Monster

Carl Muecke illustration.

Rogue readers have been imploring me to write again. So I will put my shoulder to the wheel, even though much of this will be repetitive, whether dealing with what Soleri aptly called the Arizona Problem or our national existential crisis.

I hesitate to use the T word, because he and his cult feed on media attention. Whether voters are paying attention is another matter. Many Democrats are panicked by President Biden's debate performance this past week — even though he became much more impressive as the night continued. However, by that time too many viewers had tuned out.

When I was growing up, Arizona was a low-population state with only three congressmen. It didn't matter much in national elections. Now, with an unsustainable population of more than seven million people, Arizona has become a swing state with dangerous possibilities in November. When the totally unqualified former news-reader for the local Fox affiliate comes within a few thousand votes of becoming governor, you know we're in trouble.

This is the state where the Legislature — the most powerful branch of government — has been controlled by Republicans for decades. And the result is a state that's behind in almost every measure of economic heft and quality of life.

Phoenix is America's fifth most populous city in America but it punches well below its size in corporate headquarters or high-end technology (data centers and chip fabs, although using much water, don't cut it).

Phoenix is also the most populous city in North America without intercity passenger trains, much less commuter trains to the suburbs. California, Oregon, and Washington have enjoyed a rail renaissance over the past three decades. But this has only been possible because of state support. The same is true for many states in the Midwest and Northeast. Arizona — No. Republicans and the Real Estate Industrial Complex have an anti-rail fetish. The success of metro Phoenix's light-rail system (WBIYB) drive them to hysterics and lies about its accomplishments.

As for T, with judges and a supermajority of the Supreme Court in his pocket, you can be sure he enjoys a dangerous advantage. Biden has been a good president. I don't understand his unpopularity except that we're living in a low-information nation.

His plans for a second term are extreme: Destroy NATO, create an authoritarian presidency, further pack the federal courts, ensure that nothing is done to address human-caused climate change, eviscerate environmental regulations, and privatize "entitlements," putting opponents and wrong-thinking journalists in prison, among other destructive actions.

The Republican Party has become a T cult. It is no longer a mass party with liberals (Javits and Rockefeller), centrists (Eisenhower and Ford) and conservatives (Goldwater and Reagan). It is no longer the Party of Lincoln or Theodore Roosevelt. It is the Party of T, committed to the destruction of our experiment in self-governance.

The election of 2028? Dream on. If T wins in November, every other "election" will be similar to those seen in Russia and China. Don't forget T's affinity for Putin and Xi.

Yes, it would have been nice if the Democrats had built a more powerful bench and Vice President Harris hadn't disappointed. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is a great potential candidate. But dumping Biden is unlikely; the era of conventions picking candidates is gone and it would be seen as a sign of weakness.

Our Front Page Editor Emeritus is convinced that the Democratic National Committee is an evil or blundering entity controlling the party from the top down. In reality, the DNC was significantly weakened by McGovern-era reforms. It lacks the ability to force a change in the ticket.

The far left must also face some blame if T is elected. "Wokeness" and cancel-culture have driven many average Americans toward the Republicans, especially in an era where calling someone a "racist" instantly turns them into a fiend. Here, the far left is a mirror image of the far right, with different issues. George Orwell, call your office.

Interestingly, Facebook won't allow me to post this.

I'm having tech troubles today, so this is what I offer. Arizona matters as it has never done before. The comments section awaits you. If few respond, it will be a reminder that Rogue has run out of railroad, so to speak. I hope you prove me wrong,

 

 

 

Comments

[naum]

Here, still reading.

[Joe Schallan]

They will have their minority rule and their autocracy / theocracy. The curtailment of rights they don't like has only just begun. I fear especially for women.

[Arizona Eagletarian]

I understand Biden's "low popularity" as a function of corporate media subterfuge.

Even more, the freak out after the debate is higher volume subterfuge.

Biden's the best president in my lifetime.

Prof Allan Lichtman believes Biden's the favorite to win in November... now corporate media is leading the charge to get Biden to drop out.

