Dems–Same As They Ever Were

The election is over and the Dems have won a major victory they will control both Houses of Congress in January….and they promised the the voter change….they even have some very capable people now headed to the seat of power….then why try to do all this when they are the minority?

Democrats made their second big mistake in less than two days on Wednesday when they allowed a far-right veterans bill to pass the House on a voice vote.

A voice vote is when someone proposes the bill, the parliamentarian asks for the “yays” and the group yells then they ask for the “nays” and they yell. In this case, House Republicans declared the bill passed. A Democrat could have asked for a recorded vote, meaning the parliamentarian must call each name and record their vote.

“Some confusion here about what exactly happened. But this is another black eye for Democrats. Two in two days,” said Punchbowl News reporter Jake Sherman on X.

One anonymous Democratic staffer sent a message to a source: “It appears Democratic leadership just let a controversial veterans benefits bill pass by voice vote and didn’t request a recorded vote. Hence the disarray on the floor. This is a huge procedural mess-up. Texts in group chats of Dem staff right now include phrases such as: ‘How could they have let that happen?’ ‘We are not off to a good start.’ ‘This coming right on the heels of the attendance issue last night is incredibly damning of current leadership.'”

https://www.alternet.org/democrats-2678372634/

Let’s see so far they have brought articles of impeachment against Pistol Pete and it failed…..go figure….

Explanations are owed, not only by the 11 members, but by Democratic leadership. The American people had a right to expect that a vote of this magnitude would be taken with the utmost seriousness, because it is directly related to an illegal, expensive, murderous war and the individual cabinet member who has claimed unique responsibility for prosecuting it.

It is fair to ask what efforts Democratic leadership made to assure attendance for this vote. Did congressional staff alert their  bosses to vote? Ultimately, it is the member’s responsibility to show up, and there is a safety net: The congressional schedule, the floor action, one’s staff, the Democratic caucus, the paging system all provide clues that a vote is approaching.

Democrats Helped Stymie Hegseth Impeachment

Then the Dems helped pass a Donny give away to the fossil fuel industry…..

So far I have seen nothing that gives me confidence that change is coming.

I see the same terrible leadership that has had disastrous results in the past….

Now Donny threatens the Dems ….

The White House’s top lawyer is threatening a criminal investigation of Democrats for conducting what he alleges are illegitimate investigations into the executive branch — a stark escalation from the Trump administration as congressional Democrats prepare to launch an oversight onslaught when they assume the majority in January.

White House counsel Will Scharf, in a letter to incoming House Oversight Committee Chair Robert Garcia, says Democrats’ repeated public promises to use their new majority to investigate the president and his allies could cross constitutional limits — and even amount to illegal threats.

The letter, dated Monday but publicly revealed Wednesday, informs the California Democrat that the White House is “monitoring the abusive and capricious threats that are now proliferating from Democrat legislators who seek to abuse the legislative process to intimidate and to interfere with the lawful functioning of government.”

It also cites several statements from Garcia and his Democratic colleagues, attempting to paint their efforts as unmoored in a legislative purpose and instead as threats “designed to deter them from public service, or process designed merely to abuse or instill fear.”

https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/11/11/congress/white-house-puts-garcia-on-notice-01160683

The same tit-for-tat game….

Will January be any different?

So far I am not encouraged that change is coming.

How about you?

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Some Things Never Change

After the blowout the Dems gave the GOP in the last election…..knowing the voters want change….I mean real change….they, Dems, show their true colors…..

The US Senate on Monday voted in bipartisan fashion to advance a fossil fuel industry-backed permitting reform bill that would weaken the Clean Water Act and other key environmental protections to make it easier for the federal government to streamline energy projects—including climate-wrecking gas pipelines.

The 73-25 vote to advance the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act (BAAJA) sets the stage for what’s expected to be a contentious amendment process. The bill’s Democratic supporters—including Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, and Chuck Schumer of New York—argue it is a necessary compromise to accelerate construction of clean energy projects. Environmentalists, tribal organizations, and progressive lawmakers say the legislation is a gift to fossil fuel companies, tech giants, and other corporate interests at the expense of local communities and the planet.

