tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post8337374829921720424..comments2024-03-28T14:52:13.218-05:00Comments on Stonekettle Station: ResolutionsJim Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11259550121437562338noreply@blogger.comBlogger208125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-81825211472565844322018-01-03T19:11:20.780-06:002018-01-03T19:11:20.780-06:00My stomach churns and my teeth grind at saying, &q...My stomach churns and my teeth grind at saying, "our President", when it comes to Trump. I'll try harder not to mock him by calling him the orange a-hole but it's nearly physically impossible for me to say he's my or our President. But I will strive daily to take the higher road. Thank you for an excellent piece, Jim. D Faughthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09250981242575231238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-288425079256516212018-01-03T12:52:43.194-06:002018-01-03T12:52:43.194-06:00You nailed it with 5a. Any ideas about where the p...You nailed it with 5a. Any ideas about where the progeny will end up?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11329818399861746115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-66210434389977562962017-01-14T00:18:35.576-06:002017-01-14T00:18:35.576-06:00Yes, the is the tenor I am looking for. Yes, resis...Yes, the is the tenor I am looking for. Yes, resistance without character assassination. I am ready to call out the fouls and misdeeds and work for change through the rule of law. Dick Filsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17177302110558459004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-4749794178190819842017-01-13T23:42:08.131-06:002017-01-13T23:42:08.131-06:00It's not easy to "remember who we are&quo...It's not easy to "remember who we are" and it feels like a violation of the prisoner's dilemma strategy - where an optimal (not optimum) strategy was to cooperate until betrayal, then betray the next time ONLY, and return to trying to cooperate. <br /><br />The Republicans have savaged a hyper-competent individual who deserved respect - a man who *wanted* to work with them, and for them. And they vilified him at every turn, in every way, when he was one of the most brilliant, skilled, executives I've ever seen. <br /><br />They've ignored the boundaries of civilized behavior. They've threatened criminal sanctions against an innocent woman because she was a political opponent. They've ignored some of the most fundamental norms of our society, wherein they should have immediately declared that it's OBVIOUS Hillary Clinton never deliberately tried to share classified information - and then, politics being politics, they would have played it into "but it shows such poor JUDGMENT!!!" That's not very nice, but politics isn't very nice. <br /><br />They've lied about us, trying to sow hatred against us, and all for temporary political advantage, long past the point of insanity - "Dudes, we're SUPPORTING Donald F'ing TRUMP!" - and they still wouldn't denounce him as a candidate. <br /><br />And oh, dear lord, do they deserve payback for that. <br /><br />But you're right. That payback should come in an honorable, measured way. That doesn't mean it should be gentle, and it sure shouldn't be kind. It needs to be hard, a good, clean uppercut that takes them off their feet, in return for the below-the-belt hit they've delivered. <br /><br />Because you're right. One party has gone stark raving insane, it has put party ahead of nation and against the common welfare, it's put partisan advantage ahead of an unfriendly foreign government, and there's only one possible thing that could be worse than that - and that would be both parties doing it. <br /><br />The thing that really hurts, though, is we did that. We landed that good clean uppercut in the first debate, followed up by a series of good, hard shots over the next two. We fought clean, and we did everything right and by god, we deserved the win. <br /><br />And we didn't get it. We earned it; we deserved it; and it was likely stolen by what was likely an extraordinarily unethical action by Comey (and aided and abetted, though less effectively, by Vladimir Putin). And I can't blame people for feeling like, "why do we <strong>bother?</strong> When the worst people in the world, using the worst tactics in the world, for the worst reasons in the world, win because they'll use the rules as toilet paper?" and the answer is, we bother because we love America. And we know it could well be destroyed if both parties act like that. <br /><br />But oh, lord it hurts. <br /><br />I think the reason there's a lot of negative commentary regarding this post (I hope you'll pardon my saying this) is that it does sound like normalization. "Let's just accept this." <br /><br />Me? I want the bastard impeached, tried, and convicted, and to be both a laughingstock and a disgrace. But you're right: we <strong> can't</strong> do that. And we shouldn't be trying to do that... not specifically. Ready to do it? Yeah. Trying to? No. That's not how the rule of law works. <br /><br />I want to keep calling out that we never put business people who won't even reveal their financial interests in charge of departments where they can enrich themselves; that we've never elected a man so likely to be guilty of so many crimes; that we've always counted on both political parties to put country just slightly ahead of political benefit. <br /><br />But I want to do it as an honorable citizen of a free nation - and to keep hoping that when things blow up in the face of the Republicans, we're ready to move, and keep them from trying to shift the blame to someone else, as they are so adept at doing. LongHairedWeirdohttp://longhairedweirdo.dreamwidth.org/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-75077759347317381222017-01-12T09:13:44.954-06:002017-01-12T09:13:44.954-06:00Thank you, Mr. Wright, for reminding us to keep ou...Thank you, Mr. Wright, for reminding us to keep our dignity. Well-said.<br />Deb Seymour (Deb Goes Green)http://www.debgoesgreen.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-66338643781760514042017-01-07T10:09:49.152-06:002017-01-07T10:09:49.152-06:00I agree Anonymous !!!