I hope he doesn't.

[Peter]

I place at least partial blame on the media that fails to point out the T lies every single time he opens his mouth.

[AzRebel]

A commentator on CNN stated about an hour ago that a faction of the conservative right wing has completed a forty year plan to gain control of the supreme court and this court is the culmination of their plan.

Remember when the Afghans patiently waited for the right time to expel the British, the Russians, then us.

There's something to be said about patience and planning while the typical American citizen goes around in a tizzy led by the nose by the psychotic media.

The country has been successfully dumbed down, beyond repair.

When the two parties make us have to choose between a Crook or a Cadaver, I'm of the opinion that we're screwed.

I"m too old to learn Chinese.

Which is OK because I don't I would last through orientation.

[John]

For interesting insights into a possible future direction of the Republican Party, read the interview David Brooks had with Steve Bannon in the NYT. It posted today and was quite a disturbing eye opener to me.

[AzRebel]

To paraphrase an Aussie lady who tells it like it is more than pretty much anyone else on the planet, "SO, AMERICA, WHO'S BEEN RUNNING THE STORE?"

[Jon7190]

I appreciate Rogue offering some fresh commentary here. I've been worried the blog might have finally expired. I hope not. I tend to disagree with him (and many commenters), but I appreciate his frank and honest opinions that are not always party line. 

The NYT, probably as much a dictator of the Left's party line as anyone,  recommended Pres. Biden drop out of the race, which has been echoed by many, though interestingly not Pres. Obama. I do tend to agree with Rogue that the President's performance was not uncharacteristic for him. He managed to answer all the questions, even  coherently at times. Good for him! It's a testimony to how low our expectations are of him at this point that there are still people who consider that level of function acceptable in a President. 

Even setting aside the question of whether he is capable of meeting the demands of the job, I'd say it's quite debatable that he's been a good president. He (or more accurately his staff) has been quite effective in advancing left-wing policy, which I suppose is good if that's your priority and don't mind the lawless implementation (e.g. student loan forgiveness) or complete lack of fiscal restraint (e.g. student loan forgiveness, again) or the disastrous foreign policy tettering on the edge of WWIII or the near complete lack of border control or the lawfare. 

Characterizing the Supreme Court as being in Pres. T's pocket is stretching it rather far. At least two of his appointees vote with the liberals on numerous occasions.  On the DOJ"s lawfare, ACB voted in the minority on the Jan 6 case on improperly charging defendents with 1512 violations (while KBJ voted in majority!). All the non-liberals voted for presidential immunity, though they made it as narrow as they could while addressing the obvious need for immunity given the absolutely unprecedented, incredibly aggresive prosecutions of Pres. T. 

As to fears of a second Trump admin and authoritarianism, at least his DOJ didn't indict Pres Obama or even Hillary Clinton, which both could probably have been if his DOJ was even a fraction as aggressive as Biden's. "Putting opponents and wrong-thinking journalists in prison"?? Besides trying to put Trump himself in prison, see Bannon, Navarro, Steve Baker, Brandon Straka, Jenna Ellis, John Eastman (among others),and the aforementioned Jan. 6 defendents, hundreds charged with felonies for misdemeanor trespassing and many held without bail in the D.C. jail for over a year awaiting trial. Did the Trump admin and local allies ever do any things like those? 

I'm not a member of the T cult, but I am a bit mystified about the catastrophizing about a potential second term. Why speculate when there is a previous term to look at?

- Did he destroy NATO (besides pressuring members to pay their dues)?

- Did he "pack" the federal courts? (besides appointing right-leaning judges, which any R president would do. I believe "packing" refers to increasing the number of judges so you can appoint more, which T didn't do but Democrats threaten to) 

-Did he privatize entitlements or even seriously talk about it? 

-Did he change the election laws to make them more like Russia and China? 

- What exactly did his administation do in terms of actual administrative or legislative acts that would lead one to rationally expect he would become a dictator in his second term, as many are fond of predicting (Rogue didn't specifically, but I'll bet he thinks it)

I'm not the one to defend everything T says. He says a lot of nonsense and untruths (but so does Pres. Biden). I'm more interested in what he and Biden actually did as President in terms of policy, orders and laws.

