She initially said she was only going to run for 2 terms….that was her first lie and tells you exactly who she has always been…a corrupt politician who lies everytime she opens her mouth and that’s why she loved Kavanaugh…same liar!
Yes, two words that have far right operative licking their chops. Legislative term limits are a rightwing plot to strip voters of their power and pass it to lobbyists, billionaires and big dark money. They wrecked Ohio and helped turn it red. I hate to see us guilty of falling for "sound good" ideas that are really Trojan horses. We invoke "term limits" as an idea to get rid of people we don't like, but in fact, they would also sweep out people we love just as they're learning the ropes and starting to be effective. And as we've learned in Ohio, the constant churn of newbies means that shadowy forces pay to bring their people in as replacements. Let's not fall for this.
Using Ohio as a "what not to do" makes a lot of sense. What those limits are could be 10 years or more to reduce the "newbie" scenario, for example. But I don't think we need to "throw the baby out with the bath water". Term limits would solve the current issue of people serving for 20-30 years and, in this age of lightning-fast changes to technology and understanding the issues that come with them, eliminate incumbents still referring to FAX machines. I also feel that without addressing the influence of big money and shadowy forces - starting with getting rid of Citizens United - nothing will change. Term limits or not, we already suffer from politicians accepting what amounts to bribes. A well-considered term limit with the preliminary work done to get lobbying, PAC money and corporate donations out of the picture, is still worth considering.
There's probably virtually no way to do "well-considered term limits," given that the hammer is entirely held by the right. And length in office isn't the problem. I see way too much of "I'm mad at this one person who I feel is too old/has been in office too long" and instead of addressing that one person, punts to a sweeping non-solution. Term limits would solve nothing. Idiots will idiot, and refer to email as fax machines, and claim airplane pilots are furries (see: Tommy Tuberville yesterday).
Yes, the influence of big, dark money is the real problem and we need to pass something like Move to Amend to start addressing it by cutting the legs out from under Citizens United. https://www.movetoamend.org
And we need to have real consequences for corruption. The anti-emoluments clause in the Constitution for a reason. Let's enforce it. I also think we should require presidential candidates to release their tax returns – not make it something they do out of the goodness of their heart — and pass a law emphasizing they cannot take any outside money while serving, period. And many in Congress have already proposed banning stock trades for ALL elected federal officials, president and Congress.
Well said Mike. I have been following the Maine election because of my administration of Heather Cox Richardson who lives in Maine and occasionally speaks about that election. Collins definitely needs to go. Every single one of the dishonest needs to go. I'm sick of it.
You know what really pisses me off? For over 35 years I’ve listened to my Republican friends tell me, “Well, it’s corrupt on both sides of aisle,” while they ignore the reality that the Republicans have always been significantly more corrupt. It’s like listening to privileged parents tell me, “well, boys will be boys,” or “they’re going to do (pick something) anyway.”
That pisses me off in a major way too. First of all, it's just not true. Second, when you do that, the worst people don't get discouraged — they like it that way. But good-hearted people become defeated and drop of out voting because "it's no use." This lie helps keep corrupt people in power.
It is called sin leveling. Evangelical Christians do it all the time. What they say is “God sees all sins as the same”. But that simply an excuse for them, because God is not telling them anything of the sort. The point of sin leveling is to bring my major sins down to the level of your minor sins, while pretending that my major sins are equivalent to your minor sins.
"Emails reviewed by ProPublica show Collins’ office pushed the Navy to steer contracts to Navatek even as her campaign and super PAC collected donations, including one instance where Kao routed $150,000 through a shell company and Collins’ staff asked for his number “to thank him,” and Kao says Collins herself told him “you’ve seen me deliver." She is so guilty of not just this, but she has the blood of every woman who cannot get an abortion when their life is in danger and all other women who merely wanted the right to reproductive freedom. This is all on the woman who swore she would only serve two terms and has "Since taking office, Susan Collins has increased her net worth from under $300,000 to an estimated $6.9 million, representing an increase of over 23 times her initial wealth." She needs to go.
When you hear a voter parrot, "The devil you know is...", you know they've given up their human ability to reason. Let's see what Mainers and all US voters wind up doing this fall. Remember to breathe.
