We can vote all Republicans out of office...if we have free and fair elections. What is being done to ensure our elections aren't canceled or rigged? That's the key.
Each state has their own separate election systems. Many of the swing states have Democratic governors, Secretary of States, legislatures, and/or election commissions. They'll be our guardians against Trump's attempt to steal the 2026 election and in 2028 too.
I have a completely separate (mentioned obliquely by Rick) and modest proposal: could someone, somewhere, explore the 'threat of political violence' factor as something in the real world rather than just like the weather, ever-present and not affected by anything. Based on asymmetric news treatments, I'm left with the impression that most violence-threatening rightwing maggots are not pursued, caught, and punished. Is this true? Seeing as this is a major threat to our nation's ability to function, why is this allowed to continue? Are there any efforts being made to counter this? Have there been any cases of counter-threats?
Please don't shut your mind off with some platitude like "oh, that will just make the violence worse" or "meeting violence with violence never works". That's what we've been doing, and we've gotten what we have. It's time for a good, hard think about this.
No Rick, you're wrong. You were entirely right *up to* the last 4 minutes, for which I stipulate all. 26 seats wiped out? Sure, I'm down for that. But then what? More strongly worded letters? When they controlled all of Congress, what did the Dems do about the 'existential threat to our democracy'? Absolutely shit.
They'll sit around, run polls, debate whether or not to use political capital on this or that, and piss away the precious time they have. They will continue being ineffective, because that's what they do. That's who they are. Once they take back a chamber, the DNC can "declare victory" and go back to sleep. The pressure on them will abate, and they will take that as a signal to go full vaycay. They've done it before. Fuckers.
Bob, there I go again, not being adequately clear. All this stuff is in my head and I unfairly think it's in everybody else's too.
What I'm advocating is the saving of the Democratic party by burning it to the ground. Doing nothing is the last thing we should do, because then we'll just keep getting what we've been getting. The way is being shown by the young ones, but that is being resisted with all the remaining strength of the old dead guys. Leaders like AOC, Zohran Mamdani, and David Hogg have been showing up with increasing frequency at this dark time, we need to promote and support them. We need to drive them to the front and oust all the ossified deadwood. Even middle-aged guys like Murphy and Van Hollen have been increasingly ready to tell the DNC to fuck itself very much.
Do I agree with their policies? Hardly ever. Green New Deal, Public Soviet-Style Grocery Stores, Free Buses For All.... bad bad fucking ideas that will piss off Ma and Pa Kettle, like me. But I gotta look at what's worst: Trump fascism on one side and Strongly-Worded Letters* on the other. Our country is circling the drain, we don't have time for the gentlemanly incremental solutions of the past. The first step in solving a problem is recognizing you have one. I'll fight about my disgust with pinko economic policies AFTER we've saved our republic.
*Schumer takes such pride in getting the BBB name changed. How fucking pathetic is that.
I get your anger, George, and I substantially agree with you about lending support to the youngbloods in the party who are actually showing up. But I also think your general tone is more a self-soothing exercise in spleen venting than rational suggestions. It's hyperbolic and invective laced; step back for a minute.
The very last thing we should be thinking about is burning the Democratic Party to the ground, metaphorically or otherwise. Nothing in human history is ever improved by smashing it first, whether the Bolsheviks in Russia a century ago or the neoliberals in Russia thirty years ago. Our own revolution was more a secession than a revolution; we didn't radically reshape property relations and that's why it succeeded when virtually all other revolutions failed. The great strides forward our wan social democracy made from FDR and LBJ through the courts affirming civil rights were made entirely within the system with all the baggage that entails. We have to reinvigorate the Democratic Party and reaffirm its mission.
The Democrats put the brakes on Trump 1.0 after '18 and that's enough to hope for. We can haul his egregious cabinet members in front of grueling hearings chaired by people who want to get to the bottom of issues and not whitewash them. We can kill all further Project 2025 bullshit in its cradle. It matters, George.