[iaed]

But, Jon7190, you are defending T. Should he be elected he will most assuredly destroy NATO, further jigger the courts, privatize entitlements, change election laws, etc. Except T doesn't have the smarts to do all that. He's just a useful hood ornament. His handlers will call the shots, as they have all along.

Jon7190, who are you voting for president, and why?

[Jon7190]

Iaed,

My heart says RFK but my head says Trump.

Putting aside all other matters of policy or personality, there is one issue that practically requires a Trump vote. Since he left office the administration and the legal forces of the Left have unleashed an unbelievable onslaught against him. All push to the bleeding edge of the law, some well past, especially the New York civil and criminal cases. 

To achieve the goal of breaking him financially and labeling him a convicted felon (and possibly imprisoning him), they have twisted the law beyond recognition to use as a blunt weapon against a political opponent to keep him out of office. If this effort is allowed to succeed, it will be used again as a valuable political tool when needed. 

All this is against Trump today but if successful, there's no reason to think it won't be used against someone else. A future Republican who is popular and effective will be hated by the Left just as much as Trump is. Perhaps the Right will learn to use these tools as well. 

It seems to me this lawfare is far more of a threat to democracy than Pres Trump supposedly is and virtually mandates a vote for him regardless of any other concerns. 

[DoggieCombover]

Jon, love your picking up the Fox News catchword of the cycle by repeating "lawfare," as though he is an innocent being unfairly targeted. Here's a thought, maybe Trump should stop committing crimes if he'd like to not be charged repeatedly.

I watched the debate and saw a doddering grandpa and a outrageous serial liar, as well cognitively challenged. The fact that there isn't at least as much concern about trumps performance illustrates the degree to which he has normalized his outrageous behavior.

My answer to the poll question that gets the D's going into a high speed wobble--"Do you think Biden should be running for president?" is of course no, like it is for the large majority of respondents. Same answer as it would be for Trump btw, but that doesn't mean when it comes down to those two that there is any doubt about how to vote.

[Cal Lash]

Fred and Donald Trump should have gone to prison years ago along with Jared's father, Charles Kushner.
Jared the Jewish Wabbi.
It's OK to serve up carved up reporters fora cannibalistic lunch. And turn Gaza into a playground for the Rich, staffed by Arab slaves.
Trump deserves everything getting thrown at him for listening to con man, Roger Stone.
Trumps presidential qualifications are his CI duties for NY FBI field agents. His obviously many years as a KGB asset. And he and his dad's mob connections.
And
Had it not been for Jimmy Hoffa, his Teamsters and Russell Bufalino, Joe Biden would likey have retired as a clerk at the Post Office. Bidens Legislative track record until this Term was not impressive.
I do like student loan dismissals. Education should not be a for profit thing. As a lifetime Republican (think IKE) I support public schools. Not the vouchers fraud scam. And private schools are dark halls of mythical BS.
Consequently voters are left with a nightmare.
Hence I'm writing in my favorite Commie,
Go BERNIE.

[AzRebel]

In the late 80"s and early 90's we stopped doing commercial insurance business in New York with Trump. There was too much circumstantial evidence that he was laundering Russian money. I've waited three decades for it to come to light.

Chalk up another win for Trump.

What is that called, oh ya, Lawfare.

[Rogue Columnist]

382 unique visitors so far on this post, vs. 618 per day over the course of the blog. It's discouraging.

[DoggieCombover]

Takes awhile to ramp back up after a layoff, folks don't look at it as often. Give it a chance...

[Ruben]

There has been quite a trend on news feeds, any kind of feeds where washed up actresses and singers post photos of themselves in bikinis doing groceries, car wash, watering the lawn. There is apparently a world wide contest to see who can get down to an out fit resembling dental floss. I remind you, I’m talking NEWS sites.

So, Jon, break out the SPEEDO and watch a the clicks go off the scale.