Talk about performative politics. Susan Collins "is concerned", sometimes "deeply." Then she stalls until she sees which way the wind blows and if her vote against her party won't affect the outcome, she will side with Democrats. The party is over, dear.
Susan Collins' entire Senatorial tenure has been built on her fraudulent image as a sensible moderate Republican who challenges her party's leaders. In fact those infrequent challenges have only been words without follow up votes that would have defeated the Republican proposal. On important Senatorial votes, Collins never misses an opportunity to talk moderate and act straight Republican, voting with her party when she knows her vote is needed and voting against it only when she knows her vote is not. A clever politician? Absolutely. A principled politician? Absolutely not.
I will very happily listen to anything Mike Nellis does that’s live. I hate it when my phone/Mail listing tells me I can listen and then it turns out to be the robot guy reading the printed word even though it manages to not sound like a robot, I still hate it.
I read it. But I do love your show Mike cuz you're intense and honest but I get it if you need a break. Its great there are young savvy journalists who sincerely care. It takes the edge off corruption. God bless.
Elon Musk spent $25M trying to elect a Republican stooge to WI's state Supreme Court last year. His candidate was repudiated, 10 points (a landslide in purple WI). The courts have since heard multiple election rights cases and will soon hear a gerrymandering case for our US reps. We're unraveling the state-level gerrymander now, and may end up with a state-level Dem trifecta after this election, the first in 16 years. VOTING THE BASTARDS OUT WORKS. Get to it, Maine!
She initially said she was only going to run for 2 terms….that was her first lie and tells you exactly who she has always been…a corrupt politician who lies everytime she opens her mouth and that’s why she loved Kavanaugh…same liar!
Two words: Term Limits
Yes, two words that have far right operative licking their chops. Legislative term limits are a rightwing plot to strip voters of their power and pass it to lobbyists, billionaires and big dark money. They wrecked Ohio and helped turn it red. I hate to see us guilty of falling for "sound good" ideas that are really Trojan horses. We invoke "term limits" as an idea to get rid of people we don't like, but in fact, they would also sweep out people we love just as they're learning the ropes and starting to be effective. And as we've learned in Ohio, the constant churn of newbies means that shadowy forces pay to bring their people in as replacements. Let's not fall for this.
Using Ohio as a "what not to do" makes a lot of sense. What those limits are could be 10 years or more to reduce the "newbie" scenario, for example. But I don't think we need to "throw the baby out with the bath water". Term limits would solve the current issue of people serving for 20-30 years and, in this age of lightning-fast changes to technology and understanding the issues that come with them, eliminate incumbents still referring to FAX machines. I also feel that without addressing the influence of big money and shadowy forces - starting with getting rid of Citizens United - nothing will change. Term limits or not, we already suffer from politicians accepting what amounts to bribes. A well-considered term limit with the preliminary work done to get lobbying, PAC money and corporate donations out of the picture, is still worth considering.
There's probably virtually no way to do "well-considered term limits," given that the hammer is entirely held by the right. And length in office isn't the problem. I see way too much of "I'm mad at this one person who I feel is too old/has been in office too long" and instead of addressing that one person, punts to a sweeping non-solution. Term limits would solve nothing. Idiots will idiot, and refer to email as fax machines, and claim airplane pilots are furries (see: Tommy Tuberville yesterday).
Yes, the influence of big, dark money is the real problem and we need to pass something like Move to Amend to start addressing it by cutting the legs out from under Citizens United. https://www.movetoamend.org
And we need to have real consequences for corruption. The anti-emoluments clause in the Constitution for a reason. Let's enforce it. I also think we should require presidential candidates to release their tax returns – not make it something they do out of the goodness of their heart — and pass a law emphasizing they cannot take any outside money while serving, period. And many in Congress have already proposed banning stock trades for ALL elected federal officials, president and Congress.
Well said Mike. I have been following the Maine election because of my administration of Heather Cox Richardson who lives in Maine and occasionally speaks about that election. Collins definitely needs to go. Every single one of the dishonest needs to go. I'm sick of it.
