Recent Comments
Re: “Democrats' dilemma”
Easy prediction: in 2023 and in the 2024 primaries and the November election, GOP candidates will use yet more divisive rhetoric, catering to their Fox News base, inflaming their culture wars at the expense of larger substantive issues. The full story of swimmer Lia Thomas's transition to a female identity (including hormone replacement therapy) needs to be considered. You can find it at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lia_Thomas.
Re: “Prosecuting Trump”
As Michael Smith rightly points out, Michael Cohen was the first half of the coverup crime of the illegal payment/payoff to Stormy Daniels. Cohen eventually pled guilty to some 8 related charges, was convicted, and sentenced to three years in prison. He was also disbarred.
Now Donald Trump, the second component of this coverup crime, will be tried. If the first component of this (these) crime(s) was guilty, what is the likely legal outcome for the second component, Cohen's partner in crime?
Re: “Mainstream vs. extreme”
Writing as a former Conservative who retains some philosophical ties to its core Edmund Burk-ian principles, I concur with Ashbaughs alarms about the rightward extremism of todays GOP as it lurches into violence, authoritarianism, conspiracy theories, and voter suppression efforts.
Regarding MSNBC, however, please note that among its regular contributors are these conservatives and classical Republicans (condemned as RINOS by MAGA zealots): Michael Steele, Joe Scarborough, Nicolle Wallace, Charlie Sykes, Tim Miller, Bill Kristol, David Frum, Steve Schmidt, Matthew Dowd, and David Jolly. Their equivalent on Fox News is non-existent.
Re: “Donegan confuses consequences for censorship in free speech debate”
Repeatedly and throughout 2022, Donegan raised sexual concerns to make his points. Does he have a perpetual political hard-on for this subject? Perhaps a stirring in his legal loins to unlimber on this topic, or maybe a sign of a stiffened resolve? Dunno. Enough! Wishing all Rhetoric and Reason writers and commentators a New Year of truth and justice.
Re: “Don't submit to pepper spray or vigilantes”
Memo to Denier Donegan: As if "registered Democrat" explains away the actual incident. One of the victims of the bear spray assault told me that the combat-booted violent harasser was angrily brandishing a US Constitution in the faces of the demonstrators - a favorite tactic of MAGA nationalists. The right wing assailant also accused the demonstrators of being complicit in "the murder of babies," although their signs only promoted democracy and the election of Supervisor Bruce Gibson. The right wing assailant also yelled about having a Bible in his backpack along with his weapon, the bear spray. A fundamentalist literally weaponizing the Bible was a prelude to making a criminal physical assault. His words and deeds associates the attacker with christo-fascism and the MAGA base. That is, the violent MAGA insurrectionists of Jan. 6, 2021, who tried to invalidate the results of the 2020 election.
Re: “War or unity?”
No, Tony, 93% of Black Lives Matter and related demonstrations were peaceful. I participated in one organized by the NAACP in Atascadero. We closed with a prayer and our former chief of police was present.
Re: “Plan B?”
False equivalent alert, Shredder: Susan Funk is right to point out that her rival Heather Moreno is beholden to SLO County’s MAGA dominated GOP. In our North County neck of the woods we see yard signs for Moreno paired with “recall Bruce Gibson” signs.
The recall effort is headed up by advocates of the California secessionist movement. An extremist fringe group, they envision partitioning the state into liberal and conservative enclaves. When l asked one of the re-callers what he wanted, he told me he wanted to get rid of our “communist government” and replace it with a constitutional republic.
And how do you account for Moreno appearing at the Nov. 28, 2023, gathering of the Atascadero Republican Women Federated? She was co-featured as a speaker with Darcia Stebbens who demanded and paid for a needless recount of the Bruce Gibson and Bruce Jones supervisorial contest which the former won and was certified accordingly. The event was publicized in the ARWF’s newsletter, the TRUMPETER. The front page featured a fantasy courtroom illustration of a surly Trump companioned by an equally surly Jesus. The caption: “This is the most accurate court sketch of all time.” I know Moreno is a Christian. What did she think of this blasphemy?