[Cal Lash]

382 clicks?
Clicks!
That's what we scribble for today?
Scribbling robots get the big numbers. Numbers it's all about numbers! Gee officer you didn't make your quota today.
Probably 100 of the previous commenters died from covid.
Probably 300 of the 382 were the enemy.
Now presidents can have Seal teams take out disruptive bloggers.
Regardless of click bait, I'm happy to see the column and a few clickers.

[iaed]

I agree with DoggieC: it takes a while to get going again. I was getting more and more discouraged each time I checked in and there wasn't anything new.

I hope the community here can provide some useful insight regarding our fate in the coming months and years. Dealing with climate change is tops on my list. I'd like to see some truly thoughtful discourse on what to do about it. Let's don't get lost in the weeds discussing Biden's age and mental acuity, especially when at the same time we don't discuss Trump's criminality.

[Ruben]

iaed, actually Jon provided solutions to many of Phoenix’s issues about 25 years ago. Here is the score of his suggested solutions: Followed: 1 - Light Rail. Not followed: 100’s if not 1,000’s of ideas. Phoenix’s city motto has been, “If Talton likes it, let’s do the opposite”. I put in 50 tough years in Phoenix. I plan to never set foot in that hell hole again. Climate change and Mother Nature has special plans for Phoenix. Let’s call it Hohokam 2.0

[Cal Lash]

Regardless of their politics Arizonas politicans continue the same old plan.
MORE never LESS.
More people.
More houses.
More businesses
More Chip plants.
More Warehouses.
More call centers.
The Hohokam moved on.
"Those who are gone"
In 1980 Edward Abbey wrote a novel that ended with Phoenix going up in smoke.
"THE GOOD NEWS"

[AzRebel]

Biden, I had a cold. I had jet lag. My son was found guilty. The dog ate my homework. I get tired. I'm alert most of the, some of the, what was the question? Who are you? Who am I?

For a party that wants to SAVE THE DEMOCRACY, this is pretty disgusting, save you own ass behavior.

Joe! Joe! Wake up!

[Cal Lash]

I talked with Susan Calvin. She is giving Antony Bliken a
Joe Biden Robot
that will blow Trump away in a second debate.
If all this election stuff is getting you down, tonight Stream Lucky staring a Tortoise and Harry Dean Stanton. Or I can loan you a dvd. Currently I'm getting a new VHS machine

[Azrebel]

Running into a bit of trouble getting bikini photos posted on this blog. An anonymous Talton Club member submitted Bikini Atoll photo. A for effort but F for completed assignment.

[Richard Brown]

I have been reading this blog for many years. I seldom make comments. I want you to know I am still here and hope the blog continues.

My view on the election? Trump is a melding of Don Rickles and Rodney Dangerfield. People like his shtick. They just do not pay attention to cause and effect.

Perhaps the MAGA movement has a more sophisticated view of government, more quantum mechanics then Newtonian in nature. Up, down, right, left it is all in a universe of alternative facts.

[Cal Lash]

Brown,
An "alternate fact"
Gods don't exist!
But we keep right on killing in the name of God's.
Take your pick and suit up to die in the name of mythical man invented creatures.
God Bless ????

Will Leo or Mike throw the first Stone.
Females will again be property and homosexuals slain.
AINT IT WONDERFUL?

[Azrebel]

Mr. Brown,

MAGA and sophisticated in the same sentence?

As a long time Independent voter reporting to you live from the middle of Trump-MAGAland, let me suggest words which would work seemlessly in a sentence with MAGA.

Old
Grumpy
Cranky
Uneducated
Uninformed
Angry
White
Gun loving
Science hating
Bully
Brainwashed
Math challenged

The interesting thing about the species MAGAsaurus is that they have an internal switch which if triggered by the wrong word they will go from calm, normal looking person to a frothing, rabid lunatic.

[Cal Lash]

So Ruben will your MAGA folks be 51 percent of Arizonas presidential voters?
The polls indicate Michelle Obama would beat Trump by at least 10 percent. And AOC as VP running the Bar making it an alcohol fuled runaway.

