Bruce Springsteen should have added 2/3 of our SCOTUS are corrupt by taking bribes, and ignoring precedent rulings for women and executive powers. However just as James Baldwin stated, “He said enough” to be meaningful! If our democracy is diminished, Mitch McConnell, Merrick Garland and our spineless legislators are also to blame.
I used to get somewhat despondent when I thought of what the conservative side of our political equation has prevented. Universal health care and a decent place to live ought to be the birthright of all Americans and we have more than enough wealth to do it. By scaring folks that their children will have their sex changed at school and the farm workers might eat Fluffy the cat, among the rest of the lies that their political action require, we take no steps to "create a more perfect union." Springsteen taped a vein of gold in his writing and celebration of the everyday folks and made that life a rightous pursuit. Trump embodies the antithesis of the notion of hard work, honesty, pick ones self up from hardship and make something of yourself. Watching all of this unfold I find cold comfort in Springsteen's words, as I do when PM Stammer refers to the USA today as "Trumps America". I hope the world knows the difference between what once was and what we will become once more. The cancer that is this administration will be eradicated, but just as every cancer cell need to be removed, so it is with Republicans who allowed this felon to go on a rampage to destroy what took 250 years to build. One question I have for Elise, How's the view from under the bus? Get used too it. Trumps sees you as a loser, and he made it so, but that's just how it goes with this crowd.
I wouldn't know anything about our NY-21 ghost-rep if you did not write about her. Somehow, it didn't surprise me. The more she reveals about herself, the bigger the chance her supporters will have to see her for whom she is, a self-serving phony.
As soon as I heard Bruce Springsteen speak so bravely against trump, I was looking forward to reading your take on it. The threats by trump are of course wrong, and better be empty. They reiterate what "the Boss" said about the abhorrent situation with our country's leadership. In terms of government bonds, I just read Robert Reich's post from today about that topic. He discusses data I didn't know. Here it is.
Elise should have the sense to know the county chairs are closer to the electorate than she is, and she should be deferring to them, not the other way around.
And she should think twice about interfering with our State's elections. A Presidential pardon wouldn't give her a get out of jail free card on that one.
That is an excellent point. Elise has gotten a taste of power and has become intoxicated by it, but the only place to wield it is in small towns in the North Country. That just makes her a bully.
What you said about Stefanik is spot on. Some local Republican officials seem to have come a bit more aware about how Elise's bitterness, smugness and narcissism impacts them when they don't fall in line with her ambitions.
Trump was wined, dined and worshipped while visiting authoritarian regimes in the Middle East. When he returned to the White House, he had to face the reality that America is not one of them. It was easy to tell by his numerous posts ranting about everything and everyone, including Bruce Springsteen and Taylor Swift.
When I read Trump's post and his not so veiled threat towards Springsteen, I wondered what Noem and Bondi are now ordering CBP on how to treat him on his return to the States. No matter what, Springsteen is a U.S. citizen and cannot be denied entry, though CBP and DHS can make it quite an unpleasant experience for him and his band.
After the news broke about Joe Biden's cancer diagnosis, Trump extended his and Melania's "warmest and best wishes" for Biden and his family, but for anyone familiar with Trump's style of writing, many, including myself, doubted that he, himself, wrote it.
There were a handful of Republicans who also posted their usual "thoughts and prayers" regarding Biden's cancer diagnosis.
Stefanik remains silent.
But, also as expected, there were many in the MAGA far-right wing crowd that mocked Biden and seemed happy about it. This included Trump's own son, Don Jr.
Today's Republican Party, especially with the likes of Trump and Ultra-MAGA Stefanik, is a sad and miserable one. Hopefully, after the 2026 and 2028 elections, both of them and those of their ilk will be relegated to the dark recesses of American history.
One town supervisor was especially critical of Elise a couple years ago - after we went OFF THE RECORD. When I asked him why he felt the need to go off the record, he said he feared retribution to his town and didn't want that to happen. Wow! Consider that for a second from a public servant.
It's like you said in the headline. Stefanik chooses "self-service" over public service.
I noticed on her "official" X account she posted photos of her meeting with members of the NY Trucking Association and the American Hotel Lodging Association in her office. The walls are bare as are the display cases. Moving boxes can be seen. I wonder if that's her new office, which would be a stepdown from the one she held as part of senior leadership, or if that is a reflection of her trust and confidence in Trump re her nomination as Ambassador to the U.N. and during the time she was doing her farewell tour across NY21 and she was packed and ready to move into her new digs in NYC?
In this case, it was after I retired and came at the end of the interview when the subject said he would answer the question only off the record. That is why he is not identified. During my time at The Post-Star the policy during editorial board meetings was to no allow subjects to go off the record. That was my policy. Often subjects tried to go off the record after they had told us something. Usually those things were of no consequence.
The most interesting piece of information is that Joy was rejected by Stefanik and the Trump team for her "hard line positions on abortion and LGBTQ issues?" What do they think they have been selling GOP base voters for 10 years? Go to Eli$e's EPAC website and see Liz Joy as an Eli$e *FUNDED* candidate for NY-20 in the 2022 cycle. So why is the "conservative activist" Eli$e promoted political persona non grata now?
