About US

Sarah Churchwell, Professor, University of London

As we wait the outcome of Mr. Trump’s encounters with Lady Justice, one thing is certain, his time on this earth will scar and cripple us and our ancestors for generations to come. 

Like gorging vampires, Trumpism and Trump crawl out of their coffins each night to feast on the blood of their victims, i.e., us. 

In fact, Trumpism and Trump are at once both the Naegleria fowleri, the "brain-eating" shapeshifting amoeboflagellate excavate, the Republican Party,  and the current manifestation of the same-old-same-old conman/fraudster melded with a psychopathic/white supremacist/fascist.

What are we to make of this? How did we get here? What does it say about us?

In an attempt to answer these questions, I’ve posted (below) a presentation and two interviews with Sarah Churchwell, Professor of American Literature and Chair of Public Understanding of the Humanities at the School of Advanced Study, University of London.

I found them interesting and enlightening. I hope you will, as well.

The Vice-Chancellor's Distinguished Lecture Series – Professor Sarah Churchwell

University of Birmingham, Jan 14 Jan 2020

Sarah Churchwell is Professorial Fellow in American Literature and Chair of Public Understanding of the Humanities at the School of Advanced Study, University of London, and one of the UK’s most prominent public intellectuals and cultural critics.

A renowned specialist in American literature and culture, she appears regularly on current affairs and cultural programmes such as Question Time, Newsnight and the Review Show, and writes for national and international newspapers such as The Guardian and Financial Times. She is the author of ‘The Many Lives of Marilyn Monroe’ and ‘Careless People: Murder, Mayhem and the Invention of The Great Gatsby’. Her most recent work ‘Behold, America: A History of the American Dream and America First’ argues that the meanings and history of these terms need to be understood afresh so that the true spirit of America can be reclaimed.

This lecture forms part of ‘The Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Lecture Series,’ which aims to reflect on the major social, scientific, cultural and policy issues of our time.

What is the history of the American Dream? | Sarah Churchwell | 5x15

Nov 6, 2020

Sarah Churchwell is Professor of American Literature and Chair of Public Understanding of the Humanities at the School of Advanced Study, University of London. She is the author of Careless People: Murder, Mayhem and The Invention of The Great Gatsby and The Many Lives of Marilyn Monroe. Her literary journalism has appeared widely in newspapers and she comments regularly on arts, culture, and politics for television and radio. She lives in London.

5x15 brings together five outstanding individuals to tell of their lives, passions and inspirations. There are only two rules - no scripts and only 15 minutes each.

Q&A, C-SPAN, Brian Lamb, Host

Sarah Churchwell, 5 Nov 2018

University of London literature Professor Sarah Churchwell talked about her book, Behold America, which looks at the history of the phrases “America First” and “The American Dream.”

Yes, We Owe Them Big

They Served and They Matter... the "They" are 3.5 million Vets.

"The Sergeant First Class (SFC) Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, is a new law that expands VA health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances. This law helps us provide generations of Veterans—and their survivors—with the care and benefits they’ve earned and deserve."

Still, there is much more:
Iraq
4,431 KIA and 31,994 Wounded
Afghanistan
2,448 KIA and 20,752 Wounded
Plus
3.5,000,000 PACT Wounded

'We owe you big': See how Biden honored Jon Stewart before signing bill.

CNN, 10 Aug 2022

President Joe Biden took a moment to honor comedian Jon Stewart's advocacy of veterans ahead of signing the PACT Act, which will expand health care for veterans exposed to toxic burn pits. #cnn #News

Good News Florida! DeSantis is Up for “Suspension” this Nov.

This article from the Tampa Bay Times, by Lawrence Mower and Emily L. Mahoney, 4 Aug 2022:

TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday removed Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren from office for what he said was Warren’s disregard for his duty to enforce state laws, including a pledge not to prosecute people receiving an abortion or their doctors performing them.

At a news conference flanked by police from around Tampa Bay, DeSantis said Warren had “put himself publicly above the law” by signing letters saying he would not enforce laws prohibiting gender-affirming care for minors or laws limiting abortion.

