At 5:10 p.m. last night, while aboard Air Force One on his way to Texas to campaign for a man who had been impeached by the Texas House on charges that included bribery, corruption, and abuse of office, the President of the United States opened his personal social media platform, Truth Social, and posted a graphic ranking the presidents of the United States. He put himself at the top, declaring himself in a league of his own as, “THE GREATEST.” One level below himself sat George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, classified as merely “GREAT.”
Barack Obama was labeled a “FAILURE.” So were Joe Biden, Jimmy Carter, Ulysses S. Grant, and Warren Harding. There was no historical argument, just Donald Trump placing Donald Trump above the men who founded the republic, preserved the Union, and led the country through two world wars.
Thank you, dear HDR. I am 84, thankfully still (fairly) sound in mind and body. Born in NYC, but from the age of 8 have lived in the UK, with a life blessed in so many ways. I avoided Vietnam because I was then at University here (free), but witnessed so much around the world that was due to American influence, sometimes for good, but largely for ill. The fear of Soviet Communism meant interference and manipulation of countries by covert CIA operations, overcoming honest democratic movements to improve the lot of the people and putting in place brutal authoritarian regimes.
I was in Ireland when the Cuban missile crisis happened, and we really thought that a nuclear war was about to happen.
There were two certainties I grew up with; apartheid in South Africa and the Soviet Union. Yet, amazingly, they were both brought down. It can happen. I believe that a return to sanity will happen in the States.
Seeing it from abroad, visiting frequently to see dear friends and family, I have always loved America, but its history since WWII is far from glorious. Their naive (I hope) belief, rather like the Victorian missionaries, that the world wanted what America had and had to be compelled to embrace CocaColonisation has been shown for what it is.
Apologies for the rambling of an old man reacting to your wonderful post. I read your inspiring writing every day, and I share your optimism for the future.
Wow! Please, “old man,” please “ramble” on! If you will write it, I will read it.
Heather just asked us to write our own stories down, and it seems to me you just demonstrated exactly why. Your memories and perspective are part of the history she is asking us to preserve.
I took a look at your Substack, and I hope you’ll consider using it to tell some of those stories. I’d love to start with more about being in Ireland during the Cuban Missile Crisis. What you wrote here felt like the preamble to a book I want to read.
Constantine feel free to ramble on, and on. It’s the sharing of all our stories that truly matters. Thank you for sharing and looking forward for more.
Constantine, it is great and needed to share bits of history. EVERBODY has a story! As Public Record said, you could start sharing yours and keep an account for your family and others. It’s not about the fortune or fame, clearly, it’s about recording history and keeping the receipts.
I’m guessing you read many others like Heather Cox Richardson, Robert Reich, Aaron Parnas, but I also recommend Lance Rosen. I think you would really appreciate and connect with him. He and his wife are lifelong activists who even warned about trump before his first “term.” He uses very reliable sources and adds a lot of relevant history, comparisons and facts about what is going on…and it’s not pretty. There are also others who write on EPSTEIN and the EPSTEIN Class, which has been a decades long, National and international, cover-up that goes far, deep, and wide in governments, military, Wealthy, it is the literal House of Cards that NEEDS to fall. (The Pugilist Alisa Valdes Rodriguez, Anne Mitchell and some others.)
Thank you, Shelly - I don't know Aaron Parnas or Lance Rosen. I'll certainly check them out. I would in return strongly recommend Mehdi Hasan and his Zeteo outlet. Brilliant.
Lance Rosen is more Political and with history, but also has a great sense of humor. Aaron Parnas is a former lawyer and now a true Reporter/Journalist trying to keep up with the flood of news. His father is also a journalist, but I don’t know his work as much.
Lance Rosen…here’s one article, project 2025 and Nazi Eugenics.
If you like pilitics with more humor, I Fucking Love Australia…3 writers, but always spot on. One lived in the US, and one is a Texas Mom(she writes more serious and heartfelt like Heather and is a former teacher.
