A Dark and Daunting Night at the Metro Council. CM Ginny Welsch is still being Ginny Welsch.

by Rod Williams, Nov. 8, 2024- I have been focused on the election and national affairs so much that I have paid less attention to local affairs. I still follow local news but have not been writing about it very much. I have not been watching council meeting and reading Council meeting agendas. The best place I have found to be kept informed about what is going on in the Metro Council is The Pamphleteer. Megan  Podsiedlik who covers the Council for The Pamphleteer does an excellent job. Rest assured, the Metro Council continues to be as woke as ever and Ginny Welsch continues to be the poster child for local wokeism and anti-police activism. 

In the latest posting from Megan P. she tells of the mood of the council in the wake of the election of Donald Trump and reports on the chasm that still exists between certain council members, the Civilian Review Board, and the police department. Check out the latest from The Pamphleteer and follow.

A Dark and Daunting Night at the Metro Council

Ginny Welsch

From The Pamphleteer, Nov. 8, 2024- Despite the schedule change and recent presidential election, it was business as usual at last night’s council meeting. Vice Mayor Angie Henderson opened by congratulating the mayor on the overwhelming success of his transit referendum, and shared a few insightful statistics about Davidson County voter registration: “Thank you to everyone who registered to vote in recent months—some 8,000 new voters in October alone, after almost 11,000 new registrants in September.” 

She also addressed the outcome of the presidential election by reminding “those who may be feeling sad and scared” that their “elected officials and local government are always here to support you in an age of increasing misinformation and disinformation and fear mongering.” To quell the emotions aroused by these “dark and daunting” times, she invoked a few words from Vice President Kamala Harris and promised that every member of Nashville’s “local, nonpartisan body” is sworn to uphold the Constitution.

The council went on to make a number appointments and voted on a slew of multi-family residential unit proposals—something we’ve seen a lot of given the current push for more affordable housing solutions in Nashville. But it was the presence of Community Review Board Director Jill Fitcheard during the public comment period that stirred up the most controversy. The director brought up privacy concerns regarding a resolution proposing to outsource DNA kit testing, and called into question the efficiency of the Metro Nashville Police Department given the DNA backlog. 

During floor discussion, Councilmember Ginny Welsch motioned for a two-meeting deferral in solidarity with Director Fitcheard’s skepticism. (continue reading)

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The American people made their choice. This is what they want.

 

by Rod Williams, Nov. 8, 2024- After the election was called for Donald Trump early Wednesday morning, I took a news break Wednesday and Thursday and watched only about thirty minutes of news each day.  I also limited my exposure to social media. I needed to decompress and sort out my feelings and gather my thoughts.  I felt like saying we're screwed! Fuck it! I am now back in the game. 

I am shocked that we could actually elect a person like Trump, a man with the soul of a fascist and the self-control of a two-year-old. We elected a man who attempted a coup, someone who is a felon, someone who if he was a child, you would not want your own child to play with. We elected a vile, cruel, person of low morals and character. We elected someone who attempted a coup, who promised to recall a decorated general and try him for treason, who talks of rounding up his enemies and jailing them or executing them, who just two days before the elections said it would be okay with him if someone shot journalist, and who has said he would suspend the constitution. I felt disgust with the American people.

I have been asking myself, how could this have happened? I have also been trying to think of how bad it will really be. I will have more on that in a later post. At this point I am hoping that those who said they didn't actually believe Trump meant the things he said, are right. I am hoping that those who said Trump's more extreme statements were just bluster and hyperbole and he really wouldn't do that are right. But what could cause Americans to take the chance?

In the above video, Tim Miller and Tom Nichols share their views of why the American people elected Donald Trump. Miller and Nichols are both former Republicans who left the Party when the Republican Party became the Party of Trump. Both were active and influential Republican prior to Trump. This video pretty much sums up my feelings as of today.

"The American people made their choice, and the fight to preserve the global democratic coalition against the global authoritarian movement continues. But maybe letting those voters see unadulterated Trumpism in the White House, without the baby bumpers—at least for a little while—is how we save America. Plus, the price of eggs v fascism, and Trump is going to inherit a great economy and take credit for it."

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the Bastiat Society of Nashville present Yaron Brooks, "Democracy, the Rule of the Mob."

Join Yaron Brook for a provocative exploration of modern democracy and its implications for individual freedom and societal progress. In this compelling talk, Brook challenges the conventional understanding of democracy, arguing that it often devolves into the rule of the majority without respect for individual rights. Through a critical examination of democratic systems, Brook will address the dangers of mob rule and advocate for a system that prioritizes reason and individual liberty over collective whims. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with thought-provoking ideas on the future of governance and personal freedom.

For tickets and more information, follow this link. 

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Wait, Harris Still Might Win, ....

... If The Vice President has the Courage to do the Right Thing. 

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Be Sure to Vote TODAY! Vote for the Constitution!

Donald Trump has Called for Terminating the Constitution. 

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Trump Wouldn't Mind Someone Shooting at Him Through Where the Media are Positioned

 by Rod Williams, Nov. 4, 2024- Yesterday I post 40 Instances in Which Trump Incited or Praised Violence Against his Fellow Citizens, and Those who Don't Care. The post contained excerpts from an Atlantic piece listing forty instances of Trump calling for violence. 

