Thom's blog
How our republic could die in the age of Trump - in a stunning parallel to the fall of Rome
The American republic could die, just like Rome. Wavering for some time on the verge of becoming a complete oligarchy, America is on the verge of flipping from a democratic republic to a strongman or autocratic form of government, something that's happened to dozens of democracies in the past few decades, but never before here. It's possible we won't recover from it. The death of a republic is different from the death of a nation; Rome was a nation for nearly 2,000 years, but its period of being a republic was only around 300 years long. For the rest, it was a brutal empire with a small but wealthy and corrupt ruling class and a thin patina of democracy-for-show. Trump is openly defying the norms and laws of our republic, while calling for the imprisonment of both his political enemies and members of the very law enforcement agencies that might hold him to account. And he's only able to do it because billionaires like Rupert Murdoch, with Fox News, and the billionaires Republicans depend on to fund their re-elections are providing him with cover. Read more here. -Thom
|
Thom's blog
Imagine this scenario.....
-- Congress opens impeachment hearings Demands documents and testimony -- Trump refuses. -- Supreme court orders him to do it. -- He cites Andrew Jackson and says enforce your own decision. -- Congress demands that the witnesses show up. -- He says, "enforce your own decision." -- The courts direct the Justice Department to imprison Trump's witnesses if they continue to refuse to testify. -- Bill Barr refuses to execute the order of the court, saying his own department of legal counsel disagrees. -- Neither the Capitol Police nor the Secret Service are willing to step forward and enforce the court's orders in defiance of the president and the Justice Department. -- Donald Trump now has no restraints on his behavior. -- We are now officially a strong man government. -- What do we do next? -Thom
|
Tuesday's Daily Stack
Hour One: Could America Fall Just Like Rome?
Article: " Federalist 78: The Judiciary Department" by Alexander Hamilton. " the judiciary, from the nature of its functions, will always be the least dangerous to the political rights of the Constitution; because it will be least in a capacity to annoy or injure them."
Quote: "John Marshall has made his decision: now let him enforce it!" -- Andrew Jackson.
Article: " Power of the purse" by Wikipedia. "In the federal government of the United States, the power of the purse is vested in the Congress as laid down in the Constitution of the United States, Article I, Section 9, Clause 7 (the Appropriations Clause) and Article I, Section 8, Clause 1 (the Taxing and Spending Clause)."
Hour Two: Imagine this scenario...
What do we do when our leaders won't adhere to the rules of law?
Hour Three: What Do We Do When Our Elected Leaders Won't Adhere To the Rule of Law?
|
WHY I AM ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT AT PATREON?
Your support of the program is invaluable. Producing the Thom Hartmann Program is a labor of love for the team, but doesn't come without cost. We supply the program to non-profit, community and volunteer radio and cable stations across the US. However, this isn't cost free and being a supporter through Patreon means you can help us to meet some of the bills, to allow us to continue free supply to the non-profit sector. As a way of saying thank you, we would like to give you something back for your support at various levels. Every weekday, the live Thom Hartmann Program three hour program is recorded exclusively for Patreon supporters. Unedited, the full three hour video will be right here on the Patreon page, within a couple of hours of the end of the live program. And we're also providing extra videos not seen anywhere else like our new one. The Importance of Poop to Our Planet?What does hippo poop have to do with saving the environment? You'll be surprised to learn about the importance of poop in this special video for sponsors of the program.If you sign up on Patreon you'll get more than the podcast. Can you take time now to support this show?
|
Wednesday on The Thom Hartmann Program, 12-3pm ET
And, the best of the rest of the news along with your calls right here on...
The Thom Hartmann Program, Occupying The Media 3 hours a day 5 days a week" for "we the people"
And don't forget...Democracy is NOT a spectator sport...it begins with you...
|
|
|
Watch & Listen to Thom
Mueller Investigation Report, Part 11 : More on the GRU
War With Iran Stops Trump Impeachment (w/ Mark Pocan)
The Corporate Sponsors of the War on Women
Should Climate Change Damage Be Charged to the Fossil Fuel Industry?
|
On the Road Again
The Hidden History of Guns and the 2nd Amendment Book Tour Is Coming...
Thu, Jun 6: NEW YORK, NY 7:30pm - The Strand (2nd floor), 828 Broadway.
Mon, Jun 10: WASHINGTON, DC 6:30pm - Busboys and Poets, 450 K St NW.
Wed, Jun 12: PORTLAND, OR 7:30pm - Powell's, 1005 W Burnside St.
Sun, Jun 23: SEATTLE, WA 7:30pm - Town Hall, 1119 8th Ave (West Entrance) w/Elliott Bay Book Company.
Tue, Jun 25: SAN FRANCISCO, CA 7:00pm - First Church, 2345 Channing Way, Berkeley w/The Booksmith.
Fri, Jun 28: CHICAGO, IL 7:00pm - Frugal Muse, 7511 Lemont Rd. #146 (Chestnut Court Shopping Center), Darien.
Sat, Jun 29: MINNEAPOLIS, MN 7:00pm - Common Good Books, 38 S. Snelling Ave, St. Paul.
|
|
|