Revolt within the government? Nothing new in that--they are, after all, "Civil Service" employees and do as they please, anyway. One of the many reasons Trump is in the White House.
Crowd-size is not the issue--but do go on with the Sovietized narrative that's top-of-the-fold for New York City's mass-media central.
Yeah, "Go rogue" you guys--it's your right as "Civil Service" employees--ignore the White House if it's not the NYT DNC Politburo choice.
Just wonder if the Pentagon's military/Civil Service employees feel the same way about doing as they wish--you know, with all those nukes, ships, and tanks. Nice idea--if Civil Service or the military doesn't like who the American people voted into office--just overthrow the government.
Sounds very Putin--doesn't it?
Crowd-size is not the issue--but do go on with the Sovietized narrative that's top-of-the-fold for New York City's mass-media central.
Yeah, "Go rogue" you guys--it's your right as "Civil Service" employees--ignore the White House if it's not the NYT DNC Politburo choice.
Just wonder if the Pentagon's military/Civil Service employees feel the same way about doing as they wish--you know, with all those nukes, ships, and tanks. Nice idea--if Civil Service or the military doesn't like who the American people voted into office--just overthrow the government.
Sounds very Putin--doesn't it?
9
Imagine, we have a man in the WH who throws tantrums, on Twitter. I say take his rattle away and give him a time out.
115
America's Best Idea trumps America's Worst Choice!
129
Thank you, Tim! You are spot on, as always.
70
What would John Muir do?
140
Go Smokey! Only you can prevent The Walking Dumpster Fire.
220
Egan wrote "Here's a suggestion: Go rogue, you lovable biologists and park rangers; tell the truth about science, you nerds in funny hats and badges". While I agree with his sentiment, his "suggestion" is about three days behind, they're already doing this. I've heard rumblings about how the NYT has been strong lately but I'm not seeing it.
47
Now NASA has gone rogue! There is a twitter account for that agency.
Apparently not only the press needs to shut up but also park rangers, scientists, and anyone with a grasp of reality.
The public needs to support these actively support these agencies. The Wall....boondoggle. NASA.....jobs. Let us be an army of E.O.Wilson's angry ants.
Apparently not only the press needs to shut up but also park rangers, scientists, and anyone with a grasp of reality.
The public needs to support these actively support these agencies. The Wall....boondoggle. NASA.....jobs. Let us be an army of E.O.Wilson's angry ants.
263
Thank you to the Rangers of the U.S. Park Service!!!!! Please don't stop.
397
Fake news so fits
His Imperial *Orangeness is so unhappy with #Real News and its obsession with this Truthiness. #Real News creates so much stress and forces that Trumpkins has a harder time with everything.
His Imperial *Orangeness is oh so upset. Mexico's president was so mean to our poor *widdle Trumpkins. Trumpkins had a wonderful plan to properly abuse Mexico.
You tell him, Trumpkins.
His Imperial *Orangeness is so unhappy with #Real News and its obsession with this Truthiness. #Real News creates so much stress and forces that Trumpkins has a harder time with everything.
His Imperial *Orangeness is oh so upset. Mexico's president was so mean to our poor *widdle Trumpkins. Trumpkins had a wonderful plan to properly abuse Mexico.
You tell him, Trumpkins.
112
Just wait until the current occupier of the White House works to privatize our parks and open federal spaces!! He will open Huge Areas to who ever wants to mine and build Huge Hotels and whatever can be of great profit! Its time the people get off their devices and 'virtual'' games" and open their eyes, before its to late!!!
123
Poor Little Donnie - every perceived slight inspires outrage. These outbursts over trivial matters just diminish any stature he ever had.
78
There are many "alt" twitter pages for national services like the EPA, HHS, etc. I know because I followed all of them yesterday! La lua continua!
39
This is a really fine piece of writing! Both the noteworthy content and the presentation.
98
Why are National Parks employees nerds? That's straight out of Trump's anti-intellectual vocabulary.
27
About 35 percent of our fellow citizens believe the earth is flat, Obama is a Kenyan, Fox News is fair and balanced, and that the curent White House tells the truth. Probably nothing will change this and, in the meantime, many of us will be astonihed at this perverseness.
48
Maybe Trump will get lucky and find the next Leni Riefenstahl to choreograph and film his events, instead of relying on the irritatingly truthful Park Service.
Welcome to Chaos.
Welcome to Chaos.
57
Dragoon Donald and his short musket just blunderbuss whenever he is not allowed to drive the clown bus.
18
Each day I awaken certain that the man can't sink any lower.
I am wrong.
I am wrong.
123
It funny the verbiage coming from the authors and comments on the numerous articles published by the NY Times. So often liberals have spoke about resisting, revolution, uprising, subversion, overturn
3
Welcome to the USA, President Trump. Where half the citizens are resistors to you personally.
91
Eh. Probably best all around if park rangers and the NPS stick to managing parks and leave political journalism/commentary to the muck-slingers who do that for a living.
You can pass it off as "Informing people is what park rangers do," but that's disingenuous. Does the NPS regularly and consistently post photos of the crowds assembled on The Mall in D.C.? No. They don't. Which is what made that particular post nothing more or less than a political commentary. And, that's just as inappropriate for the NPS as it would be for the uniformed heroes of the DoD who are prohibited from making such comments under the aegis of their government agency.
If Rangers Rick and Rita want to post stuff on their own FB pages or whatever, that's fine. Doing so while in uniform or using the NPS logo/seal is off-limits.
You can pass it off as "Informing people is what park rangers do," but that's disingenuous. Does the NPS regularly and consistently post photos of the crowds assembled on The Mall in D.C.? No. They don't. Which is what made that particular post nothing more or less than a political commentary. And, that's just as inappropriate for the NPS as it would be for the uniformed heroes of the DoD who are prohibited from making such comments under the aegis of their government agency.
If Rangers Rick and Rita want to post stuff on their own FB pages or whatever, that's fine. Doing so while in uniform or using the NPS logo/seal is off-limits.
7
Somewhat off topic, but is anyone still working at FEMA, or the National Weather Service or NOAA? I mean, it wouldn't surprise me that if a hurricane devastated Florida right now (think Andrew or Katrina size storm), that Trump's first impulse (and likely his only) would be to announce how Mar-a-Lago was not impacted much and how he sees this as an opportunity to get business from other golf courses that suffered serious damage.
60
if you think our park lands are safe from Donald Trump and developers, you should wake up. A lot of land that is in the 'protective' hands of government will soon be in state controlled hands -- and most likely up for sale to the highest /most well connected bidder. Only Day 7 of this terrible administration and the future looks very dark for the environment and for things we love (beauty / truth / respect).
125
But what are we to do when the edict to lie or suppress is about a foreign threat? A reason to go to war?
Haven't we been here before?
Haven't we been here before?
59
Mr. Egan, Thank you very, very much for your article. I have been waiting for truth to prevail and yesterday read articles (Charles Blow - "A Lie by any other name" Our president is a pathological liar). Finally the truth - not skirting the issue - no alternative facts, not biggest crowds (or biggest anything) no IRS audit preventing release of taxes, no 3-5 mil. illegal voters, and on, and on. All LIES.
I have been predicting that he appears to have extreme form of Narcissistic Personality Disorder and other mental health issues. You finally spoke the truth I have been waiting to hear - Mr. Trump is CRAZY. Now this is not a scientific diagnosis but he has extreme erratic behavior. He may well have multiple personality disorders and mental health diagnoses.
Do all presidents get a free physical examination at Walter Reed Hospital in D.C.? He needs a mental health evaluation NOW?
Keep speaking the TRUTH.
I have been predicting that he appears to have extreme form of Narcissistic Personality Disorder and other mental health issues. You finally spoke the truth I have been waiting to hear - Mr. Trump is CRAZY. Now this is not a scientific diagnosis but he has extreme erratic behavior. He may well have multiple personality disorders and mental health diagnoses.
Do all presidents get a free physical examination at Walter Reed Hospital in D.C.? He needs a mental health evaluation NOW?
Keep speaking the TRUTH.
138
Trump and his cabal may think they have free rein to stamp out dissent and stomp on the Constitution, but they miscalculate at their peril if they think they can come after our National Parks and the Rangers who protect them. Nothing will more quickly galvanize the American people than the need to unite in defense of our national sacred spaces.
41
This is just awful. I was born under Hoover and lived under all since. However this man is ridiculous, in full meaning of the term. Hang in there because he cannot help himself. He will commit some egregious act that will justify an impeachment and conviction by Congress and I do not think we will have long to wait. The Democrats will be very willing to vote him out and there are plenty of Republicans who have been holding their nose and will go along also.
39
It is not only the park rangers that have to keep shouting out the truth. It is the obligation of journalists and all of us citizens who know this man is wrong for the job who must keep shouting the truth from the rooftops. This is a dangerous man that a conned public voted into office. The only comfort I have is that he did not win the popular vote, that reassures me that the majority of Americans do care what happens to this country.
60
My experiences with NPS rangers has been remarkably positive over the decades and at numerous sites, large and small, urban, rural, and remote. Almost without exception, the rangers have been well-informed, literate, and passionate about their sites and their jobs. Many are able to discuss historical, environmental, and other issues in depth. They are gracious to rude visitors, including the right-wingers who try to trip them up. Their jobs have their challenges, and I doubt that they are over-paid. Listen when those rangers speak! Rangers: keep up the great work. Millions of us admire you and will support you.
58
Revenge of the nerds. It is time for all of us who read books, who know the causes of World War II, who know their bio, chem and physics, who have read Orwell, Roth and Carson, who understand calc and stats to speak and keep on speaking. But we need to do it with kindness, love and understanding and not with arrogance. But above all to do it with humor.
45
Egan - you and your ilk are annoying. What is it with journalists? They are nothing but scribes. Most of them weren't good enough athletes to play sport, most weren't smart enough to do science, most clearly aren't attractive enough to date the head cheerleader -- or quarterback. And most can't write very well. For the most part you are a bunch of neurotic lefties, narcissistic and in love with your progressive ideas, who don't even understand the responsibilities of a free press -- which means fair and honest reporting.
All we have seen and heard from the Times for months is an ongoing, primarily fact free attack on the president elect, now president, along with fawning over the outgoing incompetent. Your feelings are hurt because your candidate didn't win and because your ideals and concepts about the US -- how you want the US to be, in your arrogance -- didn't resonate and Trump won. He won because he campaigned better and smarter than your candidate and because for most of America, his ideas are more appealing.
So I would ask, Tim -- free speech and all that -- but why would a park ranger tweet out that the crowd for Trump wasn't as big as for Obama? Or why is it somehow important that a Ranger in the Badlands tweet about CO2 in the atmosphere? What does either tweet have to do with their jobs? As private citizens they are certainly free to express opinions, but in their capacity as employees of the federal government that is a different animal.
All we have seen and heard from the Times for months is an ongoing, primarily fact free attack on the president elect, now president, along with fawning over the outgoing incompetent. Your feelings are hurt because your candidate didn't win and because your ideals and concepts about the US -- how you want the US to be, in your arrogance -- didn't resonate and Trump won. He won because he campaigned better and smarter than your candidate and because for most of America, his ideas are more appealing.
So I would ask, Tim -- free speech and all that -- but why would a park ranger tweet out that the crowd for Trump wasn't as big as for Obama? Or why is it somehow important that a Ranger in the Badlands tweet about CO2 in the atmosphere? What does either tweet have to do with their jobs? As private citizens they are certainly free to express opinions, but in their capacity as employees of the federal government that is a different animal.
3
My Grandfather was a Park Ranger, I have always thought it was one most honorable job an American could do. He would be so proud of his fellow Rangers for standing up to a man who has no love for our beautiful land or commitment to our citizens.
82
Trump's lies and delusions and narcissistic personality disorder with his sociopathic tweets demand we impose the 25th amendment to the U.S. Constitution, get Mike Pence as a new president, impeach him for his own violations of the Constitution (killing women who need safe abortions for instance) then we get Paul Ryan, impeachable for recommendations to kill people with repeal of ACA, and then we get that aging Senator Orrin Hatch who is long past his use by date. Heck of a job, country!
32
At risk of the thought police coming for me I add my solidarity to any and all journalists that will rise up and push back to the absurd "falsehoods" being promulgated by DT's spokespeople and provocateurs. The Press was on it's heals dealing with the election and all that noise being generated there-in, now however it's time to remember all the great words that have been said over the years, "speak truth to power"....especially when that power is foaming at the mouth and dripping with whats left of the freedoms of it's citizens and patriots.
35
It's so nice to see that even if the government won't stand up to Trump, individual parks will
39
Why does the President care so much about the size of his crowd? In addition to all the other suggestions around narcissistic insecurities, I suggest that it is a proxy for political power and the opening balance in his accounting of political capital. In the face of opinion polls, which he can dismiss, he needs that particular lie to be true in order to give him the political influence needed to shape events and achieve his agenda. Just say'in.
22
Trump will come around on the parks. I fully expect him to use the Antiquities Act to declare Trump Tower or Mar-a-Lago a National Monument. Or maybe he'll dispense with such subtlety and have a YUGE statue of himself erected on the National Mall.
27
For a guy who chastises Trump's obsession with numbers, Tim doesn't hesitate to haul out the numbers that support his trashing of the President. How long is the left going to wail about the popular vote - America has never elected a President based on the popular vote? It's as relevant as how many people viewed an inauguration or how many people visited a national park or the declining subscription base of The New York Times.
As for telling "the truth about science", Egan might want to ponder Feynman's thoughts on the subject: "Science is the belief in the ignorance of the experts". Or from Anonymous: "When Science is no longer debatable, it is no longer Science."
As for telling "the truth about science", Egan might want to ponder Feynman's thoughts on the subject: "Science is the belief in the ignorance of the experts". Or from Anonymous: "When Science is no longer debatable, it is no longer Science."
3
A bitter irony here is that the President's super-sized popular vote loss and the relatively small inauguration crowd size would have little consequence at all save for the new President's paranoid, perseverating obsession with the initial reports, blowing them up way out of proportion, revealing what a pathetically self-absorbed and disordered paranoid he is.
Face the facts, Mr. President. Obama's was bigger than yours. So, for that matter, was Hillary's. Wow, that's gotta hurt, bigly!
www.endthemadnessnow.org
Face the facts, Mr. President. Obama's was bigger than yours. So, for that matter, was Hillary's. Wow, that's gotta hurt, bigly!
www.endthemadnessnow.org
24
Those are not 'funny hats', the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campaign_hat is veritable American Helmet of Truth.
6
I for one, will no longer appeal to the dumb rednecks like The Paytons and Ted Nugent who support this cartoon clown. It's time to stop helping stupid people look the other way. They will now be forced to admit they not only made an awful mistake, but will reap the oats of it. Or some dumb redneck saying like that. Have fun losing, Crackers
12
Trump crazy? That's the only explanation I can think of for his behavior.
15
Now that one of Trump's minions has declared war on the media, it is good to recall Lee Iacocca's famous remark: "Don't get mad, get even". Surely the vast resources of the NY Times can get the real facts behind that Moscow hotel room, for example. Please dig up whatever dirt you can so we can quickly get rid of this dirtbag. While I disagree with Pence on just about everything, at least he appears sane and honorable.
16
It's quite unbelievable what the new POTUS has been able to do in one short week: undermine the credibility of the information coming out of federal agencies. But the notion that these rogue sites are some beacon of resistance to follow, how do we know it's not a Russian operative behind that alt info feed? This is so scary and dangerous.
6
I live in southern Utah, within range of Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Cedar Breaks, Grand Staircase-Escalante, and with a little effort, I can reach Hovenweep, Rainbow Bridge, Natural Bridges and Bears Ears. These are magnificent natural wonders. In all my 40 years of wondering around these and other parks, I have never encountered rude park rangers. They are dedicated, helpful and knowledgeable people. They take a lot of abuse from tourists, still they move on. I'd much rather follow any of those rangers than the Bozo in the White House. This is America, and Trump, by example, has taught us to unleash our mouths. I am not being polite nor politically correct. That is all right. It feels good.....
45
A talented magician, or illusionist as many prefer to be called, is an expert at misdirection. While we are looking here, they are acting there. The Trump broadcasts on Twitter are not minor, but they keep us jumping from one thing to another, at the speed of a tweet, so as not to focus too long on the other things that are dangerous - some of them VERY dangerous.
Our attention spans need to be extended; we need to focus every day for the next four years.
Our attention spans need to be extended; we need to focus every day for the next four years.
20
Correction: Americans of Japanese Ancestry were not interned in Death Valley, they were interned at Manzanar in the Southern Owens Valley. Manzanar is now a National Monument.
12
There are now dozens of rogue guvment Twitter sites getting alternative facts out. Samizdot for a new age: https://twitter.com/StollmeyerEU/lists/twistance/members
8
Well written. sane article. Keep speaking the truth.
10
Donny needs to step up the pace of his frenzied and bazaar efforts. I'm afraid with his polls falling like a rock the manically insecure serial liar, Putin Pawn, and darling of the nations gullible ignorant may have a mental health intervention before he totally wrecks the 17th century Republican Party.