Under a clause in the state Constitution, DeSantis suspended Warren, effectively firing him.

“Our government is a government of laws, not a government of men,” DeSantis said. -more-

Further, from the Tampa Bay Times: 

On Wednesday, DeSantis’ spokesperson, Christina Pushaw, warned on Twitter that there would be a “MAJOR announcement” by the governor Thursday morning.

“Prepare for the liberal media meltdown of the year,” she wrote.

DeSantis got his splash in media coverage. Didn’t he?

Oh, but there’s just an itty-bitty problem here… 

“The 15-week abortion ban that DeSantis signed into law this year violated the Florida Supreme Court’s longstanding precedent establishing that Florida’s constitutional right to privacy included the right to an abortion. A judge affirmed that the law violated the constitution, and the Florida Supreme Court has yet to hear the case.”

And: “It’s unclear if Warren’s removal from office is permanent. Under Florida law, the Florida Senate must decide whether to reinstate Warren or remove him completely. The Senate must send out a notice of an initial hearing within 90 days, per Senate rules — putting that deadline for Warren’s case just days before Election Day in November. Warren can also choose to fight his removal in court, which could push back that timeline.”

“Let’s be clear — this is not about what I’ve done. This is about what I’ve said,” Warren said. “This is Orwellian thought police. I’m being punished for not enforcing a law that doesn’t even exist.”

Further, no abortion cases are pending or have been brought to Warren.

Finally, Warren, twice elected Prosecutor by the people of Hillsborough County, Florida, plans to fight the suspension in court.

Whew! This time Mr. DeSantis’ spotlight grab really smells.

Below are just a few additional examples of Mr. DeSantis' abuse of his authority as governor. 

All seem calculated to garner national media attention. All use the same-old-same-old political deception game of pointing to someone else for doing the exact "sin" while doing it himself. In this case it's "overreach". 

With ads running all over the nation, it is more than obvious Mr. DeSantis plans on becoming President of the United States in 2024. 

It's also obvious he will step on anyone to help him get there, too.

It’s time to “suspend” Gov. DeSantis come this November.

DeSantis signs bill creating one of the nation’s only election police units, Gary Fineout, Politico, 25 Apr 2022

https://www.politico.com/news/2022/04/25/desantis-florida-election-police-units-00027577

Fact Check Team: A look at Gov. Ron DeSantis' 'Stop W.O.K.E. Act', JILLIAN SMITH, KATV, 23 Dec 2021

https://katv.com/news/nation-world/fact-check-team-a-look-at-gov-ron-desantis-stop-woke-act

Disney Is a Kingdom Within a State, Alissa Walker, Curbed, 20 Apr 2022

https://www.curbed.com/2022/04/disney-ron-desantis-reedy-creek-improvement-district.html

Florida Gov. DeSantis berates kids for wearing masks, AP, ctvnews, 3 Mar 2022

https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/florida-gov-desantis-berates-kids-for-wearing-masks-1.5804054

Hear what prosecutor suspended by DeSantis had to say about him

Laura Coates, CNN, 5 Aug 202

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended Tampa's elected prosecutor, Andrew Warren, over a perceived '"woke" agenda for pledging to not use his office to go after people who seek and provide abortions. He speaks with CNN's Laura Coates. #CNN #News

Gov. DeSantis Suspends Elected Prosecutor who Refuses to Support his Extreme Agenda

ReidOut Highlights: 5 Aug 2022

Joy Reid , MSNBC

Marianne Williamson - a Viable Leader

Have you heard Marianne Williamson present her thoughts about our nation?

Honestly, I respect her for many reasons, but until now I had not considered her as a viable political leader. Today, I do.

