A few months ago, I was driving through a small town in New York's Hudson Valley and I saw a sign outside of a church that advertised an upcoming sermon. This was the topic: "Be alert to what is right." I was not able to attend the service, but ever since I have been thinking about this message. With the threat of authoritarianism growing around the world, and
"There's a whole lot more of us who know what's right, They'll keep right on ignoring us if we keep sitting tight. We've got to open up the window to let in some light, we've got to Stand Up!" So happy to see that Pete will be joining you on Sunday! You both are champs.
...”a whole lot more of us who know what is right”..these people are they the ones who will get out and vote a Biden stay? Are they the ones who were seen/identified, cut out by redistricting, are labeled Facists ? Are these us/“the whole lot “people who are targets by the liars, perhaps the millions as of middle class who have lost the most as the rich gouged to doubled their numbers?
The scammers and their puppets who numbered 70 mil (?) at one point in 2016 ...we think their numbers are greatly reduced ( our current wins say likely) , yet still the RIGHT took over school boards, governships, The House, insidiously planted to push the plot that narrowly failed to now blocking hostage producing power ...I’m anxious to know if that “whole lot “ is sufficient and will they take us across the finish lines which need the win for at least 8-10 voting cycles..
I’m doing my pittance at 80 on a fixed income to convince the fence sitters, heralding the lawyers/judges and wondering like so many why it’s taking so long to put criminals behind bars ...seeing them play cat/mouse games staying convictions /jail times , all the while changing rules not so covertly in state gov/corrupt courts.
I want the hardliners to go to autocratic countries where long silenced or imprisoned ‘whole lots’ ...and SEE ...see the reality ...a whole lot more got/will get thrown under the bus and life will change in America beyond comprehension while ‘making America great again’ gets the reality it didn’t deserve.
I’m an optimist, rose colored glasses et al...we have survived so similar, recovered, done great things....but yet so many are angry , angry enough to believe a con man whose aspires to dictate like Putin..walks,talks ,rules, even gloats the same .
I’m not making fun of your ‘whole lots’ not at all , they are me/us , this is just trying to point out, rephrase , shout to ‘the whole lots’ ...
Will always greatly appreciate Pete Dominick who was interviewing Ruth before STRONGMEN published, who is active in his local politics defeating book-banners from taking over his local school board, and whose activist Discord community of many hundreds of loyal listeners to his almost-daily podcast, is a creative home to such Grammy award musicians like Jon Carroll who wrote a wonderful song of activism: YOU GOTTA STAND UP
Judge Tanya Chutkan made her mark in the judicial world and garnered respect before she ever was involved in the Trump case. She is definitely a s/hero. It takes courage, keen knowledge of the law, and tenacity to make decisions that actually put her at personal risk. I have admired her since I first read about her and I think she’s the perfect judge for this case. I wish her safety, above all, and continued courage as she navigates this impossibility difficult defendant.
One of the things I am most impressed with aside from Judge Chutkan's courage is the power and clarity of her rulings. She writes with a certain economy of words where every word counts. She makes everything clear and simple to understand and crucially reminds people over and over that we are a nation of ( LAWS )and not men! Nothing could be more important at a time like this in our nation's history when our very democracy and its rule of law are under constant assault by a criminal cult of neo fascists, who threaten to upend our government.
Great essay as always, Ruth. A few comments: Netanyahu is another who has been trying to take over his judiciary. Hopefully, his days are numbers as the P.M. in Israel, for this and a host of other reasons. Also, what were the editors at Time Magazine thinking??? I understand Taylor Swift being chosen “person of the year”, but to even include Vladimir Putin on the short-list for consideration??? His photo belongs in every post-office on the “most wanted list” for his unspeakable crimes against humanity. Thanks for including Pete Dominick in one of your ZOOMS, - I THRIVE on humor, we all must. Between Colbert, Kimmel, Randy Rainbow, Bill Maher, etc...I could not have gotten through the Trump’s first four years in office. If Trump gets re-elected, I’m going to join a circus in a foreign country and call-it-a-day!