13
Unsung Government Workers:
Leak! Blow the Whistle!
We love you!
Leak! Blow the Whistle!
We love you!
23
I am proud to stand with my fellow federal workers!!!! Keep it up! You need not be silenced!
23
Always love your columns. Nothing more to add except don't stop! Ever!
12
small hands, smaller crowds, smallest mind
22
The most vocal and idiotic trump supporter I know is an ardent supporter of our backyard park, Glacier National Park. He says, and I am qoting, "the government better keep their hands off". Like I said. Idiotic, but his heart is in the right place. I just showed him the rogue twitter accounts. Maybe he'll learn something.
14
Is a lie, a lie, if one believes the lie ?
2
So Donald, don't you have more important things to do, rather than sending our Park Rangers out chasing rainbows, and measuring shadows. Perhaps, maybe you had a hang-up in finding "The Fugitive", as a young man.
You got The Prize, so let the rest of the nonsense go! Just remember what (then North) Vietnamese General Vo Nuyen Giap told Henry Kissinger, after the Peaxce Treating was finally signed, ending our (until then) longest War in U. S. History: "You won the battles, but (you) lost the War!"
So Donald, you wonThe Prize, all the rest is mere details. Let someone else micro-manage the minor points. HUH?
https://thetruthoncommonsense.com
You got The Prize, so let the rest of the nonsense go! Just remember what (then North) Vietnamese General Vo Nuyen Giap told Henry Kissinger, after the Peaxce Treating was finally signed, ending our (until then) longest War in U. S. History: "You won the battles, but (you) lost the War!"
So Donald, you wonThe Prize, all the rest is mere details. Let someone else micro-manage the minor points. HUH?
https://thetruthoncommonsense.com
6
Welcome to Trump's America, shut down all social media by government agencies because you don't like facts. Shut down the Whitehouse switch board from taking comments because you don't want to hear from the public. What a coward! Those on the right who are angry that we on the left that don't accept this type of behavior have a problem and it's name is Trump.
25
Everybody knows that information is power. Trump doesn't want us to have information contrary to his because he doesn't want us to have any power. You GO National Park Rangers! We will all need you more than ever now to be a contrary voice and set the records straight.
31
I worked for the National Park Service (NPS) for 15 years. Afterwards, I became a university professor who continued to research and publish on NPS issues. Here is my "take" on Egan's article.
Historically, the NPS has been embroiled in political issues–usually concerning conflicts between "preservation vs. use" and budget issues. Any NPS conflicts with presidential administrations typically have remained within the halls of government and have not involved NPS employees advocating in a public manner.
But now we have pockets of government employees–rangers in a comparatively small agency–becoming leaders in using social media to increase awareness that Trump is trying to "gag" dissemination of information about the importance of and threats to national parks and historical areas.
Why are NPS employees who historically have not made their grievances public beginning to do so? And, doing so in a manner greater than employees in other agencies? In my view, this is because NPS rangers understand that Trump is an existential threat to our parks and historical sites–that often are called by historians the "best idea America" has had. These rangers are now willing to become public advocates.
I can only hope that the efforts of these courageous NPS rangers become widespread. Further, I believe the protests from them and other agency employees should evolve into nonviolent civil disobedience. (see, e.g., www.int-res.com/articles/esep2011/e011p003.pdf) And, we should join them.
Historically, the NPS has been embroiled in political issues–usually concerning conflicts between "preservation vs. use" and budget issues. Any NPS conflicts with presidential administrations typically have remained within the halls of government and have not involved NPS employees advocating in a public manner.
But now we have pockets of government employees–rangers in a comparatively small agency–becoming leaders in using social media to increase awareness that Trump is trying to "gag" dissemination of information about the importance of and threats to national parks and historical areas.
Why are NPS employees who historically have not made their grievances public beginning to do so? And, doing so in a manner greater than employees in other agencies? In my view, this is because NPS rangers understand that Trump is an existential threat to our parks and historical sites–that often are called by historians the "best idea America" has had. These rangers are now willing to become public advocates.
I can only hope that the efforts of these courageous NPS rangers become widespread. Further, I believe the protests from them and other agency employees should evolve into nonviolent civil disobedience. (see, e.g., www.int-res.com/articles/esep2011/e011p003.pdf) And, we should join them.
52
Only WE the People can prevent book fires!
13
TR would be so proud of the Park Service and its rangers and so appalled by Trump!
15
Defend us, Park Service. Save your country.
9
Crowd size matters.
Scientists March on Washington - http://www.scientistsmarchonwashington.com
Be there.
Scientists March on Washington - http://www.scientistsmarchonwashington.com
Be there.
14
Is there any diversity of thought in NYT?!? All of the journalist just write the same stuff. Boring!
2
I'm waiting for the call for some Fracking at Little Round Top.
4
No. This is wrong. Federal employees, civil servants, members of the uniformed services, all must support the president. Unless they are ordered to do something immoral or unethical, or that violates the Constitution, they have to FULLY support the new administration to the BEST of their ability. That is their job. To do anything less is unprofessional and will bring discredit on the profession of civil and national service. Think about it, folks.
1
Sometimes the sanest reaction to an insane situation...is Insanity.
3
Why bother with this distraction? Why don't you ask who is the man behind the curtain?
Trump is so small these quips are all he can handle. Why do you bother? I don't want to hear one utterance out of his mouth or fingers unless it is policy based. You don't have to print his tweets - teevee needs to stop showing his garbage he spews.
He has mocked you so bad it is scary. The only way you have a chance is to NEVER publish anything you know is a lie. Never publish his crazy-grandpa opinions. Lock him up media-wise so he has no bully-pulpit which is YOU. You are the bully pulpit for old racists like Trump.
Trump is so small these quips are all he can handle. Why do you bother? I don't want to hear one utterance out of his mouth or fingers unless it is policy based. You don't have to print his tweets - teevee needs to stop showing his garbage he spews.
He has mocked you so bad it is scary. The only way you have a chance is to NEVER publish anything you know is a lie. Never publish his crazy-grandpa opinions. Lock him up media-wise so he has no bully-pulpit which is YOU. You are the bully pulpit for old racists like Trump.
7
It's not a lump of coal they're trying to polish, Roger... I wish them the best of luck!
4
I keep saying...asking...why does the rest of the government and the American
people continue allowing the madman to act like a madman ?
people continue allowing the madman to act like a madman ?
16
That "America's Best Idea" is under attack from "America's Worst Idea" after two weeks on the job is a alarming indicator of how bad things are about to get.
22
I wish I could take credit for the following but it was a comment posted by NateGee in response to the NPS story on the British IT web site, The Register.
"In 2017, a crack forestry unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn't commit. These men promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to the Los Angeles underground. Today, still wanted by the government they survive as rangers of fortune. If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them....maybe you can hire The NPS."
Sometime a little humor helps.
"In 2017, a crack forestry unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn't commit. These men promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to the Los Angeles underground. Today, still wanted by the government they survive as rangers of fortune. If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them....maybe you can hire The NPS."
Sometime a little humor helps.
11
The poignant words of the inspirational writer, Alice Walker come to mind:" This is a wonderful planet, and it is being completely destroyed by people who have too much money and power and no empathy." Are WE THE PEOPLE destined to relive and repeat the mistakes and destruction of past generations? It is up to us. We have a choice and NOW is the time to ACT.
22
Thank you, Timothy. Keep the truth coming! We love Ranger Betty Soskin (age 95?) who received award from President Obama last year. (Rosie the Riveter museum in Richmond, CA)
20
I bet this President has never set foot in a national park! To those who have dedicated themselves to protecting our national jewels, thank you, thank you, thank you!!
31
CBS news and NPR and perhaps other news agencies are reporting that shadow (rogue) twitter accounts have been created for NASA, EPA, the Parks Services, HHS, and other agencies. It is reported that they are being run by retirees, academic researchers and scientists who want a way to disseminate actual scientific evidence and results. Real news, not fake news.
Americans are resourceful and I doubt that Trump will be able to shut down everyone. Information will leak. Private foundations will fund some projects to monitor the environment and we will learn the data gathered by other countries. It should not be this way, but we must be persistent in seeking answers.
Americans are resourceful and I doubt that Trump will be able to shut down everyone. Information will leak. Private foundations will fund some projects to monitor the environment and we will learn the data gathered by other countries. It should not be this way, but we must be persistent in seeking answers.
34
Some NPS rangers are also law enforcers, protecting us and our wilderness. Massive amounts of land is patrolled and surveilled each and every day of the year. Mostly in remote areas without immediate back up. Occasionally one takes a hit from someone. These brave men and women are putting their lives in danger not unlike other law enforcement agencies and should be respected as highly for their dedication and hard work.
30
Years ago, when I was a college student, while backpacking the Grand Canyon during spring break, I witnessed National Park rangers save a young man's life. They are still saving lives. If you are lost, hurt, injured, scared, it's a good chance it will be park rangers who save you.
They are heroes in many ways.
They are heroes in many ways.
50
Great article, as always. To me, park rangers are heroes every day, protecting our national parks and historic places and making them accessible and open to all. Politicians come and go, but the people have spoken again and again about their support for the parks. In the long sweep of future to come (I hope!), we must ensure that our national parks (and state parks) will remain as a symbol of what Americans really value. Speak up, rangers. We support you.
45
It stands to reason that park rangers have come to the rescue. I've been to many National Parks and have always had a great experience while visiting them due to a large part to the men and women of the Park Service. They have always been friendly and informative. So, our guardians of Americas best idea,keep the flow of information going, we need it now more than ever.
29
My most treasured memories were made in National Parks and Monuments, and now I have the joyous task and duty of showing my granddaughter these magnificent jewels, belonging to all Americans, and her lawful heritage.
A big shout to all the Rangers, who work so hard to preserve and proudly display these National wonders. They are ceaselessly polite and helpful.
The Parks are my cross to die on.
A big shout to all the Rangers, who work so hard to preserve and proudly display these National wonders. They are ceaselessly polite and helpful.
The Parks are my cross to die on.
25
Building more fences and walls along the US-Mexico border would prohibit cross-border movement of a wide range of species including jaguar, ocelot, jaguarundi, Mexican gray wolf, Sonoran pronghorn, bighorn sheep, black bear, desert tortoise, pygmy-owl (since most of its flights are less than 3 feet from the ground), kit fox, badger, North American porcupine, and black-tailed prairie dog. The US-Mexico border forms a boundary for at least eleven US and three Mexican designated conservation areas including wildlife refuges, national parks, and biosphere reserves. Building walls in these areas will mean cutting off a continental wildlife corridor.
78
It will.
Ultimately, if built, it will be a new National Monument - to foolhardiness.
Ultimately, if built, it will be a new National Monument - to foolhardiness.
7
There is a story in that!
7
Many I have talked to find Trump simply bewildering. How can an adult speak and act in these monstrous ways? How could such a fragile egomaniac get through so much as a round of golf with a few friends?
For answer, I recommend a viewing (or re-viewing) of the film Dr. Strangelove, with particular attention to the character of General Jack E. Ripper, the crackpot who sends the B-52s out to nuke Russia. When asked by his (sane) adjutant when he developed his theory that the Commies were destroying "our precious bodily fluids," General Ripper, who claims like Trump to have always been a women-magnet, alludes to a moment in bed when, apparently for the first time, he couldn't get it up. Of course, THAT never happened again--because he knew enough to stop drinking Commie-fluoridated water and stick to grain alcohol! But a world-view was born from his moment of sexual humiliation.
I'll leave it there, except to note, with Egan, that the obsessive drive to be the biggest and best in everything can have roots in life's inevitable losses and lessenings, which trouble all of us but which nearly all of us learn to take in stride.
For answer, I recommend a viewing (or re-viewing) of the film Dr. Strangelove, with particular attention to the character of General Jack E. Ripper, the crackpot who sends the B-52s out to nuke Russia. When asked by his (sane) adjutant when he developed his theory that the Commies were destroying "our precious bodily fluids," General Ripper, who claims like Trump to have always been a women-magnet, alludes to a moment in bed when, apparently for the first time, he couldn't get it up. Of course, THAT never happened again--because he knew enough to stop drinking Commie-fluoridated water and stick to grain alcohol! But a world-view was born from his moment of sexual humiliation.
I'll leave it there, except to note, with Egan, that the obsessive drive to be the biggest and best in everything can have roots in life's inevitable losses and lessenings, which trouble all of us but which nearly all of us learn to take in stride.
27
Mr. Egan, didn't you read that the Press is supposed to shut up? You are in for big trouble-- scandalous.
I have no sympathy whatsoever for any of the weak-kneed, jelly spined members of the GOP alleged leadership who stood by, mute, while the president elect rambled on about nothing during the campaign. Their moment in the sun is not going to happen as long as this man, Trump, is in the driver's seat. He'll keep on changing his route as we bump along from post to post trying to make sense of what's going on. I think chaos is his mode, and he isn't going to change. This method of "governing", with total confusion and threats of vengeance, the ego so fragile, are the method of delusional and deranged dictators, one of whom who rose to power in in the 30's and 40's.
This man has a group of power craving Congressmen and women who understand Trump's instinct to destroy the opposition. They will comply to gain power. Never say "Never".
About the poll numbers going down since he came to office: perhaps they'll continue to plummet and the mid-term elections will save the Republic and our own sanity while we to make sense of what's going on.
I have no sympathy whatsoever for any of the weak-kneed, jelly spined members of the GOP alleged leadership who stood by, mute, while the president elect rambled on about nothing during the campaign. Their moment in the sun is not going to happen as long as this man, Trump, is in the driver's seat. He'll keep on changing his route as we bump along from post to post trying to make sense of what's going on. I think chaos is his mode, and he isn't going to change. This method of "governing", with total confusion and threats of vengeance, the ego so fragile, are the method of delusional and deranged dictators, one of whom who rose to power in in the 30's and 40's.
This man has a group of power craving Congressmen and women who understand Trump's instinct to destroy the opposition. They will comply to gain power. Never say "Never".
About the poll numbers going down since he came to office: perhaps they'll continue to plummet and the mid-term elections will save the Republic and our own sanity while we to make sense of what's going on.
50
Those lies coming from the White House are not "largely inconsequential" because they reinforce the Trumpistas' view that the media is the enemy. And the reason that Don the Con views it thus is that the facts contradict his "believe me" view that he is always right. They are trying to build a groundswell opinion that there is voting fraud running rampant. And, without the media to counter this with facts, they may actually convince some. The current administer is the cult leader and nothing he says is wrong. And cults, like ISIS, can only be defeated by education.
33
Every day, park rangers interact with a public who by definition are away from home and therefore entitled to make every mistake in the book. They have seems just about everything. They are not going to be discomposed by any one person. They're used to wrangling lost people, confused and possibly hostile wildlife, and every kind of weather there is. My thanks go to them. And may they continue to resist as long as the efforts at repression continue.
45
Defiance is the only possible democratic response to President Trump, the Milton-Friedmanesque programs of Speaker Ryan, the blinkered ideology of the Liberty Caucus, and the self-serving demands of radical-right Republican Donors.
Otherwise, within the next two years, our national values will be things of the past.
Otherwise, within the next two years, our national values will be things of the past.
40
And defiance it shall be.
7
Thanks Mr. Egan. I get it now. When the Cheeto Jesus declared on the campaign trail that crime would stop on Jan 20, that American greatness would be instantly restored, that jobs would magically appear, that the 1950s would return labeled as 2017, that one loaf would multiply into many, I admit I was ... skeptical.
Now I understand. These things are now true because the so-called president says they're true. The man truly is a genius. But it is in such a sick, twisted, delusional way that resistance to acquiescence in this madness is a patriotic duty. And I'm afraid that the so-called Republicans in the Congressional majority are happy to overlook this lunatic's lies to pass their agenda.
The so-called Republicans have now exposed themselves as enemies of democracy and indifferent to decency. It's gonna cost them. Mark my words.
Now I understand. These things are now true because the so-called president says they're true. The man truly is a genius. But it is in such a sick, twisted, delusional way that resistance to acquiescence in this madness is a patriotic duty. And I'm afraid that the so-called Republicans in the Congressional majority are happy to overlook this lunatic's lies to pass their agenda.
The so-called Republicans have now exposed themselves as enemies of democracy and indifferent to decency. It's gonna cost them. Mark my words.
77
Republicans have been against democracy for quite some time now (one case in point was Miss McConnell's statement about Republicans' only priority in 2009 was making President Obama fail.). The only difference now is that they have a leader who has no qualms about openly stating his intentions of dismantling it. That is the only thing they dislike about him. But on policy and agenda, they very much in alignment with Trump and have been for some time.
I sincerely hope you are correct when you say it will cost them. This madness by the party of self-professed patriots has to stop.
I sincerely hope you are correct when you say it will cost them. This madness by the party of self-professed patriots has to stop.
7
All of those anti-government, anti-elitist, anti-intellectual, anti-expertise Trump supporters out there--please feel free to fix your own water heater the next time it explodes, represent yourself in court over your next DUI or drug arrest, and perform your own surgery on that suspicious looking mole.
