Still waiting . . .

It’s an equivocation to say that both sides engage in violence, Donald (and yes, I am editing you on your “many sides” off the bat). What do you mean by many in any case? Do you suppose that there are white supremacists that selectively hate and target particular ethnicities over others? Thus to itemize the ethnicities pushing back against hatred, violence, and oppression by the (imagined, I might add) monolithic White power, is spurious. If you refer to BLM, it is again specious to compare protesting against police with driving a car at high speed through a crowd of peaceful protesters. The assaults on police officers in Dallas and Baton Rouge were, moreover, flatly denounced by BLM. They do not claim those murderous wackos who want to perpetrate violence in excahnge for violence. Who from the White Right has denounced the car attack in Charlottesville? As if.

White nationalism and activist racism in America stems from a long history of ignorance, poverty, and appeasement. If Donny really were an effective president (or any sort of leader of human beings), he would denounce instantly and in no uncertain terms David Duke and call the attack in Charlottesville an act of domestic terrorism.

Republicans with scruples should be regretting making a deal with the devil. (And, in all seriousness, given how many professed devout Christians there are in the party, I’m surprised that they fell for it.) Their last-ditch effort to gain majority power and keep the party from disintegrating (which is happening anyway), they let an unhinged incompetent into office. Gotta give the devil his due: they got their majority. But the party can’t seem to pass legislation, so it appears to have been an empty deal that has had the extra disadvantage of bringing America back to the Cold War and Civil Rights eras.

The devil definitely got the better end of the deal.

To wit:

I would recommend you take a good look in the mirror & remember it was White Americans who put you in the presidency, not radical leftists. https://t.co/Rkfs7O2Ykr

— David Duke (@DrDavidDuke) August 12, 2017

 

Where is Trump’s condemnation of bigotry in his name?

Tk

Presidential

This is the email that the president of Duke University sent to the entire community on 11/9 in a deft and thoughtful display of true leadership:

To the Duke community:

A particularly hard-fought and divisive election season, one that was marked by a high degree of negativity, has come to an end, and America has elected a new president. Whatever positions we held in this contest, we all have a stake in the future health of the national community, so we all need to find ways to lessen negativism and division and to reengage the common good.

At this time of national change, I write to remind you that this university has its own abiding values, which carry protections and obligations for us all. Duke’s mission is built on the ground of respect for differences. The university is intentionally diverse and inclusive because encounters with different perspectives, beliefs and ways of thinking lead to a more comprehensive understanding—in politics as in every domain. For this reason, each member of this community deserves the full respect of every other and owes everyone the same respect in return. And we must not simply tolerate difference of opinions but create the conditions for respectful dialogue that allow mutual education to take place.

In the coming days and weeks, Duke’s intellectual community, informed by the research and expertise of our faculty, will help us to understand the meaning of this election for America. I hope you will participate in upcoming discussions with faculty, staff and fellow students to analyze this singular year in American politics and to debate the particulars of the way forward.

Most importantly, while our government undergoes a transition, this university remains steadfast in its commitment to diversity, inclusion, and the free exchange of ideas, and we are unwavering in our support for the value of each member of our community.

Sincerely,

Richard Brodhead
President

Fun fact: Corinthians 11:9

“neither was man created for woman, but woman for man”

I think this is an uncanny coincidence. And yes, the Bible and Trump are on the same page.

Hillary Clinton’s Concession Speech

This is an inspiring start to facing constructively the post-Trump world (more to come on that; I’m doing this on my lunch break–I have a job, people). She makes us feel safe and powerful even in this most frightening and confusing moment. Thank you, Hillary.

 

Hillary Clinton’s Concession Speech

Thank you. Thank you all.

Thank you. Thank you all very* much.

[Applause]

Thank you. Thank you all very much. Thank you so much. A very rowdy group. Thank you, my friends. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you so very much for being here. I love you all, too. Last night I congratulated Donald Trump and offered to work with him on behalf of our country.

I hope that he will be a successful president for all Americans. This is not the outcome we wanted or we worked so hard for, and I’m sorry we did not win this election for the values we share and the vision we hold for our country.

But I feel pride and gratitude for this wonderful campaign that we built together. This vast, diverse, creative, unruly, energized campaign. You represent the best of America, and being your candidate has been one of the greatest honors of my life.

