6' 3"
I'd like to take a moment to talk about three things I've been thinking about. The first of these has to do with the sad news that Cha shared with us on Sunday, about the unexpected death of community member "Me." Back about 19 years ago, Me, Saoirse9, and I became pretty close friends on DU's "Plame Threads." It turned out that Me and I had more in common than being internet buddies.
Me liked hearing stories about my four children. There was one she found particularly hilarious. One day, my younger son -- in his early teens -- called out to me, "Yo, Dog!" I explained that was not the nature of our relationship, and he agreed. Seconds later, I heard him say, "Yo, Pup!" Me said it was indeed a measure of my son and my relationship.
Next, I'd like to comment on the defendent's claim of being 6' 3" and 215 pounds. Below is a film of a 6' 3", 213 pound heavyweight champion. Were the defendent not a sociopath, he would experience shame in claiming to be in the same physical shape as the Champ. Indeed, his pathetic lie provides evidence of how his brain avoids shame.
Call it speculation on my part, but anyone reading this who watched the film has thought of a substitute for Cleveland "Big Cat" Williams in the above clip.
Now to the defendent in 2024. I suspect that even if by some miracle the USSC ruled he was ineligible to be president -- "Miracles do happen, they just take a doggone lot of work" (Rubin Carter; Washington, DC; Jily 4, 1976) -- the republican party will nominate him to be their candidate. And, of course, President Biden is our candidate. In theory, having the defendent as their candidate puts us in a position to wipe the mat down-vallot.
But we can't be overconfident. It will take a "doggone lot of work." And as Rubin used to remind me, the best defense is a hell of an offense. I think it is important to consider how grass roots citizens can help focus on the enemy. I almost wrote "the opposition," but they are the ignorant, unconscious enemy. These issues are important for us to be considering now, and an essential one.
The need to crush them was illustrated in an OP/thread a couple days ago (It was locked as in the wrong forum, and really should have been in GD, because it is an important reminder:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=3122325
As noted in the comments, "conservative" is not accurate. They are radicals. People my age recognize that today's republicans make 1964's Barry Goldwater look like a stable thinker. It has the synergy of the white nationalists and rabid-right christian sects -- and there is a heck of a lot of overlap in their ideologies. Their interpretation of the Constitution is cloned from their total misunderstanding of the message of the bible. They are the kids you couldn't stand since grade school, and they still insist on telling you how to live your life.
2024 offers us a unique opportunity to crush them. If we only beat them, this cancerous growth will continue to grow. Thus, we should spend some time considering the issue of the post-2024 succession. I'm not referencing two of the "big three" theories (social learning or succession planning), which apply as much to the corporate world as the political. Even the third, transformational leadership, has to be viewed in a certain context. However, it is important to recognize its focus on empowering its members and thus changing institutions.
We have to recognize the three primary types of "leadership" in groups of human beings: traditional ("our ancestors fif it this way"
, bureaucratic (static methods of operation within a large population, usually from the top levels down), and charismatic (a person with what followers consider unique appeal and ability). Charismatic leaders tend to be shooting stars that are replaced by their follower(s) with bureaucratic talents.
Like others here, it makes me gag to refer to the defendent as "charismatic." But he is in the sense that many sociopaths are. Add the money required to live his previous lifestyle, along with his calls to the darker impulses of a segment of society, and he ended up president. Enduring this era has made it seem unending, but the truth is that his time in politics ends next year. It wasn't that long on the larger sense. But if we do not completely crush the republican party that both created him and he in turn created -- Locard's exchange principle from 200 years ago --it transforms.
I've been watching some film of this fellow Ramaswamy, and consider him a (if not "the"
type of "leader" that will lead the attack on democracy. If we do not crush the republicans in 2024, it is likely we will be dealing with him in 2026 and '28.
= new reply since forum marked as read
Djokovic
Tom Brady
…but then, I’m Irish too. 
But that must be the genetic trait I inherited.
It's gorgeous, sunny and comfortable here in the NC foothills today, and I'm just taking a break from planting liriope around my back deck. I can read later, after I finish, sit down and realize I cannot move. 