42
Yes...We now have Normalized the Abnormal and are being Led and Fed by a Man who doesn't know enough to Care or care enough to Know. After
Bannon has Bawled. Our President believes he has the power to Redefine "Truth" to Be and Mean Anything Convenient to His Holiness.
Bannon has Bawled. Our President believes he has the power to Redefine "Truth" to Be and Mean Anything Convenient to His Holiness.
27
There was already a huge lie that came out of the White House, about Iraq having weapons of mass destruction, and look where that got us. It was the gullible GOP voters then and it's the same crowd now that got us into this mess.
42
Exactly! And very enlightened of you to call this out. Anyone who thinks W was any better than Trump needs to remember that he supported torture, black site prisons and lies to support his wars. It is W and his mob who encouraged radical terrorism to spread across the globe. Blaming Democrats for this is as disingenuous as blaming them for the debt that Republicans keep racking up in tax breaks for the wealthy and military-related spending with no means to pay for it.
8
The GOP intends to destroy our national park system, as sure as the sun rises. Republicans will not rest until every beautiful view is seized by billionaires, excluding all others.
Time for all of us to throw a monkey wrench into their sordid dreams. OBJECT!
Time for all of us to throw a monkey wrench into their sordid dreams. OBJECT!
63
"Here’s a suggestion: Go rogue, you lovable park rangers and biologists; tell the truth about science, you nerds in funny hats and badges. Let Trump’s thought police come after you at Golden Gate for tweeting that “2016 was the hottest year on record for the third year in a row.” Oh, the audacity of science!"
Thank you for today's column and for this encouragement and clarion call! No doubt Trump's thought police will be coming for you, Tim--something about telling the truth during deceitful times being a revolutionary act.
But there are a lot more of us than them (as the popular vote for president in 2016 demonstrated). Stand up, speak out, and it won't be pretty when Trump realizes he is losing/has lost control.
Thank you for today's column and for this encouragement and clarion call! No doubt Trump's thought police will be coming for you, Tim--something about telling the truth during deceitful times being a revolutionary act.
But there are a lot more of us than them (as the popular vote for president in 2016 demonstrated). Stand up, speak out, and it won't be pretty when Trump realizes he is losing/has lost control.
59
That poor imitation of a "man" is a whirling dervish of spite and vengeance, lashing out at anything and anybody who challenges his grandiose, perverted view of himself. His frantic obsession with appearing "manly" is going to kill people. He must be removed at once! Are there any patriots among the Republicans? Any at all? Uh, McCain? C'mon--what have you got to lose? You're an old guy on your last term; here's your chance to redeem your legacy, to go down in history as one who finally stood up to evil incarnate. The Republicans own this disaster and will all deserve to be out on their kiesters in 2018 for foisting an obviously mentally ill person on the country, the crowning glory of their decades of damned lies; for their hypocritical, treasonous silence in the face of overwhelming evidence of Russian interference; for their cynical, seditious support of him despite his massive incompetence; and for their personal greed for money and power.
73
You will take my park from my cold, dead hands.
73
Rather ironic that you would use Charlton Heston's iconic phrase about his Second Amendment rights. The NRA would be proud.
1
Thank you Mr. Egan.
This kind of writing is what keeps us free and why we need the free press.
This kind of writing is what keeps us free and why we need the free press.
78
Your continual verbal assault on President Trump is insulting to many Americans and you should be ashamed of yourself. First of all video and all other tech is not captured in the numbers of the audience. That explains the higher numbers.
4
President Trump's continual lies are insulting to many Americans, and he should be ashamed of himself. First of all video and other tech information captures and exposes his lies. That explains the lower numbers.
50
"President Trump is insulting to many Americans and he should be ashamed of himrself"
There... FIFY
There... FIFY
4
No, Mr. Egan's truth telling is not an insult to the majority of Americans who voted against that man. Let it be said once again - Lap Dog Trump lost the popular vote by 2.8 million votes. Now, I know you Lap Dog Trump panderers find that hard to believe, but, in the real world "alternative facts" are called lies. Lap Dog Trump can photoshop and manipulate, and well, lie all he wants, but facts are facts - Lap Dog Trump's inauguration was a monumental bust - one big giant flop.
News Flash: No one wanted to be there.
News Flash: No one wanted to be there.
6
Counting the size of the crowd and wanting to prove Trump's inaugural crowd was bigger than Obama's brings back the scene from the movie "The Caine Mutiny" where in Captain Queeg is dishing out strawberries trying to prove that some were stolen. Bogart does a great job of portraying a deranged leader. I can just see Trump looking at pictures of The Mall with a magnifying glass, counting and fuming.
29
I think more of "My ... is bigger than yours." The glory of America even a 10 year old can be President.
6
"As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright fool and a complete narcissistic moron."
— H. L. Mencken, The Baltimore Evening Sun, July 26, 1920
— H. L. Mencken, The Baltimore Evening Sun, July 26, 1920
48
I was prepared to state that Mencken was anticipating the election of Warren Harding that year. But Harding, often cited as one our worst presidents, was Lincolnesque compared to the Bombastador, whose cabinet choices represent a similar gallery of thieves and fools.
6
Does trump really want to pick this fight? He does, he has, and he will continue to do so. There is no peak for his need for power and adulation, and no bottom to his black hole of insecurity. Park Rangers are just a target-du-jour.
21
"In this case, the beeps represent science, history, facts." If this isn't Orwellian, I don't know what is.
15
Great article. A ray of sunshine in what has been the longest week of our national life. I am exhausted- so many lies ! And its only been a week ! He just needs to lie under oath so he can be indicted for perjury. And then impeached.
37
That's the trouble with these incessant, idiotic tweets -- constant, spastic, looking-glass lies, all warped around his vision of his own greatness, are simply exhausting. The trick for us will be keeping track of the news of the dismantling of a great democracy in order to fight it, while avoiding the quicksand of his imbecilic tweets.
5
and then we get the puppet pence. worse for us, better for the corporate masters. they will then get everything they want, the future of the nation be damned.
2
Be careful what you wish for. If Mr. Trump is impeached, we get his VP. If he is then impeached, guess who is next in line. Maybe this was the strategy all along. If you can't get to the presidency one way, try another.
4
As tRump named his cabinet members it dawned on me that he was adopting Mrs. Reagan's approach to the drug war --"just say no!". It was bad enough when tRump's picks were going to say no to clean air, education, health care and justice for all. Now, right from the very top the word is No truth, No nasty facts we dont like and No freedom of information from the government we pay for.
24
Perhaps a patriotic mother American Grizzly Bear or an alpha wolf pair of American Timberwolves or a bull American Alligator or a gravid American Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake or a female American Great White Shark could be convinced to rid us of this troublesome President Trump during a visit to an American National Park led by patriotic American Park Rangers.
19
Grizzlies are too busy stalking schools.
8
Go, Timothy Egan. The crazy man will find his attempt at institutional lying more difficult with you calling it what it is and reminding us who our allies are.
21
Keep at it, Mr. Egan! Trump is truly a buffoon, but my outrage includes Ryan and McConnell! They know better, but are supporting this buffoon in order to retain power! Very ugly!
37
The two traitors you name are not just trying to retain power. They see their goals within a hair of being achieved. Their views on SS, medicare, medicaid, national parks, public education, etc.-- are NOT mainstream or majority. But with the situation as it exists, they will finally be able to destroy the many for the benefit of the few.
9
Let's not just rely on Park Rangers. All Americans who value our country need to fight back, every day, against this buffoon in the White House.
32
When are we going to get rid of this lunatic?
27
The parks hire seasonal employees. With the Trump hiring freeze, they will be understaffed if it is not lifted. Visitors will be angry with the parks rather than the president who will say the parks are a disaster and should be privatized. Looks pretty simple.
26
I applaud the candor of these civil servants, but I'm not as sanguine as Mr. Egan that civil service rules will protect them, especially given the penchant for retribution shown by Trump. In the Michigan Republican-controlled legislature, bills have been introduced to weaken civil service rules and make it easier to fire state civil servants for political reasons. To these U.S. Park Service employees, I say "Well done" but also "Look out."
28
I think one of DJT's chief 'jobs' program will be Julian Assange's need to expand his staff. All those scientists have no wish to labor in obscurity, nor should they; we pay a lot to have them study what they do best and have a vested interest (and a right) to hear what they've learned.
The truth will out.
The truth will out.
9
There is a lot to be said for Mr. Egan's argument, but as long as we're all nitpicking, here are a couple of misleading statements:
1. As reported by the Times, Trump's initial statement abut crowd size was that it seemed like a million and a half to him. The media took that as a lie. But it seems more like a personal impression. All the pettiness stemmed from the ambiguity of that first statement. That doesn't excuse the pettiness, but it helps explain it. It is also troubling that the initial quote has been buried in favor of accounts of the subsequent distortion.
2. As for the National Parks, their beauty is unmatched. But the demographics of their visitors are troubling. They are not much visited by minorities or the poor or the working class or young people. Most of their visitors are white, relatively well off, relatively old and include a substantial number of white upscale foreigners. NPR did an informal survey of Tucson Hispanics and found that virtually none had even heard of Saguaro National Park, 20 miles away. Moreover, the Park Service keeps meticulous statistics on everything from how many visitors use their concessions to how long the average visitor stays. But you have to go to other sources to get visitor demographics, suggesting that the Park Service has its own crowd counting issues. This doesn't forgive Trump, of course. But it is interesting that Mr. Egan's seemingly unimpeachable Park Service has its own credibility issues..
1. As reported by the Times, Trump's initial statement abut crowd size was that it seemed like a million and a half to him. The media took that as a lie. But it seems more like a personal impression. All the pettiness stemmed from the ambiguity of that first statement. That doesn't excuse the pettiness, but it helps explain it. It is also troubling that the initial quote has been buried in favor of accounts of the subsequent distortion.
2. As for the National Parks, their beauty is unmatched. But the demographics of their visitors are troubling. They are not much visited by minorities or the poor or the working class or young people. Most of their visitors are white, relatively well off, relatively old and include a substantial number of white upscale foreigners. NPR did an informal survey of Tucson Hispanics and found that virtually none had even heard of Saguaro National Park, 20 miles away. Moreover, the Park Service keeps meticulous statistics on everything from how many visitors use their concessions to how long the average visitor stays. But you have to go to other sources to get visitor demographics, suggesting that the Park Service has its own crowd counting issues. This doesn't forgive Trump, of course. But it is interesting that Mr. Egan's seemingly unimpeachable Park Service has its own credibility issues..
2
Lack of demographic depth does not denote a credibility issue. The lack of broad based participation is a serious problem. But this is clearly not a problem with the national parks service. Everything you suggest is that you need money and time to visit, something poor, working class folks, disproportionately constituted by non-white populations, do not have. Fresh air programs are great for this. Highly doubt they won't get shortchanged in the upcoming budget cuts. It is right to bemoan lopsided participation in our national parks but lets not lay that at the doorstep of our National Park Agency.
4
Perhaps you should go to Yosemite National Park, Yellowstone, or Point Reyes National Seashore (a national park). At least half of the millions of visitors are under 20. In Point Reyes, where I spend a lot of time, minorities are very well represented, at probably 30% of the visitors.
12
Our national parks are also a draw for toursits from around the world. That is a huge economic benefits to the areas in which our national parks lie. As for the Tucson Hispanics-- ell, today's generation is NOT culturally part of the USA. but their children, and their children's children WILL be-- and thus their attendance in the national parks will swell. Beyond that, the preservation of wild and historic places has intrinsic, priceless benefits that cannot be monetized.
7
Thank you, National Park Service, for your service to the United States and its natural treasures, despite your new boss.
We the People apologize for allowing him to soil the parks within your purview with his presence and his fellow billionaire fossil-roasters. This may be our last chance to visit them before you, the current rangers, are fired by the not-my-President for not toeing the line of the establishment—yes, he IS the establishment, in its worst and most hideous form—and they are defaced forever.
Until then, you are welcome and urged to join us in resisting the new boss, far worse than the old boss.
We the People apologize for allowing him to soil the parks within your purview with his presence and his fellow billionaire fossil-roasters. This may be our last chance to visit them before you, the current rangers, are fired by the not-my-President for not toeing the line of the establishment—yes, he IS the establishment, in its worst and most hideous form—and they are defaced forever.
Until then, you are welcome and urged to join us in resisting the new boss, far worse than the old boss.
6
I think it was Rob Corddry who first pointed out that "The facts have a well-known liberal bias.” This was later rephrased by Stephen Colbert as "Reality has a well-known liberal bias,” which is a reference to the "reality-based community" that we first learned about from Ron Suskind's unnamed source in the Bush II White House.
10
Trump may have low poll numbers, but that's not all. Many of the people who disapprove of Trump don't just simply "disapprove" of him---they loathe him, and with good reason.
15
Mr. Egan: you guys just don't understand the "alternative facts." We cannot have career civil servants, who are educated, articulate and insightful sharing their thoughts with the American people who have come to adore their cool hats and stories about Old Faithful and the giant sequoias, and such. No, those stories would be based on facts, you know, the "original" variety, about which we can all have opinions, but the facts remain the same for all. Not anymore. Thanks for a really fine column today. And the photo you selected is a 'frig keeper for sure!
13
Every National Park Site has volunteer opportunities. No citizenship, papers or other qualifications apply. Just sign up, show up and participate in an enormous variety of stewardship, citizen science, history and park upkeep opportunities.
And, not insignificantly, the White House is a National Park site (President's Park)
https://www.nps.gov/whho/index.htm
Contact the Senators on the Energy Subcommittee on National Parks.
http://www.energy.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/national-parks
The National Park Service needs billions in maintenance and upkeep backlogs. Demand that these be priority funded.
Read about John Muir, Teddy Roosevelt and the mandate for America's Best Idea.
Most of all, show up and be an activist in the best possible way.
Meanwhile, consider following some of the Alt federal agency Twitter accounts. They are blasting facts all the live long day. Censorship is unAmerican. It is unConstitutional. It is not normal. It is wrong.
And, not insignificantly, the White House is a National Park site (President's Park)
https://www.nps.gov/whho/index.htm
Contact the Senators on the Energy Subcommittee on National Parks.
http://www.energy.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/national-parks
The National Park Service needs billions in maintenance and upkeep backlogs. Demand that these be priority funded.
Read about John Muir, Teddy Roosevelt and the mandate for America's Best Idea.
Most of all, show up and be an activist in the best possible way.
Meanwhile, consider following some of the Alt federal agency Twitter accounts. They are blasting facts all the live long day. Censorship is unAmerican. It is unConstitutional. It is not normal. It is wrong.
21
There once was a president who lied
He told many in which he took pride
But some voters soon thought
That just maybe he ought
To stop sounding so downright cockeyed
He told many in which he took pride
But some voters soon thought
That just maybe he ought
To stop sounding so downright cockeyed
8
Has anyone ever seen a photo of Trump at a national park? Can one imagine it? This is a man who only finds beauty in nature when he is on a golf course.
14
True, trump and and many of his wealthy supporters (just look at his cabinet picks cabinet members!), have never been to a national park-- those are for the little people. Anecdote-- we were on a fancy Alaskan cruise. The wealthy took the expensive excursions -- one day, they stood in long lines to load into posh trams, which took them to launch pads for private helicopter rides to the tops of remote glaciers, where they took selfies and posted them LIVE to Facebook. We hopped on a free and clean public bus and went to Glacier Bay National Park. There we mingled with tourists, but also with lots of locals, who enjoy this special place as their own backyard. The hiking was great, and the calving of the glaciers was just yards away, and loud! The nature center was fabulous with an informed ranger explaining the flora, fauna and geologic history of the place with care and delight. (note to Tim--she was not "a nerd in a funny hat," just a smart, proud, and passionate federal employee.)
9
Yes. T.R.---we use to elect candidates who were well-read, experienced, and really did fight for the little guy--now, we elect reality show hosts, who reads nothing, has no experience, and fights for billionaires.
20
I find Krugman and Egan to be highly therapeutic on Friday mornings in the age of Trump.
18
What we really need is an anonymous "deep threat" in every agency to keep us apprised of what Trump and his crony capitalist cabinet members are doing to wreak havoc on our country.
17
"Deep Throat" I think. But you are right.
4
Your column about Trump's lies and personality flaws is correct. Many columns, by many writers, have been written about his lies. They have become repetive. We get it. Isn't it time to move commentary to analyzing his policies and their impact. If "lies" are evident point them out but to keep recycling the same examples of his lies and solipsistic traits takes time and attention away from more important matters.
9
Say it straight out. America's 45th President is a sociopath. In Trump world only Trump exists. Everyone else is worthy only of contempt, anger and hatred. People like the British Prime Minister are fools to think they can rely on such a man. Sociopath fits. Webcan look it up.
19
No! No! No! Narcissistic Personality Disorder. You can look it up in the DSM.
3
Let's remember what side the Times came down on the next time a "non-public" employee is fired for exercising his or her constitutional right to free speech on social media. I'm guessing if these "heroes" are fired the Times will rise up in righteous liberal anger. Hoping they feel the same way about those who publish "speech" they do not agree with. You can't have it both ways. As far as I'm concerned, what you do on social media outside of work should be protected speech, no matter how much I disagree.
