I guess I don’t agree that the response to the Hunter Biden stuff is more “Whataboutism.” We have to stop acting as if this is just normal tit-for-tat politics. It’s not. It’s the perversion of democratic processes and institutions and the use of intimidation and violence to advance an authoritarian agenda. It is the effort to end “politics” as we know it; for authoritarianism is rule by fiat -- the antithesis of politics.
Instead we need a very large, aggressive, relentless initiative targeting the MAGA-Republican Party’s authoritarian agenda and playbook. We need to help regular folks understand that, while Trump and his MAGA movement failed in its coup attempt at the Capitol, it has succeeded in effecting a coup of the Republican Party and many state governments. This means that the Republican Party and many state governments (not to mention SCOTUS) are now fully authoritarian entities, run and supported by people either hostile or indifferent to the furtherance of our Democratic Republic.
In countless ways, the Republican Authoritarian Party is advancing their brutish agenda in countless ways and initiatives all across the country and at every level of government (the MAGA-controlled House, states as “Laboratories of Autocracy”), the civic sector, the judiciary, and so forth. We need to name this, explain this, call this out, and confront it.
I’m pretty sure that the bulk of the American people, being made fully aware of the authoritarian agenda and the choice that MAGA is forcing us to make between dictatorship and democracy, would actively choose the latter. But if we continue to treat all of this pernicious activity as within some context of “normal” politics, the authoritarians will accelerate and consolidate their gains and we are sure to face a very dangerous and unhappy future.
It's definitely a problem when one side will do anything at all regardless of truth or decency to slur their opponents, while the Dems sit there 'taking it' & trying to pretend 'good will win in the end' - it generally DOES, but it always takes many years to get there & meanwhile the evil has taken its' toll on the good guys ! We've seen this so many times before !
Let’s not forget! Jared Kushner was tasked to pull all those top secret files from the archives for tRump. (Surely you didn’t think tRump was able to READ and comprehend them). Trump gathers dirt for sale and leverage; always has. Jared’s trip to visit the Saudis has all the makings of high treason and espionage.
First rate. And thank you. I feared the First Sibling Problem had faded with time. As for Hunter Biden ... what office was he elected to, exactly? He is so obviously a damaged soul. He has been a survivor, twice, of harrowing episodes. As a little boy he was in a car crash that killed his mother and baby sister. He is also the surviving son. Although I know comparisons are odious, his late brother, Beau, was a star and a hero.
This old bag can easily understand his pain as the surviving son, the fuckup. That the Republicans would try to make him an issue is, actually, quite consistent with their content-free trouble making along partisan lines. One of his torturers, Gym Jordan, should, himself, have been on trial for covering up sports
molestation at his school. Why he wasn't on trial for this I have no idea.
A bit off this track, but does anyone know why Mnuchin was similarly favored with Saudi money? The only thing I can think of is that he is actually a financier who knows how to make money. It is my understanding that there were no "No" votes to him by the Saudi wealth management council.
Terrific question. Mnuchin (who was actually chinless) was as slimy as the rest. I hope the other side of the house aisle is prepping its Javanka file.
He and the missus were thst administration's comic relief. The Ft Knox photos were right up there with Melaria's dysfunctional Christmas and Africa photo ops.… Whatever, terrific column, Nina—more, more, more!
Ah. Excellent work. Glad to know you. What you are describing is family corruption in politics. This is nothing new, as the author of this excellent article knows. Some time ago, I had a relative from Minnesota who had some connection with Hubert Humphrey (he was vice-president at some point you know). She used that connection when visiting African countries on business. When she returned, I personally got a t-shirt with the president of Cameroon on it. I felt this had value. And I proudly wore it as something unique and truly interesting and fashionable. Yes, I remember that t-shirt well! (I analyze society and its intellectual formations on my newsletter. So, I do hope all you persons read it as my writing slowly, slowly improves.)
Funny about your mentioning Hubert. He was a friend of my mother's through WI. Democratic politics (being in neighboring states.) In 1960 I was an intern for him when he was running for potus. He was, to use my mother's phrase, "a doll of a guy."
I'm glad you're all over this story, because it pisses me off so much, my fingers burn the keyboard every time I touch it. Good one.
Another good one, Nina. Don’t take your eyes off Javanka.
