40 Comments
Jul 19Liked by David Rothkopf

Absolute brilliance. People will be referring back to this piece for decades to come. I know I certainly will.

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“What is horrifying is that they really do represent a huge cross-section of American society that is just as depraved.”

Yep. And they vote.

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Where do I begin? Someone needs to visit her GYN. Cuz no you don’t have to do that! The younger generation needs to learn how to take their time and slow down. And perhaps not take porn so literally.

Trump is a candidate for president so why should his ‘injury’ be considered private and protected by HIPAA? We have a right to know. But the press is trying to get Biden to leave the race instead of checking out the lie Trump told about is Kotex covered ear. Or any other lie he told. It’s all lies, all the time, with Trump.

Great piece, David! As usual.

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Jul 19Liked by David Rothkopf

David, Thanks for your work. I listen to Deep State Radio and love how much I learn.

Listening to your conversation today I wonder if you know about a recent Ezra Klein interview with Tim Alberta. Alberta mentioned that the trump campaign is terrified about the possibility of Biden stepping down and Dems running a new ticket. He said that trump campaign strategists have built the entire campaign around Biden. If we switch out Biden with someone else, they would be behind the 8 ball. I’m including the link, or you can listen to the latest Ezra Klein show.

https://podcast.app/the-trump-campaigns-theory-of-victory-e357125821/?utm_source=ios&utm_medium=share

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author

I've seen it. I take all such reports with a grain of salt. But that said, it is plausible and I believe a change at the top of the Dem ticket would have the GOP scrambling. (Also, thanks for your kind words.)

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On unseriousness.

A country incapable of protecting its government and its vital secrets is unserious.

It is unserious when it lets itself be tricked into running around in circles by its justice system to the extent that it cannot strike down a cabal conspiring against its democracy. A cabal that arranges an actual attack on its political establishment.

It is unserious when it cannot protect its vital secrets from being stolen and then lets the investigation be obstructed without consequence.

It now appears that Donald Trump and his cohort have managed to delay justice such that the evidence has not been seen by a jury and the public before the election and quite likely forever. This must be a grave threat to the stability of the country.

I have, however, a proposal in the spirit of Alexander’s cutting of the Gordian Knot.

President Biden should, as commander-in-chief with a responsibility to protect the state and the constitution, ensure that all evidence is brought out in the open before the country goes to vote. It would also allow former president Trump to defend himself against any accusations.

I imagine that a fast-track military style could be established quickly. The evidence has already been collected.

The Supreme Court has afforded immunity to the president. Consequently, there should be no legal obstacles. It would go very well with President Biden stepping back from the presidential race at the same time. National emergency resolved, Biden’s legacy protected.

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Jul 19Liked by David Rothkopf

LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS IDEA!

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Hoping Daddy Jesus loves the new work I had done

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Jul 18Liked by David Rothkopf

Excellent points. The only thing I can add is hiding behind the bread and circuses is the robbing of the planet

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Jul 18Liked by David Rothkopf

How far American society has fallen. It’s deeply disturbing.

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Jul 18Liked by David Rothkopf

And who, let us not forget, might keep some of them out of prison.

What choice does Rudy have now? If Trump isn't elected, he's completely doomed.

Then there's the pardon Seekers caucus in the House, headed by Scott Perry. More generally, Trump is surrounded by people for whom he's their only shot.

Tom Nichols might want to think about the loss of agency that the increasing concentration of economic power, including geographically, has caused, and its likely psychological effect.

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Jul 18Liked by David Rothkopf

Brilliant as usual, David.

Folks may also want to check out James Fallows’ Substack post, as it also includes (unknown to me) info about JD Vance’s book, how poorly it was received in Appalachia. https://open.substack.com/pub/fallows/p/election-countdown-110-days-to-go?r=9t40l&utm_medium=ios

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author

Good point.

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Jul 18Liked by David Rothkopf

OH

MY

GOSH

This essay is one for the ages, David.

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Everything you’re saying is true, but conservatives have been telling me how much they hate this country since the 80s. They’d denounce the Soviet Union, but then, like clockwork, they’d say “I WILL say THIS for the Soviet Union…” followed by five solid minutes of unstinting praise.

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The Sheep have lost their way because their shepherd is an imposter who has brainwashed them into believing that he can deliver for them a utopia! I believe that @ least 70% of America are on to him!

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Jul 18Liked by David Rothkopf

Awesome job thank you for this - you’ve gain a new subscriber

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You are so right on target about everything. Is it possible that so many Americans have become so self centered that they are totally blind to what is reality?

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Point is, they prefer Reality TV. Reality they can't make sense of.

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And/or that we take as true everything the media show us about ourselves?

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You have brilliantly captured the insanity of this moment -- a "moment" that didn't come out of nowhere.

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