The military has self acknowledged problems with white supremacists and with sexual abuse. For at least a decade white supremacist groups have directed their recruits to infiltrate the military. While conflating courage with macho behavior, has compounded all forms of bullying. The notion that white supremacist and accused rapist Hegseth is the answer to these problems could only come from the racist and sexist GOP. Rather, Sieg Heil Hegseth is the answer to Republican troglodyte prayers. And those of GOP avatar of White Supremacist Christian Nationalism, Vladimir Putin.
lin•, in the 90's, the street gangs were sending their "clean" members into the military (usually the Army) to learn combat street war tactics. The outgrowth of that was having the supremacists decide that looked like an awfully good idea, and would intentionally send their "troops" into the military utilizing all branches for training and recruiting.
The sexual abuse history of all branches of service is absolutely disgusting. I have a fairly high percentage of friends and coworkers who are former military; almost every woman that I know well enough to talk about such things (and every lesbian) has been the victim of MST*. I have two friends whose sons were also the victim MST in the GWOT era.
The NeoNazis have been sending members into combat for decades; I remember reading during the wars in former Yugoslavia back in the 1990s that they were sending volunteers to train under fire.
Christian Reconstructionism is one of the least known threats to American democracy and has evangelized for years among judges, law students and politicians. Tim Snyder's takedown of Pete Hegsmeth is reason enough to subscribe to Substack.
Federalist Society court capture operative and Teneo Network piety enforcer Leonard Leo is bent on establishing tyranny and breaking down the separation of church and state. Leo, a product of Reagan in bed with Ralph Reed, has paved the way for the ascent of GOP Christian Nationalism. Leo affiliated entities provided around 40% of Project 2025 'blitzkrieg on democracy' funding.
Indeed . . . Christian Nationalism took root in our government with the rise of Newt Gingrich and his "Contract with America." After Obama was elected, the Republican "Tea Party" formed. Interestingly, Wikipedia describes the Tea Party "an American fiscally conservative political movement within the Republican Party that began in 2009. The movement formed in opposition to the policies of Democratic President Barack Obama[1]." What Wikipedia does not say is that the Tea Party's "conservative" movement was really a White Christian racist and anti-semitic movement. They also say the movement was absorbed by the Republican Party - indeed - it became the foundation for today's Republican "Christian Nationalist" party.
"the Tea Party's 'conservative' movement was really a White Christian racist and anti-semitic movement." Andrew, readers are allowed to edit Wikipedia articles. (I've done so twice, myself.) I highly recommend that you suggest an edit including this information, which you can also suggest may be presented as an opinion, not fact (obviously).
Yes, but keep in mind that Wikipedia does not publish opinions as such, but lets things into the publication only if backed up suitably, which generally means a citation of published book or the like. I have run into this in connection with some seriously wrong claims (obviously wrong, to anyone familiar with the underlying data) that haven't been rebutted in anything published.
When I subscribed to Bari Weiss’s The Free Press, it seemed like the people in the comments all thought that Wikipedia was a mouthpiece of “The Left” and that the articles were all edited to a liberal far left POV. I think it’s funny that people here think the opposite, ie, the Wikipedia description of the Tea Party isn’t telling the truth and is biased to the right. My own experience is that 90% of what I find on Wikipedia is correct and easily verified if you follow the footnotes. When an article needs more verification, they usually put up an insert notice telling you that. A warning, more or less.
One source might be the hosts of the Straight White American Jesus podcast, who have an extensive knowledge of Christian Nationalism, Dominionism, the New Apostolic Reformation, and the linkage of these with conservative politics.
Keep in mind that Wikipedia is a free service and it can take a lot of time for changes to be made.
I watched an entry about a local politician who managed to get a DUI charge. She told the press she was appalled by her behaviour and would abide by the law, of course. A year later, when she finally went to court, she pled Not Guilty, again, of course. All the while, people would be making entries stating the DUI, date, etc., and her people would remove the info. The DUI was on her Wikipedia page the last time I looked, but she is retired now and probably doesn’t care. Or she no longer has aides to rewrite history for her.
Not to put too fine a point on it, but Newt established the use of particular language to push policy; for example, "tort reform" to disguise corporate bias in legal decisions. We've been in a war of the mind for years; one that our historically anti-intellectual culture was always poorly equipped to fight.
Gingrich’s Contract was ON America-said that from the start. As for the rest of what you’ve said, it’s right on. “Grassroots” movement indeed! Completely Koch funded and intentionally violent, overheated rhetoric. Very easy for more malevolent groups to infiltrate.
