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Mar 5
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Linda May Holmes's avatar

Please keep posting the Live Substacks with Anand on your video tab online immediately. Like Elaine, there are times when I can’t listen live such as yesterday (Monday) morning and things are moving so quickly. TIA

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David J. Sharp's avatar

I remember how shocked people were at Dick Cheney’s near equal power with Bush … but at least he was elected. Musk, as co-President was accepted as normal during the Hannity “interview” … is anyone credible in Trump 2.0?

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Charles Austin's avatar

NO ONE!!

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David J. Sharp's avatar

Exactly. Not a single person. Think it might give politicians a bad name?

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Janette Dean's avatar

💙✨🕯️🗽⏰🇺🇸 Everyone, PLEASE help us Harris/Walz voters fight back: It appears Kamala did win! Please see & help Election Truth Alliance & see their URGENT update: https://youtu.be/yhz5kePQhEs?si=1_MbSWeKWBiUYPyU . Trump, Musk & Putin, of course, very likely WIDELY CHEATED in our election. Please pitch in any amount for their crucial 2-week sprint of lawsuits & more targeted audits like I did & tell them their new follower Janette is referring people as a volunteer to help. We the People elected President Harris & my MN Governor Tim Walz for VP. We must give them the proof so they will believe it & act with others! ETA (Election Truth Alliance) has an FAQ & is also now on Facebook & Bluesky if you search their full name. Thanks!

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Steve Rasmussen's avatar

This begs the question; who would have the mental deviance to attempt an election theft? Someone with no conscience and driven by Machiavellianism. Felon 47.

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William L Miller's avatar

To stop the destruction of America, Democrats must first recognize that Trump, the Republican party, Republicans in Congress, and Musk with his DOGE are engaged in an ongoing insurrection with Putin to destroy democracy, the rule of law, and human rights that violates federal law (18 U.S. Code § 2383). The law defines a felony crime as “whoever assists or engages in any rebellion or insurrection against the authority of the United States or the laws thereof”. The insurrection aims to take America back to before 1776 with a KING (Putin as KING with Trump as a Baron leasing America as a fiefdom from the KING) and let Trump run the fiefdom with oligarchs as the old South which provided all the wealth to rich white men as property holders who exploited inhuman cruel slavery and treated all women as slaves.

Then Democrats must adopt a PLAN that begins with enacting and enforcing a new state law modeled after the federal law (18 U.S. Code § 2383) in 7 states where Democrats control the state government. California could be the first state to enact and enforce the law within 90 days which would remove the 9 Republican representatives from California in the Congressional House. The House would then have a Democratic majority of 2024 to 2009 with Jefferies as Speaker of the House to control the budget and make sure Ukraine and Medicaid are fully funded and there will be no tax cuts for the rich. Maryland, New Jersey and Colorado could follow to collectively remove another 8 Republican representatives in the House and then also remove 4 conservative justices from the Supreme Court changing the Court to 3 liberals and 2 conservatives to block any more conservative Court actions favorable to Trump, Republicans, and oligarchs.

The Constitution in Article I, Section 6, Clause 1 allows members of Congress to be arrested, indicted, and convicted for the felony crime of insurrection that violates state law enforced with imprisonment up to ten years with mandatory permanent removal and prevention from holding office.

The Constitution does not establish judicial immunity for any judge including federal judges or Supreme Court Justices. Therefore, Supreme Court Justices can be arrested, indicted, and convicted for the felony crime of insurrection and enforced with imprisonment up to ten years and mandatory permanent removal and prevention from holding office.

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Linda May Holmes's avatar

I like your thinking!

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David J. Sharp's avatar

Excellent, excellent … hope it inspires legislators to break the inertia.

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Don's avatar

Don’t forget that Musk is looking for business in India with Starlink and other interests. Maybe having the children there was to get compassion from Modi that Musk is not all bad… and I read the women there were their nanny’s, which is even worse in that the mothers had no say.

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Linda Weide's avatar

Modi is not going to feel compassion for Musk from having the women and children there. He might like children, but in their place. Even if India is expanding the rights to have children working at younger ages, Musk's children are even younger than the ones found working in India.

https://www.reuters.com/article/world/indian-plan-to-let-kids-work-in-family-business-is-backward-step-satyarthi-idUSKBN0TK5I9/

It is all performance on the part of Musk, who does not get social situations, and does not care because he does not have to. He is the acting president and Trump is the elected president.

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Linda May Holmes's avatar

💯

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Steve Rasmussen's avatar

Modi and Musk are both fascists so their meeting makes sense in that respect.

