It's been a while since I've posted, partly because I'm now quite busy and preoccupied with jobs, but also because I'm in a funk of disappointment. What's the point of stealing the time and putting in the effort, when there's nobody out there?
Along with that, the malicious recall effort against Gwen Lachelt fell short, but was given two extra weeks to make up the difference, which they managed to do. That they so easily gained over 2000 signatures in those extra two weeks reflects the Democratic Party's continued inability to invigorate their voters, or to effectively confront the deluge of deliberate and ruthless, amoral deception that was the hallmark of the so-called Save La Plata County's anti-democratic con-job.
While on the national scene Democrats remain as timid and tongue tied as ever, all very depressing. Trump's bullies, the alt-right and evangelicals and oligarchs are relentlessly inflicting brutal damage on our democratic principles and ways of government. Not to mention our EPA being eviscerated by the teflon plated Pruitt.
I guess I'm old fashioned, I believe patriotism demands action when our nation is in danger, and even if my actions are futile, they're better than rolling over and pretending our democracy isn't in the middle of a fierce existential crisis and that we stand on the cusp of losing our democracy to ruthless special interests. A situation demanding all hands on deck, if there's to be any hope of turning back the tide! If there's anyone out there with the same feeling, please let me know, the one hand clapping is getting old.
In any event this post is dedicated to sharing a bibliography of articles that discuss different aspects of trump's attack on our democracy. This is the sort of background knowledge we need to learn about and to share with others. Raising awareness and encouraging involvement is our only hope. Following this list I've gone on to include key quotes from the articles as an introduction and hopefully encouragement for you to follow the links to the complete articles. It is by no means a complete, but its a good start.
May 27, 2018 - By Lauren Strayer, Democracy Fund
May 22, 2018 - By Travis Gettys, Raw Story
Foreign Policy Expert: GOP Helping Trump Attack Democratic Principles to 'Save The President’s Skin'
May 16, 2018 - By Jonathan Chait, Daily Intelligencer
April 25, 2018 - Jay Rosen, New York Book Review
April 13, 2018 - Evan McMullin, The Atlantic
April 4, 2018 - by Darrell M. West and Jack Karsten, Brookings Institution
April 3, 2018 - Cass R. Sunstein, Bloomberg View
February 23, 2018 - By John Shattuck, American Prospect
February 15, 2018 - John Shattuck, Amanda Watson, Matthew McDole
February 8, 2018 - Congressman Ted Lieu
February 8, 2018 - Bright Line Watch, Survey-Wave 4
February 6, 2018 - By Michael Finnegan, L.A. Times
February 3, 2017 - Rob Wijnberg, The Correspondent
January 1, 2018 - By Jeffrey H. Smith, Lawfare
January 27, 2018 - Jill Abramson, The Guardian
January 18, 2018 - Protect Democracy
{Ensuring the President “shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed”}
January 16, 2018 - Tracey Lee, Newsweek
January 16, 2018 - By Zachary Cohen, CNN
January 3, 2018 - Gary Grappo, Fair Observer
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Art of the Lie - The tally after one year
December 29, 2017 - By Bernard Avishai, The New Yorker
December 12, 2017 - Daily Kos
December 7, 2017 - By Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt , The New Republic
December 6, 2017 - By Scott Bolden, The Hill
November 30, 2017 - By Thomas B. Edsall, The New York Times
November 10, 2017 - Brian Klass, The Hill
September 6, 2017 - Carnegie Endowment
September 5, 2017 - By Dr. Benjamin Knoll, Ph.D., Huffington Post
Aug 18, 2017 - By Hugh Cortazzi , The Japan Times
May 15, 2017 - Brian Klass, USA Today
April 26, 2017 - Slate Staff
March 10, 2017 - Brian Klass, Washington Post