Admiration 😆
You know what really pisses me off? For over 35 years I’ve listened to my Republican friends tell me, “Well, it’s corrupt on both sides of aisle,” while they ignore the reality that the Republicans have always been significantly more corrupt. It’s like listening to privileged parents tell me, “well, boys will be boys,” or “they’re going to do (pick something) anyway.”
That pisses me off in a major way too. First of all, it's just not true. Second, when you do that, the worst people don't get discouraged — they like it that way. But good-hearted people become defeated and drop of out voting because "it's no use." This lie helps keep corrupt people in power.
It is called sin leveling. Evangelical Christians do it all the time. What they say is “God sees all sins as the same”. But that simply an excuse for them, because God is not telling them anything of the sort. The point of sin leveling is to bring my major sins down to the level of your minor sins, while pretending that my major sins are equivalent to your minor sins.
"Emails reviewed by ProPublica show Collins’ office pushed the Navy to steer contracts to Navatek even as her campaign and super PAC collected donations, including one instance where Kao routed $150,000 through a shell company and Collins’ staff asked for his number “to thank him,” and Kao says Collins herself told him “you’ve seen me deliver." She is so guilty of not just this, but she has the blood of every woman who cannot get an abortion when their life is in danger and all other women who merely wanted the right to reproductive freedom. This is all on the woman who swore she would only serve two terms and has "Since taking office, Susan Collins has increased her net worth from under $300,000 to an estimated $6.9 million, representing an increase of over 23 times her initial wealth." She needs to go.
Splendid article. Thank you for it
Thank you, Mike. At least one of them is exposed!
And DO IT, MAINE!!
When you hear a voter parrot, "The devil you know is...", you know they've given up their human ability to reason. Let's see what Mainers and all US voters wind up doing this fall. Remember to breathe.
Unfortunately, that doesn't make sense if it really IS the devil. Go Maine voters!
I find her wishy washy!
She can’t make up her mind! Ever!
Until the last minute!
Her words can’t be trusted!
"She can’t make up her mind! Ever! Until the last minute!"
Perhaps she's trying to be fair by making sure all of the bribers have a chance to submit their offers.
In reality, she waits until she know how most votes will fall. She votes for our interests only when her vote won't make an actual difference.
What Wendy said.
Yes, maybe the Kavanaugh vote involved more than a conversation that satisfied her “concerns”.
Good point, Rob.
Ha!
Talk about performative politics. Susan Collins "is concerned", sometimes "deeply." Then she stalls until she sees which way the wind blows and if her vote against her party won't affect the outcome, she will side with Democrats. The party is over, dear.
Thank you for bringing this to our attention. I'm glad they're starting to splinter off from their corruption.
I hope this is the start of a bigger movement to expose them all.
Susan Collins' entire Senatorial tenure has been built on her fraudulent image as a sensible moderate Republican who challenges her party's leaders. In fact those infrequent challenges have only been words without follow up votes that would have defeated the Republican proposal. On important Senatorial votes, Collins never misses an opportunity to talk moderate and act straight Republican, voting with her party when she knows her vote is needed and voting against it only when she knows her vote is not. A clever politician? Absolutely. A principled politician? Absolutely not.
It's all image. The gap between her voting record and the most conservative Democrat (Fetterman) is more than 50 points on a scale of 0-100.
More like the new dark ages of corruption.
I will very happily listen to anything Mike Nellis does that’s live. I hate it when my phone/Mail listing tells me I can listen and then it turns out to be the robot guy reading the printed word even though it manages to not sound like a robot, I still hate it.
I read it. But I do love your show Mike cuz you're intense and honest but I get it if you need a break. Its great there are young savvy journalists who sincerely care. It takes the edge off corruption. God bless.
I do, too. I won’t ever listen to the AI voice.
Elon Musk spent $25M trying to elect a Republican stooge to WI's state Supreme Court last year. His candidate was repudiated, 10 points (a landslide in purple WI). The courts have since heard multiple election rights cases and will soon hear a gerrymandering case for our US reps. We're unraveling the state-level gerrymander now, and may end up with a state-level Dem trifecta after this election, the first in 16 years. VOTING THE BASTARDS OUT WORKS. Get to it, Maine!
So glad this is all finally coming to light!