I agree Anonymous !!!<br />Randy's Videoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13572004203218882489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-75461788246204603882017-01-06T12:08:03.450-06:002017-01-06T12:08:03.450-06:00Well said.
Well said.<br />Don Cooleyhttps://www.facebook.com/notes/donald-b-cooley/never-say-die/10154639764058433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-10932631030898613312017-01-06T10:42:51.687-06:002017-01-06T10:42:51.687-06:00I agree April,thanks. I'm not Ready to make Ni...I agree April,thanks. I'm not Ready to make Nice Either.Randy's Videoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13572004203218882489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-15881619276124816212017-01-06T10:30:50.019-06:002017-01-06T10:30:50.019-06:00The Democrat needs to win by 10 million votes or w...The Democrat needs to win by 10 million votes or we lose.Randy's Videoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13572004203218882489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-36183965006445491462017-01-05T21:44:34.282-06:002017-01-05T21:44:34.282-06:00Yes, yes to everything I've read above just wa...Yes, yes to everything I've read above just wanted to add that my new years resolution was to NEVER speak his name again in my life. Today he is "President-Elect", next month he will be "the current president" and after he leaves office he will be "the former president, you know who". It works for me.Woody374https://www.blogger.com/profile/05204795317731318133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-52203429294757477422017-01-05T19:48:37.697-06:002017-01-05T19:48:37.697-06:00I never understood why the USA has only two "...I never understood why the USA has only two "parties". As I learned recently there are Greens and perhaps even some who may be called "left", but in the end there are only two.<br />Is the country too large ?<br />Thirty years back I learned that it is a big difference between a man who calls himself "Republican" in New York, and another "Republican" in New Texas. Or a "Democrat" in Boston and one on Alabama. Through some magic they seemed to have come over these distances. But Trump just ignored all and everything, replacing any content by "Trump". Same as Putin I guess.<br />Anyway, both behemoths should ask themselves if they still represent "the Nation" - whatever this may be.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-74734248782611721492017-01-05T17:17:54.841-06:002017-01-05T17:17:54.841-06:00Also from Savannah's blog. Great post. Also a ...Also from Savannah's blog. Great post. Also a post that should be on a blog and not on Fakebook.<br />I thought Trump fought the GOP and Hilary would win. Yes I was wrong he won. However, he did fight the GOP and apparently is still not completely sync'd up with many of them. Now the GOP will crash and burn resulting in a new centrist party. Oh did I mention my prediction that Hilary would win? Bill Lislemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15187273560129198423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-85753962249524753612017-01-05T14:13:51.324-06:002017-01-05T14:13:51.324-06:00There are a lot of people who don't vote. By b...There are a lot of people who don't vote. By being civil and dealing with reality as it really is, we have the possibility of showing those people that, no, the right and the left are not the same people. Then we can try to explain policies that will improve their lives. <br />Meredith Brownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-72996706235137206842017-01-05T13:57:45.043-06:002017-01-05T13:57:45.043-06:00I came at the suggestion of Savannah Marsh Mama, w...I came at the suggestion of Savannah Marsh Mama, whom I greatly respect. Through her I'm familiar with your postings on FB. I don't always comment on what I read...I try to embrace my trembling inner adult and walk away if I can't add to a conversation. :) Thanks for this piece. I tell folks I always aim to take the high road...and that it's often lonely, but doing the right thing isn't always the easy thing. Thanks for walking that path with me for a spell. :)hopehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03306622656461205674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-42552351159924492822017-01-05T12:31:19.289-06:002017-01-05T12:31:19.289-06:00The problem with our progressive message isn't...The problem with our progressive message isn't that people in rural areas don't want to hear it or don't agree. It's that they CAN'T hear it. I've learned by travelling through middle America by RV that in rural cable providers always carry FOX and almost none of them even carry MSNBC. That a huge information gap.