Jeff, HDR's comment about writing kind of struck a nerve with me and at 77 I've been contemplating writing down things about my life, events, etc. for my children and grandchildren so when I'm no longer here, they will have some reference to how their grandfather lived and saw things in his life, i.e. history. I don't know if you read Jess Piper's posts, but she tells her life in her writing and it's wonderful to read and inspires me along with other authors here.
Like so many of your wonderful columns, this one makes me sick. IMAGINE appearing before ASTRONAUTS to bestow on them medals, but instead you ruin the occasion. And to say you wish they’d named the spot on the moon after you INStEAD of a Nurse-Practitioner (many of us rely on them) who died of Breast Cancer in her 40s!!! This is beyond disgusting. What’s the word after that—that tops it??
Trump is an individual with serious mental impairments, and self delusional, probably due to advanced dementia. It is incomprehensible that such individual occupies the position of president of the USA, and it does not reflect well on the mental status of people who voted for him, and the fascist enablers either behind the screens, or standing smiling beside him. Commit to mental institution immediately!
Heather why are we not surprised that the Dumpkof puts himself amongst the greatest US Presidents? And where was JFK's name in all this? As for Trump's portraying himself with a machine gun in his hands, that is rich indeed coming from a draft evader.
As usual, beautifully written and deeply insightful. I love and admire how you synthesize apparently loosely connected phenomena.
I'm in my 70s, from a family of British Jews. My deceased grandfather, a rabbi, did refugee work in Europe post-WW2. One of my British cousins is trying to reconstruct what he did; he never discussed what he saw. My father was in the Home Guard and the RAF. My mother was evacuated from London shortly after Hitler invaded Poland; my clever grandmother knew Hitler was not going to stop.
All of this is personal to me.
You say you haven't felt safe since 9/11. For me, the watershed moment was JFK's assassination. While LBJ did many worthy things, so much seemed to fall apart after that one, shocking act.
I fear for my country, a place I left in 2019 for personal, rather than political reasons. But I feel safer here in Mexico, a bit removed from the insanity gripping the USA while feeling helpless and desperate to stop it--that is, when I do not feel numbness and exhaustion from DJT's constant antics.
Thank you for sharing part of your story. My grandparents fled Poland, Russia, Ukraine, and my sister’s in-laws were Jewish from Germany!
I’m not sure where you are in Mexico, (but no need to say), there is another writer you would appreciate who lives in Mexico, LanceRosen. He and his wife are life long political and Civil Rights activists. They both write, but he writes more on what is going on, is also Jewish, but writes with lots of political experiences and history.
I promise you will instantly connect with him. He also writes his articles on Facebook where he encourages and engages in discussions.
I have nothing to gain, but like supporting Heatherand others who share their truths and documenting in their own personal ways, just like Heather Cox Richardson, Aaron Parnas, others…we NEED them all.
Thankyou, Heather as always. Your writing is inspirational. Up until now, I think I’ve avoided saying Trump is insane, but I can’t avoid saying it now. You always project optimism. Can you point some of that towards the present Congress and tell us what would it take to get rid of this monster? I’m Australian and don’t live in America, but I feel for those in the beautiful country I’ve visited and worry about how its beautiful people will survive this.
I think Heather DR is more of the messenger, much like Heather Cox Richardson, Aaron Parnas, others.
If you want some deeper information and potential answers…Lance Rosen, Robert Reich, Eyes on ICE on Eyes on ICE(especially if you have family or friends here).
First we have to get to November. Then we have to VOTE blue…AS MANY People as POSSIBLE because as Jan.6, 2021 showed us, there will be NO peaceful transfer of power.
I’m sad to say, I don’t see anything but a Civil War and Second Revolution. I sure as hell hope not, but we definitely need to be prepared for anything and everything.
Heather, I am speechless . There are so many things I could comment on in your wondrous writing and plea to us. Thank You for Everything You Do to help us wake up and get mobilized to save our world for the next generation. Our children and their children and for peace and righteousness forever.
Thank you Heather. Do think that you are generous when you write “… maybe 80 years is the expiration date on warnings carried by human memory.” Not being pessimistic think the expiration date on warnings carried by our memories are much shorter. How many memories have faded about George Floyd, even Covid and all the lies that were told by tRump. When you really think back he kept the virus from the American people unnecessarily and how many died due to his own narcissistic need to push that pandemic aside and put everyone at risk. Even today we have an epidemic of measles due to unvaccinated young children. Sure it’s not a pandemic but children are dead due to once again a regime that is headed by now a Felon.
