Your introductory video is very beautiful. I didn't realize that Lyndon Johnson had that much eloquence and appeal. I'm looking forward to the meeting videos on youtube.
As both the democracy of my own country might (further on -- second order consequence) be threatened by the intentional amplification of Americo-authoritarian ideology in Europe AND it's sovereignty is threatened by (incessantly) stated U.S. aims of territorial expansion in our immediate neighborhood--also by the dismantling of the international rules-based order and the associated whetting of other imperialist appetites (plural)-- ...
... I (for one) very much hope and pray for the revitalized health of your currently distressed democracy.
It was a great event with outstanding discussions. I got the most out of the panel on federalism. While several sessions highlighted post-MAGA solutions, state governments can take action now. They may be our best recourse for fighting back. Though one goal of the conference was to put aside our differences, we cannot ignore the growing division over Israel-Palestine. I would have liked to have heard the younger generation panel broach this topic. In any case, it was a huge success. I just hope the administration doesn't shut future ones down. That day may be coming.
I think it might be a good sign that Israel-Palestine didn't come up. People have such strong feelings that they sometimes forget that we first have to get our own house in order, and first agree that our relation to all other nations should get decided democratically, through our representatives in Congress.
I believe resolving this disparity is at the heart of getting our own house in order. This issue and others presented by the far left will weaken the coalition against MAGA. The Democrats tried to placate both sides of the Israel-Palestine issue to keep the peace in 2024, and lost. The Republicans played both sides in highly-targeted markets to rile and divide, and won. The Democrats' greatest flaw is that they think they're incapable of falling for disinformation.
Personally, I think the Israel/Palestine problem, as well as a whole host of foreign policy issues cannot be meaningfully discussed until, sometime down the road, we can come to a bipartisan foreign policy consensus determining the general direction of our country based on rational national self interest.
During the Cold War we had such a consensus. The parties may have had disagreement about how to meet our foreign policy objectives but we understood what those objectives were. Defeating or containing international communism was one objective. To never return to isolationism, to abdicate leadership, and maintain military strength as a deterrent, and others united the parties. Sometimes those objectives led to some disastrous outcomes--- but those were almost always BIPARTISAN disasters.
Israel/Palestine, Ukraine, and so many other conflicts are all filtered through the lens of partisan "winners and losers."
Your observation that the forces of resistance outpace authoritarianism at LibCon2026 resonates deeply, especially after the striking Lyndon Johnson intro video. For anyone needing reliable public‑record tools, the https://hillsboroughcountycourts.org offers a straightforward portal to navigate complex filings. The geopolitical anxieties you raise about U.S. territorial ambitions and the erosion of the rules‑based order underscore why vigilant civil discourse is essential. I share your prayer for a revitalized, resilient democracy that can translate that resistance into lasting institutional strength.
There are so many demonstrable inaccuracies (even falsehoods) in your writeup that I lost count. For starters, we have 46,000-plus subscribers (not 30,000). We are resolutely opposed to bothsideism and vigorously oppose both the left and the right that engages in it. We think there is no bigger threat to liberal democracy than the “fascist” right — and we have said so in so many words numerous times. It is also pretty funny that you think we “never use the word oppression” when we call attention to America’s oppression and exploitation all the time. And in fact I have personally noted numerous, numerous times (including in my recent remarks at LibCon) that America has no exceptional antipathy to authoritarianism. I could go on but it would behoove you to familiarize yourself with us a bit more before launching forth.
Your introductory video is very beautiful. I didn't realize that Lyndon Johnson had that much eloquence and appeal. I'm looking forward to the meeting videos on youtube.
As both the democracy of my own country might (further on -- second order consequence) be threatened by the intentional amplification of Americo-authoritarian ideology in Europe AND it's sovereignty is threatened by (incessantly) stated U.S. aims of territorial expansion in our immediate neighborhood--also by the dismantling of the international rules-based order and the associated whetting of other imperialist appetites (plural)-- ...
... I (for one) very much hope and pray for the revitalized health of your currently distressed democracy.
To quote the bard, Bon Jovi:
"We're living on a prayer"
Keep fighting the good fight!
It was a great event with outstanding discussions. I got the most out of the panel on federalism. While several sessions highlighted post-MAGA solutions, state governments can take action now. They may be our best recourse for fighting back. Though one goal of the conference was to put aside our differences, we cannot ignore the growing division over Israel-Palestine. I would have liked to have heard the younger generation panel broach this topic. In any case, it was a huge success. I just hope the administration doesn't shut future ones down. That day may be coming.
I think it might be a good sign that Israel-Palestine didn't come up. People have such strong feelings that they sometimes forget that we first have to get our own house in order, and first agree that our relation to all other nations should get decided democratically, through our representatives in Congress.
I believe resolving this disparity is at the heart of getting our own house in order. This issue and others presented by the far left will weaken the coalition against MAGA. The Democrats tried to placate both sides of the Israel-Palestine issue to keep the peace in 2024, and lost. The Republicans played both sides in highly-targeted markets to rile and divide, and won. The Democrats' greatest flaw is that they think they're incapable of falling for disinformation.
Here's where I want an AGREE, 'cause I don't like the idea of us screwing the pooch over outlying (to middle voters) issues, no matter how important.
Personally, I think the Israel/Palestine problem, as well as a whole host of foreign policy issues cannot be meaningfully discussed until, sometime down the road, we can come to a bipartisan foreign policy consensus determining the general direction of our country based on rational national self interest.
During the Cold War we had such a consensus. The parties may have had disagreement about how to meet our foreign policy objectives but we understood what those objectives were. Defeating or containing international communism was one objective. To never return to isolationism, to abdicate leadership, and maintain military strength as a deterrent, and others united the parties. Sometimes those objectives led to some disastrous outcomes--- but those were almost always BIPARTISAN disasters.
Israel/Palestine, Ukraine, and so many other conflicts are all filtered through the lens of partisan "winners and losers."
Then we go underground and hark back to 1764, and Committees of Correspondence.
NOBODY IS COMING TO SAVE US.
Underground is right. As we said in the 1960s "The Revolution will not be televised..."
And it sure as hell isn't going to take place on the antisocial media platforms either.
Gil Scott-Heron!
Your observation that the forces of resistance outpace authoritarianism at LibCon2026 resonates deeply, especially after the striking Lyndon Johnson intro video. For anyone needing reliable public‑record tools, the https://hillsboroughcountycourts.org offers a straightforward portal to navigate complex filings. The geopolitical anxieties you raise about U.S. territorial ambitions and the erosion of the rules‑based order underscore why vigilant civil discourse is essential. I share your prayer for a revitalized, resilient democracy that can translate that resistance into lasting institutional strength.
There are so many demonstrable inaccuracies (even falsehoods) in your writeup that I lost count. For starters, we have 46,000-plus subscribers (not 30,000). We are resolutely opposed to bothsideism and vigorously oppose both the left and the right that engages in it. We think there is no bigger threat to liberal democracy than the “fascist” right — and we have said so in so many words numerous times. It is also pretty funny that you think we “never use the word oppression” when we call attention to America’s oppression and exploitation all the time. And in fact I have personally noted numerous, numerous times (including in my recent remarks at LibCon) that America has no exceptional antipathy to authoritarianism. I could go on but it would behoove you to familiarize yourself with us a bit more before launching forth.