The 22 members of the Senate Democratic Caucus who voted with Republicans for passage were:

  1. Blumenthal (D-CT)
  2. Coons (D-DE)
  3. Cortez Masto (D-NV)
  4. Fetterman (D-PA)
  5. Gallego (D-AZ)
  6. Gillibrand (D-NY)
  7. Heinrich (D-NM)
  8. Hickenlooper (D-CO)
  9. Kim (D-NJ)
  10. King (I-ME)
  11. Klobuchar (D-MN)
  12. Ossoff (D-GA)
  13. Peters (D-MI)
  14. Reed (D-RI)
  15. Rosen (D-NV)
  16. Schatz (D-HI)
  17. Schumer (D-NY)
  18. Shaheen (D-NH)
  19. Slotkin (D-MI)
  20. Warner (D-VA)
  21. Warnock (D-GA)
  22. Whitehouse (D-RI)

https://www.commondreams.org/news/senate-advances-permitting-reform

Why would these fools ever think of working with the GOP…..I mean when was the last time a Dem bill got the same consideration?

Not in recent years.

Now you see why I have NO confidence in these cowards going forth….including the one that is being groomed to run in 2028, Ossoff.

These bought and paid forth Dems keep believing the bi-partisanship is the answer….it has been proven for decades that it is NO way forward…..just a standstill with little to no progress.

They find any excuse to vote in favor of their donors.

This is a precursor to what will likely be the next Congress…..Dems helping the billionaires at every turn….is that what we voted for?

I think not…..but as they say bad habits are hard to break….we, the voter, is just as screwed in the future as we are today.

What say you?

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Pistol Pete Survives!

Actually never thought he would have any problem beating the charges against him.

Recently Massie brought 8 points of impeachment against Pistol Pete and brought them before the House for a vote….

The resolution accuses the defense secretary of waging war in Iran without congressional approval, ignoring laws about minimizing civilian casualties and directing the Defense Department to carry out extrajudicial killings.

It describes US actions in Iran, Venezuela, Yemen and its strikes on ships in the Western Hemisphere thought to be carrying narcotics. At least 80 vessels have been destroyed and 243 people have been killed in those operations since they began last year, with the Pentagon not providing public evidence for its claims against the people it killed.

In Iran, the articles accuse Hegseth of directing the US armed forces to enter into hostilities absent a declaration of war, other statutory authorization or a national emergency.

The articles state that Hegseth “abused the powers of his high office” by “executing an unlawful order to commence hostilities despite the absence of a declaration of war, specific statutory authorization, or a national emergency created by an attack upon the United States, its territories or possessions, or its Armed Forces.”

https://www.cnn.com/2026/11/09/politics/pete-hegseth-impeachment-congress

Then it went before the House for a vote….

he House on Tuesday turned aside a resolution to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, halting an effort to remove the Pentagon chief for his conduct in office and his handling of the war in Iran. The House voted to effectively kill the impeachment motion by sending it to committee, the New York Times reports. The vote was 211 to 204, with seven Republicans and 11 Democrats not voting. Kentucky Republican Thomas Massie, who introduced the articles of impeachment on Tuesday, was the only Republican to vote with Democrats to keep the motion alive. If they had succeeded, there would have been a final vote on impeachment on Wednesday.

The vote came as Republicans grapple with the fallout from sweeping midterm losses that some in the party have blamed on the war in Iran and the resulting surge in gas prices. But after President Trump signaled strong support for Hegseth, GOP lawmakers largely stood by the secretary on Tuesday, the AP reports. The vote may only delay an impeachment push against Hegseth, with Democrats set to take control of the House and Senate in January.

The vote failed thanks to Dems….who thought this would not happen?

Now we get the excuses for the missed vote….

A Capitol traffic snarl may have helped stall the impeachment push against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Four of 11 Democrats who missed Tuesday’s vote on a Republican motion that effectively sidelined articles of impeachment say a traffic jam near the Capitol complex kept from away until moments after the vote closed. Reps. Melanie Stansbury, Jonathan Jackson, Laura Gillen, and Marilyn Strickland all said they would have voted no on the motion if not for the traffic incident, reportedly involving a police-escorted bus, per Al Jazeera and the Hill. Stansbury later filed a statement recording her intended “no,” saying “Pete Hegseth must be impeached now.”