Are the Democrats ready for the "blitzkrieg on democracy" coming in Trump's first 100 days? When I look at who Chuck Schumer is (or even Joe Biden and Kamala Harris post-election), my gut tells me "no". I hope I'm wrong.
Hegseth is a mediocre white man, so mediocre that he cannot even get a weekday gig on Fox News. That he is also a rapist and a Christian Nationalist makes him the perfect choice for Trump - looks good on TV, too stupid to challenge Trump intellectually (I know oxymoron), pushover for Putin. This will not end well for him or for Trump if it doesn't end worse for all of us first.
I have sent this post (which I received as an email) to my NYS Senators, Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand. Note that a couple years ago I used the web form on their contact web page to communicate. They replied via email, so I use that email address to write them.
Here's what I said:
Dear <name>,
Tim Snyder, the renowned historian and author of "On Tyranny," provides additional striking and convincing reasons to oppose Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense.
If his nomination comes to the Senate, I hope these facts will be broadcast loud and clear for all to hear.
ESPECIALLY if you have MAGA Senators! Complaining to blue senators might make us feel good but we're preaching to the choir. We need to change other minds. I once had breakfast with the head of Medi Care's Prospective Payment Commission. I am an MD. He was an economist rather than a medical person and revealed an important fact. Politicians do not respond to doctor's concerns. They only respond to constituents' complaints. If there is a lot of complaining on the part of the constituents, the politicians will pay doctors more. If there is very little complaining then the doctors are being paid too much. Consequently, a modicum of complaining is a desirable baseline for politicos. If there is too much complaining, well, that warrants a response. When MAGAs get up at school board meetings and yell at board members about parental rights, what happens? Board members crumple up and give the yelling mob what they want. While I am not advocating yelling at members of the local school board, it seems apparent that those of us who think Trump's nominees are chosen to destroy the system must do a better job of conveying our thoughts to those politicians who primarily respond to yelling by the Red. Because Trump's win was a plurality 49.9% to 48.4%. It was not a mandate. A grass roots movement must be implemented to persuade America that it is still American.
I thought about when this idea occurred to me earlier today. I don't think it's either/or. Higher ROI getting it to R's, but even if our reps are D's, they can potentially share it with normies? Tape it up in the bathroom? Stick it on car windows? Read it during hearings if we're lucky enough to have them? No, I don't actually know how these things work, just seems that more is more.
Hah! I love it. Tape it up on the mirror in the public bathroom? Awesome. Maybe start in the colleges. We in our teens and twenties hate it when someone tells us what to do or to think. But it kinda sticks with us. That is the time in life when our memory is at its highest level of function.
Sent the emails with the link and will call them tomorrow. The key to me is Timothy Snyder's comment that the orange turd wants to build a dictatorship on the ruins of American government. Let me add: on the bodies of American citizens who will be jailed and then murdered for not being "christian" enough. Doesn't anyone see that, once concentration camps are built at the border on donated Texas land, they stand ready to receive shipment after shipment of detained undocumented immigrants, and then citizens who are deemed vermin by the incoming "administration"?? Many more millions than the 11 million estimated undocumented immigrants will have to be deported and/or killed to make this country submit to the tyranny the orange turd has planned for us.
"Call and or write your senators, representatives."
And Letters to the Editor.
Every day. We need a national rapid response team. Make your communications short and to the point. United, our numbers amplify our individual concerns.
" Make your communications short and to the point."
Exactly. I used to work in a congressional office, and despite your thinking that your lengthy reasoning letter will sway/convince the congressperson: NOT TRUE. They only count the number of communications received.
So is it a waste of time to copy/paste what Snyder wrote in this newsletter (with book citations) and send that to my Senator? I know that the volume of complaints counts a lot, but you have to have SOME kind of cogent reason, don’t you?
I agree with you. Snyder's message is short and informative. I'm talking about messages in which the writer goes on and on with their OWN reasons. Good luck to you, and thanks.
I am fortunate enough to have good Democrats in office in Minnesota. Mostly I communicate with Amy Klobuchar to thank her for her votes. Beyond that, I don’t believe elected representatives even notice calls or letters/emails from non-constituents. Am I wrong about that?
I am in a Blue state with Blue Senators and a Blue representative. Talking to aides in many of the Capitol Hill offices, they have encouraged me to call, even if I know my Senators and Representatives will be supporting the positions I want them to take. Our calls, particularly when they receive many of them, make them much louder and outspoken on these things. Our voices matter.