1
It seems optimistic to trust that these better angels of our nature will
be protected by something as fragile as the civil service laws from Der Trump.
We will need to actively help and protect the protectors of our national parks. They are sacred. Transcendent.
be protected by something as fragile as the civil service laws from Der Trump.
We will need to actively help and protect the protectors of our national parks. They are sacred. Transcendent.
7
Keep in mind that it has been a long-standing goal of Republicans to sell off the national parks to Exxon-mobil, timber interests, and resort developers like Trump. Those of us who love the parks must do all we can to protect them and the professionals who care for them.
16
How can you possibly have a war with your employees? They now have a new boss and within the law will have to change to meet his expectations or find different employment. No tweeting propaganda on climate change, and of course there were no official estimate of the crowd and the comments were for all those watching through various means.
1
Mr. Egan, every column of yours is a powerful reminder that seriously good writing is still alive in this era of 140 characters. Thanks for providing regular relief from the drivel spewing forth most everywhere else.
4
Reading people's comments here about how it's time for the east and west coasts to secede from this country, how in the end our Leader, described as needing psychiatric help, will do something so awful the military will have to take over the government to save us from worse, how we have become a (Republican) banana republic with a (Republican) dictator about whom we rage and weep...Just reading.
1
No, it is time for the East and West Coasts to bring the middle into the fold.
3
He's already lying about something more consequential -- what he owes Russia and lord knows who else -- by not releasing his taxes, and by making the Intelligence community his enemy. We all need to go rogue, early and often. Beautifully written column, Tim. Trump does not deserve this nation's respect.
5
The soulful chant of "I'm Gonna Shout" has now, in Trump's monstrous Age of Horror, turned to "I'm Gonna Gag." Trump follows the playbook of petty, mean tyrants everywhere in making people gag and trying to cover up their mouths to silence them by imposing the American version of Shari'a law. Look at poor Melania's reaction to the man, a fake smile for the walking temper tantrum she sold her soul to, then the silenced, zipped mouth of the oppressed who know they'll tortured if they don't hold their tongues. Gag, indeed. This Administration is making us all gag, but, unlike the bought people Trump uses as henchmen, we won't be silenced!
6
Luckily the EPA probably wont be warning Americans about tainted water and air for long, Trump is already proposing cutting funding by at least 15%. I love nature and the park system. What a crime it will be for this ignoramus to disrupt what has taken a hundred years to nurture through both Democrat and Republican administrations. I think SAD is the emotion we will all be feeling until he slithers away.
7
Hats off to our fine US Park Service staff! Nothing in history quite unites a people like a common foe. Trump may actually succeed in bringing together a divided nation: he may bring us together to throw him out of office.
7
Hannity's brown nose is certainly an indicator of what drump likes. I am surprised that his people have not yet learned to use Photoshop. They could just add a whole bunch of people to the pictures, or just put out pictures of Obama's inauguration and say they are drump's.
Stalin could have taught this guy how to play the game.
Stalin could have taught this guy how to play the game.
4
I wonder if Trump has ever hiked a trail in the magnificent Rocky Mountain National Park? Watched the sunset change the colors of the Watchman at Zion? I can't imagine him with a daypack and walking stick in Yosemite. As stewards of our magnificent parks, we must stand together to protect them from one who would not recognize the fragility of those environments, or would see them a large acreage with "tremendous potential " ripe for development.
10
Always admirable when a US reporter calls the President of the US a dog (The Trump and Pony Show). What you call historical clarification I consider hysterical denigration. The tweets you refer to are opinions masquerading as facts and should not be allowed by government employees without permission from a verifying authority. For example, what records exist that will prove that the carbon dioxide level in the atmosphere is the highest in 650,000 years. I am sure that you have seen reliable measurements kept by scientists for every thousand year interval since 648,000 BC to date. Would like to see the actual record of just the last 10 millenniums. Lastly I suggest you stop using inflammatory adjectives - why is the information tweeted useful (except to someone with an agenda) and how does one know if these employees are dedicated. All in all one of the better non substantial, ridiculous hit pieces I read today. The editors of the NY Times must be proud.
1
Ah, another climate change denier! The ancient evidence of CO2 levels doesn't need to come from a human written report. It can be deduced by examination of ancient ice, fossils, ECT.
I not surprised you do not know this, it wasn't taught at tRump University.
I not surprised you do not know this, it wasn't taught at tRump University.
10
Coming from A Floridian...whose landmass is already feeling the effects of climate change...this is rich.
9
Thank you Mr Egan for your wonderful column. The Park Service employees are among the great unsung heroes of the county - so maybe they can actually save our democracy with their quiet ability to tell the truth. Who ever thought that the guys in the funny hats would be more important than the buffoon in the White House!
10
Thank you for highlighting and applauding an extraordinary group of folks. In seven decades I have never met a Ranger who wasn't a joy to talk to, a fount of knowledge, and simply interested in sharing the joy of this incredible land we inhabit - for the moment. They know best of all how quickly all of this can go away. We are just one more species, and the Rangers have seen many a species slip quietly out of existence. Please keep writing about these wonderful men and women. They are going up against a frightened animal that can hurt them badly. Thank you for standing by them.
14
I am very proud of my fellow federal employees.
4
When I read about all the "investigations" to prove what cannot be proven I think of all the time, talent and money wasted not making anything great.
4
Park rangers have to be tough. Rough land, hidden drug operations, bears, stinging insects, illegal hunters, rampaging tourists ... all things most of us wouldn't have the desire or ability to deal with. But they do it because they love our land, have an eye for the future, and know we need them.
Who would have thought their biggest challenge ever would be the destructive forces yanking "President" Donald's strings?
Who would have thought their biggest challenge ever would be the destructive forces yanking "President" Donald's strings?
7
The media, Trump, and this ranger apparently care.
The rest of us have been doing something far more responsible and consequential: our jobs.
The rest of us have been doing something far more responsible and consequential: our jobs.
The best use of our tax dollars is to care and maintain our National Parks. They are the glory of this land and the members of the Park Service are their care givers. I pray the vindictive nature of DJT does not declare a war on them for perceived grievances because for that we would all pay dearly.
7
I recent watched two programs about the Park Rangers, one at Ellis Island and one at the Lee Mansion at Arlington Cemetery. They were wonderful.
5
We need a real, verifiable Deep Throat.
We, the People are witnessing the not-so-subtle dismantling of the Constitution through a thousand shallow, almost imperceptible slices. We, the People will bleed to death before we even realize that has happened....unless we wake up fast.
That said, removing Trump from office, which seems a highly likely scenario, only puts his rabid VP into power, and frankly, Pence is scarier than Trump. So, what do We, the People, do?
Tweet. Blog. Post. Find insiders willing to go, if not officially on the record, at least public enough to let the country know what is happening in the West Wing.
Civil servants, serve your employers....not the president or the GOP, but We, the People. Tell us the truth. We can definitely handle the truth even if Mr. Trump cannot.
http://wifelyperson.blogspot.com/
We, the People are witnessing the not-so-subtle dismantling of the Constitution through a thousand shallow, almost imperceptible slices. We, the People will bleed to death before we even realize that has happened....unless we wake up fast.
That said, removing Trump from office, which seems a highly likely scenario, only puts his rabid VP into power, and frankly, Pence is scarier than Trump. So, what do We, the People, do?
Tweet. Blog. Post. Find insiders willing to go, if not officially on the record, at least public enough to let the country know what is happening in the West Wing.
Civil servants, serve your employers....not the president or the GOP, but We, the People. Tell us the truth. We can definitely handle the truth even if Mr. Trump cannot.
http://wifelyperson.blogspot.com/
347
Awful advice. Organize Poltical movements, donate to them, be active.
Don't tweet or post, it does nothing.
Don't tweet or post, it does nothing.
2
We organize and make significant changes in the mid-term elections. Our great strength has always been our commitment to democracy. The downside to that commitment is that we sometimes get it wrong. This time we got it monumentally wrong.
4
I suspect that Trump's problem is that he no where near physically well-endowed male as he claims to be. We certainly know that he is not very brainy smart and intelligent as he claims.
Trump is embarrassed and ashamed that he was born rich in a land where concrete was the only park where money was the only thing green and pigeons and rats were the only forms of wild life.
From Trump on down to the lowest ranking park ranger they are all the hired help of the American people entrusted with caring for our national parks.
Trump is embarrassed and ashamed that he was born rich in a land where concrete was the only park where money was the only thing green and pigeons and rats were the only forms of wild life.
From Trump on down to the lowest ranking park ranger they are all the hired help of the American people entrusted with caring for our national parks.
5
The President is missing an opportunity here. The last three years are the hottest, and obviously (tongue in cheek) this is Obama's fault. Statistics tells us that random fluctuations will mean that it's likely that one of more of the next fours will be less hot than the last three, so he can take credit for cooling the planet, so there.
2
I have been hooked on Shonda Rhimes' SCANDAL since its first season. OK, it kind of started out as a primetime soap opera for political junkies. But with this season's premiere, I realize that the machinations of the political machine represented in the story all too closely are a depiction of the morality and shenanigans that are occurring across our government. Ultimately, it will be people like the park rangers, the whistle-blowers and the voters who decide who and what we are as Americans. Let us hope our values, reflected in our government, live up to the expectations of Lady Liberty. We are all a piece of America, and we all have an obligation to use our energies, resources and morality to protect what she represents. Vote, protest, write, speak...use your voice and your power to "keep America Great" because the leadership we now are facing certainly is not going to do it.
3
he entered office with the largest loss of the popular vote. is not Largest one of his favorite salad ingredients? seems to me he is a winner then and doesn't truly feel it. Largest donny sounds like victory to me. ahistorical incurious and uninvolved. boy our nation picked a true winner with this election. he cannot even see largest as winning. .
1
Prime Minister Stephen Harper tried to muzzle scientists in order to serve his regressive anti-intellectual agenda in Canada; we tossed him out of office. You must do the same.
It's not faith, prayer, or even marching that is going to get our planet out of the deep trouble it's in: it's science.
It's not faith, prayer, or even marching that is going to get our planet out of the deep trouble it's in: it's science.
8
Trumps war against the truth is nothing new. It was open and obvious from the moment he ran for president and long before even that. But I don't blame Trump for being a small minded ego maniacal serial liar - I blame the people who voted for him despite knowing he is a small minded ego maniacal serial liar.
3
My hat is off, and my heart is with, the caring souls who launched the Alt twitter handles for the National Park Service, Forest Servce, etc. We all must be brave in the coming days. Especially you, Mr Egan, and your fellow truth tellers at the Times. Without these displays of courage to speak truth to power, to report the violations perpetrated on us and our Constitution, I would fear more deeply for our country.
7
Before you pay too much attention to this comment board, keep in mind that the rugged individuals of the Great American West despise the National Parks, the Government, and basically anything that isn't an oil well, a zinc mine, a private animal slaughtering facility (sorry, rich guy hunting ranch), or an agricultural chemical wasteland.
The yeomen of the Red Taker States volunteer to support their ungodly rich neighbors in a campaign to own, despoil, or make money off everything in sight.
They truly believe, once these government lands become pristine private holdings, that the rich guys will let them continue grazing their livestock at government give-away prices.
Before they pull the "rugged individualists of the American West" card, the "Only True Americans" card, let's remember "Let them freeze in the dark", let's recall the prissy fear that their once-beloved armed forces were there to pave the way for a Chinese invasion, let's not forget the lethal if ludicrous take-over of park lands by the idiot Bundy clan, and the line-up of Montana and Wyoming snowmobile destruction crews so thick the rangers at the gates had to wear face masks to survive the exhaust.
Big talkers out West. Big takers, who pride themselves on their endless game of bite the hands that feed you (that would be the innovators and makers of the despised blue states).
Trump has plenty of support to muzzle and ultimately diminish the National Park Service and the irreplaceable heritage it protects.
The yeomen of the Red Taker States volunteer to support their ungodly rich neighbors in a campaign to own, despoil, or make money off everything in sight.
They truly believe, once these government lands become pristine private holdings, that the rich guys will let them continue grazing their livestock at government give-away prices.
Before they pull the "rugged individualists of the American West" card, the "Only True Americans" card, let's remember "Let them freeze in the dark", let's recall the prissy fear that their once-beloved armed forces were there to pave the way for a Chinese invasion, let's not forget the lethal if ludicrous take-over of park lands by the idiot Bundy clan, and the line-up of Montana and Wyoming snowmobile destruction crews so thick the rangers at the gates had to wear face masks to survive the exhaust.
Big talkers out West. Big takers, who pride themselves on their endless game of bite the hands that feed you (that would be the innovators and makers of the despised blue states).
Trump has plenty of support to muzzle and ultimately diminish the National Park Service and the irreplaceable heritage it protects.
7
Donald Trump is delusional. He is mentally ill. Watch the interview with ABC. The man believes these lies. He is a big problem. This illness is probably the reason he has been bankrupt so many times.
The bigger problem is that the Republicans are just as bad. They lie intentionally for advantage and profit and use the lies of others to advance their own selfish goals. We now have gag orders on all provable scientific fact coming out of our federal institutions with alternative facts being the new coin of the realm.
This is a problem. ISIS is already taking advantage of the hatred that is spewing from this administration. Women's health and equality are being thrown out the window.
March, resist, vote in 2018. Get rid of all the Ugly Americans.
The bigger problem is that the Republicans are just as bad. They lie intentionally for advantage and profit and use the lies of others to advance their own selfish goals. We now have gag orders on all provable scientific fact coming out of our federal institutions with alternative facts being the new coin of the realm.
This is a problem. ISIS is already taking advantage of the hatred that is spewing from this administration. Women's health and equality are being thrown out the window.
March, resist, vote in 2018. Get rid of all the Ugly Americans.
8
Reminiscent of the attacks on the park rangers during sequestration. Thanks to truth-tellers, setting an example for us all, and for children to learn from.
6
Bannon is the one to beware of. He is Trump's Beria and he will be the one foisting alt-truth on this nation. Luckily for us science and scientsts in the rest of the world cannot be silenced as easily as those at the EPA, NASA and the National Park Service, and they will continue to provide us with facts about the globe -- those of us who want to listen, that is.
6
I've often daydreamed about a horror movie. It would depict the carnage and deaths caused by a 70 ft grasping, gurgling, tantrum-throwing, massively excreting, unstoppable 6 month old human infant laying waste to everything in its path.
Looks like the Republican party has stolen my script. And I thought no one would even read a rough draft!
Looks like the Republican party has stolen my script. And I thought no one would even read a rough draft!
7
Scary to think that a delusional character is running the country, more so because his narcissism drives so much of his compulsion.
3
It is quickly becoming obvious that the behavior of the newly elected president--Donald J. Trump--is incompentent, irrational and dislusional and should be impeached immediately. I agree Mike Pence is no bargain with his obsession of women's reproductive rights, but he seems to be fairly rational.
3
With every lie Trump corrodes his credibility its amazing he does not, even out of self preservation, understand this.
At some point, his delusions will collapse on him; I only hope major damage to the nation, if not the world, can survive it.
At some point, his delusions will collapse on him; I only hope major damage to the nation, if not the world, can survive it.
4
I fear too much sedition will hasten the privatization of the parks.
1
I have almost come to have some sympathy for Trump because I think he is mentally ill. But that was a momentary thought. So was Adolf Hitler who he is resembling more every day. He cannot stand not to be admired every day. I read that he is so consumed by the crowd size issue at the inauguration that his minions showed a photograph of a big crowd in DC on January 21. The crowd was that of the women's march protesting him. As for the millions of illegal votes against him on November 8, an honest investigation will find only a handful. G.W.Bush was upset that he lost the popular vote in 2000. So he ordered the Department of Justice to investigate. It did so. It found that in the elections from 2000 to 2005 that there were 86 illegal votes out of 139 million cast. The bottom line is that in the Trump presidency we can expect lie after lie. Nothing good is going to come from him.
8
Maybe conscientious and patriotic government employees could start adding an asterisk to their communications, to let us know, that they know, that this particular trump mandated communication is a lie.
5
While I am sure that some Park Service employees are not very helpful, I have had nothing but good interactions with the Service during my many years of visiting national parks and historical sites. I have learned more about our country and its history and its natural resources from them that I can recount. The ones that I met and interacted with deserve the highest praise for a job well done.
I hope and pray that they are careful with their tweets and news releases during the Trump administration. I would hate to see any of them lose their job simply because they reported a fact that the reflected badly on the "president". And if you don't think that could happen, then you haven't been paying attention the last two years.
I hope and pray that they are careful with their tweets and news releases during the Trump administration. I would hate to see any of them lose their job simply because they reported a fact that the reflected badly on the "president". And if you don't think that could happen, then you haven't been paying attention the last two years.
3
The Trump administration presumes everyone thinks like them. By the way, the Democrats made the same mistake during the opening years of the Obama administration.
Bannon tells the NYT - 'you lost. you're the opposition. you're humiliated.' Truth is, we don't feel like we lost. We don't think we're the opposition and we certainly don't feel humiliated. The right wing felt terribly humiliated when Obama won the election - and the left couldn't understand it.