[Ruben]

Payson is 70 % republican, so they will vote 70% republican.

[Helen Highwater]

17 out of 28 comments from the Talton Worship club.

So if this was a bar, there would be the regular drunks who don't pay their tab, one old call girl and a handful of lost tourists asking directions. (:-(

[Cal Lash]

Van Gogh's Bad Cafe.

[ed dravo]

The disappearance of so much reporting in the AZR and Tucson papers doesn’t leave readers with enough common factual threads to anchor their arguments when they want to discuss major policy or cultural/social issues. Your column is very much needed as an asset in our information depleted news sphere.

Like many people, I’m not getting too involved in issues I’m concerned about because so much of the country’s direction hangs in the balance of the forthcoming election. The general incompetence and high turnover of key aides is what kept the nation afloat in the first Trump administration, this isn’t going to happen in 2025. Again referencing the Brooks NYT interview, it tells us 3000 grifters, institutional deconstructionists and steadfast loyalists have already been vetted to populate high government offices in the event of a Trump win.

The travesty of any notion of judicial restraint by members of the Supreme Court serves as a good signpost of what to expect.

[Ruben]

Speaking for the Republic, The White Mountain Independent and the Payson Roundup, I count them as at least giving it the good old college try when both sides of the political spectrum call them either a liberal rag or a conservative rag. If you piss off both sides you're on the right track. There are still quality people trying to put out a newspaper. They are like the band on the Titanic. Giving it their all while all around them the populace is running around, shitting their drawers and preparing to turn into human ice cubes. Of course, this time of year that sounds enticing.

[John]

I believe that things will get much worse under Trump but not much better under Biden or whoever replaces him. What the Democrats need is a charismatic original thinker who can provide an honest, dramatic and articulate alternative.to DT. Good luck with that. Look what they did to Kristen Sinema. The Democrats went after her because she only voted with the party 87% of the time.

My point about nothing changing is because as a species we are entrenched in our behavior. Since this blog began in 2008 Jon has been dead on accurate about where Phoenix was heading. We had the answer right in front of us! Including about global warming. But that knowledge is ineffective against ignorance and greed. How do we get out of this rut?

Anyway, even with climate change, more Americans are traveling this 4th of July than ever before, the Arizona Republic announces every big land deal like it is the second coming and Joe Biden supports gun control while providing Israel with munitions to kill women and children. And so it goes.

[Cal Lash]

Ed and John
Good comments

[Cal Lash]

Closing out the nite.
A quote by Edward Abbey.
"The prehuman Sanity of the Desert."

[Cal Lash]

"Back in the Day."
"A pen warmed up in hell."
There were commenters with strong educational and community standing that posted honest straight,forward and strong opinions and other stuff in this blog.
They are out there still but I suspect they are afraid to comment today and be called wokesters and elitests Liberals.
The year of 2024 has more to comment about than most any year in American election history.
So how about it dudes.
Use those gifts of Brilliance you have and tell us what you think.
The blog allows you to hide your identity if you so desire.

[Helen Highwater]

Nah, the silent majority is called the silent majority for a reason.

Sorry sweetie cal.

[John]

I thought I must have inadvertently said something unacceptable and singlehandedly managed to stop all comments to this blog. Have you ever had a day like that? Sort of like walking into a room and everyone in the room stops talking and turns around to look at you.

[Cal Lash]

John happens to me all the time because for most my adult years I was the planets third ugliest man.
To Jack Elam and Richard Boone.
They are now dead.

Ps , John what makes you think your important enough to stop anything, but yourself?
"Keep Scribbling "

[Helen Highwater]

Not you John,
Waiting for the silent majority to speak is like waiting for the Hispanic vote to rise up in AZ or a unicorn to land in your lawn. These things are all imaginary.

[Michael]

Why do you boomers love NATO so much?

[Azrebel]

Michael,
NATO is just a little club that the EMPIRE formed.

EMPEROR BIDEN let the cat out of the bag a few days ago, “I’M BUSY RUNNING THE WORLD.”

