Ask the dinosaurs, those big rigs they used to clear the jungles were pollution contributors. Those Canadian Forrest Fires should be banned too. Put a tariff on lightening and see how soon the fires stop.
With Trump the likely Republican candidate for president, our country is looking more and more like Russia every day. We already have our own oligarchs. If Trump gets in office, we'll be in for a rough ride, based on Trump's stated intentions-- a journey down the road of the military in our cities, detention camps for refugees, political opponents facing baseless prosecution, and the press fighting censorship.
I've been reading a Sinclair Lewis novel called "It can't happen here" that was published in 1936 (before World War II and Nazi Germany) and it sounds so much like what we are going through here now. It is truly frightening.
Sadly, I think my comment is likely to come to pass.
Just look at what Trump did in his first four years in office. And that was tempered by officials and cabinet members who tried to dial down his excesses. Trump has said in a second term he’ll appoint "loyal" officials and cabinet members who will obey his orders.
Every year Trump was in office, I naively thought it couldn't get worse. But every year, it did.
We can resist, vote sensibly in November, and hope a majority of voters with common sense join us.
I have also written earlier about Hungary and how political parties and their supporters took over major media outlets to essentially become state run media.
Agree with almost every word Ken. You cite the age-old phrase "You lie with dogs..." The comparison is a considerable slight to the canine species, though I'm sure it was unintended.
The thing that stands out to me the most recently is that fact that we know all of this. Everything has been out there in the news. Plus there is just soooo much more that we know about what these terrible people have done and plan to do, but Trump is still a candidate for president and has the kind of support that he does. Really? Is our system so week that such an ignorant cad could just come along and scoop up this kind of blind support that he could actually be re-elected. There isn't much that stuns me these days but that does. Someone who led an attack on police, is still supported by police. Who calls the military "suckers and losers" still has support of military and their families. Someone that clearly despises anyone that isn't a white male, has support of people of color? Someone who abuses and thinks of women as a lower life form, has even one woman voting for him? Someone who cheats, steals, gives to the rich and never pays for services or his taxes, has the support of lower income families? And he promises to do worse next time. Nothing makes sense anymore.
In my more free-wheeling, stream-of-consciousness moments, I blame the cutbacks in arts education. We now have a couple of generations of graduates who can't tell a Picasso from an online pic, nor can they tolerate more than a few seconds of a Beethoven symphony. They also can't judge the difference between a meme and a right-wing Manifesto. Something happens in the brain when you are educated in the arts. Magically, you learn things like critical analysis, delayed gratification, and tolerance for others. It's tough to work all of those talking points onto campaign signage, but I hope you get my point.
None of the 250-year old checks and balances designed to prevent what has already occurred will be any more effective in restraining these pillagers. Only we can do so. Vote. Vote. Vote.
As they say, "deja vu" all over again? It's insane to read this and realize the history here and why Trump should have been tried and convicted by now. The legal system is moving at glacial speed and he's used the classic delay strategy to prevent justice from happening (justice delayed is justice denied). Judge Cannon's decision to delay the Florida trial, the SCOTUS delay to decide on Presidential immunity and the RNC current staffing just shows that something is terribly wrong with the voters in the REP party. The American people deserve to know the full truth that all these trials would expose BEFORE the election. Looks like the only verdict that will be known by then is that Trump hires hookers, lies about it, and pays them off. Apparently most REPs don't think that's a problem and the bible thumping, right wing, hypocritical Evangelicals who elected him in the first place in order to overturn abortion, don't seem to have any real moral and ethical bones in their bodies. Oh well. My favorite song in the musical "The Producers" is Springtime for Hitler! One doesn't need to look in to a crystal ball to see with Dobb's decision how easily all the "good people on both sides" from Charlottesville will be moving forward if Trump wins a second term.
This is another column, but one of the lessons we are seeing play out is that our legal system is not equipped to bring the rich or those with power to justice. If you have the money, you can find the lawyers to keep you out of jail. Remember Sheldon Silver. He was spared jail for years and years after being convicted in New York.