The left doesn't feel "humiliated" over the Trump victory. We're nervous and concerned - but not humiliated.
This is not a grammar school spelling bee. This is not the geek who's the last to be chosen for the baseball game striking out for the 15th time in a row.
This is America, and we are Americans.
We are not humiliated and we are not the opposition. And what the right won in this election is not an Oscar or a Golden Globe aware you pick up at the podium and thank the little people for. It's the monumental task of governing a nation.
They simply don't understand that - because "They" don't think like "Us". But the beauty of America is that we have always found a way to turn these debates into strength, and that is why there is absolute zero humiliation in our hearts.
"They" will come to understand that you can't muzzle Americans - even though they felt muzzled. We will speak. And we will challenge. And we will remind them that they are us.
Bannon tells the NYT - 'you lost. you're the opposition. you're humiliated.' Truth is, we don't feel like we lost. We don't think we're the opposition and we certainly don't feel humiliated. The right wing felt terribly humiliated when Obama won the election - and the left couldn't understand it.
The left doesn't feel "humiliated" over the Trump victory. We're nervous and concerned - but not humiliated.
This is not a grammar school spelling bee. This is not the geek who's the last to be chosen for the baseball game striking out for the 15th time in a row.
This is America, and we are Americans.
We are not humiliated and we are not the opposition. And what the right won in this election is not an Oscar or a Golden Globe aware you pick up at the podium and thank the little people for. It's the monumental task of governing a nation.
They simply don't understand that - because "They" don't think like "Us". But the beauty of America is that we have always found a way to turn these debates into strength, and that is why there is absolute zero humiliation in our hearts.
"They" will come to understand that you can't muzzle Americans - even though they felt muzzled. We will speak. And we will challenge. And we will remind them that they are us.
274
Well thought-out words of support for those in public employ (Park Rangers), now being challenged and pushed by a lying president (no doubt inspired by Bannon and Flynn and their ilk) into silence. The muzzling of the press, and our freedom in general, is a clear abuse of power by a vulgar bully who knows not how to behave, nor aspire to tell the truth, and the facts sustaining it. Demagogue Trump is living in an alternate reality, and 'supported' by constant, unsolicited lies. Let's not pretend that Steve Bannon's insolent threat to silence the news media is not condoned by the "Liar-in-Chief", so insecure and vain while saturated in self-congratulatory blabber. We are viewing the undoing of the republic's character of tolerance and the embracing of our rich diversity, the trust in each other. Not a nice picture, a nasty one instead.
1
Trump, unfortunately, represents an attitude towards expert knowledge that seems characteristic of many Americans. His indifference to books, along with his boast that he gets most of his information from the "shows," reflects a uniquely American anti-intellectualism that Richard Hofstadter documented decades ago. People in what other advanced democracy still treat the theory of evolution as if it were a debatable hypothesis?
A nation whose founding generation won independence by overthrowing an established elite, inspired in part by a document which declared the equality of all citizens, has never shown much respect for the exalted claims of intellectuals. Justified skepticism towards the arrogance of some experts, however, has frequently degenerated into contempt for all informed opinion.
Fox News and Donald Trump have both thrived on this refusal of many Americans to distinguish between empty rhetoric and empirically-based judgments. The president's version of the old saw, "Who are you gonna believe, your lying eyes or my claims?" has elicited a positive response from his base. The next four years will determine whether a plurality of voters endorses his alternate version of reality, even when the standard version bites them in the rear.
A nation whose founding generation won independence by overthrowing an established elite, inspired in part by a document which declared the equality of all citizens, has never shown much respect for the exalted claims of intellectuals. Justified skepticism towards the arrogance of some experts, however, has frequently degenerated into contempt for all informed opinion.
Fox News and Donald Trump have both thrived on this refusal of many Americans to distinguish between empty rhetoric and empirically-based judgments. The president's version of the old saw, "Who are you gonna believe, your lying eyes or my claims?" has elicited a positive response from his base. The next four years will determine whether a plurality of voters endorses his alternate version of reality, even when the standard version bites them in the rear.
22
Calling a U.S. president a “pathological liar” isn’t the best way to get him to adopt your value system and priorities. But it IS an excellent example of how liberals argue these days: “These Neanderthal bowlers, these “deplorables”, too in love with their beer, their guns, their god and with despoiling our wildernesses, never got the memo that they were supposed to be extinct now for about 40,000 years.”
Good luck influencing Trump with this piece in any way OTHER than doubling-down on seeking to silence patently political statements by public servants while claiming the assumed credibility of uniforms. Yet serious pundits, who once saw their roles as seeking to beneficially (by their lights) affect the uses of elected power, seem to have degenerated into nothing more than our loudest exponents of mindless anger and rejection.
Tim seems to be unaware of the fact that ours is not a parliamentary system in which, if he can manufacture enough outrage, the leader of government can be made ineffective by creating enough legislative animus driven by popular outrage. Here, we elect a president for four years, imbue him with IMMENSE power and, short of impeachment, we’re stuck with him. And impeachment in this case likely is out: if you think you can get something real on a guy who moved for decades in NYC’s CONSTRUCTION world and kept out of prison, I have a (slightly-used but perfectly serviceable) bridge I’d like to interest you in.
A little more light; a LOT less heat.
Good luck influencing Trump with this piece in any way OTHER than doubling-down on seeking to silence patently political statements by public servants while claiming the assumed credibility of uniforms. Yet serious pundits, who once saw their roles as seeking to beneficially (by their lights) affect the uses of elected power, seem to have degenerated into nothing more than our loudest exponents of mindless anger and rejection.
Tim seems to be unaware of the fact that ours is not a parliamentary system in which, if he can manufacture enough outrage, the leader of government can be made ineffective by creating enough legislative animus driven by popular outrage. Here, we elect a president for four years, imbue him with IMMENSE power and, short of impeachment, we’re stuck with him. And impeachment in this case likely is out: if you think you can get something real on a guy who moved for decades in NYC’s CONSTRUCTION world and kept out of prison, I have a (slightly-used but perfectly serviceable) bridge I’d like to interest you in.
A little more light; a LOT less heat.
2
Richard -
The purpose of Tim's piece was not to influence Trump. He's doing fine being influenced by the extremists he's surrounded himself with like Bannon, Manafort, Flynn, ALEC, Shelly Addison, Heritage, Cato, The Kochs, Fox Noise, etc. The purpose was to shine a light on truth in an age when the President of the US is, yes, a pathological liar. Our purpose as citizens is now to spread the truth when it's obvious that what is happening in the White House is an all out assault on truth, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We are past the 'alternate facts' stage of things. We are now calling a lie...a lie.
The purpose of Tim's piece was not to influence Trump. He's doing fine being influenced by the extremists he's surrounded himself with like Bannon, Manafort, Flynn, ALEC, Shelly Addison, Heritage, Cato, The Kochs, Fox Noise, etc. The purpose was to shine a light on truth in an age when the President of the US is, yes, a pathological liar. Our purpose as citizens is now to spread the truth when it's obvious that what is happening in the White House is an all out assault on truth, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We are past the 'alternate facts' stage of things. We are now calling a lie...a lie.
4
The problem is that no level of sane discourse seems to have any impact on the Trumpites.
4
Trump's poll numbers will eventually be as tiny as his hands. It is inevitable, given his personality, lack of qualifications for the job and allegiance to the moneyed interests over the suckers he bamboozled last year. And when that day comes, Ryan and others will finally grow a backbone, making Trump mostly irrelevant.
Meanwhile, there is NO point in trying to persuade the pathological liar of anything. He only needs to be resisted and mocked at every opportunity.
Meanwhile, there is NO point in trying to persuade the pathological liar of anything. He only needs to be resisted and mocked at every opportunity.
6
The word for the day, if not the year, is "samizdat." They were the print media that, during the days of the Soviet Union, circulated clandestinely by scientists and literati, anyone for whom truth mattered far more than what the bosses in the Kremlin thought.
Now that we have installed a home-grown version of Joseph Stalin in the White House, the Internet has given truth-seekers a chance to reinvent samizdat for the digital age.
Now that we have installed a home-grown version of Joseph Stalin in the White House, the Internet has given truth-seekers a chance to reinvent samizdat for the digital age.
26
I think you’re letting Trump supporters off too easy here. Many in the Trump administration have the same background as the “elitists” you mention. To take just one example of many, Steve Bannon holds degrees from Harvard and Georgetown, and was an investment banker for years.
At the end of the day, good government relates less to education and experience (an elitist view in its own right) and more on character and morals. Unfortunately, the current administration and the kowtowing Congress either don't value the truth or don’t have the strength of character to stand up to those who pervert it. It really has little to do with their pedigree.
At the end of the day, good government relates less to education and experience (an elitist view in its own right) and more on character and morals. Unfortunately, the current administration and the kowtowing Congress either don't value the truth or don’t have the strength of character to stand up to those who pervert it. It really has little to do with their pedigree.
25
The pattern seems clear. Present the facts; correct the "alternate facts" (repeated lies, distortions, reactive outbursts) of the administration; engage in any form of civil disobedience or the exercise of your Constitutional rights, exercise the rights of a free press and you will declared "an enemy of the Trump state". It doesn't matter if you are reporting the truth; stating an editorial opinion; stating a personal opinion, the Trump state is determined to harass, malign, bully and shut down any disagreement or dissent. We need the duly elected members of Congress, regardless of party affiliation, to fulfill their Constitutional duties and protect the Country and its people. To the free press, to the other branches of government, we, the people, need your help. Thank you.
16
Park rangers will have a hard time with Trump and are liable to oppose the latest edicts from the foul mouth of Minister of Propaganda Bannon via Adolf Drumpf.
When rangers are consequently fired after Trump and the Republicans decimate Park Service budgets, he can replace with pretty blonde rangers from East Europe, just as he does at Mar-A-Lago. Indentured servants are so docile, so easy to deal with, next best thing to slaves. Finally, something Trump has experience in!
When rangers are consequently fired after Trump and the Republicans decimate Park Service budgets, he can replace with pretty blonde rangers from East Europe, just as he does at Mar-A-Lago. Indentured servants are so docile, so easy to deal with, next best thing to slaves. Finally, something Trump has experience in!
28
H1-b visas will become America's only growth industry.
2
Liars may be compulsive or habitual and have some difficulty telling the truth.
But they know they are lying. Delusional individuals are genuinely deluded.
That helps explain why Trump continues to insist on his crowd size. He saw it.
And so must the reporters who were there have seen it, but they deliberately and in concert reported otherwise. That's why they are "the most dishonest
people on earth." That's why Bannon called the press "the opposition party."
One of the many problems of delusional thinking is that two delusional
people rarely have identical delusions. If they want agreement or confirmation
they need to surround themselves with liars. And Trump has certainly found
some glib and shameless ones to be his advisors, no less. "Alternate facts", now that is priceless.
But they know they are lying. Delusional individuals are genuinely deluded.
That helps explain why Trump continues to insist on his crowd size. He saw it.
And so must the reporters who were there have seen it, but they deliberately and in concert reported otherwise. That's why they are "the most dishonest
people on earth." That's why Bannon called the press "the opposition party."
One of the many problems of delusional thinking is that two delusional
people rarely have identical delusions. If they want agreement or confirmation
they need to surround themselves with liars. And Trump has certainly found
some glib and shameless ones to be his advisors, no less. "Alternate facts", now that is priceless.
35
You will be hard pressed to name a reporter who sides with Trump on the size of the inauguration day crowd near and around the ceremony. Are you as delusional as Trump?
1
Watch out. Something tells me Donald Trump's first budget proposal will not be kind to the Park Service. He's not exactly known for his magnanimity. A $3 billion budget might sound like a lot of money but it's actually stretched pretty thin already. Think about the Park Service mandate. There's quite a bit to cover with a budget that equates to less than a third of Trump's wall. The record breaking visitation also puts additional strain on an already fragile system. Sometimes we love our parks, and their rangers, to death.
If you want an ominous indication, there's a line item request for "Preservation of Technical Skills" in this year's Park Service budget. I take this to mean Rangers are over worked and the Service is having a hard time retaining talent. I'm sure there are days when cleaning out pit toilets for $15 an hour just doesn't seem worth it. Even researchers average less than $45,000 a year. Fringe benefits not withstanding, it takes dedication to put your doctorate to work in the pursuit of public conservation and knowledge.
Next time you see a Ranger, give them a friendly smile and a handshake. Your gratitude might be the only extra compensation they'll see for awhile.
If you want an ominous indication, there's a line item request for "Preservation of Technical Skills" in this year's Park Service budget. I take this to mean Rangers are over worked and the Service is having a hard time retaining talent. I'm sure there are days when cleaning out pit toilets for $15 an hour just doesn't seem worth it. Even researchers average less than $45,000 a year. Fringe benefits not withstanding, it takes dedication to put your doctorate to work in the pursuit of public conservation and knowledge.
Next time you see a Ranger, give them a friendly smile and a handshake. Your gratitude might be the only extra compensation they'll see for awhile.
80
Trump is guilty of treason for colluding with Russia to disrupt a U.S. election. Whether he will be impeached and convicted of it is the question for our country. That being the case, when Trump is removed from office Pence should not be allowed to replace him as president. I guess that leaves it to Paul Ryan, who in any other context would be my last choice, but it will be.
Well, guess that was off-topic. Canada was in the same situation during their last conservative administration. We should try to learn from them how they got through it.
Well, guess that was off-topic. Canada was in the same situation during their last conservative administration. We should try to learn from them how they got through it.
29
We can do little if anything to control Trump and his band of yes-men plus Kellyanne. They are going to spend a lot of time. stomping their feet and whining. We can do very little about the fact that they are sitting in the White House at this moment and obsessing about their image, world view, and pouting that the rest of us aren't going along with their dangerous illusions. Well everyone except for the lemmings in the Senate and the House. What we can do is focus on our own local situations. Focus on our cities and states. Focus on making sure we are not gagged or intimidated by these posers. We need to be the America we believe we are. We need to help each other, to help our poor, help the immigrants, provide safe spaces for people in need, and to keep our environment as clean as needed. We need to become our own examples of how to be Americans. The White House, with its current band of yahoos, won't do it, and won't be happy with us, but so what? There is little reason to worry if we'll upset Trump. We will! So let's assume that's the norm and move on.We need to fight through civic action, through open dialogue, through an unfiltered press, and through uncensored public agencies. We can do it.
56
Yes! We can!
2
"These employees are protected by Civil Service laws, including many hatched by Teddy Roosevelt."
The problem is, when the government will not enforce the laws, and the courts get packed with right wing ideologues, Civil Service laws are just a piece of paper. That's part of the growing insidiousness of the Trump regime.
The problem is, when the government will not enforce the laws, and the courts get packed with right wing ideologues, Civil Service laws are just a piece of paper. That's part of the growing insidiousness of the Trump regime.
58
As a retired administrator from a public institution, I don't think it was appropriate of a park employee to publish comparison pictures of the 2009 and 2016 inauguration crowds. One picture--the 2016 inauguration--would have sufficed, but the comparison pictures came across as a political statement, however veiled. Nevertheless, the reaction by Trump was completely over the top, and I applaud the NPS employees who have continued to tweet factual information about scientific data.
17
The politics was in the Trump lie that it was the biggest crowd ever. The Park Service deals in facts, as they should. Federal employees are not royal subjects nor should they tolerate propaganda. They work for us, not the President.
42
I am a 30 year public servant and I am really glad I never had to work for you . Those rangers had every right to share with the public (who pay their salaries) as many pictures of a public and historic event on public land that they had, past and present. Viewers draw their own conclusions. We don't need the "appropriate" police on this one.
10
Wasn't that the 2017 inauguration?
4
The reality is plain to see and hear ( read David Muir's interview): President Trump is mentally ill and most assuredly unfit to serve. Forget his tax returns, the media and the public should focus on exhorting Congress to invoke the 25th Amendment and deeming President Trump unable to fulfill his duties.
Herman Wouk, in the Caine Mutiny, wrote of a Navy Captain whose mental illness led to his dismissal. Wouk harshest criticism was for the officers who derided rather than supported their captain (much as Trump's minions are complaining today). But the fact is Queeg was a danger to his men and to national security. Congress needs to act before it is to late. And kudos for NPS staff for responding to this threat.
Herman Wouk, in the Caine Mutiny, wrote of a Navy Captain whose mental illness led to his dismissal. Wouk harshest criticism was for the officers who derided rather than supported their captain (much as Trump's minions are complaining today). But the fact is Queeg was a danger to his men and to national security. Congress needs to act before it is to late. And kudos for NPS staff for responding to this threat.
59
If ever a rebirth of the spirit of JFK's "Profiles in Courage" was needed, now is the time. Not by eight Senators who bucked their party and constituents to do what they felt was right regardless of the consequences, but by less visible, hardworking, dedicated civil servants. The national park rangers depicted in Mr. Egan's column are one example of this. As Trump unleashes his gag orders, pressures career professional (in any gov't capacity) to support his outright lies and distortions in the face of indisputable facts, we citizens must speak out and support THEIR courage. If we don't, they will be forced to comply with the ravings of a delusional egomaniac, or suffer the consequences for speaking the truth. It's fitting to remember Teddy Roosevelt's words especially as it relates to his vision of expanding our national parks (and the park rangers who care for them), "In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing" —
36
National Parks are fly over country to the Trump administration. Think about the fact that a Trump has no experience what so ever with packing up family in the family car to go to a national park to hike and camp. Sort of makes you laugh at the thought. To Trump the purpose of the Federal government as a whole is to spread his alternative facts.