I don’t see any republican senators standing up to trump on anything. Lisa Murkowski and mealy-mouth Susan Collins will murmur and mumble but will do his bidding.
Are you kidding? They got rid of Gaetz in a matter of days. Trump fully expected to ram Gaetz down their throats, and he couldn’t. Right now, the Senate has been flooded with nominations. It’s unprecedented how many how fast. It will take awhile for them to react, but the message has already been delivered that they’re not going to tolerate a table full of wackos shoved through on recess appointments. The vast majority of these nominees will be approved, but I think if we target the worst of the worst (now Gabbard, Hegseth and RFK Jr), we can be successful. Strength in numbers. They have flooded the zone with shit. Now we must flood the zone with targeted complaints.
Timothy Snyder has stated that journalists are our heroes. Finding the truth and reporting as accurately as possible is the job of journalists. It is one of the US's most serious problems to have too few of them, most particularly local journalists, along with the loss of newspapers that uphold journalistic standards. With that in mind, I suggest that readers of this piece learn more about Pete Hegseth by reading today's New York Times article, 'How Hegseth Changed Tune on War Crimes'. A gifted link has been posted below. This article poses a number of important questions, including how our 'broken wars' in Iraq, Afghanistan have affected many American soldiers that served there.
Thanks for the link, Fern. When you run out of free links, message me on Substack, and I'll be glad to provide more for you, at least until my current subscription runs out, and I get another cheap offer for 6 months...
I suggest that you look at what that asshole wrote in his books about the American "crusade" he intends to lead, to rid our country of all citizens whom he considers not "christian" enough according to his standards. THERE IS NOTHING MORE CRUEL THAT AN ACTION BASED ON HOW SOMEONE INTERPRETS "GOD'S WILL."
I assume you haven't read his books because you make no mention of (1) his radical "christian" reconstructionism, and neither does the NYT article; (2) neither you nor the article tries to explain how the asshole's hatred of women in the military and "wokeness" derived from his experience in service; (3) why his misogyny and racism should be excused. Drawing supported inferences is part of critical thinking, in case you haven't heard. Your attempts to chastise me are garbage.
Your notion of 'supported' inferences is amusing, as 'supported' in this instance is just by you. The article was not based on aspects of Mr. Hegseth character that you point to, but his experiences in the military that raise important issues concerning the military and Hegseth's character. The article excuses Hegseth from nothing.
Agree. The article explains a lot, in particular an animosity shared by a large segment of our veterans who agree with Hegseth, as I point out elsewhere in my experience with WSJ comments.
Yes, that’s an excellent article in the NYT, I read it yesterday. While I no longer subscribe to the WSJ, the “broken wars” theory explains a phenomenon that I saw often in the WSJ comments. There were several veterans who posted continuously, objecting to our involvement in Ukraine and arguing for isolationism and “no forever wars”, “no foreign wars”, “no NATO”. Those guys were really really angry. They felt quite strongly that they had been lied to and betrayed when they served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and they were adamant that the US needed to get out of NATO and quit defending Europe. At the time, I thought it was just a couple of kooks on their keyboards, but the NYT article makes me think it’s a rather large chunk of our military who think this way. There are lots of Hegseth’s out there.
Ann P, thank you for sharing your reading of the opinions of soldiers with experiences and ideas that seem to match Hegseth's. I believe that more research, questions and studies about common actions, inactions and confusion during which wars and or other types of conflicts may have led to mistrust of US intelligence and or the military. Learning whether there is a pattern in terms of upbringing and or personality factors on the part of soldiers in this regard would need to be part of our understanding.
That’s our work. I’m sending Tim’s essay with citations to my Senators. You should too. We all need to do it, especially if we have Republican Senators as I do. No one else will tell them if we don’t. ✍️📞
These maga people who are mostly men, of course, are so small-minded, unable to think beyond their own needs and desires. One headline today made me laugh, as it stated that maga supporters were thrilled was his cabinet choices who are most of them, right wing media personalities. These people see all this as entertainment, owing the libs, etc. They have no other lens. Just myopic “what will entertain me today?”
From his public statements alone it is apparent that Hegseth is fundamentally incapable of formulating policies that translate to American or allied victories on the battlefield. The titles of his books alone are revealing of profound ignorance, ignorance which unfortunately has permeated the US defense establishment since the 1950s. We lost in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan not because of the lack of training or firepower, but rather because of a profound misunderstanding of the nature of the conflicts we were involved in. Our leadership, starting from the top, seems to always take a top-down approach, courting or setting up leaders rather than identifying with the people. That paradigm loses wars abroad just as it loses elections at home.