Did you not catch that?

Don’t you youngsters not realize you are subjects of an EMPIRE?

Why do you think we police all the oceans of the world. For shits and giggles?

Do you really think if you vote for Biden or Trump or Klown Kamala that you will make a difference?

Grow up and start reading the writings of Caitlin Johnstone. She like others like her will give you a glimpse of the true mechanizations of the world you live in.

Why is she allowed to spill the beans? Because she doesn’t matter. She’s like a flea on the largest dinosaur that ever existed.

You want to piss off the EMPIRE? Embarrass the EMPIRE LIKE Assange did.

NATO?? Who cares about stinking NATO?

We’re the EMPIRE and we got the BOMB. Lots and lots of them.

[Cal Lash]

Hard to beat a crazy ranting diatribe by Caitlin Johnstone.

I'm suprised the Empire (US)and the failed Empire (UK) let Assange live.

Support Whistleblowers.
In memory of Daniel Ellsberg. Mark Felt, Gary Webb and Robert Parry.

Pardon Reality Winner, Chelsea Channing and Edward Snowden

[Azrebel]

Michael,

P.S. we boomers helped stop the Vietnam war, got big heads, then proceeded to destroy the fabric of the country, the environment and the whole earth. And in our decrepit old age we have all the wealth, keeping from you and we’re going to our graves wondering what the hell happened.

OOPS. SORRY. ✌️

[Rogue Columnist]

R e boomers:

https://www.roguecolumnist.com/rogue_columnist/2019/11/ok-boomer.html

[Rich Weinroth]

Jon, I like your posts. I always read them. But I really think you need to migrate to Substack. I believe you will reach a much larger audience

[AndyW]

You've nailed it, Jon. Thank you for your thoughts.

[Michael]

Ok boomers, I guess I've got to ask the question:

Why do you boomers love NATO so much?

Jon put it first in his list of "disastrous" things Trump would do in his 2nd term, so I guess it's important.

[Rogue Columnist]

Michael and some others need to read history. The collective security provided by NATO ensured freedom for western Europe during the Cold War and continues to provide protection against a revanchist Russia. Otherwise, why would Sweden and Finland join?

[AzRebel]

Inquiring minds ask: US of A, why do you use NATO to poke and prod Putin until he lashes out at his neighbors?

US of A, why do you use your middle east alliances to poke and prod Iran until they lash out at their neighbors?

US of A, why do you poke and prod China until she lashes out at her neighbors.

US of A, you do a lot of poking and prodding. Why do you do that?

Dear Inquiring mind, when you have the worlds largest military, you need to keep them busy and you need to pay for them.

It's about the money dear one, it's about the money.

[Cal Lash]

"$$$$$$$$$
Thank you
Frederick Krupp

[Michael]

Ok I see, we're forever fighting the cold war in the eyes of the boomer.

Yeah I don't know what to say if boomers seriously believe that Russia is planning to roll through Europe for...no reason except diabolical evil.

Though they did mostly believe that Saddam was planning on nuking NYC for...no reason except he's pure evil.

It's so exhausting dealing with people who believe such baby-level gibberish.

As to why Sweden or Finland joined NATO, maybe their govs actually believe that Putin is pure evil and ready to invade them for no reason.

Sweden did have a very safe country a while ago, and now they've been enriched by grenade attacks, riots and rapes, so IDK what they're thinking.

Finland was led by a millennial coke slut when they joined NATO, so I imagine that had something to do with it.

[Rogue Columnist]

The assassination attempt virtually ensues Trump will be elected.

[Ruben]

Agree, unless the Dems come up with a legit candidate. Trump is already unhinged, he's going to get more unhinged after this. You know, the god, messiah, martyr syndrome. A solid candidate will make the new trump appear crazier than he already is. At least to the moderates and Independents who will get off the couch and decide the election.

[Reality Street]

This train wreck has been coming for so long, and so many have chosen to dither and remain in denial.

But now shit's getting very real.

Too much, too little, too late.