I don't fear public ownership of public resources like grocery stores. Western Europe and the Nordic social democracies do quite well with it. Britain, with the radical individualism which has so infected the Anglosphere since Reagan and Thatcher, is in the process of destroying itself by privatizing literally everything. Nobody's talking about command economy price controls for produce ;)
Their TERROR will destroy them...as well as hurt so many of us.. As you suggest we will survive because we ARE SURVIVORS... Those of us who are retirees that depend on Social Security and couldn't plan for IRAS or other means of monetary support will be hurt..BUT we will find ways to deal with 'less'...OUR WEALTH is the way we live...it's not dependent on luxuries..We will stay positive...we will help others as we can...WE WILL DETERMINE OUR LIVING ...not based on material wealth ..We are the masters of our fate... WE Make our lives with OUR ATTITUDES...it will NOT be easy...but we must NOT fold to these monsters.. Thank you Rick... WE can and WILL WIN!!!
Rick, in yesterday's most recent Lincoln Project fundraising email it was said:
"Remember, Marjorie Taylor Effing Greene is opposing this thing. We have a shot to derail this thing. That’s why we’re going all out to motivate the base before the Thursday night deadline. We want every last member of the pro-democracy movement to call their rep and let them know that you oppose Trump’s Murder Bill."
I don't contribute to LP because I don't contribute to superpacs, full stop. Thank Citizens United.
I'm not attempting to imply you're being disingenuous. I think this video here is an attempt, made entirely in good faith, to steel us to the likely outcome. But likely isn't certain and I'm still hanging onto hope we can stop this thing. Greene, Massey, Chip Roy and maybe another deficit uber-hawk.
My guy in the House Brendan Boyle (so proud to be his constituent) has been all over The Bulwark and the shows trashing this thing.
I'm prepared for the worst. But also hopeful for the best.
I’ve called my congress person and senators. But they are all dems that have voted against Trump and his bullshit bills. What have the republicans done on 6 months. Proposed the make that SOBs birthday a national holiday for put his nasty face on currency. I say screw them all.
The no tax on overtime expires in 2 years and most people won't be affected by the majority of this bill until Trump is gone so the next administration will get the blame. Throw in the fact that most voters are either uninformed or ill informed and I see little change
So...it's also about staying sane in these "FUNNY" ( but scary) times...Humor is the only weapon I have at the moment...outside of caring what everyone is going through. I feel sorriest for people with no sense of humor...and I worry about acquaintences who are brown or Black...It's a pretty sad world when we can have these "people" ..i use the term loosely...direct the way WE LIVE... I still have so much to learn... Hope your day is going well.
Unfortunately, I understand that most of this bill does not take effect until January 2027. So in the midterms voters will not be feeling anything yet. The fucking Republicans planned it that way.
The only reason republicans live in abject fear of Trump is because they have an addiction. They're addicted to their political careers. And why not? Where else can you get a part-time job that pays 6 figures? They can't pull that needle out of their arms, and Trump controls their supply of voters.
"Never trust a junkie" is what we were taught back in the day. These junkies would literally throw their moms, grandmas, kids, and family pets off a train to get their next fix. I never seem such a vast number of morally bankrupt degenerates in my life, and I hope we can start sending them packing in the mid-terms. But it doesn't end there: They're still junkies. They can NEVER be trusted with elected office again. Not ever.
And which is the reason NO person running for ANY office should be paid more than minimum wage!!! Then they'd understand what Americans are going through...It's been too easy for the grifting and scamming within the parties.. Thanks Jane...
That's a great idea, Leigh, but most of the MOCs and senators are independently wealthy. Lowering their salaries wouldn't make power positions like Congress less attractive.
Yup...and we all know this...BUT it's like so many of our ideas...sometimes the "possibilities" can be created.. With so many people now being affected ( and you know I knew it was an impossibility) it's just a way to encourage some ideas that might work...without being defeated... EVERYONE will be hurt...even at the "top"...they don't know it yet...BUT WE THE PEOPLE are this nation..not "them" Thanks Jane!!
