Great to hear from you!
If you figure out a Third Way - or what in Buddhism might be called a Way of the Middle, do let us know. I haven't been able to figure it out either. Pacifism doesn't work, so I became an activist, but that hasn't worked so far either, certainly atrocities are not being prevented. Like it or not, "a just war" may be the only short term solution, kind of like setting a controlled burn in a forest to prevent a worse fire.
Bannon, Miller, et al are Cryptofascists. You can't defeat them by turning the other cheek or writing sternly worded letters, nor by voting. I'm hoping for a white knight - another country to step up and take this all to The Hague and the U.N., but so far none have appeared.
I lose a little more hope daily...
We can shorten the the tenure of all judicial appointments by legislatively doing away with lifetime appointments for federal judgeships, including Supreme Court justices.
Regrettably, this is not possible under the Constitution as it currently stands.
"Article III of the Constitution governs the appointment, tenure, and payment of Supreme Court justices, and federal circuit and district judges. These judges, often referred to as 'Article III judges,' are nominated by the president and confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
Article III states that these judges “hold their office during good behavior,” which means they have a lifetime appointment, except under very limited circumstances. Article III judges can be removed from office only through impeachment by the House of Representatives and conviction by the Senate." ( https://www.uscourts.gov/judges-judgeships/about-federal-judges )
Therefore, any change to Article III would require a Constitutional amendment.
Or, states and governmental officials can simply ignore the rulings of ultra-conservative judges that are too out of touch with the direction America is heading in. The courts are only powerful insofar as our institutions are willing to carry out their wills. If enough of the American collective is telling out-of-touch judges, "screw you," then those judges' authority is effectively nullified (think of jury nullification, writ large).
While I understand where you're coming from, there are many reasons why this would be a Very Bad Idea (tm). As Lindsey Graham said about the Orange One's insistence that Mr. Obama be called to testify in the Senate, "Be careful what you wish for," meaning, of course, that if Mr Obama could be called to testify now, then the Orange One could conceivably be called to testify after he is out of office, which I am sure he would not want. My point is that what is done on one side (i.e., ignore the conservative judges' rulings) can and will be done on the other side as well, and the rulings of the more progressive judges could be ignored with just as much impunity.
@ Jeanne I totally understand your love for your country, and it is only normal that you do! Not only it is the place of your birth, your life energies are literally part of the soil, and America has much much to love. One of the reasons I studied English is my love of US history! I just hope that the US will get back on its feet. Not only for all of you, but for Earth. Russia and China will step up, if America doesn’t, and I somehow doubt that will be good for progression.
@ Laura F. That does sound lovely! Most ppl stop at Amsterdam, but indeed Utrecht is a little less crowded by tourists. I live close to Deventer, which is further east of Utrecht. It is smaller than Utrecht, but just as charming. It was used in the 70s movie ‘A Bridge to Far’. The entire inner city is medieval still. It's amazing to walk around a place where people still live in house built 600 years ago;-)
@ Deetoo, that sounds like a meeting that was meant to be! Natural healing had its ups and downs, but it has been steadily growing to have a larger influence on society. One of the reasons I like Druidery so much. It is very much in synch with the world around us.
If any of you ladies ever end up in The Netherlands, do let me know, I’d be happy to show you around!
@ Allyn, first I have to say that I admire your eloquence! Although I should not say so as a teacher, but I agree with you. I wish I could give you a big, warm hug. No one should carry the anguish of being bullied as a child (or an adult!). It causes scars that never heal.
Bullies cannot always be reasoned with. Children do this out of ignorance. Adults do not. However, I think you can go high instead of low, by using superior arguments without hurting anyone. You posted a long list of rebuttals to Trump fanatics some time ago. I think that is still going high. It doesn’t hurt ppl, just corners them with facts and that is brilliant. The Orange One is another matter of course… he cannot be reasoned with and has to be taken out in a different manner.
@ Runestoneone. I agree. It has taken me 20 years to get back to intuitive ‘predictions’, but I have had a strong feeling that the Orange One didn’t act because New York was hit hard. It was a calculated attempt to get rid of his opposition. Of course, that now blows up in his face, but all those people are still dead. It boggles the mind how anyone can be so detached from humanity.
@jeanne-mayell America is talking it out......we are listening.... we are integrating.....because WE CAN! MY ADVISE TO ANYONE OUT THERE......NEVER BET AGAINST AMERICA!
Today is May 15 and I know people were talking about something happening on May 15. We’ll some hackers hacked into a US entetainment law firm has doubled their ransom because they have info on Trump.
A hacker group that stole 756 gigabytes of data from one of top US entertainment law firms has doubled their ransom to $42 million, and threatened to release "dirty laundry" on President Donald Trump if the money is not paid.
News of the hack on New York-based law firm Grubman, Shire, Meiselas and Sacks broke last week.
They say their cache includes contracts, nondisclosure agreements, phone numbers, email addresses, and private correspondence, according to Variety.
On Thursday they doubled the ransom, threatening to also leak damaging information on Trump, Page Six reported.
"The ransom is now [doubled to] $42,000,000 … The next person we'll be publishing is Donald Trump. There's an election going on, and we found a ton of dirty laundry," the hackers said in a new message on Thursday.
They have info on several celebrities. They hacked the company over a week ago.
