I moved in these circles and saw the code up close: wealth as virtue, power as morality, and strivers like Michael Wolff treating predators not as warnings—but as career opportunities.
Excellent article Cliff. I always knew Ronnie Reagan started the destruction of this country by dismantling the regulators and making greed a virtue. I saw it coming and saw fox slowly but surely brainwash the idiot class into accepting all this shit as the new American utopia. Every one of these elite assholes needs to be not only exposed but punished with a severity that makes any future wannabes think twice about trying this shit again. Keep it up brother!!
Thanks, Peter. I appreciate it. Ronnie unleashed our worst instincts. He was playing with fire, and I’m not defending him, he sucked, but I don’t even think he knew how bad it would get (don’t think he was smart enough to get it). I’ll keep it up! You keep reading & sharing, my friend.
I agree, Reagan was definitely not the brightest bulb on the tree, he was put there for star appeal. He also suffered from the same delusion and mental block that all Republicans do which is a total blackout when it comes to future effects of their wonderful policies.
Yeah, HM was all about the worst values in general—money as a stand-in for character. But I didn’t know how bad it was—the molestation, til I was long gone.
A great thought provoking article. I always felt Reagan wasn't a great president even when people have pretty much made a saint out of him. Trickle-down economics led to the wealth divide we have now. I love Ellie Leonard and I look forward to seeing the two of you discussion Epstein-gate. The more I learn the more awful it becomes. It has deep deep roots. It going to take a long time (if ever!) to clean up this mess!
Thank you, Donna! It is amazing to me even historians rate him highly, and I’m sorry, but supply side economics and Iran Contra alone should put him in the bottom half. He was an actor with charisma, and by all accounts a nice guy interpersonally. How does that make up for all the damage done? All the primeval forces he unleashed when he justified pure greed?
As for Ellie, she’s the best. I can’t wait for our discussion.
It will get cleaned up because that is our cause. Like you, I always felt Ronbo was a phony and was led around by his Chief of Staff. Just like another failed GOP clown, George W.
Couldn’t agree more. Anyone who decide to throw in with these ghouls. As I talk about in the peace, I grew up among them, and I could’ve thrown in with them, instead I ran.
That was me for a while too, and I lived it! There were pieces of the puzzle everywhere…and suddenly, with Epstein, it all came together and I suddenly understood what I’d witnessed in its disgusting totality.
Great article. I ran in many of those circles—slightly earlier—and I agree with your take on Reagan and the shift that followed. That period changed everything, including me. Only now, later in life, and old as dirt do I feel like I’ve returned to who I was in the late ’60s and ’70s—a fighter and a rebel again. The ’80s and ’90s pulled me in a different direction, I turned many a blind eye as to what was going on in the “secret dens” I question so much now.
I’ve always held that presidency responsible for the change in America and yes it enabled the trumps and Epstein’s of the world.
As I made my way through the files I and attempted to figure out how I was going to attempt to make sense of this jumbled mess the DOJ regurgitated, I had what I consider a “holy shit” realization. These files were very much like a 7-8million page screen play that had been written by hand then dropped outside of a window during a rain storm. Some pages blew away Sam got wet and we were thrown away and the other ones were just gathered ha ha stapled and bound to be later given to me because they suck and make no sense. That was a very dramatic way to say my superpower is that once I figure out the cast of characters and the story in my mind, I’m good to go. In my head, this became the real life version of Cruel Intentions minus any of the good looking men. This also helped when I’d start to feel too much because obviously, what we are reading isn’t a make believe fiction screenplay. It’s the hardest, most devastating part of many women’s lives and it’s such a responsibility to be respectful and not to just be one of so many who pretended they didn’t know what was going on in plain sight. Cliff since you were, well, I will call you an extra because you went to the same high school, but you don’t contribute to the main characters so who knows you may get cut. Depending on what you bring to the table as far as a scene with a pubescent Michael Wolff that’s tbd.
(God, I am really taking this far but welcome to my brain🤣)
All that just to get to me asking you if I can as on the right track with my film comparison…
Really looking forward to your first hand accounts and you rock. Really glad you saw what was coming ahead of time and started laying down the foundation for safe spot to remember that not all humans suck and it’s OK to pick yourself back up and have a little courage.
These idiots have the latest bro boy club. It’s the rule of the uber wealthy over the rest of society. And, as we can see we will never be members of their club. They grossly underestimate the populace. We need to take away the money of the people that abuse us and then permanently deport them.Place them in an ICE facility for a while with real hardened criminals and then send them packing.
I was in grad school in the 80s, and knew lots of people from Horace Mann. (I was at Harvard. So not too big a coincidence.) But the pedophilia scandal was covered up pretty well. Parents, students, not a word to non-Horace Mann people.
Many of us didn’t know about it while there, Alexandra. I knew it was weird for a teacher to massage my shoulders, though more acceptable then than now. I didn’t know the other stuff was going on. So when you were at Harvard, most HMers, unless they were victims, may not have known
I've always thought Epstein was the quintessential con man. He could reflect back to you an image of yourself which is your dream persona. He made tragically bad mistakes when referencing math, so I question his innate abilities. He got by in a similar style to James Murdoch.
Excellent article Cliff. I always knew Ronnie Reagan started the destruction of this country by dismantling the regulators and making greed a virtue. I saw it coming and saw fox slowly but surely brainwash the idiot class into accepting all this shit as the new American utopia. Every one of these elite assholes needs to be not only exposed but punished with a severity that makes any future wannabes think twice about trying this shit again. Keep it up brother!!
