DJT would be so pleased to see your comparison of his tactics and success with Putin's. Perhaps you should provide him a link to your essay? As for me, I'm that much more despondent after reading it. Also demoralizing is the fact that any American president would consider being likened to a Russian authoritarian a compliment and that any voter would be heartened by that favorable comparison.
But, thanks to your analysis, I better understand how we arrived at this terrible place: Mass cowardice among the GOP; but also mass credulity, unseriousness, and/or nihilism among our voters; and mass profit seeking among our media. Too many Americans think it's better (repurposing a quote from Milton's "Paradise Lost") to hold absolute power in an at-best illiberal America than to share power in a liberal constitutional republic. I suppose they're right if self-interest is their only motivator and assuming their chosen strongmen hold that power - and don't eventually turn that power against THEM.
Azerbaijan reconquered ? Or took back/kicked out illegal militias and offered citizenship to those who chose to stay? Literally not a single country (including Armenia) disputes that this was Azeri land.
If putting pressure on Jordan doesn't work, we can try putting pressure on the company. My experience is that important employers in smaller communities have a lot of clout. Please find us an address and I'll be glad to write a letter (or send an email). If we knew the names and contacts for other tank manufacturers, past or present, we could contact them and also recommend them to our Congressional Delegations. Votes on those contracts are probably coming up soon.
From Wikipedia: “The Joint Systems Manufacturing Center, also known as the Lima Army Tank Plant (LATP) is a tank plant located in Lima, Ohio. It is a government-owned, contractor-operated facility currently operated by General Dynamics Land Systems. Workers at the plant are represented by UAW Local 2075.[2]”
It is a division of General Dynamics, HQ in Reston, VA, located conveniently for lobbying the Pentagon and Congress. Good luck with appealing to the company's better angels.
We'd be better off contacting the UAW, on behalf of our fellow American workers in Lima.
Interesting and sadly you are right about potential success. Maybe someone will discover enough info about the Ohio State matter to bring Jordan down. Thanks for the research.
Thank you for one of the few sane and level-headed commentaries I have read about the Republicans and the selection of a new Speaker of the House. I found it a bracing breath of fresh air and a nice reprieve from the vitriolic diatribes by partisans from both sides of the aisle.
I would be curious as to your thoughts on the degree of Democrat culpability in this entire Kevin McCarthy/Steve Scalise/Jim Jordan/Mike Johnson episode. Personally I remain neutral in my opinions on McCarthy's tenure as Speaker -- he appeared to show a willingness to compromise with and cooperate with the Democrat minority on key issues of legislation which to me is an important quality in a legislator. One would have thought the Democrats would have appreciated that aspect of McCarthy's personality to have allowed enough members of the Democrat caucus to vote for him and allow him to retain his Speakership. Should the new Speaker show less of a willingness to work with Democrats would they not have a share in this impasse?
DJT would be so pleased to see your comparison of his tactics and success with Putin's. Perhaps you should provide him a link to your essay? As for me, I'm that much more despondent after reading it. Also demoralizing is the fact that any American president would consider being likened to a Russian authoritarian a compliment and that any voter would be heartened by that favorable comparison.
But, thanks to your analysis, I better understand how we arrived at this terrible place: Mass cowardice among the GOP; but also mass credulity, unseriousness, and/or nihilism among our voters; and mass profit seeking among our media. Too many Americans think it's better (repurposing a quote from Milton's "Paradise Lost") to hold absolute power in an at-best illiberal America than to share power in a liberal constitutional republic. I suppose they're right if self-interest is their only motivator and assuming their chosen strongmen hold that power - and don't eventually turn that power against THEM.
Ditto what Katie wrote about these new insights/comparisons. I'm grateful to have this newsletter in my inbox today, thank you.
Azerbaijan reconquered ? Or took back/kicked out illegal militias and offered citizenship to those who chose to stay? Literally not a single country (including Armenia) disputes that this was Azeri land.
If putting pressure on Jordan doesn't work, we can try putting pressure on the company. My experience is that important employers in smaller communities have a lot of clout. Please find us an address and I'll be glad to write a letter (or send an email). If we knew the names and contacts for other tank manufacturers, past or present, we could contact them and also recommend them to our Congressional Delegations. Votes on those contracts are probably coming up soon.
From Wikipedia: “The Joint Systems Manufacturing Center, also known as the Lima Army Tank Plant (LATP) is a tank plant located in Lima, Ohio. It is a government-owned, contractor-operated facility currently operated by General Dynamics Land Systems. Workers at the plant are represented by UAW Local 2075.[2]”
It is a division of General Dynamics, HQ in Reston, VA, located conveniently for lobbying the Pentagon and Congress. Good luck with appealing to the company's better angels.
We'd be better off contacting the UAW, on behalf of our fellow American workers in Lima.
Interesting and sadly you are right about potential success. Maybe someone will discover enough info about the Ohio State matter to bring Jordan down. Thanks for the research.
Thank you for one of the few sane and level-headed commentaries I have read about the Republicans and the selection of a new Speaker of the House. I found it a bracing breath of fresh air and a nice reprieve from the vitriolic diatribes by partisans from both sides of the aisle.
I would be curious as to your thoughts on the degree of Democrat culpability in this entire Kevin McCarthy/Steve Scalise/Jim Jordan/Mike Johnson episode. Personally I remain neutral in my opinions on McCarthy's tenure as Speaker -- he appeared to show a willingness to compromise with and cooperate with the Democrat minority on key issues of legislation which to me is an important quality in a legislator. One would have thought the Democrats would have appreciated that aspect of McCarthy's personality to have allowed enough members of the Democrat caucus to vote for him and allow him to retain his Speakership. Should the new Speaker show less of a willingness to work with Democrats would they not have a share in this impasse?