Civil Discourse Now

Where the far left and far right overlap for fun and enlightenment

All Blog Posts (1,909)

Warning: false flags ahead

The Framers [FN1] wrote The Constitution w/lofty ideals in a secular government. Our country only has approached greatness, in trying to clear hurtles to meet those lofty goals. At least 20 of The Framers claimed to own human beings and protected slavery in The Constitution. 1/5

In the coming months, if trump takes the oath of office on January 20, we should watch for signs of prior dictatorships. Hitler was named Chancellor of Germany on 1/30/33. [FN2] On 2/27/33, fire was set to the…

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Added by Mark Small on January 7, 2025 at 10:42pm — No Comments

In the words of Creighton Bernette...

Pres Biden took the oath of office on 1/20/21 [FN1] to The Constitution. In dictatorships, obedience is sworn to an individual. [FN2] Since 2024's elections, I’ve said that if sworn on 1/20, trump will declare himself dictator. A common reply: “get over it.” I won’t. 1/8

1) trump disqualified himself. On 1/6/21, trump encouraged the mob to go to The Capitol & . Colorado’s Supreme Court held that trump’s actions before & during Jan 6 constituted engagement in insurrection.…

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Added by Mark Small on January 6, 2025 at 10:36am — No Comments

Lebanon free seminar on concealed carry: know the rules to end-run homicide charges

As we near Jan 20 & w/it the possible ends of our republic, free speech, etc, various media have news items, op-eds and even online ads of special interest. A “Free Event” in Boone County is a “Constitutional Carry and Self-defense Workshop” sponsored by “USCCA.” [FN1] 1/6

Folks at USCCA, & vendors (e.g., holster makers) have gr8 SEO. [FN2] Rand Corp summary of States w/concealed carry reported of 59 methodologically stronger studies; most found uncertain effects, while 5…

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Added by Mark Small on January 4, 2025 at 9:56pm — No Comments

Using "wedge issues" as strategy is in the magaGOP playbook of nihilism

The GOP is not the “party of Lincoln,” but the party of Lee Atwater. For 120 years, the GOP’s values were equality, democracy, & regulation of big business. Atwater saw strategic value in “wedge issues.” One of several wedge issues in the last election [FN1] was Gaza’s 1/7



occupation by Israeli military. [FN2] Middle East crises are not black-and-white. Nearly two millennia of anti-semitism was capped by The Holocaust. Jews who sought to escape were turned away by other countries… Continue

Added by Mark Small on January 4, 2025 at 9:44am — No Comments

There should be no talk of "civil war"

Since 11/05, maga people are giddy. For years they have yearned to grab 2A stockpiles & settle old scores. Their green light will turn “on” if trump takes office & declares “civil war.” But civil war is neither “civil” nor “war.” U.S. statute defines war: 1/10

“armed conflict, whether or not war has been declared, between two or more nations; or armed conflict between military forces of any origin.” [FN1] The Constitution gives Congress the power to declare war. [FN2] The U.S.…

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Added by Mark Small on January 1, 2025 at 2:14pm — No Comments

Pres Biden must do the job electors were supposed to do

The Framers [FN1] created checks & balances between branches of the national government to protect against its possible abuses & to prevent any of the branches from becoming too powerful. [FN2] Another worry: republics “afford too easy an inlet to foreign corruption.” [FN3] 1/11

This was the context for creating “electors” to select “the Chief Magistrate of the United States.” [FN4] The “choice of the person” so important was “not to any preestablished body, but to men chosen…

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Added by Mark Small on December 29, 2024 at 1:23pm — No Comments

The "trump" brand of petard: useful for hoisting its namesake

In his “Today’s Edition Newsletter, attorney Robert Hubbell observed: “As Democrats honor the Constitution by facilitating the peaceful transition of power, the first president to interfere with that process will be inaugurated in little less than a month.” [FN1] I agree in part. 1/9