Major media and entertainment law firm Grubman Shire Meiselas & Sacks said that after its internal data systems were hacked — and a vast trove of information on its clients was stolen — it has informed its roster of A-list clients of the breach.
“We can confirm that we’ve been victimized by a cyberattack,” the New York-based firm said in a statement to Variety. “We have notified our clients and our staff. We have hired the world’s experts who specialize in this area, and we are working around the clock to address these matters.”
@allyn Day-um! I wish I'd had the presence of mind to talk back to the bullies and stand up to the clueless teachers when I was a kid. Unfortunately I'd usually lose all control and burst into tears. Which is just what they wanted. Except one time they were kicking me and I began kicking back-- And just like in your case, that finally got the teacher's attention.
Over the years I have learned I can give as good as I'm given but, yeah, I feel bad when I do that. So instead I try to say something irrelevant or flippant -- or even NICE-- which totally confuses them.
I was bullied too and I agree with what you wrote. I like the way you "give it back verbally" to T supporters and I say I wish I could think as quickly and be as clever. You don't look for confrontation but you do not ALLOW yourself to be bullied anyone. Kudos.
The only way (when I was a child) that the bullying stopped was when I finally, after 8 years of it, defended myself.
I would like to see the Dems be more clever and go on the Offensive with T and his GOP cabal. We are under attack by T and the GOP cabal - they are working for Putin and others who want to take down our democracy and lives of Americans - hec all Americans. I say we must find a way to remove the threat. I'm NOT advocating violence, however there are times one must defend oneself in order to survive and to protect others. Doctors cut out the cancer, and T and his corrupt conspirators are an active threat.
Example: Gretchen Witmer and her fellow lawmakers in the capital building in Michigan were (in my opinion) threatened by those "protesters". To me they were not protesters but rather Terrorists - who should have been removed, arrested and prevented from doing that again.
@runestoneone theory of the middle is great - I just wish I had the answer to what that is.
@allyn WOW. This is a powerful narrative. I would like to cut and paste it onto my Facebook page if it's all right with you. I can make sure that there are no attributes or links, unless you want your name attached. Totally your choice.
I also agree that simply turning the other cheek does not work in so many of these situations. I find it so interesting how many use anti-abortion memes as if to justify the rest of their hateful positions. I like Sister Chittister's statement that so many are not really pro-life, but rather pro-birth since they ignore children once they are born. Finally, so you know you are not alone: I've been known to ask why they want a child born only to lock them in cages and allow them to die there. So far, not one has ever responded.
Please feel free to post on facebook, but please don't use my name. Some people may figure out who I am, and I try to keep my "Trump supporter putdowns" quiet, as I don't want to seem like a bully and look like I am bragging about taking them down a peg or two. The Trump supporter who accosted me in the store yesterday may figure it out, but he already knows anyway, so I doubt he would want to post anything (unless he wants me to accuse him of being a pedophile on the internet).
The only reason I told you guys is because I know what it is like to be verbally attacked by Trump supporters in a red state, and I hope my experiences with them will encourage others here who have tried other options (peace, respect, ignoring, reasoning, etc.).
Again, remember that everyone who voted for Trump or who have reasons to support Trump are not necessarily Trump supporters. Many Republicans in my area may support Trump, but go out of their way not to inflict their opinions to me (we prefer to talk about sports or local gossip). And there is actually a growing number of Republicans who plan to vote against Trump this time around. Not for any specific reason, per se, but because they, like the rest of us, long for the days when Republicans and Democrats were involved in a friendly rivalry and not full-out war.
But the crazy Trump supporters who attack you in a store or seek you out so they can insult you in public...they are the ones that I despise. So if you want to post my story, feel free to do so. I just hope that people who are tired of the conservatives calling us all baby killers finally give them some pain and make them back off. If it means openly questioning their reasons as to why they prefer to save the unborn but wish to make the children suffer later in life...well, then that's what we need to do.
I have a confession to make. Due to my experiences as a child, I actually practice these insults in front of my mirror or in my car on my way to court, so as to always have them on hand. No, this doesn't happen often, but by practicing my response in advance, I can recite them easily when the time comes.
The fact that I have time to practice my put-downs gives you an idea of how often I hear the insults in the first place. But afterwards, I rarely hear them again.
But most people are not cruel my nature (you and the rest of the people on this forum certainly are not), so I posted some of my more memorable responses so people can use them themselves.
But sometimes the insults can actually win you some friends. Several years ago (just after Hillary gave her epic testimony to Congress about her emails), a colleague of mine began messing with me about supporting Hillary, then made the mistake of asking me if I watched the hearing. My response:
"I just love Trey Gowdy, don't you? It is so obvious that he loves Hillary! The fact that he kept her talking for 11 hours...I mean, we can both admit Hillary isn't much of a speech writer, (the only people who pay to hear her speak are insomniac businessmen in New York, and that's just for two hours!) But Trey had her for 11 hours! If that ain't love, I don't know what is!
Are you telling me you watched all 11 hours too? I didn't know you loved Hillary! You do know she isn't going to leave Bill, right?"
Of course, I had to be overheard by the judge, who was listening behind the corner. Needless to say, the judge and my colleague appreciated my insults, and call me "Matchmaker" to this day. ;)