I'm generally not one to adulate artistic personalities, but I note with genuine sadness the passing of Alfred Brendel at 94. I first became aware of his work from when he was a young pianist in "budget" recordings of Mozart piano concertos and Beethoven's complete piano works in somewhat murky 1950s era budget recordings, re-released in this country on Vox/Turnabout (licensed from European labels) in the late 1960s. His musicianship and delicate precision introduced me to the great pleasures of classical piano music at an early age. He matured into one of the great artists of the instrument, and was a noted teacher as well. R.I.P.
18 June 2025
American Gestapo
Friends, if this picture of American secret police agents doesn't make you a little bit sick to your stomach, you should ask yourself what has happened to your American republican/democratic values.
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El pueblo unido jamás será vencido.
The People united will never be defeated.
14 June 2025
No kings... let's rewrite the Pledge of Allegiance
How about rewriting the Pledge of Allegiance.
I pledge allegiance to the Constitution of the United States of America, and to the republic it establishes; one nation, indivisible, with inalienable rights, liberty, and justice for all."
Could leave out the Harvard comma, perhaps. But the 'inalienable rights' is key.
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El pueblo unido jamás será vencido.
The People united will never be defeated.
DO NOT CAPITULATE! DO NOT BE SILENCED! RESIST!
IMPEACH and REMOVE.
IMPEACH and REMOVE.
12 June 2025
Immediate Senate Response to outrageous treatment of one of their members must be forthcoming NOW!
There needs to be ... at minimum... a Senate Resolution censuring Trump and his regime for the outrageous treatment of a Senator, Alex Padilla, who was only doing his Constitutional duty to investigate potentially illegal actions of the Executive Branch. When he was illegally thrown to the ground and handcuffed. The outrage is incredible. It is time for even the most craven of Ruling Party sycophants to stand up for the prerogatives of the ARTICLE I branch of government, which is supposed to be the supreme branch, primus inter pares, under the system the founders created to ensure the long term survival of a democratic republican form of government in our country. (That, of course, is why it is Article ONE). The attempt by this regime to exercise dictatorial control over all matters of state must be resisted and countered in the strongest possible way.
I would hope that at least some of these spineless creatures in the Ruling Party would stand up for the preservation of the bare minimum necessary to be able to claim they believe in the continuity of the form of government which has served us pretty well, and been the essence and core of our very existence as a nation, for nearly 250 years. No person can claim in good faith that the electorate voted for the assumption of dictatorial powers by this president.
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El pueblo unido jamás será vencido.
The People united will never be defeated.
DO NOT CAPITULATE! DO NOT BE SILENCED! RESIST!
IMPEACH and REMOVE.
IMPEACH and REMOVE.
02 June 2025
Important Historical Precedent: Margaret Chase Smith (Heather Cox Richardson)
This is so important to remember. We are in a far, far worse place than the Republican anti-communist bullying in the early 1950s, but the parallels are undeniable, and the lesson of bravery in standing up and saying No! are telling. Where are the courageous Republicans willing to stand up and say No! to Trumpism. I fear that all of them have already left the party to its Fascists fellow travelers, and our peril is that much the greater as a result.
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Heather Cox Richardson from Letters from an American
From: Heather Cox Richardson from Letters from an American
"I would like to speak briefly and simply about a serious national condition," Senator Margaret Chase Smith of Maine told her colleagues on June 1, 1950. "It is a national feeling of fear and frustration that could result in national suicide and the end of everything that we Americans hold dear…. I speak as a Republican, I speak as a woman. I speak as a United States senator. I speak as an American." "Those of us who shout the loudest about Americanism in making character assassinations are all too frequently those who, by our own words and acts, ignore some of the basic principles of Americanism," she pointed out. Americans have the right to criticize, to hold unpopular beliefs, to protest, and to think for themselves. But attacks that cost people their reputations and jobs were stifling these basic American principles, and the ones making those attacks were in her own party. Wisconsin senator Joe McCarthy, who was sitting two rows behind her, led a faction that had cowed almost all of the Republican Party into silence by accusing their opponents of "communism." Smith recognized the damage McCarthy and his ilk were doing to the nation. She had seen the effects of his behavior up close in Maine, where the faction of the Republican Party that supported McCarthy had supported the state's Ku Klux Klan. "Freedom of speech is not what it used to be in America," Senator Smith said. "It has been so abused by some that it is not exercised by others." Senator Smith wanted a Republican administration, she explained, but to replace President Harry Truman's Democratic administration—for which she had plenty of harsh words—with a Republican regime "that lacks political integrity or intellectual honesty would prove equally disastrous to this nation." "I do not want to see the Republican party ride to political victory on the Four Horsemen of Calumny—Fear, Ignorance, Bigotry, and Smear." "I doubt if the Republican party could do so," she added, "simply because I do not believe the American people will uphold any political party that puts political exploitation above national interest. Surely we Republicans are not that desperate for victory." "I do not want to see the Republican party win that way," she said. "While it might be a fleeting victory for the Republican party, it would be a more lasting defeat for the American people. Surely it would ultimately be suicide for the Republican party and the two-party system that has protected our American liberties from the dictatorship of a one-party system." "As an American, I condemn a Republican Fascist just as much as I condemn a Democrat Communist," she said. "They are equally dangerous to you and me and to our country. As an American, I want to see our nation recapture the strength and unity it once had when we fought the enemy instead