On the other hand, when given the opportunity to support a nation united in its democratic aspirations and its determination to defend itself against a terrorist aggressor, we fail to commit the support necessary to ensure victory. It's almost as though we want to lose.
For a clear example of where this could go, just look at China. The numbers are always opaque, but it is not in doubt that China spends huge sums on internal security. Whether or not they are larger than those for national defense is the usual question, but one that hardly matters given how such enormous outlays can be used to control public dissent and bully the citizenry into silence and submission.
Trump has openly praised the CCP and its brutal control over its citizens, so we should not kid ourselves that this isn't what he fantasizes about for his own regime as well. Hegseth is a clear means to this end.
Intent is one thing, but execution is another. The military would be far from unified in domestic operations against "the left", and if Hegseth is any indication, any attempted domestic operations would be a shambles from the jump. Hegseth couldn't organize a one-car funeral procession.
That said, it would be very messy and very bloody.
Putin is dancing. I firmly believe that he and Elon Musk got Trump elected.
Some of them think that the possibility of being sent to Europe to defend a NATO country is being put in harm’s way for no good reason. They also are afraid of being sent to Ukraine to defend them. They think that Iraq and Afghanistan were useless wars that should not have happened and got a lot of soldiers killed, for no good reason. They agree with Hegseth.
David, the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior. The Senate has no spine, and will give tfg* their soft belly...or do a Neidermeyer.
*tfg now stands for that <vulgarity> guy. I suppose my usual fpotus (former potus) will work; after he is sworn in, I think I'll borrow that vulgarity and go with the same, fpotus, only the "f" won't be "former".
I am so exhausted by the torrent of bad news that I am limiting my time on NYT and other outlets. But I pay attention to each post by Professor Snyder and am rereading On Tyranny. On point and applicable. Very grateful he continues to pay attention and share his insights.
Professor Snyder. Thank you for your knowledge and your anguish as you inform we readers of your wisdom.
Many thinking voters are aware of the power of the religious crazies; it will take more than four years to reeducate the generations: The voting kids of the people that lived through the first depression started the shift to fascism with Reagan.
Capitalism and our two party system seem to have produced our disaster. Pending climate variations, superimposed on religious ignorance and our broken politics present opportunities for a new national story, but that requires long-term thinking. Ouch….
The story of Cassandra comes to mind.
We readers know “bad” but knowing and wondering has reached saturation for me as I assume for many readers.
It's hard to "like" this but thank you for summing up Hegseth's appalling lack of qualifications for such an important job.
The military has self acknowledged problems with white supremacists and with sexual abuse. For at least a decade white supremacist groups have directed their recruits to infiltrate the military. While conflating courage with macho behavior, has compounded all forms of bullying. The notion that white supremacist and accused rapist Hegseth is the answer to these problems could only come from the racist and sexist GOP. Rather, Sieg Heil Hegseth is the answer to Republican troglodyte prayers. And those of GOP avatar of White Supremacist Christian Nationalism, Vladimir Putin.
lin•, in the 90's, the street gangs were sending their "clean" members into the military (usually the Army) to learn combat street war tactics. The outgrowth of that was having the supremacists decide that looked like an awfully good idea, and would intentionally send their "troops" into the military utilizing all branches for training and recruiting.
The sexual abuse history of all branches of service is absolutely disgusting. I have a fairly high percentage of friends and coworkers who are former military; almost every woman that I know well enough to talk about such things (and every lesbian) has been the victim of MST*. I have two friends whose sons were also the victim MST in the GWOT era.
ThankYou. Yes.
This is the problem.
https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/intelligence-report/2008/evidence-shows-racist-skinheads-enlisting-military
https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/intelligence-report/2012/extremists-military-longstanding-problem
https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2020/02/11/is-the-military-doing-enough-to-look-for-signs-of-white-nationalism-in-the-ranks/
This is the 'Trump effect.'
https://raskin.house.gov/2021/5/raskin-s-subcommittee-held-hearing-on-the-rise-of-militia-violent-extremism
This is the solution.
https://naacp.org/resources/stop-infiltration-us-military-violent-far-right-extremist-organizations
https://media.defense.gov/2020/Dec/18/2002554854/-1/-1/0/ACTIONS-TO-IMPROVE-RACIAL-AND-ETHNIC-DIVERSITY-AND-INCLUSION-IN-THE-U.S.-MILITARY.PDF
Exactly what Republicans are planning to overturn.