As expected, a Trumpinista questioned the source and alleged the quotes were taken out of context. That is almost a standard response to any calling out of Trump's outrageous, cruel, or incendiary rhetoric. One, dismiss it because of the source, the "Fake News" response. Two, claim it is taken out of context. Three, say it is hyperbole, and he really didn't mean it. I am just astounded that Trump supporters cannot see plainly what is in front of them. I guess that is what happens when you join a cult.

Not that it will make any difference to Trump supporters, but Trump made a statement at a rally yesterday saying he wouldn't mind if someone shot at him through members of the media. Here is a portion of the story from the Wall Street Journal.  

While I am disappointed that Trumpinistas will not see the truth and will use one of the three above standard responses to dismiss the comment, I fear that there are a lot of Trump supporters who do not excuse Trump but actually agree with him and would be pleased if Trump critics were shot. They have given up on democracy and have embraced a strong man and they approve of shooting his critics. 

If Trump is elected and suspends the Constitution and actually starts rounding up his enemies and having military tribunals and firing squads take care of the "enemy within," many of Trump's supporters will approve.  

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40 Instances in Which Trump Incited or Praised Violence Against his Fellow Citizens, and Those who Don't Care.

by Rod Williams, Nov. 3, 2024- Recently The Atlantic compiled a list of forty instances in which Trump incited or praised violence. Below are a few excerpts from that article.

“This is an act so egregious that, in times gone by, the punishment would have been DEATH.” September 22, 2023, on Truth Social, suggesting that General Mark Milley, then the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, should be executed

“Any guy that can do a body slam, he is my guy!” October 18, 2018, referring to then-Representative Greg Gianforte, who pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge for physically assaulting a reporter

“Can’t you just shoot them? Just shoot them in the legs or something?” June 2020, according to former Defense Secretary Mark Esper’s memoir, which described Trump having said this about protesters outside the White House (Trump has denied saying this)

“I don’t fucking care that they have weapons. They’re not here to hurt me.” January 6, 2021, just minutes before addressing the crowd at the Ellipse, Trump shouted this to his advance team, according to testimony from Cassidy Hutchinson (who served as assistant to White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows during the Trump administration)

“I am your warrior. I am your justice. And for those who have been wronged and betrayed, I am your retribution.” March 4, 2023, at the Conservative Political Action Committee summit

“We pledge to you that we will root out the Communists, Marxists, fascists, and the radical-left thugs that live like vermin within the confines of our country, that lie and steal and cheat on elections … The threat from outside forces is far less sinister, dangerous, and grave than the threat from within. Our threat is from within.” November 11, 2023, during a Veterans Day speech

“If I don’t get elected … it’s going to be a bloodbath for the country.” March 16, 2024, during a speech about the U.S. auto-manufacturing industry in Ohio (Trump’s campaign later said that he was referencing a “bloodbath” for the automaker industry)

“In Colorado, they’re so brazen, they’re taking over sections of the state. And you know, getting them out will be a bloody story. They should have never been allowed to come into our country. Nobody checked them.” September 7, 2024, at a rally in Wisconsin, referring to his mass-deportation plans

“I always say, we have two enemies … We have the outside enemy, and then we have the enemy from within, and the enemy from within, in my opinion, is more dangerous than China, Russia, and all these countries … We have some very bad people; we have some sick people, radical-left lunatics. And it should be very easily handled by, if necessary, by the National Guard—or, if really necessary, by the military.” October 13, 2024, in a Fox News interview

“It is the enemy from within. And they’re very dangerous—they’re Marxists and Communists and fascists … They’re dangerous for our country. We have China, we have Russia, we have all these countries. If you have a smart president, they can all be handled. The more difficult are, you know, the Pelosis, these people, they’re so sick; they’re so evil.” October 15, 2024, during a Fox News town hall

As disgusted as I am by Trump making these remarks, I think I am more disgusted and saddened that people I know and some people who I love approve of and cheer these remarks. They not only approve of Trump's violent rhetoric but also his cruelty and authoritarian tendencies.  There are people I am close to and people who I worked with to advance the conservative cause and win elections who think Trump's call to violence is acceptable and justified. 

I try to not let political differences taint my view of people. I try not to be embittered toward them. There is more to a person than their political views. I paper over differences by telling myself honorable people can have different opinions. Most often it has been people to my left for whom I have had to remind myself of this. During the Cold War I had to accept that the anti-anti-Communist and advocates of unilateral disarmament were good people who were simply misguided. I am pro-life, but it has not stopped me from loving pro-abortion family members.

Should Trump win, I don't know how bad he will be. I don't think in one term Trump could consolidate his power and destroy our democratic institutions. I suspect life, for most of us, will go on as normal. While if I were Liz Chaney or Nancy Pelosi, or Mark Milley or John Kelly or maybe one a few hundred people, I would be concerned for my life and my freedom; for most of us, I think we personally have nothing to fear from Trump. If that is the case, then as emotions subside, any animosity I might feel toward those who elect Trump will subside. However, if as J. D. Vance once said, Trump becomes "America's Hitler," it will be difficult to feel kindly toward the people who put him in office.

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