of ourselves." Smith presented a "Declaration of Conscience," listing five principles she hoped her party would adopt. It ended with a warning: "It is high time that we all stopped being tools and victims of totalitarian techniques—techniques that, if continued here unchecked, will surely end what we have come to cherish as the American way of life." In 1950, six other Republican senators signed onto Senator Smith's declaration, leading McCarthy to sneer at "Snow White and the Six Dwarves." Other Republicans quietly applauded Smith's courage but refused to show similar courage themselves with public support. In a statement in honor of the 75th anniversary of Smith's Declaration of Conscience, Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MD) noted that our time resembles hers, and decried the "character assassination, baldfaced lies, petty insults, and round-the-clock disinformation" of MAGA Republicans. "[T]he hollowing out of American political language…tracks the corruption of American government and the disappearance of serious policy debate," he wrote. "These movements of thought are not just part of one politician's campaign for power. They are in service of a ruling public philosophy, which treats the government as an instrument for class plunder and private self-enrichment, a get-even-filthier-rich-quick scheme for the president and his family and friends." But for those who believe "that the government should be an instrument for the common good of all and the defense of our freedoms and civil rights, the state of politics in the country is a…serious threat to the survival of democratic institutions and the possibility of democratic progress." "The essential work of democracy is being trashed by the rule-or-ruin politics of the MAGA party," Raskin wrote. "This is not a partisan exercise we are engaged in today to save and strengthen democracy in America…. MAGA and [the Department of Government Efficiency] are engaged in a hostile takeover of all the political institutions and programmatic achievements of American democracy." "Here in America we have a supreme Constitution, not a supreme leader," Raskin wrote. "Democracy is not just a static collection of rules and practices. It is an unfinished project in motion, a constant work in progress. And we must never forget that democracy is the political system in service of human freedom." A month ago, another Maine senator, Independent Angus King, recalled Smith's Declaration of Conscience in a speech to his colleagues in the Senate. "I fear that we are at a similar moment in history," he said. "And…today's 'serious national condition' [involves] the President of the United States. Echoing Senator Smith, today's crisis should not be viewed as a partisan issue; this is not about Democrats or Republicans, or immigration or tax policy, or even the next set of elections; today's crisis threatens the idea of America and the system of government that has sustained us for more than two centuries." "What's at stake," he said, is "the driving force behind the basic design of our Constitution—the grave danger to any society is the concentration of power in one set of hands." King quoted framer of the Constitution James Madison, who warned: "The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands…may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny." And yet, King said, "this 'accumulation of all powers' is exactly what is happening today, before our very eyes. Although many in this body unfortunately seem determined to ignore it, deliberately ignore it, the evidence is everywhere: from the elimination of Congressionally-established agencies to the withholding of appropriated funds…to issuing executive orders purporting to be law in place of legislation to sidestepping if not ignoring court orders: This President is engaged in the most direct assault on the Constitution in our history, and we in this body, at least thus far, are inert—and therefore complicit…. [T]his President is attempting to govern as a monarch, unbound by law or Constitutional restraint, not as a President subject to the constraints of the Constitution and the rule of law." King implored his colleagues to "reclaim our power…. You know, do our job." He reminded them: "Each of us swore—swore, mind you—to 'support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic'; [and that we would] 'bear true faith and allegiance to [the Constitution].' Clearly," he said, "the Framers knew there might someday be 'domestic' enemies of the Constitution and made it our sacred obligation to defend the Constitution from them," and he called for his colleagues to stand alongside him to do so. Last night, Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) told host Jimmy Kimmel that Republican senators are indeed unnerved by Trump's behavior and the actions of the administration. The problem, Booker said, is what Thomas Jefferson said: "'When the public fears their government, there is tyranny. When the government fears its people, there is liberty.'" Republicans in office "are so afraid of Donald Trump that they are letting things go," Booker said "We the people have to make our politicians fear the consequences of…doing wrong more than the year that Donald Trump will run a primary against them, or put $100 million, or troll them on the internet. This is…one of those moments when we are not going to see change in Washington unless more of us have said enough." Recalling the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr., Booker said that "the problem today we have to repent for is not just the vitriolic words and violent actions of the bad people, but also the appalling silence and inaction of the good people. This is the time Americans have to step up and let their voices be heard." Seventy-five years ago, Senator Smith's voice was largely ignored in the public arena. But she was right. Four years later, the Senate condemned McCarthy, and after his death in 1957, Wisconsin voters elected Democrat William Proxmire, who held the seat for the next 32 years. And while Senator Smith was later awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, McCarthy has gone down in history as a disgrace to his state and to the United States of America. — Notes: https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/resources/pdf/SmithDeclaration.pdf Representative Jamie Raskin, "Statement of Congressman Jamie Raskin on the 75th Anniversary of Senator Margaret Chase Smith's Declaration of Conscience," June 1, 2025. Facebook: You're currently a paid subscriber to Letters from an American. If you need help receiving Letters, changing your email address, or unsubscribing, please visit our Support FAQ. You can also submit a help request directly.