<br /><br />JZinFLAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-5830113088886734082017-01-05T10:46:34.805-06:002017-01-05T10:46:34.805-06:00Thank you for this wisdom. And for the belly laugh...Thank you for this wisdom. And for the belly laugh. I needed it.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05937895613652505850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-50640882623323705282017-01-05T09:56:34.053-06:002017-01-05T09:56:34.053-06:00To paraphrase a great man, "Stay angry my fri...To paraphrase a great man, "Stay angry my friend". <br />I think what Jim is saying, if I may be so bold, is to do whatever you can to fix the mess we're in, just be better than them.eaglesfanintnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00171487787612296948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-73137032873317253732017-01-05T09:48:38.682-06:002017-01-05T09:48:38.682-06:00talonts - I'm with you on that. I don't c...talonts - I'm with you on that. I don't care what the current Mrs. Trump did. She was/is an attractive woman who did what thousands of other beautiful women do. Her pictures don't bother me and I do have a bit of sympathy for her (strange as that may seem).<br />But, I will not stand by while "evangelicals" who criticized the current FLOTUS for wearing a dress that bared her shoulders but have not one bit of comment for Mrs. Trump's pictures. <br />I will continue to point out their hypocrisy.eaglesfanintnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00171487787612296948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-43564310680553996652017-01-05T08:18:53.399-06:002017-01-05T08:18:53.399-06:00I got as far as this:
"stop sending me scen...I got as far as this: <br /><br />"stop sending me scenarios describing far-fetched, impossible ideas for [insert alternate of your choice here] to become president in his stead. That's not going to happen and I'm sick of being polite while people waste my time with it. Stop it. Please."<br /><br />before I went from 'oh good, another Jim Wright thing' to 'OH THANK GOD SOMEONE SAID IT'.<br /><br />I cannot express - luckily, you did, so I don't have to - how *annoyed* I have been at other liberals coming up with *increasingly* far-fetched, ridiculously bizarre ideas for whatever next stop-Trump idea someone has come up with now. <br /><br />And I'm with you 100% on #3. Ugh! Who thinks that's a reasonable thing to do? I am willing to discuss the theoreticals of what happens if he *does* die, as an intellectual exercise (theoretically, I'm pretty sure that the people who go 'what if he dies' are hoping for a whole new election or something; ALSO NOT GOING TO HAPPEN, GET OVER IT - I'm pretty sure they don't want to hear this answer, but tough).<br /><br />And 4a. Please. It makes the person *saying* it look like a little kid whining, "NO I WON'T! I WON'T GO! i WON'T I WON'T I WON'T!" It doesn't make *him* look like a little kid whining. Who wants to look like a little kid whining? (I admit to having trouble with the President Trump thing.)<br /><br />And 4b. Duh. I've never understood this. Again, all those other things make the person *saying* them sound dumb, and make the 'recipient' go "well, *that* person is clearly not worth dealing with/trying to converse intelligently with. Next!" If your goal is to make yourself look stupid, keep saying stupid derogatory things; it's not helping *you*, it's actually helping the other side dismiss you. Great idea! Mature! <br /><br />And 5, too. Well, okay, all the rest of it.<br /><br />YEAH. C'mon. If we want to look like the grown-ups in the room, we need to *act* like the grown-ups in the room.<br /><br />As always, stellar article.<br /><br />Plus, this made me crack up: more goddamned lame-ass Benghazi reboots than the Batman franchise.<br />Leannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06442741872448896630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-11982400784794011032017-01-04T23:21:19.187-06:002017-01-04T23:21:19.187-06:00As a subscriber, I’ve long appreciated your blogs ...As a subscriber, I’ve long appreciated your blogs … and the fact that you seem to think as I do. I’m further encouraged to read the comments on this piece … most are in agreement with what you’ve written. In the past, I’ve assumed that we grownups were in the minority; but perhaps we’ve all just kept silent, waiting ‘til juvenile noise died down, before speaking our mind.<br /><br />Thanks for being an adult; and for providing this space for the rest of us.Surprisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05073388105216770811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-91684528555474896782017-01-04T17:04:28.219-06:002017-01-04T17:04:28.219-06:00Hello, Savannah sent me.