Ruth...I so agree!...thank you for this excellent and important article. If we fall in line with TFG's desires, staying fixated only on HIM, we just play into his game of grabbing all the attention. Being more alert to "what is right," and honoring those who are upholding the values of democracy from which we derive the right to think, speak, and vote as we choose, is critically important right now and for the foreseeable future. We should not take these people for granted or they and their kind will fade into invisibility in our endangered country.
Tanya Chutkan, Fani Willis, Liz Cheney, et.al. should be as well known as Paul Revere and George Washington. I agree that it's up to us to make this happen.
I also appreciated Judge Chutkan’s slap down of Trump’s legal team’s bad faith arguments about double jeopardy and ‘absolute Presidential immunity’. . .with a pointed reminder voters booted him out of office:
“There is another way, besides impeachment and conviction, for a President to be removed from office and thus subjected to ‘the ordinary course of law,’ Chutkan wrote. “As in the Defendant’s case, he may be voted out [and] nothing in the Impeachment Judgment Clause prevents criminal prosecution thereafter.”
As I was reading this, it occurred to me that even members of the SCOTUS are safe from this kind of autocracy. They're all smart people, I wonder if they realize they are in danger as well. They may feel safe because of the relationships they have developed, but they are not.
I would love to share a graphic showing how elements of fascism/autocracy are met by various political leaders - the kind of thing we see when comparing iPad models, for example. Does anyone know of such a thing? Would the fabulous RBG create one?
"There's a whole lot more of us who know what's right, They'll keep right on ignoring us if we keep sitting tight. We've got to open up the window to let in some light, we've got to Stand Up!" So happy to see that Pete will be joining you on Sunday! You both are champs.
...”a whole lot more of us who know what is right”..these people are they the ones who will get out and vote a Biden stay? Are they the ones who were seen/identified, cut out by redistricting, are labeled Facists ? Are these us/“the whole lot “people who are targets by the liars, perhaps the millions as of middle class who have lost the most as the rich gouged to doubled their numbers?
The scammers and their puppets who numbered 70 mil (?) at one point in 2016 ...we think their numbers are greatly reduced ( our current wins say likely) , yet still the RIGHT took over school boards, governships, The House, insidiously planted to push the plot that narrowly failed to now blocking hostage producing power ...I’m anxious to know if that “whole lot “ is sufficient and will they take us across the finish lines which need the win for at least 8-10 voting cycles..
I’m doing my pittance at 80 on a fixed income to convince the fence sitters, heralding the lawyers/judges and wondering like so many why it’s taking so long to put criminals behind bars ...seeing them play cat/mouse games staying convictions /jail times , all the while changing rules not so covertly in state gov/corrupt courts.
I want the hardliners to go to autocratic countries where long silenced or imprisoned ‘whole lots’ ...and SEE ...see the reality ...a whole lot more got/will get thrown under the bus and life will change in America beyond comprehension while ‘making America great again’ gets the reality it didn’t deserve.
I’m an optimist, rose colored glasses et al...we have survived so similar, recovered, done great things....but yet so many are angry , angry enough to believe a con man whose aspires to dictate like Putin..walks,talks ,rules, even gloats the same .
I’m not making fun of your ‘whole lots’ not at all , they are me/us , this is just trying to point out, rephrase , shout to ‘the whole lots’ ...
DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN AND...
💙💙VOTE ALL THE COMPLICIT OUT💙💙
Will always greatly appreciate Pete Dominick who was interviewing Ruth before STRONGMEN published, who is active in his local politics defeating book-banners from taking over his local school board, and whose activist Discord community of many hundreds of loyal listeners to his almost-daily podcast, is a creative home to such Grammy award musicians like Jon Carroll who wrote a wonderful song of activism: YOU GOTTA STAND UP
https://youtu.be/Znl0Tc1Dolk?si=v0vWiw9Fpmx8sw4K
Yes, great idea and approach. One Day. To publicly honor all the quiet heroes who save this Country every day, because it is what they do, every day.