© 2025 Heather Cox Richardson
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.............
El pueblo unido jamás será vencido.
The People united will never be defeated.
DO NOT CAPITULATE! DO NOT BE SILENCED! RESIST!
IMPEACH and REMOVE.
IMPEACH and REMOVE.
31 May 2025
Nope!
I quite simply refuse to normalize the idea of living in a gangster state. We do, clearly, but this situation cannot be allowed to persist.
meme
You kinda gotta love this.
.............
El pueblo unido jamás será vencido.
The People united will never be defeated.
DO NOT CAPITULATE! DO NOT BE SILENCED! RESIST!
IMPEACH and REMOVE.
IMPEACH and REMOVE.
11 May 2025
GKP-1 agonist drugs and cognitive health, as well as other diseases of aging.
I highly recommend to all my older friends (and people who aren't old but want to age healthily) that they read this brief conversation with ChatGPT and start following the exploding research in this area. I have included some links that discuss GLP-1 agonist receptors (like Ozempic) and cognitive health, highlighting very recent and surprising research in this area.
Here's a somewhat scary point. Seems some of the tech bros, like Elon and Peter Thiel, are early adopters of this pharma science. And they may have induced Trump to take one of these drugs too. I usually am happy for anyone able to improve their health, but it would be ironic if the most damaging and destructive president in our history is enabled to hang on to the bitter end, despite advanced dementia, by drugs created by the very public/private cooperation in scientific research that his regime is trying to destroy.
09 May 2025
A chat with chat GPT about GLP-1 receptor agonists
This may turn out to be super-important.
Me:
ChatGPT said:
You said:
ChatGPT said:
GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Effects Across Organ Systems
Jim Long
I am remembering my former partner of over 15 years, and many years after that as family, Jim Long. Today is the anniversary of his death. He was 82. He lived a reasonably long, mostly healthy, and meaningful life. We shared many special connections and Brad and I both miss him terribly. The past year has been difficult, especially the first few months. I am not religious, but I share his belief that there is something transcendent. If some essence of him is out there among the stars, I say, good venture, love, old friend.
08 May 2025
07 May 2025
New Musical "Antichrist"
OMG. A friend sent this link.
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El pueblo unido jamás será vencido.
The People united will never be defeated.
DO NOT CAPITULATE! DO NOT BE SILENCED! RESIST!
IMPEACH and REMOVE.
IMPEACH and REMOVE.
29 April 2025
What a difference 100 days makes: in Canada
Leave us not forget, when Trump took office former PM Trudeau was seriously underwater and forced to resign as party leader. The Liberals were expected to lose, trailing in some polls by 20%. They won yesterday, and Carney "has Trump to thank," except that he, rightly, deplores what Trump is doing to his country, our longest term and best ally and friend.
Go Canada! Vive Québec et Canada!
.............
El pueblo unido jamás será vencido.
The People united will never be defeated.
DO NOT CAPITULATE! DO NOT BE SILENCED! RESIST!
IMPEACH and REMOVE.
IMPEACH and REMOVE.
25 April 2025
Please read my substack post: too early to think about a Post Trump Era? No!
If you don't usually read my substack posts, please read this one.
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El pueblo unido jamás será vencido.
The People united will never be defeated.
DO NOT CAPITULATE! DO NOT BE SILENCED! RESIST!
IMPEACH and REMOVE.
