The tired and old 'Trump is a threat to Democracy' message was, is and will be a losing message because this message itself is the problem, not the presentation of it.

I still disagree. The "threat to democracy" label extends to quite a lot of issues, including a plethora of those that are current events, so I'm not exactly sure how you've come to the conclusion that it's a "tired and old" message when American citizens are at the present time being detained in prison for the mere fact that they're persons of color and/or have tattoo(s)... among many other things related to democracy.

This is one lesson that will very likely not be learned by Democrats in the wake of the last presidential election.

Well, elections in America aren't exactly limited to the number of issues on which they're conducted, and I can practically promise you that matters regarding the freedoms of the citizens of America and democracy will definitely be included in the next round. Obviously, the issue of the tanking economy will (or at least should) take front and center, but that shouldn't preclude the inclusion of the issue of threats to our democracy and personal freedoms, which is too large an issue to exclude, in my opinion.

The tired and old 'Trump is a threat to Democracy' message was, is and will be a losing message because this message itself is the problem, not the presentation of it.

This is one lesson that will very likely not be learned by Democrats in the wake of the last presidential election.

Hah!

Yeah, welcome to my world...

:-)

-CW

Probably. But that is a losing message.

Oh, I disagree with that but definitely agree it was poorly presented in the past.

Probably. But that is a losing message.

Watch the bond markets, that's my advice.

Definitely, and I would wager JFC as well as most everyone here already knows who primarily holds the most non-US owned treasury bonds of the United States:

1. Japan
2. China

Among foreign holders of America's debt, China and Japan own billions and trillions, and as Bashi already pointed out:

https://www.reuters.com/world/china-japan-south-korea-will-jointly-respond-us-tariffs-chinese-state-media-says-2025-03-31/

They're working together to respond to the tariffs imposed by Donald Trump. So they have substantial leverage, and we have an orange buffoon asserting he can unilaterally impose tariffs worldwide but cannot have a person admittedly wrongfully imprisoned in El Salvador returned to the United States.

Is there anyone out there still confused regarding the fact that Donald Trump is a threat to democracy?

Yes, this crisis parallels the tariff crisis, with similarly unimaginable solutions.

According to the theory and practice being laid down right now, the secret police can kidnap any American citizen - ANY American citizen - and ship him or her overseas to a foreign prison, and then ignore any habeas corpus or other suit demanding a hearing, charges, facts, return of the prisoner, etc. because the prisoner is out of American custody.

In fact none of the tame dictatorships receiving the political prisoners would have any ability at all to refuse a U.S. demand that a prisoner be returned to U.S. soil. But if the president made it clear to the dictator that he expects cooperation in imprisoning the president's enemies, a U.S. court would have no further recourse. Because any demands for a foreign country's cooperation must go through the Executive department, and the Executive and foreign dictator can play the game that it's the dictator, not the president, who is controlling the imprisonment.

I hope John Roberts figures this out sooner rather than later, and makes the kind of stink that would force an impeachment should the president continue to stonewall the federal courts on the question of whetherm, with the cooperation of a tame petty dictator, he can abduct and deport ANY AMERICAN CITIZEN without question and without legal recourse, permanently.

She told the story of someone she knew who went to a steakhouse and asked for "Al's steak sauce... you know, the one by Al."

Heh. Just so you know, I will now and for ∞ not be able to use, see, or even think about A.1. Sauce without calling it "Al's."

Has a red card been issued and I missed it?

today's installment was the president of El Salvador saying he wouldn't return the man, in such a way that makes it clear he's not doing it because Donald doesn't want him to.

Thanks for the kind words!

:-)

-CW

Oh, I don't think we're out of the tariff tunnel yet... witness this weekend his "iPhones and electronics will be exempted" followed by "there's no exemption, steep tariffs are coming soon" reversal...

Watch the bond markets, that's my advice.

That's his only goad, at this point, it seems...

-CW

this reminds me (to be totally irreverant) of a conversation I had with a friend of a friend in Denver, years ago.

She told the story of someone she knew who went to a steakhouse and asked for "Al's steak sauce... you know, the one by Al."

Heh... A.I. A.1. Al... heh it's all connected, somehow!

:-)

-CW

Good point, but I'm still kinda waiting to see if Congress will wake up (the GOP ones, in fear) and reclaim their constitutional right to set tariffs... I think that'll happen first, if it actually does happen...

-CW

Fetterman seems to want to be in the role that Lindsey Graham used to fill over on the other side of the aisle... before he went full-on Trump cult, that is. He'd vote for Dem nominees just on the principle that "a president deserves his own choices".

Rather odd to see from a Democrat today, though.

-CW

Long time no talk-to, sorry about that! good to see you are still around... just had to say that...

You are right, I totally missed this Fetterman bit. I did see an op-ed he wrote championing Ozempic (generically) which was kinda interesting, but wasn't paying enough attention to his voting, I guess... thanks for bringing it up!

-CW

Also thanks for knocking Gov. Whitmer on the head. I have a lot of respect for her, and I wonder what was going on in her head. Dog -> Fleas, exactly.

And then, some excellent talking points - especially excellent in that so many of them were just quotes of other critics making your points. More and more of the American establishment is willing to go public with the shocking news that this emperor is walking around stark naked, all the time.

Are we positively sure the stupid people on Team Trump didn't come up with the "original formula" by consulting an A.1. Sauce bottle?

I heard … that there is a school system that's going to start making sure that first graders, or even pre-Ks, have A.1. teaching, you know, every year, starting, you know, that far down in the grades, and that's just... That's a wonderful thing! Kids are sponges; they just absorb everything. And so wasn't all that long ago that it's we're going to have Internet in our schools, woot. Now, okay, let's see A.1. and how can that be helpful?

~ Linda McMahon, Secretary of Education

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/6QL0c5BbCR4

*
Morons Are Governing America

https://www.justsecurity.org/110109/president-cannot-issue-attainder-bills/

'The former Arkansas governor and two-time presidential candidate was tapped by President Donald Trump for the post just after the November election. He has never previously worked in a diplomatic or national security role for any U.S. administration.
...
He’s also encouraged Israeli settlements in the West Bank. While running for president in 2008, Huckabee claimed “there’s really no such thing as a Palestinian.”
...
Huckabee was confirmed by a vote of 53-46, with Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) the lone Democrat voting for his confirmation.'
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/09/mike-huckabee-israel-ambassador-032907

See my response from yesterday, I suggested "executive orders of attainder"...

:-)

-CW

bills of attainder.

John quite correctly fixed my confusion between those and ex-post facto laws, both of which are expressly forbidden by the constitution. but anyhow, that's what donald is doing to anyone and everyone who ever crossed him. executive bills of attainder.