"We have to be the ...Hello, <a href="https://www.blogger.com/profile/04310843901371718758" rel="nofollow">Savannah</a> sent me.<br /><br />"We have to be the people we want to be – otherwise there is no point."<br />This remembers me a bit of Mr Boswell, who one day deceided to be himself. He used to write little notes for himself for the next day. And the one for the 21st of July 1764 reads . "Be yourself. Be unique. Be happy !" Old James seriously did follow his own advice.<br />If being oneself also includes being serious, civilised and perhaps even friendly even when facing someone who disagrees with own beliefs etc. - this would be a nice idea ! But, frankly, I have some doubts about the public discourse in the US. at the moment it seems to work like "If in doubt, yell out !" With the notable exception of your blog of course. :) In Savannah I trust !Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-53431173462930238612017-01-04T16:07:31.966-06:002017-01-04T16:07:31.966-06:00Damn it Jim, why do you have to be all reasonable ...Damn it Jim, why do you have to be all reasonable and call upon us to act our ages and with integrity, and make so much sense. I was rather fond of my pet name for Mr. Trump. But you are right. I despise the man, I have never called his family names though because it iS childish and they can't help being related to him. I also don't believe in shaming Melania. People forget we are only 3 generations away from being unable to vote, attend a full co-ed university or work outside the home. I digress. <br /><br />I can't bring myself to call him President anymore than I could ever bring myself to call Mr. Bush President. But I despise people who can't call President Obama by his correct name and I don't really want to act like that myself. <br /><br />Thank you for reminding us to remain our proper ages and to maintain our integrity and our dignity in these times. <br />Cherilynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09986753257338814639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-89135755187040154442017-01-04T16:03:21.784-06:002017-01-04T16:03:21.784-06:00I tried to organize my thoughts about the election...I tried to organize my thoughts about the election of Trump and just couldn't manage to sound like a reasonable adult, so I gave up and linked back to you and Stonekettle Station - Resolutions! Thank you, sir! savannahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04310843901371718758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-52032990788190648032017-01-04T15:35:41.779-06:002017-01-04T15:35:41.779-06:00This. So fucking hard.
I don't give a shit...This. So fucking hard. <br /><br />I don't give a shit how many people Melania has fucked, what genders, races or sexual orientations they were, why she fucked them, whether she did it for money or not...I don't care. It's not my fucking business, and I'm sick of having it shoved down my throat every time her name is mentioned.<br /><br />I don't have to like her. I also *don't have to be a hypocrite*. It is quite possible to call the Republicans out for their hypocrisy without resorting to slut-shaming Melania. People who insist on doing that are *just as bad* as the people they are condemning!<br /><br />-- DianaAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05613622252896440275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-25304468026377907682017-01-04T14:59:20.404-06:002017-01-04T14:59:20.404-06:00I have read this essay at least a couple of times....I have read this essay at least a couple of times. I have also read the comments more than once. Some of the stated premises, I can go along with. Yes, he is the president. Technically, he is, in fact, my president. However, this time it really is different. I have grown up through the Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Carter, Reagan, Bush 1, Clinton, Bush 2 and Obama administrations. During that entire time, I was a liberal democrat. I never loathed or hated any of the Republican presidents. Well, maybe Nixon. I certainly did not like or approve of much of anything that Reagan or the Bushes did, and there was quite a bit of what Clinton did that I was unhappy about. Same with Obama. But, this time it's different. I could be wrong, but I do not think that there was such a term as "rethuglican", or the like, until AFTER Libtard became a popular right-wing term of disparagement. <br />Obama and far too many Dems have not understood that the other side has no rules, no moral center, no regard for anything but that which will help them win. Too many Dems stayed home in 1968 and gave us Nixon. In 2000, to many Dems voted Nader and gave us Bush 2. If Dems don't grow a pair, the country will not survive. <br /><br />It is time to bring the really big guns to the fights...not just bring good sense, a belief that all folks are really good, nice folks. They are not. Trump is proof.<br /><br />Therefore, while some may consider it childish or whatever, as far as any Republican I know is concerned, he is not my president, he not legitimate, his father really was an orangatan (thanks, Bill Maher), and he deserves no quarter whatever.Vickihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04210334615328982021noreply@blogger.com