I mean, how can anyone disagree with this? I’ll just add:
The elected reps and senators are just pawns; dupes if you prefer. Of Trump, yes
But by far the bigger malignancy that they all fear is Fox News, the #1 most destructive force in America. They platform ALL of this and make them TV stars, and until the Dems come up with a plan to take them on a defeat them, nothing will change
Newsom just announced he’s suing them. Great chess move, but where are all the other blue state governors? A massive class action suit is needed that will expose them, hold them accountable and eliminate this shit.
I don't think elected Rs are pawns or dupes. They're willing participants in their own and this country's destruction. Don't be so quick to let them off the hook. Nobody, including Trump or Fox, would have any power over them if they weren't addicted to remaining in The Swamp they pretend to hate.
Here in NC, our legislature is so gerrymandered that republicans have a stranglehold on the state house and senate. They passed legislation limiting what our elected AG [Jeff Jackson, a Democrat] can do if it opposes Dear Leader.
I love it - 26 in 26. The fight is on!
40+ We can make it happen like '18.
We can vote all Republicans out of office...if we have free and fair elections. What is being done to ensure our elections aren't canceled or rigged? That's the key.
Each state has their own separate election systems. Many of the swing states have Democratic governors, Secretary of States, legislatures, and/or election commissions. They'll be our guardians against Trump's attempt to steal the 2026 election and in 2028 too.
God, I hope so!
I have a completely separate (mentioned obliquely by Rick) and modest proposal: could someone, somewhere, explore the 'threat of political violence' factor as something in the real world rather than just like the weather, ever-present and not affected by anything. Based on asymmetric news treatments, I'm left with the impression that most violence-threatening rightwing maggots are not pursued, caught, and punished. Is this true? Seeing as this is a major threat to our nation's ability to function, why is this allowed to continue? Are there any efforts being made to counter this? Have there been any cases of counter-threats?
Please don't shut your mind off with some platitude like "oh, that will just make the violence worse" or "meeting violence with violence never works". That's what we've been doing, and we've gotten what we have. It's time for a good, hard think about this.
No Rick, you're wrong. You were entirely right *up to* the last 4 minutes, for which I stipulate all. 26 seats wiped out? Sure, I'm down for that. But then what? More strongly worded letters? When they controlled all of Congress, what did the Dems do about the 'existential threat to our democracy'? Absolutely shit.
They'll sit around, run polls, debate whether or not to use political capital on this or that, and piss away the precious time they have. They will continue being ineffective, because that's what they do. That's who they are. Once they take back a chamber, the DNC can "declare victory" and go back to sleep. The pressure on them will abate, and they will take that as a signal to go full vaycay. They've done it before. Fuckers.
So the answer then is to do nothing because LOL nothing matters?
Bob, there I go again, not being adequately clear. All this stuff is in my head and I unfairly think it's in everybody else's too.
What I'm advocating is the saving of the Democratic party by burning it to the ground. Doing nothing is the last thing we should do, because then we'll just keep getting what we've been getting. The way is being shown by the young ones, but that is being resisted with all the remaining strength of the old dead guys. Leaders like AOC, Zohran Mamdani, and David Hogg have been showing up with increasing frequency at this dark time, we need to promote and support them. We need to drive them to the front and oust all the ossified deadwood. Even middle-aged guys like Murphy and Van Hollen have been increasingly ready to tell the DNC to fuck itself very much.
Do I agree with their policies? Hardly ever. Green New Deal, Public Soviet-Style Grocery Stores, Free Buses For All.... bad bad fucking ideas that will piss off Ma and Pa Kettle, like me. But I gotta look at what's worst: Trump fascism on one side and Strongly-Worded Letters* on the other. Our country is circling the drain, we don't have time for the gentlemanly incremental solutions of the past. The first step in solving a problem is recognizing you have one. I'll fight about my disgust with pinko economic policies AFTER we've saved our republic.