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Doug Shortridge's avatar

Fascism = Political Gangsterism. I know more about actual prison/biker/street gangs than I like to admit, but the truth is; "a gang is a gang is gang..." at the fundamental level. Highly organized with a cloak of legitimacy or abjectly brutish. Still the same thing finally. They are all dangerous and they need to be broken up.

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Charles Austin's avatar

👍👍👍👍

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Linda May Holmes's avatar

But, but … we have no domestic terrorism law

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Richard House's avatar

Another great essay and thank you for quoting Jeff.

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Laura's avatar

Musk is channeling his inner Putin with that epic, big man spread of his legs (look at photos of Putin in similar meetings).

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Steve Rasmussen's avatar

Fascism has always been a cult of machismo and sociopathic arrogance.

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Nancy Sack's avatar

Jonathan Rauch wrote an interesting piece in The Atlantic recently, describing Trump's style of governing as patrimonialism, a system that weakens the state and that can lead to full-blown authoritarianism. I think it describes our situation perfectly.

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Steve Rasmussen's avatar

What tRump is doing reflects what Hitler did in Germany called Nazification (Gleichschaltung). Chipping away at the old regime, only to make the new one in his own image.

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Doug Shortridge's avatar

All just part of the plan to take over the (pick your choice: neighborhood, portion of city, several cities, a political party, a union, a corporation, a little league chapter, a country, the world). It's a humanity-cancer, gangsterism is. Fascism = Political Gangsterism.

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B Bear's avatar

I couldn’t bear to watch him speak lies to Congress or listen to commentators. But I am an intuitive and Light Worker and woke up feeling even heavier than I ever have. The work to do is much for all of us in whatever ways we can.

I don’t know if I and other seniors still have Social Security and Medicare or is that being cut? If they were cut I don’t know how many of us seniors will live. Rising food costs and everything else will be challenging enough. My family is deceased so it’s me and my 2 kitties in Vermont where my landlord just decided not to renew my lease after 15 years of paying rent on time. Others have much to be challenged with as well and to all of us I send thoughts and 🙏. I hope we can support each other through these dark and difficult days.

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Nadine Roddy's avatar

Fortunately you live in Vermont--one of the most progressive states in the nation. I'm sure there is help available. Don't be afraid to reach out!

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B Bear's avatar

Thank you Nadine. Yes they have heard from me! I have been reaching out to many agencies and our terrific Dem reps. I’ve heard from others, many are senior, single women, who are really struggling. VT has one or the highest senior and homeless percentages per population in the US. There are a lot of very wealthy folks as well here but there is a NIMBY self centered attitude-not everyone of course. I am concerned that seniors many single seniors relying on SS and Medicare around the country already struggling will be forgotten esp if benefits are lost.

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risa's avatar

I support Nadine's reply, Beth. I hope you'll consider getting in touch with every agency that could empower you in your situation - I have County Department's of Aging useful.

We're all in this together, whether we want to be or not, whether we like one another or not.

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B Bear's avatar

Yes Risa thank you. I have contacted every agency. Waiting lists for affordable housing for seniors are 3,000 people and years long. It’s a systematic problem. Our state needs 60,000 affordable housing units and I know all states have similar problems but it will get worse under this admin. I’ve been writing our reps, Bernie Sanders, our Gov, housing reps, local affordable housing reps for years. I was on our town affordable housing committee before Covid-not ONE affordable housing unit has been built. Rental Units are rented to Dartmouth students who can pay escalated rental prices, true other places in the State, and the towns won’t limit rental housing prices. I contact everyone and committed I can not just for me but for all of us in need.

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Sandra Steffen's avatar

I couldn't bear it either. . . your post broke my heart. I want to encourage you that you're not alone. You have this community and we are all gonna be in this together and thank God for Ruth's help.

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B Bear's avatar

Thank you Sandra🙏

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Sandra Steffen's avatar

I think we are all going to see the good of people doing heroic things for others in what

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Sandra Steffen's avatar

may be a dark time. . . we're gonna get through it together.

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B Bear's avatar

I am so grateful for this online community. Thank you! ( Dumpy did you hear the “thank you,” even though it wasn’t to you??

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Madeline Taylor, PhD's avatar

Oh, gosh...I'm upset that your landlord decided not to renew your lease, Beth, with no explanation. I'm sure moving is going to be a hassle, but I hope you find something suitable for you and your wonderful cats!

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B Bear's avatar

Thank you Madeline! I’ve been applying for years for a state sponsored affordable shared equity housing condo. I just barely qualified and it will be a stretch-especially if SS and Medicare are cut. If things work out I will be able to move hopefully in June but not without paying a substantial rent increase from the landlord starting this spring until I move. But 🤞 I’ll get out of this summer cabin not insulated for cold Vermont winters. I was fortunate to have had a strong need for doing inner work, self discovery, an eastern spiritual practice and strength to push through difficulties starting at a young age. There are many forgotten seniors living alone in Vermont with no social resources to find or help them. These are the folks that fall through the cracks. I survived a traumatic family life, a severely mentally ill

Mother, losing both siblings so I can survive anything including putting myself through a 30 day Outward Bound course when I was 19.