It's always been that way unfortunately and when you realize that abuse structure really exists it's not a surprise why many people think the system is rigged. Jeffrey Epstein is a great example of how things worked out until they didn't. Most of the major crime families realized a long time ago how to make that system work to their advantage and Roy Cohn, one of the most successful mob lawyers ever, taught Trump how to run a mob like real estate empire. Of course the mob also bought off a lot of law enforcement including judges, but that's the strategy. Trump bought off stories that the National Enquirer would have run otherwise. The latest Sienna Poll in NY Times today is scary because if it is accurate and the election was held today, Trump would win.
Yes, the "collective we" who read this column KNOW all of what Ken's column enumerates----WHAT is going on in the heads of those who swear by everything coming from the orange headed creature who takes up far too much of our brain space? If you just turn it allllll off and avoid anything that looks like "news," is that what the vast majority of people in this country are doing UNTIL we get right on top of the election? Will they be aware of all that is in this column plus SO much more about this frightening alternative to sanity and decency?
Ken-I realize it must be tiring to continue to point our major flaws in the characters of Trump and Stefanik. But, I applaud your efforts---and urge you to continue in this plight. They are criminal....dangerous....power hungry...egotistical....money above all else types who are the worst candidates (citizens) I have ever seen in my life. This (a Trump presidency) cannot happen for this great country. The world will be chaos if it does.
The world is already in chaos to some degree. When people have pointed out that these are the worst times ever, I've often pointed to the 60's with political assassinations, our cities burning over Vietnam and Civil Rights. But this seems like the greatest threat to democracy we have ever faced since the McCarthy hearings.
I feel your concern. If Trump gets elected, support for Ukraine disappears, Global warming goes unchecked and our freedoms will continue to erode. Well, that is the best case scenario. I'm sure I'm missing a lot.
Another great column, Ken. Keep 'em coming! But I can't help feeling the wave of frustration that you're preaching to the choir. How to we, your loyal readers, make sure that this clear headed account of what's going on reaches more people? The folks with TFG flags will never, ever read this and if they did, they wouldn't believe it. Amazingly, there are still undecided people out there. How do we get this into their mailboxes?
I do have the same fears. As a journalist, you'd like to think that a reputation for fairness and accuracy forged over 40 years would carry some weight. I've been a fiscal conservative my entire life, belong to the Republican Party for most of my life and would describe myself as a moderate these days. But these are different times. Different people.
And at the end of the day as the saying goes, “all politics is local.” So I am curious how many of our Supervisors, Mayors and Board members in Warren and Washington Counties continue to support and are planning to vote for Trump and Stefanik? And if they are, why? Is this the type of morals and values they want their constituents and children to emulate? In years past this type of behavior from a candidate would have got them thrown from the race i.e., Gary Hart, and John Edwards. And then we have Rod Blagojevich from IL who was found guilty of public corruption but Trump commuted his sentence in 2020. So are we looking at “birds of a feather, flock together?”
It's a great question that all local politicians - even village mayors and town supervisors - should answer. Many fear repercussions from Stefanik that their communities will be denied funds.
Stefanik has been publishing all of her “endorsements” on Facebook. It would serve all of us to contact our local office holders, including elected county sheriffs to express our values.
'Americans For Truth' reports Joe Biden was rejected for membership into the Truth Matters when it was discovered his campaign speeches in the 80's were plagiarized from multiple sources and hair plugs installed decades ago may have affected his cranial recall and he was stuck on "Come on Man". 50 % of all Americans and 100,000 supporters at Trump's rally in New Jersey are only available on weekends because they are employed and pay taxes.
This post activated my "pants on fire" BS meter so I tried to fact check. Could not find any organization called "Americans for Truth." There is an organization called "Americans for Truth about Homosexuality." Hope you did not mean them. Biden admitted back in 1987 that he plagiarized a paper while a first year law school student and took responsibility about it. And the hair plugs accusation, well I won't even bother to comment on that one. Even the New Jersey crowd totals are still being especially since Springsteen regularly draws big crowds in Jersey. But of course, this is another example of not commenting on my commentary, but changing the subject to something else. The old bait and switch. Why not defend trading legislation for oil companies with campaign donations. You are really ok with that??????
Wonder how and why the Post Star folded? Letters to the editor were often "corrected" to reflect views of the editorial staff. People simply stopped writing letters and subscriptions dropped. Pretty soon we'll be banned, without cause, the same as Dennis. Changing the subject? no, questioning the slant, yes. CKT Classic Ken Tingley, the beat goes on.....
