Soros gives $1bn to fund universities 'and stop drift towards authoritarianism'

[malaise]

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/jan/23/soros-gives-1bn-to-fund-universities-and-stop-drift-towards-authoritarianism
<snip>
The philanthropist and former financier George Soros has announced that he is to donate $1bn to fund a new global network of universities designed to promote liberal values and his vision of an open society.

In what he hailed as the “most important and enduring project of my life”, Soros said it was important to fund institutions that would help resist the drift towards growing authoritarianism in the US, Russia and China. He also launched a fresh attack on Donald Trump, calling the US president “the ultimate narcissist”.

Soros, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, said his new Open Society University Network would build on his Central European University, set up after the collapse of communism 30 years ago.

[hlthe2b]

1. Some good news...

Seeing Trump threaten Senate R's in full sight has me really really depressed about our future (and infuriated) this morning.

[malaise]

2. I hope there is widespread outrage over that threat

We'll see if a single ReTHUG has the balls to condemn this threat.
And yes this is very good news.

[True Blue American]

3. Their character

Last edited Fri Jan 24, 2020, 10:52 AM - Edit history (1)

Is on the line ever if Trump did not threaten them. I find it hard to believe not one has a backbone.

Lindsey Graham excepted. H did put on a show of congratulating Schiff. But he realized the cameras were on him. He almost backtracked but had no place to go.

[wnylib]

4. I think it's probably a matter of coercion more than

a lack of backbone at this point, depending on what the threat is. There are some threats that would make most people give in, e.g. those that affect family negatively.

That's not to excuse what's going on. The people under the Trump/Putin thumb are hurting everyone, here and abroad. The whole mess needs to be exposed and cut out like a cancer, with chemo follow up. I'm just looking at the reality that wishing somebody would step forward just isn't going to achieve anything.

Ideally, though I will not hold my breath in expectation, a group of people caught up in the Trump/Putin web would talk among themselves, make whatever preparations necessary, and decide to come forwsrd as .a group to face the consequences together. Since Trump/Putin are vindictive, that might take superhuman courage. -- and a lot of protection. Highly unlikely to happen.

So it's up to the rest of us. By all means we should go the vote route to liberate ourselves from their hold on the nation. But we need to be prepared for the possibility that it won't work, given the free hand they will have to interfere with the votes after Trump is acquitted. Or if we do win the vote, that Trump would just refuse to acknowledge a loss.

In that event, what specific, concrete things can we, or should we, and our leadership do? Might be worth thinking about now. Currently we're in a holding pattern. It feels great to be fighting back through impeachment and trial. But we know the outcome and the backlash to follow. When that happens, it will be US who will need to have courage for dealing with the situation.

[True Blue American]

5. One thing we will know

When this is over. If we can find an honest man, or woman.

The state that produced Howard Baker is now reduced to Marsha Blackburn who bad mouthed a Veteran and Lamar Alexander. What will Lamar do on the way out the door.?

They were also comparing Margaret Chase Smith to Susan Collins this morning. Margaret helped bring down Joe McCarthy. Now we have his successor in Bill Barr.

[wnylib]

6. It's hard for me to think well of Baker, although

I know some folks do. His association with Raygun was a turnoff for me.

Blackburn is what I expect from Pubs these days.

Barr is worse than McCarthy was. McCarthy was only a Senator so his damage was more limited, although terrible for the people whose lives he destroyed. As AG, Barr does far more harm to the entire nation and beyond in his role as consigiore to Trump.

I don't think Alexander's vote on witnesses will matter, even if he votes for them. We would still need 3 more votes and I have no faith in the Charlie Brown football Senators like Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski. Even if we could get witnesses, we will never get the 2/3 votes for conviction in a Republican Senate.

Honest men and women? We have Pelosi, Schiff, Nadler, and Schumer. We have good Dem candidates. Won't matter if the election is rigged again. Between the time of the election and the acquittal of Trump, he wiil unleash a backlash of anger on Dems and Dem leaders.