Such good work, lin!
I have a relative who was raped while in the Nartional Guard.
Another comment that is difficult to “like” but important to acknowledge. I am very sorry for your friend.
And she supports Trump.
Reading this, Stacy, I feel badly for you.
The NeoNazis have been sending members into combat for decades; I remember reading during the wars in former Yugoslavia back in the 1990s that they were sending volunteers to train under fire.
< https://www.amazon.com/Life-at-Camp-Doris-Sumner/dp/B0CLQB1YNJ>
Looks like a powerful book that needs to be getting much more attention than it has so far. To your knowledge, has Sumner been on national media?
Christian Reconstructionism is one of the least known threats to American democracy and has evangelized for years among judges, law students and politicians. Tim Snyder's takedown of Pete Hegsmeth is reason enough to subscribe to Substack.
Federalist Society court capture operative and Teneo Network piety enforcer Leonard Leo is bent on establishing tyranny and breaking down the separation of church and state. Leo, a product of Reagan in bed with Ralph Reed, has paved the way for the ascent of GOP Christian Nationalism. Leo affiliated entities provided around 40% of Project 2025 'blitzkrieg on democracy' funding.
Indeed . . . Christian Nationalism took root in our government with the rise of Newt Gingrich and his "Contract with America." After Obama was elected, the Republican "Tea Party" formed. Interestingly, Wikipedia describes the Tea Party "an American fiscally conservative political movement within the Republican Party that began in 2009. The movement formed in opposition to the policies of Democratic President Barack Obama[1]." What Wikipedia does not say is that the Tea Party's "conservative" movement was really a White Christian racist and anti-semitic movement. They also say the movement was absorbed by the Republican Party - indeed - it became the foundation for today's Republican "Christian Nationalist" party.
"the Tea Party's 'conservative' movement was really a White Christian racist and anti-semitic movement." Andrew, readers are allowed to edit Wikipedia articles. (I've done so twice, myself.) I highly recommend that you suggest an edit including this information, which you can also suggest may be presented as an opinion, not fact (obviously).
Yes, but keep in mind that Wikipedia does not publish opinions as such, but lets things into the publication only if backed up suitably, which generally means a citation of published book or the like. I have run into this in connection with some seriously wrong claims (obviously wrong, to anyone familiar with the underlying data) that haven't been rebutted in anything published.
When I subscribed to Bari Weiss’s The Free Press, it seemed like the people in the comments all thought that Wikipedia was a mouthpiece of “The Left” and that the articles were all edited to a liberal far left POV. I think it’s funny that people here think the opposite, ie, the Wikipedia description of the Tea Party isn’t telling the truth and is biased to the right. My own experience is that 90% of what I find on Wikipedia is correct and easily verified if you follow the footnotes. When an article needs more verification, they usually put up an insert notice telling you that. A warning, more or less.
You're right about that. Perhaps Andrew can find a source to back up his statement.
One source might be the hosts of the Straight White American Jesus podcast, who have an extensive knowledge of Christian Nationalism, Dominionism, the New Apostolic Reformation, and the linkage of these with conservative politics.
Keep in mind that Wikipedia is a free service and it can take a lot of time for changes to be made.
I watched an entry about a local politician who managed to get a DUI charge. She told the press she was appalled by her behaviour and would abide by the law, of course. A year later, when she finally went to court, she pled Not Guilty, again, of course. All the while, people would be making entries stating the DUI, date, etc., and her people would remove the info. The DUI was on her Wikipedia page the last time I looked, but she is retired now and probably doesn’t care. Or she no longer has aides to rewrite history for her.
Not to put too fine a point on it, but Newt established the use of particular language to push policy; for example, "tort reform" to disguise corporate bias in legal decisions. We've been in a war of the mind for years; one that our historically anti-intellectual culture was always poorly equipped to fight.
Gingrich’s Contract was ON America-said that from the start. As for the rest of what you’ve said, it’s right on. “Grassroots” movement indeed! Completely Koch funded and intentionally violent, overheated rhetoric. Very easy for more malevolent groups to infiltrate.
My like is not for what you are saying, but for your courage in saying it.
Are the Democrats ready for the "blitzkrieg on democracy" coming in Trump's first 100 days? When I look at who Chuck Schumer is (or even Joe Biden and Kamala Harris post-election), my gut tells me "no". I hope I'm wrong.