36
"Go rogue" all of us. It's happening in my city. People are breaking through their discomfort and making those calls, writing letters, reading up, joining, donating. No longer useful to wait for a single 'leader' to stand up to Trump with the equivalent public take-down of "Have you no decency, sir?" ala McCarthy era. No way respect for an election, one tainted as this one was, should take precedence over the security of an already-damaged democracy. We need big money and Trump and his cabal out. The man is disordered in the head.
78
Civil servants can't be fired and therefore have protection from patronage and retaliation. It's why Bush merged dozens of agencies into a new Department of Homeland Security which would be exempt from civil service rules.
10
Can't be fired! That is nonsense, pure and simple. I have seen a number of civil servants get fired, for cause. All of the so called "protections" are in place so that the executive or legislative branch cannot hire relatives/political donors, etc.
9
And how is that working out?
But you are correct, federal employees can be fired for cause, but not for a whim of a deranged and vengeful President. In theory. But they can be transferred to the Aleutians. These employees are brave Americans and I wish them well.
But you are correct, federal employees can be fired for cause, but not for a whim of a deranged and vengeful President. In theory. But they can be transferred to the Aleutians. These employees are brave Americans and I wish them well.
4
Civil Service jobs can be eliminated. When that happens to a person their paycheck goes to zero just the same as if they were fired. I was a civil servant for NYS for 42 years and saw it happen on more than a few occasions.
5
I hope those who work for the Park Service have their resumes updated. Trump and his republican minions are about to do to them what St. Reagan did to the air traffic controllers. Only difference is is won't take a strike. The puppet masters who run the energy companies will have their yes men and women in Congress fire them out of pure vindictiveness. Most Americans have completely blanked out what happened under eight years of Bush. They literally blame Kerry and Hillary for the misery this senator's grandson caused.
23
Thanks to the Park Rangers for speaking truth.
But we need to be aware that the parks are not safe either, as any federal lands have been targeted as places for more extraction, and part of attempts to shuffle ownership to states so extraction is likely. Keep federal lands federal public land. Diminish / eliminate extraction and grazing permits.
It is unwise to think the crown jewels- national and state parks -of our country are safe, they are not with this congress and shite house.
Park rangers are not highly paid, and many are overly qualified scientists, historians, etc. who are overworked. Parks are underfunded and rely on unpaid volunteers in many areas. Nuts. Take the bazillions for the wall and invest in our parks and our rangers.
Yes, rangers are heroes, truthtellers in these lying days.
But we need to be aware that the parks are not safe either, as any federal lands have been targeted as places for more extraction, and part of attempts to shuffle ownership to states so extraction is likely. Keep federal lands federal public land. Diminish / eliminate extraction and grazing permits.
It is unwise to think the crown jewels- national and state parks -of our country are safe, they are not with this congress and shite house.
Park rangers are not highly paid, and many are overly qualified scientists, historians, etc. who are overworked. Parks are underfunded and rely on unpaid volunteers in many areas. Nuts. Take the bazillions for the wall and invest in our parks and our rangers.
Yes, rangers are heroes, truthtellers in these lying days.
134
I had a friend at school who went to work for the Park Service after graduation. He was passionate about science and conservation and the last I heard a few years ago he was doing a census of black bears. He may be retired now, but I think he'd be tweeting up a storm in response to any pressure that Trump was putting on the Park Service. He was quiet and unassuming but he was tough and honorable, and Trump had better think twice before he tries to cow the mostly unsung men and women like my friend who devote themselves to protecting our parks and wilderness from corporate bullies like our President and his henchmen.
191
Only Republicans dislike big government, but notice how quickly they've generated piles of orders, alternative facts, and are undermining the world order. Ryan is not an economist - he's a backwoods boy., Mitch should know better - his wife is a wealthy Taiwanese immigrant. China is already stepping in to fill the trade void - I expect they will soon be in Mexico. Mexico produces much of our food - a photo of the Texas Mexico border showed scrub on the US side and rich fields on the Mexican side. US shelves will be empty if Mexico sends its god to China and its workers stay home. So Trump - dump Brannon and Conway (your son-in law too if he is party to this debacle) and hire some knowledge advisors. These propaganda machines are an embarrassment.
56
Repubs dislike big Democratic Government, but Love Repub big Government, especially that which spies on citizens, stops women from exercising their rights, invades sovereign countries (and soon Chicago), and gives away natural resources to private parties.
Do not buy into the propaganda.
Do not buy into the propaganda.
9
He'd never hire any "knowledge" advisors, they'd over shadow him!
3
Wait till you start reading about what Kushner decides for Trump what to do about the Israeli-Palestinian "solution", but only if those reads don't become state secrets. You probably already know that immediately after Trump took the oath, Netanyahu embarked on an unprecedented land grab in the West Bank.
2
Many in the press have said that these small cuts are a tactical distraction by Trump. No, they are not. They aren't any sort of plan because Trump has no plan. Trump is just one huge nerve twitching to any stimulation.
Park rangers, scientists, economists, and each and every one of us need to challenge every false statement by this administration. Challenge them on blogs, in emails, at your local restaurant, and to your Congressmen.
No matter how minor or seemingly insignificant, we cannot let the policy of lies become the norm. Even Trump's investigations, such as his "major" study on voter fraud are false before they start. Did anyone notice that the study is only planned for states where Trump lost?
Trump is not a smart man. He has no permanent agenda, no knowledge of history or the purpose of policy, and does not think about anything other than the immediate result. His lies, stupid policies (can anyone say Trade War?), and fake studies have to be constantly challenged - and that means by park rangers, you, and me.
Park rangers, scientists, economists, and each and every one of us need to challenge every false statement by this administration. Challenge them on blogs, in emails, at your local restaurant, and to your Congressmen.
No matter how minor or seemingly insignificant, we cannot let the policy of lies become the norm. Even Trump's investigations, such as his "major" study on voter fraud are false before they start. Did anyone notice that the study is only planned for states where Trump lost?
Trump is not a smart man. He has no permanent agenda, no knowledge of history or the purpose of policy, and does not think about anything other than the immediate result. His lies, stupid policies (can anyone say Trade War?), and fake studies have to be constantly challenged - and that means by park rangers, you, and me.
147
It just amazes me how the public discussion about the environment is in the hands of politicians (and to some extent political journalists), ninety-nine point nine nine nine percent of whom are not experts. And we rarely hear, in the public forum, the advice and council of scientists, most of whom know the real story about the environment. What's that all about?
26
I distinctly remember this guy, name is Trump, saying in public and full view, how much he liked the uneducated. No scientists there. He will at least try to put lots of them in charge.
3
R.
It's about you, dude.
Speak up. Demand real information. Talk publicly to and about offending legislators.
It's easy to do. Do it, often.
It's about you, dude.
Speak up. Demand real information. Talk publicly to and about offending legislators.
It's easy to do. Do it, often.
3
To R. Adelman:
Could you please provide the citation your statistic of “99.999% of whom are not experts”? (I know you are not being literal; I just wanted to pull your chain a bit.)
You'll get no disagreement from me about the decisions about the environment being in the hands of politicians, etc., BUT information in the public forum about environmental issues is, and has been present, for many years.
There is disagreement between us, however, about the expertise of many journalists who specialize on these important issues. Journalists who report on politics may or may not have the knowledge to accurately report on scientific issues or legislation. That is why many media outlets, both print and electronic, have reporters and writers who ARE knowledgeable about science.
They translate and interpret the legalese into paragraphs that non-experts can understand. A lot of them have spent a good many years learning more about the facts, nuances, and innuendos of the legislation supported by big oil, pharmco, and NRA lobbyists and passed by the know-little-or-nothing legislators – federal, state, AND local.
Another drawback is that environmental issues rarely make front-page news unless there is a disaster. Earthquakes, floods, volcanoes, blizzards –catastrophes earn a front page spot, and the higher the fatalities, the larger the headline. The Flint, Michigan water supply story was in the news only AFTER it had cause major damage.
Could you please provide the citation your statistic of “99.999% of whom are not experts”? (I know you are not being literal; I just wanted to pull your chain a bit.)
You'll get no disagreement from me about the decisions about the environment being in the hands of politicians, etc., BUT information in the public forum about environmental issues is, and has been present, for many years.
There is disagreement between us, however, about the expertise of many journalists who specialize on these important issues. Journalists who report on politics may or may not have the knowledge to accurately report on scientific issues or legislation. That is why many media outlets, both print and electronic, have reporters and writers who ARE knowledgeable about science.
They translate and interpret the legalese into paragraphs that non-experts can understand. A lot of them have spent a good many years learning more about the facts, nuances, and innuendos of the legislation supported by big oil, pharmco, and NRA lobbyists and passed by the know-little-or-nothing legislators – federal, state, AND local.
Another drawback is that environmental issues rarely make front-page news unless there is a disaster. Earthquakes, floods, volcanoes, blizzards –catastrophes earn a front page spot, and the higher the fatalities, the larger the headline. The Flint, Michigan water supply story was in the news only AFTER it had cause major damage.
1
Will the freedoms we cherish be upheld over the next four years? Previous to Trump I would not have to ask that question. I fear the natural beauty that abounds across the country will be harmed through explortation. Water, plants, trees, wildlife are all in danger of abuse by a dictatorial presence, as well as environmental changes due to Trump and his enablers. Trump has assembled a close group of advisors whom appear to bring chaos to our world. I dub them today's version of the Horsemen of the Apocalypse sent here to destroy everything that is good and true. Only the courage of those who speak up about the injustice we now see on a daily basis will help us like the dedicated Park Service? The person you voted for is not the person who will help you, only himself. With the help of his minions, the GOP, he will destroy your safety net (Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security) as well as the Affordable Care Act. That Act needed adjustments, not destruction. Terror will be more prevalent by actions set in motion by Trump. Unemployment will rise due to protectionist actions by Trump. There will be a whole host of things not mentioned here that will happen like a domino effect, one after the other falling. Do not go quietly into the night. It's time to stand up and walk the path leading into the light. I ask that you bombard Trumps Tweeter account with your concerns. It appears to be the only way to communicate with someone whose eyes are shut to truth.
23
I hear it is not a complete gag order. Our noble federal employees can still communicate with the public as long as they limit it to 120 character tweets.
13
I thought it was 140? See? Limiting speech by 20 characters at a time.
(I can think of 20 characters whose speech I'd like to limit....)
(I can think of 20 characters whose speech I'd like to limit....)
2
I've been arguing for weeks that Trump is likely the first President since the 19th Century never to have set foot in a National Park. (I've seen no evidence to the contrary.) He'll have no qualms about opening them to exploitation, so the park rangers will have their work cut out for them in keeping us apprised of the damage he's doing.
68
Once upon a time I saw this guy, Trump, rather quite near a National Park. He was scouting a golf course location.
7
Actually, he went to Gettysburg during the campaign and vomited up a distortion of reality there.
The White House is a National Park site (President's Park).
https://www.nps.gov/whho/index.htm
The White House is a National Park site (President's Park).
https://www.nps.gov/whho/index.htm
3
There is already massive discontent and outrage at the man who was just elected president of our beloved country, one week in. Very few of us believed it would actually, really happen, that Trump would be elected President of our beloved nation. But he was. Now is the time for action.
We, the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, right now, need to stand and protest every time Trump or one of his cronies denies the truth, seeks to fabricate their own version of the truth, or acts with dishonesty, lack of integrity or lack of reason.
Protest in every way and in every place you can. There is no time to wait...the longer he lingers where he is, the more damage will be done to us, the People and the institutions and ideas that, as a country, we hold dear. Write and call your federal and state legislators, write letter to the newspapers, march, use social media to advance the message that Trump has to go. Do not go gently into this looming night.
Can you imagine the result if all citizens who felt outrage at their new president and his co-conspirators followed in the footsteps of the Women's March - if Americans, somewhere in the country, continued to protest without ceasing, to make our outrage known? The politicians would have to listen. Hillary did get something right: It takes a village.
We, the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, right now, need to stand and protest every time Trump or one of his cronies denies the truth, seeks to fabricate their own version of the truth, or acts with dishonesty, lack of integrity or lack of reason.
Protest in every way and in every place you can. There is no time to wait...the longer he lingers where he is, the more damage will be done to us, the People and the institutions and ideas that, as a country, we hold dear. Write and call your federal and state legislators, write letter to the newspapers, march, use social media to advance the message that Trump has to go. Do not go gently into this looming night.
Can you imagine the result if all citizens who felt outrage at their new president and his co-conspirators followed in the footsteps of the Women's March - if Americans, somewhere in the country, continued to protest without ceasing, to make our outrage known? The politicians would have to listen. Hillary did get something right: It takes a village.
48
Yes please do all this if that is your desire. Perhaps it would be better to directly spend your resources on direct aid to those causes that you support. Like direct charity to say planned parenthood? All these things will be very ineffective in making any changes. Trump will pay little to no attention, most house members represent districts that don't support your views, and even senators from states that don't. Just waste your efforts it will keep you out of trouble.
3
Donald Trump and his merry band of Reverse Republican Robin Hoods will do their Greedy Oil Political best to change the National Park Service into the National Petroleum Service.
Sure, natural waterfalls are beautiful, but they're not very profitable.
Who cares about the Old Faithful geyser when oil geysers littering the nation's parks are what the collapsing climate and the Trump Administration's collapsed morals demand ?
Donald Trump and his Kremlin cabinet of billionaires have as much use for nature as they do for capital gains tax increase.
They would rename Yosemite Valley as the Exxon-Mobil Field Of Fossil Fuel Dreams before they thought of going for a lovely hike in one of our national crown jewels.
They believe in the Environmental Pollution Agency, 'protection' be damned to greedy, exploitative, 0.1% hell.
They believe in the gag order, the 1st Amendment be damned to fascist, authoritarian rule, silence and holy propaganda.
This nation will need a lot of rescuers in the next four years as the Sociopath-In-Chief and his Robber Barons try to Make America 1878 Again.
We all need to resist Trump madness, Republican nihilism and the right-wing joy of environmental destruction.
“Cherish these natural wonders, cherish the natural resources, cherish the history and romance as a sacred heritage, for your children and your children's children. Do not let selfish men or greedy interests skin your country of its beauty, its riches or its romance.”
― Theodore Roosevelt
Sure, natural waterfalls are beautiful, but they're not very profitable.
Who cares about the Old Faithful geyser when oil geysers littering the nation's parks are what the collapsing climate and the Trump Administration's collapsed morals demand ?
Donald Trump and his Kremlin cabinet of billionaires have as much use for nature as they do for capital gains tax increase.
They would rename Yosemite Valley as the Exxon-Mobil Field Of Fossil Fuel Dreams before they thought of going for a lovely hike in one of our national crown jewels.
They believe in the Environmental Pollution Agency, 'protection' be damned to greedy, exploitative, 0.1% hell.
They believe in the gag order, the 1st Amendment be damned to fascist, authoritarian rule, silence and holy propaganda.
This nation will need a lot of rescuers in the next four years as the Sociopath-In-Chief and his Robber Barons try to Make America 1878 Again.
We all need to resist Trump madness, Republican nihilism and the right-wing joy of environmental destruction.
“Cherish these natural wonders, cherish the natural resources, cherish the history and romance as a sacred heritage, for your children and your children's children. Do not let selfish men or greedy interests skin your country of its beauty, its riches or its romance.”
― Theodore Roosevelt
272
Socrates...in this time when we have seen the Normalization of the
Abnormal, we need clear voices like yours. Thank You from this Old White man.
Abnormal, we need clear voices like yours. Thank You from this Old White man.
7
It is heartening to see the small (and large) acts of defiance. Americans are being sharply pulled out of their apathy to recognize we have to protect the freedoms we enjoy in this country.
Trumo loves his numbers. His approval rating is 36%. He is in a race to the bottom with Maduro of Venezuela (currently at 24%). Let's see who gets there first.
Trumo loves his numbers. His approval rating is 36%. He is in a race to the bottom with Maduro of Venezuela (currently at 24%). Let's see who gets there first.
25
Here is the Trump administration's version of magical thinking: If we erase all information about global warming from our web site then the result will be: there is no such thing as global warming.
If we refuse to give any information about family planning to foreign countries, especially in Africa, then we have eliminated abortions and STD's.
I don't think we can survive 4 years of this nonsense
If we refuse to give any information about family planning to foreign countries, especially in Africa, then we have eliminated abortions and STD's.
I don't think we can survive 4 years of this nonsense
28
People often have irrational and emotional reactions to data and facts that contradicts their beliefs and opinions. As to park rangers as well as most positions in natural resource management, a college degree (or more) and an understanding of data and facts is required to even apply for employment. The issue is the belief held by some that educational attainment is some type of elitism. I would posit that there is a component of envy and regret by those individuals.