The House voted 211–204 to send the impeachment articles, introduced by GOP Rep. Thomas Massie, to the Judiciary Committee, a move expected to bury them for this Congress. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was among Democrats to express frustration over the vote, which she tied to attendance issues, per the Independent. While some lawmakers were reportedly caught in traffic while returning from an Elect Democratic Women event about 1.5 miles from the Capitol, Rep. Nancy Pelosi was in California accepting a Lifetime Advocate for Veterans Award, Rep. Lou Correa was undergoing a medical procedure, and Rep. Steven Horsford’s office said he had a personal emergency. Rep. Brittany Pettersen simply said she was “denied the ability to vote.”

Does anyone believe these excuses?

I want to know how many of the 11 get their cash from the Defense industry.

Pelosi?  I always knew she was worthless.

To be fair I will give Pistol Pete’s defense….

Pete Hegseth is digging in. In a Tuesday morning news conference, the Pentagon chief pushed back against a newly launched push in the House to impeach him. “In the 250 years of our American republic, no secretary of war or secretary of defense has ever been impeached for carrying out lawful military operations,” Hegseth declared, reports the AP. By contrast, the congressman who introduced the articles of impeachment, GOP Rep. Thomas Massie, contends that recent military actions in Iran, Venezuela, and elsewhere were not lawful. Hegseth, though, called the Iran war the “tough, right thing” and noted there was no impeachment vote against defense chief Lloyd Austin during the chaotic pullout from Afghanistan in 2021, per the Washington Post.

Hegseth made the case that impeachment is an over-the-top response to disagreements over policy. “The proper remedy for a policy disagreement: It’s legislation. It’s debate. It’s the next presidential election,” Hegseth said. “It’s not handing the House and Senate floor to the Democrats so that they can run a show trial against the president and the secretary of war while Republicans still control Congress.” Hegseth continues to have the support of President Trump, who wrote on Truth Social that “Hegseth gets an ‘A’ PLUS, PLUS, PLUS for his defense against a disgruntled, angry, defeated, former Congressman, Thomas Massie, a TOTAL LOSER!”

I would expect nothing less than his bullshit insults.

The Defense Industry wins again…..their bribe money was well spent on this day.

Thoughts?

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

OMG! Mississippi Makes History

Hooray for our side!

My state of Mississippi seldom has anything good in the news….our economy sucks, racist little turds making noise, health is in the toilet….but now we have broken the strangle hold that cowardly conservs have had on the state for way too long….

It has been a nail biter….but a Dem has won the Senate seat that the GOP has held for decades….

Democratic nominee Scott Colom has defeated Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith in Mississippi’s closely contested US Senate race after a prolonged ballot counting process, giving the state its first Black US senator since post-Civil War Reconstruction, the AP reports.

  • Colom’s narrow victory is a seismic shift in Mississippi, which has been controlled mostly by white conservatives for generations, and it will echo through the country as well. The outcome adds to a decisive midterm rebuke of President Trump, whose party suffered defeats in several Republican-controlled states, and it will bolster some Democrats’ argument that their future runs through the American South.

The AP called the contest Wednesday in Colom’s favor after local election officials spent several days processing absentee and provisional ballots, called affidavit ballots in Mississippi. The last time Mississippi chose a new Democratic senator was 1947, and the winner then was a staunch segregationist.

  • Colom, a 43-year-old local prosecutor, capitalized on discontent with the economy, Hyde-Smith’s missteps as she sought a second full term, and the large number of Black people in the state. “They actually deserve a senator that will listen to them, that actually cares about what they think, actually cares about what they’re going through,” Colom said in the campaign’s closing stretch.
  • Colom said during the campaign that he could represent all of Mississippi, a state where racial divisions have long defined its politics and society. “It’s got to be about having a party that represents rural America again, suburban America, urban America—a party that makes sure we actually deliver for voters in ways that make their lives better, and we don’t come up with excuses as to why we can’t do it,” he said.
  • The senator-elect concluded his campaign with an ad that featured him at the Jackson home of Medgar Evers, the civil rights leader who, in 1963, was gunned down in his driveway by a white supremacist and died in front of his family. “In Mississippi, no one is above the law, and no one should be outside its protection,” Colom said, telling the story of Evers’ military service at Normandy in World War II, his voter registration efforts in Mississippi, his assassination, and the three decades it took to win a conviction. “He was killed for helping Mississippians vote,” Colom said. “On Tuesday, use your vote and honor everyone who died for that right.”