I’m 69 now. I will make it but many others may not.

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Wayne Sibilia's avatar

Tenants have rights and there are laws governing your rights. Did you receive written notice of his not renewing and what reason does he give you? Have you always been on time with rent and not violated the lease in other ways? Perhaps you don't want to get into details; I just want to mention this in case you are not fully aware of laws in Vermont.

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B Bear's avatar

I did receive written notice that they were not renewing my lease and they said they were not going to give a reason. I’ve lived here for 15 years and I have never had a late payment. I’ve always paid my full rent. I have never violated the lease. I’ve taken good care of the cabin while they have never done regular maintenance. It’s falling apart-dry rot, 50 yr old wood windows that have broken strings/pulleys one of which slams down dangerously and could kill my cat, exterior door with metal worn completely through, slippery moss on the step going out the door due to failure to condition the wood-I have slipped several times but fortunately not fallen. I have osteoporosis so a broken hip would be very bad. I’ve told them and kept a record so if that happened I would sue them.

My understanding of the laws are that they have to give notice of not renewing the lease and it’s within their rights to not renew it. I don’t real reading that they have to give a reason. I’m not aware that they are unable to raise the rent on a month-to-month if they should choose to. They did raise the rent about 15% on the month-to-month until I move out . We have no rent control in Vermont. I have read the rental rights and as far as I can understand them, they have not violated the laws regarding ending the lease unless I’m not understanding them correctly.

My guess is to why they’re not renewing the lease is because I found out from the town safety officer that they were violating state laws. And I turned them in to the fire department. They were violating fire safety codes and had to install new larger windows in 6 to 8 of the cabins that they own to allow for a safe passage out from the second floor. They also had to add railings and banisters going up and down the stairs to the second floor, as well as more railings to the stairs going out the front door and down the stairs. So it must’ve cost them quite a bit of money to meet code. They are still violating some of the codes by not having water resistant countertops in the kitchen, but the safety person did not call them on that.

My current annual lease ends April 30 and they have given me until then to let them know if I am going to rent on a month-to-month after then. They have given me until the end of August to move out.

When I moved in, they never did a walk-through to point out any damages to the cabin, which I pointed out to them. Their response was that they will go by normal wear and tear when I move out and they will use that to justify keeping whatever part of my $800 deposit I gave to them when I moved in. Although if I find they’re claims for more than normal wear and tear over 15 years of them not maintaining the property, I will consider taking them to small claims court. Also if I end up in small claims court, I will bring up the code violations to the hearing officer and I’ll probably just end up representing myself.

If I’m missing anything, feel free to let me know. I appreciate you’re bringing up these points.

Beth

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Leigh Horne's avatar

Another take on that photo: Musk is flaunting the fact that he can persuade seemingly sane women to bear his progeny (Musk mini-mees) without the structure and security offered by legally sanctioned marriages of one sort or another. And his virility, too. Whattaman.

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TLO's avatar

Yeah... I had a similar reaction. Money, lots of plastic surgery and multiple enablers and hangers-on can do that for a person, I suppose.

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Ravi's avatar

Wow, this essay goes all the WAY Ruth! Thank you for leaving it all on the field for democracy and insight. I’m doing my best as psychiatrist and humanitarian. For a lighter touch see

"Megalomania in the American Psyche: A Dangerous Conscious and Unconscious Influence" from Op-Med. Read on @Doximity https://opmed.doximity.com/articles/megalomania-in-the-american-psyche-dangerous-conscious-and-unconscious-influence

And for my latest call to action:

See this post and follow for more.

Standing with Ukraine, not the bullies https://open.substack.com/pub/sunmoonlight/p/standing-with-ukraine-not-the-bullies?r=97m4w&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false

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Ted's avatar

Holy Cow!

I would have missed all this if not for Lucid. Thank you.

I am constantly reminded of a line from Tim Snyder's book, The Road to Unfreedom, "American billionaires have more in common with international oligarchs than they do with everyday Americans". The fact that Musk has multiple wives and 18 children, and unknown lovers ( at coke and ketamine parties) says he has more in common with Saudi Princes and Russian Oligarchs than with "American family values" espoused by the Republican Party.

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Leslie's avatar

Yes! I was thinking he wants to create the “House of Musk” full of concubines, etc.

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Ted's avatar

Elon is so creepy! Who would sleep with that? Who would want to have his children? Gross.