11
It is as if we were back in grammar school when the kids who always earned "unsatisfactory" on their report cards sneered at us with, "Nyah, nyah, you think you're so smart!"
They have yet to realize that we actually are so smart.
They have yet to realize that we actually are so smart.
1
People who can't tell the difference between fantasy and reality are psychotic. People who constantly create fantasy worlds but know they are not real are neurotic. Trump with his narcissism, psychopathy and Machiavellianism, is a very sick person and needs medical care. The majority of the American public is sitting here hoping someone comes riding to the rescue. If that someone(s) are park rangers, I would wholeheartedly support them. But a great wave of anger is sweeping over the land as this band of lunatics begins destroying our country. The wave will sweep over them and hopefully wash them away, never to be seen again. Or am I just fantasizing? The reality is that some absurd order will be given to the military and someone with a grasp of reality will refuse to carry it out. We will then be faced with a military takeover of our government, just like all of the banana republics.
34
You know, it would be beneficial to do a thorough bi-partisan study of the election results so we could once and for all get the actual numbers of votes cast illegally. Then maybe this Republican tiresome talking point (lie) will be put out of its misery. And oh yeah, let's include a bi-partisan examination of the Russian connection and the FBI meddling as well so all questions of impropriety are dealt with.
11
In my efforts to restrain my blood pressure, I have been looking for an epithet for Mr. Trump that expresses my contempt for his actions and incompetence, yet retains respect for the high office. I have been toying with 'President Asterisk', but your column has given me an inspiration. The stink starts from the head, as you say, so I would encourage the meme by calling him 'President Fish Head', having in mind a certain unflattering photo I've seen.
More to the point of the column, though, there have been observed in the past couple of days a growing number of 'alt' sites and twitter accounts that are carrying on the educational mandates of governmental departments, as the actual departmental communications are being muzzled. My admiration for career government personnel is growing mightily. Thank you, NPS folks.
More to the point of the column, though, there have been observed in the past couple of days a growing number of 'alt' sites and twitter accounts that are carrying on the educational mandates of governmental departments, as the actual departmental communications are being muzzled. My admiration for career government personnel is growing mightily. Thank you, NPS folks.
39
Over the next 4 years I hope civil servants provide U.S. citizens as much accurate information as possible to combat the lies regularly coming out of the The Con.
42
Well if they don't follow their rules they will be unemployed, sooner would be best.
"...no president has entered office with a larger loss of the popular vote." We have to stop framing the issue in this way if we want to understand what's happening right now. Trump actually won the aggregate popular vote in 49 states, but a separate country--California--dismissed his candidacy by over 4 million votes. And note California's admirable defiance of Trump's deportation plans with the establishment of "Sanctuary Cities." Californians are in effect saying, "Trump is not our president and we will not obey laws enacted by a country that we no longer recognize."
Instead of citing the fact that Trump's approval rating nationwide is below 50%, let's sharpen the focus by looking at different regions. I'm guessing that Trump's ratings in the blue northeast and the west coast are abysmal. But what about the "Red Sea," that vast expanse of territory between the Appalachians and the Rockies, the Canadian border and the Gulf of Mexico? I'll bet Trump's approval ratings there are three or maybe even four times as high.
So if the Red Sea wants Trump, let them have him. The movement for a peaceful separation is gaining momentum, especially in the blue states of the west coast--California, Oregon and Washington. Can the blue northeast be far behind? The pronouncements coming out of Washington are getting scarier by the day. And they will keep coming as long as Trump has the Red Sea backing him up. It's time for the rest of us to file for an amicable divorce.
Instead of citing the fact that Trump's approval rating nationwide is below 50%, let's sharpen the focus by looking at different regions. I'm guessing that Trump's ratings in the blue northeast and the west coast are abysmal. But what about the "Red Sea," that vast expanse of territory between the Appalachians and the Rockies, the Canadian border and the Gulf of Mexico? I'll bet Trump's approval ratings there are three or maybe even four times as high.
So if the Red Sea wants Trump, let them have him. The movement for a peaceful separation is gaining momentum, especially in the blue states of the west coast--California, Oregon and Washington. Can the blue northeast be far behind? The pronouncements coming out of Washington are getting scarier by the day. And they will keep coming as long as Trump has the Red Sea backing him up. It's time for the rest of us to file for an amicable divorce.
21
Living in an alternative reality, the constitution does not allow such currently and it worked pretty badly for the last group to try it. Now if you want to start an amendment to allow that please waste your time.
Please - let's not forget the Blue island that is Illinois! Never have I been so happy to live here as I have felt since the fall of 2016...
4
Every federal employee and American citizen will need to fight back against censorship as long as DT is on office. Bannon's admonishment to the press to just "shut up" yesterday was horrifying, and if he had his way, every American would just "shut up" while he and Pence destroy the last vestiges of our constitutional rights.
Sometimes the small details are the most telling - in that same interview, Bannon referred to himself "jokingly" as "Darth Vader." Please remember in a prior interview he gave a while ago, he said that "Darkness is good. ..Dick Cheney. Darth Vader. Satan. That's power. It only helps us when they [liberals] get it wrong. When they are blind to who we are and what we're doing."
So, we must watch, speak, protest and contain a truly dark force and puppeteer who fancies himself all powerful.
Sometimes the small details are the most telling - in that same interview, Bannon referred to himself "jokingly" as "Darth Vader." Please remember in a prior interview he gave a while ago, he said that "Darkness is good. ..Dick Cheney. Darth Vader. Satan. That's power. It only helps us when they [liberals] get it wrong. When they are blind to who we are and what we're doing."
So, we must watch, speak, protest and contain a truly dark force and puppeteer who fancies himself all powerful.
221
A NYT commenter introduced a new (to me) word a while back: kakocracy -- rule or government by the worst of the people.This is what we have now,
with the likes of DT, Steve Bannon, and of course all the cabinet
appointments of people who are hostile to the missions of their departments, EPA,Education,and on and on. Their intention is to destroy, and in the case of the crazy man, to display his power and greatness. He, who claims to "love this country", is intent on the reversal of hard won policies and programs which benefit lower and middle class people.
DJT has been called Putin's useful idiot. Well, I think the term would also
apply to his relationships with all the movers and shakers in his administration. He obviously has not schooled himself in the details of the job he's been appointed to, so someone is guiding his ideas and decision making.
with the likes of DT, Steve Bannon, and of course all the cabinet
appointments of people who are hostile to the missions of their departments, EPA,Education,and on and on. Their intention is to destroy, and in the case of the crazy man, to display his power and greatness. He, who claims to "love this country", is intent on the reversal of hard won policies and programs which benefit lower and middle class people.
DJT has been called Putin's useful idiot. Well, I think the term would also
apply to his relationships with all the movers and shakers in his administration. He obviously has not schooled himself in the details of the job he's been appointed to, so someone is guiding his ideas and decision making.
7
"Sometimes the small details are the most telling - in that same interview, Bannon referred to himself "jokingly" as "Darth Vader." Please remember in a prior interview he gave a while ago, he said that "Darkness is good. ..Dick Cheney. Darth Vader. Satan. That's power. It only helps us when they [liberals] get it wrong. When they are blind to who we are and what we're doing." "
These words should be translated as intent. Truly scary.
These words should be translated as intent. Truly scary.
3
Holy moly!! Did he really say those things? Please give a reference.
2
It is as rare for an employee to tell his boss the boss is wrong as it is for a vassal to tell the emperor he has no clothes. Kudos to the Park Service from the Alaskan wilderness to the swamps of the Everglades! As Upton Sinclair has observed "It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it."
Speaking truth to power is always difficult, dangerous and essential.
Speaking truth to power is always difficult, dangerous and essential.
389
One day, approximately 35 years ago, I met a rude Park Ranger. This stands out in my mind because having visited probably over 50 National Parks, monuments, and other historic sites I've met exactly ONE rude Park Ranger. The men and women who work for the National Park Service are unceasingly helpful, knowledgeable, and eager to share what they know about the park, its environment, and those who populated those lands before modern-day Americans. They don't shy away from science because the truths are unpleasant - they explain science in the clearest possible way to help all visitors understand the importance of appreciating and caring for these sacred lands. Many of them can't find full time employment in the Park Service but work part time, in a consistently underfunded agency, because they love their jobs and can't imagine doing anything else. I can only imagine how galling it must be for them to have a serial liar - or purveyor of alternate facts - as their new boss. Maybe they don't risk their lives, but they are on the front lines of protecting this nation's environment and national treasures. So, thank you for your service, Park Rangers, and best of luck over the next four years.
347
Yes I greatly admire them, and they sure can do all those things that they desire in the private sector or on their own social media. They must comply with the new policies or find some other jobs.
1
I worked as a park ranger in metropolitan park district in Ohio for 10 amazing years. It changes a person to have a natural area as your "office," and you come to look at life differently, as you are confronted with the realities of earth sciences on a daily basis. Best job ever!
7
They are doing their JOBS. Just because you don't like what their jobs are doesn't mean that they aren't doing them.
Another believer in "alternative facts", otherwise known to the rest of us as fictions.
Another believer in "alternative facts", otherwise known to the rest of us as fictions.
5
Trust in anything this country commits to -- whether in government, or in business -- is now completely broken.
The most fundamental effect of this will be on trust in our currency, our value to the world measured in numbers; it will soon be turning to ashes.
What does that mean? It means we will be exempted from the future world economy, as we are already being by the ASEAN agreement, for example (look for Mexico to join ASEAN any day now, along with a number of other major nations responsible for much of current production, trade and finance).
But don't worry; we'll have UKIP come to our rescue, with stale scones, stale tea, and.... not much else.
The Rump Administration is worried about immigration, but they've got it backwards: the young in this country, anyone of energy and merit, will soon see the value of fleeing this soon-to-be Shambles Nation, much like the young have long ago flown from our small towns to the cities.... never to return.
The problem is, even the best of our young are poorly educated and not equipped to compete with the millions of their betters elsewhere. So they will have to serve as the surplus slave population in other countries to help those countries build the future of the world.
And we will sit here, alone, and dying a slow, ugly death; not even attractive as a tourist destination.
And the Trump Vision will then see its ultimate fulfillment.
The most fundamental effect of this will be on trust in our currency, our value to the world measured in numbers; it will soon be turning to ashes.
What does that mean? It means we will be exempted from the future world economy, as we are already being by the ASEAN agreement, for example (look for Mexico to join ASEAN any day now, along with a number of other major nations responsible for much of current production, trade and finance).
But don't worry; we'll have UKIP come to our rescue, with stale scones, stale tea, and.... not much else.
The Rump Administration is worried about immigration, but they've got it backwards: the young in this country, anyone of energy and merit, will soon see the value of fleeing this soon-to-be Shambles Nation, much like the young have long ago flown from our small towns to the cities.... never to return.
The problem is, even the best of our young are poorly educated and not equipped to compete with the millions of their betters elsewhere. So they will have to serve as the surplus slave population in other countries to help those countries build the future of the world.
And we will sit here, alone, and dying a slow, ugly death; not even attractive as a tourist destination.
And the Trump Vision will then see its ultimate fulfillment.
27
But the future world economy relies on the US, not the other way around. We make the future, they just copy it or manufacture it which we could do for ourselves.
Only if we sit here and take it.
2
Speaking of our currency, how soon do you think we'll be reading President Blowfish's demand that we put his really big face on -- what? -- the $100? Or bring back the $100,000? Or make one really, really big just for him?
4
I salute everyone in every office who has a voice and opportunity to tell the truth and does. My message to Mr Bannon- we do understand how Mr Trump became president and 150 million of us respect the "elite media" to keep on exposing the lies, every minute, every day. This is not North Korea where the people are expected to pretend they believe the lies coming from the mouth of a crazy dictator.
404
What we do have in common with North Korea is that our "dear leader" is indeed a crazy dictator.
11
People say they don't like "government" but I suspect it's due in large part to those people - Trump voters and GOP supporters - who feel insecure that federal employees at the park service, NASA, CDC, NIH, NEA, HHS, NEH, EPA, USDA, HUD, etc. have on average more training and higher education than most of them.
Like Trump himself, education and expertise intimidate them, so they react with violence to the system, tearing down the very foundations that keep them safe and protected in so many ways.
It's easy to label people "elites" and "snowflakes" - well, it appears we as a nation have chosen to try living without those "elites" and "snowflakes" who do so much to keep society up and running in a milliion ways, large and small.
Good luck, living in a world without truth, knowledge, expertise, and compassion.
Like Trump himself, education and expertise intimidate them, so they react with violence to the system, tearing down the very foundations that keep them safe and protected in so many ways.
It's easy to label people "elites" and "snowflakes" - well, it appears we as a nation have chosen to try living without those "elites" and "snowflakes" who do so much to keep society up and running in a milliion ways, large and small.
Good luck, living in a world without truth, knowledge, expertise, and compassion.
1160
"Snowflakes" is particularly perplexing from a bunch of white people whining that the government should guarantee them jobs earning over $70,000 a year for their high school educations, without their having to retrain for the jobs that exist now.
41
Agree that I am perplexed that the conservatives continue to use childish school yard epithets in comment sections. I would posit that part of the reaction educational attainment (the elites) is envy and regret.
13
yes! I recently read a comment by J.D. Vance ('Hillbilly Elegy') who said that "they envy people like that (Barack Obama) and who they envy, they hate."
7
"No" Steve Bannon, the media will not shut up. Our world is too valuable to be manipulated by the disruptors.
Our beautiful planet is not being served up for the pleasure of oligarchs and kleptocrats.
We will not shut up.
Our beautiful planet is not being served up for the pleasure of oligarchs and kleptocrats.
We will not shut up.
607
once again, a thoughtful cry of "foul" for MR POTUS DT to hear- but will he listen. Heaven( if there is one ) forbid
17
As an attorney who defends civil service workers, I am afraid the trump administration can stack the deck against them. Judges and arbitrators who need their paycheck could come under intense pressure to fold and rule against these good honest workers. I'm justifiably worried!
255
You should be happy, more work for you.
Trump's attempt to silence the National Park Service, brings to mind Historian Richard Hofstadter identification of the "Paranoid Style" in American Politics. Donald Trump is a perfect match. Political Paranoid's feel persecuted ( the inauguration and election numbers ), fear conspiracy ( the media ), act over aggressively ( his attacks on the Khans and Alicia Machado ), yet are socialized ( by all accounts he doesn't shovel food with his hands while making guttural noises ). They are also known for delusions ( voter fraud, Obama's Kenyan birth ). Trump's "delusions", of course, have a far more insidious and malevolent basis.
53
If you really think Trump didn't know the truth behind Obama's birth, then you probably have a lot to learn about this man. He's not as "stupid" as we are giving him credit for. In my view he utters fantastic diatribes just to see the reaction he gets. When he sees a negative reaction he changes his tune. Psychiatrists may have a term for this type of thinking but in the case of a politician, I think it's called normal adn I present Mr. Ryan and Mr. McConnell as two prime examples.
4
The first flight I took after 9/11, brought tears to my eyes. Seeing armed military at our airports; here? in my country? I knew we would never be the same.
I have that same feeling again, we must speak, we must spread truth, we must not let this illegimate presidency to go on.
Congress? SPEAK! Speak to truth, please.
I have that same feeling again, we must speak, we must spread truth, we must not let this illegimate presidency to go on.
Congress? SPEAK! Speak to truth, please.
157
Congress is the last group to speak out about Trump. They are cowards that see in Trump an opportunity to gain more power.
3
A mostly GOP-and-spineless-Democrat Congress. Speak to truth.
Good luck with that.
Good luck with that.
Those same armed military will be closing the barricades around you when demonstrators get misidentified as rioters.
1
I didn't think that was a lump of coal that the people at Faux News were polishing, and I thought that they were polishing it on both ends.
22
"At the same time, while people don’t much like “government” in the abstract, anecdotal surveys show that people like the Park Service."
I've seen this time and again during my lifetime. Anti-government folks fight tirelessly to cripple government, and reduce its size and influence.
Yet those very same people want parks, want insurance, want social security, want medical treatment in retirement, want good weather reporting, want their modern medical treatement, etc., etc., etc.
Well, folks, you can't have it both ways. If you want this stuff, then stop voting these crazies into office who want nothing more than to take away all your benefits and slice up what remains of civilization.
I've seen this time and again during my lifetime. Anti-government folks fight tirelessly to cripple government, and reduce its size and influence.
Yet those very same people want parks, want insurance, want social security, want medical treatment in retirement, want good weather reporting, want their modern medical treatement, etc., etc., etc.
Well, folks, you can't have it both ways. If you want this stuff, then stop voting these crazies into office who want nothing more than to take away all your benefits and slice up what remains of civilization.
698
Yes but what we do want is what the constitution says the federal government should do. The states can provide those for the citizens that are willing to pay for it.
Agreed. Government is the abused child. Beat it up, starve it and blame it when it fails. Trump and his crowd want to keep it tied to a chair in the unlit basement. I hope we can't get any lower.