Have no words when it comes to his repugnant comments about Commander Wiseman’s late wife, Carroll. When you think he can’t go any lower, he does. So low he should be at the earths core and he should burst into flames. There will come a day that his ticket will be punched and he will face his judgment. Why others don’t see him for what he is, truthfully may never be able to wrap my mind around it. It’s happened in the past from Mussolini, Hitler and others.
Will say not as taken aback by his rankings of past President placing them under “Great”, Near Great and so on. It figures who and where in his delusional uneducated narcissistic self he ranked past presidents.
What did find intriguing was John F. Kennedy wasn’t even in the rankings from Great to his Failures. Seems in his mind since JFK doesn’t even grace in any of his rankings that it’s aokay to demolish that Kennedy Center. That it’s no big deal. Since he’s playing Donnie Corleone. “I’ll make em an offer they can’t refuse” thought process. He really wants his name on that building along with a President even after 62 years after his assassination so loved and revered and if he doesn’t get it he calls in the bulldozers and wrecking ball. Maybe he just didn’t want to put a picture up, you know out of sight, out of mind.
So President Andrew Jackson is in the “Great” bracket. Well Jackson did sign the law that forced indigenous tribes off their ancestral homelands in the Southeast. Because of the forced relocation it resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of Native Americans due to exposure, disease, and starvation. Jackson is the President that resulted in The Trail of Tears. Ah yes the white man who is so mighty and powerful over the indigenous people that we took their land, and slaughtered human beings. Jackson was quite a guy. Not just his controversies of Native Americans removal policies his destruction of the national bank. His total disregard for following Supreme Court decisions and his use of executive power. Let alone the amount of slaves that he so proudly owned. Even as President he would personally go and select slaves for his plantation. Jackson was well known to widely replace federal workers with his own political supporters, expanding the rotation-in-office patronage system. You know have loyalists throughout the federal government. This way there’s no push-back when you want to do anything whenever you want.
You betcha Jackson’s Great alright in the Felon’s mind. Did find it astonishing that Jackson is ranked at 22 out of 47. Whoever is being polled for these rankings maybe we all should be a little more educated prior to voting. You know raise the standards.
So James Polk was “Near Great”. Well here’s another one who grew up in slave-owning households in North Carolina and Tennessee and personally owned dozens of enslaved individuals throughout his life, operating a large cotton plantation in Mississippi. Another one even during his presidency who purchased additional enslaved people—including children—to work on his plantation while using enslaved labor in the White House. Polk did this secretly while in office. The backdoor deals. Of course Polk publicly opposed the abolitionist movement, supported the congressional "gag rule" to block all anti-slavery petitions, and opposed the Wilmot Proviso, which attempted to ban slavery in territories acquired from Mexico. Polk did pursue an equal justice agenda and did have administrative skills, though Polk’s ranking is lower on moral authority. So sure why not Polk a “Near Great” it’s a shame Polk was all in on the “equal justice” push. Maybe if he wasn’t he could move on up to the “Great category”. Again, a shocker that Polk is ranked at 18 out of 47. Seems low morals isn’t really a factor of those who do the ranking. Astonishing.
Talked to one of my granddaughters who called very early in the morning. She relayed along with her partner with their two young children in tow was going out with the masses to attend the March on Washington. As she said it’s time to show even the next generation grandma what it means to stand with the essence of what a democratic-republic is and how important it is to keep it. Am very proud of all four getting in Good Trouble. Both attending George Washington University getting their masters, both working full time and raising twins.
Have said it prior the younger generation has a burning ember going. They might not be out and about all the time in protest because of various reasons like life and juggling so much that truly amazes me with their organizing and planning skills.