Colom has made history and it is about damn time.

Now he has to prove to the state that he is the right person to lead from the Senate….he has 6 years to prove his mettle…..

But it does not mean the racism in the state has been defeated….just that the voter is tired of being screwed by the Donny machine.

We will see where he goes from this time forward.

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Veterans Day–2026

The 11th day of the 11th month……

Today is a national holiday where America honors our veterans….but it it?  It seems more like a day off and a lot of beer and food more so than about veterans and their contribution to what we call freedom.

When I arrived in Vietnam in October of 1967 I was issued a M16…..a piece of sh*t weapon and I soon traded it for a M3 known as a ‘Burp Gun’….it was more reliable in the field and reliability is why many US troops chose the AK47 over the M16.

Sorry had a brain fart and went back 60 years….

I would like to wish all my fellow veterans a great day and we will always keep our comrades in our minds.

This is just a small thing that few people know about….a small factoid about Vietnam….

This is probably TMI but there were many things about Vietnam that most Americans have no idea.

I will stick to me tradition for this day….at 11am I have drink and a toast to absent friends….then go about my usual schedule for the day.

I hope everyone has a good day and please take the time to remember all our veterans have done for this country and the sacrifices that they endured to serve their country.

 

 

Make ‘Armistice Day’ Great Again

Today is Veterans Day….a day we remember all our fallen citizens that heeded the call and went to war….in recent years it is more about a day off than remembrance.

We need to make this day great again and remember those that did their duty to their country.

Not celebrations as such, mind you: The observances were — and in some countries at least partially remain — somber remembrances (the UK now calls November 11 “Remembrance Day”) of 20 million dead in “the war to end all wars,” driven by sentiment against ever returning to that kind of carnage.

That sentiment, unfortunately, proved insufficient to prevent World War 2 and hundreds or thousands of subsequent deadly conflicts, which is bad enough.

Worse, though, is what America did with “Armistice Day.” In 1954, Congress replaced the traditional “Armistice Day” observance with a celebratory “Veterans Day.”

Instead of mourning war, we now celebrate warriors. Parades. Air shows. Political speeches. Free meals, drinks, haircuts, etc. for veterans. A lot of “thank you for your service” to everyone identifiable as a veteran of the US armed forces; quite a bit of mutual back-slapping among those of us who “served.”

https://original.antiwar.com/thomas-knapp/2026/11/10/make-armistice-day-great-again/

We need to be reminded what and why this day is observed….the original intent.

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Meet The Minority Leaders

I have offered up my assessment of the two presumptive leaders of the Dems in the next Congress now it is time to meet what the MAGA-ites are putting forward as leadership.

The GOP Senators have chosen a figure that has always shown his true colors and now he pretends he wants to work with the other side….

Senate Republicans opted for continuity on Tuesday, keeping John Thune in charge as their conference heads into the minority next year. The South Dakota senator was reelected by acclamation in a closed-door meeting after conservatives failed in a push to delay the leadership vote in the hopes another candidate would emerge, Politico reports. Sen. Rick Scott of Florida said he wanted to know the plan for the months ahead, reports the Hill. “We have 55 days until the Democrats take over,” he said, “so I want to know what we’re going to do between now and then to get stuff done.”

The Senate majority leader, who was running unopposed, was widely expected to prevail in the secret ballot, but senators including Sen. Jim Justice of West Virginia expressed misgivings during meetings Tuesday, noting that the party lost at least seven seats in the midterms, the AP reports. There is a “legitimate argument that, good gracious, if we lost as badly as we lost, why would we continue on with the same leadership?” he said, though he added that GOP leadership “didn’t cause this problem to happen.”

Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, who had backed the delay, said Thune delivered a “heartfelt” address and argued he had been unfairly targeted by some in the party’s base. Before the vote, he noted there was nobody else on the ballot and said, “that’s part of our problem, who would want the job?” In a statement, Thune said he “appreciated the opportunity to have an open, honest, and transparent conversation with my colleagues” and he is “honored to have their continued trust and support to lead the Senate Republican Conference in the 120th Congress.”

