Professor: are you aware of a film concept in treatment form called "Bella Ciao?"The script progressing and drawing options! One scene, example;
"Bella Ciao" a prequel film concept to the Godfather era sets Capt Michael Corleone USMC working as a OSS operative building the Italian underground partisans earning him a Silver Star in WW2.
(Fade in;) quite area, trees, Italian farmland, country road. Two cars parked aside each, Full Harvest Moon.
(It's 0300 hours and O.S.S Captain Michael Corleone an his USMC aide, dressed in local civilian clothes meet with a spy who works in Mussolini's office. He's giving or trading with the O.S.S a deep dark file. )
Spy; with Italian accent
This file goes back to his I'll Duce period 1925, after he was implicated in a political murder that threatened to end his political career, Prime Minister Benito Mussolini *declared Italy a dictatorship and then proudly claimed responsibility for years of blackshirt violence that had terrorized Italy.
"If Fascism has been a criminal association, I am the head of that criminal association,"
Il Duce stated chillingly in his own handwriting.
A few months later, he pardoned all political criminals, giving the murderers and rapists who helped him come to power.
Spy to Michael:
I am one of those he pardoned and ask you to help me and my family relocate to the Americas. I was wrong about Il Duce as many are seeing today. Now with Hitler in the wings, it's worse.
Aide;
Mr spy your asking for a favor?
You want us to help you?
I should shoot you right here an now!
Captain; interrupting,
What else do you have in files, documents?
Spy;
Would financial statements work?
Captain:
Then if they are worthy *you have my *word I'll get you out of the country safely.
Spy
the word of the Corleone Family is famous in many circles and is to be trusted. Yes I'll get you more files.
The Spy drives off
Captain an his aide pause taking in what just happened.
Aide;
I don't trust him Captain
Captain;
Agreed, but we got leverage on him now. And who knows, the financial files might lead us to the Nazi funding streams?
Writers note; Professor, I gotta read your book! ...the creative side of me is bubbling. And of course if the film should come to pass...I gotta give credit to you!
Salutes, JPW. John Jay /SMI Alum, and US Army Veteran.
a question: why have the J6 committee not addressed Chuck Grassley tweeting that it would be him and not Pence counting the electoral college votes? He obviously believed Pence would not be available
Absolutely no question that Trump and his cronies not only 'should' but 'must' be prosecuted. A failure to bring the conspirators and their leader to justice would be national suicide opening the door to more lawlessness, corruption and the demise of democracy.
That corrosive influence affects and damages the United States, as well as democracies and quasi-democracies around the world. There's a reason Republicans embrace the likes of Victor Orban, even after his recent Nazified speech on national 'purity.' There's a reason Bolsonaro is launching his own version of Stop the Steal in Brazil. Italy is now facing political turmoil with the populist, right-wing parties expanding their influence. Macron won his election but Marine Le Pen had her revenge in the parliamentary elections. Duterte is gone, only to be replaced by Marcos, Jr. in the Philippines.
It just goes on and on.
In the US, now facing midterm elections, the Republican Party is supporting openly fascist candidates for national, state and local offices. Having escaped Tennessee last year, I'm now living in Pennsylvania. To my utter disbelief, the GOP is running Doug Mastriano for Governor, an avowed White Christian Nationalist who has openly said if elected, he will determine what votes are legitimate. Or not.
All of these Trump wanna-be candidates are banking on the DOJ not prosecuting the former Administration and/or investigating their own connections to January 6th. They're betting on avoiding/delaying accountability, winning elections, and then burning the entire house down.
This political cancer has metastasized. We either cut it out now or the rule of law will become meaningless, as will our Republic.
Trump AND EVERYONE who had a hand in trying to destroy our democracy must be prosecuted and sent to jail. I also want anyone prosecuted even if they are in office. That means if they are the President of the United States. NO ONE is above the law and being in office cannot make any difference.
He should and will be if you listened closely to comments from Garland during the Lester Holt interview. An indictment is coming. Garland was very precise in answering Holt's questions.
As DOJ and other tribunals move closer toward indictment and prosecution, a common refrain I keep hearing is that a prosecution of the former President would tear the country apart.
I say Bullsh*t! Not prosecuting him would not only tear the country apart but it would lead us toward the dissolution democracy in this country as we once knew it.
The quickest way toward ending democracy after a failed coup attempt is to abandon the rule of law and not to hold those responsible accountable for their treasonous actions!
