. My best example is January 6 and Marion County Sherrif Sandhold proudly attends the 2025 Trump inaguration with much appreciation for being invited, and then Trump pardons all of the convicted January 6th terrorists, expunges their records, and then again relables them as patriots-how does our county law enforcement leader proudly stand by Trump who praises those rebels who violently assaulted so many law enforcement who were protecting the Capitol and all of the elected officials and staff at the Capitol, with several of them dying as a consequence? If that is not enough to tip the balance for Jason Sandhold, then folks dying many miles away won't even move his eye balls. We have to figure out "what it will take to turn on the light bulb." Unfortunately, I'm thinking it will take something very, very personal, sadly something so personal and so stupidly personal. Such as losing all satellite transmission of TV signals, severe gas shortage, water or electricity being cut off (all that didn't seem to tip the balance in TX during their energy crisis), losing access to alcohol, etc., closing all roads----whatever it takes to get them to "hey, now you are pissing me off." January 6, foreign aid, etc. haven't really pissed them off. Hoping the light bulb gets turned on for most of them very, very soon without severe consequences for us all, but...that's common sense and logic.
I fear you are right.
Thanks for speaking to the atrocities without pulling any punches. Elevating voices like yours is the difference between keeping our democracy and losing it.
An episode of Yellowstone has Beth and a fly fisherman sparring over whether fish feel pain. The fisherman says fish don't feel pain. Beth wonders how is it that the only vertebrate that doesn't use pain as a survival method just happens to be the one he likes to hook in the mouth as it fights for its life. How convenient.
In Ernst's "apology" she insulted the crowd in a condescending manner by suggesting they didn't know everyone dies and ignoring the real issue. She then adds further insult by equating them with not knowing the Tooth Fairy isn't real. She then shifts gears to preach to us that everlasting life is attained by accepting Jesus Christ.
People can believe whatever they want. A person's Religion has generally been off limits for criticism and the Constitution wisely protects a person's religious freedom to believe or not believe. However, these conservative religious beliefs are infiltrating the laws the rest of us have to live by. It is not a coincidence that 6 of the justices of the Supreme Court are Catholic and Roe v. Wade was reversed.
There are those who believe that no matter how disgusting a life you live, no matter how many children you starve to death or how many people you kill, it makes no difference if you accept Christ. You will rise from the dead and go to heaven. To many of us, this is nothing but the Tooth Fairy on steroids. There are real world consequences when those beliefs become a policy of governing without morals, empathy or with a mind boggling level of cruelty. However, it is the religious belief so many of our elected leaders have chosen--say the magic words and you are good to go. No accountability or responsibility. They are going to heaven no matter how much they ignore the other teachings of Jesus regarding the poor or how people are to treat others.
How convenient.
Thanks for going there, Ray. One day when I was about 17 a friend and I were driving to our summer construction job. A cat started crossing the road, and he started driving toward it. I grabbed the steering wheel and pulled the car away from the cat. When I asked him why he had done such a terrible thing, he replied, "The Lord put the animals on the earth for us to use for our purposes." I called BS and he shrugged. Today this good "Christian" is a Trump voter.
Thanks for not deleting my comment. I know it is up against what traditionally has been a line that is not to be crossed.
The more we learn about the atrocities committed by Republican politicians by actions or indifference, is mind numbing. Your appeal for shouting, screaming for our neighbors, media and especially our elected officials to stop this madness is met with silence. And, now with even sarcasm or contempt. The torpid response and malevolent rhetoric leaves me stunned. I’m somewhere between shock and disbelief, but always disturbed, wondering why they’re doing this. When did all of these Republicans lose their souls, their hearts and humanity? I’m with you, Dr. Leonard, like the Howard Beal character in the movie, “Network”, I’m wanting to open my window and shout, “I’m mad as hell, And I’m not going to take this anymore!” The problem is will anyone listen? They’re like zombies with an insatiable desire that’s morphed from desiring not power and money, but blood.
We just have to keep trying...and thanks for your efforts.
How about a means test to see if billionaires really need to be subsidized with keeping the tax cut? Damn few dollars from this go directly back into the economy to create jobs.
Maybe we need a work requirement, where they earn $7.50 an hour for each and every tax deduction they get so they aren't "free loading" off the system! While we are at it, because whether they like it or not, they are getting "public assistance" make them show how they need a yacht or any other luxury item they want a write off for, just like making Candy and potato chips off limits for SNAP, because it isn't good for them!
And they are proud of it….
None of us should be ok, given what is happening now. We should all be screaming. Thank you for this.
Margaret
What did they have for breakfast? CROW?
Great article Bob...my next column will follow up on this...it is called "The Republican Party is a Pro-Death Party."
Excellent. Keep up the great work Daniel!
This outline of Republican callousness is so very accurate. These are the very reasons I have such trouble having any respect for, any reason other than simple courtesy to associate with, and just such puzzlement about the character of, current Republicans. Current Republicans seem almost a different species.
Two responses come from my R friends when the point is brought up for discussion: "I don't want to talk politics." or "We have to cut spending, and USAID doesn't affect anyone in OUR country." Close your eyes and turn your back and your conscious will not be affected.
so true: "I hear screams in the wind."