They're still devoted to "reaching across the aisle" when all it's going to get them is a bloody stump.
You're absolutely right. Today's post is the reason I just subscribed.
Hegseth is a mediocre white man, so mediocre that he cannot even get a weekday gig on Fox News. That he is also a rapist and a Christian Nationalist makes him the perfect choice for Trump - looks good on TV, too stupid to challenge Trump intellectually (I know oxymoron), pushover for Putin. This will not end well for him or for Trump if it doesn't end worse for all of us first.
I have sent this post (which I received as an email) to my NYS Senators, Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand. Note that a couple years ago I used the web form on their contact web page to communicate. They replied via email, so I use that email address to write them.
Here's what I said:
Dear <name>,
Tim Snyder, the renowned historian and author of "On Tyranny," provides additional striking and convincing reasons to oppose Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense.
If his nomination comes to the Senate, I hope these facts will be broadcast loud and clear for all to hear.
Thank you,
Bob Stromberg, constituent and supporter
Great idea, Bob!
Trundling off to send similar notes to Wyden and Merkley!
Even if we have MAGA Senators, we should write them, and tell them *why* we don't like Hegseth.
We got reasons galore!
ESPECIALLY if you have MAGA Senators! Complaining to blue senators might make us feel good but we're preaching to the choir. We need to change other minds. I once had breakfast with the head of Medi Care's Prospective Payment Commission. I am an MD. He was an economist rather than a medical person and revealed an important fact. Politicians do not respond to doctor's concerns. They only respond to constituents' complaints. If there is a lot of complaining on the part of the constituents, the politicians will pay doctors more. If there is very little complaining then the doctors are being paid too much. Consequently, a modicum of complaining is a desirable baseline for politicos. If there is too much complaining, well, that warrants a response. When MAGAs get up at school board meetings and yell at board members about parental rights, what happens? Board members crumple up and give the yelling mob what they want. While I am not advocating yelling at members of the local school board, it seems apparent that those of us who think Trump's nominees are chosen to destroy the system must do a better job of conveying our thoughts to those politicians who primarily respond to yelling by the Red. Because Trump's win was a plurality 49.9% to 48.4%. It was not a mandate. A grass roots movement must be implemented to persuade America that it is still American.
I thought about when this idea occurred to me earlier today. I don't think it's either/or. Higher ROI getting it to R's, but even if our reps are D's, they can potentially share it with normies? Tape it up in the bathroom? Stick it on car windows? Read it during hearings if we're lucky enough to have them? No, I don't actually know how these things work, just seems that more is more.
Hah! I love it. Tape it up on the mirror in the public bathroom? Awesome. Maybe start in the colleges. We in our teens and twenties hate it when someone tells us what to do or to think. But it kinda sticks with us. That is the time in life when our memory is at its highest level of function.
*Especially* if you have MAGA Senators you should send this list to them. They are the ones who most need to read it.
Sending to my senators from CO, Bennet and Hickenlooper, today.
Sent the emails with the link and will call them tomorrow. The key to me is Timothy Snyder's comment that the orange turd wants to build a dictatorship on the ruins of American government. Let me add: on the bodies of American citizens who will be jailed and then murdered for not being "christian" enough. Doesn't anyone see that, once concentration camps are built at the border on donated Texas land, they stand ready to receive shipment after shipment of detained undocumented immigrants, and then citizens who are deemed vermin by the incoming "administration"?? Many more millions than the 11 million estimated undocumented immigrants will have to be deported and/or killed to make this country submit to the tyranny the orange turd has planned for us.
We should all do that. Thank you, Bob -- what a simple and powerful action! Sending to Murphy and Blumenthal in CT.
Do you think there is any way to stop his confirmation (or recess appointment)?
Call and or write your senators, representatives.
"Call and or write your senators, representatives."
And Letters to the Editor.
Every day. We need a national rapid response team. Make your communications short and to the point. United, our numbers amplify our individual concerns.
" Make your communications short and to the point."
Exactly. I used to work in a congressional office, and despite your thinking that your lengthy reasoning letter will sway/convince the congressperson: NOT TRUE. They only count the number of communications received.
So is it a waste of time to copy/paste what Snyder wrote in this newsletter (with book citations) and send that to my Senator? I know that the volume of complaints counts a lot, but you have to have SOME kind of cogent reason, don’t you?
I agree with you. Snyder's message is short and informative. I'm talking about messages in which the writer goes on and on with their OWN reasons. Good luck to you, and thanks.