This is the leader that rubber stamped Donny’s policies like they were gospel….he is not a leader I would have chosen…..but then there are not many in the GOP I would have chosen.

Now on to the House minority leadership….and this shows that the moral standards are pretty low for the GOP….

Jim Jordan finally landed the leadership post he’s chased for years. House Republicans on Tuesday picked the Ohio congressman to head their shrunken conference in the next Congress, choosing him over Majority Leader Steve Scalise in a 106-73 secret ballot, Politico reports. A founder of the hard-right House Freedom Caucus and a key ally of President Trump, Jordan framed himself as the party’s chief brawler against an incoming Democratic majority, pointing to his record atop the Judiciary and Oversight committees.

“I am battle-tested on the oversight front and I know the Democrats’ playbook,” he reportedly wrote to his colleagues. His win follows steep GOP losses that prompted Speaker Mike Johnson to step aside from leadership. The AP notes Jordan will inherit a historically small House Republican conference; the Democrats’ roughly 260 seats give them the largest majority they have had in 35 years, reports NBC News.

I am sure anybody watching politics will remember that he was involved in the sex scandal at Penn State….plus he was a Tea Party favorite that did little but bitch and moan his whole time in Congress…..he is not a fighter….he is a theatrical nightmare for the House procedures.

Of the two new leaders Thune may be the closest to a rational person in charge…..but in the House they have elected a person that will be disruptive and powerless.

My thoughts….add anything you may think of to help the understanding.

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Take Us To Our Leaders

I will attempt to explain my reasoning for my dislike of the main contenders.

After a very successful election the Dems have won both Houses of Congress and now is the time to start looking for the new leaders of those Houses.

We have the minority leaders of Jeffries and Schumer as the presumptive new majority leaders….but would that be a wise decision?

My personal thought is no it would not be in the best interests of the people of this country.

These new leaders have a challenge to do what is best for the people….not the corporations….

Now that the Democratic Party has some power, we’re all waiting to see how they use it. Can the leaders meet the moment?

Hakeem Jeffries is the presumptive speaker of the House. There is a lot of opposition to Jeffries in the party base. There is a petition at Change.org with over a million signatures to “Oppose Hakeem Jeffries for Speaker of the House.”

…

That brings us the presumptive majority leader in the Senate, Chuck Schumer. I would prefer to see him replaced right away. Chief Deputy Whip Brian Schatz is waiting in the wings. If Schumer stays as leader for the entire 120th Congress, the base will be constantly upset by his mealy-mouth presentation, tendency to cave to corporate interests, and unwavering support of the Israeli military’s attacks on its neighbors.

Keeping the coalition together is more important than letting Schumer keep his job. Standing up to the Trump administration, the oligarchs, and corporate special interests is what is required at the moment.

Jeffries and Schumer Need to Step Up or Get Out of the Way

But let’s look at those men that could be the future of the Democratic Party….at least for the next 2 years.

Let’s begin with the People’s House and the person that could become the first black speaker in all of history…..Jeffries….

Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries is on the cusp of making history as the nation’s first Black speaker of the House, a generational shift in U.S. politics after Democrats trounced Republicans to win majority control of the chamber in the midterm elections.

Jeffries faces a vote of his colleagues when the new Congress convenes Jan. 3. If nominated and elected, as expected, it would be the first time a Black lawmaker has grasped the powerful House speaker’s gavel, a job second in line to the president and the only leadership position in Congress mandated by the U.S. Constitution.

…

They are bracing to confront not only Trump, but also a fresh group of Democrats elected to office, including a handful backed by the Democratic Socialists of America pushing the party leftward, though the largest caucus in the House is expected to remain the more moderate New Democrat Coalition.

Jeffries has promised a robust 100-day agenda to lower the costs of living and launch oversight and investigations to hold the Trump administration accountable. Impeachment is an option.

Promising to show voters that Democrats can govern, Jeffries and the leadership team hope to hold their new majority together and avoid the chaotic disruptions and dysfunction that often left Johnson unable to control the GOP’s razor-thin majority in the House.

https://apnews.com/article/hakeem-jeffries-election-house-democrats-017ab70f264d4abe90da0325c1f03350

That was a glowing article on the presumptive Speaker-to-be…..

There is reasons why Jeffries is not the best person for the job….

