DramatistDreamer

8 minutes ago, Vee said:

 

I agree, but all this will take years - if possible - and a transformative, positive leader we do not currently have available with leverage and popularity to make it happen. What's needed first is something to stop the slide.

I agree, but the public discourse is long overdue by decades.  The historical discussion by at least a century, if you ask me.

We might need to learn to do multiple things at once, TBH.

The U.S. needs to for once have an honest open public discussion of history, economics and what are actually the core beliefs of this country. 

Look at the role of government, what are the responsibilities of the citizenry, what are the responsibilities of government. I don't think most of the U.S. citizenry are not even clear on this.

Maybe something close to a Truth & Reconciliation commission.  Recognize the facets, the forces and the thinking that led to a Trump (and those of his ilk) in the first place. 

Also, find a way to diminish the ghastly influence of corporations (and the billionaires who run them) out of the mechanism of government.

Looking at this from someone who has very close ties to an immigrant identity, I have to say that the U.S.' place in the world is indeed diminished to people in other parts of the world.

It didn't start with just Trump (G.W. Bush's legacy also did a lot of damage to how people internationally view the U.S.) but Trump accelerated things to a vast degree.

It happened to Rome, it happened to Great Britain--empires fall and/or lose their standing.

I don't see the U.S. falling into ruin like Rome but will be more like Great Britain that still wields considerable financial power and cultural allure but no longer wields the political might that it once had.

Did anyone read the Politico interview with John Boehner? I read it yesterday.

He basically said there is no Republican Party, they have no leader and he believes this will mark the end of the two party system.

In terms of the survival of the U.S. institutions, this is a pretty open question. It's not just the considerable damage Trump has done in such a short time, it is also how the lack of understanding of basic civics has allowed many voters to be duped into picking the worst, most destructive choices. 

It's the horrible way that gun violence and drug addiction is allowed to ravage the U.S. population.

It's the way that people have given corporate shills the power shape our thinking, perceptions of ourselves and each other.

It is the way in which education has been allowed to be diminished while simultaneously being removed as a pathway to enlightenment for millions of people (we now have politicians determining who should go to college and who should go to trade school based on zip codes and what high school they attended, income level, etc).

Now intellectualism is seen as a negative thing.

Once cherished ideals have now been turned on their heads.

It was not until getting social media did I even start to hear vague insinuations about Spacey's sexual predilections (and others) because I've only started paying attention to anything besides the technical part of filmmaking.  Pretty cloistered, I know.

Having read that Buzzfeed article, I applaud Mr. Rapp for discussing his experience.  On a positive note, I haven't seen signs of victim shaming and blaming and I hope this marks an end to the criticizing of victims for when they decide to come forward.

Spacey's response reeks of the guise of superficial concern for the victim but smacks of mostly concern for his own career and professional legacy. That 'coming out' addendum was a move borne of cynicism.  From what I've seen though, it looks as though he's getting his comeuppance from the LGTBQ community.

As for HOC, I thought the series should have ended about two seasons ago, although I admit that last season was surprisingly entertaining.

I do think that the next season should be its last.  

It is only right that the final season begin with Francis Underwood in federal prison where the audience only hears of him but doesn't see him. At all. 

We see Claire Underwood attempt to hold on to power herself but as Frank's crimes are revealed one by one, it causes an insurmountable political crisis which ultimately causes Claire's fall from power in the end.

And that should be the end.

A reporter just said that even if Trump uses pardon, due to the fact that many of Manafort's crimes have taken place in NY jurisdiction, Schneiderman will go hard on Manafort.

Cy Vance, who has recently been heavily criticized for going light against the Trump kids and Weinstein will face an inordinate amount of pressure to prosecute to the fullest and he will, if he wants to have a chance to keep his job.

Pardon or no pardon, Manafort faces serious jail time.

Here is the link to the actual indictment.

U.S. v. Paul J. Manafort, Jr., and Richard W. Gates III (1:17-cr-201, District of Columbia)

Manafort and Gates face 12 counts: conspiracy against the US, money laundering, unregistered agent of a foreign principal,

— Andrew Beatty (@AndrewBeatty) October 30, 2017

...FARA, false statements, 7 counts failure to report foreign bank accounts. https://t.co/z77Oqlfrje

— Andrew Beatty (@AndrewBeatty) October 30, 2017

The investigations keep coming for this corrupt administration. It's likely to be death by a thousand cuts for these folks.

Maryland is investigating Kushner Companies after reports about debt collection and conditions at several properties https://t.co/mXX2lkYejk

— CNN (@CNN) October 29, 2017

Puerto Rico cancelled the contract with Whitefish.  Good!

