I Can Think of No Better Words
Dana Milbank wrote a piece this morning that I’m going to print out and keep for a while to reread.
You might want to, too. It’s some fine writing.
September 21, 2020 By: Juanita Jean Herownself Category: Uncategorized
Dana Milbank wrote a piece this morning that I’m going to print out and keep for a while to reread.
You might want to, too. It’s some fine writing.
Welcome to The World's Most Dangerous Beauty Salon, Inc.
My name is Susan DuQuesnay Bankston. I live in Richmond, Texas, in the heart of Tom DeLay's old district. It's nuttier than squirrel poop here.
I am honored and privileged to know Miss Juanita Jean Herownself, hairdresser extraordinary and political maven. Since she does not have time to fiddle with this internet stuff, I type her website for her and you can read it if you want to. If you don't, she truly does not give a big bear's butt.
A lot of what I post here has to do with local politics, but you probably have the same folks in your local government.
This ain't a blog. Blogs are way too trendy for me. This is a professional political organization.
I opened up my computer just the other day as the beautiful autumn sun was waning and the first thing I saw was the headline announcing her passing. Everybody in the house heard me yell my disbelief and sorrow. I have several books full of uplifting quotations for times such as this, but they just don’t help. I cry.
1I didn’t realize that McConnell’s replacement vow came less than two hours after the announcement. Good Lord in Heaven, even Trump managed to display more class, compassion, and grace.
2Read and heed, Kentucky. The man speaks wisely of RBG’s legacy.
3Because of the pandemic, most indoor gatherings–including religious services–are severely limited in the city (which has gotten its infection rate down to 1% and many days in a row of no deaths). So, a plan was hatched that at 5 pm on Friday, the start of Rosh Hashanah, whoever wanted to should go outside and blow their shofars for all to hear. A couple of neighbors came down to my patio for a visit and we actually heard the sound of a shofar right at 5. It was impossible to tell exactly where it came from, but it was special in any event. Of course, RBG’s death had not been announced yet.
As soon as her death was announced, people started gathering at the Supreme Court building and holding a spontaneous memorial service, wake, and outpouring of grief. I heard that Kammala showed up wearing a hoodie and there’s a picture in the WaPo of Pelosi there, too. On Saturday, which attracted another huge crowd, someone brought their shofar and blew it from the steps. We have been blessed with cool, clear weather the last few days and all this has proven to be rather cathartic.
This has all just made Moscow Mitch and his horde of Huns look like the barbarians they actually are.
4I’m not a Jew, but everyone that has lived a life to help others deserves respect and grieving. She was certainly such a person. But politics being as it is, thinking of oneself and the retention of power is the first thing politicians think of, and their focus.
5Republicans didn’t have to say it, but their words and actions tell me everything I need to know. They are celebrating her passing- not in a good way but in their selfish lust for power and domination.
From George Orwell’s 1984: “The Party seeks power entirely for its own sake. We are not interested in the good of others; we are interested solely in power. …The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power. Now do you begin to understand me?”
Excellent article explaining why Dems need to use any means necessary to fight the Rethugs, instead of trying to shame the shameless, at https://www.commondreams.org/views/2020/09/20/republicans-arent-hypocrites-lesson-power-aftermath-rbgs-death
6Jennifer Rubin wrote a lovely piece , also in WaPo, relating RBG, her life and legacy to the Jewish new year liturgy. We all should live up to Justice Ginsburg’s desire to make life fair for all; the GOP won’t, they’ve proven over and over that they are rulers, not servants, of their constituency.
7Justice Ginsburg had kind words for Kavanaugh, a friendship with Scalia, and class. A lot of class.
A week or so ago, while Justice Ginsburg was still alive, Trump released a long list of potential Supreme Court justice nominations. At the time I thought it was a speculative, exploratory what-if doodle, raw meat tossed out for his supporters. Now it looks more like a deliberate slap in the face. No class.
Trump & McConnell not only didn’t wait until Justice Ginsburg was in her grave, they didn’t even hold off until she left this earth.
8As usual, a paywall, and if I subscribed to every paper that wanted me to just for one occasional article, I would go broke. Any chance it could be cut and pasted here? Not that I don’t think the Post is great, but I am overwhelmed with articles/columns already and don’t need more.
9If people like Dana Milbank find such solace in religion, maybe it’s not as malevolent as it usually seems.
Joni Ernst was fund-raising off RBG’s death before the body was cold. It’s not just Moscow Mitch, they’re all garbage.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/sep/21/democrats-fundraising-records-ruth-bader-ginsburg-death
10Re AK Lynne: Understood. Consider that much of professional journalism’s output is locked behind a paywall while propaganda machines like Fox etc. are free to access, share and multiply on social media. Seems that is a large part of the overall information dilemma.
11Lynne, I would do that except it’s not legal. I don’t think you need to subscribe to every newspaper but the Washington Post and the New York Times are journalism we need to support. I pay $15 a month for each of them. I know, after the first year, they try to go up on you – call them and tell them you’ll have to unsubscribe because you’re retired and don’t have enough money to do that. They will keep it at $15. Now the Post or the Times, I don’t remember which, allows you to add 4 other people to your account. So, split the money between you all. Look, I don’t want to become preachy. Newspapers have bills to pay and they are already down to bare bones. Where are they supposed to get the money to pay Dana Milbank? I think you can get a day admission for a dollar. It’s more than worth it today. Also, subscribe to your local newspaper.
12Why being so hateful, people?
13Being a democrats you have to be a peaceful, right?
Dana Milbank is syndicated into a variety of locations. This one is well worth googling “Dana Milbank: They couldn’t even wait a day”
When I did, I found a paper without a paywall:
14https://journalnow.com/opinion/columnists/dana-milbank-they-couldnt-even-wait-a-day/article_e661e4c0-fc1f-11ea-b809-67e9d083de01.html
As much as I believe in justice, it occured to me that worrying about the Supreme Court is what the people who fund the Republicans want us to do. If we get a blue wave, let’s do this first:
1. Tax capital gains as ordinary income.
2. Eliminate stepped up cost basis on inherited capital assets.
3. 60% tax on income above $1,000,000.
4. Elizabeth Warren’s wealth tax.
After that, there might be some moeny available universal health care, for a universal basic income (UBI) and some infrastructure projects.
15The political crap is disgusting, esp by those salivating over RBG’s death. I tweet yelled at McConnell earlier today during his Senate floor speech where he was praising her by telling him he shows her no respect because he’s not abiding by her final wishes. Hypocrite. No shame.
If you haven’t seen the film RBG, be sure to do so. It’s from 2018 and covers her life, family and career. Really good. CNN showed it Saturday evening. Hopefully it’s available on demand or online. Made me sad but also inspired and very appreciative she used her immense gifts to expand rights for so many of us.
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