Now that Democrats have swept the House, a key question is: Who should lead it?

Hakeem Jeffries is in line to become the first Black Speaker of the House, which would be a historic milestone. But members of Congress must examine Jeffries’ record, his priorities, and the kind of leadership he would bring to this moment.

Here are ten reasons why Jeffries should not be Speaker.

1. He has abandoned Medicare for All

https://znetwork.org/znetarticle/10-reasons-hakeem-jeffries-should-not-be-the-next-speaker-of-the-house/

There is too much of a corporate Dem in his life for him to be the best choice for Speaker….that is just my thought.

This brings us to Schumer….there has bee a wealth of reason why he should not be the Leader of the Senate….corporate money, Israel support, Pentagon support, high dollar donors, etc.

Democratic voters have indicated they want newer and younger leadership in the party. Over the last two years, progressive Democrats have scored major victories in local and state elections.

It’s led some lawmakers to push for similar changes in decade-old leadership. Schumer, 75, has served as the Democrats’ leader in the Senate since 2017.

But Schumer did not appear worried about his bid for Senate majority leader, telling reporters on Wednesday: “I’ll be re-elected as majority leader.”

Schumer likely has enough votes within his party to become the next majority leader. He’s also running uncontested as of Friday afternoon – no other Senate Democrat has officially thrown their hat into the ring.

There are few few reasons why I do not think he would be the best leader….

Generational Change: Critics—including the 600,000-member International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Senator Elissa Slotkin, and various incoming lawmakers—argue that the party needs a new generation of leadership, fresh energy, and new ideas rather than recycling the same establishment figures.

  • Perceived Disconnect with Voters: Progressive and labor critics state that Schumer represents an older, top-down style of politics that fails to listen to working-class voters or address core issues like economic affordability and corporate influence effectively.

  • Past Strategy and Primary Choices: Detractors point to past primary endorsements and campaign strategies—such as backing specific primary opponents or miscalculating suburban voter shifts—as evidence of flawed decision-making.

  • Handling of Legislative Fights and Confirmations: Some party members have criticized Schumer for past compromises, such as backing a Republican bill to reopen federal agencies during a government shutdown without securing key Democratic priorities like healthcare subsidies, or not doing enough to block certain cabinet confirmations.

  • Foreign Policy and Cultural Divisions: Schumer has faced criticism from progressive wings of the party over his strong stance on aid and support for Israel, as well as internal debates on foreign policy and domestic agendas.
  • Low Approval Ratings: Public polling, including data cited from Siena University and RealClearPolitics, has historically shown low favorability ratings for Schumer among both general voters and members of his own party.

He has proven to me that he cares more about his high dollar donors than the people that put him in his position of power.

The people voted for change and if these two are elected to the leadership it will be a betrayal of that vote….

Defeating Donald Trump at the ballot box will mean little if Democrats preserve the corporate rule that helped bring him to power. The ballots have been counted. The danger now is that Democrats will mistake a repudiation of Donald Trump for permission to keep serving the billionaires who own American politics. On The Chris Hedges Report, Ralph Nader warns that an electoral landslide can become another exercise in betrayal if voters allow the party’s corporate leadership to turn public anger into empty promises, toothless investigations and business as usual.

Chris Hedges Report: Will Democrats Betray Voters Again?

We deserve better than these two corporate stooges.

You thoughts will be appreciated.

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

“It Was Rigged”

Donny made his speech after the vote where he said that he looked forward to working with the Dems in the next Congress….and we all waited for the next shoe to drop.

And drop it did…..

Six days after saying he was “absolutely willing” to accept the results of the midterm elections, President Trump has had a change of heart. On Monday, Trump suggested that rigged machines cost Republicans control of Congress, reports Politico. “Does anybody really believe that this ‘Election’ was honest,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “How could the Polls be so wrong??? Some early voting ‘dumps’ were so large that it was impossible to win, no matter how many people went to vote,” the president said. “It’s all about the machines, which are far more important than the voter!”

Trump has previously acknowledged that the Iran war likely hurt Republicans, and, as recently as Sunday night, he said his administration’s “too tough” immigration crackdown also may have been a factor. It’s not clear what prompted Monday’s new tone, but CNBC notes that it coincides with the first day on the job for Trump’s new chief of staff, Stephen Miller. Most DC observers predict that Miller’s selection signals a combative final two years in office for Trump.

