I know it's insane, but we are living through one of the most important moments in our history.

[shockey80]

We are witnessing something amazing. It will be talked about it, written about, forever. We just have to hope it has a good ending. We the people, must do everything we can to make sure it has a good ending. It all comes down to the people. That's what a Republic is all about.

[rzemanfl]

1. Agreed, but I would prefer not to be. n/t

[shockey80]

3. Me too, however I am surprised it took so long for this to happen.

The Founders knew a Trump was going to show up and test everything they put in place. It's amazing it took so long.

[MoonRiver]

10. It also happened in 2000. Just saying

[PatSeg]

22. That's true

Bush/Cheney and the republican party set the stage for someone like Trump. He wasn't an anomaly.

[DENVERPOPS]

23. amen to that PatSet

Most people don't realize just how long this has been developing and who was in the background making it happen.

HW BUSH........head of CIA, HW, Cheney, Rumsfeld, etc etc running the administration for Reagan, then same players under HW, then exact same players under W Bush, and now Cheney rumsfeld etc etc all hiding in the shadows, completely out of sight directing everything in the Republican Party since Obama won, and most certainly getting Trump put in office and most certainly the last 3-4 years...........

THE COMMON THREAD FOR OVER 40 YEARS: HW BUSH, AND HIS CRONIES....CHENEY RUMSFELD et al.........

Thankfully, in 1962 our 8th grade social studies teacher, besides pounding civics, constitution, etc etc into our brains, made us all read four books: ANIMAL FARM Orswell 1945, 1984 Orswell 1949, THE JUNGLE Upton Sinclair 1906, AND THE UGLY AMERICAN Lederer 1958...........

Most people I have talked to thru my life time maybe read 1984, but never any of these other classics.......

People would do well to read those, as well as: IT CAN'T HAPPEN HERE Sincair Lewis 1935, A NATION OF SHEEP Lederer 1962

Who said: People who don't know anything about history are bound to repeat it......?????

If I could have everyone in America read one book, it would be ANIMAL FARM.........It is like a manifest for the Trump administration.

[PatSeg]

26. That's really impressive for an 8th grade teacher

I remember having to read Animal Farm in high school though. I had a great teacher for history and the following year for sociology. So much of what he taught us keeps coming back, but most importantly, he taught us to think and question everything. I remember he made some students uncomfortable, as he always challenged us to think outside the textbook. Memorizing names and dates would not get them an "A".

I think over the years, the messages such books conveyed has become more real and tangible. The same with a lot of science fiction that is often profoundly prophetic as well.

[DENVERPOPS]

30. Did I mention

Did I mention that the DPS nearly fired him for that?????????/ And most interesting is that he was a Republican.....wow

[PatSeg]

31. That is a huge WOW

The part about nearly getting fired. Being a republican back then was very different than it is now. My parents were republicans and they were quite liberal in many respects, not as liberal as me, far from conservative.

[DENVERPOPS]

32. I guess

I guess he was what some would call a true republican, when it stood for something. If we had a house and senate that we had back then, this whole administration would have been run out of town on a rail, or eternally in Prison.......

We also had a teacher in high school, who was likewise nearly fired for conducting a realistic "Current Events" history course.
Of course both of these were in the 60's........

[PatSeg]

34. My father was very active

in republican politics when I was young. He was a precinct captain and got very involved, until Nixon resigned. He had enthusiastically campaigned for Nixon, but felt completely betrayed by him after Watergate. Though he still voted after that, he rarely talked about politics again.

I can't even begin to imagine what my father's republican party would think of Trump and the screwballs in congress. Though I didn't agree with him on everything, he did have principles and integrity, and expected that from his public servants.

[DENVERPOPS]

35. Great quote at the bottom....couldn't be more true, regretfully

[PatSeg]

36. Unfortunately

I would like to have a higher opinion of people, but as I get older, it is getting harder.

[Mike 03]

2. +1

We sometimes use humor to keep ourselves sane, but at the end of the day this period we are living through is a gravely serious crisis. Everything depends on the next few years. Even if we remove or conquer Trump at the ballot box, there's going to be an incredible amount of wreckage to sort out. Sometimes it is difficult to see historical context when one is in the middle of it--like being in the eye of a hurricane.

[cry baby]

4. If we don't win this fight, the history books will reflect a

completely inaccurate story. The truth will be outlawed.

[erronis]

15. And eventually a new Howard Zinn wil write a new "People's History" but it will take years of lies

and misery while the kleptocrats rob this country of anything of worth.

[bluestarone]

5. TRUE!

Will our constitution survive? We shall all see if it's as strong as we feel it is!