Eli$e chose the backcountry district she never lived in as an in-road, now she doesn't seem to like or appreciate her Schylerville reality and the Trump politics she planted and fertilized. Huh. Why am I whistling the old Green Acres theme? "No, New York is where I'd rather stay, I get allergic smelling hay, I just adore a penthouse view, darling, forgive me, but give me Park Avenue." The $tefanik hard line tactics described in the TU piece are pretty disgusting for local politics in the North Country, so far from Trump and his grifting in the Middle East and his new jet from Qatar. Maybe we'll get another thumbs-up photo op from Eli$e when she gets a ride to Mar-A-Lago to hobnob with her social class.
Thanks for this morning’s three very informative, perceptive pieces. The Times-Union has become our local, daily newspaper of choice. Wish they had a bit more coverage of the Glens Falls region, but realize they have their limits.
Our representative has spent her younger years (private schools etc) somewhat insulated from the adversity and setbacks that most of us learn to deal with as part of growing up. She must be experiencing what is called "cognitive dissonance" . Perhaps she is privately questioning the wisdom of hitching her wagon to a man who is famous for his dishonesty and infidelity.
She is also 40, a time when most of us begin to think about where we are and how we got here. Some call it a "midlife crisis" triggered by some event or disappointment. Sometimes true believers in something wake up to "everything I was taught is wrong". This happens often among clerics who become atheists.
There is a phrase that came to mind as I read this article…. “You get what you pay for…..”. Until the voters of the 21st district open their eyes, ears & minds and recognize how blindly checking the little boxes on the ballot where the republican candidates are named, they have jeopardized every freedom that makes this country great , things will only get worse….
Bruce Springsteen should have added 2/3 of our SCOTUS are corrupt by taking bribes, and ignoring precedent rulings for women and executive powers. However just as James Baldwin stated, “He said enough” to be meaningful! If our democracy is diminished, Mitch McConnell, Merrick Garland and our spineless legislators are also to blame.
Lots of blame to go around, including with out of touch voters.
Most definitely!
I used to get somewhat despondent when I thought of what the conservative side of our political equation has prevented. Universal health care and a decent place to live ought to be the birthright of all Americans and we have more than enough wealth to do it. By scaring folks that their children will have their sex changed at school and the farm workers might eat Fluffy the cat, among the rest of the lies that their political action require, we take no steps to "create a more perfect union." Springsteen taped a vein of gold in his writing and celebration of the everyday folks and made that life a rightous pursuit. Trump embodies the antithesis of the notion of hard work, honesty, pick ones self up from hardship and make something of yourself. Watching all of this unfold I find cold comfort in Springsteen's words, as I do when PM Stammer refers to the USA today as "Trumps America". I hope the world knows the difference between what once was and what we will become once more. The cancer that is this administration will be eradicated, but just as every cancer cell need to be removed, so it is with Republicans who allowed this felon to go on a rampage to destroy what took 250 years to build. One question I have for Elise, How's the view from under the bus? Get used too it. Trumps sees you as a loser, and he made it so, but that's just how it goes with this crowd.
Thank you, Ken!
I wouldn't know anything about our NY-21 ghost-rep if you did not write about her. Somehow, it didn't surprise me. The more she reveals about herself, the bigger the chance her supporters will have to see her for whom she is, a self-serving phony.
As soon as I heard Bruce Springsteen speak so bravely against trump, I was looking forward to reading your take on it. The threats by trump are of course wrong, and better be empty. They reiterate what "the Boss" said about the abhorrent situation with our country's leadership. In terms of government bonds, I just read Robert Reich's post from today about that topic. He discusses data I didn't know. Here it is.
https://open.substack.com/pub/robertreich/p/omg-the-bond-vigilantes?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=17be1t
You need to make a correction on the Stefanik story. It’s Anthony CONSTANTINO, not Consertino. Otherwise, excellent analysis.
Yes, I saw that this morning. I flubbed that one.
Re Elise: You go, Ken!
Keep bringing it Ken.
“The oppressor would not be so strong if he did not have accomplices among the oppressed.” - Simone de Beauvoir
Elise should have the sense to know the county chairs are closer to the electorate than she is, and she should be deferring to them, not the other way around.
And she should think twice about interfering with our State's elections. A Presidential pardon wouldn't give her a get out of jail free card on that one.
That is an excellent point. Elise has gotten a taste of power and has become intoxicated by it, but the only place to wield it is in small towns in the North Country. That just makes her a bully.
Eddie Vedder did an acoustic cover of My City of Ruins at a concert Friday night after Springsteen's statements and Trump's threats.
Very cool!
We had a fantastic turnout this past Friday to protest Elise Stephanik coming to Schoharie County (over 100 fantastic people!)
I noticed her pictures of Elise on local GOP pages her facial expressions don't change- a bit frozen- NY21 isn't a luxury flat that's for sure.
