Speaking Truth to Power
@factualist.bsky.social
Military Veteran, Dr/Professor
Last I looked, this sort of nonsense constitutes a clear violation of the Hatch Act.
October 3, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Last I looked, this sort of nonsense constitutes a clear violation of the Hatch Act.
A big crowd in the small town of Sedona. Our great AG, Kris Mayes, joined us. I was proud to see many fellow Veterans.
April 5, 2025 at 10:37 PM
A big crowd in the small town of Sedona. Our great AG, Kris Mayes, joined us. I was proud to see many fellow Veterans.
Or, as Jason Stanley aptly refers to it--Erasing History.
March 4, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Or, as Jason Stanley aptly refers to it--Erasing History.
Look at the pastor turnover in churches. Clergy who stand by Christian values are soon challenged and pushed aside by congregants whose view on patriotism and faith is defined in terms of Trump, MAGA, and "traditional family values" (i.e., code for racism).
February 23, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Look at the pastor turnover in churches. Clergy who stand by Christian values are soon challenged and pushed aside by congregants whose view on patriotism and faith is defined in terms of Trump, MAGA, and "traditional family values" (i.e., code for racism).
Are those who voted for the felon true believers, opportunists, cowards, or willfully ignorant? While all MAGA types enable the ongoing assault on democracy, values, and human decency, parsing MAGATs at the local level may better inform strategies to mitigate the damage and own the mid-terms.
February 14, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Are those who voted for the felon true believers, opportunists, cowards, or willfully ignorant? While all MAGA types enable the ongoing assault on democracy, values, and human decency, parsing MAGATs at the local level may better inform strategies to mitigate the damage and own the mid-terms.
Worse. His approach undermines trust between allies and between troops in the foxhole. Values, the moral underpinning of military service, are the glue that holds units together when facing adversity. Values and mission-type orders guide Soldiers when the original plan meets reality.
February 13, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Worse. His approach undermines trust between allies and between troops in the foxhole. Values, the moral underpinning of military service, are the glue that holds units together when facing adversity. Values and mission-type orders guide Soldiers when the original plan meets reality.
Christian and Jewish movements have turned to strongmen to aid their causes. Constantine and Cyrus the Great are but two examples. Decades ago, Jerry Falwell and the moral majority opposed Carter, a genuine Christian, in favor of Reagan. Trump is the White Christian Nationalists' strongman.
February 4, 2025 at 1:05 AM
Christian and Jewish movements have turned to strongmen to aid their causes. Constantine and Cyrus the Great are but two examples. Decades ago, Jerry Falwell and the moral majority opposed Carter, a genuine Christian, in favor of Reagan. Trump is the White Christian Nationalists' strongman.
Many of my graduate students are interested in the various manifestations of misogyny (e.g., INCELs, manosphere). While the research hasn't revealed a clear explanation, one theory is that masculinity = victimhood = shame = rage. In short, the narrative of acceptable masculinity is broken.
January 27, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Many of my graduate students are interested in the various manifestations of misogyny (e.g., INCELs, manosphere). While the research hasn't revealed a clear explanation, one theory is that masculinity = victimhood = shame = rage. In short, the narrative of acceptable masculinity is broken.
Desert Dog recommendation #5: After a break, I am again analyzing the causes of the existential threat to democracy. One recurrent theme is the alliance between evangelicals and white supremacists. This book explores that linkage through the eyes of a prize-winning journalist and former evangelical.
January 26, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Desert Dog recommendation #5: After a break, I am again analyzing the causes of the existential threat to democracy. One recurrent theme is the alliance between evangelicals and white supremacists. This book explores that linkage through the eyes of a prize-winning journalist and former evangelical.
I just added Target to my divestiture list. The list is growing longer by the day. Thankfully, I am already like this guy:
January 24, 2025 at 11:38 PM
I just added Target to my divestiture list. The list is growing longer by the day. Thankfully, I am already like this guy:
Thanks to an AZ MAGA nut, the nonsense of renaming map features and public infrastructure creeps onto my doorstep. I may have to give directions to my place with references to Trump Hwy, which I will rename Felon Hwy, Grifter Byway, Not My President Parkway, or perhaps Oligarch Thoroughfare.
January 19, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Thanks to an AZ MAGA nut, the nonsense of renaming map features and public infrastructure creeps onto my doorstep. I may have to give directions to my place with references to Trump Hwy, which I will rename Felon Hwy, Grifter Byway, Not My President Parkway, or perhaps Oligarch Thoroughfare.
Army Vets: Remember LDRSHIP and the GTA worn with our ID tags? Sadly, my LinkedIn network is smaller because many colleagues have forgotten these values. All services have variations on these worthy ideals, which are, at best, bumper stickers for the MAGA crowd. I salute those who hold the line.