When this gets to the low 20s, upper teens then I'll be convinced that America has come to its senses. If it were up to me, it'd be single digits.

There are signs of erosion in support among some of President Trump’s core voters--WSJ/NBC News poll https://t.co/0Vi3RPscm7

— Capital Journal (@WSJPolitics) October 29, 2017

27 minutes ago, Ponds said:

 

Like he replaced Anthony Scalia?  Your Republican friends turned their back on the Constitution.

You're wasting your time with that troll.

GOP faith ambassador quits, complains of priorities of RNC

Apparently Roger Stone, a Trump backer and confidante, went into meltdown over the indictment on Twitter, verbally attacked a bunch of reporters et al and got his Twitter account permanently suspended as a result of his hurling slurs at people.

Roger Stone's Twitter account has been suspended after Trump-Russia meltdown

Whitefish claims that FEMA approved the contract for work on Puerto Rico's power grid. FEMA disagrees.

More shady dealings from this administration and their cronies.

FEMA Cites ‘Significant Concerns’ With Puerto Rico Power Contract 

JUST IN: Office of the Special Counsel will serve up an indictment Monday in connection with Russia probe, an official confirms to NBC News

— NBC News (@NBCNews) October 28, 2017

Someone who worked with the production told me that Robbie is good and that Alison Janney is worthy of  an award nomination for her performance.

As @JaneAusten eloquently said.

On that note...good night!

Conservative site with GOP ties funded research that ultimately produced Trump dossier. https://t.co/kMdedHMH3A

— The Associated Press (@AP) October 28, 2017

9 minutes ago, ReddFoxx said:

That has never been alleged, but with the way things are going it wouldn't be surprising if evidence of that came up. The investigation is about collusion with a foreign nation to influence the election, which is just as bad as tampering with votes.

Also, there was proven voter suppression in Democratic leaning districts in states like Wisconsin that likely directly affected the results.  That's almost a separate matter at this point.

You've said it, I've said it, if trolls want to play dumb, they can do so but I'm not going to waste time with trolls arguing about the basics. 

There is a criminal indictment and so far, we've been reading about Manafort's very shady dealings with pro-Russian operatives in Ukraine.

We've also heard about Trump Jr. meeting with Russians to try to get dirt on HRC and then lying about it.

We've also heard about Carter Page trying to ingratiate himself with the Russians.

Anyone who doesn't see the 'recurring decimal' here is beyond hope and I will waste no more of my time with him/her.

7 minutes ago, JaneAusten said:

I'd like to credit those to a coverup but those files were already due to be released. I would love to know though the parts they decided to retain and not release and why. It may be nothing but it certainly leads people to continue to believe there was some sort of conspiracy.

I read that Trump was unhappy that parts would still be redacted. I have an idea as to why.  That's neither here nor there anyway.

Folks also need to remember that it matters not whether the actual election results were affected by the act, the criminality is in the act of collusion itself, with a foreign entity. 

That in itself is criminal and likely treasonous.

Nixon didn't go down because he changed any votes, he went down because his operatives broke into the Democratic National headquarters trying to find information.

1 minute ago, ReddFoxx said:

The investigation has only been going on for a few months.

Didn't it take almost two years between the first indictment to Nixon's impeachment and resignation?

I don't believe any investigation will take as long as that, in this day and age.

My news is currently reporting on this and has mentioned that since this is a criminal indictment, it is very serious.

The anchor mentioned the possibility of someone being taken into custody within days but the indictment is sealed.

I guess those JFK Files ain't gonna cut it, in terms of a distraction.

So apparently, yesterday an FBI informant was cleared to testify in front of Congress.

Also, the Senate Intelligence Committee was informed earlier today but not the House Intelligence Committee.

Hm, the plot thickens...

Paul Manafort's name has been mentioned on more than one occasion this week-- makes me wonder whether an indictment is headed his way.

Oh well, someone is being indicted, that much we know.

In the meantime, I hope there will be hearings on what happened in Niger because this seems like the U.S. military left their men behind.  

U.S. Soldiers Were Separated From Unit in Niger Ambush, Officials Say

And what's even more disturbing is that when the so-called Commander-in-Chief was asked about this, he claimed ignorance, choosing instead to claim that the generals were fully in charge. SMH.

I wrote a story about his return sometime ago.

At the saddest Halloween party ever, Cheeto in Chief has the nerve to bring up someone's weight.

"Well, you have no weight problems -- that's the good news, right?" Pres. Trump says as he hands candy to a child during Halloween event. pic.twitter.com/7jatXNRUwm

— NBC Nightly News (@NBCNightlyNews) October 27, 2017