Yep. Far too many people sputter "but...but this is AMERICA!" and think the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and the lyrics of the national anthem operate like some kind of impenetrable force field. They don't, they're just words on paper. It requires the efforts of people to enforce those principles and keep them alive.
Yep. Far too many people sputter "but...but this is AMERICA!" and think the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and the lyrics of the national anthem operate like some kind of impenetrable force field. They don't, they're just words on paper. It requires the efforts of people to enforce those principles and keep them alive.
I am once again begging every American to watch the 2001 film "Conspiracy" starring Ken Branagh and Colin Firth. The law -- the words on paper -- can be changed in one meeting when there are complicit judges who will give those new laws the nod.
The German version of the film is called "The Wannsee Conference". Germans being studious record keepers, much of the dialogue is straight from the minutes of the actual meeting.
I watched it again a while back and was struck by the sheer banality of the administrative planning for mass murder. (Boy, did Ms. Arendt get that one right!)
The most interesting choice the producers made was the character of the stenographer. A pert, efficient gal-Friday who occasionally interrupts the proceedings to ask for clarification. At one point, one of the more earthy Nazis goes on an obscenity-laden tirade, much to the displeasure of Reinhard Heydrich. One does not use such language in the presence of a young lady!
I know, that horrible woman Kamala Harris is threatening to dismantle the greatest protection for democracy the world has ever known, I speak, of course, of the filibuster.
Only 2 of those were present at the Constitution. The filibuster was not adopted in the Senate until 1806 and not used until 1837. The current filibuster rules were adopted in like the 1980s ar 1990s. The 435 member House was adopted in 1929
Also it’s helpful for them to forget that the Nuremberg Laws were literally taken from Jim Crow legislation, Zyklon-B was first used on Latine border crossers, & the America First movement sprung up around the same time as Nazi takeover.
Also have seen more than a few "Person in the street" interviews where our fellow Americans say it might be time to suspend the Constitution -- just for four years, so we can really "solve our problems."
Sure, what we need is a strongman, who can solve all our problems (and especially the brown-skinned ones) unfettered by rules or laws or the need to vote on stuff.
Yep. Far too many people sputter "but...but this is AMERICA!" and think the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and the lyrics of the national anthem operate like some kind of impenetrable force field. They don't, they're just words on paper. It requires the efforts of people to enforce those principles and keep them alive.
And it helps if you read and understand the words, but that's a lot of egghead stuff.
I am once again begging every American to watch the 2001 film "Conspiracy" starring Ken Branagh and Colin Firth. The law -- the words on paper -- can be changed in one meeting when there are complicit judges who will give those new laws the nod.
I can name at least two of the judges.
The German version of the film is called "The Wannsee Conference". Germans being studious record keepers, much of the dialogue is straight from the minutes of the actual meeting.
I watched it again a while back and was struck by the sheer banality of the administrative planning for mass murder. (Boy, did Ms. Arendt get that one right!)
The most interesting choice the producers made was the character of the stenographer. A pert, efficient gal-Friday who occasionally interrupts the proceedings to ask for clarification. At one point, one of the more earthy Nazis goes on an obscenity-laden tirade, much to the displeasure of Reinhard Heydrich. One does not use such language in the presence of a young lady!
Said Trump's supporters: "I do Nazi, but I Wannsee."
2 marks: 1.5 for Crude, 0.5 for Effective.
One has to be principled when one is planning the most efficient mass murder, after all.
Oddly enough, if you actually read stuff about fascism, you see the parallels! Wild.
The Guardrails(TM) will hold. And then we shall all to brunch.
[whispers] don't look now but at least half of the guardrails are already gone and they are busily working on disassembling the rest.
[Dick Durbin forlornly averts his eyes]
Susan Collins says its regrettable, but they've learned their lesson.
I know, that horrible woman Kamala Harris is threatening to dismantle the greatest protection for democracy the world has ever known, I speak, of course, of the filibuster.
[Recoils in horror] not the Holy Grail!
The requirement that 60 Senators vote to allow a bill to come to a vote is the greatest protection against majority rule that we have.
Well, the filibuster and the electoral college are the two greatest protections against majority rule that we have.
I mean the filibuster, the electoral college, the two-senators-per-state rule, the cap on the House at 435...
I'll come in again.
AMONG the greatest protections against majority rule we have are such diverse elements AS...
Interesting how our slave-rapin' Founders had such a fear of majority rule that they felt the need to build in so many safeguards against it.
Only 2 of those were present at the Constitution. The filibuster was not adopted in the Senate until 1806 and not used until 1837. The current filibuster rules were adopted in like the 1980s ar 1990s. The 435 member House was adopted in 1929
As it is a Senate Rule, she has no ability to do anything but recommend to the Senators to dismantle
Nevertheless, Joe Manchin is OUTRAGED that this uppity woman, a US Senator herself, should have an opinion on the subject.
Also it’s helpful for them to forget that the Nuremberg Laws were literally taken from Jim Crow legislation, Zyklon-B was first used on Latine border crossers, & the America First movement sprung up around the same time as Nazi takeover.
Coincidentally, NONE of the above are jack-booted. Jackboots are for show – wingtips are for go.
And in that vein, there's Mussolini's old standby definition. Fascism is Corporatism.
Also have seen more than a few "Person in the street" interviews where our fellow Americans say it might be time to suspend the Constitution -- just for four years, so we can really "solve our problems."
Sure, what we need is a strongman, who can solve all our problems (and especially the brown-skinned ones) unfettered by rules or laws or the need to vote on stuff.
There should be a name for that sort of thing.