Monday Open Thread

27
  by: Colorado Pols December 14, 2020 at 7:30 AM MST

“A wise man fights to win, but he is twice a fool who has no plan for possible defeat.”

–Louis L’Amour

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27 Community Comments, Facebook Comments

  1. davebarnes says:
    December 14, 2020 at 8:17 AM MST

    Today is National Bouillabaisse Day

  2. RepealAndReplace says:
    December 14, 2020 at 8:25 AM MST

    Happy Electoral College Day!

  3. kickshot says:
    December 14, 2020 at 8:29 AM MST

    Apparently it's also New Password Day too.

  4. kickshot says:
    December 14, 2020 at 8:29 AM MST

    Letter to NYT:

    To the editor:

    Thomas Edsall's Opinion piece in the 11-18-20 NYT, ‘The Far Left Is the Republicans’ Finest Asset’, needs a counternarrative; something simply titled 'The Far Right Is the Democrats' Finest Asset'. 

    The events of the last 4+ years surrounding Trump reached a crescendo with The Texas SCOTUS filing demanding a nullification of the election conducted and completed in four swing states. Not only did Texas demand the nullification, they were joined by 126 Republican members of the US House of Representatives and Trump himself.

    In the irony of all ironies, if one recalls the reckless labeling of the press as 'enemy of the state' this crew grabbed that title and ran off to the top of the hill with it. This band of misfits is openly at war with America and (small d) democracy. None of these Representatives should be seated for the upcoming Congress. Trump will be (insufficiently) gone soon enough. Paxton has his own issues which will remove him from a public role forever unless his audition for a pardon was successful.

    So, clearly, the far right is the Democrats' finest asset but only if the Democrats will engage in the Luntzian rhetoric that is necessary to finish the job of purging these seditious actors from public positions. It has never been characteristic of Democrats to do so but the survival of democracy requires that they do so now and the near future.

    Repairs to our nation from the damage that Trump hath wrought shallowing require decades. Joe Biden will be the first leader to lead that march. Many will follow before the task is complete.

    Fascism and authoritarianism must be soundly rejected and the lessons about how we allowed it to sneak in the door installed in our national memory. Remember the names of the ones who stood against (small d) democratic institutions and principles.

    Let this national nightmare become a rebirth in the faith that democracy is the better system of all that exist.

    Let the Oath to the Constitution to which our elected leaders be their one true guidance in their service. Hold them accountable to put country over party.

    Celebrate January 20 at noon that we will be free to come together as Americans and will be encouraged to do so.

    • kwtree says:
      December 14, 2020 at 8:44 AM MST

      Nice, kickshot. Did the NYT publish your letter?

      It also counters the false equivalence argument that “The far right and far left “meet in the middle” because they are the same.”

      Only the far right has attempted, and almost succeeded, in instigating a fascist coup in this country. Most (2/3) of the violence and terrorism of the last four years has been perpetrated by far-right white extremist groups. https://www.csis.org/analysis/escalating-terrorism-problem-united-states
      Only the far right hates small d-democracy.

      • kickshot says:
        December 14, 2020 at 10:20 AM MST

        Not published yet. There seems to be a lag btwn issues that happen and then get addressed in the Letters section. I'm watching but I expect them to get back to me for verification and to fix a couple of typos & grammar.

        They are probably getting flooded w/letters right now. Special issue coming?

         

    • The realist says:
      December 14, 2020 at 9:15 AM MST

      Good job – hope it's published. 

      Watched a good documentary on Hitler's rise to power – one very noticeable detail was when he required people to take an oath of loyalty to him, not their country. Trump has dealt with his appointees in this way, perhaps without a formal oath – you are loyal to me first, or you are gone. It was one of Trump's first steps to full-fledged authoritarianism. 

      • kickshot says:
        December 14, 2020 at 10:21 AM MST

        I was always struck by the physical and attitudinal similarity w/Mussolini. Trump must have practiced that chin-skyward pose for years for just this moment.

        The stuff nightmares are made of.

         

    • Genghis says:
      December 14, 2020 at 9:28 AM MST

      yes

      That's fine work. Here's hoping the Vichy Times publishes it. 

  6. kwtree says:
    December 14, 2020 at 3:55 PM MST

    January 20, 2021. How sweet it will be.

  7. Conserv. Head Banger says:
    December 14, 2020 at 4:03 PM MST

    Attorney General William Barr has submitted his resignation, as just seen on Yahoo, reporting from several outlets.

  8. harrydoby says:
    December 14, 2020 at 7:52 PM MST

    Trump may be the charter member of the Future Felons of America Club.

    For first time, Biden forcefully condemns Trump's efforts to delegitimize vote after electoral college confirms his win

    President-elect Joe Biden called the lawsuit filed by 17 Republican attorneys general and 126 Republican members of Congress at the Supreme Court asking the nation’s highest court to toss out results in multiple states an “unprecedented assault on our democracy.”

    If so, he'll have plenty of company from the GOP House of Representatives, and a few glory hounds in the Senate (think Cruz and of course, Blanche)

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