The 5 Calls app is helpful
⬆️ What Mike said
I am fortunate enough to have good Democrats in office in Minnesota. Mostly I communicate with Amy Klobuchar to thank her for her votes. Beyond that, I don’t believe elected representatives even notice calls or letters/emails from non-constituents. Am I wrong about that?
I am in a Blue state with Blue Senators and a Blue representative. Talking to aides in many of the Capitol Hill offices, they have encouraged me to call, even if I know my Senators and Representatives will be supporting the positions I want them to take. Our calls, particularly when they receive many of them, make them much louder and outspoken on these things. Our voices matter.
Yes!
Here’s what I have re: ACLU zoom meeting: https://aclu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_U3v-9Ur3T5ubQpn4QPkPfA#/registration
Yes.
United, our numbers amplify our individual concerns.
I’m also in Minnesota. Also frustrated. There’s a Zoom meeting with the ACLU of MN tomorrow at 2:30.
How do I sign up? (Thanks!!)
There’s strength in numbers. The volume of the complaints is what counts.
I don’t see any republican senators standing up to trump on anything. Lisa Murkowski and mealy-mouth Susan Collins will murmur and mumble but will do his bidding.
I've got an Alaska friend; he sends stuff to Murkowski all the time. I'm forwarding him this post to give him some grist for his mill.
Murkowski has stood her ground on a couple of occasions. Collins, on the other hand, is an embarrassment.
Don’t obey in advance.
Are you kidding? They got rid of Gaetz in a matter of days. Trump fully expected to ram Gaetz down their throats, and he couldn’t. Right now, the Senate has been flooded with nominations. It’s unprecedented how many how fast. It will take awhile for them to react, but the message has already been delivered that they’re not going to tolerate a table full of wackos shoved through on recess appointments. The vast majority of these nominees will be approved, but I think if we target the worst of the worst (now Gabbard, Hegseth and RFK Jr), we can be successful. Strength in numbers. They have flooded the zone with shit. Now we must flood the zone with targeted complaints.
Timothy Snyder has stated that journalists are our heroes. Finding the truth and reporting as accurately as possible is the job of journalists. It is one of the US's most serious problems to have too few of them, most particularly local journalists, along with the loss of newspapers that uphold journalistic standards. With that in mind, I suggest that readers of this piece learn more about Pete Hegseth by reading today's New York Times article, 'How Hegseth Changed Tune on War Crimes'. A gifted link has been posted below. This article poses a number of important questions, including how our 'broken wars' in Iraq, Afghanistan have affected many American soldiers that served there.
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/21/us/politics/pete-hegseth-defense-department.html?unlocked_article_code=1.cU4.kyt5.e4LpuBE3EGts&smid=url-share
Thanks for the link, Fern. When you run out of free links, message me on Substack, and I'll be glad to provide more for you, at least until my current subscription runs out, and I get another cheap offer for 6 months...
Dear friend Ally, great thanks for your offer and dear connection.
Salud!
Salud!
I suggest that you look at what that asshole wrote in his books about the American "crusade" he intends to lead, to rid our country of all citizens whom he considers not "christian" enough according to his standards. THERE IS NOTHING MORE CRUEL THAT AN ACTION BASED ON HOW SOMEONE INTERPRETS "GOD'S WILL."
Why do you assume I haven't read a couple of his books? Was making assumptions part of your 'teaching as it was in your response to me?
I assume you haven't read his books because you make no mention of (1) his radical "christian" reconstructionism, and neither does the NYT article; (2) neither you nor the article tries to explain how the asshole's hatred of women in the military and "wokeness" derived from his experience in service; (3) why his misogyny and racism should be excused. Drawing supported inferences is part of critical thinking, in case you haven't heard. Your attempts to chastise me are garbage.
Your notion of 'supported' inferences is amusing, as 'supported' in this instance is just by you. The article was not based on aspects of Mr. Hegseth character that you point to, but his experiences in the military that raise important issues concerning the military and Hegseth's character. The article excuses Hegseth from nothing.
Agree. The article explains a lot, in particular an animosity shared by a large segment of our veterans who agree with Hegseth, as I point out elsewhere in my experience with WSJ comments.