I know how disappointed you feel, because I feel it too. And so do tens of millions of Americans who invested their hopes and dreams in this effort. This is painful, and it will be for a long time. But I want you to remember this.

Our campaign was never about one person, or even one election. It was about the country we love and building an America that is hopeful, inclusive, and big-hearted. We have seen that our nation is more deeply divided than we thought. But I still believe in America, and I always will. And if you do, then we must accept this result and then look to the future. Donald Trump is going to be our president. We owe him an open mind and the chance to lead. Our constitutional democracy enshrines the peaceful transfer of power.

We don’t just respect that. We cherish it. It also enshrines the rule of law; the principle we are all equal in rights and dignity; freedom of worship and expression. We respect and cherish these values, too, and we must defend them.

[Applause]

Let me add: Our constitutional democracy demands our participation, not just every four years, but all the time. So let’s do all we can to keep advancing the causes and values we all hold dear. Making our economy work for everyone, not just those at the top, protecting our country and protecting our planet.

And breaking down all the barriers that hold any American back from achieving their dreams. We spent a year and a half bringing together millions of people from every corner of our country to say with one voice that we believe that the American dream is big enough for everyone.

For people of all races, and religions, for men and women, for immigrants, for LGBT people, and people with disabilities. For everyone.

I am so grateful to stand with all of you. I want to thank Tim Kaine and Anne Holton for being our partners on this journey. [Cheers and applause]

It has been a joy get to go know them better and gives me great hope and comfort to know that Tim will remain on the front lines of our democracy representing Virginia in the Senate. [Cheers and applause]

To Barack and Michelle Obama, our country owes you an enormous debt of gratitude.

We thank you for your graceful, determined leadership that has meant so much to so many Americans and people across the world. And to Bill and Chelsea, Mark, Charlotte, Aidan, our brothers and our entire family, my love for you means more than I can ever express.

You crisscrossed this country, even 4-month-old Aidan, who traveled with his mom. I will always be grateful to the talented, dedicated men and women at our headquarters in Brooklyn and across our country.

You poured your hearts into this campaign. To some of you who are veterans, it was a campaign after you had done other campaigns. Some of you, it was your first campaign. I want each of you to know that you were the best campaign anybody could have ever expected or wanted.

And to the millions of volunteers, community leaders, activists and union organizers who knocked on doors, talked to their neighbors, posted on Facebook — even in secret private Facebook sites.

I want everybody coming out from behind that and make sure your voices are heard going forward. [Cheers and applause]

To anyone that sent contributions, even as small as $5, that kept us going, thank you. To all of us, and to the young people in particular, I hope you will hear this — I have, as Tim said, I have spent my entire life fighting for what I believe in.

I’ve had successes and setbacks and sometimes painful ones. Many of you are at the beginning of your professional, public, and political careers — you will have successes and setbacks too.

This loss hurts, but please never stop believing that fighting for what’s right is worth it.

It is, it is worth it. [Cheers and applause]

And so we need — we need you to keep up these fights now and for the rest of your lives. And to all the women, and especially the young women, who put their faith in this campaign and in me: I want you to know that nothing has made me prouder than to be your champion.

Now, I know we have still not shattered that highest and hardest glass ceiling, but someday someone will — and hopefully sooner than we might think right now. [Cheers and applause]

And to all of the little girls who are watching this, never doubt that you are valuable and powerful and deserving of every chance and opportunity in the world to pursue and achieve your own dreams. [Cheers and applause]

Finally, finally, I am so grateful for our country and for all it has given to me.

I count my blessings every single day that I am an American, and I still believe, as deeply as I ever have, that if we stand together and work together with respect for our differences, strengthen our convictions, and love for this nation, our best days are still ahead of us.

Because, you know, I believe we are stronger together and we will go forward together. And you should never, ever regret fighting for that. You know, scripture tells us, let us not grow weary of doing good, for in good season we shall reap. My friends, let us have faith in each other, let us not grow weary and lose heart, for there are more seasons to come and there is more work to do.

I am incredibly honored and grateful to have had this chance to represent all of you in this consequential election. May God bless you and may God bless the United States of America.

*In the original transcript, the word have was used incorrectly.