His usual BS…..so is he setting the stage for some sort of action in the near future or is he practicing his routine for the Chuckle Hut?

Really?  After all the antics by the GOP for voter suppression, purges, gerrymandering and the rest of the so-called policies to prevent voter fraud and it was the Dems that were rigging the election….

This cancerous demented toad just cannot go any length of time without contradicting himself or insulting someone…..a sure sign of a personality the needs treatment.

Anything to add?

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

The ‘Consent Of The Governed’

This will be the second part of my series where I look at the promises of the Constitution….as a political historian I like analyzing the parts that I feel are falling short.

For many decades the term “all men are created equal’ has overshadowed ‘consent of the governed’ I hope to change thinking with this post.

Let’s begin with a simple definition….

Consent of the governed is the political principle that a government’s legitimacy and moral right to use power is valid only when approved and agreed to by the people.

  • Popular Sovereignty: The people are the ultimate source of all political power.
  • Social Contract: Citizens agree to obey laws and support the state in exchange for the protection of their natural rights.
  • Right to Withdraw: If a government fails to protect basic rights or acts unjustly, the people have the right to alter, abolish, or replace it.

A wonderful idea….but sadly I do not see it ever being the true case.

I believe there are more disadvantages than advantages to this concept as it pertains to this nation….

First the ‘tyranny of the majority’….

When political power is tied strictly to the consent of the majority, the interests, rights, and voices of minority groups can easily be overridden.
  • Human Rights Vulnerabilities: If a large majority consents to a policy or leader that actively harms a marginalized demographic, the system can technically possess “consent” while producing profoundly unjust or cruel outcomes.
  • Suppression of Dissent: In highly majoritarian systems, those who do not consent to prevailing policies may find themselves functionally silenced, reducing true political plurality.

Second the illusion of ‘consent’….

Philosophers like David Hume have historically argued that “consent” in a nation-state is largely a fiction.
  • No Real Choice to Leave: A citizen cannot easily choose to withdraw their consent and leave their country if they lack the financial means, language skills, or legal ability to emigrate.
  • Acquiescence vs. Consent: Citizens often comply with laws out of habit, fear of punishment, or basic survival rather than actual, enthusiastic consent. Voting in an election does not necessarily mean a citizen consents to all laws passed by the winner.

Here I feel I need to inject that I agree with Hume on this matter.

Third, slow decision making….

A system designed to constantly check, verify, and renew the consent of millions of people is inherently slow.
  • Inefficiency: Seeking consensus or majoritarian approval requires lengthy public deliberation, debates, and legislative processing.
  • Crisis Management Failures: In times of immediate crisis (such as war, economic collapse, or pandemics), the time required to gather democratic consent can paralyze a government, making it less agile than centralized or authoritarian systems.

Fourth, the uninformed public….

The quality of a government built on consent is entirely dependent on the quality of the decisions made by the citizens who grant it.
  • Misinformation: Voters are not always well-informed on highly complex economic, scientific, or geopolitical issues, meaning they can enthusiastically consent to disastrous policies.
  • Hyper-Polarization: In deeply divided societies, the process of consent can break down entirely. Political factions may refuse to recognize the legitimacy of an elected government, viewing the opposing party not as rivals, but as existential threats, which can lead to political dysfunction or civil unrest.

Finally, exclusion of parts of society….

In practice, the mechanisms used to express consent—primarily voting—are rarely equally accessible to all citizens.
  • If structural barriers like long voting lines, restrictive registration laws, or economic constraints prevent certain populations (such as low-income or minority communities) from participating, the “consent” generated by the system is skewed and incomplete.

I have laid out why I think that the term ‘consent of the governed’ is pure poppycock (trying to be professional here)….as an example I point to the issues facing this country today as far as the citizens giving consent.

Americans now almost universally reject one of the most-fundamental claims in their Founding document.

There are people that are denied this concept…..why?  Because they may not want a Dem or a Repub on the ballot…..so do these people consent to be governed?

Note:  After the recent vote one might think that this post is non-applicable….to that I say….’don’t kid yourself’.

Whatcha think….do we still believe in the ‘consent of the governed’?

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”