Inauguration of “the first president to interfere with” the “peaceful transition of power” is set for Jan 20, less than a month from today. trump’s speech on Jan 6 to “fight like hell” or “you're not… Continue

Added by Mark Small on December 27, 2024 at 1:40pm — No Comments

Former A.G. Holder is mistaken if he believes maga recognizes "rule of law"

In less than a month, trump is set to take the oath of office & impose dictatorship. In the face of this emergency, leadership of the Democratic Party seems rooted in a quaint past. An email from former Attorney General Eric Holder, dated 12/26/24, seems odd. The subject line: 1/8

“This is not a time for acceptance and resignation - this is the time for commitment and action.” The “action” consists of litigating against attacks on our system of equality & fair elections, &…

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Added by Mark Small on December 26, 2024 at 6:26pm — No Comments

Art V convention: don't worry about rules! ALEC wrote a set!

Igor in “Young Frankenstein”: “It could be worse. It could be raining.” [Cue: thunder/downpour]

Ours is a state of emergency. trump’s: 1) vowed to be a dictator & to terminate The Constitution [FN1]; 2) a Russian asset in the midst of Russia’s cyber invasion of the USA [FN2]; 1/11

3) trump’s disqualified fr holding office (as are 6 current/former members of Congress). [FN3] Pres Biden must invoke emergency powers [FN4] & suspend results of the 2024 elections before trump…

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Added by Mark Small on December 26, 2024 at 9:25am — No Comments

IN's State convention provisions are...

In “Mister Roberts,” [FN1] the Captain sounds the “General Alarm,” but it’s been so long since the crew even drilled, some have forgotten their battle stations.

A law, never used, can present a similar quandary. Indiana has such statute. 1/14

“State Conventions Concerning United States Constitutional Amendments” [FN2] is Indiana’s mechanism to comply w/Article V of the 1787 Constitution. Recently, some have called for a convention. Art V requires Congress to call a “Convention…

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Added by Mark Small on December 24, 2024 at 10:54am — No Comments

Const'l Convention would render it all moot

trump’s threats to: 1) be a dictator [FN1] & 2) terminate The Constitution [FN2] are scary. Some hope in the 2026 mid-terms House & Senate are flipped “blue” & trump’s damage undone. But if trump is allowed to take office on 1/20, there probably will be no more elections. 1/11

Consider the following on a playclock that ends at noon, 1/20/25. Delays favor trump.

1) Citizens United v FEC, 558 U.S. 310 (2010). One of THE worst decisions by SCOTUS ever, Citizens United,…

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Added by Mark Small on December 22, 2024 at 11:12am — No Comments

Beckwith has no business in a public HS

Tomorrow morning at 4:21, the Winter Solstice occurs. [FN1] Pagans celebrate the lengthening of the days by stripping buck naked, painting themselves blue and dancing in the moonlight. [FN2] From a different perspective: in a month, The Constitution could die. [FN3] 1/13

There are several reasons why trump should not be allowed to take the oath. [FN4] A reason I’ve neglected: by the time trump left office in 2021, > 400K ppl in US had died from COVID. [FN5] On 12/19 I re-posted a…

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Added by Mark Small on December 20, 2024 at 10:24am — No Comments

Beckwith would preside over a ratification convention!?

In the film “Apollo 13,” NASA flight director Gene Kranz, told a typhoon might hit the splash down area, as the spacecraft nears re-entry, says if there’s nothing the astronauts can do about it, “Then we don’t need to tell them.” [FN1] A trump return to the WH, w/promises to 1/8

be a dictator, is ghastly. Worse, post-Citizens United, is a possible constitutional convention. All 27 times The Constitution has been amended has been via 2/3 vote of the House & Senate, then 3/4 of the…

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Added by Mark Small on December 17, 2024 at 4:59pm — No Comments

