101 Comments

If you don't mind too much, I have something I'd like to add. The following is something I just wrote to USA.gov (because I didn't know exactly who in our government to ask my questions of and I would really like an answer.

"In all this monstrously overdone website, you have failed to address the subject I wish to ask about! So, I will ask you now.

As a former, long time civil servant, I am aware that federal law explicitly prohibits convicted felons from holding federal office. Yet, we now have a convicted felon preparing to commit yet another felony by becoming, quite illegally, the president of the united states. Why is this being permitted?

Why was he even allowed to run for this office?

Whose job was it to tell him "no" and why didn't they do their job?

Why does the rule of law not apply to trump as it is supposed to apply to all the rest of us?"

Thank you for your time!

Sincerely,

Bettemae Johnson

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The congress is supposed to stop this but instead endorse it.

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we have a federal election commission. Why is it not their responsibility to determine a candidate's eligibility to run for and hold a federal office? Why should congress be involved? For that matter, why doesn't the attorney general take care of this since it is established federal law, not an ambiguous issue?

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Great questions, Bettemae.

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There is no law preventing convicted felons from holding a federally elected office (President, VP, or Congress).

Also Trump has not been sentenced for the crimes for which he was found guilty. Until that sentencing occurs, he is not officially a felon.

At the moment, it appears that Judge Merchan is going to wait until Trump exhausts all of his appeals before passing sentence.

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What a mistake 😕

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It was tried in a couple state (I think Colorado was one) SCOTUS rejected it. There is not a lot you can do with a 6-3 SCOTUS.

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Purportedly, Elon has embraced a ketamine habit on top of his public "stoner" routine. It's well known that he's a serious security risk to the nation and he negotiates with foreign officials which is illegal. The fact that he has so many government contracts and now is a defacto co-president-to-be is an indelible stain on the nation. While I'm admittedly old, I can not abide. Consider me an old soldier of the resistance.

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It's honestly beyond legal definition of insanity. We had an Adderall addicted president that accuses anyone who wants to debate him of being on drugs. And yet here is he, playing VP to an vocally open drug user.

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I salute you, Jim, as a fellow old soldier of the resistance.

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💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯

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Don't use twitter/x, for starters!

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Keep the analysis coming and keep running for office.

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Great piece, Lucas. I now understand why the Orange Criminal sucks up to the Muskrat. Our country has become so shameful to me. I have a feeling things are about to become much worse. ☮️

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I love it--Muskrat. (Tho, this must be embarrassing for rest of muskrats.)

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They ALL make me sick!🤢🤢🤢🤢🤮🤮

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Me too! We are about to experience four years of Conold Chaos.

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I have serious doubts he plans to ever leave, when his 4 years are up. He even told brain dead MAGAts to "go vote, just this one time. You'll never have to vote again. It'll be fixed, it'll be fine ", meaning he'll be the king.

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You’re right. I remember the Orange Conman saying those exact words. I keep hoping some nut case will take care of him FOREVER! Merry Christmas 🎄

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This is a prime example of why we need an AGREE rather than a LIKE button. I totally agree with you, but it also sickens me. Musk needs to go, and you've encapsulated the reasons extraordinarily well; I hope you won't mind my use of your list as a weapon. Our entire current situation is so bizarre that it's almost difficult to believe it's happening. Of course Trump will give his co-president a full security clearance, as he did his son-in-law. I'm almost certain the sound I hear is Putin laughing hysterically.

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His lawyers have told him it would not be a good idea to get higher clearance as it would open up more scrutiny into his relationship with Putin and his drug use.

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Might I suggest you refer to “him” as King Musk. Kings put themselves in power, presidents are more often elected. Musk got zero votes in the election. But he was a favorite bedfellow with himself. trump having another affair? Horrors. This time though he’s getting paid. Big time.

Keep up the great commentary Lucas.

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Not content with ruling the USA Mr. Musk is boosting far right politicians in Germany. What could go wrong?

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It's time for common folks to (proverbially) eat the oligarchs. But how do we start the feast?

