He was corrupt. He was petty, angry and resentful. He was also one of the most astute politicians in the annals of the American presidency. Time after time he overcame obstacles and defeats to rise again. His genius, ultimately, was this: He envisioned a new coalition and knew how to channel white resentment over the civil rights and antiwar movements into political triumph. This was his gift, and his legacy. Americans today inhabit the partisan universe that Richard Milhous Nixon crafted. Republican leaders to this very day speak Nixon’s language and employ Nixon’s tactics of fear and anger to win massive white majorities in election upon election. Indeed, though Nixon eventually resigned in disgrace before he could be impeached, the last half-century has been rather kind to the Republican Party. Only three Democrats have been elected president in that period, and Republicans have reigned over the White House for a majority of the post-Nixon era.
Category Archives: Philosophy
PROGRESSIVE INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM: “America’s Reproductive Slaves” / Chris Hedges ☮
On Wednesday, the day it was announced that the U.S. birthrate fell for the fourth straight year, signaling the lowest number of births in 32 years, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed into law the most draconian anti-abortion lawin the country. That the two developments came at the same time could not have been more revelatory.
The ruling elites are acutely aware that the steadily declining American birthrate is the result of a de facto “birth strike” by women who, unable to afford adequate health insurance and exorbitant medical bills and denied access to paid parental leave, child care and job protection, find it financially punitive to have children. Not since 1971 have births in the United States been at replacement levels, considered to be 2,100 births per 1,000 women over their lifetimes, a ratio needed for a generation to replace itself. Current births number 1,728 per 1,000 women, a decline of 2% from 2017. Without a steady infusion of immigrants, the U.S. population would be plummeting.
PROGRESSIVE INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM: “Creeping Toward Tyranny” / Chris Hedges ☮
The destruction of the rule of law, an action essential to establishing an authoritarian or totalitarian state, began long before the arrival of the Trump administration.
PROGRESSIVE INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM: “The Deep Rot of American Journalism with Matt Taibbi” / RT America / On Contact with Chris Hedges ☮
Chris Hedges discusses the deep rot that infects American journalism with reporter Matt Taibbi.
PROGRESSIVE NEWS & POLITICAL COMMENTARY: “Chomsky BRILLIANTLY Dissects Trump, Democrats and RussiaGate” / Democracy Now! / Secular Talk / Kyle Kulinski / MUST WATCH! ☮
SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE: “Appeals Court Reinforces Discrimination Against Atheists” / Freedom From Religion Foundation / Dan Barker ☮
FFRF Co-President Dan Barker discusses how the U.S. House chaplain can continue barring atheists from delivering invocations. He also explains why this sends a message to freethinkers across the country that they are political outsiders.
ANTI-THEISM: “WOTMQ: Pete and Frankie” / Mr. Deity ☮
Franklin Graham takes on Mayor Peter and his homosexuality (warning: Some bad language from our President is included).
PROGRESSIVE NEWS & POLITICAL COMMENTARY: “Bernie Asked Why he Wants the U.S. to be Like the Soviet Union” / Secular Talk / Kyle Kulinski ☮
PROGRESSIVE NEWS & POLITICAL COMMENTARY: “Fox News’ Creepy Fundamentalism on Full Display” / Secular Talk / Kyle Kulinski ☮
U.S. POLITICS: “America Has Already Fired Trump” / Robert Reich ☮
Robert Reich explains how Trump has become isolated politically.