Ten Fingers United

[H2O Man]

“In boxing, I had a lot of fear. Fear was good. But, for the first time, in the bout with Muhammad Ali, I didn't have any fear. I thought, 'This is easy. This is what I've been waiting for'. No fear at all. No nervousness. And I lost .”
George Foreman


A number of my friends and associates have told me that they fear for the future of our country. Some are depressed. I understand that. These are unsettling times. There are a few things that I think are important to keep in mind.

I'll start with something I said on another thread recently. Look at the members of Trump's defense team from the impeachment trial. Do you recognize them? They are the kids that you couldn't stand when you were in school. The kid from school may have had a different name, but you knew a Pat Cipollone. You probably called him other names. Jay Sekulow may have had a different face, but you knew him, too. You probably had the urge to punch him in that smug face.

Now, we've watched Adam Schiff versus Pat Cipollone in the past few weeks. My favorite part was when Chairman Schiff called his counterpart out after Pat was identified as being in the Oval Office when Trump ordered Bolton to make a phone call to get Rudy G access to the new president of Ukraine.

We've heard Patrick Philbin talk about the administration's constitutional rights to not testify or release documents. He is talking about Amendment 5. Please read Amendment 5:

“No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation. “

That speaks about not having to be “compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself.” This is not a criminal case. It may well lead to criminal cases in 2021. Even then, a defendant does not have any right whatsoever to determine the prosecution cannot access or use his documents in the case, because they may tend to incriminate him.

We've also heard from Jay Sekulow, Pam Bondi, Alan Dershowitz, and other poodles. These pampered pups are convinced their papers make them a superior breed. They were outraged when Adam Schiif rolled up Cifollone's papers and spanked him with them.

We were not “afraid” of these shitheads when we were in school. We should not fear them now. Yet, we recognize that their being registered with the AKC has put them in positions where they can do severe harm to this nation. And that is the cause for our alarm, our fears for the future of America, and why some of us are depressed by the Senate trial.

Now, the legendary boxing trainer Cus D'Amato used to say that the hero and the coward feel the same fear. The hero channels that fear into the fuel that brings him to victory. But the coward is destroyed by fear. It causes him to doubt himself, to see the opponent as all-powerful, and meekly submit.

Patrick Philbin is not Big George Foreman. Rather, he is a poodle. Mitch McConnell is not Muhammad Ali. We've never even heard that old, dehydrated shit-stain recite poetry like The Greatest did. Yes, we need to size them up, identify the republicans' strengths and weaknesses, and prepare to knock the stuffing out of them in November.

I'll end with something that Onondaga Chief Paul Waterman used to tell me. Alone, we are like and individual finger that our opposition can easily break. But together, we form a powerful fist that is capable of protecting all of our rights.

Peace,
H2O Man

[Faux pas]

1. Kickin' with gusto!

[H2O Man]

4. Thank you!

[lunatica]

2. Thank you.

This is a lesson we seem to have to learn again and again. It’s good to have people who retained the lesson learned the first time.

You had great teachers. And they had a great student.

[H2O Man]

5. Thanks!

My respect for Adam Schiff continues to grow. Although the Senate isn't going to convict Trump, listening to Schiff and the other floor managers has made this process worth it.

[lunatica]

7. Schiff was focused on the truth in the issue on hand

No matter how much the opposition obfuscated and tried to befuddle and obscure the issue, Schiff just steered it all back on course. And he did it with sincere determination. Somehow he seems to have managed to stay unjaded and without cynicism. That’s a sign of profound personal strength. We’re lucky to have him fighting for our country.

[H2O Man]

10. Exactly right!

I have great respect for those who communicate the truth so powerfully. I'd rank Schiff up there with the best in our country's history.

[H2O Man]

8. Right.

I think everyone here has correctly identified the problem, and recognize that Trump is a malignant outgrowth of "conservative" republicans -- who cannot be rightly called "conservative" in the age of Trump. But the actual conservatives have given rise to the rabid right over and over throughout the decades. In 2008, for example, we saw Sarah Palin's appeal to the radical right-wing republicans.

Trump is clearly the result of the synergy of the alt-right and corporate republicans in DC. They created him. The republicans in DC do not dare exercise any wholesome control over him. The alt-right relishes his being out of control in the most destructive ways.

There are large groups of people who either do not vote, or do not vote frequently. On one hand, they are partly responsible for what has happened. On the other hand, we have the responsibility of helping them identify the connections between their daily lives and voting. For the younger generation, we must recognize that we need candidates who create excitement .....and what excites a 21 year old is frequently different than what excites a 50 year old. Each presidential ticket allows us to reach both groups.

As far as changing Amendment 1, John Lennon spoke for me when he sang in 1968: "You say you'll change the Constitution, well you know, we all want to change your head." As defined as constitutional law by previous USSC decisions, Amendment 1 provides rights and responsibilities, and is not license.

[monmouth4]

6. Beautiful OP, many thanks. n/t

[H2O Man]

9. Thank you!

[lunatica]

11. I think the fundamental difference is in how each party thinks of Democracy

Democrats believe that Democracy means equality for everyone on all levels, from personal rights to the social benefits of education, freedom from want and pursuing happiness.

Republicans believe that Democracy is Capitalism where wealth as well as the means of acquiring it Is guaranteed as The basic Democratic freedom. That works best when wealth can be amassed at the expense of those who don’t deserve it because they’re a drag on Democracy. And any funds spent on the lazy needy are wasted on them and should be directed towards those people who deserve them. The poor should just live in the squalor of their poverty like third world countries. If you’re rich then you deserve Democracy (Capitalism). If you’re poor you don’t deserve Democracy (wealth) because god does not favor you. The fact that you’re rich is how god shows he favors you. It is a closed circle.

[H2O Man]

12. I agree.

Democrats think of democracy as being defined by the Constitution. Republicans think of it as bank accounts. The rabid right views it through the lens of hatred and fear.