Lastly could not agree any more with Heather. When she writes “And here is where the warning becomes urgent. Because the people who carried those stories, the last ones with a direct line to the generation that stopped fascism, are running out of time.” This is my parents generation as younger people who saw their fathers off to war, their uncles and basically any male in the family. Some didn’t came back, some did and were different than when they left. Share the stories with the generations. Take them to the Holocaust Museum, anytime there is an event that truthfully explains that time. One of my grandfathers didn’t return he is one of those row after row of white crosses and Stars of David stretching across perfectly kept green grass. We as a family visited there once when in my teens. Went back in my early fourties’. My other grandfather wrote my great-grandmother about the atrocities he saw when his troop liberated the Ohrdruf concentration camp. When the Holocaust museum was asking for letters written by US soldiers, we donated many of them so they will be preserved for generations to come. Share your stories so the past can’t be manipulated to feed any lies and misinformation.
Aaah, white-washed history and internet propaganda, and now the government actually erasing anything that is true that represents the horrific atrocities committed here in the good ole USA.
Just like you mentioned TJ and Heather, but they are even doing so much destruction in our National Parks, taking money from needed programs to destroy monuments and land, to dig for precious minerals and metals, trying to invade Greenland to dig for oil and their precious minerals and metals, same as every other country they have invaded…to pillage and pilfer and commit Genocide to fill their pockets with BLOOD Money.
Here’s an interesting piece from I fucking Love Australia, in case you haven’t seen it…Canada taking in our valuable and essential scientists that have been slashed, threatened, etc., so they can continue their invaluable work. They didn’t include the mass exodus of our already lacking Doctors and nurses who are seeking a place where healthcare is to help and save people, not a profiteering, denial and death sentence corporation.
In your courageous library of documents of the crimes of your deprived leader this is an important one. You draw a line 90 years back in time asking how a large proportion of the population can accept and support a country sinking into authoritarianism. Current approval ratings in the thirties are as shameful as the administration itself. As always you end up on a message of hope. Dear Americans: come out and vote for your life - and mine across an ocean.
PATHETIC is the only appropriate word. Well it would be, if it wasn’t all so DANGEROUS.
It will pass but all so painful to watch in the meantime. But hope reigns. Mladic died in prison this week so legacies catch up with people thankfully, alive or dead.
Fortunately for the rest of the world, democratic government is much more secure in Australia and the other liberal democracies. The main reason for this is that unlike the US, they don't have a presidential form of government which puts an incredible amount of power in the hands of a single person. All use the Westminster (parliamentary) system, which treats its head of state, the Prime Minister as one among equals (his/her Cabinet), all of whom participate in government decisions. And should the Prime Minister prove to be unequal to the job of running the country, the parliament can call for a vote of no confidence, remove the Prime Minister and call a new election.
Another factor protecting democratic institutions in most of the world, is that government officials are elected by direct vote (as members of Parliament) rather than through a proxy body like the American electoral college. This ensures that there can never be a situation in which a candidate loses the popular vote but wins the election.
Yes, the chickens always come home to roost. This country is paying dearly for choosing a malevolent, incompetent president, and the pain is just beginning.
Thank you, dear HDR. I am 84, thankfully still (fairly) sound in mind and body. Born in NYC, but from the age of 8 have lived in the UK, with a life blessed in so many ways. I avoided Vietnam because I was then at University here (free), but witnessed so much around the world that was due to American influence, sometimes for good, but largely for ill. The fear of Soviet Communism meant interference and manipulation of countries by covert CIA operations, overcoming honest democratic movements to improve the lot of the people and putting in place brutal authoritarian regimes.
I was in Ireland when the Cuban missile crisis happened, and we really thought that a nuclear war was about to happen.
There were two certainties I grew up with; apartheid in South Africa and the Soviet Union. Yet, amazingly, they were both brought down. It can happen. I believe that a return to sanity will happen in the States.
Seeing it from abroad, visiting frequently to see dear friends and family, I have always loved America, but its history since WWII is far from glorious. Their naive (I hope) belief, rather like the Victorian missionaries, that the world wanted what America had and had to be compelled to embrace CocaColonisation has been shown for what it is.
Apologies for the rambling of an old man reacting to your wonderful post. I read your inspiring writing every day, and I share your optimism for the future.
Wow! Please, “old man,” please “ramble” on! If you will write it, I will read it.