I don't recall, it happened years ago and my recall is not what it used to be. Kind of like not remembering the "several times" people offered to pay the Post Star not to post a news story......
Such as graft, corruption, not paying your taxes. I could start the list of Trump advisors who have been indicted or jailed, but I would run out of room. Those are the American values you defend????
These guys quote sources such as "Trump lied 89,763 times in June, 2017." The real number was 3. He lied about listening to NPR, he lied about reading The NY Times. He lied about watching CNN. Can't blame him, why communicate with an echo chamber.
Preposterous! Just preposterous! You are doing SO much good informing, reminding and writing about these horrific things! Thank you. I hope your articles go everywhere.
You assume that Stefanik can be bought with campaign contributions. She cannot. She was long ago bought and sold, and there is nothing more worth paying for.
Don’t know if the Democrats have any quid pro quo with the environmental companies. Yet, here is another interaction with Trump that smells funny.
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/rich-alaskan-donor-gave-250k-trump-epa-reversed/story?id=55697321
Renee interesting article, what in the article do you find suspicious? What is it that smells funny?
Or maybe they believe that climate change is the greatest existential threat man has ever known.
Please identify “Deep state”
Ask the dinosaurs, those big rigs they used to clear the jungles were pollution contributors. Those Canadian Forrest Fires should be banned too. Put a tariff on lightening and see how soon the fires stop.
No evidence of that. Once again changing subject.
CKT
With Trump the likely Republican candidate for president, our country is looking more and more like Russia every day. We already have our own oligarchs. If Trump gets in office, we'll be in for a rough ride, based on Trump's stated intentions-- a journey down the road of the military in our cities, detention camps for refugees, political opponents facing baseless prosecution, and the press fighting censorship.
Resist.
I've been reading a Sinclair Lewis novel called "It can't happen here" that was published in 1936 (before World War II and Nazi Germany) and it sounds so much like what we are going through here now. It is truly frightening.
Sadly, I think my comment is likely to come to pass.
Just look at what Trump did in his first four years in office. And that was tempered by officials and cabinet members who tried to dial down his excesses. Trump has said in a second term he’ll appoint "loyal" officials and cabinet members who will obey his orders.
Every year Trump was in office, I naively thought it couldn't get worse. But every year, it did.
We can resist, vote sensibly in November, and hope a majority of voters with common sense join us.
I have also written earlier about Hungary and how political parties and their supporters took over major media outlets to essentially become state run media.
I read that back when Trump was first elected. It reads like his playbook.
That was a disappointing novel. We've long know what the diagnosis is. We're looking for prescriptions.
Agree with almost every word Ken. You cite the age-old phrase "You lie with dogs..." The comparison is a considerable slight to the canine species, though I'm sure it was unintended.
Indeed you are correct, sir. I apology to all our canine friends I might have offended.
The thing that stands out to me the most recently is that fact that we know all of this. Everything has been out there in the news. Plus there is just soooo much more that we know about what these terrible people have done and plan to do, but Trump is still a candidate for president and has the kind of support that he does. Really? Is our system so week that such an ignorant cad could just come along and scoop up this kind of blind support that he could actually be re-elected. There isn't much that stuns me these days but that does. Someone who led an attack on police, is still supported by police. Who calls the military "suckers and losers" still has support of military and their families. Someone that clearly despises anyone that isn't a white male, has support of people of color? Someone who abuses and thinks of women as a lower life form, has even one woman voting for him? Someone who cheats, steals, gives to the rich and never pays for services or his taxes, has the support of lower income families? And he promises to do worse next time. Nothing makes sense anymore.
I agree, it is shocking. I can blame Fox News for some of it, but not all.
There are plenty of other right wing outfits also offering propaganda. But still; are there that many Americans that can be so hoodwinked?
Look at the number of Trump voters in 2020.
Far far too many to comprehend.
In my more free-wheeling, stream-of-consciousness moments, I blame the cutbacks in arts education. We now have a couple of generations of graduates who can't tell a Picasso from an online pic, nor can they tolerate more than a few seconds of a Beethoven symphony. They also can't judge the difference between a meme and a right-wing Manifesto. Something happens in the brain when you are educated in the arts. Magically, you learn things like critical analysis, delayed gratification, and tolerance for others. It's tough to work all of those talking points onto campaign signage, but I hope you get my point.