[Cal Lash]

A 20 year old "republican" insured Trump will win the Election.

[Cal Lash]

A formerly land locked paranoid Russia has for a century yearned for seaports.
President Putins intentions are not best described by, "Evil."
Expansive is a better description. Putin the former little east German bureaucrat has the desire to correct his former bosses mistakes of breaking up "Mother" Russia.
In my opinion he has delusions best described by studying Peter and Catherine the Greats.
Current successes will not whet his expansive appetite.

[iaed]

T. get elected again? I'm not ready to bet on it. For one thing, this fall women have to decide whether they want him and his allies telling them what to do. In the last few years election issues around the country involving women's rights all resulted as pro-women's rights. That hasn't and won't change.

[Ruben]

Wow. If you Dems can't come up with a team to beat Trump/Vance, you deserve to lose.

You're up against Dumb and Dumber.

[Cal Lash]

Ruben, Vance is not Dumb and his wife is even much smarter.
And they are under 40.
So this republican is going to write in Assange and AOC.

[Rogue Columnist]

With respect, Cal, why would you throw away your vote when Arizona might well decide the election? Your “protest” vote only ensures Trump wins.

[Cal Lash]

Jon, we've been over this subject for many years.
I will not really write in Assange.
Assange is retired.
My point is there have been 5 maybe 6 individuals in US history qualified to be president. That doesn't include any current candidates.
Today the US is a Sad Sad fucking affair.
"GOD BLESS" my ass!

[iaed]

Seems to me most commenters here are retired, so you have time to watch this webinar with Heather Cox Richardson discussing Project 2025.

https://fb.watch/tlR4CZOqog/

I would like to read your (non-knee-jerk) reactions.

[Cal Lash]

I only read.
No videos
No utube
No tv
Thanks anyway

[DoggieCombover]

I fail to understand how trump getting shot at enhances his electability? Is anyone going to change their vote based on that incident? It's still trump after all. He is all in on full maga base/cult appeasement, no attempt to broaden his support.

I saw a clip from the RNC last night with the buffoon strutting around with what looked like one of Mike Lindell's my pillows stuck to his ear, I couldn't stop laughing.

[John]

I tend to agree Doggie. Especially since the media will analyze it to death and then move on to something else. Maybe this is an upside to our Age of Distraction?

[Cal Lash]

Fist in air = 2 millon votes. The Heil Hitler salute no additional votes.

[Cal Lash]

Iranian plot to kill Teump = 250000 votes.

[Oscar Wellman]

Keep going please! I come here for needed perspective and respite from the AZ corporate media that is focused more on soundbites and triggering headlines.

[Reality Street]

To understand the likelihood that the assassination attempt boosted Trump’s standing and chances, it may be beneficial to momentarily set aside confident assumptions of moral and intellectual superiority and consider that significant numbers of low-information voters who dwell in different bubbles are susceptible to influence and motivation by imagery, symbolism, and raw emotion rather than cool and rational analysis, memory, and reality. Widely disseminated photos of a bloodied yet defiant Trump shaking his fist before a waving American flag are rather dramatic and convey an image that will greatly resonate with some angry, fearful, alienated, and frustrated folks, along with the unceasing narrative that Trump is an unyielding victim of unfair attacks and conspiracies hatched by a nebulous and sinister “them” that’s out to get you too. And let’s remember that Biden has not always, ahem, presented himself in a similarly robust manner, to which the growing clamor and panic among his own party and financial backers would appear to attest.

And then there’s the whole Harris thing. And the border thing.
But never mind.

Trump obviously doesn’t stand a chance. And if he somehow does prevail, that would just provide something to chortle about and would clearly demonstrate that many American voters are so much stupider than the cohort with whom “we” the educated and enlightened so confidently identify.

What a hoot. Denial just be dat river in Egypt.

[EncantoUV]

I am glad to see you still posting Jon. Your blog was one of the things that convinced me to live in Central Phoenix. I don’t check the site as often anymore since the posts are less frequent.