Heather just asked us to write our own stories down, and it seems to me you just demonstrated exactly why. Your memories and perspective are part of the history she is asking us to preserve.
I took a look at your Substack, and I hope you’ll consider using it to tell some of those stories. I’d love to start with more about being in Ireland during the Cuban Missile Crisis. What you wrote here felt like the preamble to a book I want to read.
You are too kind...
Constantine feel free to ramble on, and on. It’s the sharing of all our stories that truly matters. Thank you for sharing and looking forward for more.
Thank you TJ - much appreciated
Constantine, it is great and needed to share bits of history. EVERBODY has a story! As Public Record said, you could start sharing yours and keep an account for your family and others. It’s not about the fortune or fame, clearly, it’s about recording history and keeping the receipts.
I’m guessing you read many others like Heather Cox Richardson, Robert Reich, Aaron Parnas, but I also recommend Lance Rosen. I think you would really appreciate and connect with him. He and his wife are lifelong activists who even warned about trump before his first “term.” He uses very reliable sources and adds a lot of relevant history, comparisons and facts about what is going on…and it’s not pretty. There are also others who write on EPSTEIN and the EPSTEIN Class, which has been a decades long, National and international, cover-up that goes far, deep, and wide in governments, military, Wealthy, it is the literal House of Cards that NEEDS to fall. (The Pugilist Alisa Valdes Rodriguez, Anne Mitchell and some others.)
Thanks for your add to Heather’s great piece.
Thank you, Shelly - I don't know Aaron Parnas or Lance Rosen. I'll certainly check them out. I would in return strongly recommend Mehdi Hasan and his Zeteo outlet. Brilliant.
Thank you!
Lance Rosen is more Political and with history, but also has a great sense of humor. Aaron Parnas is a former lawyer and now a true Reporter/Journalist trying to keep up with the flood of news. His father is also a journalist, but I don’t know his work as much.
Lance Rosen…here’s one article, project 2025 and Nazi Eugenics.
https://lancefrosen.substack.com/p/who-thought-it-was-a-stretch-to-say?r=71veyx&utm_medium=ios
If you are really seeking other information…Eyes on ICE on Eyes on ICE…that is a key site.
Also, Lance Rosen posts his articles usually on Facebook first and engages and encourages discussions.
Thanks for the recommendations.
Shelly, thanks for the head up on Lance Rosen. I will look him up next.
Here’s one on ICE Gestapo Storm Troopers
https://lancefrosen.substack.com/p/ice-agents-and-recruits-are-not-just?r=71veyx&utm_medium=ios
Project 2025 and Eugenics https://lancefrosen.substack.com/p/who-thought-it-was-a-stretch-to-say?r=71veyx&utm_medium=ios
TKS.
If you like pilitics with more humor, I Fucking Love Australia…3 writers, but always spot on. One lived in the US, and one is a Texas Mom(she writes more serious and heartfelt like Heather and is a former teacher.
Here’s one from yesterday… https://ifloz.substack.com/p/canada-just-raided-americas-greatest?r=71veyx&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web
https://ifloz.substack.com/p/i-fucking-love-america?r=71veyx&utm_medium=ios
Not sure about your sense of humor?!
I’ll add my voice to the chorus: please continue sharing your knowledge. The least we could do is to read it and learn from it.
Jeff, HDR's comment about writing kind of struck a nerve with me and at 77 I've been contemplating writing down things about my life, events, etc. for my children and grandchildren so when I'm no longer here, they will have some reference to how their grandfather lived and saw things in his life, i.e. history. I don't know if you read Jess Piper's posts, but she tells her life in her writing and it's wonderful to read and inspires me along with other authors here.
Thank you, Jeffrey - I confess, the responses to my post have rather taken me aback...
If you pick the right writers, you pick the people on the right side of history wanting to UNITE and learn and take our country back.
Thank you for sharing-you.
Also there are lots of people on here and other sites who follow each other and some are writers, like TJ, she responded above.