6
And when the GOP removes Trump from the presidency, what will the Orange Man do? His mental condition combined with the public humiliation of no equal in the world will set up an unfortunate spectacle. And yet it needs to be done for the good of the country.
81
Unhappily for the country, Trump's removal will leave us with Pence who is at least as bad albeit in possibly different ways. And then Ryan. It is a bleak picture.
7
Talk about delusional speech...
Every lie out of the White House is consequential. Like it or not, they represent us on the world stage. They are our leaders, to be admired and emulated by our children. They are normalizing lying, threatening those who call them out, and ridiculing the losers who pay attention to what they actually say. By the time the lies about actual foreign threats or wars come out, we'll have been through so many rounds of blustery invention and alternative facts and Fox newspeak that it will all blend into a mush, exactly as intended.
114
Although there will be a few outliers, public employees like Park Service personnel will probably remain mostly very careful about what they say. They were that way under Obama and every other president, and if they weren't their supervisors didn't let them near the twitter feed.
As others have pointed out, a more promising source of information is anonymous leaks. I suggest that the Times, maybe in collaboration with other news outlets, establish an anonymous tip line and publicize it widely so every public servant knows the contact info. Otherwise, most are not going to know how to report what's going on.
As others have pointed out, a more promising source of information is anonymous leaks. I suggest that the Times, maybe in collaboration with other news outlets, establish an anonymous tip line and publicize it widely so every public servant knows the contact info. Otherwise, most are not going to know how to report what's going on.
867
to JoeD: There's already a NYT page for anonymous tips: https://www.nytimes.com/newsgraphics/2016/news-tips/?WT.nav=top-news&...®ion=top-news
I hope it gets used often! I also hope major news media are making plans for ways to convey facts to desperate Americans after Trump packs the Supreme Court and gets rid of Freedom of the Press along with Freedom of Speech.
I hope it gets used often! I also hope major news media are making plans for ways to convey facts to desperate Americans after Trump packs the Supreme Court and gets rid of Freedom of the Press along with Freedom of Speech.
11
The NYT already has that prominently displayed on it's front page. ProPublica also has confidential tip line contact info. As does the Washington Post and increasingly, news sites with investigative reporting missions.
8
Where are Woodward and Bernstein when we need them...not to mention Dee Throat?
1
In addition to the fact that most of the scientific agencies have rogue FB and Twitter pages there is talk of a scientist march on Washington. Knowledge is power and these brave souls are working for us during demoralizing times. We need to get out there and March with them. Their willingness to go rogue and whistleblow as needed will be our salvation during these dark times.
299
Good luck to the Park Service but sadly, the wrong people hold the purse strings.
27
I'm reminded of that old but true saying, "you can't make a silk purse out a sow's ear". Responsible, concerned Americans and the news media have served notice to the new president -- "don't urinate down my leg and tell me it's raining!"
88
Go rogue you say. Already happening (yeah!). From the Huffington Post:
"By Thursday evening, at least 51 renegade Twitter sites were claiming to represent the Trump resistance at NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Homeland Security, the presidential staff, the Forest Service and the Department of Agriculture, among others. Several sites representing specific parks across the nation were also off and running. By Thursday evening, the site that started the rogue trend, @AltUSNatParkService, had 1.2 million followers, three times as many as the official National Park Service site."
"By Thursday evening, at least 51 renegade Twitter sites were claiming to represent the Trump resistance at NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Homeland Security, the presidential staff, the Forest Service and the Department of Agriculture, among others. Several sites representing specific parks across the nation were also off and running. By Thursday evening, the site that started the rogue trend, @AltUSNatParkService, had 1.2 million followers, three times as many as the official National Park Service site."
409
Well, this will certainly tie up a portion of the alphabet soup agencies investigating all these "Unpatriotic" leaks from our government employees!
9
Tell people they can't have something - education, facts, science, conservation - and they will flock to it like moths to a light. Ironic that interest is skyrocketing as an outcome of censorship, but no matter. Facts are still facts, and anyone - ANYONE - can volunteer at a National Park Service site. No citizenship, papers or other qualifications apply. Sign up, show up and participate.
5
Just wait a few minutes. The alternative truth folks will soon have their own National Park Service sites to make sure the truth is muddied with their anti-science views.
1
Every time I hear someone in the new administration try to re-frame some statement by the current president, or provide an alternate fact to a clear picture, I get a laugh. I’m reminded of what the Great One said, “never smarten up a chump”. He had some good quips for justifying the ways of a scoundrel. My other favorite is, “never give a sucker an even break”. And no, it was not Wayne Gretzky who said these.
13
Thank you thank you thank you dear Park Rangers in your nerdy hats. You're a breath of fresh air and, in your own quiet way, you inspire us to hold the truth to highest regard. They will try to muzzle you - stand together and tall. We love you!!
298
The Big Crackdown on science and economic data is surely coming. Remember that Candidate Trump claimed the government unemployment statistics were phony and the "real" unemployment rate was as high as 42%.
Before the Inauguration, one might have believed that Candidate Trump would disappear and President Trump would emerge, calm, self assured by "victory" and ready to lead the nation.
But now we know that investigations into massive election fraud, "surveys" of government staff and a thousand other witch hunts will soon be underway.
So what are faithful servants of the public trust to do?
What they always do, gather data. On the criminal dismantling of government agencies, the "bleaching" of Federal databases and violations of Federal law, of which there will be plenty in the Trump mandated haste to destroy.
The first signs of Alt-Agencies have just appeared, initially a little amateurish in copying trademarked Agency logos, but destined to be social media stars.
I hope that Earth Day 2017 protests build in the Women's March on Washington and focus massive social media education and attention on the dangers of the Trump disaster to the planet.
It's time to bring the real issues that disappeared in a hail of tweets during the election season back to the fore.
Before the Inauguration, one might have believed that Candidate Trump would disappear and President Trump would emerge, calm, self assured by "victory" and ready to lead the nation.
But now we know that investigations into massive election fraud, "surveys" of government staff and a thousand other witch hunts will soon be underway.
So what are faithful servants of the public trust to do?
What they always do, gather data. On the criminal dismantling of government agencies, the "bleaching" of Federal databases and violations of Federal law, of which there will be plenty in the Trump mandated haste to destroy.
The first signs of Alt-Agencies have just appeared, initially a little amateurish in copying trademarked Agency logos, but destined to be social media stars.
I hope that Earth Day 2017 protests build in the Women's March on Washington and focus massive social media education and attention on the dangers of the Trump disaster to the planet.
It's time to bring the real issues that disappeared in a hail of tweets during the election season back to the fore.
176
Look:
"The Big Crackdown on science and economic data is surely coming"?
It's already here.
Much as the dissembling spin jockeys of Trumpville try to play his iron fisted censorship of government employees as 'just the usual transition stuff', it is anything but.
Sure, new execs want staff on board before communicating with the great unwashed. Sure other administrations have done the same.
But Trump and his vile gang have gone further and broken the law, actually broken the law by the way, by muzzling the release of scientific reports, publications, and data sets. They are expressly forbidden to do this. But they have, and we have let them.
This is not just similar to the Russian "Stalin invented the light bulb" ploy we used to laugh at in grade school. It is exactly the same.
Our new President is not just controlling messaging, he's attempting to control reality, attempting to hide from the truth.
If we ever needed more proof he is a ruthless, soulless ideologue, this is it. There is no doubt.
I'm waiting for the real patriots in Congress to stand up to him, and rescue America from the third worldism that is Trump's one real goal.
"The Big Crackdown on science and economic data is surely coming"?
It's already here.
Much as the dissembling spin jockeys of Trumpville try to play his iron fisted censorship of government employees as 'just the usual transition stuff', it is anything but.
Sure, new execs want staff on board before communicating with the great unwashed. Sure other administrations have done the same.
But Trump and his vile gang have gone further and broken the law, actually broken the law by the way, by muzzling the release of scientific reports, publications, and data sets. They are expressly forbidden to do this. But they have, and we have let them.
This is not just similar to the Russian "Stalin invented the light bulb" ploy we used to laugh at in grade school. It is exactly the same.
Our new President is not just controlling messaging, he's attempting to control reality, attempting to hide from the truth.
If we ever needed more proof he is a ruthless, soulless ideologue, this is it. There is no doubt.
I'm waiting for the real patriots in Congress to stand up to him, and rescue America from the third worldism that is Trump's one real goal.
9
The fact that Trump is a refractory liar is beyond question. His lies are not like those of other politicians, other people in general, or anyone with normal mental health. Trump lies constantly, compulsively, and without remorse; he in other words lies like a sociopath, which is precisely what he is. Recently however there seems to be something different. His press secretary insisted repeatedly that Trump genuinely believes his ridiculous statements about the size of the inaugural audience. He is therefore delusional with regard to this matter and perhaps a number of others. His mental illness may be decompensating to the point of loss of touch with reality.
Either explanation is intolerable. Our government cannot withstand such bizarre behavior in its leader. There is a reason that the25th Amendment exists, and Trump now personifies it.
Either explanation is intolerable. Our government cannot withstand such bizarre behavior in its leader. There is a reason that the25th Amendment exists, and Trump now personifies it.
516
An assessment based on standard "ego" concepts would indicate that Trump is a man with a fragile ego, exemplified for example by his obvious need to over compensate in order to prop it up and his narcissistic and antisocial qualities.
Generally speaking, a person with these characteristics is more vulnerable to stress than a person with a more normally functioning ego and is more prone to psychological melt down.
Since POTUS is probably one of the most stressful jobs in the world, I will be surprised if Trump lasts 6 months.
Generally speaking, a person with these characteristics is more vulnerable to stress than a person with a more normally functioning ego and is more prone to psychological melt down.
Since POTUS is probably one of the most stressful jobs in the world, I will be surprised if Trump lasts 6 months.
66
"Since POTUS is probably one of the most stressful jobs in the world, I will be surprised if Trump lasts 6 months."
You may have to wait longer. This sociopath lives in his own world; he doesn't have a conscience or a soul and as such can bully his way through life untouched by human emotions. We've see despots like this in past history and now we get to live the nightmare.
You may have to wait longer. This sociopath lives in his own world; he doesn't have a conscience or a soul and as such can bully his way through life untouched by human emotions. We've see despots like this in past history and now we get to live the nightmare.
11
Thank You, Dr. Williams for your lucid Comment. The Sociopathic Personality must be understood in some depth in its chronic evidence in and before the Oval Office.
7
Mr. Egan, the true president is Stephen Bannon. The coming apocalypse is a blueprint straight out of Breitbart.com. Donald Trump needs someone to spin his narratives. Yesterday, Bannon fired a shot not over the bow of the MSM but at its broadside. The fight for America's soul has begun.
Ronald Reagan, in his 1981 inaugural address, said "government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem." Richard Nixon, seven years earlier, demonstrated that government couldn't be trusted. Reagan then started the deconstruction of the American experiment by telling us it doesn't work. Trump, now, with Bannon penning his anti-American screeds, is perhaps the last iteration of the dissolution of what most of us were taught: that America, while flawed, retained some aura of exceptionalism. In slow fits and starts, the nation struggled towards the dawn while finding small lights in the night to guide the way: Lincoln, FDR, MLK, e.g.
But Trump, through Bannon, seems intent on replacing American history with a kind of tabula rasa in which everything that came before is a lie. The new president, not yet installed a week, has pulled the plug on not only his most recent predecessor, but also all those--good and bad--that have gone before.
America, under Trump, now wears a different face. Our civil servants are the truest patriots, not the lords of industry and commerce and political donations, all of whom seek to ruin America so that it benefits only them.
We are doomed.
Ronald Reagan, in his 1981 inaugural address, said "government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem." Richard Nixon, seven years earlier, demonstrated that government couldn't be trusted. Reagan then started the deconstruction of the American experiment by telling us it doesn't work. Trump, now, with Bannon penning his anti-American screeds, is perhaps the last iteration of the dissolution of what most of us were taught: that America, while flawed, retained some aura of exceptionalism. In slow fits and starts, the nation struggled towards the dawn while finding small lights in the night to guide the way: Lincoln, FDR, MLK, e.g.
But Trump, through Bannon, seems intent on replacing American history with a kind of tabula rasa in which everything that came before is a lie. The new president, not yet installed a week, has pulled the plug on not only his most recent predecessor, but also all those--good and bad--that have gone before.
America, under Trump, now wears a different face. Our civil servants are the truest patriots, not the lords of industry and commerce and political donations, all of whom seek to ruin America so that it benefits only them.
We are doomed.
483
No. We are not doomed. We have just begun to fight.
We were lulled to sleep and misled by the polls that said that Trump didn't have a chance — and Hillary was a weak candidate — so we didn't get our act together and make sure Trump was kept out of the White House.
But we don't have to sit around and whine while our democracy disappears. We can engage in non-violent Proactive Resistance. Don't wait for the Republicans to act, take action on them so the government fears the people.
Crowdsource the Summer Zervos sexual harassment lawsuit against Trump. Support rebuilding the Democratic party by supporting Kieth Ellison for DNC Chair. Subscribe to investigative news sources so they have the resources to investigate. Demand an independent investigation of PutinGate. Download the INDIVISIBLE Guide and learn how to deal with your Congressional representatives. The list goes on.
Fight for freedom. That's how it was won in the first place.
We were lulled to sleep and misled by the polls that said that Trump didn't have a chance — and Hillary was a weak candidate — so we didn't get our act together and make sure Trump was kept out of the White House.
But we don't have to sit around and whine while our democracy disappears. We can engage in non-violent Proactive Resistance. Don't wait for the Republicans to act, take action on them so the government fears the people.
Crowdsource the Summer Zervos sexual harassment lawsuit against Trump. Support rebuilding the Democratic party by supporting Kieth Ellison for DNC Chair. Subscribe to investigative news sources so they have the resources to investigate. Demand an independent investigation of PutinGate. Download the INDIVISIBLE Guide and learn how to deal with your Congressional representatives. The list goes on.
Fight for freedom. That's how it was won in the first place.
5
Totally agree - Bannon is very dangerous!
5
Fight back every day in every way you can! All of must do this now or else we are indeed doomed!
4
Great piece and a nice tribute to one of the more under-appreciated federal government agencies out there.
340
"So far, the taxpayer-funded lies coming out the White House are largely inconsequential — always with the crowd size, and the chimera about millions of illegal voters denying Trump the popular vote."
No, no, no! Not inconsequential at all! Trump's investigations into "voter fraud" will seamlessly segue into more Republican voter suppression. In one, two, three . . .
No, no, no! Not inconsequential at all! Trump's investigations into "voter fraud" will seamlessly segue into more Republican voter suppression. In one, two, three . . .
238
Thank you, Robert. Nothing Trump or his ilk do is inconsequential. Just like The Maury Povich Show, the first few times you witness such bad behavior it is shocking, and then, after repeated assaults of the same on our consciousness, we become acclimated to the nastiness and other people pick up the bad behavior because it appears to be sanctioned (well, no one stops it....) and it starts to be accepted as tolerable.
No, no, no! We must guard against our country sliding down that awful, nasty, slippery slope into a world where it is ok to tout "alternative" facts and where the President of the United States is permitted to act like an immature teenager suffering from narcissistic personality.
We have to stop this now, before serious and irreversible damage is done to our dear country.
No, no, no! We must guard against our country sliding down that awful, nasty, slippery slope into a world where it is ok to tout "alternative" facts and where the President of the United States is permitted to act like an immature teenager suffering from narcissistic personality.
We have to stop this now, before serious and irreversible damage is done to our dear country.
9
Facts are Trump's mortal enemy. He is George Costanza if he
believe it's true it's true.
The media is finally waking up to cold fact that Mr. Trump and
his ward heelers like Conway and Spicer will lie with impunity
and whine like widdle girls when caught at it.
Doubtless right now, Trump is selling Hardee's leases
for Yellowstone and Yosemite.
Teddy Roosevelt weeps
believe it's true it's true.
The media is finally waking up to cold fact that Mr. Trump and
his ward heelers like Conway and Spicer will lie with impunity
and whine like widdle girls when caught at it.
Doubtless right now, Trump is selling Hardee's leases
for Yellowstone and Yosemite.
Teddy Roosevelt weeps
60
I'm sure it was just a slip of the pen for you to happen on the analogy of whining widdle girls, but when I was a little girl I didn't whine and I wasn't widdle. Please don't insult girls when you take on Trump, even inadvertently. Little girls are some of the best people I know.
The people who prop up Trump are grown up liars and prevaricators. And by the way, they don't whine, they just change the subject. A trick right out of the Soviet handbook.
The people who prop up Trump are grown up liars and prevaricators. And by the way, they don't whine, they just change the subject. A trick right out of the Soviet handbook.
14
Are they just finding out the severity of his illness, like we are?
Trump dislikes women. He chose as his chief "strategist", someone who was also was accused of domestic violence.
What makes people thirst for power over others? When Trump and Bannon call OTHER educated people, artists and journalists "elites", they are channeling the strategy of Pol Pot, Hitler and ISIS. Trump and Bannon are both angry men, who denigrate women and are in possession of horribly fragile egos...this alone is reason for a solid mental healthcare system in the US.