Thanks jeff
I guess I don’t agree that the response to the Hunter Biden stuff is more “Whataboutism.” We have to stop acting as if this is just normal tit-for-tat politics. It’s not. It’s the perversion of democratic processes and institutions and the use of intimidation and violence to advance an authoritarian agenda. It is the effort to end “politics” as we know it; for authoritarianism is rule by fiat -- the antithesis of politics.
Instead we need a very large, aggressive, relentless initiative targeting the MAGA-Republican Party’s authoritarian agenda and playbook. We need to help regular folks understand that, while Trump and his MAGA movement failed in its coup attempt at the Capitol, it has succeeded in effecting a coup of the Republican Party and many state governments. This means that the Republican Party and many state governments (not to mention SCOTUS) are now fully authoritarian entities, run and supported by people either hostile or indifferent to the furtherance of our Democratic Republic.
In countless ways, the Republican Authoritarian Party is advancing their brutish agenda in countless ways and initiatives all across the country and at every level of government (the MAGA-controlled House, states as “Laboratories of Autocracy”), the civic sector, the judiciary, and so forth. We need to name this, explain this, call this out, and confront it.
I’m pretty sure that the bulk of the American people, being made fully aware of the authoritarian agenda and the choice that MAGA is forcing us to make between dictatorship and democracy, would actively choose the latter. But if we continue to treat all of this pernicious activity as within some context of “normal” politics, the authoritarians will accelerate and consolidate their gains and we are sure to face a very dangerous and unhappy future.
It's definitely a problem when one side will do anything at all regardless of truth or decency to slur their opponents, while the Dems sit there 'taking it' & trying to pretend 'good will win in the end' - it generally DOES, but it always takes many years to get there & meanwhile the evil has taken its' toll on the good guys ! We've seen this so many times before !
Let’s not forget! Jared Kushner was tasked to pull all those top secret files from the archives for tRump. (Surely you didn’t think tRump was able to READ and comprehend them). Trump gathers dirt for sale and leverage; always has. Jared’s trip to visit the Saudis has all the makings of high treason and espionage.
Enjoy the cool aide .
First rate. And thank you. I feared the First Sibling Problem had faded with time. As for Hunter Biden ... what office was he elected to, exactly? He is so obviously a damaged soul. He has been a survivor, twice, of harrowing episodes. As a little boy he was in a car crash that killed his mother and baby sister. He is also the surviving son. Although I know comparisons are odious, his late brother, Beau, was a star and a hero.
This old bag can easily understand his pain as the surviving son, the fuckup. That the Republicans would try to make him an issue is, actually, quite consistent with their content-free trouble making along partisan lines. One of his torturers, Gym Jordan, should, himself, have been on trial for covering up sports
molestation at his school. Why he wasn't on trial for this I have no idea.
A bit off this track, but does anyone know why Mnuchin was similarly favored with Saudi money? The only thing I can think of is that he is actually a financier who knows how to make money. It is my understanding that there were no "No" votes to him by the Saudi wealth management council.
Terrific question. Mnuchin (who was actually chinless) was as slimy as the rest. I hope the other side of the house aisle is prepping its Javanka file.
Thanks for the reminder. Freakshow needs to revisit/take a gander at Mnuchin soon.
He and the missus were thst administration's comic relief. The Ft Knox photos were right up there with Melaria's dysfunctional Christmas and Africa photo ops.… Whatever, terrific column, Nina—more, more, more!
"In the paternal psychology regard........" That sentence is accurate, true and creepily funny.
Ah. Excellent work. Glad to know you. What you are describing is family corruption in politics. This is nothing new, as the author of this excellent article knows. Some time ago, I had a relative from Minnesota who had some connection with Hubert Humphrey (he was vice-president at some point you know). She used that connection when visiting African countries on business. When she returned, I personally got a t-shirt with the president of Cameroon on it. I felt this had value. And I proudly wore it as something unique and truly interesting and fashionable. Yes, I remember that t-shirt well! (I analyze society and its intellectual formations on my newsletter. So, I do hope all you persons read it as my writing slowly, slowly improves.)
Funny about your mentioning Hubert. He was a friend of my mother's through WI. Democratic politics (being in neighboring states.) In 1960 I was an intern for him when he was running for potus. He was, to use my mother's phrase, "a doll of a guy."