*Schumer takes such pride in getting the BBB name changed. How fucking pathetic is that.
Oh, and Bob, I never LOL. I'm way too pissed off.
LOLing is an important way to keep one's sanity in trying times. Just sayin' ;)
I get your anger, George, and I substantially agree with you about lending support to the youngbloods in the party who are actually showing up. But I also think your general tone is more a self-soothing exercise in spleen venting than rational suggestions. It's hyperbolic and invective laced; step back for a minute.
The very last thing we should be thinking about is burning the Democratic Party to the ground, metaphorically or otherwise. Nothing in human history is ever improved by smashing it first, whether the Bolsheviks in Russia a century ago or the neoliberals in Russia thirty years ago. Our own revolution was more a secession than a revolution; we didn't radically reshape property relations and that's why it succeeded when virtually all other revolutions failed. The great strides forward our wan social democracy made from FDR and LBJ through the courts affirming civil rights were made entirely within the system with all the baggage that entails. We have to reinvigorate the Democratic Party and reaffirm its mission.
The Democrats put the brakes on Trump 1.0 after '18 and that's enough to hope for. We can haul his egregious cabinet members in front of grueling hearings chaired by people who want to get to the bottom of issues and not whitewash them. We can kill all further Project 2025 bullshit in its cradle. It matters, George.
I don't fear public ownership of public resources like grocery stores. Western Europe and the Nordic social democracies do quite well with it. Britain, with the radical individualism which has so infected the Anglosphere since Reagan and Thatcher, is in the process of destroying itself by privatizing literally everything. Nobody's talking about command economy price controls for produce ;)
Let’s goooo!!!!
Their TERROR will destroy them...as well as hurt so many of us.. As you suggest we will survive because we ARE SURVIVORS... Those of us who are retirees that depend on Social Security and couldn't plan for IRAS or other means of monetary support will be hurt..BUT we will find ways to deal with 'less'...OUR WEALTH is the way we live...it's not dependent on luxuries..We will stay positive...we will help others as we can...WE WILL DETERMINE OUR LIVING ...not based on material wealth ..We are the masters of our fate... WE Make our lives with OUR ATTITUDES...it will NOT be easy...but we must NOT fold to these monsters.. Thank you Rick... WE can and WILL WIN!!!
Amen, Leigh.
Thank you.. I LOVE all of our people here...theopportunity to express..yell...and LAUGH!!! We need this...Hugs to you too!!
I hope you will make the ads for Democrats. You are brilliant at this and for some reason the Democrats are not.
Thanks, Rick. With you all the way.
Rick, in yesterday's most recent Lincoln Project fundraising email it was said:
"Remember, Marjorie Taylor Effing Greene is opposing this thing. We have a shot to derail this thing. That’s why we’re going all out to motivate the base before the Thursday night deadline. We want every last member of the pro-democracy movement to call their rep and let them know that you oppose Trump’s Murder Bill."
I don't contribute to LP because I don't contribute to superpacs, full stop. Thank Citizens United.
I'm not attempting to imply you're being disingenuous. I think this video here is an attempt, made entirely in good faith, to steel us to the likely outcome. But likely isn't certain and I'm still hanging onto hope we can stop this thing. Greene, Massey, Chip Roy and maybe another deficit uber-hawk.
My guy in the House Brendan Boyle (so proud to be his constituent) has been all over The Bulwark and the shows trashing this thing.
I'm prepared for the worst. But also hopeful for the best.
Thanks Bob!!! We stand together... I totaly agree!
I will fight every day!
YES!! But keep a cheerful attitude and find ways to help yourself and your loved ones...This IS how we win... Happiness to YOU!!!