January 13, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Army Vets: Remember LDRSHIP and the GTA worn with our ID tags? Sadly, my LinkedIn network is smaller because many colleagues have forgotten these values. All services have variations on these worthy ideals, which are, at best, bumper stickers for the MAGA crowd. I salute those who hold the line.
Desert Dog Recommendation #4. As social media companies eschew truth for power (kissing Il Duce's ring), I highly recommend this book to inform strategies for reasserting a dominant narrative that serves truth and not the monocultural order that serves to empower the few.
January 9, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Desert Dog Recommendation #4. As social media companies eschew truth for power (kissing Il Duce's ring), I highly recommend this book to inform strategies for reasserting a dominant narrative that serves truth and not the monocultural order that serves to empower the few.
While I enjoy reading books and watching movies with dystopian themes, the prospect of living through such a nightmare--again, is wholly unappealing. Yet, here we are and, like the family in season 1 of FtWD, I ponder whether to bet on institutions to protect us or to chart another course.
January 8, 2025 at 8:36 PM
While I enjoy reading books and watching movies with dystopian themes, the prospect of living through such a nightmare--again, is wholly unappealing. Yet, here we are and, like the family in season 1 of FtWD, I ponder whether to bet on institutions to protect us or to chart another course.
Desert Dog Recommendation #3. Sadly, it is a book that requires rereading as we watch social media kiss the ring of the soon-to-be-crowned il Duce.
January 7, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Desert Dog Recommendation #3. Sadly, it is a book that requires rereading as we watch social media kiss the ring of the soon-to-be-crowned il Duce.
Fossil Sunday. I found these on my morning walk with the desert dogs. Can you see the 400-500 million-year-old Crinoids from a long-extinct Verde Valley sea? I'm sure there is a tagline somewhere that speaks to MAGA as an existential threat to democracy, America, the environment...
January 5, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Fossil Sunday. I found these on my morning walk with the desert dogs. Can you see the 400-500 million-year-old Crinoids from a long-extinct Verde Valley sea? I'm sure there is a tagline somewhere that speaks to MAGA as an existential threat to democracy, America, the environment...
I use another resource when teaching critical thinking in my graduate courses.
January 4, 2025 at 7:20 PM
I use another resource when teaching critical thinking in my graduate courses.
It is a fascinating book by a former Southern California evangelical movement insider and scholar. He concludes that White Christian Nationalists prioritize White Supremacy above all else and the MAGA network is their means to the end. A key passage related to January 6th:
January 4, 2025 at 6:27 PM
It is a fascinating book by a former Southern California evangelical movement insider and scholar. He concludes that White Christian Nationalists prioritize White Supremacy above all else and the MAGA network is their means to the end. A key passage related to January 6th:
That sums it up, thanks Elon, I mean AD.
January 3, 2025 at 9:02 PM
That sums it up, thanks Elon, I mean AD.
Analyze, Plan, Act, Reassess...continuing my analysis of MAGidiots. Recommendation #1 focused on "stolen" pride, shame, blame, anger, and rage, but largely ignored religion. This book looks at the fusion of white supremacy with Christian nationalism.
Desert Dog Recommendation #2
Desert Dog Recommendation #2
January 2, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Analyze, Plan, Act, Reassess...continuing my analysis of MAGidiots. Recommendation #1 focused on "stolen" pride, shame, blame, anger, and rage, but largely ignored religion. This book looks at the fusion of white supremacy with Christian nationalism.
Desert Dog Recommendation #2
Desert Dog Recommendation #2
Analyze, Plan, Act, Reassess...I am in the analysis phase, trying to understand why so many embraced the MAGA nonsense and its Grifter-in-Chief. As I try to understand mass idiocy and its consequences, I turn first to well-researched books.
Desert Dog Recommendation #1:
Desert Dog Recommendation #1:
December 31, 2024 at 5:16 PM
Analyze, Plan, Act, Reassess...I am in the analysis phase, trying to understand why so many embraced the MAGA nonsense and its Grifter-in-Chief. As I try to understand mass idiocy and its consequences, I turn first to well-researched books.
Desert Dog Recommendation #1:
Desert Dog Recommendation #1:
With coffee in hand as I overlook the beautiful Verde Valley, I no longer recognize the country for which I served in uniform for 30 years. I look forward to reading thoughtful commentary on why we are in this mess and what we can do to put us on a progressive path.
December 29, 2024 at 5:05 PM
With coffee in hand as I overlook the beautiful Verde Valley, I no longer recognize the country for which I served in uniform for 30 years. I look forward to reading thoughtful commentary on why we are in this mess and what we can do to put us on a progressive path.