IMPEACH and REMOVE.
23 April 2025
David Rothkopf on how Trump has shown us how to stop him
Read this, it's great <div class="substack-post-embed"><p lang="en">The Donald J. Trump Plan to Stop Donald J. Trump by David Rothkopf</p><p>After 100 Days, the President Has Started to Make It Clear How He Will be Defeated</p><a data-post-link href="https://davidrothkopf.substack.com/p/the-donald-j-trump-plan-to-stop-donald">Read on Substack</a></div><script async src="https://substack.com/embedjs/embed.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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El pueblo unido jamás será vencido.
The People united will never be defeated.
DO NOT CAPITULATE! DO NOT BE SILENCED! RESIST!
IMPEACH and REMOVE.
IMPEACH and REMOVE.
19 April 2025
Re: Are we doomed?
I agree with this guy. [here] The 25th amendment cannot work; a military uprising would be failure incarnate; and his fourth option is a pipe dream. Impeachment requires that a massive majority demand it, and we need our own version of Ukraine's Orange Revolution, with millions of people taking to the streets, week in and week out, until it becomes clear to the Republicans, especially in the Senate, that this will not go away, and the only way to keep their jobs and restore some semblance of order is to impeach Trump. Vance will be relatively powerless in the aftermath of the removal of Trump from office. No matter how hard it is or how long it takes, this struggle is the ONLY way to save our republic, and we have no other option. Any effort is worth it to succeed, and failure is not an option. We marched today in the streets of Portland, and over 400 other marches and protests around the country were held. This needs to become weekly... even daily... until the Congress realizes that the people are not going to tolerate a fascist takeover. As they said in the Chilean revolution (and it took years)... The People United Can Never Be Defeated.
On Sat, Apr 19, 2025 at 6:55 PM Jean <jean316@bellsouth.net> wrote:
believe me, it's not worse than I think. I am beyond horrified, disgusted, angry and any number of other terms of fury. This is the worst. He makes Nixon and Reagan look like girl scouts._________________Jean Clare Smith, MD, MPH2233 Versaro DriveSanta Rosa, CA 95403-8662Res: 1.707.852.5120Cell: 1.470.303.5869On Saturday, April 19, 2025 at 02:06:46 PM PDT, David Studhalter (ds@gyromantic.com) <oldionus@gmail.com> wrote:This prediction is meaningless. I'm focused on the 2026 elections and impeaching Trump. If he's still president in 2028 I doubt there will even be legitimate elections. It's worse than you think. Sorry but that's how I see it.....
All is well. And all will be well. And all manner of things will be well.
--Julian of NorwichOn Sat, Apr 19, 2025, 10:07 Jean <jean316@bellsouth.net> wrote:
Nate Silver Just Predicted The 2028 Democratic Nominee, And It's Exactly...
Journalist Galen Druke made the same prediction, saying the lawmaker has been "really hitting" Donald Trump on "...
If this happens, are we doomed to suffer through another 4 years of whomever the Repugnants come up with? JD Vance or worse? I am really afraid she is just too strident, too divisive to win. Why not Cory Booker, for example? Or even Kamala Harris one more time? Or someone else? Adam Schiff? Chuck Schumer?Reactions? Suggestions?And we still have at least 3 more years of the Orange Menace, aka dRumpf to go.God help us, and I don't even believe in God, but somebody's got to help us.Jean_________________Jean Clare Smith, MD, MPHRes: 1.707.852.5120Cell: 1.470.303.5869_
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DO NOT CAPITULATE! DO NOT BE SILENCED! RESIST!
TRUMP'S FASCIST TAKEOVER CAN BE STOPPED. HE MUST BE IMPEACHED. Write your Senators and Congressional Representatives. One by one we must peel away the MAGA cowards and force them to do the right thing.
TRUMP'S FASCIST TAKEOVER CAN BE STOPPED. HE MUST BE IMPEACHED. Write your Senators and Congressional Representatives. One by one we must peel away the MAGA cowards and force them to do the right thing.
The American People United Can Never Be Defeated
https://events.pol-rev.com/events/a135e0c6-7458-4236-8b25-b1f7383e2665
If you live in Portland, Please participate in today's March and Protest against the rolling Trump fascist takeover of America!
Meetup at Pioneer Square at 11:30 TODAY and there will be a 1.2 mile march ... see link above
Organized by fiftyfifty.one
If you don't live in Portland, there are over FOUR HUNDRED protests and marches planned for today... we must demonstrate to this lawless regime that the people are against it.
The American People United Can NEVER be defeated !
Organize to oppose fascism in our country.
COURAGE.
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