I’ve called my congress person and senators. But they are all dems that have voted against Trump and his bullshit bills. What have the republicans done on 6 months. Proposed the make that SOBs birthday a national holiday for put his nasty face on currency. I say screw them all.
YUP...Thank you
Shame on them
It'll pass I think Bacon will vote against it too
The no tax on overtime expires in 2 years and most people won't be affected by the majority of this bill until Trump is gone so the next administration will get the blame. Throw in the fact that most voters are either uninformed or ill informed and I see little change
Unless...SUDDENLY they get EDUCATED...( you are correct)
That's an ironic joke, right? Is it /s/?
I'm pretty sure I was being "ironic"...if not really short sighted... Thanks George...
Yeah, I do that a lot now. It's the times.
So...it's also about staying sane in these "FUNNY" ( but scary) times...Humor is the only weapon I have at the moment...outside of caring what everyone is going through. I feel sorriest for people with no sense of humor...and I worry about acquaintences who are brown or Black...It's a pretty sad world when we can have these "people" ..i use the term loosely...direct the way WE LIVE... I still have so much to learn... Hope your day is going well.
Unfortunately, I understand that most of this bill does not take effect until January 2027. So in the midterms voters will not be feeling anything yet. The fucking Republicans planned it that way.
The only reason republicans live in abject fear of Trump is because they have an addiction. They're addicted to their political careers. And why not? Where else can you get a part-time job that pays 6 figures? They can't pull that needle out of their arms, and Trump controls their supply of voters.
"Never trust a junkie" is what we were taught back in the day. These junkies would literally throw their moms, grandmas, kids, and family pets off a train to get their next fix. I never seem such a vast number of morally bankrupt degenerates in my life, and I hope we can start sending them packing in the mid-terms. But it doesn't end there: They're still junkies. They can NEVER be trusted with elected office again. Not ever.
And which is the reason NO person running for ANY office should be paid more than minimum wage!!! Then they'd understand what Americans are going through...It's been too easy for the grifting and scamming within the parties.. Thanks Jane...
That's a great idea, Leigh, but most of the MOCs and senators are independently wealthy. Lowering their salaries wouldn't make power positions like Congress less attractive.
Yup...and we all know this...BUT it's like so many of our ideas...sometimes the "possibilities" can be created.. With so many people now being affected ( and you know I knew it was an impossibility) it's just a way to encourage some ideas that might work...without being defeated... EVERYONE will be hurt...even at the "top"...they don't know it yet...BUT WE THE PEOPLE are this nation..not "them" Thanks Jane!!
I mean, how can anyone disagree with this? I’ll just add:
The elected reps and senators are just pawns; dupes if you prefer. Of Trump, yes
But by far the bigger malignancy that they all fear is Fox News, the #1 most destructive force in America. They platform ALL of this and make them TV stars, and until the Dems come up with a plan to take them on a defeat them, nothing will change
Newsom just announced he’s suing them. Great chess move, but where are all the other blue state governors? A massive class action suit is needed that will expose them, hold them accountable and eliminate this shit.
So far? Crickets
We simply do not know how to fight this fight
I don't think elected Rs are pawns or dupes. They're willing participants in their own and this country's destruction. Don't be so quick to let them off the hook. Nobody, including Trump or Fox, would have any power over them if they weren't addicted to remaining in The Swamp they pretend to hate.
Here in NC, our legislature is so gerrymandered that republicans have a stranglehold on the state house and senate. They passed legislation limiting what our elected AG [Jeff Jackson, a Democrat] can do if it opposes Dear Leader.
Pawns/dupes/All of the above
Most of these guys/women have studied history to some degree, know wtf they’re doing and the consequences.
These Medicaid cuts don’t kick in until ‘27 and ‘28. That’s just cruelly manipulative, like everything they do
I repeat: Nothing changes until Fox News is challenged and defeated. And other than Newsom, no one seems to get that
Our AG had his tied by the republican legislature. He gets it, so do they. That's why they passed that legislation.