Thanks, Peter. I appreciate it. Ronnie unleashed our worst instincts. He was playing with fire, and I’m not defending him, he sucked, but I don’t even think he knew how bad it would get (don’t think he was smart enough to get it). I’ll keep it up! You keep reading & sharing, my friend.
I agree, Reagan was definitely not the brightest bulb on the tree, he was put there for star appeal. He also suffered from the same delusion and mental block that all Republicans do which is a total blackout when it comes to future effects of their wonderful policies.
I take it you got a good laugh out of the Laffer Curve too.
That was my barroom napkin reference :)
Excellent essay. I had no idea things were quite so grim at Dalton and Horace Mann, but should have guessed.
Yeah, HM was all about the worst values in general—money as a stand-in for character. But I didn’t know how bad it was—the molestation, til I was long gone.
A great thought provoking article. I always felt Reagan wasn't a great president even when people have pretty much made a saint out of him. Trickle-down economics led to the wealth divide we have now. I love Ellie Leonard and I look forward to seeing the two of you discussion Epstein-gate. The more I learn the more awful it becomes. It has deep deep roots. It going to take a long time (if ever!) to clean up this mess!
Thank you, Donna! It is amazing to me even historians rate him highly, and I’m sorry, but supply side economics and Iran Contra alone should put him in the bottom half. He was an actor with charisma, and by all accounts a nice guy interpersonally. How does that make up for all the damage done? All the primeval forces he unleashed when he justified pure greed?
As for Ellie, she’s the best. I can’t wait for our discussion.
I totally agree with you and I'm really looking forward to you and Ellie discussing Epstein!!
It will get cleaned up because that is our cause. Like you, I always felt Ronbo was a phony and was led around by his Chief of Staff. Just like another failed GOP clown, George W.
Never could understand why Reagan was thought of as a good president. I must have missed something!
Grotesque!
We are that voice Cliff and its growing. Damn fine piece. As for the felon, he will never bomb his way out of the Epstein files.
Thanks, Tim. I truly appreciate the kind words. And, yeah, he’s not fooling anyone anymore. The midterms need to be timeline altering…
Time to get rid of them all.
Couldn’t agree more. Anyone who decide to throw in with these ghouls. As I talk about in the peace, I grew up among them, and I could’ve thrown in with them, instead I ran.
And you were smart to do so! Good for you using your good judgement.
They made depravity look glamorous, corruption look inevitable, and exploitation look like the spoils of winning”
This makes so much sense! In a fucked up way but reading this was like opening a door to something I knew was there, I just couldn't see it. Thanks!
That was me for a while too, and I lived it! There were pieces of the puzzle everywhere…and suddenly, with Epstein, it all came together and I suddenly understood what I’d witnessed in its disgusting totality.
PS: My pleasure
Great article. I ran in many of those circles—slightly earlier—and I agree with your take on Reagan and the shift that followed. That period changed everything, including me. Only now, later in life, and old as dirt do I feel like I’ve returned to who I was in the late ’60s and ’70s—a fighter and a rebel again. The ’80s and ’90s pulled me in a different direction, I turned many a blind eye as to what was going on in the “secret dens” I question so much now.
I’ve always held that presidency responsible for the change in America and yes it enabled the trumps and Epstein’s of the world.
Excellent article describing a grotesque reality.
Like maybe a general worker and consumer strike will wake up our politicians in Congress.
As I made my way through the files I and attempted to figure out how I was going to attempt to make sense of this jumbled mess the DOJ regurgitated, I had what I consider a “holy shit” realization. These files were very much like a 7-8million page screen play that had been written by hand then dropped outside of a window during a rain storm. Some pages blew away Sam got wet and we were thrown away and the other ones were just gathered ha ha stapled and bound to be later given to me because they suck and make no sense. That was a very dramatic way to say my superpower is that once I figure out the cast of characters and the story in my mind, I’m good to go. In my head, this became the real life version of Cruel Intentions minus any of the good looking men. This also helped when I’d start to feel too much because obviously, what we are reading isn’t a make believe fiction screenplay. It’s the hardest, most devastating part of many women’s lives and it’s such a responsibility to be respectful and not to just be one of so many who pretended they didn’t know what was going on in plain sight. Cliff since you were, well, I will call you an extra because you went to the same high school, but you don’t contribute to the main characters so who knows you may get cut. Depending on what you bring to the table as far as a scene with a pubescent Michael Wolff that’s tbd.
(God, I am really taking this far but welcome to my brain🤣)
All that just to get to me asking you if I can as on the right track with my film comparison…
Really looking forward to your first hand accounts and you rock. Really glad you saw what was coming ahead of time and started laying down the foundation for safe spot to remember that not all humans suck and it’s OK to pick yourself back up and have a little courage.
These idiots have the latest bro boy club. It’s the rule of the uber wealthy over the rest of society. And, as we can see we will never be members of their club. They grossly underestimate the populace. We need to take away the money of the people that abuse us and then permanently deport them.Place them in an ICE facility for a while with real hardened criminals and then send them packing.
I was in grad school in the 80s, and knew lots of people from Horace Mann. (I was at Harvard. So not too big a coincidence.) But the pedophilia scandal was covered up pretty well. Parents, students, not a word to non-Horace Mann people.
Many of us didn’t know about it while there, Alexandra. I knew it was weird for a teacher to massage my shoulders, though more acceptable then than now. I didn’t know the other stuff was going on. So when you were at Harvard, most HMers, unless they were victims, may not have known
I've always thought Epstein was the quintessential con man. He could reflect back to you an image of yourself which is your dream persona. He made tragically bad mistakes when referencing math, so I question his innate abilities. He got by in a similar style to James Murdoch.
Vassar and Montclair Kimberley would never have gotten Wolff where he wanted to go.