My answer is yes, but first for violation of the Presidential Records Act. Prosecution for January 6th will involve proving intent and "action in the negative", all subject to interpretation and endless appeals. The fact which seems to have been forgotten is that he took 16 boxes of documents, including some Secret or even possibly Top Secret, from the White House when he left. Agents (not sure which) were sent to Mar-a-Lago to retrieve the 16 physical boxes and will have records of what was in them. No interpretation needed: pure physical fact. And conviction on that count includes the provision that the perpetrator is forever barred from holding any elected public office. Once that verdict is obtained he will have been rendered politically impotent and the indictments for the far worse crimes can proceed at leisure.
Trump must be prosecuted for the Jan 6th autogolpe, for nothing more than to stop his authoritarian propaganda juggernaut. He has so mind f**ked his followers that they have lost their ability to discern fact from fiction. He has sold them on fascism, at the expense of democracy. The sad part is that they don't even realize that it is fascism that he was selling and that this was what they had bought. I believe that the Trump/Bannon circus act knows quite well that the NAZI party members in Germany never polled over 37% and that they can take control with a similar number here. This nation is at a tipping point.
We must fully prosecute all who have broken the law, to the fullest extent. Traitors to our Democracy must never be able to hold office again. We have waited too long. If we lose the House and Senate, this will grind to a halt. The Traitors in office who were complicit, will go unpunished. Given this scenario, if DeSantis, or one like him, is successful with the Traitors in place, we will lose our Democracy............. There are many good books on Propaganda. Ruth writes about it in Strongmen. The rhetoric is becoming a fevered pitch, so much so, you can listen and check off the steps. Anne Quaranto & Jason Stanley wrote a paper on" Propaganda" part of a book to be published. Free on Twitter under Jason's name. I suggest folks read it. Also, Eric Berne and Transactional Analysis writes a very good field guide to understanding "Crossed Transactions", essential in understanding Propaganda. We need to prepare and be armed with information. Otherwise, we could possible get sucked in and believe that Trump and the Brownshirts didn't do anything wrong. I have more references if anyone wants them. Also, remember, Ruth IS the expert, she has plenty of references to give................. Just noticed another person is spreading Fascist, Propaganda, Lies and innuendo on this site. Read it closely and see how this bullshit is framed and delivered. We all need practice in recognition. Don't take the bait, that's part of the game.
Those who should be prosecuted are the DEMONCRATS..! Since the WEF lackey Biden has been in place , America which was flourishing under Trump has been reduced to a mere shadow of itself . Inflation is rife , cost of living goes to the roof & U name it !!! Demoncrats or simply socialo communists cannot run a business ! All they can do is spend & have great ideas how to do it ..
Thank you Ruth for this essay connecting many threads dangling. Thank you for audio, I loved it and love that the essays can be available to a broader swath of people, the visually impaired, the 20% dyslexic fellow Americans and those that can now listen with other friends and family members to discuss in real time community. Grateful to the generosity of the Lucid community and donors who have shared. Thank you for continued essays and Q&A as we strategies to save our fair land.
I certainly agree that "yes" is the only defensible answer in light of what we are almost certain will happen if Trump is not successfully prosecuted. It won't be easy because Trump's criminality in office is unprecedented. We have never had to deal with this level of lawlessness in a president before.
The DOJ will have to be more prepared to prosecute former president Trump than prosecuting even the most notorious law breakers. He is surrounded by "stand up" people who will serve time so that he doesn't have to. He has the big excuse that any attempt to hold him accountable is politically motivated and, as Ruth so aptly pointed out, he has the ominous potential to become the spark that ignites widespread violence and even a new civil war.
This could very well be one of the most formative moments in our history. Our courage in dealing with it will be definitive.
News today is that the DOJ is investigating Trump. Ruth has taught us that fascists are dangerous. The first impeachment of Trump listed only one crime. I hope DOJ's forthcoming indictment lists ALL Trump's crimes.
Todays webinar with Bruce Fein and Ralph Nader offered suggestions about how the Jan 6 committee could be even more forceful, for example, by giving summons to appear to Trump and Pence, as well as all the sitting members of Congress who aided the insurrection. Hopefully, in September, they will continue on with force.
Thanks Ruth. Well done, and btw thanks for the audio, as it's a very real optional opportunity.
Professor: are you aware of a film concept in treatment form called "Bella Ciao?"The script progressing and drawing options! One scene, example;
"Bella Ciao" a prequel film concept to the Godfather era sets Capt Michael Corleone USMC working as a OSS operative building the Italian underground partisans earning him a Silver Star in WW2.