Like so many of your wonderful columns, this one makes me sick. IMAGINE appearing before ASTRONAUTS to bestow on them medals, but instead you ruin the occasion. And to say you wish they’d named the spot on the moon after you INStEAD of a Nurse-Practitioner (many of us rely on them) who died of Breast Cancer in her 40s!!! This is beyond disgusting. What’s the word after that—that tops it??
For me, I've chosen "trumpian" as the term to use when something is beyond disgusting. Best I could come up with at the time.
Despicable.
Remember when Heather used the term, “normalizing the unthinkable”???!! That’s it, in a phrase!
I went to my dictionary to make sure that the use of 'crass' to describe him wasn't oversaucing the puddin', so to speak.
Imagine my surprise to see a photo of trump under the description. What a low down dirty rotten motherfucker.
Between the word ‘crass’ and the last word. Think the last word describes him perfectly.. it just flows so well..
Trump is an individual with serious mental impairments, and self delusional, probably due to advanced dementia. It is incomprehensible that such individual occupies the position of president of the USA, and it does not reflect well on the mental status of people who voted for him, and the fascist enablers either behind the screens, or standing smiling beside him. Commit to mental institution immediately!
Heather why are we not surprised that the Dumpkof puts himself amongst the greatest US Presidents? And where was JFK's name in all this? As for Trump's portraying himself with a machine gun in his hands, that is rich indeed coming from a draft evader.
As usual, beautifully written and deeply insightful. I love and admire how you synthesize apparently loosely connected phenomena.
I'm in my 70s, from a family of British Jews. My deceased grandfather, a rabbi, did refugee work in Europe post-WW2. One of my British cousins is trying to reconstruct what he did; he never discussed what he saw. My father was in the Home Guard and the RAF. My mother was evacuated from London shortly after Hitler invaded Poland; my clever grandmother knew Hitler was not going to stop.
All of this is personal to me.
You say you haven't felt safe since 9/11. For me, the watershed moment was JFK's assassination. While LBJ did many worthy things, so much seemed to fall apart after that one, shocking act.
I fear for my country, a place I left in 2019 for personal, rather than political reasons. But I feel safer here in Mexico, a bit removed from the insanity gripping the USA while feeling helpless and desperate to stop it--that is, when I do not feel numbness and exhaustion from DJT's constant antics.
Again, thanks.
Thank you for sharing part of your story. My grandparents fled Poland, Russia, Ukraine, and my sister’s in-laws were Jewish from Germany!
I’m not sure where you are in Mexico, (but no need to say), there is another writer you would appreciate who lives in Mexico, LanceRosen. He and his wife are life long political and Civil Rights activists. They both write, but he writes more on what is going on, is also Jewish, but writes with lots of political experiences and history.
I promise you will instantly connect with him. He also writes his articles on Facebook where he encourages and engages in discussions.
I have nothing to gain, but like supporting Heatherand others who share their truths and documenting in their own personal ways, just like Heather Cox Richardson, Aaron Parnas, others…we NEED them all.
Lance Rosen…https://lancefrosen.substack.com/p/once-again-trump-is-marketing-adolf?r=71veyx&utm_medium=ios
Thank you, Shelly, I will follow his substack.
I promise you will appreciate his writings and sense of humor! He writes a RFNN…Rosen Fake News Network articles, just to keep it light sometimes!
He and Heather D.R., were my first paid subscriptions!
Bonkers and more day after day. A laughing stock for the world. Lock him up!
Thankyou, Heather as always. Your writing is inspirational. Up until now, I think I’ve avoided saying Trump is insane, but I can’t avoid saying it now. You always project optimism. Can you point some of that towards the present Congress and tell us what would it take to get rid of this monster? I’m Australian and don’t live in America, but I feel for those in the beautiful country I’ve visited and worry about how its beautiful people will survive this.
Hi Heather,
Thank you for supporting us.
I think Heather DR is more of the messenger, much like Heather Cox Richardson, Aaron Parnas, others.
If you want some deeper information and potential answers…Lance Rosen, Robert Reich, Eyes on ICE on Eyes on ICE(especially if you have family or friends here).
First we have to get to November. Then we have to VOTE blue…AS MANY People as POSSIBLE because as Jan.6, 2021 showed us, there will be NO peaceful transfer of power.
