Opinion: How an Ohio senator's stunt proves the Trump dictatorship theory

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Opinion | How an Ohio senator’s stunt proves the Trump dictatorship theory

By Ruth Marcus
Associate editor
December 7, 2023 at 4:32 p.m. EST

Share
https://wapo.st/3GyWWWo

Sen. J.D. Vance wants Attorney General Merrick Garland to investigate my colleague Robert Kagan for allegedly inciting insurrection with his recent essay warning of the “increasingly inevitable” dangers of dictatorship under Donald Trump.

For good measure, the Ohio Republican wants Secretary of State Antony Blinken to look into whether Kagan’s wife, Undersecretary of State Victoria Nuland, should have her security clearance revoked because her “close relationship with her husband might compromise her judgment about the best interests of the United States.”

[ Robert Kagan: A Trump dictatorship is increasingly inevitable. ]

Right. The little woman, who was George W. Bush’s ambassador to NATO and has decades of foreign policy experience in both Republican and Democratic administrations, must be under her husband’s thumb.

Under ordinary circumstances — that is to say, circumstances in which Trump’s reelection were not a serious possibility — Vance’s missive would be dismissible for what it is: a preening, Trump-toadying stunt. No sane Justice Department would take any action other than tossing Vance’s letter in the trash. No sane State Department would touch Nuland’s clearance.

{snip}

Opinion by Ruth Marcus
Ruth Marcus is an associate editor and columnist for The Post. Twitter https://twitter.com/RuthMarcus

Here's a link to the press release from Vance's office. I'm sure someone is going to alert on this post as RW propaganda. You do you.

DECEMBER 6, 2023

SENATOR VANCE SLAMS LEFT-WING JOURNALIST FOR ENCOURAGING INSURRECTION AGAINST POTENTIAL TRUMP ADMINISTRATION

and the letter:

https://www.vance.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/120623_RobertKaganInsurrection.pdf

[Walleye]

1. I'm remembering Truman's 1948 speech when he said

“ it’s not a question of what the Republicans have done for the people, it’s what they have done to the people“

[Fullduplexxx]

2. And women will still vote for them

[JohnnyRingo]

3. A quote by Mark Twain comes to mind here.

To paraphrase:

"Don't pick a fight with someone who buys ink by the barrel full."

[mahatmakanejeeves]

4. I hate to nitpick, but ...

Oh, go ahead.

I Never Argue with a Man Who Buys Ink by the Barrel

Posted by quoteresearch April 24, 2018
Roger Branigin? Mark Twain? Charles Brownson? Irving Leibowitz? William I. Greener Jr.? H. L. Mencken? Benjamin Franklin?

Dear Quote Investigator: If a newspaper editor or publisher dislikes a viewpoint you are advocating then you may have to endure a long series of negative articles. The following three statements express this notion:

• Never argue with a man who buys ink by the barrel
• I never quarrel with a man who buys ink by the barrel.
• Never pick a fight with anyone who buys ink by the barrel and paper by the ton.

Many famous wordsmiths have been credited with this saying, e.g., Mark Twain, Benjamin Franklin, and H. L. Mencken. I become very suspicious when so many luminaries receive credit. What do you think?

Quote Investigator: The earliest citation located by QI appeared in “The Indianapolis News” of Indiana in 1962. Attorney Roger Branigin delivered a speech to more than 600 listeners at a conference. Emphasis added to excerpts by QI:

Branigin, active for years in Democratic politics and an aspirant for the nomination for governor in 1955, said in referring to newspaper publishers, “I never argue with a man who buys ink by the barrel.”

{snip}

[JohnnyRingo]

5. Funny because I looked it up before I posted.

And the source I saw credited Brownson. I said "Eh...Never heard of him", so I gave it to Mark Twain for familiarity.
I imagine there's a meme with Einstein's face on it somewhere too. haha

Thanx for checking though.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

6. I had thought it was Pulitzer. I had to look it up a few weeks ago myself, which is how I knew.

Last edited Sat Dec 9, 2023, 07:53 PM - Edit history (1)

Never would have guessed it didn't go back farther than 1962.

And good morning.

[homegirl]

7. My favorite Mencken quote

"Power of the press belongs to those who own one."

The accessibility of the internet extends that power to all of us....