None of the 250-year old checks and balances designed to prevent what has already occurred will be any more effective in restraining these pillagers. Only we can do so. Vote. Vote. Vote.
Oh, I get it ...... Elise can "sell" the Adirondack Park; donate the $$$ to Trump's campaign fund; and leave C.D. 21 for D.C. to be V.P.
Sure does sound like her "goal", doesnt it?
As they say, "deja vu" all over again? It's insane to read this and realize the history here and why Trump should have been tried and convicted by now. The legal system is moving at glacial speed and he's used the classic delay strategy to prevent justice from happening (justice delayed is justice denied). Judge Cannon's decision to delay the Florida trial, the SCOTUS delay to decide on Presidential immunity and the RNC current staffing just shows that something is terribly wrong with the voters in the REP party. The American people deserve to know the full truth that all these trials would expose BEFORE the election. Looks like the only verdict that will be known by then is that Trump hires hookers, lies about it, and pays them off. Apparently most REPs don't think that's a problem and the bible thumping, right wing, hypocritical Evangelicals who elected him in the first place in order to overturn abortion, don't seem to have any real moral and ethical bones in their bodies. Oh well. My favorite song in the musical "The Producers" is Springtime for Hitler! One doesn't need to look in to a crystal ball to see with Dobb's decision how easily all the "good people on both sides" from Charlottesville will be moving forward if Trump wins a second term.
This is another column, but one of the lessons we are seeing play out is that our legal system is not equipped to bring the rich or those with power to justice. If you have the money, you can find the lawyers to keep you out of jail. Remember Sheldon Silver. He was spared jail for years and years after being convicted in New York.
As in Senator Menendez and oh so many others including the orange blob!
It's always been that way unfortunately and when you realize that abuse structure really exists it's not a surprise why many people think the system is rigged. Jeffrey Epstein is a great example of how things worked out until they didn't. Most of the major crime families realized a long time ago how to make that system work to their advantage and Roy Cohn, one of the most successful mob lawyers ever, taught Trump how to run a mob like real estate empire. Of course the mob also bought off a lot of law enforcement including judges, but that's the strategy. Trump bought off stories that the National Enquirer would have run otherwise. The latest Sienna Poll in NY Times today is scary because if it is accurate and the election was held today, Trump would win.
I think money has generally been the "not guilty" and "get out of jail" pass globally for eons.
Sadly.
Prime example of the opposite of journalism - nothing more than character assassination!
https://popular.info/p/the-real-cancel-culture?utm_campaign=email-half-post&r=b9ign&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
Yes, the "collective we" who read this column KNOW all of what Ken's column enumerates----WHAT is going on in the heads of those who swear by everything coming from the orange headed creature who takes up far too much of our brain space? If you just turn it allllll off and avoid anything that looks like "news," is that what the vast majority of people in this country are doing UNTIL we get right on top of the election? Will they be aware of all that is in this column plus SO much more about this frightening alternative to sanity and decency?
You have to work hard to be an informed citizen these days. I fear many are not working at it at all.
Ken-I realize it must be tiring to continue to point our major flaws in the characters of Trump and Stefanik. But, I applaud your efforts---and urge you to continue in this plight. They are criminal....dangerous....power hungry...egotistical....money above all else types who are the worst candidates (citizens) I have ever seen in my life. This (a Trump presidency) cannot happen for this great country. The world will be chaos if it does.
The world is already in chaos to some degree. When people have pointed out that these are the worst times ever, I've often pointed to the 60's with political assassinations, our cities burning over Vietnam and Civil Rights. But this seems like the greatest threat to democracy we have ever faced since the McCarthy hearings.
I feel your concern. If Trump gets elected, support for Ukraine disappears, Global warming goes unchecked and our freedoms will continue to erode. Well, that is the best case scenario. I'm sure I'm missing a lot.
Be glad you are not female.
Another great column, Ken. Keep 'em coming! But I can't help feeling the wave of frustration that you're preaching to the choir. How to we, your loyal readers, make sure that this clear headed account of what's going on reaches more people? The folks with TFG flags will never, ever read this and if they did, they wouldn't believe it. Amazingly, there are still undecided people out there. How do we get this into their mailboxes?