[Demovictory9]

6. k&r

[Kid Berwyn]

7. "THESE are the times that try men's souls."

“The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.”

[shockey80]

11. Thomas Paine is one my favorite Americans. I wear T-shirts with his quotes.

[Kid Berwyn]

16. Guy went broke by telling truth to power.

Yet, Paine didn’t care.

“Without the pen of the author of Common Sense, the sword of Washington would have been raised in vain.” — John Adams

And we are free today — no matter Trump and his deprivations — to continue the revolution.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

8. "May you live in interesting times" really is a curse.

I would love to be bored now, please.

[shockey80]

12. Being bored may be the real curse.

[H2O Man]

9. Recommended.

The best of times for historians and political junkies, the worst of times for many human beings in the US. And, exactly as you note, although it may seem horrible, these times present unique opportunities. We will never have these same opportunities again -- no one will -- although it is possible that a future population will encounter opportunities that appear somewhat similar. We need to take care of business today, in order that there will be a sane society in the future.

[shockey80]

13. Exactly.

[Iwasthere]

14. We can only win if we are willing to be inconvenienced

We must be able to hit the streets en masse

[Dream Girl]

20. But Facebook is fun!

[MBS]

17. "We the people, must do everything we can to make sure it has a good ending."

Exactly right.
It is up to all of us.
Courage, everyone!

[samnsara]

18. this is the third impeachment of my life time! All I remember of Nixons was watching..

...the hearings ( ok Im sure it was just a quick blurb on the evening news) and noticing Mo Deans perfect blond bun when she sat behind John during his testimony. I didnt pay too much attn to Clintons, other than it pissed me off...so Im watching every minute I can of trumps. I have to take long breaks tho esp when the news has plateaued into just what an awful person trump is.

[wnylib]

28. My 3rd one, too. Shouldn't be like this,

that 3 would occur in one person's lifetime.

Nixon deserved it. Clinton was pure political strategy for RWers.

But this one is the most important. Nixon was a crook but was not nearly the threat to our entire system of government that Trump and his criminal cabal are.

I take it for granted that he eill not be convicted in the Senate. Too many RW Senators are involved in the Trump crimes or will cover for pals in the House. Or they just want to hold power for their party.

If Trump is re-elected, the nation is screwed. We could never recover from the damage of another 4 yesrs. If we hold the House and gain the Senate, we might be able to contain the damage.

[certainot]

19. but we let 87 universities like syracuse support 260 linmbaugh stations.....

and we have MSNBC panels on trump media doing 15 minutes blaming fox, the cartoon cliff notes for RW talk radio's 1500 putin-fed stations, without a single mention of talk radio

the biggest political mistake in history

[Still In Wisconsin]

21. You can't listen to a Wisconsin Badger game on the radio without supporting RW hate radio.

The network that carries all of the University of Wisconsin games in every sport also carries Limbaugh and Hannity. The same network also has a monopoly on major pro sports teams- Milwaukee Brewers, Bucks, and Green Bay Packers. It sucks.

[randr]

24. I felt that way during WaterGate, still do

We are witnesses to history until we are called to action, then we make history.

[C Moon]

25. The Electoral College is our weakest link.

There's still a chance it's going to be an issue is 2020. Hell, what if a some of them decide to vote against what is dictated to them?

[Loge23]

27. Trying to remain optimistic

Yes, we are living through a seminal time in American history.
But as far as this being talked, written, and taught about - it remains unclear as to whether that conversation will be open or underground.
I am reminded that Ruth Bader Ginsburg was released from her second recent hospital stay earlier today. Our freedom to discuss these times, I fear, is partly hinging on RBG's ability to remain a Justice on our Supreme Court.
If the enemy within has the grave misfortune of appointing another Justice, I genuinely fear for our future as a republic that tolerates dissension.
I don't think that these fears are unfounded or hyperbole- just look at the company that the #IPOTUS keeps, including some of the world's strictest dictators, a deeply corrupt Attorney General, and a Senate majority of minority Senators.
Think it can't happen here? I thought the #IPOTUS couldn't happen here.

[rockfordfile]

29. Get out and vote. No matter who the republican nominee is.

Should already be campaigning the neighborhoods.

[MerryBlooms]

33. Amen. r&k

[NCLefty]

37. Agreed.

[lunatica]

38. I'm always very aware of this time as a historical moment

of tremendous importance. I feel like I’ve lived through and witnesses fast moving history my entire life. So many important changes.

I’m doing my part to make sure our history goes in the direction of Democracy.