The internet is becoming a smaller and more moderated place. Independent minds on independent sites are needed now, more than they’ve ever been. Don’t put the pen down.

[John]

I agree with you Encanto. Independent and original thinking is harder to find. I regularly read the Az Republic, the Washington Post and the NYT. The opinion pieces seem very middle of the road and the articles predictable. I occasionally read something inspiring but that is usually in the Arts or Lifestyle sections. Straight news seems more afraid to offend than anything else anymore.

[Cal Lash]

Reading Landscape
AL JAZEERA
COMMON DREAMS
CONSORTIUM NEWS
BREITBART
NATIONAL REVIEW
And a number of interesting dudes and dudettes on Substack.
AND
My favorite insane Aussie, Caitlin Johnstone.
Much more entertaining than tv.
But I do miss
Dick Cavett
AND of course
Jon's Pen from Hell!

[Cal Lash]

Will Kelly Run for president?

[Cal Lash]

Now Manchin and Sinema make their move.

[2002 subaru outback]

The DNC will have chronically unlikeable Harris and some other boring establishment VP candidate fall on the sword. Choosing anyone but Biden’s endorsed candidate betrays the party unity thing that dems have been pushing, even if nobody likes her and she has almost no chance at winning. After the debates and assassination attempt, the election was decided. Theres not enough momentum to hype up a new candidate and it doesn’t make sense to taint someone like Whitmer (or any of your other preferred candidates— please don’t suggest Newsom) with a loss to Trump when she could make a more legitimate run for it in 2028. I’ve accepted this, get ready for four more years of Donny. Biden could’ve dropped out a year ago and we’d probably still have a chance at a competitive race, but he waited until the last minute like the angry senile old man that he is and blew up the whole party as a result. Let’s just hope people feel compelled enough to vote in their congressional races, lest we allow a republican supermajority.

[Helen Highwater]

I have to chuckle at the "we're out of time crowd. Unless I'm recollecting wrong, choosing a Pres and VP in the last minutes of the convention was plenty of time for THE LAST FREAKING HALF CENTURY OF THE LAST CENTURY. Did time change? Are hours shorter? With a concerted effort, any half dozen of parings can come together to defeat Trump. Dems, time to GET ER DONE.

[2002 subaru outback]

The scenario of picking a candidate during the last minutes of the DNC is preceded by well over a year of campaigning by said candidates. How do you create the same momentum by beginning a campaign in August? Furthermore, who do dems even pick? Again, I hear some enthusiasm for Whitmer, but she’s hardly a household name in the way that a candidate at this stage of the race *should* be if they are going to gain widespread support. It’s definitely going to be Harris, the media has already been priming us for this scenario for the past three weeks.

I really think a better option would be for Biden to resign immediately and force a Harris incumbency— this creates a much greater risk-reward for her campaign, but if she can pull it off then she can prove to some degree that she’s capable of the job leading into the election. I still think there’s a good chance Biden will swing this when he has his formal announcement this week. I think there’s a real chance that his latest covid could have lead to some health scares.

[Cal Lash]

Given communication today does a multi billon campaign need more than two months?
I like a Kelly/Whitmer ticket.
Harris is going to need an ass kicker vp.
A Marine Drill Sgt.

[Reality Street]

Now we have desperation AND denial.

Meanwhile, Bigfoot, John Blutarsky, and Richard Simmons each have a better shot at the presidency.

Stevie Wonder saw this coming. Others, not so much.

But if Trump wins, oh, those fascists and hillbillies! It’s all their fault that we can’t get our shit together!

The best the Democratic Party can realistically hope for at this juncture is to get through a convention that doesn’t devolve into a total shit show that weakens the party even more.

And remember, Biden did the noble thing and gracefully stepped aside for the good of the party and the nation. He wasn’t publicly dumped by shot-callers and bagmen like an empty pizza box on Sunday morning. Never happened.

Because we’re all that stupid.

Start drinking heavily.

[Cal Lash]

You getting
the Bar tab?

[Cal Lash]

A fifth of whiskey and a good read.
"Learning to Die in the Anthropocene."