I do have the same fears. As a journalist, you'd like to think that a reputation for fairness and accuracy forged over 40 years would carry some weight. I've been a fiscal conservative my entire life, belong to the Republican Party for most of my life and would describe myself as a moderate these days. But these are different times. Different people.
And at the end of the day as the saying goes, “all politics is local.” So I am curious how many of our Supervisors, Mayors and Board members in Warren and Washington Counties continue to support and are planning to vote for Trump and Stefanik? And if they are, why? Is this the type of morals and values they want their constituents and children to emulate? In years past this type of behavior from a candidate would have got them thrown from the race i.e., Gary Hart, and John Edwards. And then we have Rod Blagojevich from IL who was found guilty of public corruption but Trump commuted his sentence in 2020. So are we looking at “birds of a feather, flock together?”
It's a great question that all local politicians - even village mayors and town supervisors - should answer. Many fear repercussions from Stefanik that their communities will be denied funds.
Stefanik has been publishing all of her “endorsements” on Facebook. It would serve all of us to contact our local office holders, including elected county sheriffs to express our values.
'Americans For Truth' reports Joe Biden was rejected for membership into the Truth Matters when it was discovered his campaign speeches in the 80's were plagiarized from multiple sources and hair plugs installed decades ago may have affected his cranial recall and he was stuck on "Come on Man". 50 % of all Americans and 100,000 supporters at Trump's rally in New Jersey are only available on weekends because they are employed and pay taxes.
Do you mean, Americans for Truth, a national organization devoted exclusively to exposing and countering the homosexual activist agenda?
This post activated my "pants on fire" BS meter so I tried to fact check. Could not find any organization called "Americans for Truth." There is an organization called "Americans for Truth about Homosexuality." Hope you did not mean them. Biden admitted back in 1987 that he plagiarized a paper while a first year law school student and took responsibility about it. And the hair plugs accusation, well I won't even bother to comment on that one. Even the New Jersey crowd totals are still being especially since Springsteen regularly draws big crowds in Jersey. But of course, this is another example of not commenting on my commentary, but changing the subject to something else. The old bait and switch. Why not defend trading legislation for oil companies with campaign donations. You are really ok with that??????
Don’t change the subject!
CHANGING THE SUBJECT AGAIN!!!!
Wonder how and why the Post Star folded? Letters to the editor were often "corrected" to reflect views of the editorial staff. People simply stopped writing letters and subscriptions dropped. Pretty soon we'll be banned, without cause, the same as Dennis. Changing the subject? no, questioning the slant, yes. CKT Classic Ken Tingley, the beat goes on.....
I know plenty of very skilled workers that pay taxes and work weekends or that can take weekdays off.
Looking over Trump crowds they appear to be predominately old white men that probably have no other excitement in their lives.
Who cares if Biden has/had hair plugs?
However, I understand that hair dye (especially orange) can affect mental stability.
One other point: the cranium is the skull (bone); “cranial recall” is nonsensical.
What was that source again?
I don't recall, it happened years ago and my recall is not what it used to be. Kind of like not remembering the "several times" people offered to pay the Post Star not to post a news story......
Right on, Ken! It still baffles me how supposedly intelligent so called patriots can swallow the MAGA bait—hook, line, and sinker.
Such as graft, corruption, not paying your taxes. I could start the list of Trump advisors who have been indicted or jailed, but I would run out of room. Those are the American values you defend????
Then what are you talking about? Address the commentary I have written.
These guys quote sources such as "Trump lied 89,763 times in June, 2017." The real number was 3. He lied about listening to NPR, he lied about reading The NY Times. He lied about watching CNN. Can't blame him, why communicate with an echo chamber.
Simply Put, whoever you are, to put it simply, “WOW!”
Wow!
Those are not American values. And you know that.
Preposterous! Just preposterous! You are doing SO much good informing, reminding and writing about these horrific things! Thank you. I hope your articles go everywhere.
You assume that Stefanik can be bought with campaign contributions. She cannot. She was long ago bought and sold, and there is nothing more worth paying for.
If only she would take a job raising money for the United Way.
Why not a "journalist" ? They're about to be subsidized by taxpayers.