Yes, that’s an excellent article in the NYT, I read it yesterday. While I no longer subscribe to the WSJ, the “broken wars” theory explains a phenomenon that I saw often in the WSJ comments. There were several veterans who posted continuously, objecting to our involvement in Ukraine and arguing for isolationism and “no forever wars”, “no foreign wars”, “no NATO”. Those guys were really really angry. They felt quite strongly that they had been lied to and betrayed when they served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and they were adamant that the US needed to get out of NATO and quit defending Europe. At the time, I thought it was just a couple of kooks on their keyboards, but the NYT article makes me think it’s a rather large chunk of our military who think this way. There are lots of Hegseth’s out there.
Ann P, thank you for sharing your reading of the opinions of soldiers with experiences and ideas that seem to match Hegseth's. I believe that more research, questions and studies about common actions, inactions and confusion during which wars and or other types of conflicts may have led to mistrust of US intelligence and or the military. Learning whether there is a pattern in terms of upbringing and or personality factors on the part of soldiers in this regard would need to be part of our understanding.
From your lips, Timothy, to the Senate’s ears.
That’s our work. I’m sending Tim’s essay with citations to my Senators. You should too. We all need to do it, especially if we have Republican Senators as I do. No one else will tell them if we don’t. ✍️📞
These maga people who are mostly men, of course, are so small-minded, unable to think beyond their own needs and desires. One headline today made me laugh, as it stated that maga supporters were thrilled was his cabinet choices who are most of them, right wing media personalities. These people see all this as entertainment, owing the libs, etc. They have no other lens. Just myopic “what will entertain me today?”
I struggle to understand what they are thinking.
Well said, Jamae.
From his public statements alone it is apparent that Hegseth is fundamentally incapable of formulating policies that translate to American or allied victories on the battlefield. The titles of his books alone are revealing of profound ignorance, ignorance which unfortunately has permeated the US defense establishment since the 1950s. We lost in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan not because of the lack of training or firepower, but rather because of a profound misunderstanding of the nature of the conflicts we were involved in. Our leadership, starting from the top, seems to always take a top-down approach, courting or setting up leaders rather than identifying with the people. That paradigm loses wars abroad just as it loses elections at home.
On the other hand, when given the opportunity to support a nation united in its democratic aspirations and its determination to defend itself against a terrorist aggressor, we fail to commit the support necessary to ensure victory. It's almost as though we want to lose.
For a clear example of where this could go, just look at China. The numbers are always opaque, but it is not in doubt that China spends huge sums on internal security. Whether or not they are larger than those for national defense is the usual question, but one that hardly matters given how such enormous outlays can be used to control public dissent and bully the citizenry into silence and submission.
Trump has openly praised the CCP and its brutal control over its citizens, so we should not kid ourselves that this isn't what he fantasizes about for his own regime as well. Hegseth is a clear means to this end.
Intent is one thing, but execution is another. The military would be far from unified in domestic operations against "the left", and if Hegseth is any indication, any attempted domestic operations would be a shambles from the jump. Hegseth couldn't organize a one-car funeral procession.
That said, it would be very messy and very bloody.
Putin is dancing. I firmly believe that he and Elon Musk got Trump elected.
Why are U.S. military families silent on this facile putting of our military in harm's way. for no good reason?
Some of them think that the possibility of being sent to Europe to defend a NATO country is being put in harm’s way for no good reason. They also are afraid of being sent to Ukraine to defend them. They think that Iraq and Afghanistan were useless wars that should not have happened and got a lot of soldiers killed, for no good reason. They agree with Hegseth.
Thank you. Unfortunately I think you are right. Hopefully the Senate will do its job.
David, the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior. The Senate has no spine, and will give tfg* their soft belly...or do a Neidermeyer.
*tfg now stands for that <vulgarity> guy. I suppose my usual fpotus (former potus) will work; after he is sworn in, I think I'll borrow that vulgarity and go with the same, fpotus, only the "f" won't be "former".
I am so exhausted by the torrent of bad news that I am limiting my time on NYT and other outlets. But I pay attention to each post by Professor Snyder and am rereading On Tyranny. On point and applicable. Very grateful he continues to pay attention and share his insights.
Professor Snyder. Thank you for your knowledge and your anguish as you inform we readers of your wisdom.
Many thinking voters are aware of the power of the religious crazies; it will take more than four years to reeducate the generations: The voting kids of the people that lived through the first depression started the shift to fascism with Reagan.
Capitalism and our two party system seem to have produced our disaster. Pending climate variations, superimposed on religious ignorance and our broken politics present opportunities for a new national story, but that requires long-term thinking. Ouch….
The story of Cassandra comes to mind.
We readers know “bad” but knowing and wondering has reached saturation for me as I assume for many readers.
Yikes. We've got work to do! ✍️📞
This!