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Flora McG's avatar

Show some people the money - look at Melania - she worked hard for the money 💰 😝

She too is creepy AF.

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Susan Stone's avatar

From what I can find, he has 14 children. He has had two wives (not at the same time) and apparently currently has an unmarried "partner".

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Sherri's avatar

Sounds like a latter-day version of Gingrich and his open marriage? Seems like a continuation of the tea party - either one of them.

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Steve Rasmussen's avatar

Gingrich is also a sociopath, so that explains a lot.

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Flora McG's avatar

Most thru IVF because he weeds out undesirable traits- where’s the public outrage for killing the undesirable fetuses? But we digressed .

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Zoe Magnes's avatar

Disgusted but not surprised.

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Wayne Sibilia's avatar

I believe it is 13 and one died so now its 12, from 4 different women. But he could have 14 or more and not been open about a few.

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Ted's avatar

How many of his kids have different mothers? I read about X’s mom. She has. O custody right to see their son. Can u imagine that? Never seeing your child after a year or so. Ketamine must do some weird stuff to the brain.

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Jill Smith's avatar

How can this be real?

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Doug Shortridge's avatar

I would say human nature showing itself in a major way again. Just a new form and obviously global in nature. I coined the acronym GOFA "Globalized Oligarchical Fascist Authoritarianism" as a way to get my head around it. MAGA is GOFA. Modi, Putin, Trump, Musk, Theil, Vance, Bezos, Zuck, etc. (the "O"s and their close associates)

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James Quinn's avatar

The many actual possibilities of DOGE

Department of Government Evisceration.

Department of Greedy Elon

Department of Greed, Energized

Department of Grand Evictions

Department of Gratuitous Explanations

Well, you see where I’m going. Anyone care to have a go?

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TLO's avatar

I support your efforts. I've had enough for at least a few days, though. I need a break from the bleak. I'm a bit fried by the continual emotional reactions and rage. But I agree wholeheartedly with what you've come up with so far.

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James Quinn's avatar

I understand completely. I’m nearly 80, and I’ve seen a lot in my lifetime, but what’s happening here now is so far stranger and more dangerous than anything I’ve witnessed.

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risa's avatar

Department of Grandiose Egos

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Madeline Taylor, PhD's avatar

Department of Grandiosity and Egomania

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Steve Rasmussen's avatar

Demagogic obtuse grandiose exaggerator.

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Randolph Proksch's avatar

Damned Oligarchs Getting Everything

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Hal Bogotch's avatar

Dickhead Overlords Grabbing Everything

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Gordon's avatar

Musk presents the most scary situation of all, because he’s tied-in with geo-politics throughout the world, owns satellites, a major social media company, - and so much more. He’s the TRUE-TO-LIFE “Bond villain”, and because he’s REAL, his potential to do irreversible harm is frightening. The cameras focused in on him last night, and he was caught looking around the room with “robotic twitches”. I wouldn’t be surprised if he has tried out the “neural implants” on his own brain! There’s no “voting him out” either; Trump handed him the keys to the kingdom. On a positive note, Elissa Slotkin gave one of the best, cogent, well-delivered “rebuttals” I have ever heard after ANY presidential speech. She’s a rising star; that was ONE good thing about last night!!!

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Wayne Sibilia's avatar

I feel the same way about muskrat, because he is the richest person but also because of those things you described so well. Our country has allowed him to become so rich and powerful and its as if it's too late to turn back--it's frightening. Now I glance at your post and I'm saying the same things as you.

I will slightly disagree about Slotkin. I did think she was great for what she did and who she seems to be(I was not familiar with her before) but I am disappointed, even dismayed, that one of our tried and true progressives was not asked to speak. Bernie has never gotten the respect he deserves, how about LIz Warren, AOC, etc. I felt Elissa Slotkin was a little general and didn't have the fire that Bernie or the other progressives would have had.

I will give Slotkin a chance and I do hope she continues to rise.

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Tom's avatar

The Modi-Musk photo is jaw dropping in so many ways. Aside from what was mentioned in the post, the fact there are two "mothers" sends a profound message about what "family" looks like. As with other male chieftains, Musk feels entitled to a harem of women who seem to have no role but to bear his children. Yet another shift to the Overtones window - and in the pit of my stomach

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Friedrike Merck's avatar

Can’t thank you enough for sharing your brilliant assessment of the US taking its turn on the dance floor with fascism. Let’s hope we can stop the music, show the vile intruders to the door, and quickly recommence our unfinished spin with Democracy.

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risa's avatar
Mar 5Edited

our government might as well be a branch of American Express capped in the forthcoming, Gold Card en route to an explicit policy of eugenics. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItHuuyts5qs. What could go wrong.

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