(Fade in;) quite area, trees, Italian farmland, country road. Two cars parked aside each, Full Harvest Moon.
(It's 0300 hours and O.S.S Captain Michael Corleone an his USMC aide, dressed in local civilian clothes meet with a spy who works in Mussolini's office. He's giving or trading with the O.S.S a deep dark file. )
Spy; with Italian accent
This file goes back to his I'll Duce period 1925, after he was implicated in a political murder that threatened to end his political career, Prime Minister Benito Mussolini *declared Italy a dictatorship and then proudly claimed responsibility for years of blackshirt violence that had terrorized Italy.
"If Fascism has been a criminal association, I am the head of that criminal association,"
Il Duce stated chillingly in his own handwriting.
A few months later, he pardoned all political criminals, giving the murderers and rapists who helped him come to power.
Spy to Michael:
I am one of those he pardoned and ask you to help me and my family relocate to the Americas. I was wrong about Il Duce as many are seeing today. Now with Hitler in the wings, it's worse.
Aide;
Mr spy your asking for a favor?
You want us to help you?
I should shoot you right here an now!
Captain; interrupting,
What else do you have in files, documents?
Spy;
Would financial statements work?
Captain:
Then if they are worthy *you have my *word I'll get you out of the country safely.
Spy
the word of the Corleone Family is famous in many circles and is to be trusted. Yes I'll get you more files.
The Spy drives off
Captain an his aide pause taking in what just happened.
Aide;
I don't trust him Captain
Captain;
Agreed, but we got leverage on him now. And who knows, the financial files might lead us to the Nazi funding streams?
(Dissolve Scene....)
©2022, Bella Ciao - a film in treatment form for options. - Jim White - scriptwriter - a draft form. jim.p.jpw@gmail.com. San Diego, CA.
Writers note; Professor, I gotta read your book! ...the creative side of me is bubbling. And of course if the film should come to pass...I gotta give credit to you!
Salutes, JPW. John Jay /SMI Alum, and US Army Veteran.
Ciao
a question: why have the J6 committee not addressed Chuck Grassley tweeting that it would be him and not Pence counting the electoral college votes? He obviously believed Pence would not be available
Absolutely no question that Trump and his cronies not only 'should' but 'must' be prosecuted. A failure to bring the conspirators and their leader to justice would be national suicide opening the door to more lawlessness, corruption and the demise of democracy.
That corrosive influence affects and damages the United States, as well as democracies and quasi-democracies around the world. There's a reason Republicans embrace the likes of Victor Orban, even after his recent Nazified speech on national 'purity.' There's a reason Bolsonaro is launching his own version of Stop the Steal in Brazil. Italy is now facing political turmoil with the populist, right-wing parties expanding their influence. Macron won his election but Marine Le Pen had her revenge in the parliamentary elections. Duterte is gone, only to be replaced by Marcos, Jr. in the Philippines.
It just goes on and on.
In the US, now facing midterm elections, the Republican Party is supporting openly fascist candidates for national, state and local offices. Having escaped Tennessee last year, I'm now living in Pennsylvania. To my utter disbelief, the GOP is running Doug Mastriano for Governor, an avowed White Christian Nationalist who has openly said if elected, he will determine what votes are legitimate. Or not.
All of these Trump wanna-be candidates are banking on the DOJ not prosecuting the former Administration and/or investigating their own connections to January 6th. They're betting on avoiding/delaying accountability, winning elections, and then burning the entire house down.
This political cancer has metastasized. We either cut it out now or the rule of law will become meaningless, as will our Republic.
Excellent points about needing to prosecute the authoritarian Trump.
Professor Lawrence Tribe’s angle is preemptively pardoning Trump is not the job of the Attorney General (it being Prosecutor-in-Chief). https://www.rawstory.com/trump-prosecution-2657727722/
Trump AND EVERYONE who had a hand in trying to destroy our democracy must be prosecuted and sent to jail. I also want anyone prosecuted even if they are in office. That means if they are the President of the United States. NO ONE is above the law and being in office cannot make any difference.
He should and will be if you listened closely to comments from Garland during the Lester Holt interview. An indictment is coming. Garland was very precise in answering Holt's questions.
As DOJ and other tribunals move closer toward indictment and prosecution, a common refrain I keep hearing is that a prosecution of the former President would tear the country apart.