I’m sad to say, I don’t see anything but a Civil War and Second Revolution. I sure as hell hope not, but we definitely need to be prepared for anything and everything.
Thank you for your care, concern, and support.
https://lancefrosen.substack.com/p/ice-agents-and-recruits-are-not-just?r=71veyx&utm_medium=ios
Heather, I am speechless . There are so many things I could comment on in your wondrous writing and plea to us. Thank You for Everything You Do to help us wake up and get mobilized to save our world for the next generation. Our children and their children and for peace and righteousness forever.
So Many Thanks for all that you do.
God's Blessings,
Nancy
Thank you Heather. Do think that you are generous when you write “… maybe 80 years is the expiration date on warnings carried by human memory.” Not being pessimistic think the expiration date on warnings carried by our memories are much shorter. How many memories have faded about George Floyd, even Covid and all the lies that were told by tRump. When you really think back he kept the virus from the American people unnecessarily and how many died due to his own narcissistic need to push that pandemic aside and put everyone at risk. Even today we have an epidemic of measles due to unvaccinated young children. Sure it’s not a pandemic but children are dead due to once again a regime that is headed by now a Felon.
Have no words when it comes to his repugnant comments about Commander Wiseman’s late wife, Carroll. When you think he can’t go any lower, he does. So low he should be at the earths core and he should burst into flames. There will come a day that his ticket will be punched and he will face his judgment. Why others don’t see him for what he is, truthfully may never be able to wrap my mind around it. It’s happened in the past from Mussolini, Hitler and others.
Will say not as taken aback by his rankings of past President placing them under “Great”, Near Great and so on. It figures who and where in his delusional uneducated narcissistic self he ranked past presidents.
What did find intriguing was John F. Kennedy wasn’t even in the rankings from Great to his Failures. Seems in his mind since JFK doesn’t even grace in any of his rankings that it’s aokay to demolish that Kennedy Center. That it’s no big deal. Since he’s playing Donnie Corleone. “I’ll make em an offer they can’t refuse” thought process. He really wants his name on that building along with a President even after 62 years after his assassination so loved and revered and if he doesn’t get it he calls in the bulldozers and wrecking ball. Maybe he just didn’t want to put a picture up, you know out of sight, out of mind.
So President Andrew Jackson is in the “Great” bracket. Well Jackson did sign the law that forced indigenous tribes off their ancestral homelands in the Southeast. Because of the forced relocation it resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of Native Americans due to exposure, disease, and starvation. Jackson is the President that resulted in The Trail of Tears. Ah yes the white man who is so mighty and powerful over the indigenous people that we took their land, and slaughtered human beings. Jackson was quite a guy. Not just his controversies of Native Americans removal policies his destruction of the national bank. His total disregard for following Supreme Court decisions and his use of executive power. Let alone the amount of slaves that he so proudly owned. Even as President he would personally go and select slaves for his plantation. Jackson was well known to widely replace federal workers with his own political supporters, expanding the rotation-in-office patronage system. You know have loyalists throughout the federal government. This way there’s no push-back when you want to do anything whenever you want.
You betcha Jackson’s Great alright in the Felon’s mind. Did find it astonishing that Jackson is ranked at 22 out of 47. Whoever is being polled for these rankings maybe we all should be a little more educated prior to voting. You know raise the standards.
So James Polk was “Near Great”. Well here’s another one who grew up in slave-owning households in North Carolina and Tennessee and personally owned dozens of enslaved individuals throughout his life, operating a large cotton plantation in Mississippi. Another one even during his presidency who purchased additional enslaved people—including children—to work on his plantation while using enslaved labor in the White House. Polk did this secretly while in office. The backdoor deals. Of course Polk publicly opposed the abolitionist movement, supported the congressional "gag rule" to block all anti-slavery petitions, and opposed the Wilmot Proviso, which attempted to ban slavery in territories acquired from Mexico. Polk did pursue an equal justice agenda and did have administrative skills, though Polk’s ranking is lower on moral authority. So sure why not Polk a “Near Great” it’s a shame Polk was all in on the “equal justice” push. Maybe if he wasn’t he could move on up to the “Great category”. Again, a shocker that Polk is ranked at 18 out of 47. Seems low morals isn’t really a factor of those who do the ranking. Astonishing.