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What do they taste like? Chicken, in every sense of the word?

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He also cannot go into several Space X buildings for security reasons. His lawyers are telling him not to seek higher security clearance because it will open him up to more investigations regarding Putin and his drug use.

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Is that right? He can't go into buildings of his own company b/c of his security problems? Geez. I wouldn't let Prez. Musk or VP elTrumpo into my condo community room.

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Cannot.

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You should be top contender for DNC chair my friend. I helped fund you as much as could, and sadly Missouri has a lot of idiots that love a Federalist Society wannabe Gilead Commander. Regardless, your future is as britght as the sun. We need people like Shawn Fain and you leading the way.

Thank you and Merry Christmas to you and your family.

Loren

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Yes, this NE Floridian sent $ too. I am so sorry you lost to the Gilead Commander. Will never forget the video of him running for safety inside the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

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And...Trump has the wealthiest Cabinet ever. It's a government of very deep money all sucking at the federal tit.

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Agreed but do we fear them more than the fellow citizens who voted for DJT ?

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How do we get the word out more that this is going on? I know it and you know it but are we just preaching to the choir?

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Vote with our wallets!

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I'd like to form a group to expand on two ideas based on the 2 way communication the internet provides us. This Substack is an example of two way communication that the internet provides. Two way communication is not being used to its potential.

1. We need a new Democratic messaging system. Two way communication, like this Substack, allows for crowd sourcing for ideas to develop a new Democratic messaging system. I'd love to see a group dedicated to developing that new messaging system.

Do you have any ideas?

My idea for a new communication system, is to create a platform that allows groups like Lucas' Substack to also communicate within a wider group. Each smaller group would continue to discuss their normal issues, but also weigh in on this issue. It could be a knitting group or a bowling group who also wants their voice heard on politics.

That platform could be controlled by a candidate or even the DNC. Imagine thousands of groups like this Substack communicating to a candidate or the DNC. And that candidate responding to concerns of those groups.

The platform would need to aggregate those responses because a candidate could not respond to millions of individual messages. The platform would relay those aggregated comments to the candidate/party and relay the candidate's/party's responses to the groups that originated similar comments. 2 way communication.

People spend hours a day on the internet. How many people would spend 15 minutes a day or week for political purposes, if they knew their comments were being heard (even if in an aggregated form).

2. Take that a little further. Maybe it is time to update our representative form of government based on the two way communication of the internet. Maybe the group members/constituents could vote on bills before congress and direct their representative on how to vote. Their representative would be contractually obligated to vote as directed by the members.

It is now possible with the internet. The two way communication is there. The security is there. The interest of the constituents is there.

Each member would have to register with the candidate/party to verify they were a person and in the correct district. Each member could continue to use a handle for communication within the group. The actual name would only be used to verify the vote. We registered with Substack with our real names.

The group could be used to pick the candidate. The group could be used to determine what issues the party would address (party platform). Communication could be intelligent and detailed, not just sound bites and catchy messages.

I made a temporary email address that goes back to my real email. 2waycommunication@ditsitrit.com. If I hear from you, I will respond with my gmail account. I put this at the bottom. I figured if you got this far you may be interested. I have no experience forming a group. If you or anyone you know does and is interested let me know.

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Why one wealthy man is allowed to have the power to impact American foreign policy (Star Link, Space X), the economy of this country as well as the world, and our military is beyond me. NO SINGLE PERSON should have that much power anywhere....

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Agreed!

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All well said and we do need to continue to refer to musk as president musk and hardly refer to trump at all...even a little of that will get under trump's skin and make him not know what to do..contiue to bow down to musk or take back all the limelight for himself. Also I recommend subscribing or at least watching Meidas Touch Network and switching to Blue Sky. Small steps but if millions take them it will make a difference.

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Mr Kunce, please read my Substack post from today. I called it "So, What Will the Executive Branch Be Called?"

Your description is strategic, and no doubt entirely correct. But don't omit "president Musk's" wish to fuck up government just because it proves the presence and influence to which he's not entitled.

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