I say Bullsh*t! Not prosecuting him would not only tear the country apart but it would lead us toward the dissolution democracy in this country as we once knew it.
The quickest way toward ending democracy after a failed coup attempt is to abandon the rule of law and not to hold those responsible accountable for their treasonous actions!
My answer is yes, but first for violation of the Presidential Records Act. Prosecution for January 6th will involve proving intent and "action in the negative", all subject to interpretation and endless appeals. The fact which seems to have been forgotten is that he took 16 boxes of documents, including some Secret or even possibly Top Secret, from the White House when he left. Agents (not sure which) were sent to Mar-a-Lago to retrieve the 16 physical boxes and will have records of what was in them. No interpretation needed: pure physical fact. And conviction on that count includes the provision that the perpetrator is forever barred from holding any elected public office. Once that verdict is obtained he will have been rendered politically impotent and the indictments for the far worse crimes can proceed at leisure.
Trump must be prosecuted for the Jan 6th autogolpe, for nothing more than to stop his authoritarian propaganda juggernaut. He has so mind f**ked his followers that they have lost their ability to discern fact from fiction. He has sold them on fascism, at the expense of democracy. The sad part is that they don't even realize that it is fascism that he was selling and that this was what they had bought. I believe that the Trump/Bannon circus act knows quite well that the NAZI party members in Germany never polled over 37% and that they can take control with a similar number here. This nation is at a tipping point.
We must fully prosecute all who have broken the law, to the fullest extent. Traitors to our Democracy must never be able to hold office again. We have waited too long. If we lose the House and Senate, this will grind to a halt. The Traitors in office who were complicit, will go unpunished. Given this scenario, if DeSantis, or one like him, is successful with the Traitors in place, we will lose our Democracy............. There are many good books on Propaganda. Ruth writes about it in Strongmen. The rhetoric is becoming a fevered pitch, so much so, you can listen and check off the steps. Anne Quaranto & Jason Stanley wrote a paper on" Propaganda" part of a book to be published. Free on Twitter under Jason's name. I suggest folks read it. Also, Eric Berne and Transactional Analysis writes a very good field guide to understanding "Crossed Transactions", essential in understanding Propaganda. We need to prepare and be armed with information. Otherwise, we could possible get sucked in and believe that Trump and the Brownshirts didn't do anything wrong. I have more references if anyone wants them. Also, remember, Ruth IS the expert, she has plenty of references to give................. Just noticed another person is spreading Fascist, Propaganda, Lies and innuendo on this site. Read it closely and see how this bullshit is framed and delivered. We all need practice in recognition. Don't take the bait, that's part of the game.
Those who should be prosecuted are the DEMONCRATS..! Since the WEF lackey Biden has been in place , America which was flourishing under Trump has been reduced to a mere shadow of itself . Inflation is rife , cost of living goes to the roof & U name it !!! Demoncrats or simply socialo communists cannot run a business ! All they can do is spend & have great ideas how to do it ..
Excellent. LOVE the audio format! Thank you.
Thank you Ruth for this essay connecting many threads dangling. Thank you for audio, I loved it and love that the essays can be available to a broader swath of people, the visually impaired, the 20% dyslexic fellow Americans and those that can now listen with other friends and family members to discuss in real time community. Grateful to the generosity of the Lucid community and donors who have shared. Thank you for continued essays and Q&A as we strategies to save our fair land.
I certainly agree that "yes" is the only defensible answer in light of what we are almost certain will happen if Trump is not successfully prosecuted. It won't be easy because Trump's criminality in office is unprecedented. We have never had to deal with this level of lawlessness in a president before.
The DOJ will have to be more prepared to prosecute former president Trump than prosecuting even the most notorious law breakers. He is surrounded by "stand up" people who will serve time so that he doesn't have to. He has the big excuse that any attempt to hold him accountable is politically motivated and, as Ruth so aptly pointed out, he has the ominous potential to become the spark that ignites widespread violence and even a new civil war.
This could very well be one of the most formative moments in our history. Our courage in dealing with it will be definitive.
News today is that the DOJ is investigating Trump. Ruth has taught us that fascists are dangerous. The first impeachment of Trump listed only one crime. I hope DOJ's forthcoming indictment lists ALL Trump's crimes.
Todays webinar with Bruce Fein and Ralph Nader offered suggestions about how the Jan 6 committee could be even more forceful, for example, by giving summons to appear to Trump and Pence, as well as all the sitting members of Congress who aided the insurrection. Hopefully, in September, they will continue on with force.