Former Pres Clinton: please warn trump against targeting the rest of us, too

Headline today: “Bill Clinton Warns Trump Against Targeting Hillary.” [FN1] Threats by trump & his toadies are despicable as leveled against Secretary Clinton. Categories of victims will be harmed, directly or collaterally, as these threats are made reality. 1/7

An international syndicate, real as any racketeer-influenced corrupt organization in history is stretched around the World. People in South Korea, Georgia, Ukraine and Syria have refused to allow tyranny so easily to rule…

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Added by Mark Small on December 16, 2024 at 8:38pm — No Comments

By legal means: stopping trump from taking office (we haven't much time)

Today, Robert Hubbell [FN1] noted the concern of “readers [] about the lack of a coordinated defense against Trump's efforts to run rough-shod over the Constitution. []Until a national leader emerges to unite the Democratic Party,” it is up to the grassroots to oppose trump. [FN2] 1/7

We do not have a luxury of time: trump taking office 1/20 means emergency powers invoked & trump will be a dictator permanently. Syrians overthrew Putin toady Assad. [FN3] In Georgia, protests…

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Added by Mark Small on December 12, 2024 at 9:40pm — No Comments

Do you want trump for a lifetime or...?

To yesterday’s blog [FN1] Bill Smythe, whom I respect, replied “you don’t save the constitution by ignoring it.” I said “everyone has ignored Amend XIV sec 3.” He noted it hasn’t been proven “in a court of law” w/not guilty in 2nd impeachment as close as we’ve come. [FN2] [FN3] 1/8

We must believe trump’s promise to be a dictator. trump loves dictatorial regimes. trump owed the 2016 election hack to Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. That is because trump is heavily in debt to Russian…

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Added by Mark Small on December 9, 2024 at 2:44pm — No Comments

Pres Biden must act NOW to stop the insurrectionists' reaching their ultimate goal

The Constitution is a document that memorializes what “We the People” created. The document is relatively short. [FN1] History relevant to its creation would date back to Europeans’ first interactions w/indigenous peoples & include the start of chattel slavery of Africans. [FN2] 1/11

The Declaration of Independence gave notice: 13 colonies were a nation. Their government, as established by Articles of Confederation, “consisted only of Congress” w/neither “an executive branch nor…

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Added by Mark Small on December 8, 2024 at 12:30pm — No Comments

Avoiding dictatorship: not much time & only a few ways

The United States faces several emergencies. Each, independently, warrants/requires Pres Biden to exercise emergency powers granted by statute, [FN1] delineated in Art II of The Constitution, [FN2] or inherent to the Office of President. The emergencies are: 1/12

1) Threat of dictatorship.

maga ppl say trump’s either: a) only joking; b) never said it or c) was taken out of context. Nothing quite says “dictator” like a blanket pardon for those who tried to overthrow the gov’t.…

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Added by Mark Small on December 6, 2024 at 5:23pm — No Comments

Pres Biden hasn't much time to invoke Emergency powers

SEO [FN1] leads many searches to one conclusion: allegations of interference in the elections of 2024 & 2020 elections are, and should be treated, the same. [FN2] Few can argue that an end to a chaos, visited on us each day since 2015, is not only welcome, but deserved. 1/15

Implicitly, we are to view the two political parties as opponents in a game. Vice President Harris lost this general election to trump, who is magnanimous & moves into the Oval Office to do the business of…

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Added by Mark Small on December 2, 2024 at 8:44am — No Comments

Putin is our enemy

Rather than give thanks for our present of uncertainty, we should look ahead. After a moment, on 1/20/25, if a foreign asset takes the oath of office as Pres, the Oval Office and the full strength of the executive branch to repel a cyber invasion will be lost. Short term: there will be a crisis. 1/6

Hitler had the Reichstag fire, after which he claimed emergency powers he never gave up. [FN1] Vladimir Putin used apartment-house bombings, “overwhelming” evidence of which linked them to…

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Added by Mark Small on November 27, 2024 at 10:08pm — No Comments

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