Judge Tanya Chutkan made her mark in the judicial world and garnered respect before she ever was involved in the Trump case. She is definitely a s/hero. It takes courage, keen knowledge of the law, and tenacity to make decisions that actually put her at personal risk. I have admired her since I first read about her and I think she’s the perfect judge for this case. I wish her safety, above all, and continued courage as she navigates this impossibility difficult defendant.
🫂✨🕯️💙 Agreed! That is also why I posted this tweet combination to thank truly Honorable Judge Tanya Chutkan and other fearless resisters: https://x.com/janetted/status/1730811108649291984?s=61&t=ASwmJ6b_hZXnDFS4SE-V8A
One of the things I am most impressed with aside from Judge Chutkan's courage is the power and clarity of her rulings. She writes with a certain economy of words where every word counts. She makes everything clear and simple to understand and crucially reminds people over and over that we are a nation of ( LAWS )and not men! Nothing could be more important at a time like this in our nation's history when our very democracy and its rule of law are under constant assault by a criminal cult of neo fascists, who threaten to upend our government.
Great essay as always, Ruth. A few comments: Netanyahu is another who has been trying to take over his judiciary. Hopefully, his days are numbers as the P.M. in Israel, for this and a host of other reasons. Also, what were the editors at Time Magazine thinking??? I understand Taylor Swift being chosen “person of the year”, but to even include Vladimir Putin on the short-list for consideration??? His photo belongs in every post-office on the “most wanted list” for his unspeakable crimes against humanity. Thanks for including Pete Dominick in one of your ZOOMS, - I THRIVE on humor, we all must. Between Colbert, Kimmel, Randy Rainbow, Bill Maher, etc...I could not have gotten through the Trump’s first four years in office. If Trump gets re-elected, I’m going to join a circus in a foreign country and call-it-a-day!
I feel ya. I grew up in the circus. When I turned 16 I ran away and joined a family. Har. Sorry.
Thanks Jon...now that’s funny!
=]
Ruth...I so agree!...thank you for this excellent and important article. If we fall in line with TFG's desires, staying fixated only on HIM, we just play into his game of grabbing all the attention. Being more alert to "what is right," and honoring those who are upholding the values of democracy from which we derive the right to think, speak, and vote as we choose, is critically important right now and for the foreseeable future. We should not take these people for granted or they and their kind will fade into invisibility in our endangered country.
Tanya Chutkan, Fani Willis, Liz Cheney, et.al. should be as well known as Paul Revere and George Washington. I agree that it's up to us to make this happen.
Thank you for pointing to Judge Tanya Chutkan's heroism.
Thanks for this!
I also appreciated Judge Chutkan’s slap down of Trump’s legal team’s bad faith arguments about double jeopardy and ‘absolute Presidential immunity’. . .with a pointed reminder voters booted him out of office:
“There is another way, besides impeachment and conviction, for a President to be removed from office and thus subjected to ‘the ordinary course of law,’ Chutkan wrote. “As in the Defendant’s case, he may be voted out [and] nothing in the Impeachment Judgment Clause prevents criminal prosecution thereafter.”
As I was reading this, it occurred to me that even members of the SCOTUS are safe from this kind of autocracy. They're all smart people, I wonder if they realize they are in danger as well. They may feel safe because of the relationships they have developed, but they are not.
No one is safe! In my toxic workplace I witnessed them starting to eat their own.
So happy to have this. Thank you.
I would love to share a graphic showing how elements of fascism/autocracy are met by various political leaders - the kind of thing we see when comparing iPad models, for example. Does anyone know of such a thing? Would the fabulous RBG create one?
Thank you for this hopeful column. Thank you Judge Chutkan.
The Google search for Chutkan coming up as a bunch of dating app photos of John Lauro and team is downright creepy. And very GQP. Unbelievable