Talked to one of my granddaughters who called very early in the morning. She relayed along with her partner with their two young children in tow was going out with the masses to attend the March on Washington. As she said it’s time to show even the next generation grandma what it means to stand with the essence of what a democratic-republic is and how important it is to keep it. Am very proud of all four getting in Good Trouble. Both attending George Washington University getting their masters, both working full time and raising twins.
Have said it prior the younger generation has a burning ember going. They might not be out and about all the time in protest because of various reasons like life and juggling so much that truly amazes me with their organizing and planning skills.
Lastly could not agree any more with Heather. When she writes “And here is where the warning becomes urgent. Because the people who carried those stories, the last ones with a direct line to the generation that stopped fascism, are running out of time.” This is my parents generation as younger people who saw their fathers off to war, their uncles and basically any male in the family. Some didn’t came back, some did and were different than when they left. Share the stories with the generations. Take them to the Holocaust Museum, anytime there is an event that truthfully explains that time. One of my grandfathers didn’t return he is one of those row after row of white crosses and Stars of David stretching across perfectly kept green grass. We as a family visited there once when in my teens. Went back in my early fourties’. My other grandfather wrote my great-grandmother about the atrocities he saw when his troop liberated the Ohrdruf concentration camp. When the Holocaust museum was asking for letters written by US soldiers, we donated many of them so they will be preserved for generations to come. Share your stories so the past can’t be manipulated to feed any lies and misinformation.
Aaah, white-washed history and internet propaganda, and now the government actually erasing anything that is true that represents the horrific atrocities committed here in the good ole USA.
Just like you mentioned TJ and Heather, but they are even doing so much destruction in our National Parks, taking money from needed programs to destroy monuments and land, to dig for precious minerals and metals, trying to invade Greenland to dig for oil and their precious minerals and metals, same as every other country they have invaded…to pillage and pilfer and commit Genocide to fill their pockets with BLOOD Money.
Here’s an interesting piece from I fucking Love Australia, in case you haven’t seen it…Canada taking in our valuable and essential scientists that have been slashed, threatened, etc., so they can continue their invaluable work. They didn’t include the mass exodus of our already lacking Doctors and nurses who are seeking a place where healthcare is to help and save people, not a profiteering, denial and death sentence corporation.
Be safe!
https://ifloz.substack.com/p/canada-just-raided-americas-greatest?r=71veyx&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web
In your courageous library of documents of the crimes of your deprived leader this is an important one. You draw a line 90 years back in time asking how a large proportion of the population can accept and support a country sinking into authoritarianism. Current approval ratings in the thirties are as shameful as the administration itself. As always you end up on a message of hope. Dear Americans: come out and vote for your life - and mine across an ocean.
UK here.
PATHETIC is the only appropriate word. Well it would be, if it wasn’t all so DANGEROUS.
It will pass but all so painful to watch in the meantime. But hope reigns. Mladic died in prison this week so legacies catch up with people thankfully, alive or dead.
But please Americans, limit the damage ASAP!
Fortunately for the rest of the world, democratic government is much more secure in Australia and the other liberal democracies. The main reason for this is that unlike the US, they don't have a presidential form of government which puts an incredible amount of power in the hands of a single person. All use the Westminster (parliamentary) system, which treats its head of state, the Prime Minister as one among equals (his/her Cabinet), all of whom participate in government decisions. And should the Prime Minister prove to be unequal to the job of running the country, the parliament can call for a vote of no confidence, remove the Prime Minister and call a new election.
Another factor protecting democratic institutions in most of the world, is that government officials are elected by direct vote (as members of Parliament) rather than through a proxy body like the American electoral college. This ensures that there can never be a situation in which a candidate loses the popular vote but wins the election.
Yes, the chickens always come home to roost. This country is paying dearly for choosing a malevolent, incompetent president, and the pain is just beginning.
This is an extraordinarily powerful post!
The "greatest" president left out 12 presidents, including Reagan, in his ranking.