Economic Update: Marianne Williamson on US Politics

Democracy At Work, 2 Aug 2022, Economic Update with Richard D. Wolff is a @Democracy At Work production. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KO1a7W_j4kk

Marianne Williamson is a bestselling author, political activist, and spiritual thought leader. Marianne is the author of 14 books, four of which have been #1 New York Times bestsellers. Williamson founded Project Angel Food, a non-profit that has delivered more than 14 million meals to ill and dying homebound patients—including victims of HIV/AIDS—since 1989. In 2004, she co-founded The Peace Alliance. In 2020, she ran for the Democratic nomination for president and eventually withdrew in favor of Bernie Sanders. 

Links: https://peacealliance.org/; https://www.angelfood.org/

Capitalism Run Amok: What went wrong and how to fix it 

Marianne Williamson and Richard Wolff

Aug 14, 2021

Economist and Professor Richard Wolff analyzes the deficiencies of modern capitalism, articulating the benefits of a socialist system and the road to a more equitable society. He promotes not a radical shift in economic system, but a gradual transformation involving a shift in consciousness from profits before people to people above all else.

Subscribe to Marianne's Substack, TRANSFORM: MarianneWilliamson.Substack.com

Subscribe to Marianne's TRANSFORM Podcast: https://spoti.fi/3mMKauu

Follow Richard on Twitter: https://twitter.com/profwolff

Learn more about Richard Wolff: https://www.rdwolff.com

Follow Marianne on Social Media

Twitter: https://twitter.com/marwilliamson

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/williamsonmarianne

Instagram: https://instagram.com/mariannewilliamson

Disqualified from Holding Public Office

For those members of Congress or former members of Congress, or those who held or now hold a state or local elected public office, and took part in the Trump insurrection against the government of the United States you are now and forever disqualified from holding public office, under the 14^th Amendment, Section Three, U.S. Constitution.

Mr. Trump you are disqualified.

Section Three, 14^th Amendment, U.S. Constitution.

 No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.

How to Disqualify Insurrectionists from Congress:
Interview w/John Bonifaz of Free Speech

Glenn Kirschner, Jul 30, 2022

We have insurrectionists running for reelection to Congress. We have the insurrectionist-in-chief, Donald Trump, flirting with another presidential run.

The good news is, the 14th Amendment prohibits insurrections from getting re-elected to public office. But how is section 3 of the 14th Amendment enforced?

One way its being enforced is by the truly heroic efforts of John Bonifaz and his organization Free Speech For People. They're filing lawsuits against insurrections in Congress - from Marjorie Taylor Greene to Paul Gosar, and others - and seeking to have judges disqualify them from the ballot for there conduct in connection with the January 6 insurrection.

I sat down with John for an extended conversation about his democracy-saving efforts.

For Free Speech For People's website:  freespeechforpeople.org

My podcast, "Justice Matters with Glenn Kirschner" can be downloaded where you get your podcasts. To subscribe to the podcast: https://link.chtbl.com/JusticeMatters

 

Joe and Mitch...The Scorpion and the Frog

Recently we learned that "Moscow Mitch" McConnell (R-Ky.) was out played by "Double-Cross" Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and finally, some legislation that is good for most Americans might finally emerge from the U.S. Senate.

Republicans are pissed.

I'm a bit surprised, too. 

Not that Mitch was out played, but that something good may come of it. 

After all, everyone knows, when you play with a scorpion you're certain to be stung.

The Scorpion and the Frog with English Subtitle - Bedtime Story

A Glimmer of Hope for Justice and the USA

 

Attorney General Garland Photo: screen capture

Yesterday, Attorney General Garland made a clear statement that the Justice Department will, “...pursue justice without fear or favor...” and “We intend to hold everyone, anyone who was criminally responsible for events surrounding Jan. 6, for any attempt to interfere with the lawful transfer of power from one administration to another, accountable. That’s what we do. We don’t pay any attention to other issues with respect to that.”

Later, we learned that the Justice Department is, indeed, looking into Mr. Trump's role in the 6 Jan 2022 attempted coup.

That is a glimmer of hope for justice as practiced in the United States of America. Depending upon what happens now, we may have a chance to see our democratic republic remain alive a few more days.

Garland Vows Everyone Responsible For Jan. 6 Will Be Held Accountable - Jul 26, 2022