What you said about Stefanik is spot on. Some local Republican officials seem to have come a bit more aware about how Elise's bitterness, smugness and narcissism impacts them when they don't fall in line with her ambitions.
Trump was wined, dined and worshipped while visiting authoritarian regimes in the Middle East. When he returned to the White House, he had to face the reality that America is not one of them. It was easy to tell by his numerous posts ranting about everything and everyone, including Bruce Springsteen and Taylor Swift.
When I read Trump's post and his not so veiled threat towards Springsteen, I wondered what Noem and Bondi are now ordering CBP on how to treat him on his return to the States. No matter what, Springsteen is a U.S. citizen and cannot be denied entry, though CBP and DHS can make it quite an unpleasant experience for him and his band.
After the news broke about Joe Biden's cancer diagnosis, Trump extended his and Melania's "warmest and best wishes" for Biden and his family, but for anyone familiar with Trump's style of writing, many, including myself, doubted that he, himself, wrote it.
There were a handful of Republicans who also posted their usual "thoughts and prayers" regarding Biden's cancer diagnosis.
Stefanik remains silent.
But, also as expected, there were many in the MAGA far-right wing crowd that mocked Biden and seemed happy about it. This included Trump's own son, Don Jr.
Today's Republican Party, especially with the likes of Trump and Ultra-MAGA Stefanik, is a sad and miserable one. Hopefully, after the 2026 and 2028 elections, both of them and those of their ilk will be relegated to the dark recesses of American history.
One town supervisor was especially critical of Elise a couple years ago - after we went OFF THE RECORD. When I asked him why he felt the need to go off the record, he said he feared retribution to his town and didn't want that to happen. Wow! Consider that for a second from a public servant.
It's like you said in the headline. Stefanik chooses "self-service" over public service.
I noticed on her "official" X account she posted photos of her meeting with members of the NY Trucking Association and the American Hotel Lodging Association in her office. The walls are bare as are the display cases. Moving boxes can be seen. I wonder if that's her new office, which would be a stepdown from the one she held as part of senior leadership, or if that is a reflection of her trust and confidence in Trump re her nomination as Ambassador to the U.N. and during the time she was doing her farewell tour across NY21 and she was packed and ready to move into her new digs in NYC?
Who? You have repeatedly said you refused to "go off the record". Were you fibbing or simply forgot that this happened?
In this case, it was after I retired and came at the end of the interview when the subject said he would answer the question only off the record. That is why he is not identified. During my time at The Post-Star the policy during editorial board meetings was to no allow subjects to go off the record. That was my policy. Often subjects tried to go off the record after they had told us something. Usually those things were of no consequence.
The most interesting piece of information is that Joy was rejected by Stefanik and the Trump team for her "hard line positions on abortion and LGBTQ issues?" What do they think they have been selling GOP base voters for 10 years? Go to Eli$e's EPAC website and see Liz Joy as an Eli$e *FUNDED* candidate for NY-20 in the 2022 cycle. So why is the "conservative activist" Eli$e promoted political persona non grata now?
Eli$e chose the backcountry district she never lived in as an in-road, now she doesn't seem to like or appreciate her Schylerville reality and the Trump politics she planted and fertilized. Huh. Why am I whistling the old Green Acres theme? "No, New York is where I'd rather stay, I get allergic smelling hay, I just adore a penthouse view, darling, forgive me, but give me Park Avenue." The $tefanik hard line tactics described in the TU piece are pretty disgusting for local politics in the North Country, so far from Trump and his grifting in the Middle East and his new jet from Qatar. Maybe we'll get another thumbs-up photo op from Eli$e when she gets a ride to Mar-A-Lago to hobnob with her social class.
Love the Green Acres - and Eva Gabor - reference.
Bruce is MY HERO!!!!!
Mine too.
Thanks for this morning’s three very informative, perceptive pieces. The Times-Union has become our local, daily newspaper of choice. Wish they had a bit more coverage of the Glens Falls region, but realize they have their limits.
Keep rockin', keep talkin' Bruce...❤️
Our representative has spent her younger years (private schools etc) somewhat insulated from the adversity and setbacks that most of us learn to deal with as part of growing up. She must be experiencing what is called "cognitive dissonance" . Perhaps she is privately questioning the wisdom of hitching her wagon to a man who is famous for his dishonesty and infidelity.
Seems unlikely! She is all MAGA!
She is also 40, a time when most of us begin to think about where we are and how we got here. Some call it a "midlife crisis" triggered by some event or disappointment. Sometimes true believers in something wake up to "everything I was taught is wrong". This happens often among clerics who become atheists.
Sorry to be cynical, but I would be surprised if that happened here.
There is a phrase that came to mind as I read this article…. “You get what you pay for…..”. Until the voters of the 21st district open their eyes, ears & minds and recognize how blindly checking the little boxes on the ballot where the republican candidates are named, they have jeopardized every freedom that makes this country great , things will only get worse….
You get who you vote for…..